​Deep in the weed

Cannabis-infused food and beverages (those items containing cannabidiol, or CBD for short) are a top trend of the year, according to survey feedback from the National Restaurant Association — and yet the FDA still prohibits the use of CBD in these products. That could change soon as the agency is planning to hold its first public hearing in May to determine how it will regulate CBD, which became legal in December. Cannabis-infused products have spiked 99 percent over the past year according to Upserve research, and yet chefs have had to fly under the radar when offering these items, which claim to ease anxiety, pain and other ailments without altering the mind. To date, CBD has been most commonly found in coffee drinks and mocktails, but food applications are on the rise. Carl’s Jr. recently became the first quick-service restaurant in the U.S. to add CBD to its menu, which in Colorado is featuring a limited-time offer of a CheeseBurger Delight that contains about 5 milligrams of hemp-derived CBD extract in its Santa Fe Sauce, according to CNBC.