Mishaps & Miracles
My weed break lasted 10 days, y’all.
I got a library card today for the first time in probably 15 years.
Between a planned power outage in my neighborhood, a tight focus on finances, and less-than-optimal vibes at the chain cafe nearby, it suddenly made sense to tap into this most blessed of community resources.
The serenity inherent to this space is a welcome change from the chaos of recent weeks. There’s the real-time dismantling of American democracy, of course. But also within days of dropping my latest post about starting a month-long weed break, circumstances beyond of my control led me to leave the 3-year position that at one point felt like the role of my dreams.
Hence, my tolerance break lasted 10 days. Even though this was nearly 3 weeks short of my goal, I still benefited: the increased clarity of mind resulting from no THC consumption made it much easier for me to accept reality and start charting a new course. I also give myself grace, knowing that it is most crucial to harness rest and joy in the moments when life is lifing. That first puff after going without for 10 days brought calm and ease to a situation that kept my nervous system activated for days. Combined with decent sleep, long walks daily, healthy home cooking, and an incredible support system, I knew I’d be fine.
But man, talk about a gut punch.
With figuring out the next phase of my life suddenly in the top spot on my to-do list, it seemed like a good time to pick up some snacks and a bouquet of prerolls, hop in my Honda, and hit the open road on a short Cali road trip with plenty to process and no set schedule. Here’s a small glimpse into my swirling stream-of-consciousness…
Going THC-free for 10 days may not reset the system as thoroughly as a full month or even 21-day break, but I learned some stuff. I generally consume cannabis in the evenings, and without it I found myself bored – as if experiencing daily euphoria was something I “do”, like a task or activity. So in those moments I directed my focus on reading, talking to my friends on the phone, and repairing the seams in my favorite hoodie while watching The Later Daters. As for sleep, shooting for a later bedtime when I was genuinely tired (as opposed to couch locked), zero screens for 2-3 hours, and meditating 60-90 minutes before turning in worked wonders.
Speaking of wonders, I was able to discuss my cannabis use with my new doctor. That’s kind of a big deal. The plant’s enduring status as a Federal Schedule 1 drug, which defines cannabis as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”, hinders scientific research. Expanding state-led legalization is changing this, according to my cool new doctor, who went on to advise me about how THC has been shown to inhibit REM sleep. To be fair, the conversation stemmed directly from my having to complete a rather alarming form addressing drug use after admitting I consume cannabis, but I appreciated being able to speak openly with my primary care physician. The op-ed "Why doctors know almost nothing about the health effects of marijuana" does a great job of breaking down this issue in more detail.
Since I guess “diversity, equity, and inclusion” are illegal, may as well double down. What better time than the end of Black History Month and the start of Women’s History Month than to pretend like women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled people don’t exist? Now I’ve never worked for an organization that had any kind of formal DEI program, hence my fluency in microaggressions. Plus, If the goal is to make American workplaces whiter and bro-ier, the cannabis industry is already ahead of the game. So my subtle way of raging against the racist patriarchal machine is to spotlight the POC-owned cannabis brands that are keeping me high amidst the madness. Both are cultivated in Sacramento, described as the “epicenter of high-quality indoor cannabis in the legalization era,” by Leafly.com editor David Downs. CAM, which was founded by CEO (and bonafide badass) Anna Willey and is one of my frequent go-to’s thanks to its mouthwatering flavor profiles and some of the sparkliest buds I’ve ever seen. I have enjoyed every single offering from this brand, but Bubba’s Girl is an especially dank delight. I also gotta give Lumpy’s Flowers, well, their flowers because I just tried their all-bud preroll 3 Peat featuring Capital Haze, Peanut Butter Toast, and Shirly’s Apple, and I have no idea which I liked best (always a great sign)!
Stock up on weed today, support the economic blackout tomorrow. For more on the February 28 economic blackout, check out the Axios piece.
And with that, it’s back to life, back to reality. Thank you for reading and subscribing, Friends!