Although edible cannabis products have been legalized since October 2019, it’s taken a long journey to bring them to market. Legalization 2.0 has had its difficulties due to the long approval process and product formulation delays. However, cannabis beverages began to appear on the provincial cannabis sites in Canada as of April. I’ve been waiting for the right time to finally get my hands on them.
Although I avoid alcohol, I’m a casual cannabis user. In social situations where alcohol may be present, I usually drink mocktails. If it is not, I will eat an edible cannabis Cookie. I was intrigued to try weed drinks because they offered me an alternative. Lift & Co. a Canadian resource site for cannabis information, claims that edibles can take from 30 minutes to 4hrs to kick in and last up 12 hours. A key feature of cannabis drinks that appeals to me is their mimicry of alcohol’s effects. They have a fast onset time and last for a prolonged period. (I no more have to wait four hours to get high, nor worry about the effects lasting for 12 hours. Yes, please!)
A quick search on the Ontario Cannabis Store website revealed limited brands. However, there was at most one drink that contained either sativa or indica-dominant THC or CBD. Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC, is one of the two most abundant chemical compounds found in cannabis plants. THC provides an impairment “high”, while cannabidiol is non-intoxicating. CBD helps with relaxation and stress relief. possibly acts as an antiinflammatory.
Indica-dominance or sativa-dominance is a distinction between the types of cannabis plant used to make the drink. Different amounts of each type can have different effects on your health and energy levels. Sativa strains can be uplifting and increase productivity. Therefore, they are recommended for daytime usage. Indica strains will reduce your energy and promote relaxation. These strains should be used at night or in the evenings. (There are also hybrids/blends. They are a mixture of both the plants.
I ordered one from each variety to test it during isolation: Tweed Houndstooth & Soda (1 mg sativa dominant THC beverage), Green Organic Dutchman’s THC Powder (10mg indica-dominant THC drinking crystals), Basecamp’s CBD Iced Coffee (15mg CBD, with trace amounts of THC).
Remember to always purchase cannabis products through licensed producers. All cannabis products sold by licensed producers must be tested, analyzed, and labeled with the cannabinoid content. This will give you an exact measurement stick to measure your tolerance. Think of it like alcohol percentages but in cannabis terms. Start low and gradually increase your dosage until you are satisfied with the results.
Tweed Houndstooth & Soda
To spice up a Zoom event, I opened a Tweed’s Houndstooth & Soda. This was my first time trying it. Each can is 355 mL and contains 2 mgs of THC. This drink is clearly an cannabis version of the vodka soda. Houndstooth actually refers the cannabis strain used for the beverage. It’s not a sleep-inducing strain. Perfect for social events (even virtual ones). The price is the same as that of a can or bottle of cider or beer at $3.95 per container.
The Houndstooth can be sipped lightly carbonated. However, it has a mild cannabis flavour and a citrusy lemongrass flavor. Terpenes are the oils that can be found in cannabis plants and responsible for the flavor and aroma. It tastes just like an unsweetened tin. I enjoyed this straight up, but it could be made more flavorful by adding a squeeze of lemon or lime to the mix, or even mixed with juice.
claims their drinks have a onset time between 30 minutes and two hours. I felt the effects within half an hours, around halfway through one can. Then, I could relax. I felt extremely tipsy as I began a second one. It felt very similar to drinking alcohol. (I tried it with some friends and the onset time ranged between 20 to 30 minutes.
After just two cans, the effects really began to compound. I felt enough buzzed. But not in a bad way. My eyes felt heavy but I felt alert, socialized, happy, and had a lot of fun. The thing that was most interesting to me about this drink was the fact that it gave me more of an overall head high and not a feeling of being energized, which is pretty common for edibles. I was also happy that I didn’t feel warm and flushed like I usually do after drinking alcohol. The physiological effects are very similar to using a vape or having a joint . The buzz was still there when I got to bed, and I slept for eight straight hours. While I did feel a bit drowsy after the two cans (4mg THC), it wasn’t as bad as what I experience when I drink alcohol. I felt no impairment and was able to continue with my day. A friend who used to drink cannabis was adamant that it didn’t hinder her productivity and she felt more awake the next day.
THC Powder
I decided to have a second taste of dissolvable THC. The advantage of using a powdered THC is that it can be added to any beverage. Each TGOD packet has a single serve packet of odourless water-soluble 10 mg THC watersoluble crystals. This is about 1/8 tsp. This was the most cost-effective option since 1 mg THC can be purchased for $0.78.
I use cannabis to relax and not to get high. I was able to determine my tolerance level and decided to take only 2 mg (half of what I had taken in my first test). I mixed the contents into 5 cups homemade juice and drank a cup. The powder by itself is very strong and sweetened with sugar. But the flavour of the powder was lost in the mixture. (Do not use cannabis oils for cooking or baking.
I started to drink and settled down to watch some Netflix. TGOD says that their product onset is 15 minutes. It took me half an hour to feel the effects. The Houndstooth was quicker. I felt an immediate energy boost from the Houndstooth, which was sativa-dominant. However, this indica dominant drink had the opposite effect.
It began with my head feeling slightly woozy, similar to the effects of alcohol. The full effects took about an hour to hit me. However, I felt my eyelids feel heavy and there was no body buzz. I was able keep my eyes open and was able not to fall asleep. I noticed that I started to pay more attention on Netflix, and didn’t think about any other thing. It was almost like meditative. Although the effects disappeared in less than three hours, I suspect that if one consumed more THC (or more), they may last much longer. With my reduced THC intake, I was also able to get up the next morning with no side effects.
After two taste tests, consider me impressed. There are many benefits to cannabis beverages. They combine both the best of edibles and vapes/joints. If you are looking for alternatives, such as alcohol or other forms, these features can be appealing to you.
Basecamp Iced Tea CBD Iced Tea
This drink is non-intoxicating and I knew it would prove difficult to review. It’s less about what it makes you feel than how it makes you feel. It is like a pill or vitamin. It acts in a counteractive manner to relieve a symptom.
CBD by itself isn’t dangerous, but CBD products can contain very small amounts of THC. When using CBD, avoid performing cognitive tasks such driving. (For more information on CBD, please refer to our marijuana guide.
There is evidence that CBD could be an antiinflammatory, analgesic, and/or pain relieving effect. This is why I tried Basecamp Iced Tea when I had a head