More than half of Americans live in states where recreational marijuana is legal. Alcohol remains the most used drug in the United States, but daily cannabis use has actually surpassed daily alcohol consumption, according to a study that tracked consumption trends over 40 years. Changes in drinking habits and new products may be at play.
Are you reconsidering your drinking habits?
Dry January and the growing interest in the Sober Curiosity movement suggest that many people, especially young adults, are reevaluating their drinking habits. Sales of non-alcoholic beverages are increasing. One popular new category is cannabis-infused beverages, says Dr. Stacey Gruber, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of McLean Hospital's Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscience Discovery (MIND) program. That's what I say.
“People are interested in relaxing and enjoyable experiences, and some are turning to cannabis drinks as part of the ‘Cali sober’ trend,” says Dr. Gruber.
(Cali-or California-sober is an informal term for someone who abstains from alcohol or drinks in moderation, and avoids drugs other than cannabis.) Includes hallucinogens such as psilocybin and LSD in the definition of Cali sober some people).
What is a cannabis-infused beverage?
First, a brief introduction to cannabis (marijuana). It is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, which contains over 100 compounds known as cannabinoids. These compounds interact with chemicals and receptors in the human brain.
The most well-known cannabinoid is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes intoxication and euphoria. For some people, it can also help relieve pain and nausea. The other is cannabidiol (CBD), which is non-addictive and has many potential medical uses, including anxiety-reducing properties.
Cannabis varieties with low THC content (less than 0.3%) are classified as hemp, and varieties with THC content greater than 0.3% are considered cannabis. But the types and amounts of cannabinoids that different cannabis-based products claim to contain vary widely, and labels aren't always accurate, Dr. Gruber says.
Many cannabis-infused beverages list THC as an ingredient, and while there is no standard dose, research studies of the drug typically use 5 milligrams (mg). Some “low-dose” beverages contain 2 to 4 mg of THC in an 8-ounce container. Other products may contain as much as 200 mg of THC. Drinks may contain caffeine, alcohol, and other substances.
State laws vary as to whether these drinks can be sold, where they can be sold, and age restrictions.
How are cannabis beverages different from edibles?
Edibles are foods that contain cannabis, such as gummies, brownies, and cookies.
The cannabinoids in the beverage are specially formulated to dissolve in liquid. This means that they are easily and quickly absorbed by the body's soft tissues.
“Some people may feel the effects of a cannabis-infused beverage within 15 to 20 minutes, which is much faster than eating a cannabis gummy or brownie,” Dr. Gruber says. These products need to be digested and processed by the liver, so they take at least 30 to 90 minutes to take effect, she explains.
How do the effects of cannabis drinks differ from alcoholic drinks?
While everyone is different, Dr. Gruber says people generally know how they will react to, say, a light beer or two gin and tonics. However, people are less knowledgeable about the effects of cannabis in general and cannabis beverages in particular. This situation is further complicated by the varying amounts, mixtures, and other ingredients present in different drinks.
If you down one cup of cannabis and then drink another one or two without waiting enough time to feel the effects, you can quickly double or triple your THC intake. “It's possible to go from a moderately comfortable experience to a less-than-comfortable experience,” says Dr. Gruber.
Some people feel good after consuming small amounts, or even large amounts, of THC. Some people find even small amounts intolerable. “People may feel anxious and anxious, their heart rate and blood pressure may increase, they may experience nausea and vomiting, and some people may feel paranoid or agitated,” Dr. Gruber says.
Are older people more likely to experience unpleasant effects?
probably. Older adults may be more vulnerable to these untoward effects, in part because drug metabolism declines with age. Marijuana-related emergency room visits among older adults have increased since recreational marijuana sales became legal in California. The same trend was observed in Canada, as documented in a recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine.
This is not to suggest that cannabis drinks are any more dangerous than alcohol, which has many unhealthy effects. Still, Dr. Gruber says there are still a lot of unknowns about cannabis beverages in general.
“If you're interested in trying it out and it's legal, be careful about controlling your experience until you understand how a particular product affects you,” she says .
