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Major League Changes: Cubs Announce First CBD Partnership

April 13, 2023 Published by

The Chicago Cubs are partnering with wellness and recovery brand Mynd Drinks to offer CBD drinks at Wrigley Field home games for the 2023 Major League Baseball season. The deal establishes fellow Chicago-based Mynd Drinks as the “Official CBD Partner of the Cubs” and makes the team the first in the MLB to partner with a CBD brand.

Under the new agreement announced last week, Mynd Drinks will market its CBD beverages at Wrigley Field and have various signage elements at the venue, including on-field baseline signage and other ballpark features. The deal also includes international marketing rights in the United Kingdom for the 2023 regular season, a first for the Cubs.

“When MLB opened the CBD category for its clubs, it allowed us to explore new partnership opportunities and offerings,” Alex Seyferth, the Chicago Cubs vice president of corporate partnerships, said in a statement from the league on April 7. “We’re proud to be the first club to partner with a CBD company, but what was more important to us was making sure that the brand was the right fit. Mynd Drinks is a Chicago-based company that promotes overall wellness and helps ease the stressors of everyday life, just like a Friday 1:20 game at Wrigley Field.”

Mynd Drinks offers three flavors of plant-based, hemp-infused wellness and recovery drinks that help people relax, refresh and recover. The launch of the company’s partnership with the Cubs includes online content to help fans of the team relax and unwind, including a guided meditation on YouTube narrated by Cubs radio play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes and a “Sounds of Wrigley Field” Spotify playlist.

“We are so thrilled and honored to announce our partnership with the legendary Chicago Cubs, and that they share our vision of health and wellness in major league sports,” said Simon Allen, CEO of Mynd Drinks.

Sports Leagues Back Away From Cannabis Prohibition

The deal between the Chicago Cubs and Mynd Drinks is the latest example of professional sports leagues’ changing stance on cannabis.

In June 2022, MLB changed its policy that allows sponsorship deals with hemp-based CBD companies for teams and the league. Four months later, the league announced that it had struck a deal with Colorado-based Charlotte’s Web, making the company’s products the “Official CBD of Major League Baseball.” Bill Morningstar, the MLB’s executive vice president of sponsorship sales, noted that the deal marked the first time that a professional sports league had signed a sponsorship agreement with a CBD company.

“It’s always great to be first, but it’s more important to get it right,” Morningstar said in an MLB statement last October. “That was really what drove this, making sure that we did the education, and we understood exactly what the product stood for and what the company stands for…We feel really confident that we took the steps, the time, to get everything in line.”

Charlotte’s Web CEO Jacques Tortoroli notes that the deal will increase public awareness of the health and wellness benefits of cannabidiol (CBD).

“This partnership is a natural evolution in the growth of the industry and our business, and in elevating the quality of life for MLB’s players and 180 million-strong community,” Tortoroli said. “Launching co-branded sports products will amplify each of our wellness missions. Most importantly, we’ll collaborate on education for teams, for players, for fans, for the general public, about what CBD is, and what CBD is not. It’s a unique, really only CBD choice of partner for Charlotte’s Web.”

On April 1, 2023, the National Basketball Association and the players union reached a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement that reportedly ends the NBA’s prohibition on cannabis for players. According to terms of the deal revealed by The Athletic, players will also be permitted to invest in cannabis ventures and sign endorsement deals with regulated cannabis companies.

The National Hockey League also ended cannabis prohibition for its athletes, no longer listing the plant as a banned substance. NHL players who test positive for cannabis use are not subject to disciplinary action, although players with THC levels the league considers “abnormally high” may be referred to a voluntary treatment program.

Additionally, the National Football League’s collective bargaining agreement for the 2020-21 season relaxed the league’s cannabis policy, allowing players to use the plant during the off-season while maintaining prohibition throughout the season of play. The agreement also increased the level of THC that can be present in a player’s drug test before triggering sanctions from the league and ends game suspensions for all positive drug tests, with players facing fines instead.

As the health benefits of hemp and cannabis become more well-known and accepted among the general public, it makes sense for professional sports to evolve alongside legalization. And apart from updating policies for players, nothing signals change more than an official partnership between professional sports clubs and CBD and THC brands.

The post Major League Changes: Cubs Announce First CBD Partnership appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Flora Hemp Spirits Is Changing Social Drinking

April 7, 2023 Published by

Visiting your favorite restaurant or bar isn’t the same when you’re devoted to sober weekdays or a dry January. Navigating life as sober-curious may indeed have its challenges, but the good folks at Flora Hemp Spirits are changing that. Their zero-calorie cannabinoid-based mixers and mocktails—cannacocktails as they call them—allow consumers to join in on the ritual of socialized drinking without loads of sugar or a dreaded hangover.

In 2019, hospitality veterans and mixologists Adam Peabody and Danny Jahnke noticed they were selling an abundance of traditional mocktails and wondered why there weren’t more options on the market. Ordering a non-alcoholic pina colada or mimosa without champagne is hardly creative and delivers nothing remarkable to consumers. After lengthy conversations, the duo discussed ways to fill the gap between mindful drinking and cannabis while redefining the adult beverage drinking experience. Being the life of the party doesn’t mean you have to be drunk.

When Peabody and Jahnke joined forces in 2019, they dreamt of creating a new social experience for non-drinkers—something that allows designated drivers to unwind and relax with their friends, but without a drop of alcohol. Their solution? Cannabinoids. Within months, the pair founded Flora Hemp Spirits, which became the world’s first all-natural, alcohol-free, cannabinoid-based spirits. An alcohol alternative was born.

Flora Hemp Spirits founders Danny Jahnke and Adam Peabody.

Wellness Beverages Made Simple

All of Flora Hemp Spirits products are made from natural botanicals and herbs, formulated to give anyone who doesn’t want to drink options beyond the typical mixed drinks. Even if you’re hitting the bottle while out on the town, you can use their products to curtail your consumption of cocktails. Drinking a few Flora Essence mocktails between alcoholic beverages will help avoid hangovers and save your tomorrow.

Flora Hemp Spirits has three distinct products to choose from: Essence, which includes CBD for a relaxing effect; Delta-8, which offers a mild THC high; and their line of canned mocktails featuring CBD and Delta-9 THC for easy enjoyment.  Regardless of which one you reach for, each product offers a revolutionary, hangover and alcohol-free drinking experience that allows you to mix cannabinoids the same way you would mix a drink.

Flora Hemp Spirit: Essence

Made with your wellness in mind, Flora Essence is a sophisticated, hemp-derived spirit that you can think of like a bottle of gin or vodka (but without the alcohol, of course) to recreate your favorite cocktails. Download their free recipe book to try new cannacocktails. Made with only five all-natural ingredients, Essence gives new meaning to “drink to good health.” Zero calories and fast-acting, each 2-ounce serving contains 25 mg of water-soluble CBD, allowing you to relax and unwind while preventing any morning volcanoes from erupting in your head.   

Flora Hemp Spirit: Delta-8

Like Flora Essence, Flora Delta-8 can be substituted for vodka or gin in your favorite cocktail recipe. But Flora Delta-8 delivers a refined alcohol-free mocktail with a mild THC high. One of the advantages of Flora spirits is their mixability and ease of cannabinoid dosage. There’s 25mg of fast-acting water-soluble Delta-8 THC in a 2-ounce serving. It’s also made with all-natural ingredients and contains zero sugar or calories.

Flora Hemp Spirits
Flora Hemp Spirits is the world’s first all-natural, alcohol-free, cannabinoid-based spirit brand.

Flora Canned Mocktails

Passion Fruit “Margarita” + Blueberry “Moscow Mule”

Crafted by award-winning mixologists and using only the freshest ingredients, Flora’s Passion Fruit “Margarita” and Blueberry “Moscow Mule” canned offerings are perfect for easy enjoyment. Sold in a four-pack of single-serving cans, you can enjoy them straight out of the can or on ice with a salted rim. Each can includes 5mg of Delta-9 THC and 10mg of CBD, delivering a relaxed, mild THC high, perfect for your next social engagement, or even for a little boost of energy to get in the zone and knock out chores around the house. Both flavors are low-calorie and include fresh ingredients for premium flavor. With shipping available in all 50 states, you’ll surely want to stock up on these.

Steam Distillation Process

Being the world’s first all-natural, alcohol-free, cannabinoid-based spirits isn’t the only thing differentiating Flora Hemp Spirits—their use of a copper pot steam distillation process is another factor. Steam distillation extracts plants’ terpenes, essential oils and organic compounds like CBD. This technique differs from typical solvent extraction.

The heat in the steam distillation process vaporizes CBD, carrying the vapor into a cooling system for consolidation and collection. By using steam distillation, Flora Hemp Spirits can infuse their hemp spirits with organic extracts such as rosemary, juniper, lavender and citrus flavors, and also extract hemp oil without chemical solvents.

Changing Perceptions

Maybe one day, consumers can order revolutionary CBD mocktails in bars and restaurants worldwide. For now, Flora Hemp Spirits’ functional alcohol alternatives are sold in nearly 200 retail locations across the US. However, they do ship to all 50 states, and they offer free shipping on orders over $100. If you’re hosting a gathering, having fun alternatives on hand is a great way to show guests that you care—you want them to enjoy themselves, regardless of if they choose to drink alcohol or not. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter!

Adam and Danny hope to see their vision come to life by increasing non-alcoholic options and eliminating the stigma surrounding social cannabinoid usage. Their products have helped many customers eliminate or drastically reduce their alcohol intake. Changing perceptions is their ultimate goal, one drink at a time.

The post Flora Hemp Spirits Is Changing Social Drinking appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Enjoy a Buzz Without the Booze This St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2023 Published by

Break out the Lucky Charms, salute your shamrock and sing classic folk songs about the “aul country” while wiping away a tear—St. Patrick’s Day is here. If you’re not au fait with the meaning behind the March 17 holiday, here’s a quick Cliff’s Notes version. The day commemorates the famed patron Saint of Ireland, Patrick, who notably brought Christianity to Ireland and, according to legend, drove the snakes out of Ireland.

Even if you’re not from the Emerald Isle by birthright, you can still embrace the Irish spirit and celebrate all things Irish, which basically means drinking Guinness, green beer, or whiskey shooters. But if your vibe is more Emerald Triangle than Emerald Isle, you might want to skip the booze and try a cannabis-infused beverage instead.

The cannabis-infused beverages category is surging: according to Brightfield Group, the THC-infused beverages market will account for $1 billion in US sales by 2025. It’s easy to see why the relatively nascent vertical is experiencing such growth. Infused drinks offer a delicious replacement for alcohol and the associated adverse effects while still having access to the same social experience as popping a few cold ones—without the concern of over-consuming. They bridge the gap between the expected and the unexpected, offering precise doses to give consistent, predictable effects instead of surprise drunkenness. The best part? No hangover.

Whatever your tipple taste preference, be it flavored seltzers, mocktails, or tonics, why not swap for the sauce for these five deliciously effective, effervescent and better-for-you beverages this St Paddy’s Day.

Photo courtesy of Pure Beauty

Pure Beauty: Little Strong Drink

First up, it’s a beverage that really packs a punch. Little in name only, the Little Strong Drink is made from live resin and squeezes 100mg of THC into only 2oz. The preserved terpene profile of the extracts and Concord grapes grown in the Yakima Valley make this deliciously aromatic drink perfect for sipping straight or mixing into other beverages like soda or mocktails. Other ingredients of note include sustainably grown Ashwagandha root, which helps to relieve stress and strengthen adrenal wellness. It’s also free from nasty artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and added sweeteners.

Cannabis-infused beverages
Photo courtesy of Cann Social Tonics

Cann Social Tonics

With a slew of celebrity fans, including Kate Hudson, Rosario Dawson and Gwyneth Paltrow, Cann social tonics offer the perfect dose to get you in the mood for fun, without altering your mind. Cann has relaunched its delicious Ginger Lemongrass seasonal flavor just in time for St Patrick’s Day. With a microdose of 2mg of THC and 4mg of CBD to give you a relaxed-yet-sociable buzz plus only 35 calories, Cann’s lightly carbonated beverages are also available in Cranberry Sage, Lemon Lavender, Grapefruit Rosemary, and Blood Orange Cardamom flavors and are made with all-natural ingredients.

Flora Hemp Spirits
Photo courtesy of Flora Hemp Spirits

Flora Hemp Spirits

The phrase “drink to good health” takes on a new meaning with Flora Hemp Spirits, the world’s first alcohol-free, cannabinoid-based spirits made using all-natural ingredients while containing zero sugar and zero calories. This innovative range provides a delicious alternative to booze while letting you unwind with a mild buzz. Perfect for the “sober curious,” Flora Spirits are available in three options: Essence (CBD), delta-8, and pre-mixed Passion Fruit “Margarita,” which contains 5MG of delta-8 THC and 10MG of CBD in each can. Simply swap out gin or vodka with Flora’s Essence or delta-8 spirits to create delicious mocktails. 

Cannabis-infused beverages
Photo courtesy of ReCreate

ReCreate

Brought to you by the Stanley Brothers, the Colorado-based family known for their game-changing Charlotte’s Web CBD oil, ReCreate beverages are among the most advanced highs you can buy. The fast-acting formulations include full-spectrum extracts and efficacious botanical adaptogens like Yerba Mate to help uplift your energy levels. There are three flavor options available as a 2.5 mg CBD/2.5 mg THC microdose formula: Blueberry Mint Acai, Cucumber Mint, and Mango Hibiscus. For those wanting a heavier-hitting dose, Cucumber Mint and Mango Hibiscus are available in an extra-strength 10 mg CBD/10 mg THC option that will uplift you in a delicious, refreshing way.

Cannabis-infused beverages
Photo courtesy of Psychedelic Water

Psychedelic Water

Combining a stimulating buzz with a soothing calm to sharpen focus while reducing anxiety, Psychedelic Water is truly perfect for people engaged in creative or stressful work where energy and a positive mentality are essential. The non-alcoholic psychedelic beverage is made from kava, damiana leaf extract and green tea leaf extract, a trio of ingredients chosen to replicate the euphoria-inducing effects of psychedelics without the hallucinations. Available in for Blackberry + Yuzu, Hibiscus + Lime, Oolong + Orange Blossom and Prickly Pear, Psychedelic Water produces a clean and healthy buzz that’s Kosher, non-alcoholic, free of added sugars and low in calories.

The post Enjoy a Buzz Without the Booze This St. Patrick’s Day appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Maximize Dry January with Daytrip CBD Beverages

January 18, 2020 Published by

Do you feel like you overindulged over the holiday season?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. After all the festivities of the Christmas and
New Year’s period, some people decide to commit to a month of sobriety,
otherwise known as ‘Dry January.’

Researchers at the University of Sussex have been studying Dry January since 2014. They have discovered that participants
can expect to have better health – and a healthier bank balance.

But fear not! Dry January doesn’t mean forgoing all things
deliciously effervescent. In fact, why not use this opportunity to embark on a
new facet of your wellness journey by swapping out sugary sodas with sugar-free
CBD beverages.

Daytrip craft natural, premium 100% water-soluble CBD drinks
that absorb quickly into the body to maximize the cannabinoid’s
bioavailability. CBD is an
oil-based product, so when the technology doesn’t create a fully water-soluble
CBD, the end product can’t effectively absorb into the body.

For this reason, Daytrip is different from other CBD drink
options. The company has developed proprietary Foliole Nexus Technology,
leveraging high-frequency energy to minimize the hemp-derived CBD’s particle
size, enabling the cannabinoid to provide a near-instant effect and deliver
consistent results.

Then, they infuse CBD into sparkling water and a botanical terpene profile to create four delicious flavors — cherry, coconut pineapple, lemon lime and tangerine — that can be used to create CBD cocktails that promote a happy effervescent feeling.

The Daytripper

  • 3/4 cup lemon lime Daytrip CBD sparkling water
  • Ginger – muddled
  • ¼ cup peach nectar
  • 1 lemon wedge

Combine all ingredients in a glass and garnish with lemon and a ginger shaving.

The Daytripper

The Bubbly Brunch

  • 1/2 cup Tangerine Daytrip CBD Sparkling Water
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 TBSP elderflower syrup
  • 1 lime wedge squeezed into glass

Combine all ingredients in a glass.

The Fiesta

  • 2 oz Cherry Daytrip CBD Sparkling Water
  • 1.5 oz tequila 
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 oz pomegranate juice

Combine all ingredients in a glass and garnish with cherries and orange slices.

The Fiesta

Endless Summer

  • ½ can Coconut Pineapple Daytrip CBD Sparkling
    Water
  • 1 shot clear rum
  • 2 slices of fresh pineapple Ice

Muddle one slice of pineapple and pour in Daytrip Coconut
Pineapple, rum and ice. Garnish with the second pineapple slice

Firmly rooted in California culture, Daytrip embraces all
that the Golden State represents; getting away from the grind and sharing good
vibes.

Whether you’re at the beach, on the slopes, or simply in your own back yard, Daytrip wants to help you maximize your enjoyment. Use code DRYJAN to save 20% off your purchase.

Daytrip CBD beverages are also available at the Cannabis Now retail store in Los Angeles.

TELL US, are you participating in Dry January?

The post Maximize Dry January with Daytrip CBD Beverages appeared first on Cannabis Now.

What’s the Deal with CBD Water?

July 21, 2019 Published by

The list of CBD products on the market today is seemingly endless. There are CBD oil tinctures in a range of flavors, CBD vape juices, CBD gummy bears and even CBD for pets. But what about CBD water? Now there’s an idea.

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a compound in cannabis and hemp that’s getting a lot of attention lately. The attention is generally very positive; whether it be from the media or medical professionals, and user feedback is also pretty good. CBD could treat a range of ailments and issues like insomnia, anxiety, and depression, and pain, to name a few. 

Cannabidiol, unlike THC, is a cannabinoid inside hemp that makes people feel relaxed, calm, and healthy but without the high or disorienting sensations that cannabis is known for. Having been discovered and isolated relatively recently, CBD is the latest wonder supplement in the alternative medicine world. It’s legal in many states and also in some countries in Europe and is sold online and at health stores and other retail outlets.

While many people like to take CBD in oil form, under the tongue or in food, others prefer to smoke or vape CBD flowers or CBD vape juice. This is due to it entering the bloodstream immediately via the lungs. Ideal for those needing rapid relief from their symptoms. Many people who don’t suffer from anything specific also use CBD, simply by incorporating it into their everyday lives in one way or another. That’s why CBD water is the latest thing (in places where CBD’s legal), and there are those out there who swear by it.

cbd water

CBD Living Water is one of the best known brands on the market

While the jury is still out on the real medicinal benefits of CBD, at least officially, there are clinical studies and research papers which conclude that CBD is an excellent thing for pain, anxiety and other conditions. CBD can also be infused into water, with manufacturers claiming it offers a bunch of health and well-being benefits.

To avoid confusion, it’s worth noting that CBD water does not contain high concentrations of CBD like many other products on the market. It’s more of a gimmick than a real health solution, although it could be beneficial as part of an ongoing wellness regimen. With only around a few milligrams of CBD in each bottle of water, most people will feel no effects at all from CBD water.

CBD water manufacturers claim that due to unique nanotechnology, less CBD equates to the same as a potent tincture of CBD oil. They claim that their proprietary nanotechnology decreases the size of the CBD particles, giving your body the ability to absorb it faster and more effectively. The medical research is thin on the ground for now though, and there’s no conclusive evidence to suggest that nanoparticles are more effective.

The other issue is that CBD is unstable when exposed to things like light and air. That fact makes CBD water also questionable for several reasons, especially if it sits a store fridge or shelf for long periods. Furthermore, as soon as a bottle of CBD water is opened and exposed to the elements, the cannabinoid content immediately starts to degrade.

The only viable way to sell CBD water, in reality, is to market it in opaque bottles. This is an issue for the industry as water almost always comes in transparent glass or plastic bottles. In a clear bottle, CBD will break down from the get-go, and if it’s purchased weeks or months later, there could be almost zero left CBD inside. Furthermore, to date, CBD water is oppressively expensive for most people. Coming in at around $6 for a small bottle, CBD water is way more pricey than other forms of CBD; if it’s just the CBD you’re after.

If you’re into CBD and money is no object, it’s a great way to get that little extra and to hydrate at the same time. Always read the label and ensure that the CBD you purchase comes from a safe a reputable source and is backed by third-party lab tests for peace of mind.

The post What’s the Deal with CBD Water? appeared first on CBD Testers.