Doctor Worries About 'Weed In A Can' Drink

An anti-energy drink that some call "liquid pot" or "weed in a can" has hit the market, WCVB-TV in Boston reported.

Some doctors question its safety. One person who drinks the beverage, called Drank, is gym owner Brad Cardoza.

"I'll have four or five clients first thing in the morning," Cardoza said. He pushes his clients through extreme workouts.

"I'm very high stress, high anxiety, speed, speed, speed," he said.

To help him wind down at the end of the day, he grabs a carbonated grape-flavored soda with the words "slow your roll" on the can.

"Drinking something like that, I'm definitely going to feel it," Cardoza said.

Drank claims to be the ultimate relaxation drink. It contains no drugs and is perfectly legal, the station said. Its makers claim it's made with an all-natural blend of melatonin, valerian root and rose hips, ingredients known for their calming effects.

"This little cocktail is a little bit frightening," said Dr. Cathleen London, of Brookline, Mass.

London has concerns with the drink. She warned it is packed with sugar and that the main ingredients come with risks.

She said rose hips and valerian root have been linked to side effects such as headache, nausea and disrupted sleep. But London's biggest concern is with the herb valerian root.

"It's not something you want to be using on any kind of continual basis, because it has been associated with liver damage," she said.

The Food and Drug administration told the station that valerian is an approved food additive and rose hips are generally regarded as safe. But, the FDA says, "melatonin has not been approved for use as a food additive."

London added that the hormone is used to treat jet lag and insomnia. She said melatonin and Drank should only be taken when you're ready to go to sleep.

"This is the equivalent of taking a valium and going for a drive," London said.

Drank does have a warning label that says it may cause drowsiness, and it's not recommended that you have more than two servings a day.

The makers of Drank said they've sold millions of cans with no reports of adverse effects.

WCVB; FDA; WSJR