Potential Risks from Cannabis-Infused Beverages: A Critical Review

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Cannabis Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Canada legalized cannabis beverages in 2019.
• Existing research on cannabis intoxication primarily focuses on dried flower and edibles, not beverages.
• Cannabis beverages possess distinct bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties influencing their effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on cannabis beverage consumption.
• To focus on the acute intoxication effects of cannabis beverages.
• To assess the safety and risks associated with cannabis beverages.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases.
• Included 29 eligible studies.
• Studies covered consumption patterns, marketing, acute effects in humans, and drink composition.

Main Results:

• Human studies indicate that cannabis beverages can induce aversive acute subjective and physiological effects in healthy, infrequent users.
• A significant finding was inaccurate cannabinoid labeling on cannabis beverages, presenting potential consumer risks.
• The available research is limited and inconsistent, with a wide variety of formulations studied.

Conclusions:

• Cannabis-infused beverages exhibit significant variations in effects.
• The growing market for cannabis 'drinkables' necessitates further investigation.
• More research is essential to understand both acute and long-term impacts of cannabis beverage consumption.