Ben & Jerry's plans to launch CBD-infused ice-cream, seeks public support for FDA approval
Ben & Jerry's wants its customers to experience new flavors every now and then and this time, the company is planning on taking things up a notch by introducing a CBD infused ice-cream. However, in order to make this dream a reality, they need a little help from their customers to get cannabis legalized. They plan on adding marijuana plant extract cannabidiol (CBD) on their long list of ingredients and offering something different for their customers to taste and enjoy.
But prior to this, the Food and Drug Administration must first approve it. CBD is known to produce a relaxing and calming effect on the consumer without getting them high like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) does. The company urged people to submit public comment in favor of legalizing CBD on the FDA's designated web page. They also noted that if it is legalized, the new flavor will become a reality in no time.
"You probably already know that we’re fans of all things groovy... So it's no surprise that we can't wait to get into the latest food trend: cannabidiol, or CBD," Ben & Jerry's noted in a statement. "We are committed to bringing CBD-infused ice cream to your freezer as soon as it's legalized at the federal level." They believe that by using public comments they will be able to inform a federal working group looking "to explore potential pathways for dietary supplements and/or conventional foods containing CBD to be lawfully marketed," as reported by The Guardian.
The company's website states that they are looking into sourcing CBD from Vermont, which is also the place where their firm has been based ever since its inception. "We're doing this for our fans," said Ben & Jerry’s CEO, Matthew McCarthy. "We've listened and brought them everything from non-dairy indulgences to on-the-go portions with our Pint Slices. We aspire to love our fans more than they love us and we want to give them what they're looking for in a fun, Ben & Jerry’s way."
The effort to make CBD as a legal food supplement has been accelerated ever since many states legalized cannabis. CBD is also known to have many health benefits such as improving sleep, reducing anxiety and helping in pain relief, among many others. In December, President Donald Trump legalized the cultivation of hemp which made CBD products legal under the federal law.
This eventually led to many other companies investing in the product. Coca-Cola also noted that while they had no interest in investing in any product that contains CBD, they were keen on watching how it was growing tremendously. The company stated that they were "closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world. The space is evolving quickly. No decisions have been made at this time." However, when it comes to using CBD in food items, it depends on the decision made by the FDA.
Kentucky's agriculture commissioner, Ryan Quarles stated that he wanted CBD to be listed as a dietary supplement because it would help in giving a big boost to hemp farmers. "We acknowledge the FDA has a wide range of possibilities with what they can do with these products. But we ask them not to regulate this growing industry to death," he said.
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