Cannabis Drinks Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Cannabis Beverages in Ontario

Cannabis drinks have quietly become one of the most interesting shelves in any Ontario dispensary. From sparkling waters and iced teas to alcohol-free “cannabis beer” and shot-sized mixers, beverages give adults a smoke-free way to explore cannabis. If you have walked past the drinks fridge at our Guelph store on Scottsdale Drive and wondered where to start, this guide covers the basics.

What counts as a cannabis drink?

In Canada, cannabis beverages are regulated as a type of edible cannabis. That means they follow the same federal rules as gummies and chocolates, including a maximum of 10 mg of THC per package. Most cans and bottles on Ontario shelves sit somewhere between 2 mg and 10 mg of THC, and many also contain CBD. You will also find CBD-dominant drinks with little or no THC, as well as balanced options that list similar amounts of both.

Every legal drink carries the standard Health Canada label, showing total THC and total CBD per container. If you want a refresher on reading those numbers, see our guide to reading an Ontario cannabis label on this blog.

How drinks are different from other edibles

Because cannabis drinks are consumed and digested, they generally take longer to feel than inhaled products. Many beverages now use water-soluble or “nano-emulsified” cannabis, which some people report noticing sooner than a traditional edible. Even so, timing varies a lot from person to person and product to product, and effects can last for several hours.

The practical takeaway is the same one we share for every edible: start low, go slow. Choose a lower-THC option for your first try, sip slowly, and give it plenty of time before deciding whether to have more. Finishing a whole can quickly because it tastes like a soda is one of the most common beginner mistakes.

The main styles you will see

Sparkling waters and sodas are the most popular category. They are light, often fruit-flavoured, and usually come in lower THC amounts, which makes them a familiar starting point.

Teas, lemonades and iced coffees offer a more classic non-alcoholic drink experience. Some are ready to drink, while others come as dissolvable powders or tea bags that you mix yourself.

Alcohol-free beer and cocktail-style drinks are made to mimic the taste of a beer, spritz or mocktail without any alcohol. They are designed for social settings where you want something in your hand that feels familiar.

Shots, drops and mixers are concentrated, small-format products meant to be added to your own drink. These give you more control over how much you add, but read the label carefully, since the per-container amount is listed for the whole bottle.

How much can you carry?

Canada uses an equivalency system to set public possession limits. For beverages, 70 g of liquid cannabis product is treated as equal to 1 g of dried flower. With the 30 g public possession limit, that works out to about 2.1 litres of cannabis beverages in public. Your budtender can help you understand how drinks fit into that limit if you are buying a mix of products.

Tips for enjoying cannabis drinks responsibly

Keep cannabis drinks clearly separated from regular beverages in your fridge, and store them well out of reach of children and pets. Do not mix cannabis drinks with alcohol, and never drive or operate machinery after consuming cannabis. If you are sharing with friends, make sure everyone knows the can contains cannabis and how much THC is in it.

Temperature and freshness matter too. Most drinks are best enjoyed cold and within the best-before date, and shaking some bottles before opening helps keep the ingredients evenly mixed.

Find cannabis drinks near you

If you are searching for a dispensary near me that carries a good selection of cannabis beverages, visit Reserved Cannabis at 615 Scottsdale Drive in Guelph. Our team can walk you through flavours, formats and THC and CBD levels so you can pick something that suits the occasion. Our Etobicoke location on The Queensway is reopening soon, so keep an eye on our website for updates.

Must be 19+ with valid ID. Please consume responsibly. This article is educational and not medical advice.