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8 cannabis-infused drinks to help Michiganders survive Dry January

Skipping booze this month? These Michigan-made, cannabis-infused beverages are the real workaround.

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Skipping booze this month? These Michigan-made, cannabis-infused beverages are the real workaround.

MICHIGANโ€”Dry January in Michigan doesnโ€™t have to be so tough.ย 

Weโ€™re already dealing with cold weather, gray days that blur together, and the general psychic damage of the sun going down before 5:30 p.m. Giving up booze on top of that can feel like a straight-up punishment, especially if your friends are still cracking beers and pouring wine.

But this year, cannabis-infused beverages are the real cheat code.

Theyโ€™re alcohol-free, hangover-free, and after a few years of research and development, they no longer taste like someone dissolved some candy in bong water and called it innovation.

Regardless of whether youโ€™re participating in Dry January or just sick of feeling like trash in the morning, these are the Michigan-made cannabis drinks that are actually worth buying in 2026:

Highly Casual (seltzer)

If youโ€™ve noticed Michiganโ€™s cannabis-infused drinks getting cleaner, smoother, and more consistent lately, thereโ€™s a good chance Emerald Canning Partners had something to do with it.

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Photo/@drinkhighlycasual via Instagram

Based inside the historic Gibraltar Trade Center in Mt. Clemens, the company runs a Michigan-based production facility that specializes entirely in cannabis beverages. And itโ€™s doing it at a serious scale with more than 17,000 square feet of production space, a dedicated research lab, and high-tech canning equipment that can crank out more than 40 cans a minute.

The brandโ€™s flagship seltzer, Highly Casual, is exactly what the name suggests: low-effort, social, and easy to work into your evening routineโ€”whether thatโ€™s replacing a beer or just cracking a beverage that actually does something. And thanks to nano-emulsification technology, these drinks are specifically designed to hit faster and more predictably than traditional edibles.

Singles and multi-packs are sold in 2 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg varieties. The flavors include honeycrisp apple, strawberry watermelon, lemon lime, and blueberry pineapple.

Mary Jones (sodas and syrups)

If you grew up pounding Jones Soda like me, this one will hit you right in the nostalgia.

Mary Jones is the cannabis-infused offshoot of the iconic soda brand, with several classic Jones flavors that are designed to taste just like the original versions, plus get you totally stoned.

Michigan dispensaries carry a variety of options in both singles and variety packsโ€”including 10 mg bottles, 100 mg cans, and 100 mg syrups for stoners who want to mix up their own cocktails at home. The flavors include root beer, berry, green apple, orange and cream, cola, and grape.

PotShot (shots and beverage enhancers)

I first spotted PotShot at a trade expo last year and was immediately impressed.ย 

Photo/@potshotofficial via Instagram

These tiny bottles are marketed as โ€œbeverage enhancersโ€ that can be mixed with just about anything. But for those looking for a more direct hit, you can absolutely just shoot it straight.

Theyโ€™re nano-emulsified, fast-acting, and designed for rapid onset without the sugar, calories, or baggage of traditional edibles. And with a whopping 100 mg of THC in each baby-sized bottle, the smallest sip is pretty much guaranteed to come along with some noticeable effects.

PotShot is ideal for people who want discretion, speed, or something they can quickly toss into a drink to add some extra jazz. The flavors include watermelon, mango, berry, and lime.

This is one to sip carefullyโ€”especially if youโ€™re not a regular consumer.

Northern Connections (hot cocoa and cappuccino mixes)

Dry January doesnโ€™t mean everything has to be cold and carbonated.

Northern Connections is a small Michigan-based company that makes one of the only infused hot cocoa and cappuccino mixes on the market. Each packet comes with 50 mg of THC. Just stir it into hot water or milk, sip slowly, and enjoy the buzz while the cold weather does its thing.

Best Dirty Lemonade (lemonade)

Best Dirty Lemonade might be the best tasting cannabis beverage on the market right now. And thatโ€™s because it doesnโ€™t taste anything like cannabis at all. It tastes like real lemonade.

Photo/@thebestdirtylemonade_ via Instagram

The flavors include classic lemonade, blue raspberry, and strawberry. And each 12-ounce can also packs 50 mg of THC, which is about five times stronger than most cannabis-infused beverages and means most Michiganders wonโ€™t need more than half a can to feel buzzed.

Pleasantea (iced tea)

Pleasantea is another hit beverage from Emerald Canning Partners; it stands out for being one of the only cannabis-infused iced teas on the recreational market right now.ย 

Like other beverages on this list, it includes nano-emulsified THC so effects kick in faster than traditional edibles. And the low sugar content makes these easy to sip without feeling gross afterward. Cans come in 10 mg and 30 mg options, in flavors like lemon, peach, and raspberry.

Armada Cannabis Apple Cider (cider)

This drink is probably the cleanest, apples-to-apples swap for Dry Januaryโ€”especially for Michiganders who are already used to hard cider during the other 11 months of the year.

Courtesy/Emerald Canning Partners

Armada ciders are made with fresh-pressed Michigan apples and feature 20 mg of nano-emulsified THC per can, which means most folks can enjoy at least two of them.ย 

And thatโ€™s good news, because they drink exactly how youโ€™d want them to: smooth, balanced, and familiar. Theyโ€™re best enjoyed cold, preferably with donuts and a total lack of responsibility.

Feel Energy (energy drink)

Yes, a weed energy drink exists. And yes, it actually works.

Feel combines 10 mg of THC with 30 mg of caffeine from organic green tea, creating a rare balance of being lifted, while also being alert without the jitters. Itโ€™s low-calorie, naturally sweetened with agave, and designed for people who want all their dopamine all at once.

Itโ€™s worth noting: This is not the Four Loko of the weed world. With only 30 mg of caffeine, itโ€™s less of a true energy drink and more of a steady, functional buzz drinkโ€”ideal for morning or daytime use, creative work, or social settings where you still need to be upright and coherent.

Flavors include wildberry pomegranate, dragonfruit lime, and mango passionfruit.ย 

READ MORE: 7 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

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Kyle Kaminski
Kyle Kaminski Chief Political Correspondent
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