Your Summer Cannabis Party Guide: Summer Cannabis Recipes and More

Cannabis Summer Party Guide

Everyone’s looking for fun new things to do this summer. Fortunately, in 2022, you don’t have to be satisfied with the usual pool parties and beach outings. In adult consumption states like Arizona, you can spice up your summer with a cannabis party, complete with a few cannabis-infused food and drink options for your guests to enjoy.

Letting guests infuse their own food and beverages can be even more fun! This allows guests to be hands-on and in total control of their consumption, which will leave them feeling more carefree and able to enjoy the party. When selecting which recipes to use, consider the time of day of your party, your budget, and the reason you’re celebrating. Whatever the cause for celebration you’re sure to find some menu and party ideas below to incorporate into your cannabis-themed summer bash.

The Drinks

Like any good menu—and any good party—we’re starting with the drinks. Guests like options, so consider choosing a couple of infused beverages to share with guests. Be sure to mark them clearly so guests can keep track of how much they’re consuming, or provide guests with recipes a week or so before the party so guests can infuse at home and bring their creations to the party to enjoy. To be even more versatile, you can provide a variety of non-infused options that guests can infuse themselves with a cannabis tincture.

Beer

First off, the best drink for any summer occasion — beer. If you want to avoid DIY methods, there are several cannabis-infused beers available on the market. However, guests might enjoy the opportunity to infuse their beverages themselves. You can let guests know this will be an option ahead of time and have them bring their own favorite beverages to infuse. Provide cannabis tincture and an infusing guide to give guests control of their dosage to achieve the desired taste and effects.

Here is your printable dosing guide for the party:

Printable THC dosing guide for a party

The best part? Researchers have observed health benefits from cannabis-infused beers—the effects of the alcohol are mitigated while still potentially reducing anxiety. In this way, cannabis-infused beer is a good choice for a healthy alternative to more popular beer brands. [1]Ramírez, A., & Viveros, J. (2021). Brewing with cannabis sativa vs. humulus lupulus: A Review. Journal of the Institute of Brewing, 127(3), 201–209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jib.654 Perhaps even better—you can have a ton of fun with the term “cannabeer.”

Here are some great summer beers that work well to infuse with cannabis. Keep in mind: hops have some of the same terpenes as cannabis (namely myrcene, humulene, and caryophyllene), so hoppier, bolder beers pair especially well with cannabis.

Try:

  • Juicy Mavs Hazy IPA
  • Odell Drumroll APA
  • Westbrook Key Lime Pie Gose
  • Allagash White
  • Lagunitas Daytime IPA
  • Any refreshing summer beer that whets your whistle and appeals to your taste buds

Making Cannabis Cocktails

For those who are savvy in the kitchen or looking to DIY, there are more hands-on cannabis-infused beverage options. Cannabis can be used to infuse wine, gin, vodka, tequila, rum, whiskey, hard lemonades, and every other alcoholic beverage you can think of. Beer is simply the most popular choice, as it’s easy to make and currently regulated and approved for consumption. [2]Iftikhar, A., Zafar, U., Ahmed, W., Shabbir, M. A., Sameen, A., Sahar, A., Bhat, Z. F., Kowalczewski, P. Ł., Jarzębski, M., & Aadil, R. M. (2021). Applications of Cannabis Sativa L. in Food and … Continue reading Keep in mind that infusing drinks with cannabis is most effective when it has time to rest and infuse, so you or your guests will need to start the process well before the party begins.

Cannabis-Infused Liquor

For a crowd, we suggest infusing your favorite liquor with cannabis, then using it to create a variety of mixed drinks and cocktails. You’ll need about a half-ounce of your favorite decarboxylated flower, a liter of your favorite alcohol (keep the alcohol content relatively high), and a gallon-sized glass jar. Place the flower in the jar and slowly add your liquor. Close the jar and shake vigorously for a few minutes. You’ll need to leave your jar in a cool, dark place for at least seven days and shake at least once per day. When it’s time for your party, strain off the plant matter and mix into your favorite cocktail.

Non-Alcoholic Options

Of course, we can’t leave out the non-alcoholic options. Infusing coffee with cannabis is popular worldwide.

Infusing coffee with cannabis

Cannabis Iced Tea

A nice, refreshing glass of iced tea could go well with some cannabis oil infused after the boiling process. Just add 4 of your favorite tea bags to a pot with 4 cups of water and boil. Then, add 4 more cups of water and 20 mL of your favorite cannabis oil, and steep in a pitcher for several hours. After only fifteen minutes, your tea will reach a high cannabinoid concentration but will then become more muted once chilled in the fridge. [3]Pacifici, R., Marchei, E., Salvatore, F., Guandalini, L., Busardò, F. P., & Pichini, S. (2017). Evaluation of cannabinoids concentration and stability in standardized preparations of cannabis … Continue reading Just add some lemon to balance the strong flavor, some ice to keep it cool, and you’re ready to enjoy. On a hot summer day, how could you go wrong?

The Snacks

Besides drinks, your party will need some appetizers and smaller snacks for people to enjoy throughout the day. Depending on the structure of your party and what other cannabis options are being provided, it may be a good idea to keep the snacks cannabis-free, so guests can satisfy their snack cravings without consuming more cannabis at the same time. If you are interested in serving a cannabis-infused snack during your party, here’s a healthier spin on a classic American snack food.

Check Out Our THC Cannabutter Cooking Calculator

Cannabis-Infused Snack Mix

Potato chips and party mix are a particularly popular snack and appetizer choice for summer parties. However, the standard party mix simply won’t do for your cannabis-themed bash. Instead of the usual, try replacing the butter in your traditional snack mix recipe with our cannabutter. The cooking process is otherwise the same — simply add 6 tablespoons of your melted cannabutter to the traditional snack mix recipe. Then, bake at 250 degrees to avoid altering the cannabinoid compounds.

Cannabutter

Salad and Dinner

If you’re having a more formal get-together, or your party is occurring around dinner time, you may decide to save the cannabis for the main course. Here are some fun cannabis-infused salad and dinner options, perfect for your summer party.

Salads

For salads, you can’t go wrong with using baby leaf hemp as a salad green. You can grow the leaves yourself if you have the right cultivar. Fermion, for instance, is a variety that germinates quickly and produces a good leaf yield, so it’s a good option if you’re looking for a salad made with home-grown ingredients.

These leaves can be used alongside or as a replacement for other baby salad leaves, so there are many recipe options available. You could even chop the leaves up and add them to a fruit salad, along with other herbs, for something light and summery. [4]Mi, R., Taylor, A. G., Smart, L. B., & Mattson, N. S. (2020). Developing production guidelines for Baby Leaf Hemp (cannabis sativa L.) as an Edible Salad Green: Cultivar, sowing density and seed … Continue reading Consider preparing your favorite summer salad and having leaves on the side so your guests can add as little or as much as they’re comfortable with.

Guests might instead prefer to use cannabis oil on their salad or a cannabis-infused dressing. Providing these options on the side allows for a customized and self-controlled experience your guests will enjoy. Oil can be used as an addition to any dressing that makes use of olive oil, including Greek, Italian and even raspberry vinaigrettes. As an added bonus, cannabis oil adds healthy fatty acids like omega-6 and omega-3 to your diet. [5]Jones, G., Noller, J., Sikora, V., Rondon, S. I., Jeliazkov, V. D., Anigma, S., Summers, S., & Rosenberg, R. (2019). What Is Industrial Hemp? Oregon State University. Retrieved May 2, 2022, … Continue reading

Main Course

For dinner, what could be better than a barbeque? It’s the summer, after all.

Cannabis Dogs and Burgers

You can cook up some delicious cannabis dogs or burgers right on the grill or in your oven. Try white-meat dogs like turkey or chicken, or choose sophisticated bratwurst made with savory ingredients like bacon, oregano, and pepper jack cheese. Or, stick with tried-and-true staples like all-beef burgers or pork patties. Then, slather the buns with cannabutter and toast them to perfection.

Cannabis-Infused Wings

If you’re not feeling the BBQ vibes, check out our recipe for cannabis-infused spicy chicken wings. Then, offer some cannabis-infused dipping sauces, like a simple ranch dressing packet incorporating cannamilk in place of the usual buttermilk. With wings, you can’t go wrong with some pizza as well. You can emulate Cambodian chefs with the use of cannabis in pizza sauce while otherwise using any pizza recipe you’d like. [6]Lawrence, R. G. (2019). Chapter 4: Pot Brownies and Space Cakes. In Pot in pans: A history of eating cannabis (pp. 79–108). essay, Rowman & Littlefield. Retrieved May 2nd, 2022, … Continue reading

More Cannabis-Infused Food Ideas: The Beginner’s Guide to Easy Cannabutter Recipes for Every Occasion

The Desserts

If you’re looking to feature cannabis in a sweet treat, check out these awesome summer cannabis dessert recipes. When you’re featuring cannabis in true dessert fashion at the end of the night, be sure to consider how much cannabis will be consumed beforehand – by dessert, your guests may be ready for a break, so plan accordingly. The “pot brownie” is a popular baked edible choice, but there are many other options if you’re choosing to wait until dessert to feature cannabis at your party.

Cannabis Sugar Cookies

You can make cannabis sugar cookies using our exclusive recipe, which incorporates ingredients like cannabutter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. You’ll mix up your ingredients, let the dough chill for two hours, roll it out, cut the shapes, and then bake for eleven minutes at 350°. Once you’re done, boom — you have some tasty sugar cookies! You can replace the flour with hemp flour if you’d prefer. Not only does this make your cookies softer, but it enhances the flavor as well as the nutritional value too. Not a bad option for a quick party dessert.

Chocolate Selections

If you truly want to create a cannabis dessert table fit for a crowd, we suggest supplementing with chocolate-based recipes, including our canna-chocolate strawberries recipe. Just remember to take care of the decarboxylation first, as the high temperatures can harm the chocolate otherwise. [7]Beal, K. (2019). Considerations in the addition of cannabis to chocolate. Current Opinion in Food Science, 28, 14–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2019.02.007 Also, consider stopping by your local dispensary to find a selection of cannabis-infused chocolate bars. If done right, the flavor of the chocolate will be enhanced by the flavors of the terpenes, and you’ll have a variety of flavor experiences available for guests of any persuasion.

For Your Non-Partaking Guests

While your cannabis party is sure to attract a variety of friends and acquaintances who love cannabis as much as you do, keep in mind that not everyone will want to partake. Consider making versions of whichever recipes you choose with CBD oil for those who don’t wish to consume THC or keep all the food and beverages you provide free of cannabis but provide guests with an infusion guide so they can learn how to infuse the refreshments and snacks themselves. Offering plenty of cannabis-free snacks and drinks can help you ensure everyone consumes in moderation and has a carefree, fun experience.

Cannabis Themed Decor, Themes, Games, and More

A good party is more than just the food, of course. If you want to really have fun, you should go all out with entertainment, decor, and more.

Movies

If you like movies, try making your party into an outdoor “drive-in” style watch party. Get a projector, aim it at the side of your house, and sit outside with your friends while you eat and drink. You can play some classic stoner flicks to keep up the theme. Anything from the unintentionally hilarious Reefer Madness to the mid-2000s classic Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle would make a fitting movie for the occasion.

Games

Games

Video games might also be a popular choice if you just want to chill out in an air-conditioned living room. Find a good competitive party game like Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Jackbox, or even Mario Kart, and have some fun. Studies show, after all, that many cannabis users are also active gamers, so there’s a good chance your crowd will have fun. [8]Coëffec, A., Romo, L., Cheze, N., Riazuelo, H., Plantey, S., Kotbagi, G., & Kern, L. (1AD, January 1). Early substance consumption and problematic use of video games in adolescence. Frontiers. … Continue reading If you’d prefer a tabletop game, you can’t go wrong with card games. Be it a classic like Cards Against Humanity, the stoner-themed Puff Puff Pass, or even a gambling game like poker or blackjack, a good deck of cards makes for a good party every time.

Decor

As for the decor, that’s easy, too. Consider decorating with plants, even if you don’t have any active cannabis plants growing. Fake leaves can serve as hanging decorations, wall decorations, or even added to the food itself in the form of appetizer picks and dish garnishes.

If the party is primarily outdoors, try some festive outdoor string lights around the perimeter, and make sure your garden is looking good as well. A nice-looking yard is the place to be for a summer party, so encourage people to go outside by having music, shade, and outdoor activities like sports or swimming. As long as everyone consumes a safe amount of cannabis, you can have fun without any stress or health concerns.

Want to Learn More?

A cannabis-themed party is a great way to celebrate cannabis trends of 2022. With so many possible recipe options, entertainment options, and even decoration possibilities, you’re sure to make this event one that you and your guests will remember for years to come.

Sources:

Sources:
1 Ramírez, A., & Viveros, J. (2021). Brewing with cannabis sativa vs. humulus lupulus: A Review. Journal of the Institute of Brewing, 127(3), 201–209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jib.654
2 Iftikhar, A., Zafar, U., Ahmed, W., Shabbir, M. A., Sameen, A., Sahar, A., Bhat, Z. F., Kowalczewski, P. Ł., Jarzębski, M., & Aadil, R. M. (2021). Applications of Cannabis Sativa L. in Food and Its Therapeutic Potential: From a Prohibited Drug to a Nutritional Supplement. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(24), 7699. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247699
3 Pacifici, R., Marchei, E., Salvatore, F., Guandalini, L., Busardò, F. P., & Pichini, S. (2017). Evaluation of cannabinoids concentration and stability in standardized preparations of cannabis tea and cannabis oil by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM), 55(10). https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2016-1060
4 Mi, R., Taylor, A. G., Smart, L. B., & Mattson, N. S. (2020). Developing production guidelines for Baby Leaf Hemp (cannabis sativa L.) as an Edible Salad Green: Cultivar, sowing density and seed size. Agriculture, 10(12), 617. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10120617
5 Jones, G., Noller, J., Sikora, V., Rondon, S. I., Jeliazkov, V. D., Anigma, S., Summers, S., & Rosenberg, R. (2019). What Is Industrial Hemp? Oregon State University. Retrieved May 2, 2022, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335170260_What_is_Industrial_Hemp
6 Lawrence, R. G. (2019). Chapter 4: Pot Brownies and Space Cakes. In Pot in pans: A history of eating cannabis (pp. 79–108). essay, Rowman & Littlefield. Retrieved May 2nd, 2022, https://books.google.com/books?id=cSyKDwAAQBAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s
7 Beal, K. (2019). Considerations in the addition of cannabis to chocolate. Current Opinion in Food Science, 28, 14–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2019.02.007
8 Coëffec, A., Romo, L., Cheze, N., Riazuelo, H., Plantey, S., Kotbagi, G., & Kern, L. (1AD, January 1). Early substance consumption and problematic use of video games in adolescence. Frontiers. Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00501/full