The legality of cannabinoid products in the United States is dependent on their concentration and source. CBD is legally available in the United States, but it must be derived from imported high-CBD, low-THC calming hemp oil. CBD itself it not listed under the Controlled Substances Act, so it is legal in all 50 states, provided the CBD is not extracted from marijuana. If derived from marijuana, CBD is illegal unless obtained through a state-regulated medical marijuana program, or in a state that permits recreational marijuana use. Marijuana and THC are both specifically listed in the U.S. Controlled Substances Act and therefore prohibited under federal law. 36 U.S. states and Washington D.C. THC, provided it’s recommended by a licensed physician. Medical marijuana containing higher concentrations of THC is legal in Ohio. Dispensaries across the state offer products with THC and CBD in isolated forms, as well as different ratios between the two cannabinoids.

If you're dipping your toes into the infused beverage space, these businesses can help you get started. As cannabis regulation continues to evolve across the United States and around the world, please be mindful of your local laws and regulations. Alcoholism runs deep in both sides of my family. To prevent possibly continuing those patterns as I get older, I’ve become more interested in exploring other options for social drinking; Alcohol-free wines and spirits have become significantly more accessible in recent years, and cannabis-based mocktails is one of the most interesting trends in this space. Picture a zero-proof drink with all the layers of flavor we’ve come to love in a cocktail, but with a THC and/or CBD mixture that can be customized for the exact high you’d like to experience. While this trend is spreading, conversations around race and cannabis need to remain at the forefront of this movement.

With Black cannabis entrepreneurs accounting for less than 2% of businesses in this multi-billion dollar industry, the politics around all things cannabis still live in the shadow of the effects of DARE (an anti-drug program that was very popular in the 90’s and early 2000’s that also helped to push the criminalization and stigmatization of recreational cannabis to children), the Reagan-era’s war on drugs, as well as a longer legacy of racism in the United States. The first cannabis mocktail I ever tried was in Rose Mary Jane, a Black woman-owned, equity-owned canna-bar and lounge in Oakland, California. This location is also a community event center and a dispensary for Garden CBD Relief cannabis products, with a focus on local producers such as Maat Apothecary (their spiced honey is a favorite of mine) and New Life,