Last updated : February 17, 2025
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the component found in marijuana that affects the brain. It causes the euphoric effects that the drug is known to possess. As the evolution of the cannabis industry continues due to legalization, new products keep emerging catering to those eager to partake of the drug. THC drinks are the latest craze and began hitting the market in various parts of the country in 2023.
The colorful cans appear on shelves next to ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages becoming more popular as time passes. They’re often sold as THC-infused seltzers and sport names, such as Wynk or Night Flight, for instance, meant to entice the consumer to purchase the brand. The THC doses range from low to high and sell for approximately the same cost as popular beer brands.
Who’s buying them?
The drinks are intended to target a wide audience. Those who don’t typically use marijuana make the target list as well as those who use the drug but are looking for a way to enjoy its effects without smoking or vaping—both, of which, cause damage to the lungs. The popularity of products such as THC-infused candies, gummies, and other snack foods evidences this growing market.
THC drinks produce the desired effects—relaxed, yet buzzed—quicker than other by-products which take between a half-hour and forty-five minutes to take effect. The body reacts more quickly to the THC when mixed with seltzer because the carbonation accelerates the absorption of THC.
Having a THC-infused beverage makes using marijuana even more socially acceptable, too. People can sit side by side with a friend in a public place sipping their drug of choice as others down their alcoholic beverages.
Moreover, THC drinks are becoming an alternative for people who are weaning themselves off of alcohol. Gen Z is gravitating toward these beverages because they vowed never to drink alcohol due to its addictive nature. Some state their popularity is growing because THC drinks have all the benefits of a party drug without a hangover.
What’s the dose range?
We mentioned that manufacturers put out both low and high doses of these drinks. Do they make that apparent on the packaging, however? Consumers need to check the level of THC that is in the drink before consuming. Not that anyone has ever overdosed on THC, however, after a while, the brain acclimates to the drug being in the system and accepts it as “normal.” Once that happens, the dose needs to increase so the consumer can experience the desired effect.
Moreover, it’s also important to note that several factors play a part in how THC affects an individual.
They are:
- Dosage—It just makes sense that a beverage that contains a higher THC content produces a more intense experience.
- Frequency of consumption—Even though the side effects differ, it stands to reason that if you’re sucking down the entire drink like a person who has been parched in the blistering desert sun and immediately calling for another, you’re going to get more and more buzzed.
- Individual metabolism—Things such as height, weight, and even a person’s body fat percentage play a part. Small thin people experience more intense reactions than someone with a large frame or who is overweight, for instance.
You’re setting yourself up for a positive drug test
The body doesn’t expel THC metabolites as quickly as other drugs. That’s because as they disperse themselves throughout the body to await excretion, their favorite place to congregate is in the fat cells. Most of us know how hard it can be to reduce fat cells in the body! The THC metabolites do eventually clear out, but it takes a lot longer than the amount of time they’re chilling with friends or relaxing before heading for bed.
If scheduled for a urine drug test, people who consume THC drinks occasionally could test positive for pot for a few days up to a week or so after ingesting the drug. Those who drink them often, however, put themselves in danger of testing positive on a drug test for several weeks and up to three months.
A mouth swab drug test, otherwise known as an oral fluids test, has a shorter detection period. Occasional users normally won’t test positive after one to three days. Frequent or chronic users will test positive somewhere between three and up to a month after discontinuing use.
Hair follicle drug tests are currently the least used because they’re more costly for employers. However, they’re gaining in popularity for the mere fact that hair tests determine drug use for a whopping three months! The drug metabolites grow out from the hair follicle into the center of the hair shaft. That leaves a permanent record of use. The three-month detection period pertains to the length of hair that is tested. The standard test length is one and one half inches but a longer piece of hair tested equates to a longer detection period.
Consumer beware
Consumers who work for a company that drug tests employees must realize that THC drinks could easily cause them to test positive for THC.
A few companies are working on a marijuana breathalyzer. They report having success but so far, none are selling off the shelves. Someone may have ingested THC in the privacy of their home or when hanging out with friends, but the fact is THC stays in the system for a while. Until there is a “real-time” marijuana test on the market, employees need to be cautious. For the time being, that old phrase, “It’s better safe than sorry,” might be wise words to live by.
Even though marijuana is a legal recreational drug in many states, it’s still a drug. Alcohol is socially accepted, too, but employees who drink on the job lose them. Employers concerned with putting safety first are keeping marijuana on the drug test whether it’s been deemed legal or not.
They’re doing it because alcohol and marijuana affect thinking and motor skills. Both are needed to be in tip-top shape when working around others or when employees are in contact with the public. If someone is drunk or high on the job, there is a higher risk of an accident occurring. That isn’t acceptable.
Case closed.
