Ballito-based health drink heaven Propa Smoothies have recently introduced the Propa CBD Zen smoothie made with flavours of green tea, dark chocolate and mint choc chip with added CBD isolate (THC free and totally legal) and L-theanine.

Propa’s Stephanie Wills said she used these special ingredients to create a relaxing smoothie.

“I wanted to create a smoothie that had anti-anxiety and calming benefits which both the L-theanine – an extract of green tea – and the CBD have,” said Wills.

“CBD is very calming, its an amazing anti-inflammatory, helps with insomnia and it is a pain reliever.

“We use a CBD isolate which I love because it is a pure form that does not contain THC and does not have an intoxicating effect.

We use the best quality CBD which is imported and we add a mild dose to make sure it is safe for anyone.”

Even the trusty Italian classic – pizza – has joined the dagga movement with Col’Cacchio taking the lead with SA’s first cannabis pizza.

Aptly named Green Goddess or the Not-So-Plain Mary Jane, these two pizzas are served with a drizzle of africanpure CBD oil.

Before you get too excited, this oil does not contain THC (the stuff that gives you that elevated feeling) and it is not yet available at the Ballito branch.

Ballito’s cannabis guru, author and activist for the medical greens Kelly McQue is all for cannabis infused food.

“The main reason people are eating cannabis is because it is extremely healthy.

“However, when you eat it, you have to be a lot more careful because it takes longer to feel the effects than when you smoke it. Eating cannabis will take between 45 minutes to an hour and half to show effect.

“The name of the game when it comes to cannabis in food is to start small.”

“Understanding what you are eating is also important, especially if you are hoping to treat a medical condition.

“People like CBD because it seems like the safe option as it does not make you high. It is a great anti-inflammatory, amazing for anxiety and it will help people with digestive issues.

“However, if you are using a CBD isolate – generally found on pizza etc – scientific studies show that the effects are lost much faster.

“THC is the psychoactive ingredient and is excellent to treat pain. Eating it rather than smoking will make the effects much stronger and last a lot longer.

“Once you have found the dose that works for you and the body has gotten used to that dose, you do not feel that high and people can take it during the day and function normally, without pain.”

One way of avoiding the high while getting all the good benefits is to go raw.

“Raw cannabis does not make you high, so a big trend that I recommend is for people to juice their cannabis leaves which gives you all the benefits without heat activating the THC or destroying any of the healing factors through heat.”