The ongoing decline of alcohol consumption among young adults aligning with the rise of regulated cannabis markets across the country cannot be coincidental. The wide array of options for consuming cannabis are appealing to a new generation who now see weed as a safer, more natural, and more forgiving mood changer than any booze can be. With the innovations in the cannabis infused beverage sector in recent years, the writing is on the wall for Big Alcohol…
Mankind has been smoking and eating weed for thousands of years but it wasn’t that long ago that if you bought and drank a cannabis infused beverage you wound up with an iffy high, a far from ideal flavor profile, and a mouthful of oily, gritty residue.
We are happy to report that those days are over thanks to the silver lining on the cloud of regulations which is that now brands have the ability and resources to apply known scientific methods to their SOP to craft cannabis infused beverages that can be uniformly produced in a compliant manner that meets the demand of the masses.
In other words, pass on the Jack, steer clear of the beer, and leave the wine behind – it’s finally time to chug some cannabis!
Cannabis Beverages Offer a Reliable Alternative to Alcohol, Edibles, or Smoking
Cannabis beverages sold in retail dispensaries are subject to all of the same rules and regulations as other “edibles”. These can vary from state to state but in California, for example, one unit is capped at a maximum of 100mg of THC, and it must be easily dosed with each dose being no more than 10mg of THC.
With a 100mg chocolate bar, you can section it into 10 squares. With gummies, ten pieces with 10mg each. But with a beverage you can’t standardize sip size, so each can or bottle of cannabis beverage you buy will be considered one full dose and will have a total of 10mg of THC.
For some of us, that becomes a math problem to determine how many of those suckers we gotta chug to catch a buzz, but for most folks 10mg of properly delivered THC is more than enough to keep the party lit, followed by a great night of sleep, followed by a hangover-free morning.
Speaking of waking up, more and more people are opening their eyes to the fact that finding one’s ideal dose and delivery of cannabinoids can be life-changing when it comes to optimizing one’s wellness.
While some iconic alcohol producers like St. Ides have noticed this and have successfully made the leap into making weed drinks, it is important to know that federal laws prohibit alcoholic beverages from having “controlled substances” added to them. It’s kinda funny how weed people are like, “Hey, keep that booze away from my weed!” and Uncle Sam is like, “Hey, keep that weed away from my booze!”
Unlike with edibles like gummies, you cannot just toss some dank rosin into flavored water and blend it all up. Cannabinoids like THC need a carrier to break into the bloodstream once consumed. Tinctures, for example, use MCT oil, or hemp oil, or even alcohol. But you can’t drink a full 12oz can of that stuff and have a good time.
Finding a way to keep those cannabinoids suspended in the beverage so that, in theory, the last sip would be just as potent as the first proved to be tricky for some of the biggest brands in the space for years, and sales of cannabis beverages remained… flat.
However, the cannabis beverage sector is expected to be valued at $2.8 billion in 2025 thanks to nanoemulsification technology that has finally given cannabis beverage producers the ability to craft flavorful and reliably potent drinks that any cannabis connoisseur can appreciate.
Make the Switch to Cannabis Infused Beverages Today, Sleep Better Tonight
In today’s regulated cannabis markets you may find cannabis beverages already “pre-packaged” in soda-like cans or bottles, or you may find packets of powderized product similar to a Crystal Lite, but packed with cannabinoids. There are pros and cons to both, depending on your needs. Those packets, for example, are great for hiking, biking, camping, etc.
The introduction of nano-emulsification into this sector now allows for accurate and useful blends of cannabinoids and alternative cannabinoids to concoct purpose-crafted blends that may be targeted at promoting better sleep, or stimulating creativity… It’s science, it works!
Down to the Last Drop on Cannabis Beverages
As with all things cannabis, we encourage you to do some research into the cannabis beverage brands that are available at your local dispensary and try to find one whose values and ethos align with yours. Legacy brands who have been doing the darn thing since before it was safe or legal are usually a good place to start.
Finally, there are tons of hemp-based, THC-rich drinks on the market these days and you don’t have to go to a dispensary to get them. While it doesn’t mean that all of them are unsafe, you need to remember that none of them are subject to the strict safety standards that cannabis based beverages are, including 3rd party lab testing not only for potency but for purity.
I know what I’m choosing! Cheers!
