With the new calendar year, many feel pressure to make sweeping resolutions based on visions of their future selves. I know that in the past, I have, but now I ease into the new year. When it comes to weed, the plant can be something we consider in our resolution-making or something that helps us stick to them. It depends on the goals.
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Cannabis consumption and New Year’s resolutions
Taking a tolerance break to ring in the New Year might be akin to celebrating Dry January. With the exception of medical patients consuming as prescribed, most people may benefit from checking in on the mind-altering substances they use regularly.
I personally consume daily. I consider my use medical, though I still have to visit the naturopath for my medical card to get those tax breaks. Even so, I must check in with myself every few months about my consumption habits. This was especially true after my foray into extracts at the end of the year, which kicked up my tolerance and my consumption for a few weeks.
The start of a new year is an excellent time to self-reflect. Decide if a t-break, a switch to non-psychoactive cannabinoids, or any other shift in how you get high might be beneficial for your mind, body, or spirit and make adjustments for a health-filled New Year.
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Ringing in the new year with weed
On the other hand, some might be trying to kick other habits in 2024. After weeks of frosted cookies, seasonal cocktails, and heavy hot dish– lots of us are ready to cut back. There’s a growing camp of people who practice Dry January, a month without drinking alcohol. While replacing one substance for another hasn’t proven effective for quitting things, it may have its benefits.
People used to having a beer after work or shaking a nightly cocktail could find the habit easier to kick with weed. Cannabis drinks are bountiful, and with the array of seltzers, drink mixes, and more, it’s possible to make a mean THC mocktail instead of the usual gin, vodka, or whiskey.
The Cali sober lifestyle may or may not be the right choice for those battling alcohol addiction. But for some Dry January participants, it could be just right.
Weeding through my resolutions
Deepening relationships
Cannabis takes center stage with some resolutions. In others, it might play a supporting role. My resolutions often center on my friends, whether deepening existing friendships or making new ones the plant could help.
Not everyone smokes weed, but I do. So, when making new friends, gathering under the guise of smoking a joint or trying a new piece might be the initial glue that sparks some camaraderie. Nothing has solidified my friendships like an epic sesh and silly, belly-laugh-filled conversation. The plant has built communities all over the world, it is often at the center of counter cultures and friend groups. Perhaps cannabis could do the same for personal relationships in 2024.
Trying new things
Venturing into the world and trying something new is a commendable goal as the year changes. I set out to get into the bouldering gym more often in 2024, which is terrifying since it’s filled with a culture I don’t understand. But climbing is awesome, and I want to get better at it, so I must face this big space of people that make me feel square in order to do so.
One funny thing about feeling out of place is that while it feels like everyone notices, very few people do. Weed may help remove some of that self-awareness, though it can also go the other way.
Some may feel even more out of place after puffing tough, but it tends to help me get the confidence to get up and do something new. Maybe that could work for you too. However, before taking a rip and climbing up a high wall, consider every safety precaution and follow the guidelines in a set space.
New Year’s resolutions and the cannabis plant
Have a happy New Year; don’t make it harder on yourself. Set intentions, goals, or resolutions that are realistic. The plant can be a crutch, but it can also serve as a tool that keeps me moving towards being my best self. It all depends on how you use it. With these tips, I hope anyone taking the plant into the new year finds it helpful in achieving their goals.