2024 New Year’s Resolutions: How Cannabis Can Help
The arrival of a new year is brimming with excitement, symbolizing new beginnings and a mix of hope and the usual trepidation about maintaining the momentum of progress. This is where the ritual of setting New Year’s Resolutions comes into play, spurring on the adoption of healthy habits but also occasionally stirring up stress when they don't pan out as intended. Fortunately, cannabis may provide support for some of the most common resolutions, enhancing everything from Dry January to fitness regimens with a touch of nature's green.
The journey to wellness with cannabis is filled with more paths than one might imagine, and with the ever-expanding ways to engage with this versatile plant, we’re presenting a guide to cannabis resolutions for 2024.
Let’s delve into how cannabis can bolster your efforts to meet four key New Year's Resolutions:
How Cannabis Can Help You Achieve 5 New Year’s Resolutions
As we embrace the promise of change that the New Year holds, many of us commit to resolutions aimed at bettering our health and overall happiness. Cannabis might not typically spring to mind as a tool for achieving these aspirations, yet it can serve as a valuable ally in fostering a healthier lifestyle. Whether it's managing stress or enhancing post-workout recovery, cannabis is increasingly recognized for its role in cultivating well-being.
Resolution 1: Dry January
Taking on Dry January is no small feat for those determined to abstain from alcohol. Yet socializing and relaxation need not rely solely on alcoholic beverages. Cannabis is emerging as a viable natural alternative, offering relaxation and sociability without the booze.
A recent survey by NC Solutions in January 2023 revealed that 34% of American adults were aiming to cut back on drinking. Notably, 10% had experimented with cannabis drinks, 38% were curious to try them, and 17% had already replaced alcohol with marijuana. Further support comes from a CivicScience poll, where 21% of Dry January participants were substituting alcohol with cannabis or CBD.
Science seems to back up these individual choices. Studies indicate that cannabis, particularly CBD, may reduce cravings among individuals with alcohol dependence. A comprehensive review in the journal "Frontiers in Pharmacology" examined 26 studies on CBD and alcohol. It identified three potential benefits for alcohol use disorder: CBD's role in lessening consumption, reducing liver inflammation related to alcohol, and mitigating brain damage associated with drinking.
Although more research is necessary, the current legalization landscape and a wealth of consumption methods make trying cannabis as an alternative more accessible than ever.
Resolution 2: Stress Less and Reduce Anxiety
Our modern life is often synonymous with stress and anxiety. While many find solace in practices like yoga or meditation, and some seek prescription medications, cannabis is showing promise as a natural remedy for managing these mental health challenges.
In 2023, a study leveraging data from Strainprint analyzed 1,028 sessions of cannabis use for anxiety relief across 184 participants. Indica, sativa, and CBD were all found to have a notable and similar efficacy in alleviating symptoms by about 50%. Another study focusing on stress reported a 58% reduction over 3,717 sessions.
As we welcome the new year, it's an ideal time to explore cannabis as a potential aid for stress and anxiety relief, offering a more serene and joyous 2024.
Resolution 3: Increased Focus Productivity
As we creep toward the new year, many of us are setting resolutions. A popular one? To increase our productivity. While there are plenty of strategies and tools out there to help us achieve our goals, one unexpected ally may be cannabis.
While clinical research has not yet supported productivity, anecdotal evidence is abundant. Perusing product reviews for a variety of edibles and inhalables shows a host of users find boosts in energy, motivation, and creativity with cannabis.
For those looking to try a new approach to productivity in 2024, cannabis could be just the thing to help you get that extra edge.
Resolution 4: Get In Shape (and Recover Easier)
For many, fitness is a cornerstone of New Year's Resolutions. However, the discomfort of post-exercise recovery can be a deterrent. Cannabis is recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties and pain relief, potentially easing post-workout soreness.
A survey published in the Journal of Cannabis Research indicated that most cannabis users found CBD and THC helpful for exercise recovery. Additionally, a study observed runners experiencing more enjoyment and less discomfort when using cannabis in conjunction with their exercise routine.
Incorporating cannabis may be the key to amplifying your 2024 fitness and recovery regimen.
Resolution 5: Get Better Sleep
With health and happiness at the forefront of New Year's Resolutions, cannabis may play a significant role in achieving quality sleep. Studies suggest that cannabinoids like THC and CBN, by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, may promote restful sleep patterns.
For those aiming to conquer sleeplessness in 2023, certain strains and cannabis products might be a natural adjunct, enhancing your nights and energizing your days.
6 Cannabis New Year’s Resolutions
It’s easy to stick with what you know, especially when it comes to relief. If you find a strain or cannabis product that provides the effects or relief you’re looking for, it’s almost a no-brainer to stock up on it or snag it whenever it’s on the menu. The problem with that, though? You could be missing out on something that could enhance those effects or a better option at large.
This new year, why not get adventurous with these 6 cannabis New Year’s Resolutions?
Resolution 1: Incorporate Topicals into Your Routine
Underappreciated gems in the cannabis world? Definitely topicals. These non-intoxicating creams and balms, enriched with THC, CBD, or both, offer targeted pain relief any time you need it. Applied directly to the skin, they deliver localized comfort perfect for those tender joints or muscles fatigued from a workout.
These topicals are crafted with additional soothing elements like menthol and eucalyptus to ensure relief often begins within minutes and continues up to eight hours, thanks to the enduring power of cannabinoids.
Resolution 2: Practice Microdosing
Fine-tune your day-to-day vitality with the art of microdosing cannabis. This practice involves consuming minimal amounts for a subtle but sustained uplift in mood and mental clarity, all while avoiding the full-on high. It's a nuanced way to enhance your day with a touch of creativity and serenity, reinforcing your stress resilience and easing minor discomforts.
Whether it's through a tiny tincture drop, a modestly dosed edible, a light vape hit, or a discreet tablet, microdosing is an invitation to experience the symphony of cannabis's therapeutic potential as a quiet contributor to your daily balance and happiness.
Resolution 3: Incorporate Product Stacking
The concept of product stacking might be new to you, but it's a strategy worth exploring. It involves combining different cannabis products to achieve a customized effect and level of relief.
One of the best methods is to match edibles or tinctures with inhalation methods. This combo allows you to feel the immediate benefits of inhalation while the longer-lasting effects of edibles or tinctures gradually set in. Topicals can also be part of this stack, giving you both localized and systemic benefits for comprehensive relief.
Resolution 4: Try Cured Resin and RSO Edibles
Edibles are a crowd-pleaser for their discreet consumption and enduring effects, not to mention their flavors. Take your edible experience up a notch by choosing those infused with cured resin or RSO, which are packed with a full spectrum of plant compounds.
These extracts, derived from carefully dried and cured flowers, deliver a rich tapestry of terpenes and cannabinoids that enhance the overall impact. Strain-specific options allow you to personalize your experience even more, making it a savory addition to your 2024 wellness routine.
Resolution 5: Go Solventless
For a pure encounter with cannabis, solventless choices are your go-to in 2024. Products like hash and rosin are created using physical methods to extract the essence of the plant, which means you get all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids without any chemical residues.
The cannabis market is ever-evolving, offering solventless options like live rosin cartridges and edibles that are both potent and convenient. If you're looking for an intense experience, look into stronger concentrates like full melt hash and live rosin badder.
Resolution 6: Explore More
With a plethora of product forms and strain variations available, challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone and try something new with cannabis this year. Whether you achieve this by using one of the resolutions above, trying a new strain, or simply visiting a new dispensary, go out of your comfort zones to learn more about yourself and your path to cannabis wellness.
Let MÜV Help with Your Resolutions
If you're seeking support for your resolutions, be they wellness-oriented or specifically related to cannabis, we're here to guide you. Our Cannabis Advisors at MÜV Dispensaries are well-versed in the benefits and particulars of various products, ready to assist you in finding the perfect match for your needs.
As you venture into 2024, aim for an exceptional year but remember to approach your resolutions with kindness. Celebrate every small step of progress; after all, they cumulatively lead to significant change.
References:
- https://civicscience.com/ninety-percent-of-gen-z-dry-january-participants-are-leaning-on-other-drinks-and-substances-to-fill-the-void/
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- Gibson LP, Bryan AD. Running High: Cannabis Users' Subjective Experience of Exercise During Legal Market Cannabis Use Versus No Use in a Naturalistic Setting. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2023 Jul 13. doi: 10.1089/can.2022.0338. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37440169.
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- Murillo-Rodríguez E, Sánchez-Alavez M, Navarro L, Martínez-González D, Drucker-Colín R, Prospéro-García O. Anandamide modulates sleep and memory in rats. Brain Res. 1998 Nov 23;812(1-2):270-4. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(98)00969-x. PMID: 9813364.
- https://ncsolutions.com/the-goods/sober-curious-nation-alcohol-survey/
- Nicholson AN, Turner C, Stone BM, Robson PJ. Effect of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on nocturnal sleep and early-morning behavior in young adults. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2004 Jun;24(3):305-13. doi: 10.1097/01.jcp.0000125688.05091.8f. PMID: 15118485.
Content Manager for MÜV Florida and Contributor for Zen Leaf Dispensaries. A cannabis connoisseur with a passion for explaining the miraculous possibility of the plant, Swan began her journey with cannabis as a recreational user and quickly realized its positive impact on her depression and severe anxiety. She joined the cannabis industry as Receptionist and MedTender and witnessed first-hand the immense potential of the plant for a wide variety of ailments, deepening her passion for alternative medicine. Swan is dedicated to self-education on the plant and sharing its potential with all. She holds a Journalism degree from the University of Iowa.
