In a world where the legality of cannabis continues to change, sometimes you need to laugh a little and just enjoy the ride. Today’s product review promises to make that ride a tad more enjoyable with the delicious high that kicks in surprisingly quickly…say hello to the Lemon Ginger Lemonade from Mirth Provision’s Legal lineup! Now before you wrinkle your nose at the mention of ginger (like I did), remember that ginger is a strong flavor and when paired with a tart citrus like lemon, it may help mask the bitter taste of the cannabis. Only one way to find out! But before diving headfirst into this refreshing carbonated beverage, let’s review what cannabis and drinkable THC is.
Cannabis, Simplified
You’ve no doubt heard the word “cannabis” many times, probably more frequently as cannabis continues to become legalized. But many people confuse the term as simply another word for marijuana. If you’re one of those people, you’re partially right! Cannabis is actually the mother plant of both marijuana and hemp. Experts determined that the term “marijuana” would refer to cannabis that contained more than 0.3% THC while “hemp” would define cannabis that contained 0.3% THC or less. If this number seems random, that’s because it is! There is no specific reason why 0.3% was chosen, but it has been the determining factor for quite some time now and has proven to be effective.
When it comes to marijuana, there are three categories to choose from: sativa, indica, and hybrid. These categories are often referred to as “strains.” A sativa strain is usually uplifting and energetic, sparks creativity and focus, and is popular for daytime use. Indica strains are easily remembered by the phrase “in da couch” because of the deeply sedating effects that help you relax at the end of the day. Hybrid is a mix of both sativa and indica but will usually have a more dominant strain to make it sativa-dominant or indica-dominant. Some strains have unique names like Maui Wowie, Jack Herer, Granddaddy Purple, Strawberry Cough, and so forth. These specific strains usually have a distinct flavor and smell that allow them to be instantly recognized and heartily enjoyed. Regardless of which one you choose, it’s always good to know whether you’re consuming a sativa, indica, or hybrid strain and thus know which effects to expect.
Drinkable THC: The New Cannabis Product On The Market
For most of us, we’re fairly familiar with the most common types of marijuana products: edibles and inhalables. Edibles come in the form of gummies or homemade baked goods whereas inhalables are hand-rolled joints and pre-rolls. New forms of cannabis-infused products are popping up every day, but the one form that has taken the market by form is known as drinkable THC. These cannabis-infused beverages come in all sorts of forms and flavors that include sweet sodas, bubby seltzers, and of course, refreshing lemonades! The flavor of the beverages serves two purposes: one to mask the bitter flavor of the marijuana and the other to activate quickly since it’s technically a consumable. The key difference is how the THC-infused beverage is digested.
With inhalables, the marijuana bypasses the digestive system and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream via the lungs. The reaction time is extremely quick, taking about five minutes to kick in but only lasting for an hour or two. With edibles, the digestive system breaks down the food and only then can the THC be processed into the bloodstream. Edibles tend to have a lengthy start time (usually with 30-90 minutes) but the high lasts for several hours and the effects can even extend to the next day. Drinkable THC is sort of a middle ground. While it still must be processed by the digestion system, the THC in the liquid is processed much more quickly. The effects usually kick in after about half an hour and can last for several hours. Win-win, right? Now that you’ve got a better grasp on how drinkable THC works, let’s check out the parent company of today’s product review. I give you…the Legal brand from the Mirth Provisions company!
The Mirth Provisions & Legal Brand
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word “mirth” means “amusement, especially as expressed in laughter.” One of the most notable side effects of marijuana is an uplifted mood, particularly with an increase in sense of humor and giggling fits. Mirth Provisions promises to do just that with their motto “Pursue happiness.” The brand splits off into four unique categories: Legal (the star of today’s review), Giant, Swift, and Medicinal. I’ll let you explore those last three on your own, but right now I’d like to briefly touch on the Legal brand.
Remember how I said that marijuana comes in three distinct strains of indica, savita, or hybrid? The Legal brand specifies which strain is incorporated into each of their five flavors. The Rainier Cherry is a hybrid blend, Espresso Mocha and Pomegranate are both sativa blends, Cranberry features a blend of both THC and CBD, and last but not least, Lemon Ginger is an indica blend. While you won’t find Mirth Provisions or any of their sub-brands for sale online, the site offers a handy “Find Mirth” tool on their site that allows you to enter your zip code and find a brick-and-mortar retailer near you. The majority of the retailers are located on the West Coast, so you’ll have to take a road trip in order to sample this unique brand. I have a few of their flavors up my writing sleeve, so if you’re curious to see what each flavor tastes like as well as the effects, keep on reading to experience the effects right along with me! In today’s product review, I’ll be sampling the Lemon Ginger Lemonade and sharing all of its indica glory in the next few paragraphs. Let’s begin!
Lemon Ginger Cannabis Lemonade by Legal (from Mirth Provisions) Product Review
I noticed in the product picture on the Mirth Provisions website that each bottle has an old-school bottle cap that seems to require a bottle opener in order to open. The one I received had a convenient screw-off cap that allows the bottle to be resealed once opened. I admired the label for a few seconds but quickly realized there wasn’t any recommended serving size or markings on the label. I was a bit surprised to not see any instructions or information on how much should be consumed in a single sitting. I did a bit of quick math and decided that since there’s 100mg of cannabis in the entire bottle, a tenth would equal about 10mg so I’d need about 3/10s of the bottle to reach my desired effects. I grabbed a ⅓ cup from my baking drawer and carefully poured some of the bottle’s contents into the small cup. I then poured the contents into a tall clear glass to observe the color, carbonation, and scent.
Even while I was pouring, I could smell the rich citrus and ginger scent right away. The liquid was a very light yellow with a slight brown tinge to it, no doubt from the lemon and ginger ingredients. Now, I like my drinks chilled in order to avoid ice cubes melting and diluting the flavor, but feel free to drink this beverage however you like. There wasn’t any foaming or erratic bubbling, but more of a quiet and unassuming beverage. I brought the glass to my lips and took my first sip. My taste buds were immediately treated to the tart tangy flavor of the lemon but I could also taste the unmistakable flavor of ginger. Both of these strong flavors were very effective in masking the initial taste of the marijuana, but I definitely noticed a slightly unpleasant bitterness towards the end of the glass. There was a very light aftertaste that was somewhat bitter but not overwhelming to the point where I had to set the glass down. In fact, the flavor was extremely flavorful and refreshing to drink. The label advertises that it’s a carbonated beverage, but nowhere near as intense as the carbonation in soda or seltzer. I polished off the drink in less than five minutes and was sorely disappointed when my rationed serving had been fully downed. I made a mental note of the time and busied myself with small tasks to await the effects.
The Effects!
I started to feel a light buzz just before the half hour mark. After thirty minutes had passed, I started noticing some tell-tale signs that the high was beginning. My mouth got noticeably more cotton-mouthed and I sipped on freshly chilled water with great gusto. Due to the dry mouth, my tongue felt dry and sandpaper and clung to the roof of my mouth. I began to feel very relaxed and heavy, like a weighted blanket had been thrown on me and I had no desire to push it off. I noticed a heavy tingling in my face, arms, and stomach. I absolutely didn’t want to move from my position on the couch and found it difficult to prod myself into getting up at all. My eyelids began to droop so heavily that I had difficulty in keeping them fully open. Time seemed to slow down and I was shocked to see it had only been an hour since the high had started, as I felt like the high had been ongoing for much longer than that.
I began to feel drowsy and was drawn to my bed with the promise of sweet sleep awaiting me. I felt a sense of peace and calm, and was warm and comfortable throughout the high. My sense of touch was heightened, and the cool pillow felt like heaven on my face. I checked my eyes in the mirror after about an hour and was surprised to notice that despite being fully high, there was no redness at all. I enjoyed the high for several hours until the need for sleep fully overwhelmed me and I fell asleep very quickly. I awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and well-rested, with no lingering effects or mental cobwebs to battle through. Considering that the high had lasted for several hours, I was very happy that there was no hindrance in my morning routine.
Product Packaging
The Lemon Ginger Sparkling beverage that I received varied slightly from what was displayed on the company website. I didn’t see any indication on the product packaging that showed it contained an indica strain, but this was clearly stated on the website. The bottle was a very large glass bottle that was tinted darkly, making it impossible to see the color of the liquid but still see-through enough that I could see how much was remaining in the bottle. The front of the label displayed the Mirth logo as well as the sub-brand Legal. There were a few disclaimers on the front stating that this product is cannabis-infused, contains THC, and thus has age restrictions.
The back of the label contained a full list of ingredients as well as warnings not to drive or operate machinery. One thing I would have liked to see was some sort of consumption instructions, such as how much to consume for a full dosage. The label also didn’t display any sort of labeling to show how many servings were in a single bottle and how much THC was in that single serving. I was able to figure it out using basic math, but it would have been nice for the company to include this as well. Not a dealbreaker by any means, but it would have been easier for first-time users to know rather than guessing blindly and consuming too much. Lastly, I loved the bottle cap redesign. The bottle displayed on the brand website requires a bottle opener to pop off and is not resealable, meaning you’ll have to transfer any remaining liquid to a different container to prevent the carbonation from going flat. The one I received had a twist off plastic cap that made resealing the bottle extremely simple.
Conclusion
I was not expecting to enjoy the Lemon Ginger sparkling beverage as much as I did. Ginger is a bit of a personal preference, but I believe it was absolutely necessary in this particular flavor. The lemon was sharp and tart and the ginger helped to mask any noticeable bitterness in the flavor. The carbonation was light and refreshing and was easy to sip comfortably. The effects kicked in shockingly quickly after about half an hour and lasted for several hours. I felt warm and relaxed throughout the entire high, and at no point did I feel overwhelmed or experience increased uneasiness. I was able to fall asleep quickly and enjoyed a refreshing slumber until I awoke the next morning. The effects of the high did not overlap into the next morning and I was delighted to not have to battle any mental cobwebs while starting my day. I had a few issues with the label itself and listed some of my suggestions to improve the label, but aside from these personal preferences, the Lemon Ginger Cannabis-Infused beverage from Legal (Mirth Provision) was a fantastic form of drinkable THC and I look forward to trying more from this incredible lineup.
Have you tried any of the exquisite flavors from the MIrth Provisions lineup? If you have, be sure to share your experiences in the comments below! In my next review, I’ll be taking a break from the Mirth Provisions brand (but don’t worry, this brand will be making a reappearance very shortly!). This time I’ll be checking out the Wildside Mango Tropical Storm THC-Enhanced Beverage from Green Revolution. With a 20:1 CBD:THC ratio, I’m excited to see how this flavor tastes, hits, and delivers. Hopefully you’ll join me again soon as I explore the various cannabis and hemp-infused products from retailers across the country!
