As people continue to explore alcohol alternatives and gravitate towards cannabis infused beverages, one of the main questions consumers typically have is how will it make them feel?
Alcohol has been the historical social lubricant of choice, which means that new substances like cannabis are a bit unfamiliar. They don't know how long the effects will last, what the standard doses are, and the likely have little to no tolerance for it. It is the responsibility of the brands and leaders in the space to help educate and inform consumers on how cannabis drinks will make them feel, so that they have more confidence when purchasing and consuming these products.
What is a THC infused drink?
Cannabis drinks are beverages infused with THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive compound of cannabis. This is typically derived from cannabis plant (or hemp plant) with cannabis beverages made in the United States. THC infused drinks can come in variety of doses, but the most common range is 2mg - 10mg of THC. BRĒZ has two doses: 2.5mg and 5mg of THC.
THC beverages are typically marketed as an alcohol alternative, but cannabis beverages are also a great options for existing cannabis users looking to cut down on smoking cannabis or try something different from a traditional edible.
How do they work?
BRĒZ cannabis infused drinks work by taking full spectrum hemp and micronizes and emulsifies it. This means that we break the cannabis down into tiny particles, which not only makes it water soluble but also more bioavailable. Consumers will feel the effects of the cannabis extract much quicker than traditional edibles, and the drinking experience will be much more similar to an alcoholic beverage.
When someone ingests THC it travels through the digestive system, first to the stomach, then through the liver, and then into bloodstream. The reason the onset is so much faster than traditional edibles is because of the tiny particles size that are enabled by emulsions, which allow for more rapid absorption.
Most Importantly: How will they make me feel?
The effects of cannabis often vary from person to person, but typically when consuming cannabis infused beverages people feel more relaxed, loose, happy, euphoric, and chilled out. Some might even feel more giggly, chatty, or hungry. At BRĒZ we've found that brighter colors, louder laughs, and tastier snacks are often reported after consuming our products!
Delta-9 THC connects with your body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors that are found in your brain and nervous system. These receptors are apart of a larger network within your body called the endocanabinoid system, which manages critical bodily functions. This also activates your brain’s reward system -- dopamine -- bringing a pleasurable effect across your body (just like alcohol).
How will BRĒZ make you feel?
BRĒZ lemon elderflower was formulated to be the ultimate social drink. Just like many other infused beverages, BRĒZ has both THC and CBD to create a nice, relaxing effect. One of the things that sets us apart from the rest is that BREZ adds lion's mane, which is a powerful functional mushroom to give our products a truly unique effect.
Lion's mane is beloved by the mushroom community, and is known for is cognitive enhancing, mood boosting, and stress relieving effects. We've found that when we combine lion's mane with a microdose of THC and CBD it creates the ultimate effect, making our drink a true alcohol alternative. The addition of lion's mane seems to reduce anxiety or any of the adverse effects of THC that some can feel, making a truly approachable product for consumers of all experience levels.
Can different THC beverages create different effects?
One of the exciting opportunities with cannabis drinks is the ability to create specific, curated effects for different use cases or times of day. While different kinds of alcohol are typically drank on certain occasions or at a specific time of day, they always produces the same effect.
But with cannabis infused drinks, different ingredients like adaptogens, nootropics, stimulants, and minor cannabinoids can be added to create custom effects. Drinks with caffeine could give you a more energized effect, adding L-theanine or lion's mane can create a more relaxed effect, and adding CBN can promote better and deeper sleep.
The possibilities for weed drinks are endless, and while many drinks are just THC and CBD right now, the future of cannabis infused beverages will definitely start to border into functional beverage territory as brands like BRĒZ continue to trail blaze in this category.
How do I find the right dosage for cannabis drinks?
With a brand new product category and a brand new social lubricant, its important for consumers to get have a good grasp on dosing. The best philosophy to adopt is "start low, go slow." For most, this would mean trying a beverage somewhere in the 2mg - 5mg of THC range. Drink one, wait at least 30 - 60 minutes. If you feel good, great, you've found your perfect dose! If you aren't feeling much, thats okay too, try doubling the dose and waiting again to see what happens. After the first few experiences, most get a better feel for what their ideal dosage is and can move forward accordingly.
Since most people are much more familiar with alcohol serving sizes versus cannabis drink doses, it can be helpful to compare the two. We are in no way saying that they are equivalent or that they will produce the same effect, but it can get people who are new to cannabis to better wrap their heads around it.
The general consensus is that 2-3mg of THC is roughly the equivalent of one alcoholic beverage, like a can of light beer or hard seltzer. 5mg of THC is typically more similar to a stronger beer (like an IPA), a glass of wine, or a cocktail.
What's great about cannabis drinks is that they come in a vast range of dosages, and many brands -- including BRĒZ -- have different doses for the exact same product. Some of our customers will even have one of each dose in one sitting, because that's what they have found to work best for them!
Even after multiple occasions of experimenting, you might still find that you might have a higher or lower tolerance compared to other people you indulge with, which is totally normal. Everyones body reacts differently depending on their history, genetic makeup, tolerance, weight, and other physiological factors.
Safety and Precautions
When consuming cannabis infused drinks its always important to keep safety in mind. Cannabis infused products should only consumed by individuals who are 21 years of age or older. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have any pre-existing medical conditions, it is recommended that you consult your physician first.
Here are some tips we suggest to follow to make the best of your first experience:
Start with a low dose. Begin with a small, controlled dose of edible THC. It’s essential to allow your body to become familiar with the effects gradually.
Be Patient. The onset of the high from edibles can be different from person to person, so being patient and going slow with any dosage increase is highly recommended.
Stay hydrated and well-nourished. Eating a light meal before consuming edible THC can help mitigate the risk of nausea. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, as THC consumption can sometimes cause a dry mouth.
Choose the right setting. Be in a comfortable and safe environment, ideally with a trusted friend or partner. Being in a relaxed setting can help ease any potential anxiety.
Avoid mixing substances. Don’t mix edibles with alcohol or other substances, as this can intensify the effects and increase the risk of adverse reactions.
Have a plan. Before consuming THC, it’s helpful to have a plan in place for what you’ll do while experiencing its effects. Activities like watching a movie, listening to music, or talking with friends can be enjoyable.
The effect of THC infused drinks vs Traditional Edibles
Cannabis infused beverages are technically a type of edible, but they still have some differences from the traditional edibles you might be familiar with.
Similarities
Both THC infused drinks and THC edibles typically have a low dose of THC in them, usually between 2mg - 10mg THC per serving. Many are also balanced out with minor cannabinoids like CBD, CBN, or CBT. Both edible forms provide a smell and smoke free solution, and are a healthier alternative to consuming cannabis than smoking.
Differences
One big difference between the two is onset time. Many traditional edibles in the form of gummies or baked goods have a longer onset time, typically between 1 - 2 hours. This can leave consumers unsure of how strong the effect will be, and sometimes they will over consume cannabis because they have not felt an effect yet. But with cannabis drinks, the onset time is typically between 10-20 minutes thanks to fast acting emulsion technology. This gives consumers a quicker understanding of how they are feeling, so they can either halt or increase their cannabis consumption.
Another difference is that cannabis beverages are the first edible form where you can dose incrementally, similar to drinking alcoholic beverages. With traditional forms like gummies, all you can do is just eat a serving and wait to see how you feel. This also what makes cannabis infused drinks a superior social consumption method. By having something that you can consume overtime instead of one-and-done, you can mimic the can in hand habit from alcohol, so you feel more included in the social gatherings you attend.
FAQs
How will THC drinks make you feel?
Cannabis drinks generally make people feel happy, euphoric, relaxed, chill, and sometimes even chatty or giggly. The important thing to remember is that everyone feels cannabis a bit differently (similar to alcohol), and this can be due to a number of factors like tolerance, age, and weight.
How does BRĒZ make you feel?
BRĒZ's drinks offer a truly unparalleled drinking experience. They have a unique combination of THC, CBD, lion's mane mushrooms, and minor cannabinoids. This creates the ultimate social drink and alcohol alternative, and many customers report a distinct happy, light, and euphoric feeling that is distinguishable from other cannabis infused drinks.
Do cannabis drinks feel the same as drinking alcohol?
While some cannabis drinks can give a similar feeling to drinking alcohol, it is important to remember that THC and alcohol are completely different substances. Most cannabis infused drinks are marketed as an alcohol alternative -- and we believe that BRĒZ is THE alcohol alternative -- but that does not mean that they create an equivalent experience.
What precautions should I take before trying THC infused beverages?
If you are nursing, pregnant, taking medication, or have any underlying health conditions, you should definitely seek advice from a licensed physician before consuming weed infused drinks. If none of these things apply to you, then the generally followed philosophy is "start low, go slow" in order to have an experience that is enjoyable and not too overwhelming.
Are cannabis drinks safe?
Cannabis drinks are safe, provided you are buying from a trusted brand like BRĒZ. There are a few things to look out for to make sure that you are buying from a brand that manufactures cannabis products in a responsible manner:
Lab Results: There should always be easy to access lab results from the cannabis drinks that you are consuming. These show the levels of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids in the product, and also prove that it is free from heavy metals, toxins, and microbial. You can find BRĒZ lab results here.
Naturally-derived THC: Some brands use synthetically derived THC, which involves heating CBD to a high temperature to extract THC. While this usually makes input costs lower, synthetically derived THC is not considered safe for mass consumption, and can sometimes include unwanted heavy metals or toxins. Make sure you are consuming cannabis infused drinks that have naturally-derived THC, like BRĒZ!
Nutritionals: Always ensure that there are proper nutritionals on the can of your cannabis drinks that include ingredients, calories, sugars, and carbs. Make sure there are no listed ingredients that you have allergies or adverse reactions to.
