The Basics: Cannabis Beverages 101

In today’s post, we’re focusing on the less traditional but equally as delicious – cannabis infused beverages. If you’re curious, read on for everything you need to know about this new wave of edibles. If you prefer your bud in flower form and are itching to get your hands on some stat, don’t forget Chronic Haze’s online dispensary does same day weed delivery and weed delivery Canada-wide.

What are cannabis infused beverages?

Cannabis infused bevvies were finally introduced to the Canadian market in October of 2019 and are essentially anything you can drink. Think sparkling and flat waters, teas, even pumpkin spice lattes (you heard us) all of which contain THC, CBD or a nice little mix of both. THC is soluble in alcohol but as of right now it’s currently illegal to combine the two, so consumers are limited to the water-based options above.

Historically, cannabis has been challenging to infuse into beverages since the main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are fat-soluble and don’t mix easily with water.

As a refresher, cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in and secreted by cannabis flowers that have psychoactive effects and provide relief to an array of symptoms including pain, nausea, anxiety, and inflammation. Research shows that cannabis plant can produce between 80 to 100 varying cannabinoids and about 300 non-cannabinoid chemicals – the two most known and most abundant in the cannabis plant are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

To make a cannabis beverage, liquids like a flat water are infused with a cannabis extract or concentrate. Again, because cannabis extract is an oil and not water soluble, it’s blended with an emulsifier to create the final beverage.

How are they absorbed by the body?

When you inhale cannabis, the cannabinoids (i.e., THC) enter the bloodstream directly through the lungs. The THC goes through a different metabolic process which instead of passing through the stomach and then liver, goes straight to the brain.

When you consume cannabis orally, the THC is processed in the gastrointestinal system and then metabolized by the liver. There, the THC is converted to a 11-hydroxy-THC metabolite (small molecule) a more psychoactive version of the THC compound which crosses the blood-brain barrier giving you a more intense high.

How do they compare to other edibles?

Typically, with cannabis beverages, the effects of the THC and CBD are felt sooner compared to edibles you need to chew – usually within 30 minutes of consumption compared to the 60-90 minutes with traditional edibles. This is because the absorption of the cannabinoids begins once the drink meets the saliva. When solid food travels through the digestive system, the gastric juices transform the food into as much liquid as possible. But beverages are already liquid and therefore digested more quickly and more easily absorbed into the bloodstream.

What’s the high like?

The beauty of cannabis infused drinks is that they’re low in calories and unlike alcoholic beverages they leave you with no hangover and the high compared to other traditional edibles are less heavy. They’re also a great alternative to an actual joint or pipe if your social setting doesn’t allow for the smoke but you want the hit.

Whether you’ll reach for a THC infused drink, or a CBD based bevvy depends on the experience you want. If you’re looking for an “intoxicated” kind of experience, a THC drink is for you. Since CBD has antidepressant-like effects due to its impact on the brain’s natural receptors for serotonin and has less of a psychoactive effect, a CBD based drink is your best bet if you want something a little low key.

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