Cannabis infused alcohol is a product with a variety of uses.
Cannabis-infused alcohol is also known as the ‘Green Dragon.’ It is an alcohol-based product made by extracting the active components of cannabis by soaking cannabis pieces in alcohol.
The green dragon includes CBD and THC and has different effects on the body, especially with ethanol. Despite its numerous properties, cannabis-infused alcohol can be lethal if not taken with care.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the different aspects of cannabis-infused alcohol and how it works.
What Is Cannabis Infused-Alcohol?
Cannabis-infused alcohol, also known as the green dragon, is an alcohol-based beverage (or tincture) produced by soaking parts of the cannabis plant (leaves, stem, and bud ) in alcohol.
The main characteristic of cannabis alcohol comes from the active component (namely CBD and THC) transferred from the plant.
Different methods are used to prepare the green dragon, but they consist of heating the cannabis to turn THC acid into THC.
The most popular (and cheaper) procedure consists of cutting down the pieces of cannabis, putting them in an oven, and soaking the plants in alcohol in the dark for around one week.
A quicker alternative is to use a whipped cream whipper along with nitrous oxide chargers.
How to make cannabis-infused alcohol:
- Pour alcohol and cannabis in the whipper.
- Charge the container with two nitrous oxide chargers.
- Let the mixture sit for one or two minutes in nitrous oxide.
- In a double boiler, heat the alcohol-cannabis mixture until the alcohol turns green.
- Simmer the mixture for 45 minutes.
- Strain the mixture to remove all cannabis parts.
- The liquid obtained is now ‘green dragon.’
Depending on your preferences, you can add more alcohol to the mixture to replace the evaporated amount, or you can reduce the alcohol for a higher concentration of THC and CBD.
To make potent tinctures, reduce the alcohol to a low volume, strain the mixture and pour in a dropper bottle.
Otherwise, green dragon is used in cocktails or consumed as shots.
How Does Cannabis-Infused Alcohol Feel?
The THC, CBD, and alcohol combination of cannabis-infused alcohol provides a more significant hit than if they were consumed separately.
Therefore, it is always recommended that green dragon is not consumed at high doses due to the highly concentrated mixture.
However, there is not a lot of scientific information on the effect of cannabis-infused alcohol.
A study from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry in 2015 stated that alcohol increased the amount of THC in the body.
As cannabis-infused alcohol has CBD, it was observed that CBD might reduce blood alcohol levels absorbed by the body.
The PsychoPharmacology Journal analyzed the effects of CBD and alcohol in 1979.
The study found that CBD and alcohol combination reduced alcohol levels in the body.
Yet, the paper also found that the effects of alcohol were similar, with or without CBD.
Since the effects of alcohol are still felt with CBD, cannabis-infused alcohol should be taken with care.
It is recommended that users increase the dose gradually, starting with a smaller amount than usual due to the high potency of THC, CBD, and alcohol in green dragon.
Dangers Of Cannabis-Infused Alcohol?
One of the dangers of drinking cannabis-infused alcohol in excess is ‘greening’ out.
The symptoms of greening out are:
- The individual might go pale
- Feeling dizzy
- Motion sickness
- Induce vomiting
As alcohol and cannabis boost each other’s effect, a user can get drunk with a lower amount of green alcohol than regular alcohol.
Similarly, a cannabis user should be careful of the combined effects of alcohol and THC in green dragon.
Since THC is absorbed at a higher rate in the presence of alcohol, a larger concentration of THC in the body may trigger anxious moods.
In a study published in NCBI, cannabis has a potential antiemetic effect that reduces the body’s ability to vomit.
Therefore, overdrinking may have serious consequences.
Since the body cannot reject the excess amount of alcohol consumed, users should double the effort to enjoy green dragon responsibly.
How To Consume Cannabis-Infused Alcohol?
Cannabis-infused alcohol can be taken sublingually by putting a few drops under the tongue.
This technique is the fastest way for the body to feel the effect of the green dragon (usually around 15 to 20 minutes).
Cannabis-infused alcohol can also be taken orally through:
- A beverage, such as sodas or juices.
- To make cocktails.
- To baked goods to make edibles.
In contrast, when cannabis-infused alcohol is taken orally, it takes more time for the body to experience the effects of both THC and CBD.
It should be noted that when adding the tincture to baked or cooked products, the alcohol content is evaporated, leaving only THC and CBD in the edibles.
According to anecdotal reviews, cannabis-infused alcohol can also be applied as a lotion to relieve pain in specific areas of the skin.
Rubbing cannabis alcohol is an ancient remedy from Mexico, passed down from generation to generation.
What Alcohols Are Best Infused With Cannabis?
The best kind of alcohol has a high percentage of grain alcohol (high-proof alcohol).
Grain alcohol consists of ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, produced by fermentation of sugars in grains or yeast.
The high concentration of alcohol ensures that there is optimal extraction of cannabis.
Some example of high-proof alcohol that can be used are:
- Everclear 190 Proof
- 420 Extractor
- Graves Grain Alcohol 190 proof
- Clear Spring Grain Alcohol 190
If you do not have access to high-proof alcohol, 151 proof alcohol can also be used, but it will not be as effective as a high-proof one to infuse cannabis.
A few examples of 151 proof alcohol that can be used are:
- Everclear 151 Proof
- Everclear Grain Alcohol 151
- Graves Grain Alcohol 151 Proof
In contrast, lower-proof alcohols, such as vodka or rum, will not produce the same effects.
Besides, only food-grade alcohol should be used while infusing cannabis to avoid poisoning.
It is crucial to note that under no circumstance should isopropyl alcohol be used if cannabis-infused alcohol will be consumed.
About the author: Joe Powers
After an incident in the military, in 2011, Joe Powers began investigating cannabis by talking with industry leaders. In 2016, Joe launched Hemp Writer with its first publication in clarifying disinformation on specific updates to certain federal CBD laws.
Upon calling out a leading cannabis law firm spreading dis-info, Hemp Writer established itself as an authority in clarifying updated information emerging from the cannabis industry. Joe continues charging forwards with increasing momentum to continue fulfilling his vision of SHARING ACCURATE CANNABIS INFORMATION.