Turbocharged: why we’re raising the bar on fast-acting cannabis (again)

At Carolina Dream we don’t chase headlines, we set the pace. Last year’s nano-tech work taught us that people don’t just want “strong.” People want predictable onset, clean effects, and formulations that map to outcomes like energy, balance, and sleep. Turbo, our reimagined 5 mg strawberry kiwi fast-acting THC gummy, is the first visible step in a wider upgrade across our line. It delivers a smooth takeoff and easy landing, and it signals what’s next: better delivery tech, tighter quality assurance, and cannabinoid profiles that line up with what current science is telling us.

TURBO: the new baseline

• What it is: 5 mg fast-acting THC, strawberry kiwi, plus a terpene blend tuned for smooth onset and a clean finish.
  
  
• Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a light, reliable THC experience: new consumers, wellness-first buyers, and retailers who need an approachable “first-step” SKU that over-delivers.
  
  
• Why it matters: Turbo isn't just a rename; it's a technical refresh that sets the standard for what follow: better delivery, tighter tolerances, and outcome-driven profiles

What the research is saying…and why we’re moving now

Delivery matters. Traditional oral cannabinoids have low and variable bioavailability with slow onset. New self-emulsifying/nanoemulsion systems are changing that: in human crossover work, nano-enabled oral THC/CBD achieved significantly higher exposure and faster absorption than oil drops. Other nanoemulsion studies show markedly accelerated uptake versus conventional formats. In short: faster, more efficient delivery isn’t a slogan - it shows up in the pharmacokinetics. (PMC)

As it pertains to supporting cannabinoids in the rest of our product lineup, dose matters, too. For CBD, consumer-facing guidance and reviews consistently land around a practical minimum in the ~50 mg range, with titration upward based on response. That’s a world apart from the 5–25 mg “strong” doses common on shelves, and much more realistic for a gummy use case (even while some clinical trials probe 300–600 mg for certain conditions). (Today's Dietitian, PMC)

Minor cannabinoids aren’t minor anymore.

• CBN (sleep): A 2024 double-blind RCT found 20 mg CBN nightly reduced nighttime awakenings and overall sleep disturbance versus placebo, with dose-finding work at 30 mg and 300 mg now in flight. (PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov) 
  
  
• CBG (daytime function): First human data indicate 20 mg CBG can acutely reduce anxiety and stress without impairment (ongoing debate continues, but signals are promising). (WSU News, PubMed)
  
  

Formulation synergy is an R&D problem, not a marketing slogan. The “entourage effect” (cannabinoids + terpenes working together) is supported by a growing body of experimental and review literature, even as skeptics push for more rigorous human data. The takeaway for builders: thoughtful combinations can shift effect profiles and, in some cases, reduce required doses… IF you do the formulation work. (PMC)

A quiet industry secret & why we invest in control

Many brands don’t own or operate manufacturing. They rent white-label lines, which speeds market entry but often slows real innovation, weakens control of inputs, and props up cost structures that inflate retail price while doses stay low. Trade coverage has highlighted how widespread white-label/contract manufacturing has become in cannabis. (mg Magazine, MoCannTrade)

We take a different path: own the process, iterate relentlessly. When the science moves, our products move with it - via documented SOPs, fast tech transfer, and tight QA. Turbo is proof: fast-acting, approachable, functional, and grounded in real formulation work.

Where we’re going next

Starting now, we’re phasing out our existing formulations and slowly introducing upgraded versions across the lineup. Each release will feature measured increases in supporting cannabinoids - CBD, CBG, and CBN - guided by emerging human data and real-world evidence showing that effective ranges are meaningfully higher than typical market doses. We never inflate numbers for label appeal; we’ve engineered ratios and delivery so added milligrams translate to benefits you can feel. (Today's Dietitian)

This won’t happen all at once. Every week for the next few months, we’ll share an intimate look at a specific enhancement - why we made it, how it’s built, and what customers can expect to feel. We’re excited to bring you along, starting today with Turbo, and continuing next week with the reveal of Uplift+, our most advanced daytime formula yet.

Sources

“CBD Nanoemulsion Absorption Kinetics and Oral Bioavailability of Cannabinoids.” PubMed Central (PMC), National Center for Biotechnology Information, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/. 

“CBD Practical Dosage Guidance: Consumer-Level Recommendations.” Today’s Dietitian, and PubMed Central (PMC), www.todaysdietitian.com; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/. 

“Cannabinol (CBN) for Sleep: Randomized Controlled Trial Findings.” PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. ClinicalTrials.gov, clinicaltrials.gov. 

“Cannabigerol (CBG) and Stress: First Human Findings.” Washington State University News (WSU News), news.wsu.edu; PubMed, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 

“Cannabinoid and Terpene Synergy (‘Entourage Effect’): Mechanistic and Review Evidence.” PubMed Central (PMC), National Center for Biotechnology Information, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/. 

“White-Label Prevalence and Contract Manufacturing in Cannabis.” mg Magazine, mgmagazine.com; MoCannTrade, mocanntrade.org.