Going California Sober with Cannabis

Whether it’s Dry January, Sober Sunday, or any brand-new event set aside for a momentary respite from alcohol, there’s a lot of different types of approaches to the task at hand. Some people might choose to white-knuckle it, which may only be appropriate for those without any major alcohol problems (those seeking recovery, on the other hand, should seek professional help). However, for those who may want to bow out momentarily from alcohol, but still want to explore more natural fun, a new option that allows for greater leeway has come into vogue over the past few years. It’s called California Sober, and it’s possible that you’ve been doing it for years, whether you knew it or not.

What is "Cali Sober”?

Simply put, Cali Sober replaces alcohol with cannabis. Instead of wine, moms might hit a vape pen, or instead of a six-pack, it’s a preroll. In a state like Colorado, where psilocybin mushrooms have just been made legal to possess and cultivate, it may even include them. The focus is always on naturally occurring substances as Synthetic drugs or chemicals are considered mostly prohibited if you want to stay “Cali sober”. The point for most is to go for a natural, or naturally sourced, high.

The term was coined by former VICE EDM editor-turned-nightlife journalist Michelle Lhooq. In an article from VICE, Lhooq explains her creation of the category as an attempt to cut back on the sorts of drugs she had been consuming in New York. Moving to California after being laid off from VICE, she began to manicure her lifestyle, in keeping with the different pace of her new home, and she immediately started to notice a difference. “Before going Cali sober, I was doing pretty much any drug handed to me,” she writes. “[During Cali sobriety], I very quickly noticed changes that kept me going. My skin cleared up, and my friends told me I was glowing. As the muscles that had been bound by the taut grip of amphetamine started to relax, I could feel my whole body unwinding. And I know this sounds absurdly California New Age hippie, but I could almost feel my chakras opening—my creativity felt easy and natural, and my instincts sharpened into intuition.”

Since Lhooq introduced the world to this concept, others have also begun to experiment with it, most notably Demi Lovato, who even named a song after it. Even though Lovato moved away from it, others continue to explore Cali Sober as a useful option for those who are interested in reducing use of alcohol or other substances. Even those who are contemplating recovery could potentially benefit from it, according to Dr. Peter Grinspoon of Harvard Medical School. As he told Salon, “Millions of people use cannabis as part of their recovery. Addiction kills. We need a big tent for recovery, not a small tent.”

Strains to Consider for Cali Sober

If you’re sold on Cali Sober, but wondering what you’re going to replace your former go-tos with, we’d like to suggest a few strains from our voluminous strain library. They’re calming, they’re soothing and who knows? They may take you well out of Dry January into the other 11 months of the year, too.

Champagne Mimosa: Couldn’t hurt to start Cali Sober with a lovely cannabis mocktail. True to form, this strain combines citrusy notes due to its strong reserves of caryophyllene, limonene and pinene. It’s fairly high in THC, but for many creates a nice, calm and manageable high that can be combined with coffee and tea. It might be a good one to get you through your day.

Mai Tai: Yet another fruity and citrusy strain, this one tastes like an actual Mai Tai. This can sharpen you up in social settings and can provide a potent body buz as well. We’ve filed this one in the “after work” category.

Grape Stomper: This is a bit more like grape candy than it is wine, but it can offer a good head high, which might help replace the “mommy juice” some mothers like to reach for at the end of the day. With THC levels around 18-26%, some find they can carry this strain into any social situation and expect it to perform.