By Miguel Ordoñez


The cannabis and coffee combination can be a double-edged sword. Some people see it as a match made in heaven, while others avoid it as though they were mixing vodka and cheap tequila.

However, there’s a whole new discussion surrounding CBD-infused coffee. CBD has become the wunderkind of the wellness industry, and because it bears no psychotropic effects, it’s seen as a perfect complement to a mind-altering substance like caffeine.

Today, we’ll take a look at cannabis versus CBD infused coffee, and how differently they affect people. After reading this, you’ll have a better notion of whether combining THC or CBD with coffee is right for you.

What Is Cannabis-Infused Coffee?

The name is self-explanatory. Those who want to upgrade their morning cup of Joe add in a healthy serving of THC to kick it up a notch.

There are several ways to do this. Some add their ground herb into hot water alongside their coffee grounds, though this is not the most efficient nor effective way.

Others get more creative, first whipping up a batch of cannabutter that they use to make their version of bulletproof coffee.

What Is Cannabis-Infused Coffee?

What About CBD-Infused Coffee?

This one follows the same principle as the aforementioned, except CBD is infused into the brew as opposed to THC-rich cannabis. The most popular method is to add a few drops of CBD oil right into the coffee.

But, others coat their coffee beans with CBD (it apparently works well when using either a French press or an infuser mug) while others go the traditional route of adding in the ground herb directly.

What About CBD-Infused Coffee?

What Happens When You Mix Cannabis or CBD With Caffeine?

There’s a reason many folks adhere to the cannabis/CBD and caffeine combo. But, what exactly happens when you make these infusions?

  • Cannabis (THC)

Looking at it on the surface level, you can understand the argument presented by cannabis coffee drinkers. Some see marijuana as an “enhancer” to the kick that coffee provides.

Pundits suggest sativa strains (or, more accurately, strains containing landrace sativa terpenes such as limonene and terpinolene) for enhanced creativity and energy levels. Whereas, if you want a more relaxed morning without the caffeine jitters, they advise indica strains rich in terpenes like myrcene and linalool.

Related story

What is THC?

Research findings, however, suggest a more complex relationship between THC-rich weed and caffeine. One of the documented adverse effects[1] of cannabis use is the potential development of learning and memory problems. This was the jumping-off point for a 2012 study[2] on rats that investigated whether or not caffeine could “counteract memory deficits induced by THC”.

Researchers administered a combination of caffeine and a subthreshold dose of THC to subjects, and found that, not only did it not quell memory-related side effects, it appeared to make them worse.

Research points to an antagonistic relationship[3] between the body’s adenosine receptors and caffeine as a possible culprit. When stimulated, adenosine receptors have displayed the ability to mediate THC’s potential amnestic (memory loss) effects.

Since caffeine blocks adenosine upon binding with its receptors, it stands to reason that it would increase THC’s potential effects on memory. This led to the conclusion that combining THC and caffeine indicates a “deleterious effect on cognitive function” in the above 2012 study.

Cannabis (THC)
  • CBD

Based on preliminary studies, one of the potential benefits of the CBD and coffee combo is a reduction of caffeine jitters.

As previously mentioned, caffeine inhibits adenosine receptors[4], which ultimately causes a person to feel more alert. However, caffeine also causes a rise[5] in dopamine levels.

For some people, that extra dose of dopamine may wire them up, resulting in an unpleasant experience overall.

But given that CBD is being investigated for its tension-relieving potential,[6] it may be possible to avoid those caffeine jitters.

Then there’s the connection between CBD and enhancing the mental alertness brought on by caffeine. Based on other studies, this appears to stem from cannabidiol’s potential ability to interact with serotonin receptors.[7]

Why Put Cannabis or CBD in Coffee?

Particularly with CBD, studies about its plausible benefits when combined with caffeine are ongoing. As expected, there will be both advantages and drawbacks.

But, for this section, we’ll be focusing on why infusing CBD or cannabis into coffee can be a good idea.

Cannabis CBD
May enhance the alertness and “creative euphoria” that caffeine brings CBD’s potential to reduce tension may also help reduce caffeine jitters
Could provide a soothing effect Potential to enhance mental alertness due to its perceived ability to increase neurochemical levels
Cannabis terpenes like limonene are known for their potential to relieve tension and elevate mood[8] The jump in serotonin potentially caused by CBD may also help in depleting tension levels

How To Make Cannabis or CBD Infused Coffee

The great thing about making cannabis or CBD infused coffee is that it’s relatively straightforward. As long as you have the required ingredients, you’ll be able to make your very own concoction at home.

What You Need for Cannabis or CBD Infused Coffee

  • Saucepan
  • Baking sheet
  • 3 cups of water
  • 2 tablespoons of butter or coconut oil
  • 0 ozam of your preferred strain (THC or CBD rich)
  • Cup of coffee

Instructions

  1. The cannabinoids in raw cannabis require activation through decarboxylation to take effect. To turn THCA into THC or CBDA into CBD, place your herbs on a baking sheet and leave them in the oven at 110°C (230°F) for 45 minutes.
  2. Pour the water into the saucepan and bring it to a boil. Next, add in the butter or coconut oil (the latter is deemed the healthier option).
  3. Place your decarboxylated weed into the saucepan. You can play around with the amount, but a pinch or two is recommended per cup of coffee.
  4. Let it simmer for about half an hour. Once you see the liquid mixture bubble, that’s when you know the weed and oil/butter have thoroughly bound together.
  5. Strain the mixture to sift out any excess plant matter.
  6. Pour the cannabis mixture into your coffee and enjoy your spiked brew.
  • Can CBD Oil Go in Coffee?

As we mentioned in an earlier section, another way of dosing your coffee with cannabis is by using its oil variant.

CBD oil is a good way to dose, and the effects you’ll feel will rightly depend on the amount you use. But, the standard recommendation is around 5mg of CBD per serving of coffee (usually around a teaspoon and a half).

Feel free to add more drops as you go along. But, if you want to be on the safe side, consult a professional before doing so.

  • Can You Put AVB (Already Vaped Bud) in Coffee?

Yes, you definitely can. So, before you think about tossing your already vaped buds, you may want to consider mixing them into your morning (or afternoon) brew.

What’s nice about AVB is that it’s already been decarboxylated, so that saves you from doing step one. The process itself is also very effortless.

To infuse AVB into your brew, simply add it to your coffee grounds. Depending on the strain you use, you might pick up some of its taste. If that bothers you, feel free to infuse some additional flavors, like hazelnut or cinnamon.

How Much Cannabis or CBD Should You Put in Coffee?

We gave you a general idea of how much CBD or cannabis to infuse into your coffee, but the ideal amount will depend on your preferences and tolerance for both substances. Below are some starting points for first-time users looking to remain cautious.

Cannabis
For cannabis, half a gram would be a good amount. Especially if you’re infusing for the very first time, this should allow you to feel things out before going deep. Remember, you can always add more.
CBD
As for CBD oil, a full dropper should be your safe zone to jump off from. Once you get used to it, you can gradually increase.

Here’s one thing to keep in mind for both: infused beverages take time to kick in. It may seem like a sensible idea to consume more, but you may end up getting the raw end of the deal. With a little patience, you will get your desired effects.

Are There Any Side Effects of Cannabis or CBD Infused Coffee?

Yes, there are some potential side effects, most of which are minimal and stem largely from the caffeine.

Given the relationship between caffeine, THC, and adenosine, cannabis-infused coffee has the potential to cause the jitters, paranoia, and an unpleasant high.

CBD, on the other hand, is less likely to exert side effects, but here too elevated tension is a possible side effect, as well as potential sleepiness.

It all comes down to how much you take. While underdosing may render very little to no effects, going over the recommended amount may lead to an unpleasant experience.

That goes for all three substances. A caffeine overload in itself may put you in a bad spot.

Does CBD Coffee Get You High?

As any cannabis user, or Google, will tell you, CBD will not get you high. It does not possess the same mind-altering effects as THC, and its relationship with our internal systems is different.

At worst, it may counteract coffee’s energising effects.

Should You Try Cannabis or CBD Infused Coffee?

Coffee, in itself, provides that much-needed jolt, especially on slow, dreary Monday mornings. We’ve all been there. But, if you want to enhance the experience by adding some cannabis or CBD, you can very much do so. Before diving in, just make sure to consider the essentials, like proper dosage, strain choice, and the amount/type of coffee to drink.

Better yet, consult your doctor or ask an industry professional for guidance. They’ll be able to give you sound advice, and may even provide you with some recipes to try out.

External Resources:
  1. Endocannabinoids in cognition and dependence - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Combined effects of THC and caffeine on working memory in rats https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Frontiers | Caffeine and Selective Adenosine Receptor Antagonists as New Therapeutic Tools for the Motivational Symptoms of Depression | Pharmacology https://www.frontiersin.org
  4. Caffeine: The chemistry behind the world’s most popular drug https://chem.ku.edu
  5. Caffeine increases striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability in the human brain https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. SAGE Journals: Your gateway to world-class journal research https://journals.sagepub.com
  7. Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  8. Anti-stress effects of d-limonene and its metabolite perillyl alcohol - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: