CBD Hits Fast Food with ‘Rocky Mountain High’ Burger at Carl’s Jr. for $4.20 on 4/20
Let is be known: Carl’s Jr is definitely 420-friendly.
A Denver-based branch of the burger chain plans to be the first national fast-food brand to debut a CBD or cannabidiol-infused sandwich for one day only — on April 20th, a day of celebration for many cannabis fans.
The Rocky Mountain High: CheeseBurger Delight is made with two beef patties, pickled jalapeños, pepper jack cheese and waffle fries, and topped with their Sante Fe Sauce, which on this day will also include about 5 milligrams of hemp-derived CBD. Cheekily, they set the price at $4.20.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis — meaning it won’t get you “high” — that is said to relieve pain and reduce stress and anxiety among other reported benefits. However, little scientific research has been done to support these claims.
While CBD is legal, the Food and Drug Administration continues to prohibit businesses from selling the chemical in their food or drink until their public hearing next month, when they’ll decide how to regulate it. Meanwhile, restaurants all over the country are trying to meet the demand of enthusiastic CBD proponents without the FDA noticing.
That’s probably why Carl’s Jr. chose the Mile High City to test their new concept. Recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado in 2014, where retail and medical dispensaries are making billions, sparking a national conversation over the cannabis industry’s potential.
For their part, Carl’s Jr. is coming out ahead of a national trend lead by professional chefs: a National Restaurant Association survey released earlier this month named CBD- and cannabis-infused food and drink as the top food trend for 2019. And while not everyone thinks CBD is worth the hype, the industry is clearly taking the buzz pretty seriously.