It’s taken several years for cannabis drink makers to hit the mark. At first, it seemed impossible to turn a fat-soluble cannabinoid into an easily drinkable beverage. Some of the early attempts had too much separation, causing the cannabis extracts to sink to the bottom or stick to the sides. Simply put – it wasn’t great.
Thanks to the evolution of cannabis beverage technology, these problems are no longer plaguing the weed drink sector. Now, most brands are leveraging nanotechnology to emulsify cannabinoids like THC and CBD so they are easy to blend for consistent dosing. If you are interested in trying out the latest and greatest weed drinks on the market, read on for our top recommendations on what to try and where to find them.
Why Drink Cannabis?
Why not drink cannabis? There are tons of reasons why people enjoy drinking their weed. Maybe you fall into one or more of these categories.
Smooth, Steady High
Cannabis beverages offer a very nice buzz that doesn’t gobsmack you like edibles. When you eat an edible, it goes through the digestive system and then kind of hits you all at once. It can feel a bit overwhelming at first until the high settles in and smooths out.
Beverages also land in your stomach, but unless you’re slamming them, the effects are slowly coming on as you sip your drink. Nanotech makes the THC more bioavailable so you often feel the effects kick in within 15-30 minutes, and the high lasts about an hour and a half. It comes on super slow, super steady, and feels more mellow than the intoxicating effects of eating or smoking weed.
Not Into Smoking
Smoking weed is excellent. But it’s not for everyone. Many people are turned off by the smoke smell, or the harshness of an inhale on lungs that are not seasoned to smoke often. Plus, smoking or dabbing requires bongs, pipes, papers, and grinders, and sometimes that’s inconvenient.
Drinking THC is discrete and easy, and if you don’t like the taste of weed this is a great option to check out. Most weed drinks have a subtle flower flavor at best, but it’s typically disguised well in the beverage.
Alcohol Alternative
Not everyone likes to drink alcohol, but most people still appreciate the social nature of sharing a drink with friends. When you want to get a buzz on without getting lit on booze, THC drinks are perfect. You can still alter your senses and relax a bit more than you might sober, but you don’t have to worry about a hangover the next day. The next time you need a little social lubricant but want to skip on booze, grab a pack of THC seltzers.
Fun Cross-Fade
If you like both alcohol and weed, then you are into the cross-fade. This is where you mix the two in one way or another for a buzzed-up high. The combinations are literally endless here, but with so many different weed drinks on the market, it makes it easy to combine the two. You can add concentrated drinks into cocktails, or add a splash of your favorite spirit into a THC seltzer.
The effects can be pretty strong for first-time users, so just be careful to pay attention to your doses and sip slowly as you wait for the effects to kick in. Fortunately, THC drinks are super consistently dosed so you know what to expect each time you drink one.
Top THC Beverages
There are so many great weed drinks out there, but we’ve picked our top three favorites available in California. Check them out and stock up before your next summer event.
Pabst Labs
The name might have you thinking of the famous blue-ribbon beer, but Pabst Labs has a different vibe. Yes, some of the carbonated beverage experts from Pabst teamed up with California cannabis experts, but these drinks are totally non-alcoholic. Pabst Labs launched in 2020 with a mission to make easily drinkable, affordable weed drinks and they knocked it out of the park with PBR High Seltzer.
Their lineup includes four sparkling THC seltzers in Strawberry Kiwi, Lemon, Passion Fruit Pineapple, and Mango. Each slim, 12 oz. can contains 10 mg of THC. They are made with real fruit and are the perfect low-cal beverage for a hot summer day.
Sip them on their own and experience the fresh fruit flavors, or blend them with real fruit juice for a sparkling mocktail.
Not Your Father’s Root Beer
Regardless of your preference for soda, we bet you’ll love Not Your Father’s Root Beer. There’s root beer, and then there’s good root beer. This one is exceptional. It’s perfectly sweet, but with a zesty spice. Each bottle contains 10 mg THC, so it’s the perfect solo sip for dessert.
If you want to take your sweet tooth to the next, pour over two scoops of vanilla ice cream in a chilled glass. Top with whipped cream and you have the best root beer float of your life.
St. Ides Shots
St. Ides may be well known for their blunts, but that’s only because their shots are new to the market. This is a super versatile product that lets the user get creative with consumption. They offer three flavors (Blue Razz, Watermelon, and Strawberry) and every four-ounce bottle contains a whopping 100 mg THC. Unless you’re an experienced cannabis aficionado, you are best advised to use these as mixers or take only a sip from the bottle.
To fully experience the supreme fruit flavors, we suggest making a THC mocktail. Try mixing with fresh fruit juices, muddling herbs and spices, and topping with fresh citrus. We love the combination of basil and cranberry juice with the Blue Razz flavor. Make a virgin strawberry margarita by adding the Strawberry shot to fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and sparkling water.
Want to take it up a notch? Mix a teaspoon of St. Ides shots into a PBR High Seltzer. Add a squeeze of citrus and you have just created a cannabis mocktail worth remembering.
How to Purchase THC Beverages
All of the drinks mentioned here are available throughout California. Pabst Labs partners with several retailers who carry High Seltzer. If you prefer to stay home, or need to re-up on party supplies during your next event, have your THC drinks delivered to select areas throughout the state.
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