Taste It. Feel It.

How does it taste? How will it make me feel? Are they like edibles?

Those are the three most frequently asked questions that I receive in regard to our THC beverages. Let’s start with the first question.

Our drinks come in different flavors, and they truly do taste how they say they do. They DO NOT taste like THC oil or terpenes. THC is distilled and dissolved into liquids through a process called emulsification which keeps the oil particles from grouping back together. Therefore, everything blends and flows uniformly. Seltzer-based beverages taste like soda. Non-seltzer-based beverages taste like juice. Nowadays tastes like delicious smoothness. (No, seriously). And they all should be served COLD!

Also, no need to fear. The drinks are NOT like edibles. You control your dose because as you sip it, it starts to kick in within minutes. You’ll know when you had enough. The effects will last longer than they do when smoking (over an hour), but not as long as edibles (less than 6 hours). In my experience, the effects start to ease in within 15 minutes and fade away within 3 hours. So, no need to fret. You’ll feel as easy as Sunday morning.

What are Terpenes?

The only current exception is our Jet Life Grape Lemonade which is infused with real terpenes. However, terpenes and THC are very different. Terpenes are found in many plants, flowers, herbs, and fruits. They simply give them their flavors and aromas. For example, limonene is found in limes, lemons, and some cannabis strains likewise. Terpenes interact with the other chemicals in cannabis to enhance the effects. Limonene not only gives cannabis a lemon taste and smell, but it also makes users feel uplifted, creative, and energized. Other terpenes have other effects:

Pinene

• Aroma: Sharp, Sweet, Pine

• Effects: Memory Retention, Alertness

• Found In: Pine Needles, Sage, Pineapple/OG Kush, Jack Herer

Myrcene

• Aroma: Musk, Cloves, Herbal, Citrus

• Effects: Sedating, Relaxing, Enhances THC’s Psycho-Activity

• Found In: Mango, Thyme, Lemongrass, Bay Leaves/Granddaddy Purple, Blue Dream

Caryophyllene

• Aroma: Pepper, Wood, Spice

• Effects: Anti-inflammatory, Calming, Stress Relief

• Found In: Cloves, Cinnamon, Rosemary/Girl Scout Cookies, Bubba Kush

Linalool

• Aroma: Floral, Citrus, Spice

• Effects: Sedating, Calming, Anti-microbial

• Found In: Lavender, Birch, Rosewood/Skywalker OG, Fire OG

Terpinolene

• Aroma: Sweet, Piney, Floral, Citrus

• Effects: Stress-Reduction, Mood Boost, Soothes Central Nervous System, Insomnia Relief, Antioxidant, Antibacterial

• Found In: Apples, Cumin, Anise, Bergamot/Dutch Treat

Limonene

• Aroma: Citrus, Lemon, Orange

• Effects: Elevated Mood, Stress Relief

• Found In: Citrus Rinds, Peppermint/Super Lemon Haze, Sour Diesel, Trainwreck

Humulene

• Aroma: Woody, Earthy

• Effects: Suppresses Appetite

• Found In: Hops, Coriander/OG Kush, Sour Diesel, White Widow

WTH is THC-…?

Tetra-Hydro-Cannabinol

THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis that produces the “high” or mood altering effects. THC is also known to treat and prevent nausea, vomiting, and increase appetite medically.

• Delta 9: A variant of THC; D9 THC binds to receptors in the brain to produce mind-altering effects that cannabis users experience; Known to promote sleep, relieve pain, ease mood disorders & anxiety, treat IBS and low appetite; Has antioxidant and antibacterial effects

• Delta 8: A variant of THC; Binds less strongly to receptors and produces less psychoactive effects; D8 is D9 that has been exposed to oxidation; Delta 8 accounts for less than 1% of the cannabis plant and is difficult to yield in large amounts. Therefore, most Delta 8 products in stores have been chemically converted.

• THC-A: A THC variant with no mind-altering effects until heated; Once heated, THC-A is converted into THC-V, D8, and D9; Therapeutic effects can decrease nausea, increase appetite, and ameliorate symptoms of epilepsy, arthritis, muscle inflammation, and diabetes

• THC-V: A byproduct of THC-A that is created when medical marijuana is dried and vaporized; Gives stimulating high when taken in high doses

• THC-P: A THC variant that is said to have 33 times the binding strength as Delta 9, causing an intense and euphoric effect; Benefits are still being researched

• CBD (Cannabidol): Compound found in the Cannabis Sativa plant; Does not produce a psychoactive “high” like THC; Therapeutic properties include anti-inflammatory effects, pain relief, anxiety reduction, seizure control, and many others.

What’s the Word in the Weed World?

When it comes to being informed, it’s easy to get misinformed. Especially with so much information on the internet. For your sake, though, I’ll share some of my sources. The cannabis industry is growing and changing rapidly. In no time, the unthinkable can become the norm: worldwide legalized cannabis. With so much innovation and growth happening, I just want to make sure that my friends out there can keep up with the cannabis conversation. With that being said…

That magazine with the weed plant on the girl’s butt? That’s High Times Magazine. High Times is a leading magazine in the world of cannabis. Founded in 1974 by Tom Forcade, the magazine is issued monthly and consistently advocates for the legalization of cannabis and other counterculture movements. Subscribe to their magazines or their YouTube channel for regular updates.

Another entertaining, informative, and objective source for cannabis news is journalist Krishna Andavolu. You can find Krishna on YouTube working with VICE on their Weediquette series. The stories, interviews, and perspectives that you find there are surely ones to Take A Shot for.

Rapper 2Chainz also has a series on YouTube called Most Expensivest where he often explores the most expensive forms of cannabis that he can find. That series is, in my opinion, more so entertaining than enlightening. Yet, I regularly tune in. 2Chainz is a great guy!

Last, but not least, I suggest Leafly. Leafly is “the leading destination to learn about, find, and order cannabis (for those in legal states).” You can download the Leafly app and look up strains, lineages, effects, reviews, news, and lots more. It’s basically the Google of weed.

Stuff To Do While Sippin’

Vibe to Some Music

Music is my favorite thing in the world. My taste is diverse and I only have one requirement: It has to be good. By good, I mean special…genuine..true to the artist. I gotta be able to feel it, ya know. It doesn’t matter the decade or the genre, if the music has a soul, I’m vibing to it. Here’s some of my favorites:

• Prince - Whether solo or with The Revolutions, it gets no better than Prince. If you’re a fan of 70s & 80s music, drop that Purple Rain and really feel the notes.

• The Alchemist - OG and legendary producer in the rap game, The Alchemist cooks up the trippiest beats. He may spit a few bars every now and then, but he usually lets one of his rap buddies take over the vocals. Mobb Deep, Dilated Peoples, Nas, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Ty Dolla $ign, Earl Sweatshirt, Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs, Action Bronson, Boldy James... the list goes on. His recent 2024 Camp Flog Gnaw set was one definitely worth checking out on YouTube.

• Kid Cudi - a veteran in the music industry; Kid Cudi’s alternative approach to rap music will take your mind on a colorful intergalactic trip. His playful style is a reflection of his fully alive-and-well inner child. Maybe you’ve heard his platinum hit “Day-N-Nite” from 2008, and if you haven’t, it’s a good peek into Cudi’s world. He has collaborated with big names like Mary J. Blige to drop singles like “Don’t Play This Song” on his 2010 Man on the Moon Vol II album. His most recent projects include INSANO and INSANO (NITRO MEGA) which both released in 2024. Some personal favorites from these projects are: SUPERBOY, CHUNKY, BABE AND I, AT THE PARTY… and more, but I’ll just let you be the judge. Expect to hear appearances from Young Thug, Lil Wayne, Pharrell Williams, Wiz Khalifa, Layzie & Krayzie Bone (Bone-Thugs-in-Harmony), Lil Yachty, Travis Scott, XXXTentacion, and more.

• Smino - A smooth vocalist and artist. Smino is easily appreciated by those who grew up under the influence of 90s and early 2000s southern soul music. If you like Erykah Badu or Lauryn Hill, you may like Smino. He recently dropped a short album called Maybe in Nirvana. You may have heard the single “Dear Fren” but the entire album is listen-worthy.

• Doechii - She recently blew up, but she’s no rookie to the game. She may be young (26, Leo), but she’s true to her craft. She opened for Beyonce on the Renaissance Tour and murdered her set at Tyler the Creator’s 2024 Camp Flog Gnaw Festival. In 2022, Top Dawg Entertainment and Capitol Records partnered to sign the Tampa, FL native. Since then, she’s proved that she’s easily a top rapper. Her hard work has given her opportunities to collaborate with big names like SZA and Tyler the Creator early in her career. Her unique style mixed with her boundless enthusiasm makes her a natural star and a name to be on the lookout for. Check out her latest album, Alligator Bites Never Heal (2024).

• Outkast - Andre 3000 and Big Boi were just two teenage boys in Atlanta who knew they possessed some serious creative talent. After working together on a high school class project, they realized that they complemented each other’s style. In 1992, they formed Outkast. Andre 3000’s eclectic style and clever bars fused with Big Boi’s smooth storytelling to create countless hits and masterpieces. “Elevators/Me & You“ (1996), “Ms. Jackson” (2000), “So Fresh, So Clean” (2000), “The Way You Move” (2003), “Hey Ya!” (2003), “Roses” (2003) are just some of Outkast’s many Platinum hits. Their unique beats, bars, swag, and backgrounds make Outkast an inimitable duo. But don’t just stop at the hits, other songs like Call of Da Wild, Liberation (ft Erykah Badu), Funky Ride, Pink & Blue, and others hit just as hard as the chart toppers.

• Honorable Mentions: There are certain artists that are famous in the cannabis community. I didn’t add these artists to the main list because I didn’t want to seem cliche. But, for those new to the culture, check out artists like: Bob Marley, Bone-Thugs-in-Harmony, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Top Dawg Entertainment artists such as Ab-Soul, ScHoolBoy Q, Isaiah Rashad, Jay Rock, [SZA and Kendrick Lamar are leaving TDE], and the original Odd Future members & associates such as Tyler the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt & Vince Staples. You’ll certainly hear these artists on my playlist.

I’ll update this list every now and then, but we can stop there for now. Just let the algorithm lead you elsewhere. Plus, I’ll drop the link to one of my Spotify playlists: Spoti-Fye Dat Shit Up. Pop open a drink and hit shuffle. Shuffling is the only way!

Kick Back on the Couch

I love YouTube. A great visual along with a great song while feeling good? Top 5 Best Things in Life. Other than music videos and DJ’s at apartment parties, anything weed-related is my type of entertainment while stoned. I mentioned some informative and entertaining things to watch in the previous blog. So, I’ll stick to entertaining in this blog.

Irreverent Comedy & Stoner Films

It’s the genre that would include things like Family Guy, South Park, Rick & Morty, Scary Movie, Epic Movie, and my personal favorite, Dude, Where’s My Car? They’re so stupid to the point that you can’t help but laugh:

• Up in Smoke (Free on PlutoTV)

• Pineapple Express (Free on Peacock)

• Blue Mountain State (Free on Tubi)

• Not Another Teen Movie (Netflix)

• Disjointed (Netflix)

• How High ($3.59 on PrimeVideo)

• Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Juice in the Hood (Free on YouTube)

• Scary Movie Series

Earth/Nature/Animal Documentaries

• Will Smith’s Welcome to Earth (Disney+)

• Will Smith’s One Strange Rock (Disney+)

• A Real Bug’s Life (Disney+)

Honorable Mentions

• Travel Videos: Drew Binsky has been to every country in the world, including ones where the people eat people. He doesn’t just vlog, he immerses himself in the culture of whatever country he visits. Get a firsthand view of the world from Drew’s view. I’ve personally watched every video he’s made so don’t be afraid to fall into the rabbit hole!

• Design & DIY Construction Videos: Architectural Digest has a number of different series on YouTube for different audiences. The celebrity home and unique property tours are popular on their channel. I personally enjoy the Space Savers series where 3 designers transform the same space. It’s fun to watch the process of an empty space being transformed by three totally different imaginations. The link attached is three designers transforming a school bus into three very very different vibes. Check it out.

• Anything with Snoop Dogg: Whether it’s a movie (i.e. Mac and Devin Go to High School or The Underdoggs), his YouTube channel ft his Double G News [GGN] Network, or something he’s hosting, anything associated with Snoop Dogg is gonna hit.

Actually Do Something

• Nature Walk (Silent or With Music)

• Go to the Park (Basketball, Soccer, Football, Frisbee, Tennis, Handball, Fishing, etc)

• Chill by some Water (Puddle, Pond, Lake, Ocean, etc)

• Body-Weight, Mobility, and Yoga Exercises

• Color, Sketch, Paint (Paper or Tablet)

• Make Some Beats (Instruments or GarageBand iOS)

• Make a Song/Write a Poem

• Scrapbooking or Journaling (Ideas, Thoughts, Goals, Manifestations, etc)

• Read Something Cool/Interesting (It’s ok if you like pictures in books, we all do. Thriftbooks has everything for cheap!)