*By Jacqueline Corba* [CBD](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/what-is-cbd) these days is on [cocktail menus](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/cbd-cocktails), in candy, and even in snow cones in the U.S. It's not just for showーrather, CBD has quickly become part of a larger health food trend among Americans to add nutrients to everyday items. "It's really just exploded over the past year and a half," Bon Appétit's Healthyish Editor Amanda Shapiro told Cheddar's CannaBiz. It's even showing up as a pet food supplement to ease stress and anxiety in dogs and cats. "As a dog owner, I was fascinated," she said. "My dog hates being in the car, throws up every time, so I was like, I'm sold." In humans, CBD has been linked to health benefits like relieving pain, anxiety and depression. The federal government has approved the use of one CBD to treat two severe and rare forms of epilepsy. And some advocates see it as a potential weapon in the [battle against opioid addiction](https://cheddar.com/videos/former-nfl-player-cbd-can-solve-leagues-opioid-addiction-problem). In addition to an expanding array of food and drink, CBD is also being used in skin-care products and shampoo. In food, CBD is being used both for flavor and for health benefits, Shapiro said. "It's part of this whole constellation of ingredients that people are getting excited about, not just because you can cook with them but because also because they're good for you," she said. "You're seeing them everywhere; people seem to be embracing the idea of adding a few drops of a tincture into your cocktail. I will be honest, you're going to feel the cocktail more than you'll feel the CBD." What makes [CBD](https://cheddar.com/videos/cannabiz-cbd-explained) different from other nutrients, of course, is that it's a component of marijuana. CBD doesn't cause intoxication or euphoriaーwhat most people think of as a "high"ーthat role is played by THC. In fact, Shapiro said the CBD on menus is most often made from hemp, the same plant that produces hemp milk or hemp seeds. CBD may be the latest fad, but it's not legal everywhere. Its status is actually [quite murky](https://www.consumerreports.org/marijuana/what-is-cbd-what-to-know-about-this-cannabis-product/). But Shapiro was quick to dismiss that controversy and list the chemical's benefits. "For a lot of people, their first entry into it is helping them [sleep better](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/cap-beauty-cbd-oil), so you take it at the end of the day," said Shapiro. "Do your regular nightly routine and see how you sleep. You might need a little bit more, you might need a little bit less." But is it safe to drive on CBD? Shapiro admitted she can't offer medical advice, but she was comfortable enough to take CBD before appearing on Cheddar. "I put one of those under my tongue before I came here today," she said. "I don't seem out of my mind, right?" For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/cbd-on-the-menu).
