If you’ve been shopping at The Hemptender recently, you’ve seen all the exciting new cannabinoid-infused beverages in our coolers and online. These tasty drinks contain hemp-derived cannabinoids like THC, CBD, HHC, and even minor cannabinoids like THCp and delta-8 THC.
The cool part is that they’re made with natural flavors and contain no alcohol, making them the perfect choice if you’re still looking to crack open a cold one and feel the good vibes without actually drinking. Here’s everything you need to know about cannabinoid-infused drinks.
What are cannabinoid-infused drinks?
Cannabinoid-infused beverages can be found pre-mixed at our dispensaries. They are ordinary beverages, such as coffees, teas, sodas, seltzers, and juices that are infused with hemp-derived cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Most drinks range from about 5mg of THC and CBD for an easy drinking session that won’t leave you feeling too impaired. However, they can also contain more, anywhere from 100mg to 1000mg of THC.
THC-infused drinks work a lot like edibles. In order for them to kick in, you’re going to drink them and wait up to two hours to start feeling the effects. However, since the body processes liquids much faster than solids, cannabis drinks usually kick in within 30 minutes.
A lot of people prefer to enjoy the edible high by drinking cannabinoid-infused beverages since these light, refreshing, low-dose concoctions take effect faster and make a great alternative to alcohol. Just keep in mind that you should never drink a THC beverage and drive.
How to use cannabinoid-infused drinks
Using THC-infused drinks is easy. Just follow the instructions on the label. However, it helps to know your limits. If you know that a 5mg edible will make you feel very high, we’d recommend choosing a cannabinoid drink that contains less than that amount or starting with half. Remember, drinks are like edibles. Always start with a low dose first to see how it’ll affect you before drinking more.
If you’re looking to drink a few of them in place of alcohol, the same sentiment stands. You wouldn’t want to slam a 100mg beverage and then drink another one because both doses will kick in at the same time, and you might green out. Instead, you should opt for something light, around 5mg, and never exceed the dosage you can handle on a normal edible. For example, if you know 20mg of THC is your sweet spot, you should probably stop after four seltzers.
Just like alcohol, enjoy these in moderation, stay hydrated, and check in on your body regularly.
How to determine the potency of a THC-infused beverage
Some people are more sensitive to THC than others. Always double-check the packaging on cannabinoid-infused drinks to verify the amount of cannabinoids in each beverage. Some packaging materials will have a large number that represents the total cannabinoid content in a case of beverages, so be sure to check the label on individual packages to guage how many cannabinoids are found in each drink.
For example, a 6-pack case of Cycling Frog contains 30mg of THC and 60mg of CBD. However, each individual can only contains 5mg of THC and 10mg of CBD.
How to make your own cannabinoid-infused beverages
If you find that the THC drinks on the market are either not potent enough or too potent, it’s easy to make your own with just a little bit of shake, an oven, and a blender.
You’ll first want to do a little bit of math to get your dosage correct. While it’s easy to eyeball it and guess, you’ll have a much better experience if you take the time to consider your ideal dose.
For example, if you know you get rocked by 25mg of THC in a gummy or brownie, you’ll want to avoid including more than 25mg in your ideal dose. If your goal is to have a full 8-ounce glass of infused juice and no more than 25mg of THC, You can do the math using an edible dose calculator.
Since you need fat to bind the THC to, you’ll want to start with a base recipe, like a tincture. You can either grab one that’s already pre-mixed and ready to go at The Hemptender, or make your own. Pre-made tinctures are usually flavorless and come pre-concentrated, so you can add your perfect dose to your drinks with ease.
Recipe for THC-infused lemonade
Classic lemonade is one of the quickest and best-tasting recipes for a THC-infused beverage. To make it, you’ll combine all of the ingredients and blend them together. You’ll then serve the drinks over ice and garnish with your favorite citrus fruits, berries, and herbs. We like to add mint, raspberry, and lemon slices to our finished pitcher of lemonade. If you want to get really fancy with it, just add your favorite tinctures and base liquids into a seltzer maker, like the Soda Stream, for that refreshing carbonated fizz.
You will need:
- 3 cups of water
- 1 cup of lemon juice
- ½ cup of lime juice
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup honey or agave
- 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite tincture
- Ice
- Mint, raspberries, lemon slices, or any of your favorite garnishes
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, cannabinoid-infused beverages are a great way to enjoy the benefits of cannabinoids in a refreshing and low-dose way. They provide a safer alternative to alcohol and are available in a wide variety of flavors and doses. If you’re looking for a pre-made option, you can find many different types of beverages at The Hemptender or make your own using our tinctures. Regardless of your preference, always remember to start with a low dose and enjoy responsibly.