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CBD Is Off the Menu at Some of the Nation’s Restaurants Thanks to New Regulations

Tehrene Firman

February 6, 2019

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Photo: Stocksy/Linzy Slusher

In recent years, CBD—or cannabidiol—has gone mainstream with a reputation for giving people a feeling of calm without the "high." As its popularity soared, the cannabinoid found its way into everything from beauty products to post-workout creams. But one of the most fun ways to enjoy the ingredient is by eating (or drinking!) it. Unfortunately, new CBD edibles regulations make buying foods that contain cannabidiol a little more difficult in certain parts of the country.

In New York, you'll find CBD oil in lattes, cocktails, and cupcakes. (Even By Chloe is getting in on the fun.) But health officials are taking steps to crack down on the ingredient within the city's eateries. According to The New York Times, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has ordered restaurants under its jurisdiction to stop selling any foods that contain CBD, reasoning that restaurants are not “permitted to add anything to food or drink that is not approved as safe to eat." Currently, that includes CBD.

So long as confusion surrounding CBDs legality and safety continues, don't expect to find it making its way back onto any menus. New York isn't the only area experiencing changes with CBD edibles regulations. It's also been reported that Maine, where recreational marijuana is legal since 2016, has been ordered to stop selling CBD edibles; Ohio, which legalized medical marijuana in 2016, is making changes on the CBD food front, too.

When President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law, it was seen as a huge step forward for the CBD industry. But even with farmers now able to grow hemp more freely, it's still up to the Food and Drug Administration to determine how it can be used, particularly in consumables. With more items available in the CBD space—and no real regulation around safety, quality, and consistency—this ban is likely part of an effort to ensure that consumers don't eat fake CBD oils.

The best you can do at this point is cross your fingers and hope that your favorite CBD-infused treats will be available again soon.

This trendy new cannabinoid might help you sleep better, and it's not CBD. Or, find out if CBD coffee is really as beneficial as everyone says it is.