At the time of this writing, we’re just a couple weeks out from Turkey Day! Birds will be roasted, tables will be set, and the wine will be poured… and poured… and poured. In fact, some studies estimate Americans drink twice as much during the holiday season as they do the rest of the year.
But booze isn’t the only mind-altering substance available to enhance your festivities. If you’re looking to avoid potential pitfalls or next-day regret, here are three reasons why cannabis might be the holiday alcohol alternative you’ve been looking for.
1. Cannabis makes food more enjoyable.
If there’s one thing most people know about cannabis, it’s that it can give you “the munchies.” This very real biological phenomenon occurs because THC molecules stimulate your CB1 endocannabinoid receptors, which are responsible for sending hunger signals to your brain.
Not only does THC help you get hungry enough for seconds (or thirds), but it may also make the food you’re eating taste better. If you’re a habitual consumer, you likely don’t need a scientific study to back this claim, but we have one for you anyway. As reported by “Psychology Today,” a 2012 study published the journal of “Neuropharmacology” demonstrated increased levels of dopamine in subjects who consumed sweets under the influence of THC.
While increased appetite isn’t always ideal, Thanksgiving is about carving out as much stomach space as possible to sample all the holiday delights. A little pre-dinner canna-consumption can make it possible for you to get the most out of your festive feast!
Finally, THC is effective at relieving nausea – after all, one of its chief medical uses is to help cancer patients cope with chemo side effects. So if you’re feeling overstuffed or sick after your meal, a few puffs or a gently nibbled Wana gummie may help settle your stomach.
2. Cannabis might help you maintain your chill.
Some folks drink at Thanksgiving to bond with their family. Others drink at Thanksgiving to tolerate their family.
Even if you adore your nearest and dearest, extended togetherness time, compounded with holiday stress, can sometimes exacerbate dysfunctional patterns or challenging relationships.Whether you’re fielding nosy questions about your dating life, navigating awkward political disagreements, coping with the stress of hosting, or all of the above, family tensions can sometimes run high around the dinner table.
For some, alcohol is an effective way to drown out negative feelings like anxiety… but too much can increase irritability and reduce inhibitions, making you (or your loved ones) more likely to start or exacerbate conflict.
Here, cannabis can be a valuable alternative. To be clear, high doses of THC are intoxicating and can sometimes result in negative side effects like paranoia. You should consider your own past experiences with and tolerance for cannabis, as well as that of your relatives, before you start passing out the ganj. But at appropriate doses, with experienced consumers, THC can also elevate dopamine.* In today’s innovative cannabis landscape, many products are specifically formulated to give you these positive, mood-lifting effects without the less desirable ones. (Pro tip: look for one containing CBG, a rare cannabinoid that’s been demonstrated to boost levels of the stress-relieving neurotransmitter GABA.)
And if you’d rather not get zooted at the family function, fear not – there are low-dose products that can help deliver stress relief sans intoxication. If you live in a state where Wana Optimals Quick Calm Gummies are sold, you can get all the soothing benefits of CBG, CBD, and the amino acid l-theanine with only 1mg of THC. Otherwise, you might reach for an edible with a high CBD to THC ratio – think 10:1 or 20:1.
*This is in no way to suggest that THC should be used as a long-term treatment for clinical depression… but as a short-term stress reliever at an emotionally fraught gathering? It can come in pretty clutch.
3. Cannabis won’t give you a hangover.
There are deals to be had and doors to be busted on the day after Thanksgiving – who can afford to stay in bed nursing a hangover?
Booze typically causes those terrible next-day symptoms – headache, nausea, a general sense of bummed outedness – for a host of reasons, ranging from dehydration to increased inflammation to stomach irritation and more. Cannabis avoids (and can even combat) these nasty side effects.
To be fair, too much THC might leave you a little groggy in the morning – and smoking schwag (aka really crappy flower) might give you a next-day headache, but nothing like what grandpa’s 70-proof pilgrim punch will do to you. And if you consume in moderation, using products made with high quality ingredients (*cough* Wana Gummies *cough*), you’re unlikely to experience adverse effects.
In the end, only you can say how cannabis might affect you at a holiday celebration, so use your discretion – and be respectful of your loved ones’ comfort level with the plant. If you do decide to swap wine for weed this season, Wana’s got a host of additional info and products to help you achieve the ideal cannabis experience. Meanwhile, we’re wishing everyone peace, joy, and high spirits this holiday season.
