The Hippie 4:20 · October 1, 2026 · For adults 21+
A new month is a good excuse to rethink a familiar ritual. Maybe it is the drink you pour after work, the first round with friends, or the glass you carry around a backyard gathering. What makes that moment yours: the alcohol, or everything around it?
There is no single right answer. But choosing an alcohol-free occasion can open up room for a different kind of menu. Keep the ice, the garnish, the music, and the people. Give the drink itself a little curiosity.
Build the occasion before you build the drink
Start with a glass you enjoy using. Set out citrus, a chilled mixer, and a small bowl of garnishes. Put together a playlist. Ask friends what they actually like drinking rather than assuming everyone wants the same thing.
That last detail matters. A thoughtful alcohol-free spread can include both plain mocktails and clearly identified THC options for adults who choose them. Nobody needs to explain why they are passing. Keep each person's choice personal, and let the conversation be the main event.
Try an apple-lime fizz
For one alcohol-free drink, fill a tall glass with ice. Add two ounces of apple cider and a generous squeeze of fresh lime. Top with four ounces of sparkling water and stir gently. Finish with a thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick for aroma. Prefer less sweetness? Use less cider and more sparkling water.
Make the base drink first. Taste it. Adjust the lime. It is a complete drink on its own, which makes it easy to serve different preferences without turning your gathering into a complicated production.
Where Hippie Drops fit
For adults who choose THC, Hippie Drops offer a flavorless, sugar-free addition to an alcohol-free beverage. Each single-serve card contains 5 mg hemp-derived THC. Follow the package directions: white side down over your beverage, then Snap–Squeeze–Stir.
A 5 mg card is a product amount, not a universal starting recommendation. Experience, individual sensitivity, and the product format matter. Follow the label and do not assume someone else's comfortable amount will be right for you. Keep THC beverages clearly identified and separate from non-infused drinks.
Interesting fact: the first effect is not always the full effect
Health Canada's consumer guidance, published June 14, 2019, explains that ingested cannabis can take 30 minutes to two hours to begin producing effects and up to four hours to reach its full effects. Those are general ranges, not a timing promise for Hippie Drops or every beverage formulation. Adding more too soon can increase the risk of unwanted effects.
Alcohol-free still deserves a plan
Removing alcohol does not make a THC drink non-intoxicating. Health Canada describes possible relaxation alongside unwanted effects such as anxiety and difficulty concentrating. Cannabis is not risk-free or universally healthier than alcohol.
The CDC's driving guidance, dated February 22, 2024, notes that cannabis can impair reaction time, coordination, and judgment; combining it with alcohol can increase impairment. Do not mix THC and alcohol or drive after use. Arrange a sober ride, and store products securely away from children and pets.
Your next gathering can be simple: good company, a drink made with care, and space for everyone to choose their own pace.