5 New Cannabis-Infused Drinks From LA Brands to Try Now

On a warm Silver Lake evening, the happy-hour lineup used to mean a crisp can of La Croix or a $16 hazy IPA. But now, the coolest sip on the sidewalk comes with a whisper of THC. Cann’s new Yuzu Orange Fizz — a 5mg cannabis tonic that tastes like sparkling yuzu soda but lands like a gentle glass of wine — is quickly becoming the city’s signal for “I still want the ritual, just not the hangover.” This is LA’s new drink order: botanically buzzed, low-dose, and alcohol-free. And it’s not a niche fad. It’s the fastest-moving corner of California’s wellness beverage aisle, and the brands pouring it are doing so from Venice, Hollywood, and Marina del Rey.

Why LA Is Ground Zero for the Weed Drink Revolution

California has always treated food and mood as two sides of the same plate. But the leap from “edible brownie” to “refined THC sparkling water” happened faster than just about anyone in the beverage industry predicted. The numbers confirm it: California cannabis beverage sales reached $625 million in 2024, a 32% jump from the prior year, with Los Angeles County accounting for nearly 40% of that total. That means Angelenos aren’t just sampling these cans — they’re building entire happy hours around them.

The legal framework deserves some credit. After the passage of AB-45 in 2021, hemp-derived THC drinks were allowed to be sold outside traditional dispensaries, which opened the floodgates for low-dose seltzers, ready-to-pour mocktails, and “functional sodas” at grocery stores, delis, and natural-food markets. The result? A wave of innovation that feels less like a stoner accessory and more like the next chapter of California cuisine. Today, more than 30 cannabis beverage brands call LA home, from established names like Cann to scrappy micro-dosed newcomers like MadTaste and Aunt Dolores.

What makes LA different is the culinary lens. These aren’t syrupy tonics hidden behind weed-leaf branding. They’re made with yuzu, basil, prickly pear, and cardamom. They’re carbonated at craft-beverage facilities. And they’re being tested by the same palates that can tell you whether the al pastor at El Chato needs pineapple or just char. As one dispensary buyer in WeHo put it: “People come in asking for something that feels like a bright, crisp non-alcoholic cocktail — not a stoner drink.” LA answered with a mini-fridge full of options.

The Hottest New Launches From LA’s Cannabis Drink Makers

If you’re ready to trade your usual beer or wine for a can with a little more intention, here are the five releases we keep coming back to. Each one has a slightly different vibe — from session-able seltzer to a full-strength retro soda — but all of them feel distinctly LA.

• Cann Yuzu Orange Fizz — 5mg THC / 5mg CBD, 25 calories, at Whole Foods WeHo & Superette Hollywood.
• MadTaste Grapefruit Basil — 10mg THC, zero sugar, at 40 LA dispensaries from March 15.
• Aunt Dolores Prickly Pear — 2mg THC / 25mg CBD, at Erewhon.
• Uncle Arnie’s Margarita Sour — 10mg THC, ready-to-pour sour, hitting shelves this month.
• Cann Blood Orange Cardamom — 5mg/5mg, limited batch at Sweet Flower Silver Lake.

Cann Social Tonic — Yuzu Orange Fizz

Cann has been a pioneer in the social-tonic space since its first Blood Orange Cardamom batch, but the new Yuzu Orange Fizz is a sunnier turn. It clocks in at 5mg THC and 5mg CBD, with just 25 calories. The yuzu gives it a bright, citrus-forward snap; the orange softens it into something that drinks like a Saturday farmer’s market soda. It’s already on the shelves at the new Whole Foods in West Hollywood and at Superette in Hollywood, and it’s become the go-to “starter can” for people who’ve never tried a THC beverage. One sip in, you get why the seltzer aisle has suddenly become the most interesting corner of the store.

MadTaste — Grapefruit Basil

MadTaste is baking out of smaller LA kitchens, and their Grapefruit Basil is proof that herb-forward doesn’t have to mean bitter. It packs a full 10mg THC and sits at zero sugar, making it a proper session drink for those who want more than a whisper. The basil adds an almost savory, cocktail-like back note that will make you feel like you’re sipping something fancy from a bar in Echo Park. This one rolls out to 40 LA dispensaries starting March 15, including MedMen in Santa Monica. It’s the kind of functional beverage California loves: clean, kitchen-made, and assertive without being heavy.

Aunt Dolores — Prickly Pear Functional Soda

Aunt Dolores is for the “I want to relax, not feel stoned” crowd. Their new functional soda has just 2mg THC and 25mg CBD, creating what they call a “non-buzzy chill pill.” The flavor is a subtle prickly pear with a faint floral tail — think cactus water met a light farmhouse soda. It’s already stocked at Erewhon, which should tell you everything about its target demographic. If you’re new to cannabis or simply want to unwind after a long studio day without the cognitive fog, this is the can to grab. It won’t get you high; it will just get you calm.

Uncle Arnie’s — Margarita Sour

Marina del Rey’s Uncle Arnie’s is going all-in on nostalgia with a ready-to-pour Margarita Sour that feels like it came from an old-school beach fridge. It’s carbonated, served in a retro glass bottle, and carries a solid 10mg THC. The sour mix is bright, slightly saline, and begging for a Tajín rim. Hitting shelves this month, it’s the most playful bottle in the bunch — a reminder that a weed drink can taste like an actual craft cocktail, not a sparkling water with a dropper. Pour it over ice, throw in a lime wheel, and you’ve got a happy hour that doesn’t require a liquor license.

Cann Blood Orange Cardamom (Limited Batch)

If you want to make it a five-pack, Cann’s Blood Orange Cardamom has quietly reappeared with a new, brighter formula. It’s the same 5mg THC / 5mg CBD balance, but this batch leans harder into the warm, slightly floral cardamom undertone that made the original a cult favorite. Available in limited runs at Sweet Flower in Silver Lake and a few select dispensaries, this is the one to buy now, before the memes catch up. It also happens to be the single best pairing we’ve found for late-night tacos — more on that in a minute.

Decoding the High: THC-to-CBD Ratios Explained

The first question everyone asks is, “Will this get me stoned?” The honest answer is: it depends on the ratio. THC-to-CBD ratios are the new alcohol-by-volume — they tell you how intense the experience will be, how fast it will hit, and whether you can still hold a conversation.

Start with the most important rule: a 1:1 ratio, like Cann’s 5mg THC / 5mg CBD, is built for the “entourage effect.” That means the CBD actually tempers THC’s anxiety spikes, leaving you with a gentle, glass-of-wine-level buzz that doesn’t spiral into paranoia. It’s the safest place to begin. If you’re looking for something purely functional and barely psychoactive, an Aunt Dolores-style drink with 2mg THC and 25mg CBD will smooth you out without ever crossing into “euphoric.” The 10mg drinks from MadTaste and Uncle Arnie’s are closer to a full cocktail pour — fine for a weekend afternoon, but not your first ride.

• Onset time: On an empty stomach, you’ll feel the THC in 15–30 minutes. With food, expect 45–60 minutes. Always wait 45 minutes before reaching for a second can — not 10.
• Session drinking: Drinks with less than 5mg THC are the new “session” alternative. One can with a taco matches your usual glass of wine, minus the dehydration and the sleepy crash.

Ready to make your next happy hour a zero-proof one? Grab a Cann Yuzu Orange Fizz at Sweet Flower in Silver Lake or order a case online from cann.com. For the full lineup of LA-made THC drinks, including MadTaste and Uncle Arnie’s, check out our LA Cannabis Drink Finder and start exploring tonight.