Cannabis Drinks & Effects: Drink Up That Weed!
What do you know about cannabis drinks & effects?
We are witnessing new trends in the cannabis industry every day. The novelty of being able to drink weed is proving to be wildly popular for both recreational and medicinal cannabis users. From smoothies to coffee to cocktails to beers, cannabis-infused drinks will elevate your cannabis experience.
This article will explore cannabis-infused drinks and their effects, explaining what they are, how they work, and where to get them in Canada.
What Are Cannabis-Infused Drinks?
Among the many ways to consume cannabis, edibles are by far the most accepted methods and for a reason.
For one, ingesting weed edibles doesn’t involve burning, as is the case with smoking. This makes edibles ideal for anyone who suffers from respiratory conditions such as asthma that can be worsened by smoking weed.
Also, some people prefer edibles because they lack the noticeable odor associated with smoking marijuana. This makes them discrete and easy to use.
But what are weed edibles, and are they the same as marijuana drinks?
Simply put, weed edibles refer to any food or beverage that’s infused with an activated cannabis concentrate.
Consequently, any drink that contains weed is considered a marijuana drink. This includes teas, coffees, juice, and even beer and wine.
Cannabis-infused drinks are an excellent option for people looking to blend in with alcohol drinkers. You no longer have to be the guy that’s always drinking mocktails in social settings where only alcohol is present!
The Insolubility Challenge That Has Faced The Liquid Cannabis Industry
While you might have started noticing cannabis beverages just recently, they actually date many years back.
History goes that in 2000 B.C., during the traditional Hindu festivals of Holi, Shivratri, and Janmashtami, Hindus would infuse cannabis stems, leaves, and flowers into a dairy ingredient to make a cannabis drink (bhang) that they would then drink to purify the body, relax the mind for purification and cleanse their souls.
If cannabis drinks are this great, why are you hearing about them just now?
Cannabis is notoriously challenging to infuse into beverages. This is because cannabinoids are fat-soluble and not water-soluble.
Being unable to combine weed and liquids effectively resulted in some of the first weed-infused non-alcoholic drinks tasting like bad milk, with chunks of cannabis flowers floating around in the drink.
“ It tasted kind of like I was drinking milk that had been sitting in the refrigerator for two or three months,” this is how Lyden Henderson, the founder of Outbound Brewing, a nonalcoholic cannabis-infused beer company, described his first encounter with cannabis-infused beer.
This, of course, explains why the liquid marijuana industry has not been as popular as you would expect.
The insolubility challenge would also result in poor shelf stability.
With modern technology, however, things are changing. Cannabis companies are now able to make water-compatible cannabinoids resulting in better testing weed drinks.
How Is Cannabis Drink Made- 3 Easy Steps
Now that we know what cannabis-infused drinks are, it’s time to learn how they’re made. Well, at least the basics.
1. It All Starts With Extraction
Extraction marks the first step to making any cannabis product. This involves combining cannabis bud with liquid carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide is compressed until it attains a liquid state)
The mixture is then put under high pressure and heat. This helps extract beneficial compounds such as terpenes and cannabinoids from the flower.
The liquid is then passed through a separator to help remove the CO2 gas from the cannabis extract.
2. Short-path Distillation
This process uses precise vacuum and heat control to refine the cannabis extract further before it can be added to beverages.
3. Emulsification
Remember we said cannabis doesn’t naturally dissolve in water?
Emulsification involves using a blending agent that attaches to the weed distillate making it more water-soluble.
That’s how we end up with a smooth weed-infused drink that will leave you rejuvenated, high (for THC-infused drinks), and hydrated!
Effects Of Cannabis Drinks
So how will cannabis-infused drinks affect you?
Here are some of the reasons why people fancy weed beverages.
1. Weed Drinks Kick In Quicker Than Edibles
(While cannabis drinks are also edibles, for the sake of comparison, when we mention edibles, think solid weed ingestibles such as chocolates, brownies, etc.)
As you probably already know, weed edibles have to be metabolized by the liver before the THC in them can find its way into the bloodstream. This process takes time, and that’s why it may take up to an hour for weed edibles to kick in.
Cannabis drinks are slightly different since they start kicking in as soon as you ingest them. This is because, just like tinctures (cannabis products applied sublingually), the THC in weed beverages absorbs into the bloodstream through the blood capillaries and tissues found in your mouth and the whole digestive tract.
2. Cannabis-infused Drinks May Offer Instant, Yet Extended Relief Against Pain
Another effect of cannabis drinks is that they may help reduce chronic pain.
Research shows that cannabis products with high THC concentration, such as our XMG Watermelon High THC Beverage, may have anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties.
While THC is also present in edibles, it will take longer for you to experience any effect since, as we mentioned, the edibles have to be digested first before you can experience their effects.
On the other hand, cannabis-infused drinks take less time to kick in as the cannabinoids in them get absorbed through the tissues found along the digestive system.
Like edibles, you will experience the effects of weed drinks for longer, usually lasting between 4-8 hours.
This makes them ideal for conditions that may require extended relief, such as chronic pain, arthritis, and menstrual cramps.
You don’t have to dose several times throughout the day; one can of our XMG Citrus High THC Beverage will provide extended relief.
Good thing? You can take this on the go as you would any other drink!
3. Cannabis Beverages May Improve Heart Health
Studies show that cannabis may lower blood pressure and boost circulation in the human body, thus improving heart health
Now, instead of smoking, which may potentially interfere with your heart rate and lungs, why not just consume a glass of weed tea, for example? Better still, why not go for this flavored XMG Mango Pineapple High THC Beverage boasting of up to 10mg THC? Not only will it delight your taste buds, but it will also leave you hydrated and rejuvenated.
4. THC Drinks Will Get You High
You are probably wondering, will weed beverages such as cannabis energy drinks get you high?
It all comes down to the cannabinoids present in the weed product.
Please note that cannabis-infused drinks can be made using THC, CBD, or both. If you’re looking to get high, it’s advisable to go for high THC beverages such as this XMG Tropical Fruit High THC Beverage.
However, if you just want to experience the health benefits of cannabis without experiencing any intoxicating effects, then go for CBD-infused beverages such as this Passion Fruit Guava CBD Sparkling Water.
How To Dose Weed Drinks: How Much Should You Drink?
Like any other weed product, you must start low when trying cannabis beverages for the first time.
The best thing about marijuana drinks is that they have a quick onset time. This minimizes the risk of overdosing, as is the case with edibles.
Start with a few sips, allow for up to 30 minutes before taking some more.
Can You Make Weed-Infused Beverages At Home?
Simple answer, yes, you can make cannabis drinks at home as all you need is to add some weed in teas, coffees, etc.
However, we may not recommend this as there are certain rules and regulations that cannabis companies must meet when producing weed beverages to ensure quality, consistency, and safety.
If you want to make them at home, take time to learn some recipes and ensure you go for high-quality weed.
Otherwise, if you just want to get a ready-made drink and chill, we’ve got you covered!
Buy Legal Cannabis Drinks Online In Canada
So are cannabis-infused drinks legal in Canada?
Yes, cannabis beverages have been legal in Canada since 2019. However, you must buy them from a provincial government online or retail site or through a licensed private retailer.
Remember, although cannabis was legalized for both medicinal and recreational use in 2018, the cannabis industry is still at an infant stage as far as regulation is concerned. It’s therefore important that you purchase your weed products from a licensed and legal dispensary to guarantee safety and quality.
The 6ix Cannabis is a licensed/legal retail dispensary located in Ajax, Ontario.
We are dedicated to sharing an authentic retail experience to create a comfortable venue where we will all feel like a family.
We are the best pot dispensary in Ajax and near Pickering. Apart from premium, smooth weed beverages, we also stock various weed products, including topicals, flowers, edibles, pre-rolls, vaporizers, and concentrates.
If you’re looking for a legal pot shop near you in Ajax, hit us up today with questions, orders or any concern!
