We realized that we’ve yet to touch on one of our favorite topics/hobbies/past-times - call it what you will - here in our weekly blogpost. That would be the consumption of cannabis. Actually, what inspired this week’s blog post was reading the story of Daniel Torres who founded the cannabis company “Mari y Juana”.
But more about him later.
The days of pot brownies and simple gummies are fast becoming just a lazy, hazy memory. Until recently, unusual cannabis-infused foods and drinks were little more than a hopeful dream. But great news: With the increasing legalization of cannabis in the United States, edibles laced with THC and CBD as well as other cannabinoids are becoming much more widely available, and much, much more delicious.
Thanks to the innovation of many cannabis entrepreneurs, edibles are now, yes, actually good, come in many different forms, and, crucially, are much more precisely dosed.
Cannabis-laced food and drink is a robust and ever-evolving scene, and it's only getting more diverse and interesting. These days the array of edible cannabis products on the market is astonishing and it’s inspired us to round up a list of the most interesting edibles we could find. Some that we’ve tried - and some that we can’t wait to. Edibles provide a totally different buzz than smoking weed and can take you to a whole different level. Which is, after all, what AnyHigh is all about – finding new levels. Like watching “The Life of Pi” in 3d on edibles – highly recommended! (pun intended)
Today we thought we’d take a quick look at some truly unique and unusual cannabis-infused consumables that are on the market (depending, of course, upon the market you happen to be in….).
· Cereal. Remember those sweet Saturday mornings spent watching cartoons eating cereal? Now you can enjoy your favorite childhood cereal, infused with 400mg of THC! “Wow Edibles” of Los Angeles aims to provide their customers with great tasting, potent edibles. They currently have three different varieties; Crunchy Caps is a nod to Captain Crunch, Toast Crunch is similar to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Loopy Fruit is their take on Fruit Loops
· Coffee. "Wake & Bake" takes on a whole new meaning with a cup of cannabis-infused coffee. Now, while this may seem counter-intuitive, a potent brew that combines the perfect blend of gourmet coffee with high-quality cannabis oil can provide a fast-acting and energizing high. And, thanks to “Fairwinds Catapult THC Infused Coffee”, the two are beautifully combined in easy to brew Keurig pods.
What better way to start the day?
· Snacks. Salty, savory and tasty, “Tsumo” snacks are THC-infused bags of chips. They come in Salsa Verde, Zesty Ranch, Hint of Lime and Classic Cheese Curls. Each bag has 10 mg of THC. Bet you can’t eat just one!
· Popcorn just got a whole lot better – who would’a thought that was even possible?! “Pop Up Potcorn” (we just love that name!) is a line of gourmet microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn made with cannabis infused oil.
They’re available in sea salt, jalapeno cheddar and our personal favorite, movie theatre butter. Low in sugar, low in carbs with 10mg of THC per serving bag, this is the perfect addition to any movie night.
· Sauces. “Podey Pizza” is marketing itself as the world's first pot-laced pizza sauce.
And if you don’t want candy, and you’re not into chocolate, another savory option is THC-laced barbecue sauce. "Saucy" comes in smaller 5 mg-dosed packets for spreading on your sandwich or fries, and larger 25 mg dosed ones for spreading out. Tangy and delicious, it’s perfect for dunking fries into or for bringing that pulled pork right back to life.
· Something Sweet. Pop Rocks were an old school, fizzy favorite. So, if you’re looking for an explosion of THC, “Space Crystals” could be your ticket home.
And when was the last time you ate cotton candy? Well, now “B-Edibles” offers you the chance to multi-task that 8-year-old in you with your higher instincts by partaking in their “infused candy floss”.
Made from naturally gluten and allergen-free, non-GMO organic sugar, they come in a variety of different flavors including lavender, rose, watermelon, mango, orange, coconut, and pineapple. Good for the teeth and soul!
· Soda & Seltzers. Cannabis-infused seltzers are typically low dose drinks that are meant to be session-able—like beer or wine, you can have a few socially without overdoing it. “Cann”, whose slogan is, appropriately enough, “Give Up The Booze, Not The Buzz”, is a social tonic that’s dosed at 2mg of THC and 4mg of CBD per can. The flavors are really good: Lemon Lavender, Blood Orange Cardamom, Rosemary Grapefruit.
For those who love a cocktail, “Klaus” provides THC-infused sparkling drinks that imitate the classic cocktails, but with a cannabis twist. Take their “Mezzrole”
In their own words for example: It fills the nose and the mouth with the bold aromatics of cannabis-forward terpenes. Dollops of zesty and zippy on the tongue, caramelized, spicy ginger cane syrup comes into view, each sniff framed by the exotic French lime puree. Rice vinegar carries each sip into a multi-minute finish, ebullient with bursts of heady salt spray splashing over crushed minerals. We’ll certainly drink to that!
· Honey. For thousands of years, honey has been used medicinally for its anti-bacterial properties and high levels of antioxidants. Winner of numerous awards for a variety of products, "Honey Pot Products" (another name we just love….) is renowned for their honey. Sourced from local California apiaries (honey farms), the bees collect their nectar from wildflowers. Combined with high-quality cannabis oil. The two come together to create a powerful and delicious cannabis honey.
That’s our brief look at some of the more interesting edibles out there today. Which brings us back to Daniel Torres and the Mari y Juana cannabis company he founded in 2016. A first-generation Mexican American, in a marketplace saturated with standard chocolates and gummies, Torres wanted to be different. He decided to focus on the Michelada.
The Michelada is a Mexican beer cocktail which usually consists of clam juice, tomato juice, hot sauce, limes and a light beer. For Mari y Juana this includes a dose of 10mg of THC.
Torres’ goal was not just to create a product related to his identity, but to impress his family too. “My mom has flushed my weed down the toilet more times than I can count,” Torres laughs. While working in a controversial business can often be viewed as damaging, “There’s a convergence of both worlds – Mexican and American, my parents and myself – that I’m trying to convey in the branding.”
Following the success of the michelada mix, Torres began developing a new recipe, this time for Mexican-inspired sodas. Torres got his parents to sit down and try them with him. “My mom tasted it and liked it. It was a celebratory drink,” he said. Plus the product snagged Mari y Juana first place in the beverages category of The High Times 2022 Cannabis Cup for people’s choice.
For us, this whole story is about more than just getting high. It’s about de-stigmatizing marijuana for everyone who might be misinformed or hesitant about experimenting with it.
Torres summed it up best for most of us: “I want to normalize this thing for our parents, for existing people who have forever demonized it. I feel a sense of pride that I could accomplish that with my mom. It’s something I have to continue to reflect on, like, ‘Wow, that really happened.’”
Amen brother!
This sure gave me the munchies!