Cannabis Infused Drinks & How to Make them?

Gone are the days of clumsily rolled joints and blunts, where you puff puff pass. Now we bake, drink, spread, and do everything else you can imagine with these green buds. Thanks to the revolution and the changing paradigm of the cannabis industry, we have seen the tarnished reputation of the plant being slowly cleared up. As more countries aim to legalize this miracle plant, there is innovation even in the way it is consumed. 

Smoking Accessories have been the primary method of consumption, ranging from innovative and high-end bongs and dab rigs to the very common rolling papers and smoking pipes/chillums. However, as we progress towards a society that loves cannabis as much as our forefathers did, we have come up with the magnificent world of edibles. These are not only a healthier alternative, but also provide a plethora of delectable options. And let's face it, we have come a long way from only pot brownies. Now we make an entire breakfast range, oils, drinks, and so much more with cannabis. 

In this article, we are taking you through four different bases needed for a cannabis-infused drink along with some very easy, DIY recipes that you can make at home when you're craving for a delicious high. Keep in mind the dosage of the weed, and if you're not sure, click here to know more about Cannabis Edible Dosage Chart.

Starting with the first base - Cannabis-infused Milk. It is something that is easily accessible, and if you have the milk, you can easily make your morning brew without any hassle. 

Let's see how we can make it.

Making the Base - Cannabis-infused Milk

Cannabis-infused milk not only allows you to have a more enjoyable experience but makes the morning or evening drink routine a much more easy, hassle-free, and quick process. However, keep in mind that marijuana is fat-soluble, meaning you would get a more potent result with whole milk and such instead of diet ones. 

There are two ways of making cannabis-infused milk. The first is one requires you to be more attentive, whereas the second method is slightly bent on the easier side of things. 

You would need 0.5 to 1 gram of weed for a quart of milk. Shred your precious herbs and mix them with the milk. Allow the mixture to reach a boil, after which you can simmer and let it cook for at least two to three hours. This would require you to be cautious about the milk boiling over. Moreover, you also need to stir frequently, so get those forearms ready for some work.

In the second method, we use a double-boiler system wherein you boil some water in a pan, and place a steel bowl with the milk and weed mixture on top of it. While the water boils, the indirect heat works its magic. In this method, you don't need to constantly stir, but still, keep an eye on the mixture. 

Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth, and here you have it, cannabis-infused milk!

There are a lot of recipes that you can try out with canna-milk. Anything that you made with milk can be replaced with the drink, and just like that, you will have a dank drink. 

| Read More: Cannabis Tea Recipe - How to Make Cannabis Tea? |

From your favourite matcha tea to a simple post-workout protein shake, use the cannabis-infused milk everywhere. My favourite is a Peanut Butter Milkshake, whose recipe I got off the internet a few years ago. 

Here's how you can make it.

What would you need?

• 4 cups of Peanut Butter Cup ice cream
• 1 3/4 cups of cannabis milk
• 4 shots of William Wolf bourbon
• 4 tablespoons of sugar
• Chocolate syrup
• Reese's Peanut Butter syrup

Blend the ingredients except for the two syrups in a blender until you see the frothy milkshake being formed. Scoop it out in a tall glass and top with chocolate and peanut butter syrup. 

As easy as it can be, and still yummy and dank!

BRB, going to make myself a milkshake right now! ;)

Making the Base – Cannabis-infused Coconut Oil

Moving on from the world of dairy, let’s take a look at the lactose-free base where you don’t have to use any form of milk products. We’re skipping milk and looking at oil; coconut oil to be precise since it has a nice nutty flavour to it and is known to be very healthy. This is known to be a very dank addition to drinks and can be used in non-liquid recipes owing to the solidifying nature of the oil. 

Let’s get started with the recipe. To make Cannabis-infused Coconut oil, you would need a cup of ground weed and a cup of coconut oil. Pretty simple, isn’t it?

Keep in mind that we want our weed to be a little coarse and not powdery. Once you have perfect consistency of the weed, we are going the similar way of cannabis-infused milk and using a double boiler method to make this base. 

| Also Read: Cannabis Recipe - How to Make Cannabis Cooking Oil? |

Grab a utensil and fill it with water. Put it on the stove, and use another steel bowl to put over the simmering water. In the steel bowl, add the marijuana and oil, allowing it to mix together for at least 6-8 hours. It’s a lot, but hey, we want our oil to be potent! This also involves the occasional stirring. This is done to avoid scorching or burning of the mixture. 

Once you’re sure that the goodness of the green buds has transferred onto the oil, take it off the stove. Strain through a cheesecloth before using it for your edibles and drinks!

Now that you have the cannabis-infused coconut oil, let’s make some really dank pina colada with a twist!

You will need the following ingredients along with a blender:

• 1 oz. dark rum
• 2 oz. white rum
• 1/4 cup diced pineapple.
• 4 oz. coconut canna-oil
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 4 oz. coconut cream
• 1 1/2 cup ice

Put them all together in a blender and make a pina colada like nothing else. And you can add a little umbrella or straws, anything to add oomph. 

|Read More: Cannabis-infused Coffee Recipe - How to make this delicacy? |

Making the Base: Cannabis Simple Syrup

You already have the milk and oil, but let's walk towards the sweeter side of cannabis and attempt to make this simple syrup. 

The delectable nature of a sweet syrup is that it can instantly make anything taste better. From your morning pancakes to ice-creams or brownies to even your gin and T, just pour this cannabis-infused goodness, and you'd be changing the game forever. 

Here's what you will need to make this one:

• 3 cups of filtered water
• 3 cups of fine granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin (locate this at a health food store)
• 2 grams of finely chopped or ground cannabis

The procedure for the cannabis-infused syrup is a no brainer. To start with, we just need to make the syrup by combining the water and granulated sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, ensuring that the sugar granules are dissolving in the water. Once done, add the ground cannabis into the sugar mixture and cover the pot, cooking it for at least 20 minutes. It is important to ensure that the boil is gentle enough to avoid scorching or burning of the weed, but just enough to start with the decarboxylation process.

Once you're sure that the goodness of Marijuana has seeped into your sugar syrup, add the vegetable glycerin and let it simmer for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

The last step is the same as others; strain through a cheesecloth and store this sticky, sugary, sweet cannabis syrup in a jar or bottle. 

Now that you have the milk, oil, and a syrup, let's get to know how to make a dope and strong post-workout smoothie that will help you gain those dreamy muscles while also giving the relaxation and nutrients needed by the body. Remember that our green friends are not only used to get high but also entails a list of benefits. 

To make the Super Duper Green Smoothie, you will need:

• 2 cups spinach
• 1 tablespoon almond butter
• a Banana
• 1 tablespoon protein powder
• 1 cup water or almond milk/canna-milk
• cannabis-infused simple syrup
• 1 teaspoon canna-coconut oil 

There is only one step involved in this smoothie. Dump all the ingredients into a blender, and mix them all for a 'thicc' smoothie that is extremely healthy and dope!

| Read More: Weed Gummies - How to Make Cannabis Gummy Bears? |

Making the Base: Cannabis-infused Alcohol 

Let's face it; alcohol and cannabis are not very routinely bought together even by those who love them both equally. But if you're in that minority that loves a good cannabis-infused drink, this one's for you. But before we move on, let's put a few words of caution.

In the previous recipes, we were making use of products that are used to being in the kitchen, among high flame, etc. However, it is not the same with Alcohol. Alcohol is seriously flammable and we don't want any accidents here! 

For this reason, we are not using a gas burner in this recipe, nor anything remotely related to fire including your joints, and cigarettes or any other such things. Also, it is recommended to use a well-ventilated area. 

To make cannabis-infused alcohol. you will need a 1/8 ounce bag of weed and 750 millilitres of alcohol (of your choice)

The first is to decarboxylate the weed, which was not needed in the previous recipes since we were using direct heat in those methods. To decarboxylate the weed, spread out the nugs on parchment paper and bake them in the oven for half an hour, flipping them mid-way. You can additionally use the microwave instead of the oven and cover and cook the nugs on high for a minute and a half. And then flip and repeat it again. 

Now that we are done with the decarboxylation process, grind the weed ensuring that they are not completely powdery. 

We are using the double boiler method again. Use an electric stove or hot plate, bringing the water to a boil at 212ºF and then turning the heat to low. Mix the alcohol and weed into another steel bowl which can be placed above the boiling water. Stir and cover the mixture to cook. 

Ensure that the mixture does not exceed the 170-degree mark, and keep an eye, stirring occasionally. It usually takes around three hours to do the deed. 

Now that you have your own Cannabis-infused Alcohol, it's time to pour some and have a dank high with your homies or simply with a funny, stoner movie. 

| Read More: Cannabis Tincture- Everything You Need to Know About Them |

The Short Way - Tinctures and Oils

Not everybody has the potential to stand in the kitchen for hours, watching their favourite cannabis drink boiling and brewing. For those people, we have a cheat way forward. Using tinctures and oils in your drinks is a super-easy way to get high without much work. Simply drop a few drops, and you're got to go. 

In fact, tinctures and oils are quite easily available, making it even more appealing to edibles lovers to simply take the shortcut to a dank drink. 

This brings us to the end of our extensive look at cannabis-infused drinks. If you're looking for some related content, feel free to check out Olipedia. 

Till then, keep making awesome cannabis drinks and toking with Olivastu!