"Calming effect" on Christmas stress: BVG selling edible hemp tickets

Christmas and coronavirus got you feeling stressed? Berlin’s public transport network wants to help you unwind on the U-Bahn, with its new edible ticket containing hemp oil.

Hemp tickets to help manage Christmas stress

BVG announced on Tuesday that it would be selling the hemp-laced tickets until the end of the week to help commuters manage their stress in the lead-up to the national holiday. “This way, you can travel hassle-free around Berlin all day and then simply swallow your Christmas stress along with your ticket,” the transport association said. 

Available from customer centres across Berlin until Friday, December 17, the tickets are made from edible paper that has been drizzled with “no more than three drops” of hemp oil - which BVG says is “said to have a calming effect." They cost 8,80 euros each and allow unlimited travel on public transport in Berlin for 24 hours. BVG also added that they are “completely legal.” 

Berlin public transport company a fan of marketing stunts

This is not the first time that BVG has launched an unusual marketing stunt. Last year, it ran a campaign urging travellers to stop wearing deodorant, in a bid to encourage their fellow passengers to embrace mask-wearing. 

In 2018, BVG launched a pair of limited-edition Adidas trainers that also functioned as an annual season ticket. Patterned with the same design as the seat covers on Berlin’s U-Bahn trains, the trainers cost just 180 euros, whereas an annual ticket usually costs in excess of 750 euros.