Ben & Jerry's is looking to cash in on the CBD boom.
The frozen dessert maker announced their intentions to drop a CBD-infused ice cream as soon as the compound is legal on the federal level. The Vermont-based company announced the plan Thursday on its official website.
"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 Ben & Jerry’s way."
CBD—short for cannabidiol—is a non-psychoactive chemical compound that is extracted from the marijuana plant or hemp. CBD that is derived from the latter has been deemed legal in the United States and approved for use in topical treatments; however, the Food and Drug Administration currently prohibits the compound from being added to food or beverages—though it should be noted some states rarely enforce this ban. There is also strong evidence of CBD's effectiveness to treat a wide range of health issues, including anxiety, muscle pain, insomnia, depression, and acne.
On Friday, the FDA held a public hearing to address the legalization of CBD-infused food and beverages. Ben & Jerry's has submitted a comment on the issue and is encouraging customers to do the same from today through July 2, 2019.
