You can vape, smoke, and eat cannabinoids to enjoy their effects. Did you know you can drink them, too?
THC drinks are fun, easy to use, and offer an exciting way to enjoy your favorite cannabinoids. You can buy them bottled and ready to drink, or use syrups and oils to make your own.
Let’s take a closer look at how to make THC-infused drinks. We’ll cover what these drinks are and how they work. Then, we’ll offer some recipes for making them and highlight some of the best THC drinks on the market.
What are THC Drinks?
“THC drinks” is one of many terms used to refer to beverages containing cannabinoids. You may see the term “cannabinoid drinks.” You may also see the specific kind of cannabinoid (such as Delta 8 or HHC) used in the name of a specific beverage.
Cannabinoids themselves are chemicals found in hemp and cannabis plants. Their effects on the human endocannabinoid system help to distinguish them.
Cannabinoids include CBD, which doesn’t have psychoactive effects. Instead, it can help to manage certain health issues, such as inflammation and sleeplessness. CBD drinks are one of many ways to consume this cannabinoid.
Most other cannabinoids cause an altered sense of perception and elevated mood, also called a high. They’re often used recreationally. THC drinks are mostly recreational in nature, too.
These psychoactive cannabinoids, and the cannabinoid drinks made from them, fall into two groups when it comes to legality:
- Delta 9 THC: This is the major cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. It’s illegal federally, but legal medicinally and recreationally in some states.
- Hemp-derived cannabinoids: These cannabinoids come from hemp plants. They are legal federally thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. However, some states and municipalities have laws that restrict or prohibit their use.
Options for Cannabinoid Drinks
Cannabinoid drinks come in many forms, including:
- Pre-packaged beverages. These drinks are ready to be consumed from their bottle or can, just like an energy drink or soda. All you have to do is find a flavor you enjoy and possibly chill the drink before consuming.
- Homemade drinks. Homemade drinks use cannabinoid syrups, tinctures, and similar products to make drinks at home. It’s very similar to making a cocktail or mocktail.
- Flower-based drinks. Some cannabinoid flower can be steeped or otherwise heated to release its active chemicals into a liquid, such as tea.
THC-infused drinks are similar to edibles, in the sense that they offer longer-lasting effects. Drinking these beverages means they pass through your digestive system before the active ingredients enter your bloodstream. What should you expect when you have a cannabinoid drink?
- A longer wait for effects to kick in, somewhere around 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Longer-lasting effects, persisting for several hours.
- Effects will come on more gradually, and subside in the same way. That’s true when these drinks are compared to smoking or vaping cannabinoids.
How to Make THC Drinks: Recipes and More
Wondering how to make a liquid THC drink, or how to make a THC-infused drink at home? It’s a pretty simple process. If you’ve ever made a cocktail or mocktail, you’re already in a great position to start making THC drinks at home.
Let’s start with the concept of making a THC drink and making your own. Popular Mechanics explains the foundation of creating a traditional cocktail recipe. These same concepts can be applied to making THC-infused non-alcoholic drinks, with a few differences that make the process easier.
When using cannabinoid syrups and tinctures instead of alcohol, there is less active liquid ingredient and less strong flavor to mask. Syrups, especially, are flavored with enjoyment in mind. In other words, it’s usually easier to make a cannabinoid drink that tastes good as compared to an alcoholic drink.
What do you need to do? Find the right mix of:
- The active ingredient — the cannabinoid syrup or tincture.
- Balancing agents, such as sugar syrup, soda, or fruit juice.
- Modifiers, which add a broader range of flavors that aren’t necessarily sweet (citrus juices, bitters, etc.).
- Water (in the form of seltzer, sparkling water, ice, etc.) which helps to balance the flavors and fill out the glass.
THC Drink Recipes You Can Follow
Looking for recipes that you can follow right now to make THC drinks? Here are a few suggestions if you don’t feel like creating your own recipe from scratch:
Lively Lemonade
Start your favorite store-bought lemonade or lemonade mix. Or, make your own using this lemonade recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch.
For each 12 oz. serving of lemonade, add one dose of cannabinoid tincture or syrup. Follow the guidance on the packaging for dosage to avoid adding too much or too little. Mix well.
Garnish each serving with a few fresh mint leaves and serve over ice. You can also add a lemon wedge or wheel.
Cannabinoid Cola
This one is especially easy. Start with a 12 oz. can of your favorite cola. Add one dose of your preferred tincture or syrup. Serve over ice.
Delta Mule
Start with a few mint leaves in a cup. A brass cup is the standard for mule-style drinks, but any cup or glass will work. Muddle the mint leaves.
Add 4 oz. of ginger beer and one dose of your preferred cannabinoid tincture or syrup. Finish with a lime wedge.
Wake Up and Chill Out
Brew one cup (8 oz.) of your favorite coffee. Add sweetener and milk, cream, or non-dairy creamer to your taste. Add one dose of your favorite cannabinoid tincture or syrup. Then, sit back and enjoy.
Delta 8 Resellers: Your Source for Cannabinoid Drinks
Delta 8 Resellers partners with the best brands in the industry to deliver consistently high-quality cannabinoid products. That includes THC-infused drinks, tinctures, syrups and more.
Whenever possible, we share independent lab reports for our products. That way, you can know exactly what you’re getting.
