Everything to Know About Hemp & CBD Drinks
Learn More About Hemp, CBD, Delta 8 & 9 Beverages
Functional Drinks are some of the most popular NA drinks on the market today. There are beverages being infused with everything from adaptogenic mushrooms and roots, to body beneficial fruits and herbs. Not only can we have drinks that taste amazing, but they can make us feel amazing too! When looking for a specific effect from an adult drink, there are tons of new options to try.
Drinks with cannabidiol, or CBD have been gaining popularity for a few years now with more and more brands coming out all the time.
Looking for ways to relax, calm our nerves, and cut back on stress, there are more and more brands looking to include Hemp or CBD in their alcohol-free drinks for a third-way alternative to drinking, but with all the different options, you may be wondering what’s what.
The Difference Between Hemp, CBD, & Delta Drinks
When learning about cannabis-infused drinks, I first wanted to understand the difference between hemp-infused drinks, CBD drinks and those using THC. From my research, I have found that hemp is the organic plant material while CBD is a specific chemical compound found within the cannabis plant. The marijuana that you smoke contains high amounts of tetrahydocannabinol or THC while hemp has low amounts of THC but high amounts of CBD. THC is what will get you ‘high’. It is also what is considered as the addictive substance. So, depending on what kind of effect you are after you need to monitor the dosages of each.
CBD-infused drinks use either CBD oil or other CBD extracts meant for a few specific benefits like managing stress and anxiety. CBD is also used to support sleep and has anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have shown that CBD can relieve social anxiety, reduce insomnia, and help people who suffer from chronic pain issues as well. With its multiple benefits, it has become a highly sought after product.
Depending on the product, you will find different milligrams of CBD used in drinks with the some of the most popular being a mixture of both CBD and THC.
What is a micro dose?
A microdose is simply a small but concentrated dose of something that will give you a powerful impact with just a small amount. Many brands, like Jeng in the photo above have quite small amounts of THC and CBD combined that can help you take the edge off without getting too ‘out of it’. It is up to you then to continue drinking more and to monitor your own tolerance of these drinks.
The following Cannabis Cocktails all use a ‘micro-dose’ and are pretty much after the same thing. A refreshing good time with great flavor. Find your favorite flavor and then be gentle with yourself when figuring out your tolerance… one sip at a time.
Cannabis Cocktails - Some of the Brands
CANN uses 2mg of THC with 4mg of CBD but also have a Hi Boy that is 5mg THC. They are after an effect that will help both socialize and relax. There flavors include Lemon Lavender, Blood Orange Cardamom, Ginger Lemongrass, and Grapefruit Rosemary.
JENG uses 3mg THC with 6mg of CBD in their THC line or you can get their simpler and lighter version with just 11mg of CBD and no THC. They even have a hemp-free version making them one of the most versatile products on the market. They also have some of the best and funnest flavors on the market. Moscow Mules, Palomas, Margaritas and more.
Groove Wagon. From the first photo in this article, you will see a photo of the Groove Wagon cans, Fencehopping and Magnifico. Reilly, the founder of Groove Wagon supported this substack with an interview and explained more about his product and why he chose to use the low dose of 7 mg of Delta-8 THC. He also explained to me why he is sticking with Delta-8 vs the Delta 9 being used by many of the other brands. He likes to call his dosage of Delta 8 “really friendly” because of its ability to gently wean you into your buzz.
He explained that Delta 8 often has more of a ‘body feel’ vs Delta 9 having more effect on ‘the head’. From what I can tell, Delta 8 will relax the body, while Delta 9 will provide more of the psychedelic feel as well.
Groove wagon provides two flavors - the Magnifico - much like a lovely Aperol Spritz, and Fencehopping is a Citrus Hop Shandy. Both only 10 calories per can! They are the only brand on this list using Delta 8 rather than 9.
High Rise Beverage Company, another brand that has several options and tons of juicy flavor to choose from like pineapple, blueberry, and grapefruit uses Delta-9 in their products. They have 5mg of D9 and 10mg of CBD as well as only CBD products with no THC. Something for everyone!
Flyer’s Cocktail Co is another fun brand that has unique flavors brought in from all around the world like the Brooklyn Old Fashioned, the Sydney Spritz, and the Tokyo Marg. All three flavors are available either with a simple 20mg of CBD or a 5mg dose of Hemp-derived Delta 9.
The Difference in Deltas
Delta’s 8 and 9 are types of THC derived from the cannabis saliva plant. You may see that some say CBD derived vs Hemp-derived but both are coming form the same species of cannabis. Also, on most of the drinks you will see that it says ‘contains less than 0.3% THC. This is saying that hemp (derived from the cannabis plant) only contains 0.3% THC … of Delta 8 or Delta 9.
The biggest difference I found is that Delta 8 THC has been reported to produce a milder psychoactive high compared to Delta 9. It all gets pretty science-y and comes down to chemical structures and carbon chains… For me, I just want to know the difference in how it feels and the benefits. So, here ya go:
Potential Delta 8 Benefits:
Pain Relief
Improved Sleep
Calming the Nervous System
Improved Appetite
Reduced Inflammation
Prevents overstimulation
Potential Delta 9 Benefits:
Relaxation
Decreased Anxiety
Increased Appetite
Feelings of Happiness and Excitement
Heightened Imagination
Challenges and Considerations
It is important to note that there are always risks involved when trying plant-derived products such as these. Some of the negative effects associated with THC products are well-known issues like lethargy, disorientation, impaired coordination, and even feelings of panic or fear. When trying these products, take your time!
Also know that different states have different rules - check out the laws for where you are but even in states like South Carolina where the laws are pretty strict, you can purchase most of these drinks and more. Hemp-derived is legal while cannabis-derived is more likely to not be legal in specific states.
Key rule of thumb: These drinks have about a 15 to 20 mins onset and a 45min to an hour offset.
It’s regulated and dosed so accurately that they have been able to truly know what the effect is going to be and knowing when the effect will take place with consistency.
There is always more to learn… and I am - one day at a time. I hope you enjoyed this little article and are feeling a little more enlightened.
Personally, I am not a THC gal but can easily enjoy the CBD drinks. It all comes down to personal preference. Try one, try them all and let me know what you like the most! If you are more curious about adaptogenic cocktails, check it this article to learn more.
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Chat again soon! Xx Jessa
INCREDIBLY useful, Jessa. Thank you!!!