Cannabis infused cocktails, made without alcohol, give you a festive glass with a measured dose of THC or CBD inside. That makes them a natural fit for Dry January, or for any night you'd rather skip the booze. The approach is simple: count milligrams per glass, sip slowly and give it time. Here's how to infuse, how to dose, three original recipes, flavor pairings and how to serve them safely. Every drink here is alcohol-free and meant for adults 21 and older.
What Dry January is, and why cannabis drinks come up
Dry January is a month-long break from alcohol. The challenge started in 2013 with 4,000 people and is run by the UK charity Alcohol Change UK. Today the name is shorthand for a month off drinking.
For many adults, the hard part isn't giving up alcohol so much as giving up the ritual: something festive in a glass after work or at a party. Dry January cannabis drinks come up because they can fill that glass without alcohol.
Be clear about what the swap is and isn't. Replacing alcohol with cannabis isn't a health move in itself. It's a different experience, with its own timing, effects and limits. If you're taking a break from alcohol for health reasons, talk with a clinician about whether cannabis belongs in the plan.
What cannabis-infused cocktails are
In this guide, a canna-cocktail is a mixed drink with a measured dose of THC, CBD or both, and no alcohol. Think of it as a mocktail with one carefully measured extra. The build is familiar:
- A base: juice, chilled tea, sparkling water, tonic or alcohol-free ginger beer.
- Something sweet: plain simple syrup, honey syrup or an infused syrup.
- Something sour: fresh lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit.
- Aroma: herbs, citrus peel or warm spices.
- The dose: a tincture, an infused syrup or a ready-made THC drink.
Why keep alcohol out completely? In a 2026 study in JAMA Network Open, 25 adults ate THC brownies and then drank alcohol. Together, the two caused more impairment in a driving simulator, and stronger feelings of intoxication, than either one alone. Cannabis plus a 0.05% breath alcohol level impaired driving as much as, or more than, alcohol alone at 0.08%. That's why THC mocktails, not spiked canna-cocktails, are the only kind in this guide.
Swapping alcohol for cannabis: what changes
A cannabis drink doesn't behave like a beer or a glass of wine:
- It starts slowly. Drinks are swallowed, so they take the same slow route as edibles. Canadian public health officials say you may not feel edible cannabis for up to 2 hours, and its full effect can take up to 4.
- It lasts longer. The CDC notes that effects last longer when THC is swallowed than when it's smoked, and Canadian officials put edible effects at 4 to 12 hours.
- Pacing works differently. With alcohol, you tend to feel each drink fairly soon. With THC, the first glass may not register for an hour or two. The CDC has noted that people sometimes take several servings before the first one kicks in.
- Driving is still off the table. Michigan's adult-use law doesn't cover driving under the influence, and health officials say not to drive after using cannabis.
Our look at THC drinks vs. edibles timing compares the two in more detail.
Infusion options: tinctures, infused syrup and ready-made drinks
Tinctures for precision
A tincture is the most precise way to dose a glass. Divide the THC in the bottle by its volume to get milligrams per milliliter, then measure with a marked dropper. Michigan caps adult-use tinctures at 10 mg of THC per dose and 200 mg per package. Cannabis tincture drinks are also the easiest to make one glass at a time.
One catch for Dry January: alcohol-based tinctures add a few drops of alcohol to the glass. For a fully alcohol-free drink, choose a glycerin-based tincture, which mixes into drinks easily, or an oil-based one, which needs hard stirring or a creamy base. Our cannabis tincture guide explains the types.
Infused syrup for sweetness
Infused simple syrup does double duty as sweetener and dose, which makes it handy for parties. The trade-off is precision. A homemade syrup's strength is an estimate, and the mix can separate, so shake it before every pour. If a batch holds an estimated 80 mg spread through 8 ounces of syrup, each quarter ounce holds at most 2.5 mg. Start with our infused simple syrup recipe and use your estimate as a ceiling.
Ready-made THC drinks as mixers
Canned and bottled THC drinks already list their milligrams. Michigan caps them at 10 mg of THC per serving and 100 mg per container, so check the serving count before you pour. A single-serve can makes an easy mixer: pour a measured portion over ice with citrus and herbs. Our guide to choosing a THC drink explains how to read a drink label.
Dose per glass and pacing
Pick your dose before you pick your recipe. Canadian public health officials suggest 2.5 mg of THC or less as a first amount for anything you eat or drink, which makes a good ceiling per glass.
| Tincture strength | For 1 mg | For 2.5 mg | For 5 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg per mL | 0.2 mL | 0.5 mL | 1 mL |
| 10 mg per mL | 0.1 mL | 0.25 mL | 0.5 mL |
A few pacing habits keep the evening comfortable:
- One infused glass, then plain ones. Every recipe below works without the dose, so you can keep the same drink in hand all night.
- Wait at least 2 hours before a second infused glass.
- Dose each glass, not the pitcher. Infusions can settle or separate in a pitcher, so the last glass may not match the first. Mix a plain batch and add the dose glass by glass.
- Keep water on the table.
Hosting a few friends? Mix a plain pitcher of one recipe and set out a tincture with a marked dropper. Write the math on a small card, such as "0.25 mL = 2.5 mg," and let each adult measure their own glass. Anyone who wants a plain drink simply skips the dropper.
Three THC drink recipes to make at home
Each recipe makes one drink. Add your measured dose where the steps say to, and leave it out for a plain version.
Spiced pear ginger fizz
- 3 ounces pear nectar
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
- 4 ounces alcohol-free ginger beer
- One measured dose
- A thin pear slice
- Stir the pear nectar, lemon juice and cinnamon in a glass with ice.
- Stir in your measured dose.
- Top with the ginger beer, stir gently and garnish with the pear slice.
Blood orange black tea cooler
- 4 ounces strong black tea, chilled
- 2 ounces fresh blood orange juice, or regular orange juice
- 1/2 ounce honey syrup, made from equal parts honey and warm water
- A squeeze of lemon
- One measured dose
- An orange wheel
- Shake the tea, juice, honey syrup and lemon with ice.
- Strain over fresh ice and stir in your measured dose.
- Garnish with the orange wheel.
Lemon hop cooler
- 6 ounces alcohol-free hop water, chilled
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce honey syrup or plain simple syrup
- One measured dose
- A long strip of lemon peel
- Stir the lemon juice and syrup in a tall glass with ice.
- Stir in your measured dose.
- Top with the hop water, twist the lemon peel over the glass and drop it in.
Dose per glass: whatever you measured. A good starting range is 1 to 2.5 mg.
Flavor and terpene pairings
Terpenes are the aroma compounds behind a cannabis strain's smell, and many of them also turn up in fruits, herbs and spices. If your tincture or drink names its strain or top terpenes, try building the glass around them:
| Terpene | Aroma | Pairs well with |
|---|---|---|
| Limonene | Bright citrus | Lemon, orange, grapefruit |
| Pinene | Fresh pine | Rosemary, thyme |
| Linalool | Floral, lavender | Lavender syrup, honey |
| Beta-caryophyllene | Peppery, spicy | Clove, black pepper, ginger beer |
| Myrcene | Earthy, musky, a little fruity | Mango, pear, lemongrass |
| Humulene | Woody, earthy, hoppy | Hop water, sage |
Many tinctures and drinks taste fairly neutral, so the pairing is mostly about the overall experience: a citrus-forward product with a citrus drink, an earthy one with hops or herbs. Some tinctures do carry a grassy, herbal note. Bright citrus, ginger and honey cover it well, so taste the plain drink first and adjust the sour and sweet before you add the dose. Hosting a crowd? Our DIY cannabis charcuterie ideas round out the spread.
Glassware, ice and garnish
Presentation does a lot of work in a drink without alcohol:
- Chill the glass. A few minutes in the freezer keeps the drink colder for longer.
- Use big ice. Large cubes melt more slowly than small ones, so the drink stays balanced instead of watery.
- Lean on aroma. Clap a sprig of rosemary or thyme between your palms, or twist citrus peel over the glass, to release its scent.
- Mark the infused glass. Give infused drinks their own garnish or their own style of glass, so nobody picks up the wrong one.
- Mind the bitters. Many classic cocktail bitters contain alcohol. For a fully alcohol-free glass, get that grown-up edge from tonic, strong tea or grapefruit peel instead.
Serving safely: labels, water, rides home
- Label every infused glass. Use a garnish or a drink tag so infused and plain drinks never get mixed up, and tell guests the dose.
- Serve plain versions too. Every recipe here works without cannabis.
- Put out water and food. A snack table keeps the evening steady.
- Plan rides home. Nobody should drive after an infused drink. Line up sober drivers or rides before the first pour.
- Keep it 21+. Never serve infused drinks to anyone under 21, and keep bottles and leftovers away from kids and pets. Canadian health officials warn that edible cannabis carries a higher risk of accidental poisoning, especially for children and pets.
- Check with a clinician first if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, take medications or have a health condition.
Tinctures and other infused products appear on some of our stores' menus, and selection varies by store. Browse your store's menu to see what's available, and ask our budtenders about milligrams per milliliter. 21+ only. Please consume responsibly.
