Back in the ol’ days before legalization, your options for consuming cannabis were limited: flower was the easiest to come by, followed by edibles and maybe tinctures—if you were lucky enough to live near a dispensary. But these days, the possibilities are endless. There’s cannabis chocolate, cannabis mints, sprayable cannabis, even cannabis eye drops—and the list goes on and on.
But one of the best consumption methods to gain traction in recent years is the cannabis-infused beverage. Whether it be tea, coffee, nonalcoholic beer or even sparkling water, cannabis drinkables are the way to go on a hot summer day or at a party where everyone but you is consuming alcohol.
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Cannabis-infused drinks are a great option for consumers who don’t want to smoke or vape. And depending on the contents of your stomach, they typically don’t take as long as edibles to kick in.
Liquids go through the same digestive path in the body as solid foods do, but if your stomach isn’t full, most liquids can be readily absorbed by your stomach lining and then quickly passed onto your small intestine for further absorption.
This process is why you feel alcohol’s effects more quickly if you have some on an empty stomach. Though there aren’t any studies like this that apply to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) absorption in the digestive system specifically, we can assume that the process works similarly with the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.
This reasoning would also explain why folks often say they can feel the effects of cannabis-infused beverages much more quickly than that of edibles.
If you’re itching to try some THC- and CBD-infused drinks, look no further. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites that you can enjoy whenever the moment suits you.
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1. Turn Kikoko’s Positivi-Tea Into an Iced Summertime Treat
Kikoko’s Positivi-Tea is a lemongrass mint flavored tea that’s both tasty and refreshing. Each tea bag contains 10 mg of THC and another 5 mg of CBD to balance out THC’s effects. This tea can be enjoyed either hot or iced.
And the best part? It’s free from any cannabis smell or taste, making it a discreet option for discerning consumers.
2. Cannabis Quencher’s Old Fashioned Lemonade Will Take You Back to Your Childhood
A tall glass of ice-cold lemonade is one of the hallmarks of an American childhood. And now that you’re an adult, you can enjoy a little bit of cannabis with this classic summertime beverage.
Each bottle of Cannabis Quencher’s Old Fashioned Lemonade is made with organic lemons, organic cane sugar and 100 mg of THC—but don’t let that number scare you off.
You can get smaller doses easily: Every bottle has a see-through milligram indicator that allows for an accurate 10 mg dose. And if you want to microdose, each capful contains just 2 mg of THC.
3. Take Atlas’ Raspberry & Hibiscus Beverage Mix on Your Next Hike
Berkeley, CA-based Atlas Edibles has figured out a way to infuse rosin into sugar crystals, enabling them to make the first ever solvent-less powdered beverage mixes. Its Raspberry and Hibiscus variety is bold, tangy and just a tad herbaceous—the perfect flavor for summer.
To make a serving, empty the powered contents of each package into 12 ounces of liquid and shake vigorously. Each serving contains 10 mg of CBD and 5 mg of THC—a balanced ratio that’s great for a mellow Sunday afternoon on the trail or at the beach.
4. Somatik’s THC-infused Cold Brew Coffee Can Jumpstart a Day of Summer Activities
This THC-infused Cold Brew Coffee from Somatik was designed to improve mood and enhance your sense of well-being. The combination of caffeine and 10 mg of THC per bottle gives this coffee a sativa-like vibe.
This cannabis-infused cold brew is ready to drink out of the bottle and is best served over ice. You can also add a dash of milk or use it to spike your regular cup of coffee before a long, fun-filled day of catching some rays.
Photo credits: Navistock/Shutterstock.com (main image), Kikoko (Kikoko image), Venice Cookie Company (Cannabis Quenchers image), Atlas (Atlas image), Somatik (Somatik image)
If you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 index of articles. And if you have questions about cannabis, ask them and our community will answer.
