Drink Weed Every Day | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Drink Weed Every Day

Two local companies bottling cannabis-infused beverages

With limited quantities of edibles now on sale to the Oregon recreational marijuana fancier, curious dispensary visitors are finding themselves exposed to a wealth of THC-infused candy, chocolate, cookies, and every other snack-y foodstuff under the sun. Even more of a surprise to some: there are now two locally-brewed and bottled cannabis-infused beverages to choose from: Magic Number's ginger beer and "kannabucha" from Bent Beverages, both in Bend.

One of the first canna-beverages to the local market was Magic Number, a line of 12-ounce bottles of ginger beer. The name stems from the fact that each label shows the "magic number" of THC milligrams inside: 3, 10, or 25 at the moment, although a medical card is required for the last one. The Bend-based company released a Cold Brewed Coffee in 3mg and 10mg doses in March and plans to release other flavors in the future, such as root beer, chai, and tonic.

They're joined in the market by Bent Beverage, which produces "kannabucha" in three flavors, including Berry Bomb and Momo Peach Ginger. The company—founded by a 10-year marijuana-growing veteran and a Colorado homebrewer—grows all of its own product. Both companies are committed to using organic ingredients.

Note: neither of these beverages is alcoholic. Having both booze and THC in the same beverage isn't something the OLCC is quite ready to wrap its head around, although it has certainly been tried by homebrewers in the past. Customers without medical marijuana cards can purchase a maximum 15 mg THC dose of edibles per visit to the pot shop at the moment, and all food and drink will list the dosage on the label.

Consumers can find both brands right now at dispensaries such as Jenny's, Oregrown, and Tokyo Starfish. But how do they taste? Well, just like ginger beer and kombucha, really—both are quite fine. It's what comes afterward that makes them, in their own way, just as "adult" a beverage as local craft beer. Our advice for beginners: If you drink, say, a 15 mg-labeled kombucha and nothing happens, do not drink another one immediately! Give it an hour or so and see how you're feeling before going nuts with it.

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