Cannabis beverages have gone from a curiosity to one of the fastest growing categories in the country, and the reason is mostly engineering.
Why they work faster than food
THC does not dissolve in water. Early cannabis drinks got around that badly, which is why they took as long as a brownie and tasted like one. Modern drinks use nano-emulsion, breaking the oil into droplets small enough to disperse evenly through liquid. The result absorbs faster.
Most people feel a well-made cannabis beverage within 15 to 30 minutes rather than the 30 minutes to two hours of a typical edible. That shorter gap is the whole appeal, because it removes the guesswork that causes people to take a second dose too soon.
Reading the can
- THC. Capped at 10mg per container, same as edibles. Plenty sit at 2.5mg or 5mg, which is the point.
- CBD. Often paired with THC in ratios like 1:1 or 2:1.
- Sugar and calories. Listed like any drink. Many are now zero sugar.
- Format. Ready to drink cans, bottles, and concentrated shots you mix yourself.
The categories on the shelf
- Sparkling waters and seltzers. Light, low dose, the most popular thing in the fridge.
- Sodas and tonics. Sweeter, more flavour to carry a higher dose.
- Iced teas and lemonades. Summer staples.
- Mixers and shots. Small bottles designed to go into something else.
Practical notes
- Chill them properly. Flavour falls apart warm.
- Do not mix with alcohol.
- One can, then wait 45 minutes before deciding anything.
- Reseal or finish a bottle. An open cannabis drink in a fridge is exactly as identifiable as any other drink, which is a storage problem.
Why they suit a group
They are measured, they arrive cold, they look like a normal drink, and nobody has to share anything. If you are putting together an evening, they are usually the easiest thing in the order. More on that in ordering for a group.
Stock the fridge. Browse beverages with free local delivery across our Toronto area, or collect at the counter.