New Drink on the Block: Cannabis drinks

You’ve probably already seen it.

Every single convenience store has it, flashy cans painted in vivid colors, with cool names.

One thing in common is the well known illustration of marijuana.

Even though alcohol has maintained its #1 spot as the most used drug in the US, many states have legalized the use of cannabis, and it’s slowly catching up.

In fact, there are more daily users of cannabis and other THC-infused products than those who like to get their buzz on with a couple of cold ones, and this could be attributed to the dozens of new products on the market.

We’ll be focusing on soft drinks containing the active substance found in cannabis, which has seen a great increase in popularity as Americans’ drinking habits have begun to change.

It’s highly likely you’ve already heard of Dry January and other sober-curious movements related to attaining sobriety.

Still, many have yet to realize the impact it’s had on younger generations.

Long gone are the times when young adults are heading to liquor stores to start their weekends, and we’ve entered an era where cannabis-infused beverages are taking center stage.

Popularized in California, the „Cali Sober” trend has attracted people from all walks of life who are looking for a way to sit back, relax, and just enjoy their day to the fullest.

The terminology above specifically refers to those looking to achieve it without resorting to alcohol or just about any illicit substance that isn’t cannabis, although the term has become a bit more lax over the years. 

So, let’s dive into the world of new trend that seems to launch a new brand name every single day!

Canned THC

For the less informed, cannabis is just known as „weed”, but it’s actually classified much differently based on the amount of THC a certain variety of the Cannabis Sativa plant has.

Those containing less than 0.3% of the compound are labeled as „hemp”, whereas those containing more are actually considered „cannabis”.

A bit of a wordplay, isn’t it?

That being said, the THC content of many products on the market is often inaccurate and has practically become nothing more than a marketing trick to fool the average Joe into thinking they’re buying something they’re not.

In general, the lower dosage beverages contain between 2 and 4 mg of the compound in one 8oz container.

Still, one wouldn’t have to look far in order to find beverages containing upwards of 200 mg instead.

On top of this, these soft drinks usually contain caffeine, taurine, and sometimes even alcohol.

Not to mention sugars.

Of course, this does mean that state laws dictate whether this luxury is even available in your country, and if so, certain age restrictions are placed on them where necessary.

Alcohol vs. Cannabis

Despite the fact that we’re all very different when it comes to drinking, research has found that the majority of us will react similarly to a particular drink such as beer, hard liquor, or cocktails.

However, due to it being somewhat of a novelty on the market, many are still unfamiliar with how their body will respond to these THC-infused drinks, particularly due to the great deal of other things that can be found in them.

Much like with any other drug, especially alcohol, having one too many can turn what could’ve been a pleasant experience into one that you’ll regret.

It’s not uncommon for first-time THC users to underestimate the strength of the substance and go for one or two more drinks after the first, often caused by impatience.

THC takes time to kick in, and it can vary from person to person.

For some, any dosage will be fine, and they’ll be on cloud nine for the whole duration of what one may call a „trip”.

For others, however, even a small amount of THC is enough to induce severe anxiety, sometimes even followed by paranoia, nausea, vomiting, and severe changes in blood pressure.

Effects of cannabis on the elderly population

One other thing that comes to mind is whether these beverages are safe for the elderly, as most of us would love to see our parents relaxed and stress-free for once.

In a more general sense, older folk will likely respond negatively to THC-infused drinks, as they are more vulnerable to unpleasant effects any drug may have on them.

In fact, marijuana legalization in California was followed by a rapid increase in emergency department visits from older adults, something Canada also experienced when they embraced the drug.

That being said, this doesn’t mean that cannabis beverages are riskier than alcohol usage, but rather, that we simply don’t know enough about them just yet to classify them as entirely safe for everyone to use.

At the end of the day, as long as you’re drinking responsibly and with proper supervision, there’s nothing to be afraid of, which is the same way you should be approaching alcoholic beverages anyway.

Younger generations are first to take a hit

Novelties come and go, but it would seem that THC drinks and „Cali Sober” are here to stay, at least for a while.

One could argue that it’s a positive thing that youngsters are taking a step away from alcohol, but it’s hard to say where this road is going.

I mean, we’ve seen how vaping and energy drinks have backfired and stuck the most where not many expected – our youth.

The new generations will pave the way for responsible usage of these beverages, and with additional research, we’ll have a better idea of just how beneficial they may be.

Alcohol has ruined millions of lives and torn apart at least that many families and it’s about time we found something to replace it one day.

Make sure you’ve done your research before giving these drinks a try, and approach them as you would any other psychoactive substance: with extra care and just the right amount of modesty.