But is it worth it?
Although cannabis use and sale laws have gradually relaxed in some parts of the world, Japan has virtually maintained its tough stance against it. However, about a year ago, the government made certain bonuses for cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals, and now we are beginning to see some fruits of that development.
A particularly fruitful development is the launch of CBDX, a drink containing 20 milligrams of CBD oil in 250 milliliter (eight ounce) cans for 500 yen (US $ 3.69) each. It recently appeared on vending machines operated by Cheerio, a soft drink maker known for its unusual creations such as soda that looks like mayonnaise and carbonated mint and chocolate drinks.
The launch caused an uproar online with comments such as the following:
“We are in an age where you can buy these things at vending machines.”
“I tried it! It had a fruity taste reminiscent of a tropical island.
“A small amount of CBD doesn’t work …”
“A Strong Zero I think is more profitable.”
“Whenever I look at these kinds of healthy drinks, I think if they were really effective, they would become real medicine instead of just healthy drinks.”
“You have to be a millionaire to buy 500 yen drinks at a vending machine in this economy.”
“Is it okay to drink this at work?”
This last comment raises an interesting question for us, so let’s find out by drinking a little at work! Of couse, CBDX is made from THC-free CBD oil according to Japanese lawbut the substance alone is said to have some health benefits such as pain relief and anxiety.
One credit I will give to CBDX right away is that the amazingly icy machine came out, which was perfect on a pretty hot day like today.
After taking it back to the office, I opened it and tasted it. It was fruity but not particularly sweet, like a delicious golden apple. This was also good on a particularly hot day in terms of soda and not letting your mouth feel sticky afterwards.
I guess it tasted like an energy drink, although “energy drink” is probably not the right word for it, as there are only about 62 calories and little else in terms of stimulant ingredients.
▼ No protein, no fat, no salt, but 6.3 grams of carbs per 100 milliliters
After drinking, I felt nothing quite different. In any case, I felt a little less tired and a little more relaxed than before. If that was the effect of the drink and not just my imagination, I guess it’s a little better than a cup of coffee. Caffeine tends to give more rush and then a shock, but it seems to have a more uniform and consistent approach.
By the way, there is a very similar drink that also came out recently in Japan, called Chill Out. However, Chill Out uses an unclear amount of hemp seed oil instead of CBD oil, and seems to rely more on other ingredients, such as GABA, for its relaxing effect. CBDX, on the other hand, is almost just straight oil and some flavorings.
▼ Chill Out sells for 200 yen per 185 milliliter can at vending machines
Overall, it was fine, but the price of 500 yen is too high for me to recover. The 500 milliliter Godzilla energy drink, which was sold just below 200 yen, seemed to be much more profitable … maybe too much, actually.
However, if you are in Japan and want a delicious dose of CBD oil for anything that hurts you, just find a Cheerio vending machine near you or order one directly from the CBDX website.
Source: CBDX, Hachima Kiko
Images: © SoraNews24
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