Written by Joshua Sosin

Smoking cannabis is the classic way to get high and enjoy the psychoactive effects of THC. However, a joint or bong is far from the only way to enjoy everything the cannabis plant has to offer.

Cannabis-infused beverages are incredibly tasty and loaded with psychoactive cannabinoids like THC, CBD, and more.

In addition, the effects of cannabis-infused drinks often set in quickly, providing a lovely buzz without the hangover that you'd expect from alcoholic drinks.

Let's take a look at everything you need to know about drinking cannabis beverages, including how it feels, which products to pick up, and how to get started.

Table of Contents

• What Are Cannabis-Infused Beverages?

• How Does Drinking Weed Work?

• Types of Cannabis-Infused Beverages

  • THC Syrup

  • Weed Tea

  • Cannabis Seltzers and Sodas

• FAQs on Cannabis-Infused Beverages

Drinking Weed: What Are Cannabis-Infused Beverages?

Cannabis drinks are beverages like tea, soda, and fruit juice with an added psychoactive boost from small to large amounts of hemp-derived cannabinoids.

Like alcoholic drinks, cannabis-infused drinks will get you a pleasant buzz thanks to the presence of natural compounds.

However, unlike drinking alcohol, enjoying weed drinks doesn't make you feel exhausted and overwhelmed after the effects wear off.

Cannabis drinks often include a moderate amount of compounds like THC, which gets you high, along with minor cannabinoids like CBD, CBC, and THCv. The effects of cannabis-infused beverages can vary based on the amount of cannabinoids in each serving and which specific cannabinoids you take in in each sip.

How Does Drinking Weed Work?

Like all forms of cannabis use, drinking cannabis-infused beverages gets you high by interacting with your body's endocannabinoid system.

When drinking cannabis tea or other cannabis drinks, THC and other hemp-derived substances bind to the cannabinoid receptors in your brain and produce effects like calm, altered perception, and feelings of happiness.

The high from a cannabis drink can sometimes last longer compared to other products made with hemp-derived cannabinoids.

This is because the cannabinoids in a weed drink are absorbed via your digestive system, which may make them take a longer time to fully leave your system. Keep this in mind if you're exploring drinking cannabis tea or other weed drinks as an alternative to alcohol.

Types of Cannabis-Infused Beverages To Try

If you're interested in getting started with cannabis-infused drinks, you have plenty of options to choose from.

Below are some of our favorite types of drinks made with compounds derived from cannabis plants:

THC Syrup

If you want a cannabis product that you can use in a ton of different ways, THC syrup is for you.

Versatile and delicious, cannabis-infused syrups are perfect for mixing into your favorite beverage or using as a topping for sweet treats.

Some of these syrups are made with nano-cannabinoids, which rapidly bind to receptors in your endocannabinoid system for effects that you'll feel in as little as a few minutes.

THC syrup might be the best option for you if you like the idea of mixing a cannabis product with something you already love to drink. You can drizzle it over ice cream, put a serving in your sparkling water, and more — the possibilities are pretty much endless.

Cannabis Tea

Hemp tea is one of the most popular cannabis drinks out there, and it's easy to see why. Often made at home using canna-oil and ground cannabis flower, weed tea is an ideal option for you if you're looking for a DIY cannabis drink rather than something pre-packaged.

If you want to learn how to make your own cannabis tea at home, make sure to check out our blog post on weed tea. It'll walk you through everything you need to know to make tea with flower purchased from the Mood Shop.

Cannabis Seltzers and Sodas

Seltzers and sodas made with hemp-derived compounds are the poster children of the world of cannabis drinks.

They're often enjoyed as alternatives to alcoholic beverages, and many folks swear by these cannabis drinks as hangover-free party sippers.

Compared to other products, including many edibles, THC seltzers and sodas have low to moderate cannabinoid content in many cases.

These cannabis drinks produce a mellow, pleasant buzz that's perfect for a party or low-key social gathering. Plus, unlike many drinks that contain alcohol, THC sodas and seltzers are often low-sugar and low-calorie.

We recommend reaching for a THC soda or seltzer if you want a nice social buzz that breathes a little bit of life into any occasion. They're fun to sip solo, but they're made to be the life of the party.

FAQs on Cannabis-Infused Beverages

Now that you know about the most popular cannabis-infused drinks, let's answer some key questions about these beverages.

Q: Are cannabis drinks legal?

A: Cannabis drinks are legal if they contain no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight. This is the standard set by the Farm Bill, a 2018 piece of legislation that changed the way hemp products are labeled and sold.

Not all cannabis-infused beverages are the same, and some fall into the category of marijuana products rather than hemp.

Before buying any cannabis drinks or edible products, make sure they meet the Farm Bill's criteria for hemp. You can easily confirm this by buying from a reputable source like Mood.

Q: Do Cannabis-infused beverages cause intoxication?

A: Cannabis tea and other cannabis-infused drinks contain psychoactive cannabinoids like THC, so they will produce intoxicating effects.

However, cannabinoids derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant don't have the same type of intoxicating effects — and withdrawal symptoms — that you'd expect from a substance like alcohol.

If you're concerned about how your body and mind will respond to drinking cannabis tea or another cannabis-infused drink, the best thing to do is start small. Take a few sips, wait a while, and see how you feel. You can always stop at any time if you experience any adverse effects that make you uncomfortable.

Q: How old do you have to be to buy THC drinks?

A: The federal age limit for purchasing any products infused with psychoactive cannabinoids is 21. This goes for cannabis oil, cannabis flower, and edible products like gummies, as well as THC drinks.

Q: Will cannabis-infused beverages make me hung over?

A: If you're worried about experiencing adverse effects after drinking cannabis-infused beverages, have no fear.

While THC drinks can cause mild intoxication, the high that you get from these beverages isn't comparable to the effects of drinking alcohol.

As a result, you don't have to worry about experiencing a hangover after you enjoy a cannabis-infused drink.