Cannabis beverages are a growing trend, and it’s easy to understand why. From CBD-infused coffee to THC microdose sodas, there are seemingly endless flavors and styles that can be used to make stoney signature drinks in place of traditional cocktails.
While no one is trying to take away our precious margaritas or frosé, reducing alcohol consumption in general is increasingly popular among people of all ages. With physical and mental well-being seen top priority, cannabis drinks can satisfy the thirst for delicious beverages that provide relaxation without hangovers or added calories.
Part of the fun of cocktails is the element of craft that goes into them. Of course, the many ready-to-drink cannabis beverages can be enjoyed on their own as an alternative to alcoholic tipples, but for those who crave the ritual of mixing something unique in their home bar — or for those who want to enjoy a complex drink that equal more than the sum of its parts — these recipes are for you.
The concoctions below use a combination of pre-made infused beverages and tinctures. Any type of tincture, such as full-spectrum hemp, CBD or THC, will work, though we are partial to nano tinctures that are made specifically for beverages since they mix in easily and don’t change the flavor profile.
How to make delicious cannabis-infused cocktails
Before you start mixing, there’s a few tried-and-true tips you should have at your disposal for the best canna-cocktail experience:
After following a recipe, periodically taste and adjust the amounts of each ingredient to create your ideal balance.
Use nice ice! Invest in an ice mold to create more professional cocktails that won’t dilute quickly.
Add your own flare: play around with garnishes to put a personalized stamp on homemade drinks. Try anything from cinnamon sticks to fresh figs.
Why the piña chillada
Tropical drinks always taste like vacation in a glass, and with a cannabis boost, they can also feel like vacation. This Pinna Chillada uses all-natural ingredients, featuring coconut milk instead of sweet and processed cream of coconut.
Aside from being a healthier option, natural full-fat coconut milk can enhance the effects of cannabis. This is a very forgiving recipe that can be easily customized: adjust the amount of maple for desired sweetness and adjust water for desired consistency. If you don’t have frozen pineapple, use fresh or canned and use a few ice cubes instead of cold water.
Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
Ingredients:
2 oz coconut milk
½ oz maple syrup
2 oz pineapple juice
4 oz frozen pineapple chunks
Splash of cold water
Tincture of choice
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
It’s no secret that a dash of weed will spice things up in the bedroom. In recent years, the legal market’s been awash with topicals, suppositories, and tinctures aimed at doing just that. But while these products are great — and work very, very well — puffing on a pre-roll or taking a bong hit of some spicy flower can be just as effective when it’s time to get down.
However booming the canna-sexual market may be, it seems to be devoid of any smokable sex aids. While something is working with smoking pot before (or even during) a sexual experience, there is little data on what kind of flower lends itself best to enhance sexual pleasure.
When it comes to sex and using flower, are there strains that specifically heighten arousal? Or, when it comes to sex, is all weed created equal? Is there such a thing as a “viagra strain” to kickstart your sex life?
So many strains claiming to enhance female arousal and male arousal with names like Atomic Northern Lights and/or high-THC content that claim to be “sure things” can be intimidating, confusing, and just downright mood-killing when they don’t work. Or, worse, make you get in your own head.
This kind of journey is personal, intimate, and determined by how the plant’s chemical makeup of terpenes and cannabinoids react with your individual endocannabinoid system, as well as how you react with your surroundings, so we spoke to some of the experts behind the canna-sexual uprising that’s rocking the weed world and bedrooms alike.
While there’s no single strain that’s guaranteed to get your engines going, here are a few of their favorites.
Mimosa
“There is no such thing as the perfect strain for all…yet,” explains cannabis expert Jaron Gladstone, co-founder of CBCeuticals. “Think of shopping for condoms or toys. Often, you will find a variety of shapes and sizes to appease everyone’s interests. This tends to be — in part — due to the nature of our bodies each being psychologically and mentally unique. Answering the question of what cannabis strain is best is relative to what you like, what you need, and what the situation calls for.”
While Gladstone’s personal go-tos are Tangie, Original Glue, and Bruce Banner, his favorite is Mimosa, a cross between Purple Punch and Clementine with high levels of the terpene limonene, known for its bright and uplifting effects, and myrcene, known for promoting calm and relaxation.
“Mimosa is the crown jewel, if you can find it,” he raved. “Think of the Mimosa as doing spin art during Sunday brunch. It throws in a little energy, a little pep in your step, and takes all worries away, leaving you happy-go-lucky, euphoric, and free from anxiety.”
For Joe Vela, co-founder and CEO of Emojibator, a shame-free, accessible pleasure-tech brand debuting a CBD pleasure activator later this year, it’s all about Strawberry Cough.
“I keep a steady supply of sativas and sativa-hybrids,” said Vela. “My go-to strain for arousal is Strawberry Cough. In addition to the sensual smell and taste of berry, this strain gives me creative energy and full-body relaxation.”
Strawberry Cough is a sweet, potent strain known for its heady high and hard, cough-provoking smoke. With a terpene profile high in caryophyllene and limonene with a dash of linalool, it produces a shimmering, euphoric high that is at once uplifting, relaxing, and perfect for getting freaky.
High in euphoria-inducing myrcene, uplifting pinene, and sedating terpinolene, Trainwreck is a fabulous strain for foreplay and beyond, according to our sex experts. While it hit its peak popularity about a decade ago, that doesn’t stop Laura Eisman and Allison Krongard, CEOs and co-founders of Her Highness, a brand of glamourous cannabis accessories, from enjoying Trainwreck’s hard-hitting cerebral high, surging euphoria, and creativity.
“My absolute favorite strain for sex is Trainwreck,” said Eisman. “I love it in any form. Nothing is sexier than slowly smoking a Trainwreck preroll. It makes me feel completely euphoric. I get lost in the experience and every sensation is intensified.”
Krongard adds, “Personally, the best pre-sex strain for me is whichever one I have available. Getting high before sex makes it better for me, and all strains deliver. However, if I had to pick just one or two notable pre-sex standouts, they would be Trainwreck and Red Congolese.”
“I think, more than focusing on strains, something to think about, ask about, and look into is terpenes and cannabinoids,” said Anne Louise Burdett, co-Founder & CEO of TOCA, an organic CBD line of intimacy lubricants. “Different strains have different terpene and cannabinoid profiles which is what makes them unique, and if you know what you’re looking for, you can try out all kinds of different combinations.”
She continued, “When it comes to terpenes, for example, if you want to be clear and focused, look to pinene. If you are wanting something more relaxed and sedating, myrcene or linalool, with limonene being more euphoric, creative. As far as cannabinoids, CBN is a major chemical that makes people feel kind of sleepy and dull, so likely best to avoid. THC is fantastic for pain relief and heightened sensation, and THCV is more stimulating. So overall, it’s a pretty idiosyncratic choice, depending on what you need to get aroused and how you like to feel.”
That said, her recent go-to has been Granddaddy Purple (or GDP), an indica-growing cross between Purple Urkle and Big Bud that is high in relaxing myrcene, anxiety-curbing caryophyllene, and uplifting pinene. “Grandaddy Purple is currently the strain I use the most because I have very full days … a pretty regular obstacle to sex is the task of slowing down my brain and getting present and relaxed in my body at the end of the day. Grandaddy Purple is perfect for a longer, more languid experience. A sensual, relaxed time.”
Sour Diesel, one of the most popular strains in existence, is a sativa-growing plant that took over in the 90s. This cross between ChemDog 91 and Super Skunk was cultivated by grower AJ Sour Diesel and launched a ton of beef between growers in the weed world at the time due to its diesel-y aroma and general prowess as the ultimate 90s dank. High in uplifting limonene, peppery caryophyllene, and fruity, relaxing myrcene, Sour Diesel made two of our expert’s lists, including Anne Louise Burdett above.
Daniel Saynt, Founder & Chief Conspirator of The New Society for Wellness (NSFW), a private members club for the adventurous, agreed. “My choice strains for great sex are Sour Diesel, Afgan Goo, Blue Cheese, and Voodoo.”
Saynt continued, “Just think about the experience you’re about to have and try to match the strain that best fits. If you’re looking for a Barry Manalo style, long and romantic sex experience consider going with an indica-based weed like Bubblegum Kush. Try other indica strains if you want to stretch out your sexual experience with more touch and massage, as these strains make that action feel amazing. If you’re looking for wild and crazy sex making, go for a sativa or hybrid-based strain like Sour Diesel or Jillybean. Both are great for getting the juices going and raising arousal.”
“It’s not about getting insanely high when you’re mixing weed and sex. It’s about enhancing the experience, not overpowering it … much like great sex, it’s better to start slow and build up.”
The self-care industry has experienced a wildly explosive boom the past few years, and the cannabis market has been paying attention. You can walk into any dispensary and find as many skincare products as stoney edibles.
But self-care isn’t just for the body, it can contribute to overall well-being. Simply caring for yourself and setting up a routine can boost self-esteem. No need to make it elaborate — washing your hair with your favorite shampoo or preparing your favorite meal can help build you up.
In these long days of quarantine and coronavirus, self-care may have taken a backseat in your day-to-day life. Time begins to blend together, and the overwhelming news cycle can start to feel like a constant buzz — so much of this can make everything feel a little hopeless and grey. But these are the times when self-care is most important.
To understand the need for self-care and CBD, we spoke to Tamara Anderson, founder of Culinary and Cannabis, an ongoing event forum that provides cooking classes and cannabis education from “healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and food & wine experts within the community for a great cause.”
Also a nurse, Anderson knows how important it is to care for the body and mind, and understands how cannabis may help manage pain and bring relief to a variety of patients. Seeing how self-care and cannabis go hand-in-hand, she’s set up virtual “CannaSpas” where you can buy wellness kits and follow along as she or other educators create candles, lotions, edible treats, and various CBD-infused self-care goods.
But what about self-care? Through her events, which only use CBD ingredients, Anderson has seen first-hand how caring for oneself can change one’s outlook on life when things are getting emotionally tough, “if you’re not taking care of yourself, how are you going to take care of anyone else? You can’t. And right now, it’s really important to take care of yourself. A lot of people think that since you’re in the house, you don’t have to think about it. But you have to take care of your mental health.”
Seclusion brought by quarantine, and being constantly surrounded by the media, can take a toll on the brain. The Centers for Disease Control has linked social isolation to increased risk of dementia, heart disease, and depression, among other illnesses. Anderson adds, “being in the house can be very depressing, and if you don’t have an outlet for that or you don’t have a way to communicate and express that, it’s going to change yourself and it’s going to change your own culture.”
The future of virtual self-care
Like many industries, coronavirus has caused almost everything to hop online, self-care included. And though you aren’t face-to-face, it’s never a detriment to participate and learn something new, “A big part of cannabis is teaching people the holistic benefits of it, and providing a safe, comfortable, and beautiful place to learn about the plant.”
There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for all forms of quarantine to be lifted, which can feel defeating, but breaking up your day and continuing to do even one small thing for yourself can make a difference. “It’s optimal that when this is over, for you to be the best person that you can be, you need to take care of yourself. Whether that be mentally, physically, spiritually — all of that needs to be taken care of right now. And with CBD, it’s about providing education for people and letting them know it’s an alternative.”
CBD infused self-care products we love
In need of a relaxing bath or delicious treat to set your mind at ease? Below, check out our favorite calming products for the long quarantine days ahead.
Bhang 1:1 CBD Vegan Caramel Dark Chocolate Bar
One of Anderson’s favorite brands, Bhang delivers on taste and effects. Their 1:1 Vegan Caramel Dark Chocolate Bar blends rich flavors and soothing qualities with 100 milligrams THC to 100 milligrams CBD.
When you purchase a single pack of Om Body’s Lavender CBD Epsom Salts, 100% of proceeds will be donated to Black Lives Matter. Not only will you feel positive by supporting the cause, you’ll feel every relaxing moment that comes with soaking in ultra-calming lavender and 100 milligrams CBD.
Packed with 400 mg CBD, Brown Girl Jane’s Heal Whipped CBD Body Butter is the perfect solution for cracked hand or sore muscles. Along with chamomile, calendula, and aloe, you’ll feel bathed in luxury when smoothing this creamy body butter after a warm shower or bath.
Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
