PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Fall 2019

Fall 2019  •  PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters  • 13 How Do I take CBD? You’ve done your research, identified a reputable product, and are now ready to give it a try—but how? The most popular methods of taking CBD include using a tincture, inhaling through vaping, using it topically, or ingesting it through infused food or beverages. only going to grow in popularity and use over the next few years. What about CBD in food and beverages? While the FDA has said adding CBD to food or beverages is illegal, that’s not stopping the individuals from adding it to their morning coffee or industry from getting ready for a world where it’s legal. CBD absorbs in your body best if taken with fatty acids, like those found in oils, meats, fish, avocados, etc. A quick Google search for CBD recipes yields 16 million results. Ben & Jerry’s announced on its website in May 2019 that it’s eager to get in on this trend—as soon as CBD is legalized at the federal level—and pledging to source its CBD from its home state of Vermont. Bloomberg.com reported last September that Coca-Cola is interested in developing beverages infused with CBD. Unsurprising, the big beer companies have aggressively been positioning themselves to cash in on this new market. Forbes.com noted in May 2019 that Molson Coors, Constellation Brands (Corona’s parent company), Labatt (an AB InBev subsidiary), Diegeo (owns Guinness Brewing), and Lagunitas (owned by Heineken) have already made direct investments in the space, too. Most are developing products to test in the Canadian market (Canada legalized recreational marijuana in 2018). Economists are projecting the CBD market will jump from $200 million in 2016 to $16–25 billion by 2025. Despite CBD’s legal uncertainty, it is certain that CBD is only going to grow in popularity and use over the next few years. •