While most people have heard of THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, the popular compound has a lesser-known extract that’s taking cannabis-infused foodie worlds by storm: cannabidiol.
More commonly known as CBD, this non-psychoactive ingredient (meaning it won’t make you high) is most often derived from hemp, which like marijuana, comes from the cannabis plant. CBD has been used for years in homeopathy and other therapeutic methods to treat pain, anxiety and headaches, and the FDA recently approved the use of CBD oil to treat very rare forms of seizures, according to Project CBD, a nonprofit designed to educate and foster support for the uses of cannabidiol. Some research even claims that the compound may be useful in treating smoking and other addiction withdrawal symptoms, though this is yet to be proven.
So how can this so-called “miracle product” remedy those pesky hangovers? In coffee, of course. Denver’s own Strava Craft Coffee is revolutionizing your favorite cup of joe by infusing it with CBD. No, your morning beverage won’t get you high, and no, it won’t show up on your drug tests either (assuming you don’t drink thousands of cups—Kevin Crowley, co-founder of Strava, doesn’t suggest this). But the spiked drink can help alleviate the inevitable headaches and nausea on the morning after that big rager, as well as provide you with a boost of energy and focus.
Strava is currently the only company in the state brewing such cutting edge coffee, but you can buy their products at cafés like Blue Sparrow Coffee in the River North Arts District, Carbon Café and Bar on Platte St., SloHi Coffee and Bike on West 29th Ave. and Drip Denver on Lincoln St. Carbon also offers unique CBD oil coconut cubes to drop into your latte, coffee or tea to give it–and your day–a little extra kick.
CBD has previously been used in natural oil form, topicals or salves (you can even purchase CBD shampoos), but the recent craze to add it to food and drinks sees no end in sight. Restaurants across the country have been concocting menu items as crazy as cannabidiol ice cream sundaes, baked desserts, acai bowls and even salad dressings. CBD oil can also be added to your beer and cocktails at places like Denver’s own Carbon Café and Bar, and Althea’s Cheese by Design (close to campus on South University Drive) offers a new CBD pizza to kill your cheese cravings and anxiety in one fell swoop.
