• The Vermont-based ice cream maker made its CBD announcement on Thursday
• CBD stands for cannabidiol, a chemical compound made from the cannabis plant that is said to produce a ‘relaxation and calming’ effect once consumed
• Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), however, CBD will NOT get you high
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently prohibits putting CBD in food and beverages, but the lax regulation is rarely enforced
• The FDA is hosting a public hearing on the legalizing CBD on Friday
• Ben & Jerry’s is pushing its fans to advocate for legalizing CBD at the hearing
• Seventy-six percent of chefs ranked CBD and cannabis-infused drinks and food first and second in 2019 trends in a recent National Restaurant Association poll

Ben & Jerry’s wants to make a new CBD-infused ice cream flavor – but the company needs fans’ help to get the cannabis product legalized.

The Vermont-based ice cream company hopes to add the marijuana plant extract cannabidiol (CBD) to its list of ingredients this year.

But first the Food and Drug Administration must approve the popular chemical additive, which is said to produce a relaxation and calming effect once consumed without getting people high like its psychedelic sibling tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Ben & Jerry’s announced its plans to make CBD-infused ice cream on Thursday ahead of the FDA’s public hearing about legalizing CBD, which will take place from 8am to 6pm on Friday. 

The company encouraged fans to submit public comment in favor of legalizing CBD via the FDA’s designated web page. 

‘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 said Thursday morning in a statement on its website. ‘We are committed to bringing CBD-infused ice cream to your freezer as soon as it’s legalized at the federal level.’

Ben & Jerry’s is pushing its fans to advocate for legalizing CBD at the hearing so it can proceed with its CBD-infused ice cream flavor 

CBD stands for cannabidiol, a chemical compound made from the cannabis plant that is said to produce a ‘relaxation and calming’ effect once consumed

President Trump legalized a farm bill in December that made most CBD products legal under federal law. But the FDA still prohibits the use of the product in foods and drinks because it’s an active ingredient in an FDA-approved drug, according to  CNBC.

Ben & Jerry’s appears to be the first major food company to publicly advocate for CBD legalization so it can capitalize on the nation’s growing cannabis foods trend.

More than 76 percent of chefs ranked CBD and cannabis-infused drinks and food first and second among  top trends in a 2019 National Restaurant Association poll even though technically putting CBD in food products is illegal at the federal level.

Rich cannabis product lovers and ‘canna-curious’ foodies in states like Washington and Colorado, which have legalized the use of recreational marijuana, have resorted to hiring private chefs that specialize in cannabis-infused food, according to CNBC.

Muscle Joint & Relief Cream is displayed at the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition trade show in New York on Thursday. More than 76 percent of chefs ranked CBD and cannabis-infused drinks and food first and second among top trends in a 2019 National Restaurant Association poll even though technically putting CBD in food products is illegal at the federal level

A cookies and cream flavored protein bar marketed by JustCBD is displayed at the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition trade show in New York on Thursday. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) will NOT get you high

A display of bottles for CBD sale is seen at the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBExpo) trade show in New York on Thursday

Gummy worms, containing 10 milligrams of cannabidiol, are displayed at the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition trade show in New York on Thursday

Attendees receive free CBD gummy candy samples from “The Hemp Plug” (THP) brand at The Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBExpo) trade show in New York on Thursday

The New York Post reports New York City’s health department in February was forced to issue a public order for restaurant, bars cafes to stop selling CBD-infused products after a spike in the chemical’s use following Trump’s legalization order. 

‘We’re doing this for our fans,’ Ben & Jerry’s CEO Matthew McCarthy said of their planned new CBD ice cream flavor in a Thursday statement. ‘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.’ 

Source: Dailymail