The Startup with a CBD Adderall Alternative — Meet Canbiance
Our story begins with two chemical engineering undergraduate students at UC Berkeley: Hiram and Jarrett. They were friends, roommates and even study buddies — they spent so much time working together and solving complicated engineering problems that they practically lived in the library, especially during ‘Dead Week’ — a week at UC Berkeley between the end of class and final exams. Every student who has experienced ‘Dead Week’ knows that it truely lives up to its iconic nick-name.
One can only imagine the stress, pressure, and insomnia pulsating through the mind and body of each and every student as they prepare for brutal exams where they compete with their peers for at minimum, a passing grade. During this unique time Hiram and Jarrett noticed something, amongst study groups and friends that will set them on a devoted entrepreneurial journey; students consuming Adderall.
It did not come to a shock that students at universities consume prescription stimulants illicitly. In fact, as much as 46% of college students have abused adderall (According to survey results consisting of 90 students conducted at USC and UCLA). What struck an emotional chord with Hiram and Jarrett was seeing their friends and peers suffer the withdrawal symptoms of abusing Adderall. According to an article published in the American Addiction Center Adderall is classified as a highly addictive amphetamine with long term side effects such as psychosis, neurocell damage, seizures and even stroke.
Hiram and Jarrett were disappointed that students casually turn to illicit amphetamines, almost like clockwork, just to get them through their final grind. They used to ask each other if there was an alternative superior to coffee to provide students with clean energy and laser-like focus.
This was the ‘Aha’ moment for Hiram and Jarrett back in 2018 when they created thier first batch of what is now their ‘Mood’ study gummies. “It was right around the time when the Farm Bill passed, legalizing and declassifying hemp derived CBD as a schedule 1 substance… Everyone was talking about CBD, and we wanted to put it to the test by including it in our unique blend of Amino acids and Caffiene” — Hiram. Once they began to share the first version with fellow students they knew they were on to something based on the overwhelming positive feedback and testimonials they were receiving. “This was when we realized that anxiety releif played a huge role in regulating attention, and by combining caffeine with green tea extract we were able to provide a jitter-less boost of energy.” — Jarrett.
After they experienced success with ‘Berkeley Brain’ during their final semester at UC Berkeley, Hiram and Jarrett decided to keep pushing the envelope to share their product with more students with hopes of providing a healthy and natural alternative to illicit study drugs. They formed a company, Canbiance, and now have a network of consumers from across the nation and have since expanded to Universities such as: USC and UCLA. They can be found on Instagram (at)Canbaince where they accept all orders and questions through instagram DM’s.
Hiram and Jarrett continue to strive for disruption in the CBD wellness industry by advocating for scientifically formulated products, social justice and providing education to de-stigmatize cannabis. As they continue their entrepreneurial journey they maintain ambitious goals to enter the cannabis industry by offering THC products to dispensaries in California by 2021. “We hope to take a scientific approach to product formulation by incorporating minor cannabinoids (molecular constituents of cannabis) and plant adaptogens to radically enhance the consumer experience by offering various ambiances in products such as: gummies, tinctures, cold brews, and culinary spice blends.”-Hiram
