Last updated : December 16, 2024
Smoking, edibles, vaping, and dabbing are words well-equated with marijuana now that legalization is spreading across the nation. It should come as no surprise that someone came up with the idea of producing THC-infused drinks to boost revenue even further. THC drinks may not have made it to a bar or quick shop near you yet but they could be on their way.
Already popular in Canada, marketers are reporting that it’s the high-potency drinks that consumers are purchasing most often in the growing line of THC-infused beverages.
Reasons include that these drinks mirror the same potent “buzz” as the high THC strains available for sale in the traditional cannabis market. Another reason given is that THC drinks appeal to those who don’t care for conventional methods of ingesting the drug, which now includes vaping and dabbing. Lastly, drinks offer consumers a discreet way to enjoy their drug of choice without raising any eyebrows.
What are THC drinks?
Quite simply, THC drinks are beverages that are infused with THC. It’s the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana. The effects of the drug aren’t felt as quickly when drinking as smoking because it takes between 30 minutes and two hours to work its way through the digestive process before being circulated in the bloodstream. Many believe the effects are worth waiting for, however, because they can last anywhere between six and twelve hours.
The same can be said for edibles or ingesting THC pills. Smoking, vaping, or using a THC inhaler allows the user to experience the effects of the drug almost instantly. They last up to six hours.
If marijuana is legal in your state, you can expect to find THC beverages lining the shelves of local marketplaces soon. Odds are, though, that they are already there because they hit the market back in 2022. Often marketed as a “fruity” drink, they’re available in a wide variety of flavors.
They include:
- Cola
- Raspberry
- Root beer
- Orange
- Blackberry
- Orange
- Strawberry
- Blueberry
- Lemonade
- Cranberry
- Lime
- Pineapple
- Mango
Hashing out the pros and cons
Consumers need to be aware of the pros and cons before consuming new products—especially if unaware of the effects that THC can have on the body.
Consumers like the fact that, when consuming a THC-infused beverage, they aren’t hit with the effects all at once. Much like “pacing yourself” when drinking alcohol, many like the fact that they can stagger their dosage over an extended period. Another pro is that it’s easier to share with friends via breaking out another glass versus passing a joint to a friend. That’s just one step away from mouth-to-mouth contact after all!
Lastly, consumers are happy with the range of THC levels that these drinks provide. Drinks are marketed with as little as 2.5 mg of THC and range widely. The higher-dosed THC drinks, which are the most popular if you remember, range from twenty milligrams of THC up to several hundred in a single can.
However, the dosing is also the largest “con” associated with THC drinks. Since there is such a wide range of potency, consumers need to be aware of the THC levels contained in the drinks. Not doing so, could cause them to experience unwanted side effects. These include succumbing to a panic attack and can vary widely.
Due to the difference in state law, the ability to purchase your desired brands or flavors may be encumbered. In some states, it’s still illegal to market THC beverages. These laws can also put a stop to transporting marijuana-infused drinks across state lines. Online shoppers could experience the same drawbacks with sellers finding that are unable to deliver the preferred beverages due to state-line issues.
Is celebrating Happy Hour safer when consuming THC drinks?
When comparing THC drinks with alcoholic beverages, both provide the consumer with a variety of options that produce the desired end result.
Intoxication.
The alcohol industry has sustained itself well over an extended period of time. It’s assumed that THC-infused beverages will perform in the same manner.
As with other new marijuana products that have hit the market, millennials and Gen Z have been quick to test them out. Many are professing to prefer THC drinks to traditional alcoholic beverages. However, it’s important to note that they have already made smoking pot rather than drinking alcohol a popular trend.
To date, no one has ever died from a THC overdose. Still, as long as higher and higher levels of THC are being ingested, that could one day change. We have no idea how this will eventually effect the human body.
Alcohol already holds a sobering record—especially when combining the deaths of innocent victims in drunk driving incidents. Perhaps the younger generations are wise to avoid alcohol entirely. One reason is that it saves them from discovering they were predisposed to addiction. It could also save them from the consequences of a poor judgment call and drunk driving when they had no business behind the wheel.
Some still contend that marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to other drugs. Thereby, adding the threat of overdosing and the financial ruin that addiction often instigates into their lives. However, that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, alcohol is responsible for 95,000 American deaths every single year. Over forty thousand of them are attributed to long-term health issues caused by alcoholism.
Overall, the key to a happy Happy Hour is not to over-imbibe. So, whether you’re drinking alcohol or a drink infused with marijuana, stay safe out there.
