by Dan Ketchum

In the Year of Our Mama 2022, you can get high from a blunt, a vape, a drop under your tongue, a patch, some beef jerky, a cup of coffee or even cotton candy (that’s not a typo). 

Truthfully, liquid THC drinks kinda sucked until recently, but thanks to the good graces of the weed gods — and also lots of science — smooth, tasty marijuana shots have finally arrived. 

Mama says always shoot your shot, but if you’re gonna do it, here’s how to do it right.    

It’s Me, Liquid THC

So, marijuana shots are simple: liquid THC infused into a convenient, shootable beverage. THC shots are always alcohol-free, as it’s currently illegal to combine alcohol and cannabis into a single product in the U.S. 

The way that cannabis got infused into your shot is a little less simple, though. Infusing cannabis into beverages has been stumping brands for years, which is why stuff like THC-infused beer used to go down like chunky Yoplait. That’s because cannabinoids like THC and CBD are fat-soluble compounds that don’t like to mix with water (think oil and water).  

In recent years, a process called nano-emulsification, which breaks cannabis oil down into microscopic particles, has finally allowed liquid THC to thrive. Tough Mama’s own Yolo Shotz exist thanks to tech like B-LINE nano-emulsion, a new Cannabistry technique that ensures cannabinoid integrity and maximizes bioavailability. In other words, it gets you high real good, real clean, and real quick.

How to Take a Marijuana Shot (Like a Pro)

A super important clarification: even though it’s called a marijuana shot, you don’t always want to shoot the whole off-the-shelf bottle at once. (Unless you’re trying to green out, we guess). Read the label to figure out how much THC it contains in total. 

As a dosage rule of thumb, stick to about 5 to 10 mg for a punchy shot, or feel free to go lighter — around 2.5 to 4 mg — if you’re new or want a gentler high. For context, a single capful of one of our Yolo Shotz is about 5 mg, which means you can get about 20 shots or canna cocktails from a single bottle (sizes of course vary among brands). 

You can shoot a THC shot straight, holding that capful-sized dose daintily, pinky up, and wig powdered. Or, if you want that real LFMAO ft. Lil Jon “Shots” vibe, mix your milliliters into sparkling water, soda, or juice, and serve in a shot glass. Virtually any traditional shot recipe works, just sub out the booze for THC. That’s the beauty of marijuana shooters; you can take them as a no-nonsense sip to encourage creativity or get you through your shift, or dress ‘em up for a Friday night and expect less of a Saturday hangover.  

Oh, and don’t forget the best part: you’ve got flavor options. Nowadays, liquid THC tastes like everything from green tea to sour gummy worms. We like Mama’s Tropical Punch, Lemon Lime, and Berry Crush shooters, but we’re also slightly biased. 

Ways to Shake It Up

Look, Mama’s a classy monkey, just like you — she’s not always taking stealth shots in the Circle K parking lot (only sometimes). If you’re a classy stoner, try mixing your THC shot into a weed-infused cocktail. Here’s some inspo.

Tough Mamartini

What you’ll need:

• 5 ml Berry Crush Yolo Shotz 
• 5 oz organic coconut water
• Sugar
• Sprig of rosemary

How to make it:

• Rim glass with sugar
• Combine all liquid ingredients and shake over ice
• Serve in a 7 oz martini glass
• Garnish with rosemary sprig

Tough Mama’s Lemon Lime Elixir

What you’ll need:

• 5-10 ml Lemon Lime Yolo Shotz
• 5 oz lemon-lime seltzer
• Hearty dash of lime syrup

How to make it:

• Combine all ingredients 
• Serve on ice in a rocks glass

What to Expect

Marijuana shots like Tough Mama’s own family recipe are a good time, but remember that they’re also powerful. THC shots kick in fast (like really fast), so they get you high quick. Expect liquid THC to hit in about 5 to 15 minutes. In comparison, you can expect an onset of about 30 to 60 minutes with most edibles.

Vibes will range from euphoric to mellow depending on the strain the shot contains. The premium cannabis extract used in our Yolo Shotz retains the full spectrum of the flower, which means you’ll get a high that’s a little more spacey and stonery. 

As fast as they hit, marijuana shots also dissipate more quickly than smoke and edibles, making them a little more sessionable (meaning, you can have a few hits in a single session). This also makes it great for hanging with people who have different tolerances — seasoned stoners can keep shooting while canna-casuals can sip slowly. 

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Dr. Ryan Vandrey of John Hopkins University says, “If you’re talking about drinking [weed shots] in a social setting in an evening, you need to drive home at some point. A faster onset and shorter duration might be better.”

Let the High Times Roll

If you’re new to THC shots, always remember the quote Confucius stole from Mama: start low and go slow. 

When you’re ready to shoot your shot, here’s where to buy Tough Mama’s Yolo Shotz. But try to make your Mama proud, OK? Shoot hard and take big swings, but know your stuff first — and don’t go apeshit.

Dan splits his time between Dallas and LA, where he’s been writing lifestyle, fashion, health, and food content for more than a decade. He’s been fortunate enough to collaborate and publish with companies such as Mistifi, LIVESTRONG, Vitagenne, Reign Together, Out East Rose, SFGate, The Seattle Times, and many more.

Sources

Cannabistry – Cannabistry’s Four Proprietary Canna-Tech Platforms Solve Industry Pain Points

Rolling Stone – Drink Your Weed: How Cannabis Beverages Finally Took Off

The Washington Post – How to Carefully, Safely and Legally Use Cannabis in Drinks