Although laws regarding cannabis use and sales have been gradually relaxing in some parts of the world, Japan has pretty much been maintaining its hardline stance against it. However, about a year ago, the government made certain allowances for cannabis-derived pharmaceutical products, and now we are beginning to see some fruits of that development.
One particularly fruity development is the release of CBDX, a drink that contains 20 milligrams of CBD oil in 250-milliliter cans for 500 yen each. It recently showed up at vending machines operated by Cheerio, a soft drink maker known for its unusual creations like soda that looks like mayonnaise and carbonated choco-mint drinks.
The release made a buzz online with comments such as the following:
“We’re in an age where you can buy that stuff in vending machines.”
“I tried it! It had a fruity flavor reminiscent of a tropical island.”
“A small amount of CBD doesn’t work…”
“A Strong Zero is more cost-effective I think.”
“Whenever I look at these kinds of health drinks, I think if they were really effective, they’d be made into actual medicine rather than just health drinks.”
“You’d have to be a millionaire to buy 500-yen drinks from a vending machine in this economy.”
“Is it OK to drink that at work?”
That last comment poses an interesting question, so let’s find out by drinking some at work. Of course, CBDX is made with CBD oil that contains no THC in accordance with Japanese law, but the substance alone is said to have some health benefits such as pain and anxiety relief.
One credit that we’ll give CBDX right off the bat is that it came out the machine surprisingly frosty, which was perfect on a pretty hot day like today.
After taking it back to the office we cracked it open and had a taste. It was fruity but not especially sweet, kind of like a golden delicious apple. This was also good on an especially hot day in terms of refreshment and not leaving your mouth feeling all sticky afterward.
It had a taste like an energy drink, though “energy drink” probably isn’t the right word for this since there’s only about 62 calories and little else in terms of stimulating ingredients.
▼ No protein, no fat, no salt, but 6.3 grams of carbs per 100 milliliters
After drinking, I didn’t feel anything resoundingly different. If anything I felt slightly less tired, and yet at the same time slightly more relaxed than before. If that was the effect of the drink and not just my imagination, I guess it’s slightly better than a cup of coffee. Caffeine tends to give more of a rush and then a crash, but this feels like I had a more even and steady focus.
By the way, there’s a very similar drink that came out recently in Japan too, 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 pretty much just the straight oil and some flavorings.
▼ Chill Out sells for 200 yen per 185 milliliter can at vending machines
Still, if you’re in Japan and want a delicious dose of CBD oil for whatever ails you, just find a Cheerio vending machine near you, or order some direct from the CBDX website.
Source: CBDX, Hachima Kiko
Images: ©SoraNews24
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2022/06/24/cbd-oil-drinks-now-available-in-japanese-vending-machines/
35 Comments
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ebisen
May I suggest explaining all the acronyms once during the article? They might be well known for a certain class of people, again, not everyone here is in that class.
Rodney
Just tell us, if we pay ¥5000 for ten cans, will we get stoned or not?
James
@Rodney
No THC = No stoned
Ricky Kaminski13
Cbd is about to take off folks. Watch this space. Ex tokers, try the wax and a vape pen. You maybe pleasantly surprised. Stay as far away from them strong zeros as possible!
dagon
“A Strong Zero is more cost-effective I think.”
The drug of choice, or desperation, for the Japanese corporate wage slave.
Ass
I wasn't a fan of the electric Lettuce even before I left home and came to the land of the rising sun. Now if you tell me that you can get a dime bag of cocaine from a vending machine then you'd have my attention.
Franz Pichler
Snake oil exactly, why not just have a nice iced black tea or an ice shaken espresso. Consumerism will destroy this planet
Lindsay
It’s unlikely such a small amount is going to have any health benefits unless you are drinking 4 liters of it every day. However, it has to be better for you than Red Bull or Monster.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
That's incorrect.
The CBD oils sold in Japan have a miniscule amount of THC im them that is allowed by Japanese law.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
A relaxing energy drink ?
That makes alot of sense !
Strangerland
Then why does all the science say otherwise? What makes anonymous internet poster's opinion more credible than scientific findings?
If you want an energy shot, try a triple espresso, nothing beats that.
Eh? You don't even know what CBD does. Let me give you a hint, no one has ever taken it for an energy shot. Ever. That's not what it does mate.
Strangerland
Not at all. Drink 50 if you want.
Strangerland
I believe that the amount is what scientists call 'statistically insignificant'.
Albert
What a comments again. This amount doesn't do anything and it is diluted. Just marketing to make people pay 500 yen. Even a good cup of coffee good ve more rush.
Rodney
So, strong zero ¥108 in the supa, nice happy feeling, or these new fancy drinks, ¥500, but no buzz. I wonder if this is a ploy by chuhai companies to make people realize how great strong zero is? My local supermarket sometimes sells out of strong zero. Whiskey Soda is expensive and Red Bull is ¥300.
in Japan there are one time seasonal drinks. You won’t find it next year.
GuruMick
I find sitting next to a waterfall or bubbling creek as relaxing as it gets in Japan.
Add a cold beer and a camp chair placed in the middle of the stream.....beats most things for a chill out.
WA4TKG
Nice, NOW I can move back to Japan :)
It's coming folks
Cricky
Think I might go to Thailand and try their drinks, sound so much better.
kurisupisu
I’m off to Thailand next month; I’ll never try this ineffective overpriced tripe.
500 yen-it’s a bloody joke!
WA4TKG
A Japanese friend said a store worker laughed and told her these are worthless to help whatever ails you.
Ken Holcomb
Here's a thought: if you don't think it's worth the money for whatever "rush" you imagined the CBD tag was going to give, Don't Buy It.
Otherwise, unless your negative comments are based on your scientific expertise, no one cares.....,;-(
The Avenger
It would be great if something like CBD (Cannabidiol) could be used for many ailments, with limited side effects. Some of side effects of today's medicines are worse than the ailment.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
You can believe whatever you like ...however the truth is the article is incorrect because there is THC allowed in CBD as a miniscule amount and therefore your opinion also became insignificant.
If there was no THC in it we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
No THC allowed !
Oh wait a minute we cant guarantee that so i guess a little is ok.
And what happens when you heat it up ?
Even burning hops oil creates a small amount of THC.
Ridiculous to think that no commenters on this site are scientists or chemists just because they comment.
asiafriend
If anyone knows the ins and outs of drugs, it is strangerland. Not from a scientific point of view, but rather a usage point of view. As once bragging about LSD use, is it a coincidence that the moniker “strangerland” contains the letters LSD? The "go to person" for drugs. I prefer getting high on life.
Strangerland
Not really. I dabbled a little when I was younger, but I'm nearly a teetotaller now.
I think you'd have to be on LSD to find that anything other than coincidental.
Strangerland
Having been high, I can say for a fact that little in life makes you high the way drugs do. Hard exercise is the closest I've found. I can't say I've ever heard anyone who's actually done drugs say the above quote.
That all said, I also prefer just living life. I just don't criticize others who want to enjoy it in their own way.
Strangerland
None of these have any kind of equivalency or relevance to CBD at all.
asiafriend
If anyone knows the ins and outs of drugs, it is strangerland. Not from a scientific point of view, but rather a usage point of view.
As once bragging about LSD use, is it a coincidence that the moniker “strangerland” contains the letters LSD?
Dabbled a little? That is all relative. A billion dollars to Elon Musk is only a "little" amount of money, but to 99.99999999 % of the world, it is a fortune.
No, one does not need to be on LSD to find it anything other than coincidental. Rather, just observant.
Strangerland
Sure. To someone who has never done any drugs, they would think I've done lots.
But objectively, compared to most people who actually do try trugs, I'm not particularly experienced. I've done a handful of drugs, a handful of times, and a few of them only once.
So yeah, it's all relative. But I'm hardly someone I would call particularly experienced on, or knowledgeable enough to speak authoritatively on the doing of drugs. I'm more knowledgeable on how they fit into society, and how society treats drug usage.
Schizophrenics are observant as well. The thing is, the observations they make aren't actually logically connected together, they are unrelated connections that only appear to have a connection due to a brain that is chemically imbalanced.
asiafriend
StrangerlandJune 30 04:33 am JST.
No, only based on past braggadocious posts.
Scientists, accountants, and others are observant as well. The Weltanschauung about schizophrenics, as you described from the unique perspective of past personal, firsthand experience, provides neuroscientists a plethora of research material.