Top 10 Best CBD Energy Drinks in 2020

Reviewing the Top 10 Best CBD Energy Drinks in 2020

CBD beverages have skyrocketed in popularity. There are many different ways to ingest CBD, and today’s CBD users have more options and product types than ever before.

The global energy drink market has an estimated forecast to be worth $84 billion by 2026. Combine this with the CBD market outlook of expanding to become a $22 billion industry by 2022 and there is an imminent cause for immediate growth and adoption.

Depending on the spectrum of how massive either of these predictions are to becoming a reality in the next few years, the writing is on the wall that consumers are obviously interested in this mega-markets merger of CBD and energy drinks.

To quantify how big the introduction of CBD functional ingredient is into the energy drinks market, a simple trip down memory lane can put it into perspective by looking at the history of today's most popular energy beverage brands.

Red Bull was a pioneer and put the energy drink movement on everyone's radar back in April 1987 (introduced in the United States in 1997). Fast forward to today and they are estimated to be worth $9.9 billion and do over $6 billion of units in global sales.

Next, the Monster Beverage company stock actually outperformed Apple, Amazon and Google by increasing over 60,000% since opening in 2003 and was the top performing stock of the century. Rockstar, another household energy drink name, captured almost 15% of the US energy drink market and now does over $900 million in sales annually in its first decade of business.

This crystallizes the potential of what happens when you combine CBD with energy drinks. Things are now getting much more intriguing due to the grand entrance of CBD-infused energy drinks hitting shelves around the world as users look for safe, natural alternatives to consume rather than the high sugar, jittery and crash effects most mainstream energy drinks carry as a side effect.

The annual dietary nutrition supplement industry is only estimated to be worth $45 billion annually in comparison. And CBD became the top-selling most popular herbal extract in the past calendar year for the natural channel product sales in the US. Now, as cannabis legalization continues and the green rush unfolds, the possibility of how well a high-quality functional-ingredient based energy beverage could do in a booming market is why the search for top-ranked CBD energy drinks is rising fast.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), energy drinks are the second most popular choice of supplements for teenagers and young adults. It may be time to tell all of these side-effect-riddled prescription stimulants and marque energy drink ingredients like taurine, caffeine, yerba mate, guarana, glucuronolactone, ginseng, green tea, ginkgo biloba and sugars to move over for a new all-natural energy drink alternative featuring CBD.

While CBD oils, gummies and pain relief products dominate the cannabidiol-infused supplementation sector to-date, with new innovative formulations and infusion methods, CBD energy drinks are the next big cannabis oil industry to emerge. Aside from the ever-evolving beauty skincare and topical creams sector, hemp-derived CBD-infused energy beverages are poised and positioned to have an explosive 2020 decade due to all of the benefits associated with the most-prized cannabinoid.

With so many CBD energy drink choices already available, it’s difficult to know which one is optimal for you. This prompted the research team to set out and review all of the most popular hemp-derived cannabidiol-infused energy drinks in 2020, ranking them based on a numbers of factors outlined below.

After the rankings list of the top 10 best CBD energy drink beverages to research, there is an overview of the benefits, side effects and dosage guide after along with an FAQ to answer the most pressing questions about the rising prominence of cannabidiol energy drinks.

Joy Organics CBD Energy Drink Mix

Joy Organics is one of the best-known names in the CBD space. The company’s CBD Energy Drink Mix is particularly popular. The beverage mix has a light, fruity taste and 12.5mg of CBD per packet. It’s THC-free, which means you won’t fail any drug tests.

There’s more than just CBD in each packet; there’s also 75mg of caffeine and a handful of vitamins and minerals, making the Joy Organics CBD Energy Drink Mix the ultimate, convenient daily CBD beverage.

The beverage mix isn’t exactly cheap: a box with five packets is priced at $20, which works out to $4 per beverage. However, if you want a convenient way to access CBD from a trusted brand, then Joy Organics CBD Energy Drink Mix is one popular option. It’s not the cheapest option on this list, but it’s certainly not the most expensive either.

Check Out Joy Organics CBD Energy Drink Mix

Sunday Scaries YOLO Shot CBD Energy Shot

Well-known CBD company Sunday Scaries offers its “YOLO Shot” CBD energy shot at a price of $69 for a 12 pack of shots. At $5.75 per beverage (buying in bulk, no less), Sunday Scaries YOLO Shot is one of the more expensive options on our list.

There’s a reason Sunday Scaries is priced way higher than its competitors: each shot contains 50mg of CBD. Most other beverages on this list, even the larger beverages, contain somewhere between 0mg and 13mg of CBD at most, which is why the Sunday Scaries YOLO Shot stands out from the competition.

Each shot contains a proprietary blend with 565mg of taurine, organic green coffee beans, CBD extract, ginseng, and guarana. There’s 0g of sugar in each energy shot. The hemp is sourced from farms in Greeley, Colorado. All lab reports are published online.

One thing that’s unusual about the Sunday Scaries YOLO Shot is that we don’t know how much caffeine is in each shot (the caffeine is part of the 565mg proprietary formula mentioned above). We’re led to assume it’s approximately the same as one cup of coffee, although the caffeine dosage isn’t listed anywhere online.

In any case, if you want a strong CBD dosage and don’t mind paying a premium for it, then Sunday Scaries makes one of the best CBD energy shots around with its YOLO Shot. Coconut Lime, Fruit Punch, and Tropical Pineapple flavors are all available.

Check Out Sunday Scaries YOLO CBD Energy Shot

Kona Gold Hemp Energy Drinks

Florida-based Kona Gold makes a popular lineup of Hemp Energy Drinks. The CBD beverages promise to give you “premium hemp energy” in every can. It’s just like drinking an energy drink with hemp: you get caffeine, B-vitamins, and a very small amount of hemp in each serving.

As of January 2020, Kona Gold offers eight different flavors, including popular options like Pink Grapefruit, Candy Apple, Bubble Gum, and Cherry Vanilla.

The CBD energy drinks are also priced at a reasonable rate: each 12-pack of Kona Gold Hemp Energy Drinks (in any flavor) is priced at $25 (12 oz per bottle). You can buy them online through the official website or through Amazon.com.

As for ingredients, each 12 oz can contains zero calories, zero sugar, natural flavors, and organic hemp. What’s the catch? Well, Kona Gold doesn’t actually list its CBD content in each can. “organic hemp seed protein powder” is listed as one of the flavors, but there’s no specific dosage of CBD in each can. Each can also contains 0g of protein, which suggests there isn’t much organic hemp seed protein powder at all (it’s the fourth-lowest ingredient on the ingredient list).

Ultimately, Kona Gold Hemp Energy Drinks are energy drinks with trace amounts of hemp. If you like energy drinks and don’t mind the minimal CBD dosage, then Kona Gold’s Hemp Energy Drinks may be right for you – although serious CBD consumers will want to steer clear.

Check Out Kona Gold Hemp Energy Drink Product Line

Tribe Hemp CBD Energy Shot

Want to get the full value of CBD without drinking a large can? Tribe’s Hemp CBD Energy Shot contains a proprietary formula with 20mg of “nanoemulsified” broad-spectrum hemp CBD oil in each bottle. Each bottle has zero calories and zero THC.

Tribe sources its CBD from USA-grown hemp. In addition to 20mg of CBD per bottle, each bottle contains caffeine, ginseng, and guarana, all of which should boost your energy. Oddly, Tribe hides all of these ingredients behind a proprietary formula, and the label is not currently posted online, which means we don’t know how much caffeine is in each shot.

Each CBD Energy Shot is priced at $4.49, although you can also buy a three-pack ($11.99) or 12-pack ($39.99) from the official website.

Check Out Tribe CBD Hemp Energy Drink Shots

Palm Organix Premium CBD Energy Drink Mix

Palm Organix offers a popular CBD energy drink mix in the form of caffeine packets. Similar to other CBD beverage powders on this list, you mix the Palm Organix CBD Energy Drink Mix with water, then drink it to conveniently enjoy CBD throughout the day.

Palm Organix uses broad-spectrum, zero-THC CBD. A single box (five packets) is priced at $19.50, which is a fairly similar value to the Joy Organics CBD Energy Drink Mix at the top of our list.

Each serving of Palm Organix CBD Energy Drink Mix contains 12.5mg of CBD and 75mg of caffeine. You add the mix to 12 to 24 ounces of water, then enjoy. There is a wide range of other vitamins and minerals in this mixture to give you a full-body energy boost. There are also herbal extracts you might not expect to find – like Asian ginseng root powder, maca root powder, and Yohimbe bark extract, among others.

Check Out Palm Organix CBD Energy Drink Packs

Black Rain Focus & CBD Energy Drink Mix

Oakland, California-based Black Rain claims “fast recovery has never been easier” thanks to their CBD energy drink mix. All Black Rain products are organic and made in the United States.

Pricing is slightly more expensive than other drink powders on this list: you’ll pay $25 for a box containing five packets. Each packet contains 75mg of caffeine and 10mg of hemp oil with zero THC. You add the powder to 12 to 24 ounces of water and drink it whenever you like.

Black Rain calls its hemp extract “PCR”, or “phytocannabinoid-rich”. The company uses full-spectrum CBD with naturally present terpenes and phytocannabinoids, but unlike certain other full-spectrum CBD products, there’s 0.0% THC. That means you get the full value of CBD without worrying about passing a drug test.

In addition to CBD and caffeine, Black Rain Focus & CBD Energy Drink Mix contains significant amounts of vitamins (vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B2, B6, and B12), minerals (phosphorus, chromium, and potassium), and herbal extracts (aloe vera leaf powder, Asian ginseng root powder, and maca root powder, among other ingredients). The formula is surprisingly similar to the Palm Organix CBD Energy Drink Mix (they’re the only two products on this list with maca root, Asian ginseng, and Yohimbe, for example).

Check Out Black Rain Focus + CBD Energy Drink Mix

The Hemp Doctor CBD Energy Drink Mix

At $18 for five packets, The Hemp Doctor’s CBD Energy Drink Mix is one of the more affordable options on our list. Each package claims to give you a natural energy boost with 75mg of caffeine, 13.5mg of water-soluble CBD, and zero THC.

As with other CBD powders, you add the mixture to 12 to 24 ounces of water, then conveniently drink the beverage throughout the day. The CBD is lab-tested, certified Kosher, and comes with a 30-day moneyback guarantee.

The Hemp Doctor offers just one flavor: Very Berry. All hemp is sourced from US growers. The company also uses the term “PCR hemp” or “phytocannabinoid-rich hemp” when describing the synergistic effect of its full-spectrum CBD formula.

Pure Kana Citrus (Energy) CBD Beverage Enhancer

Popular CBD company Pure Kana makes its own “beverage enhancer” CBD beverage. Pure Kana’s Citrus (Energy) CBD Beverage Enhancer is a liquid formula that can be added to any hot or cold beverage to give you your daily dose of CBD.

Each bottle ($32 per bottle) contains 39mg of total CBD content. There’s also a significant amount of taurine, caffeine, and vitamin B6 for additional energy support. Each serving contains approximately 2.6mg of full-spectrum CBD. As with other full-spectrum CBD products, you get a full range of terpenes and phytonutrients from the hemp – not just the CBD isolate. Pure Kana claims this full spectrum CBD “may improve CBD bioavailability”, making it easier for your body to absorb the active ingredient.

To use Pure Kana’s Citrus (Energy) CBD Beverage Enhancer, just add one squeeze to an 8 fl. oz beverage of your choice. It’s a convenient way to get your daily CBD dosage while still drinking your preferred beverage. Most reviewers seem to prefer the citrus flavor.

Check Out Pure Kana CBD Beverage Enhancer

Pure Kana Mixed Berry (Sleep) CBD Beverage Enhancer

Pure Kana offers three different CBD beverage enhancers. All three work in a similar way, giving you a strong daily dose of CBD in a liquid formula. You can add the formula to the hot or cold beverage of your choice, then enjoy the active ingredients.

The Mixed Berry (Sleep) CBD Beverage Enhancer has 120mg of total CBD content in each bottle. There are passionflower and valerian root extract to support your sleep cycle along with 8mg of full-spectrum CBD in each serving.

Just like with the citrus-flavored CBD beverage enhancer above, the mixed berry flavor is particularly well-reviewed. Pure Kana has also used full-spectrum CBD with terpenes and phytonutrients for maximum bioavailability.

Check Out Pure Kana CBD Beverage Enhancer

Pure Kana Lemon Lime (Immunity) CBD Beverage Enhancer

Along with the Energy and Sleep CBD Beverage Enhancers, the Immunity CBD Beverage Enhancer is one of three such products offered by Pure Kana. You add the CBD liquid solution to the hot or cold beverage of your choice. There’s 120mg of total CBD content in each bottle and 8mg of full-spectrum CBD in each squeeze.

To boost your immune system, Pure Kana has added echinacea, zinc, and vitamin B12. The lemon-lime flavor seems to be the least popular flavor of the three (compared to Mixed Berry and Citrus), although, like most Pure Kana CBD products, it’s still very well-reviewed.

Check Out Pure Kana CBD Beverage Enhancer

Cannabis Energy Drink

Cannabis Energy Drink found online at CannabisEnergyDrink.com, describes itself as “Amsterdam’s coolest energy drink”. It comes in a standard, slim-style energy drink can (like Red Bull) but with distinctive green packaging and a marijuana leaf.

Despite the name and the marijuana leaf on the front, Cannabis Energy Drink contains zero THC. Cannabis Energy Drink doesn’t even seem to contain a significant amount of CBD: the ingredient label lists hemp seed extract, although there’s no specific dosage of CBD listed anywhere on the label.

Cannabis Energy Drink is also one of the few CBD beverages on this list that contains sugar instead of artificial sweeteners or non-sugar sweeteners: there’s 27g of sugar in each 250mL can (although it is beet sugar). In addition to CBD and sugar, each can contains taurine and caffeine. Three flavors are available, including Light, Mango, and Regular.

Overall, Cannabis Energy Drink is similar to the Kona Gold Hemp Energy Drinks: there’s flashy marketing and a distinctive label, although it’s unclear if there’s a significant amount of CBD in any can.

Check Out Cannabis Energy Drink

Gorilla Hemp CBD Energy Drink

Last but likely not least, Gorilla Hemp is a new CBD energy drink set to launch in January 2020 based on its proprietary blend of quality cannabidiol infused ingredients that will contain 20mg of hemp CBD extract. The Gorilla Hemp Energy Drink is designed to provide mental alertness and physical stamina based on its hemp CBD isolate-infusion and a host of other add-ins such as green tea, ginseng, gingko biloba, guarana, and B vitamins for a stimulating effect. More information will be made available once Elegance Brands' Gorilla Hemp CBD energy drink launches this year.

How We Ranked the Top CBD Energy Beverages

Most CBD energy drinks make similar promises: to provide your body with a boost of energy and a strong dose of CBD. However, not all CBD energy drinks fulfill that promise.

To separate good CBD energy drinks from bad ones, we used all of the following ranking factors.

CBD Dosage: You’re buying a CBD energy drink because you want a strong dose of CBD. The CBD dosages in the beverages above ranged from no discernable amount of CBD to 50mg of CBD per serving. The typical CBD energy drink had 10 to 15mg of CBD.

Caffeine Dosage: Most energy drinks above contained some amount of caffeine. Surprisingly, most beverages contained a reasonable amount of caffeine (75mg to 125mg, or about the same as one cup of coffee). Traditional energy drinks may have 200mg of caffeine or more, and a grande coffee from Starbucks has around 330mg of caffeine.

Full Spectrum Hemp: Most CBD energy drinks used full-spectrum hemp with phytonutrients and terpenes from the hemp plant. Full-spectrum hemp is thought to have a complementary or entourage effect, enhancing the absorption of CBD into your body.

Hemp Source: Many of the high-quality CBD energy drink manufacturers grow their hemp in the United States. Some even disclose the specific farming location. We know that Sunday Scaries – the most expensive option on our list – grows the hemp for its YOLO Shots in Greeley, Colorado, for example. Other CBD energy drinks did not disclose the source of their hemp or its growing location.

THC Content: Most of the energy drinks listed above specifically advertise the fact that they contain 0% THC. Some, however, contain THC up to the legal limit (0.3% THC), which can still appear on a drug test. We featured a range of CBD energy drinks with all levels of THC content for all different tastes.

Label Transparency: We get skeptical when a CBD energy drink hides its label, ingredients, or dosages from us. Some CBD energy drinks use proprietary formulas to make it impossible to find the specific dosage of caffeine, CBD, or other ingredients inside. We prioritized CBD beverages with transparent labels.

Advertised Health Benefits: CBD product manufacturers cannot claim their products have specific health benefits. However, they can say things like “our CBD energy beverage supports general wellness and helps maintain a feeling of calmness.” Some CBD manufacturers take these advertised benefits too far, claiming their products “cure anxiety” or “treat” specific diseases and ailments. That’s the sign of a shady company willing to say anything to sell its CBD beverage.

Price and Value: CBD energy drinks ranged from $2 to $7 per serving. The cheaper options tended to be CBD energy drink powders, while the more expensive options tended to contain high doses of CBD (50mg per serving). We listed a range of different CBD energy drinks for all budgets, although we ensured each product listed here offered fair value.

Who Should Take a CBD Energy Drink?

CBD energy drinks are the ideal beverage for people who:

• Want a strong daily dose of cannabidiol (CBD)
• Want to stimulate their body with caffeine, B vitamins, or other compounds

CBD energy drinks contain anywhere from 10mg to 50mg of CBD per serving. Most of them also contain about 75mg of caffeine – the same amount of caffeine in an average cup of coffee. Many also contain B vitamins and other nutrients – just like many energy drinks also contain these ingredients.

Of course, not all CBD energy drinks contain caffeine and other stimulants. Some simply contain CBD and natural flavors, vitamins, and minerals to boost your energy.

Whether you want CBD, an energy boost, or a bit of both, a CBD energy drink may provide the boost you need.

Benefits of CBD Energy Drinks

CBD energy drinks cannot advertise any health benefits. CBD energy drinks are simply beverages: they’re not drugs.

However, there may be certain benefits to consuming CBD energy drinks. CBD is linked with certain benefits, for example, and caffeine has a proven ability to energize the body. Other ingredients – like taurine or B vitamins – may also provide the energy you need.

First, let’s start with CBD. The human body has a specialized system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The endocannabinoid system regulates crucial body functions – like sleep, appetite, pain, and immune system response, among other functions. Your body produces endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors in your nervous system. CBD is a cannabinoid that your body cannot produce on its own, which is why many people believe there are certain benefits to CBD.

CBD appears to impact the endocannabinoid system: CBD binds to cannabinoid receptors in your nervous system or impacts endocannabinoid receptor activity in multiple ways, reducing inflammation, reducing chronic pain, and interacting with neurotransmitters. Because of these effects, CBD has been linked with a variety of benefits.

CBD seems linked to pain relief. Some studies have shown that CBD can relieve chronic pain and acute pain.

One study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2017, for example, found that rats given CBD injections had a reduced pain response to a surgical incision. A similar study found that rats given an oral CBD treatment had significantly lower sciatic nerve pain and inflammation.

It’s not just rat studies: CBD has actually been approved by national health authorities as a pain relief product. An oral spray called Sativex, for example, has been approved in several countries to treat pain related to multiple sclerosis. Sativex is simply a combination of THC and CBD.

The pain-relieving effects of Sativex were witnessed in this study where 47 multiple sclerosis patients took Sativex for one month. After one month of taking the CBD/THC hybrid, patients reported improvements in pain, walking, and muscle spasms.

CBD may also reduce pain in patients who don’t have multiple sclerosis. In this study, for example, Sativex’s CBD/THC hybrid significantly reduced pain during movement and pain at rest in 58 people with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients also reported improved sleep quality.

Many people also take CBD and CBD energy drinks to relieve anxiety and depression. This is where CBD shows particular promise – especially when compared to traditional pharmaceutical anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs.

This study from Brazil, for example, showed that oral CBD could significantly reduce anxiety before a stressful event. 57 men received either oral CBD or a placebo 90 minutes before undergoing a public speaking test. Researchers found that a 300mg dose of CBD significantly reduced anxiety during the test. However, the same study found that a placebo, a 150mg dose of CBD, and a 600mg dose of CBD had no impact on anxiety.

In other studies, CBD has shown effects similar to anti-depressants Researchers have praised CBD for functioning similar to an anti-depressant drug but without harmful side effects.

How exactly does CBD impact anxiety and depression? Researchers have traced this activity to CBD’s ability to act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin. Serotonin is a crucial neurotransmitter for mood and social behavior. When CBD impacts serotonin levels, it can change the way your body handles anxiety and depression.

One of the most exciting areas of study for CBD is its anti-cancer properties. Certain studies have shown that CBD can alleviate certain symptoms linked to cancer treatment – including nausea, vomiting, and pain caused by chemotherapy, as well as the pain caused by cancer itself.

One study, for example, analyzed the effects of CBD and THC in 177 patients with cancer-related pain who were not experiencing relief from traditional pain medication. Patients treated with an extract containing CBD and THC experienced a significant reduction in pain compared to those who only received THC extract.

Meanwhile, CBD may also reduce chemotherapy-related symptoms like nausea and vomiting, which are the most common chemotherapy side effects. In this study, 16 people undergoing chemotherapy received a one-to-one combination of CBD and THC administered orally. The CBD group experienced relief from chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting better than standard treatment alone.

CBD may also inhibit the growth of cancer itself. In this study published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics in 2011, researchers found that cannabidiol induced the death of human breast cancer cells in test tubes. These effects were also replicated in this study on mice, where CBD inhibited the spread of aggressive breast cancer cells.

There’s even some evidence that CBD reduces acne. Acne is caused by a range of factors, including genetics, bacteria, inflammation, oily skin, and other issues. CBD, however, appears to treat acne with its ability to act as an anti-inflammatory and reduce sebum (skin oil) production. One test-tube study found that CBD specifically prevented sebaceous gland cells from secreting excessive sebum while also exerting anti-inflammatory actions. In other words, CBD reduced the growth in acne in multiple ways. In this case, CBD oil was applied topically (to the skin), although it may also work when taken orally. You’re not going to rub a CBD energy drink on your skin.

Some people take CBD energy drinks to enhance brain activity. CBD might actually enhance the brain-boosting effects of an energy drink with its neuroprotective properties. Certain studies have shown that CBD can protect the brain from damage. In this study, for example, CBD/THC drug Sativex reduced spasms in patients with multiple sclerosis. In another study, patients with Parkinson’s disease significantly improved quality of life and quality of sleep after taking CBD.

CBD may also reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) or delay the onset of AD. In this study, CBD decreased inflammation and helped prevent neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These effects were replicated in this study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2014, where researchers gave CBD to mice genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s Disease, then concluded that CBD helped prevent cognitive decline.

Many of the brain-boosting effects of CBD seem linked to CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is linked to diseases throughout the body. By reducing inflammation, CBD may reduce your chance of disease.

You don’t typically think of energy drinks as being good for your heart. In fact, medical experts have issued warnings about certain high-caffeine energy drinks in the past.

However, there’s some evidence that CBD could improve your heart health. CBD has been shown to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. In one study published in 2017, men treated with 600mg of CBD oil experienced reduced resting blood pressure compared to a placebo. That same study also gave men stress tests that would normally raise blood pressure and found that the CBD group experienced a lower rise than the placebo group.

Researchers believe that CBD lowers blood pressure because it reduces stress and anxiety.

The cardioprotective effects of CBD were also seen in this study, where researchers gave CBD to diabetic mice with heart disease. In these mice, CBD reduced oxidative stress and prevented heart damage.

Of course, it’s not just CBD in a CBD energy drink. The beverages listed above have other ingredients – like B vitamins, caffeine, and taurine. These ingredients may have beneficial effects on their own.

B vitamins, for example, are prized for their ability to boost energy. B vitamins convert the food you eat into energy your body can use. Caffeine, on the other hand, is one of the world’s most popular stimulants.

Caffeine has been linked with numerous beneficial effects. This study from Johns Hopkins University, for example, showed that a 200mg caffeine pill boosted memory consolidation, helping participants form new memories and recall those memories.

Caffeine has also been shown to detoxify the liver, stimulate hair growth, relieve post-workout muscle pain, and even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

We also appreciate the fact that the CBD energy drinks above have relatively low levels of caffeine compared to a traditional energy drink. With approximately 75mg of caffeine per CBD energy drink, you may not experience the same downsides related to high caffeine consumption that you would get from, say a Monster or Rockstar energy drink.

Caffeine has been extensively studied. But there have also been plenty of studies specifically on energy drinks.

In this study, for example, researchers found that energy drinks can increase driving quality and reduce sleepiness in drivers, helping anyone stay alert behind the wheel even when sleep-deprived.

There are several main drawbacks of energy drinks. High-sugar energy drinks can cause blood sugar to spike, increasing the risk of diabetes, boosting inflammation, and raising the risk of many chronic diseases.

However, many of the CBD energy drinks listed above have zero sugar. They use alternative sweeteners like stevia, for example. These sweeteners may have their own issues, but the lack of sugar in your CBD energy drink could prevent certain negative side effects.

Another issue with energy drinks is that many people mix them with alcohol. Mixing energy drinks and alcohol can have negative effects on heart health. This study showed that people who ingest energy drinks with alcohol tend to report heavier alcohol consumption, drink and drive, and suffer from more alcohol-related injuries, for example. This study of 403 young Australian adults showed that people who drank energy drinks mixed with alcohol were six times more likely to experience heart palpitations compared to those who drank alcohol on its own.

Obviously, none of the CBD energy drinks listed above contain alcohol. Some may mix CBD energy drinks and alcohol, but it’s clearly not recommended.

What about taurine? Many of the CBD energy drinks above contain taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that occurs naturally within the body. Like other amino acids, taurine is a building block of protein, and your body uses protein to grow and repair tissue. You can get taurine naturally from meat and fish, but it’s also commonly found in many energy drinks. This review study showed that taurine can stimulate metabolism, protect the brain, improve heart health, and boost your immune system, among other benefits.

Side Effects of CBD Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are associated with certain negative side effects. Drinking too much caffeine from any source – including CBD energy drinks – can lead to jitters, anxiety, restlessness, and other issues.

However, most CBD energy drinks above contain about 75mg of caffeine, which is less than a typical energy drink and approximately the same amount of caffeine as one cup of coffee.

In comparison, a single 10 Hour Energy Shot contains 422mg of caffeine and a 16-oz “grande” cup of coffee from Starbucks contains 330mg of caffeine. Even at these dosages, caffeine has proven to be safe and well-tolerated, and the 75mg of caffeine in a single CBD energy drink is unlikely to lead to significant side effects.

Meanwhile, the CBD in CBD energy drinks is very well-tolerated – especially at the relatively low doses listed above.

Most studies on CBD use dosages ranging from 150mg to 600mg per day. Even with 600mg of CBD per day or more, CBD has been well-tolerated with few reported side effects.

In comparison, the CBD energy drinks above contain, at most, 50mg of CBD.

Based on all available research, patients are unlikely to experience significant side effects from the CBD in CBD energy drinks.

However, as with anything, we recommend talking to your doctor before taking any type of supplement, food, or beverage. Someone with diabetes, cardiovascular issues, or an allergy, for example, may react negatively to CBD energy drinks.

Recommended Dosage of CBD Energy Drinks

CBD energy drink dosages vary widely. Generally, we recommend following the dosage on your beverage. Mix one packet into a 12 or 24 oz glass of water, for example, or drink one can of CBD energy drink per day.

We also recommend paying attention to the CBD dosage and caffeine dosage in your energy drink.

The typical CBD energy drink contains 75mg of caffeine and 10 to 50mg of CBD.

Mayo Clinic, meanwhile, reports that taking up to 400mg of caffeine per day appears to be safe for a healthy adult. That’s the equivalent to about four cups of coffee or two energy drinks.

Cannabidiol, on the other hand, seems to be safe based on multiple human studies. Researchers have given humans anywhere from 20mg to 1500mg of CBD per day with no significant reported side effects.

Based on these dosage limits, it seems safe to have one or more CBD energy drinks per day.

FAQs About CBD Energy Drinks

Q: What’s in a CBD energy drink?

A: CBD energy drinks typically contain cannabidiol (CBD) from hemp along with stimulants like caffeine and B vitamins. Some CBD energy drinks also contain sugar, natural flavors, taurine, vitamins, or minerals.

Q: Are CBD energy drinks safe?

A: Most of the CBD energy drinks listed above contain less caffeine than a traditional energy drink or cup of coffee. On average, CBD energy drinks contain about 75mg of caffeine per serving, or the equivalent caffeine dosage to one cup of coffee (a grande coffee from Starbucks contains 330mg of caffeine).

Q: Are CBD energy drinks legal?

A: CBD has been legal across the United States since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. As long as the hemp used for the CBD contains less than 0.3% THC, it’s legal to be sold nationwide. CBD energy drinks typically have somewhere between 0.0% and 0.3% THC, making them legal across the United States.

Q: How much CBD is in a CBD energy drink?

A: Some of the energy drinks above listed “hemp” as an ingredient but did not claim to contain any significant levels of caffeine. These beverages use terms like “hemp-infused” or “CBD-infused” to make it seem like you’re getting a powerful dose of caffeine. Most of these CBD energy drinks, however, were transparent with their CBD dosages and contained 10mg to 50mg of CBD per serving.

Q: How much CBD is safe to take?

A: Studies have shown that CBD is well-tolerated in humans at dosages ranging from 20mg to 1,500mg per day. It’s unlikely that the dosage of CBD in a CBD energy drink will cause any significant side effects, although we recommend talking to your doctor to be sure.

Q: What are the benefits of a CBD energy drink?

A: Some of the most popular benefits of a CBD energy drink include higher energy levels, better wakefulness, and improved attention. The CBD in a CBD energy drink, meanwhile, may act as a powerful anti-inflammatory while also relieving anxiety and depression.

Q: Is there THC in a CBD energy drink?

A: By law, CBD energy drinks need to contain less than 0.3% THC content to be considered legal nationwide. Some of the CBD energy drinks listed above specifically advertise the fact that they contain 0.0% THC, while others contain full-spectrum hemp with up to 0.3% THC.

Q: Will I fail a drug test by taking a CBD energy drink?

A: If you need to regularly pass drug tests for work, then you need to take a CBD energy drink with 0.0% THC content. Even CBD energy drinks with “legal” THC content below 0.3% could register on a drug test.

Final Word on Cannabis and Energy Drink Beverages

The CBD energy drinks space is booming. Today, consumers have more options than ever before when it comes to cannabidiol drinks whether looking for CBD energy drinks, CBD shots, or CBD drink powders.

In the new 2020 decade Coca-Cola is already set to debut its Coke Energy Drink, meanwhile the likes of Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson is introducing his DJ Energy Drinks later this year. And now, CBD is gaining momentum to make one of the biggest splashes in an industry that did $53 billion in sales for 2018 as hemp-derived cannabidiol-infused energy drink beverages are the next big thing happening inside the green rush era.