There have been many trends in consuming weed. Of course, smoking it is still considered to be the old school form of using cannabis, and while vaporizing had its time as being the ‘newest’ way to do it, that’s now also something that has lost its novelty for some. Edibles still remain one of the consumption methods of choice, but for those who want to take that up a notch, how about drinking your weed?
Drinking your weed gives you all the same benefits as edibles do – a slower, longer buzz and the option to consume freely in public, without anyone giving you the side-eye. So how do make weed-infused drinks?
Really, any way you want as long as you follow two main rules: you have to either dissolve the THC into some kind of fat over a low heat, or you have to use a tincture. Tinctures are solutions of THC that have been mixed with alcohol.
Other than heat, mixing weed with alcohol will also allow the THC to dissolve into the tincture, thereby allowing it to become active and be absorbed by the bloodstream.
If you don’t have any handy ways to get a hold of some tincture, you can heat the cannabis in simple syrup with some vegetable glycerine that will act as the fat content for the THC to dissolve into. The first of three recipes explains how to do this. And once you know, you can place it in any drink you want to give yourself a buzz with your beverage.
If you don’t want to buy tinctures and you don’t want to simmer it in fat beforehand, you can add raw cannabis to liquids and drink it as is. Be warned though, that those looking for the psychoactive effects of THC won’t get it with these kinds of weed-infused drinks. Bu they can still provide lots of medicinal benefits without those side effects, for those that are more interested in simply taking medicine without smoking or vaping.
Marijuana Watermelon Juice
Watermelon juice is refreshing and satisfying, especially on particularly hot days or when you’ve just been working up a sweat. The simple syrup for this weed-infused drink will give you about three cups of simple cannabis syrup but for most recipes you’ll only need about a half of a cup or so. After making it just let it cool and place in an airtight container. It will stay good for about three weeks.
Ingredients:
3 cups of filtered water
3 cups of granulated sugar
2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerine (found at local health food stores)
3 grams of finely chopped cannabis
1 small seedless watermelon
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
6 mint leaves
Directions:
1.) Place the water and sugar together in a medium-sized pot. Bring to a boil and stir to make sure all of the sugar has dissolved. Add the cannabis, stir, and then reduce the heat to medium. Cover the pot and let it gently boil for 20 minutes. Be sure not to boil the mixture at too high of a temperature, as this could cause it to boil over and damage the cannabis.
2.) Reduce the temperature to low after 20 minutes. Add the vegetable glycerine, stir, and simmer the mixture for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring regularly. Keep the lid on during this step, removing it as you need to in order to stir the entire thing.
3.) Very carefully, being sure not to burn yourself and not to spill any of the syrup, pour the syrup through the cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer into a heat-resistant container. Allow to cool.
4.) Remove the rind of the watermelon and chop the fruit into small pieces before placing into a blender. Add ½ cup of the simple syrup you’ve made, along with the lemon juice. Blend until smooth.
5.) Filter the juice through a separate cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer and add the mint leaves. Add ice to a glass, pour the watermelon juice over, and enjoy!
Pina Colada Cannabis Breakfast Shake
Smoothies and shakes are a great way to wake up in the morning, and even better if the smoothie you’re sipping is a weed-infused drink. For this recipe you’re going to need either two teaspoons of a tincture or about ¼ cup of the simple cannabis syrup that was made in the recipe above. And you’re also going to need to let it sit in the fridge overnight. Not only will this help soften up the oats, but it will also give you an energizing drink as soon as you get up, without having to pull out the blender first.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup coconut milk
¼ cup simple cannabis syrup OR 2 teaspoons of cannabis tincture
¾ cup frozen pineapple chunks
Directions:
1.) Combine the oats and coconut milk in a blender and pulse to break the oats up slightly. Add the pineapple chunks and the cannabis syrup or tincture and blend again until most of the pineapple is broken up and the drink is smooth.
2.) Place in the fridge overnight, or for at least two hours, and get on with your day! If you find the oats don’t break up as much as you’d like, store the smoothie right inside of the blender when you put it into the fridge. After a quick pulse in the morning, it should be quite smooth.
Cannabis Coffee
So you’re not really a smoothie kind of person first thing in the morning, but you do like a good cup of coffee to get your day started right? Now that cup can do double duty when you drop about a gram into milk or cream warming on the stove before adding it to your mug of coffee. The perfect weed-infused drink for those that need a little extra ‘go’ with their joe!
Ingredients:
1cup of milk or cream (do not use soy or almond milk as these do not have high enough fat contents for the THC to cling to when warming)
1 gram of cannabis, finely ground
1 pot of coffee
Directions:
1.) Place the milk or cream in a small saucepan set over low heat. Add the cannabis, stir, and leave simmering over very low heat for about 20 minutes. The heat needs to be low enough so that it does not curdle the cream or milk, but not so low that it doesn’t heat the cannabis, either. A good trick is to place your clean finger into the milk mixture. If you can place it in for about five seconds before having to pull it out, it’s likely hot enough.
2.) Add the desired amount of cream or milk to any cup of coffee and have a great morning!
These weed-infused drinks are a great way to enjoy the newest form of edibles while you’re out and about, or if you just have nosy neighbours!
