Between the billboards featuring drag superstars and endorsements by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, it’s hard to miss Cann. Since the weed drink brand launched in 2019, it’s taken the drinkables market by storm, selling over two million cans in just two years.
Until Cann’s 2.5-milligram cans came on the scene, the vast majority of beverages on dispensary shelves had a THC content of 10 to 100 milligrams per bottle. For a low-dose consumer like myself, that puts most weed drinks out of reach — despite portioning out a tablespoon of weed drink at a time, which was not an ideal user experience, to say the least. And don’t get me started on the flavor of first-generation weed drinks. Let’s just say it was rough.
Cann, by contrast, promises to go toe-to-toe with your favorite craft cocktails, ideally replacing the role of alcohol in your life altogether. Cann’s ability to make that kind of promise is partly thanks to its use of SōRSE Technology, the number-one supplier of water-soluble THC and CBD.
Between the celeb endorsements, water-soluble cannabinoids, and craft cocktail mentality, Cann should be one of the best weed drinks on the market today. But do the drinks actually live up to the hype? I tried Cann’s Grapefruit Rosemary and Lemon Lavender social tonics to find out.
First impression
Right away, you’ll notice Cann’s packaging is leagues ahead of most weed brands — drinkable or otherwise. The cans are not just beautiful with monochromatic, pastel color schemes and modern line art; it’s also exceedingly informative. The dose of 2 milligrams THC and 4 milligrams CBD per can is clearly labeled on the front of each drink. On the back, you can find gorgeously displayed nutritional information, a cute dosing tip, and buzzwords we all know and love like “non-GMO” and “no stevia.”
Size-wise, each can of Cann holds eight fluid ounces and is roughly the same size and shape as a mini can of Coke. The small drink size might seem like a scheme to up the adorable factor even more (they really are adorable), but it makes sense from a practical standpoint, too. How many sparkling waters have you started only to abandon it halfway through because it got warm and lost its fizz? The small can size circumvents this problem.
Can you tell I love the design of these drinks? Because I love the design of these drinks.
Flavor
I first tried the Grapefruit Rosemary Cann. I have to start by saying I have high standards for grapefruit-flavored drinks. While it seems like it should be a simple flavor to nail, I’ve gone through countless citrusy sodas that are too sharp, too sweet, or leave behind a disappointing chemical aftertaste. The grapefruit flavor in this drink is perfectly bright and fresh, while the rosemary offers just enough earthiness to balance it out. It’s not nearly as sweet as a traditional soda, but just sweet enough to distinguish itself from flavored sparkling water. I would perhaps appreciate more bubbles in my Cann, but extra-fizzy sparkling water is simply my personal preference.
As for the Lemon Lavender Cann, the only way I can describe the flavor is fancy lemonade for grown-ass adults. It is herbal without tasting like soap and lemony without being overly acidic. I’m always so disappointed when I order a fancy, fruity cocktail only to have sickly sweetness overpower all the other flavors. Cann is able to strike that perfect balance of sweet enough to suck it down but refined enough to want to savor it.
Effectiveness
With 2 milligrams of THC and 4 milligrams of CBD per can, you might not expect to feel much from these petite drinks. I, however, am a low-dose stoner. I tap out at 5-milligram gummies and can barely smoke a mini-joint by myself without waxing poetic about aliens for hours. So, 2 milligrams of THC is my happy place.
I started by sipping one can casually over the course of a half-hour. Right away, I could feel a lovely, subtle buzz that sustained itself and lasted for a little more than an hour. I could’ve easily had another Cann without feeling too high to hang in a big group of people, but it was also nice to know I could still get a significant vibe from just one.
I attribute the surprising effectiveness of one can to the presence of CBD in the mix. The entourage effect may still be up for debate, but I personally feel a more complex high when more than one cannabinoid is present, which was certainly the case here.
Experience
Overall, the experience was lovely. After trying both Cann flavors in a few different scenarios — with people, without, at home, and in a lively setting — it occurred to me that self-titrating is a game-changer when it comes to edible weed. You can sip a little at a time, slowly dosing yourself and easing into a high. As much as I love gummies, you can only eat the whole thing and wait for the whole high to hit you at once. It’s the difference between taking a shot of vodka and sipping a vodka cocktail over the course of an hour — neither choice is bad, necessarily, but they’re very different speeds.
I can easily see myself taking a six-pack of either the Grapefruit Rosemary and Lemon Lavender flavors to a picnic hang, house party, or game night instead of a bottle of wine. I can also see myself bringing both. It’s exciting to have the option to reduce my alcohol consumption without giving up the social and ritualistic aspects about it that I enjoy.
Bottom line
If you need at least 10 milligrams of THC to feel a modicum of a buzz, this is not the weed drink for you. I recommend Cann drinks to literally anyone else (21 and older and in a legal state, of course) because they are pretty much perfect in every way. I’m mad I didn’t invent these drinks myself because it’s genius, but then again, I’m glad I didn’t have to put in all the work of creating a new product from scratch. Instead, I get to sip the fruits of other geniuses’ labor and be glad I’m living in an era of legal weed drinks.
Featured image courtesy of Cann/Weedmaps
