CBD has become one of those ingredients people either swear by or immediately dismiss.

Some treat it like a miracle cure. Others assume it’s just expensive snake oil in a nicer bottle.

The truth, as usual, sits somewhere in the middle.

At Rebel, we’re not interested in making wild wellness claims or pretending CBD is going to “fix” your life. But we are interested in what the research actually says, particularly around relaxation, stress and sleep.

So here’s the short version.

CBD (short for cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound found in hemp. Unlike THC, it’s non-intoxicating, meaning it won’t make you high. What researchers are studying instead is its interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system - a complex signalling network involved in things like mood, stress response, sleep, inflammation and balance within the nervous system.

The area with the most promising research so far is anxiety and relaxation.

A large 2019 clinical case series published in The Permanente Journal followed patients taking CBD for anxiety and poor sleep. Researchers found anxiety scores decreased in a significant majority of participants within the first month.

More recent reviews have echoed similar findings. A 2024 review published in Psychiatry Research concluded that while evidence is still developing, studies consistently suggest CBD may have anxiety-reducing properties in both healthy individuals and those with anxiety disorders.

Sleep is another area researchers are paying close attention to.

Some studies suggest CBD may support sleep quality indirectly by helping reduce stress and nervous system activation. An eight-week 2023 study found daily CBD supplementation improved self-reported sleep quality in healthy adults.

That said, the science is still evolving. Not every study shows dramatic effects, and researchers are clear that more long-term human studies are needed before definitive conclusions can be made.

We think that honesty matters.

CBD shouldn’t be treated as a magic potion. But equally, the growing body of research around stress, mood and relaxation is genuinely interesting - particularly in a world where so many people feel permanently overstimulated and switched on.

For us, Rebel was never about creating a “wellness product.” It was about creating a drinking experience that felt softer, calmer and a little more considered than traditional drinking culture.

Good wine.
Good atmosphere.
A little less chaos.
A little more ease.