A few years ago, the notion of serving CBD infused coffee at a corporate event would have been laughable. But suddenly, it isn’t.
With the legislation around cannabis relaxing in SA and many other parts of the world, a host of related products have hit the market and are gaining mainstream popularity. Among these is CBD infused coffee, as was featured at a recent SAACI Tshwane event exploring current event trends.
“CBD is purported to have a number of health boosting properties and is considered a health supplement.”
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is derived from the Cannabis plant, which is also often referred to as marijuana. It is different to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical that causes the ‘high’ that marijuana is best known for. Instead CBD is purported to have a number of health boosting properties and is considered a health supplement. Products that contain less than 20mg of CBD can be legally sold in South Africa and are excluded from the Schedules to the Medicines Act, reports the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
Jason Breward, the owner of Brewers Coffee (pty) Ltd, says, “CBD is a nutrient, just like moringa powder, and it is used in a number of health products as a supplement. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and pain reliving properties, and has also been used to treat insomnia, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy and osteoarthritis – among other things.”
He adds that the key immediate benefit to CBD infused coffee is that it helps to reduce anxiety, while the caffeine can give your delegates a little kick. “Your delegates won’t be falling asleep or incoherent, the CBD will simply help to remove any anxiety they would normally feel,” he adds. In many ways, this should make it the drink of choice for business events, making delegates alert, but relaxed and comfortable at the same time.
“The key immediate benefit to CBD infused coffee is that it helps to reduce anxiety, while the caffeine can give your delegates a little kick.”
As well as producing a CBD infused coffee using 98% pure CBD oil, Brewers Coffee also has a second variant which is a mix of hemp oil and 10% CBD oil. Hemp oil is made from cold pressing the seeds of the Cannabis plant, and typically shouldn’t contain more than tiny trace amounts of CBD and THC. It has been around for decades, and also has a number of health benefits making it a popular additive in various health and skincare products.
Breward says, “People use hemp oil because of its powerful antioxidant, natural pain relief, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-psychoactive effects. It assists in optimal brain health and function, in relieving nausea, promoting cardiovascular health as well as calming anxiety disorders.”
Given the scale and growth of the wellness industry, CBD and hemp oil additives could become increasingly commonplace at corporate event and conferences. Breward admits that there has been a spike of interest in these products, not only for events but also for coffee shops and health shops, both locally and internationally.
However it must also be noted that most of the research into CBD and hemp oil is still in its infancy, in part because cannabis has been, and in many places still is, classified as an illegal substance. This means that more time is needed to conclusively establish all of their effects on human health. Many people report experiencing benefits, but it is unclear whether this could be due to the placebo effect or because of their properties.
