This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Alayna Thomas. Find her on Instagram at @ratatoolie. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
For over a decade, cannabis has been steadily decriminalized and legalized for use, both recreationally and medically. As of 2024, recreational use of cannabis is legal in 24 states. That’s almost half of the United States. This is not to mention the other 14 states that have legalized it for medical use. Because of this, there is a booming cannabis industry in many states. Many growers are experimenting with different ways to consume cannabis other than smoking it. Gummies are a tried and true method, but nowadays there are so many edible options to choose from. If you want to have a buzz while freshening up your breath, try a mint! Or, if you like to chef it up in the kitchen, you can get infused olive oil. But recently, I have been enjoying infused drinks!
Yes, infused drinks are a real thing! There are so many brands and flavors to choose from. If you are just starting your cannabis or edible journey, it can be quite daunting. Which brands are the best? Should you choose indica or sativa? If you find yourself googling terms like ‘weed liquid drink’ and don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Luckily for you, I have been in the industry and worked at dispensaries, so I know a thing or two about how different forms of cannabis consumption work, as well as how cannabis can affect you. Most importantly, I have tried these drinks and can attest personally to how they work. So, let’s get our drink on!
Do Edibles Help With Anxiety?
I have been asked this question a lot by friends and customers and my answer is: it varies. Personally, I do not think that the high from edibles versus smoking differs in terms of anxiety or paranoia, but it comes down to other factors that I will quickly go over before we look at some infused drinks.
Firstly, when you smoke cannabis, it goes into your lungs and that goes directly into your bloodstream, making you high instantly. Based on those initial hits, you can decide whether or not you want more. Many people do not know their limits, so they end up smoking too much and ‘greening out’.
With edibles, there is a bit of a waiting period. Edibles are processed through your liver, like alcohol, so it can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours before you feel effects. Furthermore, an edible high is more intense and longer lasting because it is being processed through your liver. Things such as your metabolism or even if you ate a meal beforehand can influence this.
When someone feels anxious or paranoid from weed, it’s usually due to THC content or the terpenes and other cannabinoids in the weed. Higher THC content (above 20%) can make someone anxious. Strains that are low in CBD can also contribute to anxiety and paranoia; this is the case for me. All of these cannabinoids interact with each other, creating the entourage effect. Different cannabinoid levels can produce different feelings.
Are Drinks Better Than Gummies?
I prefer drinks over gummies. If I am not in the mood to drink alcohol at a gathering or an event, I still blend in by having my own infused beverage. I also believe that my body processes liquid edibles a bit better than solid ones, such as gummies or mints. However, everyone is different and the only way to truly know what works is to try it yourself! Just make sure to start low and slow; take no more than 5 mg of edibles and if you don’t feel the desired effects after an hour or two, take some more!
Cycling Frog
I absolutely adore Cycling Frog! In 2024, multiple of their seltzers won the High Spirits Awards, which is a new competition for infused beverages. So, you know their stuff is good.
These drinks are great because there is something for everyone. If you are a seasoned veteran, they have a super high potency lemonade with 50 mg of THC and 50 mg of CBD. There are lower doses too, such as drinks that only contain 2 mg or 5 mg of THC. These are perfect if you just want to microdose or get a slight high.
Cycling Frog also makes drinks with Delta 9 (D9) so if you live in a state where THC may not be legalized, you can still find an infused drink!
I have drank both the D9 and THC Cycling Frog seltzers. There is no ‘weedy’ aftertaste that many edibles have. My favorite flavor is Black Currant, which has a tart raspberry taste. The THC seltzer is going to give you a more intense high than the D9, but if you don’t have access to the THC seltzers, the D9 ones will get the job done. The CBD infusion is what gives you that nice, relaxed feeling with these seltzers. As I mentioned earlier, low CBD can make you anxious. If you are someone who struggles with anxiety and paranoia when consuming cannabis, a fusion THC and CBD drink like this might help!
Oh, and if drinks aren’t your thing, Cycling Frog has a crazy line up of other edibles. You can find infused mints, brownie bites, and even softgel.
Cann
Cann is a very popular brand of infused drinks, and for good reason. Even though these cans only have 5 mg of THC or lower, they pack a punch. I would consider myself to be a veteran, so 5 mg is a pretty low dosage. And I still was off my ass.
I believe that Cann is the perfect brand for beginners because of the low THC content. The regular Cann drink serves up 2 mg of THC with 4 mg of CBD. The Hi Boy doubles that, giving you 5 mg of THC with 10 mg of CBD. If you want to microdose or are more interested in getting CBD into your system, the Lo Boy has only 1 mg of THC but 15 mg of CBD.
Cann also has the Roadie, which is like the regular Cann drink, but is meant to be squirted into other drinks, such as water or soda. I like these products because they add customization. If I am feeling a little crazy, I might add the Roadie to my Hi Boy for some extra razzle dazzle.
One minor set back is the amount of flavors there are. My favorite flavor of Cann so far has to be the Blood Orange Cardamom, but there’s only 4. Another complaint that I heard a lot from customers is that ‘weedy’ aftertaste, which I personally do not mind. I do think that Cann offers the best high out of the drinks that I have had, so I’ll take a cannabis aftertaste if it means I’ll be floating on cloud nine.
Ayrloom
As a New Yorker, I know so much about this brand. They are one of the top sellers in the state. Not only do they offer tasty drinks, they sell vapes, gummies, tinctures, and balms. Other than their drinks, I really recommend their new cult-classics: the Cereal Milk vape and their Rescue Balm.
Now back to the drinks. They are by far the best tasting infused drinks I have had. If you don’t want a seltzer, don’t worry. Is a honeycrisp apple cider more to your liking? Or would you rather a vanilla cola? I recently tried the orange creamsicle and it tasted like a regular orange soda!
Like the other two brands, Heirloom offers different doses for users. I go with 10 mg of THC, but you can also find 5 mg of THC or 1 mg of THC. And, it is infused with CBD to keep you balanced. Unlike the other two, Ayrloom is advertised as fast acting, meaning you should feel the effects within 5-30 minutes after ingesting.
Honestly, Ayrloom was the least effective of the three. I do not think that the drink hit me as strongly as Cann did, but there was still a slight feeling of elevation there. I would definitely boost this drink and add more THC or CBD next time because the high also did not last as long as I wanted it to, probably only an hour or so. However, with fast acting edibles, that is usually the case. The quicker you get high, the quicker the high wears off. But, if you care a lot about flavor (and having choices), this is the best brand.
What do you think? Do you like weed liquid drinks? Would you try one? Do you like these brands listed? Are there better brands? Let us know in the comments!
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