If you came to cannabis from smoking and later tried a cannabis beverage, you probably noticed a real difference in how it hits. The effects of smoking feel layered, almost kaleidoscopic–an “entourage effect” of sensations. And while most THC beverages do provide a high, they feel… monotone.
That experience isn’t just your imagination. The truth is, cannabis flower contains a rainbow of chemical compounds that work together to build the those well-rounded effects that smokers enjoy. But with most infused drinks falling into the category of single-note experiences with strictly THC- or CBD-based emulsions, it’s no wonder they fail to capture the same kaleidoscopic nuance.
Does this mean the full-bodied experience of flower is out of reach for beverages? By blending cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant-derived compounds, we can start to recreate the multidimensional qualities people expect from smoking. Blended formulations transcend potency alone, offering curated effects that better reflect the subtleties that make each strain distinct.
The complex interplay between cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids — what we often call the “entourage effect” — is where the next wave of cannabis drinks is headed. In this post, I discuss why this hasn’t been done until now and how capturing the kaleidoscopic complexity of combustion requires beverage science that goes deeper than distillates alone.
What is the “entourage effect”?
There are more than 550 chemical compounds found in cannabis, including over a hundred different cannabinoids and well over a hundred terpenes. Inside each strain is a unique phytochemical fingerprint, a complex blend of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other active compounds that make up its signature flavor, aroma, and effects.
The strain differentiation: hundreds of chemical compounds in play
Different combinations of phytochemicals shape the experience, as each mix interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system through subtly different mechanisms. This explains why, for example, we find that certain strains feel more uplifting, while other strains feel more sedative, even though the THC molecule is the same for every plant.
This remarkable chemical complexity is what inspired the application of the entourage effect to the effects of cannabis. The entourage effect was first proposed in this arena by cannabis researcher Shimon Ben-Shabatin 1998. The concept describes how cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids work synergistically, amplifying or modulating one another’s therapeutic and psychoactive effects.
In other words, the sum is greater than its parts, much like the difference in the experience between a full orchestra and a lone violinist.
The scientific proof: full-spectrum cannabis does hit differently from isolates
While anecdotal reports of this synergy have circulated for decades, recent pre-clinical studies now provide scientific support, showing that full-spectrum cannabis extracts often deliver more potent and well-rounded effects than isolated cannabinoids like THC or CBD could alone.
Research has shown, for example, that terpenes such as α-humulene, linalool, and β-pinene can activate CB1 receptors and enhance cannabinoid activity, while combinations of cannabinoids can improve anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer responses.
Smoking vs. drinking: how the method of consumption impacts the entourage effect
How your body processes smoking versus drinking
Even if the combination of phytochemicals were exactly the same, consuming them via smoking (combustion) versus drinking it in a beverage would result in subtle differences in the end experience. Cannabinoids and terpenes interact with the body through different mechanisms when inhaled, as opposed to when they are digested or absorbed internally.
As Michael Flemmens, our EVP of Research and Technical Business Development, explained,
Any form of combustion essentially gets everything moving all at once… you burn it, and you get it all. Whatever’s in there, you get it, minus a little bit of chemical changes from the active combustion.
Although some chemical constituents are lost during the combustion process, and chemical changes occur (for example, THCa decarboxylates into THC), realistically, on the inhale, the body absorbs the compounds into the bloodstream all at once.
The extraction process doesn’t work with all compounds
But we can’t perfectly replicate this exact near-instantaneous full-spectrum absorption in a beverage. To start with, our cannabis beverages are made with solvent-based extractions. In extraction, solvent polarity determines what compounds are pulled from the plant. Polar solvents, such as ethanol, extract polar compounds, while non-polar solvents, like butane, target non-polar compounds.
Even the most advanced beverage formulations start with a smaller subset of cannabis phytochemicals than smoking, because solvent selectivity and post-processing inherently limit which compounds survive. No single extraction method will capture the full phytochemical fingerprint.
Emulsification changes ingredient behaviors
Once extracted, these compounds must be emulsified to disperse evenly in a liquid. This step, while essential, further changes how the active ingredients behave. Emulsification influences absorption kinetics and can reduce terpene volatility or receptor accessibility. Factors such as particle size, droplet charge, and carrier composition all affect how (and when) cannabinoids and terpenes interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, subtly reshaping the overall experience.
Taken together, these variables mean we can’t (yet) fully reproduce the multidimensional experience from the entourage effect achieved through combustion. However, modern extraction and emulsion science have brought us closer than ever. Today, we can approximate that multilayered synergy in beverage form with increasing precision.
The entourage effect is coming to a beverage near you
Flash back to the early days, when cannabis drinks were simple. They were created with high-purity THC distillate/isolate (and to a lesser extent, high-purity CBD distillate). These drinks offered a novel experience for those familiar with traditional methods of consumption (smoking and homemade edibles), but, as many consumers discovered, they offered more of a single-note experience than a well-rounded one.
Working with single-molecule isolates is like trying to reconstruct a fine wine from pure ethanol. It’s impossible to recreate it note-for-note, but it’s possible to approximate the complexity.
The secret to a multidimensional beverage: blending with minor cannabinoids
But the industry evolved, and so too did consumer expectations. Brands’ marketing efforts aimed to differentiate their products by experimenting with other chemical compounds found in cannabis, including minor cannabinoids.
It was then that drink formulators began to explore expanded cannabinoid blends, shifting away from isolates toward full- or broad-spectrum emulsions. The primary focus remained THC and CBD, but minor cannabinoids entered the mix to enhance and widen the consumer experience.
What’s next for cannabis beverages: blends that approximate the entourage effect
Today, this shift in formulation is going one step further toward achieving greater entourage effects. Brands are evolving beyond THC and CBD and even beyond the minor compounds in a full-spectrum emulsion to experiment with a spectrum of compounds. These drinkmakers are like artists working with a full palette to finely curate the final experience.
I think that this is the future of cannabis beverages: moving toward enhanced, expanded, and improved effects driven by the power of the entourage effect. Instead of single-note effects with little subtlety from one drink to another, the smart beverage brands are creating blended experiences that better reflect the nuances of the effects in each cannabis strain–and that provide solid differentiation from other cannabis beverages.
Through precision blending and formulation, today’s drinks are pioneering a new chapter for cannabis: hyper-customizable, full-bodied experiences that reimagine the entourage effect for the modern consumer.
