What is the difference between THC drinks and edibles?
THC drinks and edibles differ in how you take them and in the package limits around them. A drink is sipped, an edible is eaten, and Connecticut gives each its own package rules. Edibles can hold no more than 100 milligrams of THC in a multiple-serving package, while DCP lists up to ten milligrams per container for retailer infused beverages.
THC drinks and edibles in one table
The serving row comes from chapter 420h of the state's cannabis law, and the container rows come from DCP.
| THC drinks | Edibles | |
|---|---|---|
| How you take it | Sipped as a beverage | Eaten |
| THC per standardized serving | Not more than 5 mg | Not more than 5 mg |
| THC per package | Retailer infused beverages may contain up to ten milligrams per container, effective October 1, 2026 | No more than 100 milligrams in a multiple-serving package |
| Shape | Read the label | Cuboid or spherical only, no animal shapes |
| Time to peak blood THC | Not covered by our sources | Varies by product |
| Price and THC value | Check the live menu | Check the live menu |
| Where to look | THC drinks aisle | Edibles aisle |
What the timing research does and does not cover
Two edibles with the same milligrams can reach peak plasma THC at different times. In a crossover study of five commercial edible products at 10 mg THC each, time to peak plasma THC ranged between 35 and 90 min. The same study found differences between products in plasma THC concentration during the first 20 to 30 min.
That study measured edibles, so it says nothing firm about a drink, and our sources give no timing for drinks.
A package that says fast-acting needs a second look. A content analysis of edible packaging says there is currently no scientific evidence to support fast-acting claims on edible packages. Per that analysis, fast-acting or rapid descriptors appeared on 8% of the edible packages reviewed. Our guide on how long edibles take to kick in goes further into edible timing.
Reading the package before you choose
Turn the package over and check three things:
- Milligrams per serving and servings per package. On a drink, see whether the can or bottle holds one serving or several.
- The two label symbols. DCP issues one that marks the package as containing THC and one saying it is not safe or legal for people under twenty-one.
- The packaging itself. DCP says cannabis packaging must be child-safe, tamper-resistant and light-resistant, and edible packaging cannot appeal to individuals under 21.
Our guide on how to read a Connecticut cannabis label covers each line of a package, and DCP sums up the edible rules on its page about edibles in the adult-use market.
Find drinks and edibles on the live menu
Drinks and edibles each have an aisle on our site: the THC drinks aisle and the edibles aisle. The product list below the article on each aisle page shows live items from the menu of the store you have selected, with a switch to the other store. Our own seltzer line, Drink Hi!, is hemp-infused. Prices and THC values change often, so we leave them off this page.
For a drink or an edible you plan to collect, Derby's menu takes pickup orders and Hartford's menu does as well. Open the Derby live menu or the Hartford live menu and collect at the counter. If you want help choosing between a drink and an edible, call us at 860-420-BUDS (2837).
Questions about drinks and edibles
Is a THC drink faster than an edible?
This page does not rank the two on speed. In a crossover study of five commercial edible products at 10 mg THC each, time to peak plasma THC ranged between 35 and 90 min, which is a figure for those edible products. Read the label for the serving details.
Can a package store sell me a THC drink?
For adults 21 or older, only if the package store has an endorsement to sell infused beverages. Effective October 1, 2024, only cannabis retail establishments and package stores with an endorsement to sell infused beverages may sell beverages containing THC in Connecticut, and beginning October 1, 2026, infused beverage manufacturers may also sell them on-premises for off-site consumption. DCP explains the package store part on its page about what package stores need to do.
How much THC can one edible serving hold?
Not more than five milligrams. Connecticut law directs a standardized serving of an edible cannabis product to contain not more than five milligrams of THC. For adults 21 or older, DCP says edibles can have no more than 100 milligrams of THC in a multiple-serving package. Check the milligrams per serving and the servings per package on the label.
How much THC can one drink container hold?
For adults 21 or older, DCP's October 1, 2026 legislative update says retailer infused beverages may contain up to ten milligrams of THC per container. Check each can's label for the THC it lists and the servings it counts. Connecticut law also directs a standardized serving to contain not more than five milligrams of THC.
Can an edible come in an animal shape?
No. For adults 21 or older, DCP says edible cannabis products may only be in cuboid or spherical forms, and animal shapes are prohibited. DCP says edible packaging cannot appeal to individuals under 21, and that cannabis packaging must be child-safe, tamper-resistant and light-resistant.
What is Drink Hi!?
Our own line of hemp-infused seltzer is called Drink Hi!, and you can read about it on our brand page. Open the THC drinks aisle to see which seltzers the store you have selected lists, and check each can's label for its serving details.
