How to Make Cannabis Infused Lemonade & THC Drinks

Imagine sipping on a cold glass of cannabis infused lemonade poolside in the heat of summer. It’s never been easier and more affordable to make your very own cannabis infused lemonade from scratch.

Our recipe makes a delicious lemonade drink that can be consumed as is or made into a variety of cocktails or mocktails.

Safe Consumption Practices

When consuming cannabis-infused lemonade, it is recommended that you drink in moderation.

Cannabis effects vary depending on the type of strain used and the level of THC within the strain. In most cases, the high will last for six to eight hours and will likely take as much as thirty to sixty minutes for you to feel it.

Below, you will find the steps to create cannabis lemonade and the ingredients you need to begin your creation.

Cannabis Infused Lemonade Ingredients

To make cannabis infused lemonade, you will need a portion of a high-quality cannabis strain. Research different cannabis flower strains to achieve your desired effects. Strains vary in their cannabinoid and terpene profiles. Every cannabinoid and terpene has a different effect. Try out different strains to find the right one for you.

You can also use cannabis concentrate since your end product will be in liquid form. In this case, the cannabis plant material would be soaked into alcohol to take out the cannabinoids. The grain alcohol has to be 90% pure and strong to dissolve the cannabis resin from the plant. Do not use isopropyl alcohol.

For this recipe, you will need about 4 grams of cannabis buds or a gram of hash oil. Get a small jar that has a lid, funnel, strainer, and cheesecloth, a dropper glass bottle that is tinted (for UV protection) and a measuring cup.

We will be making a cannabis tincture to infuse into lemonade. Other infused lemonade recipes may use cannabis infused sugar or honey.

Making Cannabis Tincture

The cannabis plant material has to be ground and decarboxylated (heated) to activate its cannabinoids. Decarboxylation refers to the process of heating up cannabis material to activate its THCA into THC, the compound responsible for the euphoric high. Decarboxylation is not necessary if you plan to remove the alcohol with heat.

Use these steps to decarboxylate your material:

1. Preheat the oven to 212º F.
2. Place the ground cannabis material evenly on a baking sheet or dish. You may use an oven thermometer to check the temperature of the buds.
3. Put your baking sheet into the oven. Check the oven thermometer every ten minutes to see when they reach 212º F.
4. When the oven thermometer reads 212º F, leave your baking sheet in there for one hour and 20 minutes. Ensure the temperature remains consistent.
5. After one hour and 20 minutes, remove the baking sheet and plant material using an oven mitt and turn off the oven.

Once your cannabis material is decarboxylated, put it in the small jar and then pour the alcohol on it, closing the lid and thoroughly shaking it. Be sure all of the cannabis material is completely covered with alcohol. Leave the mixture for five days so that the alcohol can fully extract the cannabinoids. You can let the mixture sit for as little as 24 hours.

Now, you can use your strainer, coffee filter, or cheesecloth to strain the mixture, separating the unnecessary plant matter from the oil. Use the funnel to pour everything into the bottles. Now your tincture is ready. Measure three teaspoons of the tincture solution for your cannabis lemonade.

Making Cannabis Infused Sugar

Making marijuana infused sugar has a similar process to cannabis tinctures. Follow the same instructions as above to make the alcohol and cannabis infusion. Mix the ground and decarboxylated cannabis into the jar, cover it with grain alcohol, and close the jar. Allow the jar to sit for about 30 minutes and shake it every few minutes.

Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or coffee filter into a bowl and dispose of the cannabis plant material. Add the sugar to the liquid mixture and stir well. After stirring, pour the liquid into a baking dish. Bake the dish at 200º F. Stir the mixture regularly until all the alcohol has been removed. This evaporation process can also be done on the stove on low heat.

When all of the alcohol has been removed from the sugar mixture, you can break apart the large sugar pieces and put it in an airtight container. Start by using half a teaspoon or less of the cannabis sugar to gauge the potency and effects before taking more.

Infusing Lemonade with Cannabis Tincture

To make the cannabis infused lemonade, you will need 1.35 liters of cold water, lemon juice using up to 10 lemons, sugar, a measuring cup, a pitcher, and a juicer. These are the standard tools and ingredients to make the lemon juice. Pour the lemon juice into your pitcher and then add your sugar to sweeten to your liking.

Last, but not least, you would add the cannabis tincture that you initially created. Gently mix the tincture into the drink. Put the final end product in your refrigerator for up to three hours so it can cool or serve with ice. Add a lemon slice as a garnish and enjoy.

How Much Cannabis Infused Lemonade to Drink

Cannabis dosing depends on a variety of factors, including your metabolism, weight, strain genetics, the potency of cannabis material, the frequency of consumption, and whether you’re drinking it on an empty or full stomach.

If it's your first time trying cannabis lemonade, we recommend starting with a low dose and gradually building up the dosage depending on your desired effect. When drinking cannabis infused lemonade, you may only need a small glass in the beginning. Remember to wait about an hour to see how the infused drink affects you.

How to Store Your Cannabis Infused Lemonade

Cannabis infused lemonade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If you want to keep your infused lemonade stored for longer, freeze the lemon juice, so you can make your cannabis-infused recipe months down the road. In addition, store your cannabis tincture in a cool, dry, and dark place to preserve its freshness for longer.

What are Cannabis Beverages?

Cannabis drinks are infused with varying ratios of two major cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD is a non-intoxicating compound that can be derived from marijuana or hemp plants. Hemp-derived CBD contains trace amounts of THC that won’t get you high. Beverages with THC will produce psychotropic effects depending on a number of factors such as potency of the product.

Cannabis and hemp beverages are typically pre-made and ready to consume, although there are some water-soluble, cannabinoid-infused powders you can mix into other drinks. Hemp drinks are commonly seen in wellness products due to their non-intoxicating nature. Hemp beverages can contain anywhere from a few milligrams of CBD to up to 50 mg. THC drinks can contain anywhere from 2.5 to 10 mg of THC. THC drinks do cause mild intoxication.

Most cannabis beverages don’t have any noticeable residual weed smell or taste, but some drinks do have a slightly weedy aftertaste. Manufacturers have developed processes to remove as much of the pot taste as possible to produce a wide array of products including cocktails, teas, seltzers, coffee, juice, and beer.

Benefits of Marijuana Beverages

Recreational and medical marijuana consumers have more product choices than ever. It can be overwhelming to choose from a diverse product range. We’re here to help. Basically, if you enjoy eating cannabis-infused edibles like gummies and chocolates, you might like consuming pot-infused drinks. Beverage producers infuse your favorite types of drinks with potent cannabinoids, but you can also make your own by adding a few drops of a cannabis tincture to your drink.

Pre-made drinks, however, offer more robust and quick-acting effects than homemade tincture-based drinks. Manufacturers create water-soluble powders of a cannabinoid to add to the liquid.

Water-soluble THC is quicker to absorb than an edible that has to go through your digestive system. Instead of waiting an hour or more to feel the effects, cannabis beverages can speed up the onset of effects.

The research on cannabinoids like THC and CBD show that these compounds have enormous medical potential. Most of the fanfare over cannabis beverages has come from anecdotal accounts of their strong and speedy effects.

More research needs to be done, but cannabis beverages may be an alternative and convenient way to absorb therapeutic cannabinoids.

Types of Cannabis Beverages

Whether you drink water, tea, sports drinks, or soda, rest assured there’s a brand out there that has infused cannabinoids into your favorite beverage. Cannabis beverages contain THC, CBD, or both. In addition, some brands infuse terpenes into their beverages to pass on a hint of the cannabis strain’s original aroma. Here are a few different types of commercially available marijuana beverages:

• Cannabis coffee can replace your morning cup of joe and produce invigorating effects.
• Cannabis tea combines natural herbs with THC or CBD to elicit relaxation or stimulation, depending on your preference.
• Cannabis water is typically infused with CBD, so you can quench your thirst and get a few cannabinoids in at the same time.
• Cannabis sodas come in a variety of fresh and sweet flavors. Low-dose sodas allow you to enjoy your favorite flavor with a mild buzz.
• Cannabis beer combines cannabis and hops, two plants that are part of the Cannabaceae plant family. Cannabis beer makers remove the alcohol and infuse a small dose of THC to elevate your beer drinking experience.

Consuming Cannabis Beverages

If you’re thirsty enough, it’s easy to drink an entire bottle of cannabis-infused water or sparkling drink. Before you try your first sip of a marijuana drink, though, it’s important to read the directions, serving size, potency, and ingredients on the label. Novice users are advised to start off with a small dose of cannabis before building up to a higher and more effective dose.

All users are advised to eat something fat-based with a cannabis beverage to increase the bioavailability of the THC or CBD. This could be anything from adding cream to cannabis coffee to eating a cookie along with your cannabis fruit punch.

Many cannabis drinks will have 10 mg of THC or under, which can cause intoxicating effect for first-time or occasional users. Experienced users can take 15 or 20 mg of THC to experience stronger effects. Beginner THC users can start off by consuming 5 mg or less of THC and waiting a couple of hours to gauge the effects. CBD beverages don’t cause negative side effects unless you drink too much!

Cannabis beverages make up a small portion of the total cannabis market potential. Major beverage producers such as Constellation Brands, Molson Coors, and Heineken are investing billions into infused beverages to stake their claim as key players.

Cannabis beverages provide consumers with a relatively quick way to feel the effects of THC or CBD without smoking or vaping. New technology and regulations will shape the future of the cannabis beverage market to reach a wider audience.

More Cannabis Drink Recipes to Enjoy

If you want to mix it up and create a variety of cannabis infused drinks, you will love our following infused drink recipes:

• Cannabis Quencher – a fruity and tropical drink made with THC or CBD syrup

• CBD Tea – recipes for CBD Arnold Palmer, Green Tea Citrus Thirst Quencher, and Peppermint CBD Tea

• Cannabis Infused Wine – red or white wine with your favorite strain

• Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka Recipes – Sweet tea vodka recipes with a cannabis twist

Become a Professional Cannabis Chef with Online Training

Whether you want to learn how to create an infused dinner party for your friends, find a job in a commercial cannabis kitchen, or start your own cannabis edibles business, Cannabis Training University can help. Learn how to cook with cannabis and stand out in the industry by enrolling at Cannabis Training University’s Cannabis.