WEED-INFUSED DRINKS ARE BOOMING, BUT WE STILL KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH IMPACT

Just a few years ago, the idea of drinking cannabisseemed far-fetched. But today, with recreational marijuana legal in 19 states and medical pot allowed in 39, the market for weed-infused drinks is booming. In 12 states, dollar sales of marijuana beverages rose 65 percent between 2020 and 2021. The number of marijuana beverages doubled during that time to nearly 750 different products in California alone, including lemon-flavored High Seltzer, THC-laden sparkling wine, and ready-to-go cannabis-infused drink mixes in foil packets. As with so much in the marijuana industry, the rush to introduce new pot products is outpacing scientific research into the potential risks and health effects. Even as more and more products flood the market, health officials and scientists say we still know very little about cannabis drinks, how they should be consumed, and their impact on the brain and body. Many of these drinks are marketed as “natural” or a healthier alternative to alcohol, which research and data do not support. Further, as these drinks contain THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, it is easy to accidentally consume too much, especially for first-time or casual users, who don’t understand the labels. As a result, the high can be unpredictable, and potentially more intense, and with more psychoactive effects than cannabis that is smoked. To protect consumers, we need more robust research and data to formulate the best rules and guidelines for the safe use of cannabis-infused drinks.