Cannabis-infused beer and other beverages make their mark in Missouri

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For medical marijuana patients, a beverage can often be the easiest and most convenient method to medicate. At its five St. Louis-area locations, Swade Dispensary offers an array of cannabis-infused drinks, including some with only THC or CBD, as well as options with both cannabinoids, all in a variety of strengths.

One of the most popular beverages at Swade is MOHI, a non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beer created in collaboration between BeLeaf Medical Co., Swade’s parent company, and O’Fallon Brewery. The companies utilized innovative technology to produce a great tasting beer by replacing the alcohol with 5 milligrams of THC per can.

O’Fallon Brewery created an American-style, easy-drinking wheat beer infused with natural orange and Madagascar vanilla. Through vacuum distillation, the alcohol is gently removed from the beer and packaged into sterile totes. The beer is then transported to BeLeaf’s facility, where it is infused with a flavorless, neutral THC distillate nanoemulsion, allowing the natural flavors of the beer to remain.

“The nanoemulsion allows the consumer to feel the effects of the cannabis more quickly as opposed to traditional edibles, making it easier to manage the level and duration of the effects,” said Brian Owens, head brewmaster at O’Fallon. “The process is labor intensive and logistically challenging but offers a totally new, yet familiar, way to enjoy a great beer that just so happens to be infused with cannabis instead of alcohol.”

Sarah McChesney, director of marketing for BeLeaf, explained why beverages affect patients differently than most edibles. “Because of the nanoemulsion, the THC is a much smaller molecule and can be absorbed by the stomach lining. With typical edibles, the THC is combined with fat, so it has to go through the liver to be processed,” she said. “That means you’ll feel the onset a little quicker with a drink – anywhere from five to 30 minutes, on average – whereas an edible takes up to two hours to kick in.”

Another crowd-pleasing THC-infused beverage at Swade is the Keef line of sodas, although a few other beverages are on offer from the brand. “Most of our Keef drinks are for those who need stronger THC content,” McChesney said. “The strength varies from product to product, but most range from 5 to 100 milligrams of THC.”

If you’re looking for a microdose beverage with no sugar, the Society brand seltzers are a great choice with 5 milligrams of THC per can and flavors like blood orange-yuzu, cherry blossom and ginger-lime.

For those interested in incorporating cannabis into their routines without the psychoactive effects of THC (or those without a medical card), a CBD-infused beverage like Urban Swade Tropical CBD Seltzer is the perfect entry point.

Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. brewmaster Florian Kuplent and his production team have been developing a wide range of non-alcoholic, alternative beverages for several years. “The UCBC Hop Waters, for example, are delicious and refreshing, but mainly consumed on site, mostly by our employees,” said Jon Shine, Urban Chestnut co-owner. “When the Swade Cannabis team approached us to let us know they were big fans of our NA CBD Hop Water, we knew this was a tremendous collaboration opportunity.”

The production team developed Urban Swade Tropical CBD Seltzer with 25 milligrams of CBD to celebrate and promote its newest neighbors in the Grove, but their hope was to share this exceptional NA beverage with a wider consumer audience. “We love the new partnership and can’t wait to explore more collaboration opportunities with Swade,” Shine said.

For more information, visit swadecannabis.com.

This advertisement is intended only for Missouri medical marijuana patients. Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.