Drinking during the Holidaze:
Evaluating cannabis-infused beverages
The cannabis industry has become one of the quickest-growing industries since industries became ‘a thing’ in the 17th Century. Today, there are nearly 40 states and territories in the US that allow cannabis consumption. Additionally, we are on the cusp of the most significant holiday ever: 4/20. More than 40 million adults around the globe expect to celebrate the holidaze in a few weeks. Rest assured: not everyone will partake in the traditional toking of buds during 4/20. Some consumers will turn to cannabis-infused drinks like THC teas and shakes. Here’s how cannabis-infused beverages.
How cannabis-infused beverages are dosed
When choosing or creating cannabis beverages, the most critical initial concern should be dosage. Moreover, the dosage of cannabis beverages is relative to their servings. For example: a 16oz THC drink may have a label that says ‘contain 100 mg.’ For individuals experiencing a THC for the first time, 1 to 5 milligrams is recommended. For moderate edible consumers, 10 to 25mg may be preferred.
Most cannabis will yield approximately 150 milligrams per dry gram. Regarding CBD dosage, the amount of milligrams will be naturally higher depending on your ailments or desired effects; CBD dosage can range from 25 to 100+ milligrams per dose. It is imperative to confirm if the listed THC or CBD amount is relative to a serving or the entire bottle. With a small amount of math, each individual can determine how much of the THC-infused beverage needs to be consumed to achieve the desired effects.
Creating a THC-infused beverage
If you can’t find a cannabis-friendly juice bar or your local cafe is out of your favorite THC-infused beverage, most cannabis beverages can be made at home with a small amount of patience. Virtually all liquids beverage can be made via a cannabis-infused simple syrup. Moreover, by making the cannabis-infused simple syrup at home, you will know precisely how much THC each drink will contain. When creating a simple syrup, 3 cups of water, 3.5 grams of finely ground cannabis, 3 cups of sugar, and three tablespoons of vegetable glycerin must be combined.
Begin by bringing the 3 cups of water to a low boil. Once the boiling begins, add your minced cannabis to the pot. Then, add all of the sugar to the green mixture, allowing it to dissolve. Let this mixture cook for approximately 20 minutes with a lid. Keep an eye on the mix and occasionally stir it to ensure it does not boil over. Next will be to add the vegetable glycerin. Once that has been completed, let the mixture cook for an additional 7 minutes. A good rule of thumb will be the mixture’s viscosity will become low, making the mixture thick like syrup. After allowing the syrup to cool, strain the mixture into a refrigerable container. Voila! You just made canna-syrup! Now, the syrup can be added to any beverage of choice in place of sugar to provide you with the same effects from your juice bar’s THC drink! Using the rule mentioned earlier of thumb regarding the milligrams of THC per dry gram, this simple syrup will yield about 21.5 milligrams of THC per fluid ounce. Now, you can turn your chai tea into a high tea!
How CBD-laden beverages are produced
If you are in search of more non-psychoactive beverages such as CBD soda, then you are in luck! A CBD simple syrup can be made virtually the same way as a THC syrup. Simply (pun intended) swap out your THC for CBD! Instead of dry THC-centric cannabis, a CBD solution can be added. If you are not interested in re-entering the kitchen to create more sticky syrups, you can also purchase flavorful and flavorless CBD syrup from your local dispensary.