Total Wine & More has launched a range of drinks infused with the powerful psychoactive substance THC from cannabis.
The company, which has 260 stores nationwide, is the first major U.S. retailer to begin selling drinks containing the part of the marijuana plant that causes a high: THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol.
The drinks have been launched in three stores in Minnesota, in Burnsville, Chatassen and Minnetonka, but there may be plans to roll them out nationwide.
Some of the liquor brands that sell it advertise products on their websites that contain 50 mg of THC – more than you’ll find in some joints – and experts warn that the substance can have even greater psychological effects if ingested.
Campaigners have warned that the drinks are “dangerous and addictive” and could increase the risk of catastrophic car crashes involving teenagers.
Total Wine & More has introduced a line of THC-containing drinks at three stores in Minnesota (pictured), a move celebrated by legalization advocates.
“In states where THC medication is already ‘legal’, there have been more cases of drivers testing positive for THC in fatal traffic accidents and more teenagers driving under the influence of THC,” said Dr. Kevin Sabet, former head of drug policy in the White House. consultant and president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) told DailyMail.com.
“As the alcohol industry expands into a new area of profitable addiction, it will only get worse.
“While major marijuana and alcohol companies and their Wall Street investors may see THC drinks as a way to rake in more profits, the public will pay a heavy price and millions of Americans will experience pain and heartache.”
In August, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that the USDA was considering aligning its alcohol advisory with Canada’s, advising Americans to have just two drinks a week.
Increase in the number of fatal diseases due to marijuana use
Doctors have reported an increasing number of cases of a rare but deadly condition linked to heavy marijuana use that causes severe vomiting, dehydration and abdominal pain.
Still, recreational use of marijuana is legal in 24 states, with no federal age requirement for purchasing THC-containing beverages.
However, many states have laws that require it Customers are over 21 years of age.
However, young people can often still access the drinks if an older friend or family member buys them for them.
According to the CDC, about 37 percent of high school students report using marijuana.
As legalization spreads, cannabis-infused mocktails, seltzers and non-alcoholic wines are populating the market, marketed as a healthier high that claims to be hangover-free and without the calories of alcohol.
It’s not the same as CBD-infused drinks that contain it small doses of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating substance found in marijuana and hemp that has been available in the United States since 2010.
Common brands include Cann and Keef.
Some research shows that (CBD) can make you feel more relaxed and that it can affect mood and appetite.
Marijuana drinks, on the other hand, are made with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
There is no standard dose of THC in cannabis-infused drinks and the amount varies by product and manufacturer.
Some THC drinks marketed as “low dose” contain between 2 and 4 mg of THC per 8-ounce container, while other products can contain up to 200 mg of THC per bottle.
Cantrip’s drinks, now sold at Total Wines, contain 25 mg of THC per can. A typical joint contains between 40 and 200 mg of THC.
Total Wine and More, which has 260 superstores across the US, will now offer a variety of drinks containing THC – the psychoactive component of cannabis
Doctors are concerned that the high from these drinks can be unpredictable and possibly more intense than that from a joint.
Although no research has been done on THC drinks, experts believe they are processed by the body in a similar way to edibles such as marijuana gummies.
When you smoke cannabis, THC is absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to the brain within minutes. However, when ingested, the chemical is first processed by the liver, where it triggers the production of another substance that has five times more powerful effects on the brain.
THC acts on cannabinoid receptors and is thought to increase the risk of psychosis by disrupting the normal function of the part of the brain that processes information and dictates behavior.
Dr. James MacKillop, director of the Michael G. DeGroote Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at McMaster University, previously told The New York Times that the effects of THC drinks need to be studied more widely.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
