At the end of a particularly busy or stressful day, it’s not uncommon to pour a glass of wine or mix a drink to relax. But on the heels of a pandemic where many people found themselves overindulging (alcohol consumption rose by 14% among adults over age 30), more Americans than ever are looking for alternatives to alcohol to help them wind down. From craft mocktails and non-alcoholic wines to adaptogens and nootropics, today’s market offers no shortage of alcohol alternatives to choose from—but if you’re looking for a little buzz without lingering effects, here are three great reasons to replace the occasional cocktail with edible cannabis.
REASON #1: GET MORE SATISFYING SLEEP
If you’ve ever had one too many drinks and woken up groggy and tired, you know firsthand that alcohol doesn’t help you get great rest. That’s because it disrupts optimal sleep patterns, causing you to experience more REM sleep earlier in the night and less of it later on—which leads to more disruptions like waking up in the middle of the night. The effects on your sleep get worse the more alcohol you consume, but even 1-2 drinks can lower your sleep quality by as much as 24%. Drinking can also increase your risk of developing conditions such as sleep apnea and long-term insomnia, which last a lot longer than a regular old hangover.
Conversely, taking a THC gummy or a dropperful of CBD oil or even applying topical CBD body butter in the evening can not only help you decompress after a long day—it can also help improve the quality of your sleep. THC and CBD interact with receptors in the endocannabinoid system, suppressing the brain’s arousal system and increasing levels of sleep-promoting adenosine, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. According to one study, THC in particular can reduce the amount of time spent in REM sleep—the lighter phase of sleep where dreaming occurs—helping to minimize sleep disruptions for people with chronic pain, PTSD and other conditions.
It’s important to note that the effects of THC and CBD vary based on dosage, body composition and whether you’re new to taking them. For example, for those newer to THC, taking even a lower dosage can lead to feeling more awake, so it’s important to find a formulation that works for you.
REASON #2: FEEL CALM, NOT OUT OF CONTROL
The effects of alcohol and edible cannabis vary from person to person (some may be able to tolerate alcohol better than cannabis and vice versa), but there are a few innate differences in how each substance is processed in the body. Typically, the relaxing, inhibition-suppressing effects of alcohol kick in after just a few minutes—but they also wear off fairly fast. This can lead to the desire to drink more and more in search of replicating that initial buzzed feeling. Since the liver can only process one drink per hour, drinking faster than that rate can lead to feeling drunk rather than simply relaxed.
Edible cannabis, on other hand, has to be digested before you can notice any effects, which means it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to kick in. Once its effects are felt, they can last for several hours depending on your dose, making you less likely to want to take more. Verist Delta-9 THC gummies are made with 5 mg of hemp-derived THC, making a half or a whole gummy (depending on your tolerance) ideal for creating an elevated consciousness that won’t make you feel out of control. Our THC gummies also contain a 1:1 ratio of CBD to ensure your high feels more like a gentle arc than a series of mountain peaks.
REASON #3: SAY SO LONG TO HANGOVERS
While drinking alcohol can have a number of negative long-term effects, it’s famous for one particular short-term effect: the hangover. Drinking even a small amount of alcohol can cause mild dehydration, inflammation, gastrointestinal irritation and other symptoms that make up a typical hangover, according to the National Institutes of Health. Hangover symptoms can last up to 24 hours after the blood-alcohol level returns to zero, and the only real cure for them is time.
Sure, some THC users will experience grogginess or brain fog the next day (typically after consuming larger doses); for the most part, however, cannabis has far fewer second-day effects than alcohol. People who consume cannabis in the form of CBD are even less likely to experience negative effects the day after taking it—in fact, some people use CBD to reduce the inflammation caused by a hangover, although this benefit is not scientifically proven.
NOTE: ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WITH CANNABIS
Although there are specific use cases where choosing cannabis over alcohol can reduce negative side effects, it’s important to be careful when using cannabis, too. Many believe that cannabis is less addictive than alcohol, but it isn’t non-addictive, and more research still needs to be conducted in this area. Also, particularly with THC, you should take care to ensure you start with a small dose and work your way up so that you don’t experience negative effects like anxiety or paranoia. Finally, we recommend using edible THC and CBD (gummies or oils) over smokable forms to avoid causing both short- and long-term lung and cardiovascular issues.
Questions about THC, CBD or edible cannabis in general? Reach out at info@shopverist.com any time and we’ll be happy to chat.