New Year’s Resolution: Use More Marijuana

Why you should consider adding cannabis to your daily routine this year – even if you don’t want to “get high.”

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When I was a freshman in college, I had a friendly competition with a housemate to see who could convince more people to smoke pot for the first time. I don’t remember who won, but it was a great way to meet people and everyone involved had fun. I loved being part of someone’s first experience with cannabis, introducing them to the wonders of this plant and their own consciousness. We reveled in philosophical conversations, east coast hip-hop, and pints of Ben & Jerry’s. At 17 I was in love with weed; I really did think it could save the world, and I thought everyone should try it.

Twenty years later I’m on a similar mission. I want more adults to learn about, experiment with, and responsibly use marijuana (and I’m purposefully using the word marijuana here because, though it is a term steeped in its racist, prohibitionist past, it’s also the word most people use to identify this plant. If we keep only saying cannabis, we’re shouting in an echo chamber instead of reaching new ears). This time I’ve got more scientific and anecdotal evidence at my disposal, and, in many places, I’ve even got the law on my side. Which is important, because I have a distinctly different audience: I’m not trying to get my college classmates to do something subversive; I’m trying to get parents to embrace a powerful plant that could have a huge positive impact on their lives.

It’s time for a culture shift that begins with choosing cannabis – our bodies, our families, our communities, and our earth are all begging for it. I believe 2018 should be the year you (yes, you) consciously consume more cannabis.

 

Resolutions for the Connoisseur

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a fan of cannabis. For you, then, maybe the key word in the resolution isn’t more but consciously. Like anything else, consumption can become mindless without proper attention, just another autopilot action we do to get through our days. But the power of pot is in the way it invites you to pause, to connect with your awareness, to savor each moment. So, approach marijuana with more intention this year, engage your senses, and make your session an immersive experience. Meaningful rituals can breathe new life into a tired practice and make the mundane sacred again.

Try replacing one thing in your life with cannabis and notice the difference it makes for your mind, body, and spirit. Instead of your evening cocktail, hit your vape pen. When your shoulders ache, reach for a topical rather than a Tylenol. Choose an edible before bed and skip the OTC sleep aids. Some people even claim to have given up their morning coffee in favor of cannabis, but those people are braver than I am (i.e. they’re insane).

Connoisseurs are also ambassadors for our plant. Resolve to change hearts and minds this year. Share cannabis with important people in your life. Introduce a family member or a colleague who might benefit from it. Send this article to your BFF as a not-so-subtle hint. Make it your job to spread the love!

 

Come Back to Cannabis

So, you haven’t used cannabis since your college days, since becoming a parent, or since someone told you stoners were skeevy, and it’s time to give it another shot. Be aware: this is not the cannabis you remember. Gone are the days of buying whatever plastic bag your connection happened to bring by and sorting through seeds and stems. No longer must you endure paranoia because the strain you got didn’t agree with you or because you ingested too much THC. You have choices now! And, if you’re shopping at the right places, there will be intelligent people available help you understand all your options.

Truly, you have to see it to believe it. Visit a dispensary – in your legal state or while traveling to a legal state – and you’ll be in awe of the innumerable innovative products you encounter and the wealth of knowledge you acquire. Experimenting with cannabis has never been safer or easier. You can basically use it for everything – relaxation, focus, skin care, sex – because it’s versatile and benign. And if you’re not interested in psychoactivity, you can check out CBD and its many applications.

Had you told me ten years ago that cannabis culture in the US would have evolved to the place where we find ourselves in this moment, I would’ve laughed at you. But it is amazing, and you deserve to experience it.

 

New Year, New Choices

Never tried it? Congratulations – you skipped the bullshit and now get to go straight to the good shit! You don’t have to worry about tracking down a reliable connection, purchasing contaminated product, or stealing from your kids’ stash. (You will probably still have to worry about smashing stigmas, but that’s the fun stuff and we’re happy to have you on our side!)

I think this is absolutely the year you should consider cannabis, and I’ve got some pretty solid reasons:

• You abide by the law. As prohibition is dismantled state by state, more consumers have safe and legal access to marijuana. Those who stayed away because of its illegality now have options (even if it’s just on vacation…. what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, after all). And don’t forget: purchasing regulated marijuana contributes to the local economy!
• You want to be just a little bit high or maybe not high at all. Microdosing has become an increasingly popular option for those who want to tap into the benefits of cannabis without feeling high. It’s especially easy to do with the microdosed edibles, tinctures and vape pens that are now available.
• You enjoy a high-end customer experience. Dispensaries cater to a wide clientele, including shoppers who prefer the finer things in life. Seek out retail establishments that prioritize education, customer service, and beautiful design.

• You’re done with hangovers. Marijuana is a safer form of recreation than alcohol and won’t leave you sick the next morning. If you do it right, it won’t even leave you groggy.
• You need a good natural skin care line. You’ll find a variety of topicals and body care items made from cannabis or hemp that offer the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids.
• You don’t like smoking. There are more ways to take in cannabis than we ever imagined possible, so don’t let the smoke scare you off. Teas, tinctures, tablets, and transdermal patches are all great delivery systems for THC.
• You’re a woman. This is your plant, ladies, and it might also be your industry. Look for female-focused brands and publications as well as products that address sexual health issues from orgasms to endometriosis.
• You’re a parent. Parenting is hard. Enough said.

 

Resources to Navigate the Journey

Because we’re serious about education and outreach to help more parents to choose cannabis in 2018, we’re devoting a lot of upcoming content to introducing and reintroducing folks to cannabis. You probably haven’t spent a ton of time exploring new product categories and the latest research, and you don’t have to. Look for our “New to Cannabis?” columns coming soon to Splimm.com. We’ll break down everything you need to know about marijuana – from laws and dispensaries to cannabinoids and dabs – in digestible chunks and layperson’s language so it’s accessible to all. Let’s make 2018 the Year of Cannabis (or Marijuana)!