Lollipops have been around for a long time and are a popular type of candy made from sugar, skewered on a stick. They are believed to be a popular confection amongst the nobles during the Middle Ages. It is unclear when the modern lollipop came into existence, but one of the theories is that it was created in 1908 by a man named George Smith in Connecticut. It is believed that George named his sweet snack after a racehorse of the time named lolly pop. Others believe the word lollipop to have a Northern English origin, where ‘lolly’ means tongue and ‘pop’ means slap. It was used to refer to something sweet but not filling. Additionally, there are other theories that believe the word lollipop to have a Romany origin of toffee apples that were sold on a stick, because a red apple in Romany language is called loli phaba.
Regardless of its origin, since their inception, lollipops have come a long way. These days we can find lollipops in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and infused with different flavours. Recently, they are even being researched as an alternative used to deliver medications for patients that have difficulty swallowing. Lollipops are also an already popular alternative for people who use cannabis medically or recreationally to intake its components into their body. Unlike smoking, with cannabis infused lollipops, the active components are absorbed orally across the mucous membrane into the bloodstream instead of through the lungs. This makes cannabis infused lollipops popular among people who have respiratory issues. It also provides a slower rate of delivery and is more discrete.
Active ingredients in Cannabis Infused Lollipops
When we talk about products containing cannabis or marijuana, the two main ingredients of interest are Delta-g-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). THC and CBD were initially thought to directly interact with the cell membrane lipids to produce their effects. However, after more research it has been found that THC works by binding to the cannabinoid receptor CB1 in the central nervous system (mainly the brain) and CB2 in the immune system. The activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors is what causes the sensation of euphoria and being high.
CBD on the other hand has negligible affinity to these receptors. This is why only using CBD does not get you high. CBD works in a more indirect way by blocking and enhancing other receptors. This makes some receptors more receptive to serotonin, which leads to an enhancement in a person's mood and relaxation.
Effects of cannabis on the body
Marijuana products with THC are primarily used for recreational purposes due to the psychological effects it provides, whereas CBD is primarily used for its medicinal benefits. Some common effects of THC and CBD are listed below:
CBD effects:
Decreased anxiety
Increased focus
Decrease pain
Decrease inflammation
THC effects:
Increased heart rate
Dilation of blood vessels
Dry mouth
Hunger
Change in conscious perception
Reduces anxiety in lower doses
Can aggravate anxiety with higher doses
The pros of using cannabis infused lollipops compared to other methods are that lollipops are easy to ingest. They are also more discrete. Since a lollipop can last for a while, it can allow the effect of the CBD or THC to last longer. Additionally, since it is being absorbed into the bloodstream through the mucous, it provides a higher bioavailability of the active ingredients as opposed to ingestion or smoking. However, it could also take longer to kick in compared to smoking. Another pro of cannabis infused lollipops is that it contains lots of sugar which can hide the hempy aftertaste.
Make your own Cannabis Infused Lollipops
Lollipops have been and still are a popular confection. This can be attested to its easy preparation along with its irresistible sweet flavor. Cannabis lollipops are just as easy to prepare and does not require a lot of tools either. So, if you would like to learn how to make cannabis infused lollipops read on. The main ingredient that differentiates cannabis lollipops from other lollipops is the presence of cannabis tincture. Cannabis tincture is basically a marijuana concentrate produced by heating the cannabis flower or cannabis with alcohol. This process takes the THC (the active ingredient) through a decarboxylation process and makes it alcohol soluble thus producing a liquid with the potent ingredients.
Ingredients and tools:
2-3 teaspoon of cannabis tincture
½ cup of corn syrup
1 cup of sugar
¼ cup of filtered water
1 teaspoon of flavoring
Few drops of colouring agent
Thermometer for sugar
Saucepan
Spatula
Mold and lollipop sticks
Preparation Steps:
Mix the corn syrup, sugar, and water in a saucepan.
Heat the saucepan on medium to high heat.
Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Once the sugar is melted, place the thermometer into the mixture, making sure it does not tough the bottom of the pan for an accurate reading. Do not stir the mixture any further.
Let the mixture boil to a temperature of 121°C or 250 ºF.
Once the desired temperature is reached, add the cannabis tincture, your desired flavouring, and colouring agent to the mixture. Stir to combine thoroughly.
Carefully pour the mixture into the lollipop molds. At this point the sugar mixture can also be used to make cannabis candies.
Insert the lollipop sticks as the candies cool to room temperature.
Once the lollipops are set, carefully take them out from the mold and store them in an airtight container.
Cannabis Laws in North America
In Canada, according to the Cannabis Act passed in October 2018, cannaboid products are legal for medical and recreational use for people aged 18 and older. It also details that an individual may possess no more than 30 grams of marijuana (dried, or its equivalent non-dried form) at any time. On average, cannabis infused lollipops have around 25mg of CBD. Individuals are also allowed to carry up to 30 grams while traveling within the country. However, it is strictly prohibited to carry this drug outside the country internationally.
In the USA, cannabis products that have less than 0.3% THC are legal according to the US federal laws. However, each state also has their own regulations regarding the substance. In some states it is completely legal to use marijuana for both recreational and medical use, whereas in some states it is only legal for medical use. The amount of cannaboi products and THC allowed per person also varies wildly across states.
What's New & Exciting
Coors Introduces a Beer Flavoured Lollipop!
It is currently March, and that means that it is a very stressful time for college basketball in the United States. During this time the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) holds their single-elimination basketball tournaments where 68 teams compete for the chance to be the champions. The only way to get to the finals is to win every single game along the way. This event brings in millions of American viewers and the games proceed with much excitement and fervour! Therefore, this period is aptly named March Madness.
According to an article published by Food and Wine, to celebrate the beginning of March Madness, Coors has launched a new product— “The Chillollipop”. The Chillollipop is a beer flavoured lollipop with a frothy foam top. The lollipop does not contain alcohol but is intended for customers aged 21 and up. Even the price of the lollipop, which is $3.17 for a six-pack, is inspired by the start date of the first round of March Madness which was March 17th, 2022.
The Coors spokesperson and vice president for marketing, Marcelo Pascoa mentions they were inspired by research that showed that sucking on lollipop and other hard candies has a calming effect on people. Since March is a very stressful time for college basketball fans and the athletes alike, with extreme moments of highs and lows for many of them, Pascoa mentioned that they wanted Coors Light to be the brand that brings the fans a moment of chill. They could not imagine anyone to be unhappy to angry with a lollipop in their mouth, he added so they decided to give the Coors Light Chillollipop experiment a try.
Coors’ innovative idea certainly seems to have paid off as its products is a hit among the fans. The Chillollipop has already sold out within a week of release even with a six-lollipop limit at checkout. You can see more details of the product on their website.
