Sober October

What is Sober October?

Sober October has become a popular trend around the world to give up alcohol for the entire month. It is a 31-day challenge of not drinking alcohol allowing your body a chance to heal and rejuvenate itself from any and all drinking you may have done in the last 10 months.While there is no problem with having the occasional alcoholic drink in a social setting or to unwind, regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Moderate drinking is considered one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. This is not to say that everyone who drinks has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, but when drinking habits do begin to pose some cause for concern, going alcohol-free for a few weeks can increase your awareness of any patterns and help you take the first steps toward creating positive change.

So, how did Sober October start?

Sober October originated in the United Kingdom as a way to raise money for people with cancer. It began in 2014 as a fundraising campaign for Macmillan Cancer Support to help fund critical services and support people living with cancer in the UK. In this case, by going sober, you wouldn’t just be helping others, you’re helping yourself too! Giving up booze for a month comes with lots of feel-good benefits, but also the feeling of raising vital funds for millions of people living with cancer. However, even if you do not officially participate in the challenge, Sober October is a great opportunity to reset your body and help you reevaluate your relationship with alcohol and has been becoming more popular in general during recent years all around the world.

What are the perks of going sober? What are some alternatives that can be used?

Not only does taking a break from drinking help you better understand your relationship with alcohol, you are working on creating a healthier version of yourself. Heavy alcohol use can do a lot of damage to our bodies such as damaging our liver, lower immune health, affect concentration, cause sleep issues, as well as contributing to depression and anxiety. Taking a month long break from alcohol can offer a multitude of benefits for your health and in your life. Going sober from alcohol for just one month can result in more energy, better sleep, improved concentration, potential weight loss, more control over emotions, and a better ability to fight off illnesses. You may also find that you have more time on your hands since you are busy trying to fight off a hangover in the morning. Your bank account will also appreciate the break as you won’t be spending money on overpriced cocktails or trips to the liquor store for the month. It may also help to replace your go-to alcoholic drink with a good non-alcoholic alternative. There are lots of non-alcoholic alternatives on the market such as non-alcoholic beer, wine, and vodka, but there are other alternatives that may still leave you with a buzz. These would be THC drinks!

What is THC?

For those who may not know, THC, also known as Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most common cannabinoid found in marijuana and is responsible for most of the intoxicating effects of marijuana. Delta 9 THC is often referred to as “THC.” Delta 9 THC is very popular for its intoxicating psychoactive effects, but it also has a number of medicinal properties and benefits such as it may reduce inflammation, pain, and anxiety, may relieve nausea, and can stimulate appetite. There are many other potential benefits of THC, but those are just some of the main ones. The intoxicating effects of THC set it aside from other cannabinoids and contribute to its recreational use. Delta-9 THC induces its psychoactive, intoxicating effects mainly by binding to CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. It also interacts with other endocannabinoid receptors and other systems throughout the body. Delta-9 THC is the most studied cannabinoid as it is the main one in marijuana.

What is CBD?

CBD, which stands for Cannabidiol, is the main cannabinoid in the hemp industry as it is one of  the most concentrated cannabinoids in industrial hemp plants. CBDa, or Cannabidiolic Acid, is actually the most abundant cannabinoid in hemp plants, for the most part. CBD comes from the breaking down of CBDa through a process known as decarboxylation. CBD is essentially the activated version of CBDa. CBD has an abundance of health benefits but is not psychoactive, which is what has made it so popular amongst consumers. Some of CBD’s potential benefits also include reducing inflammation, pain, and anxiety, relieving nausea, and has even been found to reduce frequency and severity of seizures. Again, these are not all of the potential benefits of CBD, but these are some of the most well-known benefits. CBD also interacts with the endocannabinoid system and other bodily systems to provide these effects. Both CBD and THC tend to be on the more relaxing side, making them great alternatives when looking to take a hiatus from alcohol.

How does alcohol affect the body compared to weed?

Alcohol affects the body in a much more negative manner when compared to cannabis. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system and interferes with your brain’s communication pathways, thus affecting how your brain processes information. These disruptions in the communication pathways can change mood and behavior, and also make it difficult to think clearly and move with coordination. Alcohol is dulling out the part of the brain that controls how our body works. Cannabis, on the other hand, interacts with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is what allows THC to have a range of effects on the body and mind, such as reducing pain, stimulating appetite, and producing a sense of euphoria. With marijuana legalization on the rise, an increasing number of studies are exploring the potential harms and benefits. However, a new study from scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder suggest that when it comes to brain health, alcohol is more damaging. They came to this conclusion from a review of existing imaging data that looked at the effects of alcohol and marijuana, or cannabis, on the brain. Their findings linked alcohol consumption with long-term changes to the structure of white matter and gray matter in the brain. The use of marijuana, however, seemed to have no significant long-term effects on brain structure. Many people die from alcohol use – nobody dies from marijuana use. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 30,000 annual U.S. deaths are attributed to the health effects of alcohol. However, the CDC does not even have a category for deaths caused by the health effects of marijuana. A study published in Scientific Reports in January 2015 found that the mortality risk associated with marijuana was approximately 114 times less than that of alcohol! People die from alcohol overdoses, but there has never been a fatal marijuana overdose. The official publication of the Scientific Research Society, American Scientist, reported that alcohol is one of the most toxic drugs and using just 10 times what one would use to get the desired effect could lead to death. Marijuana is one of – if not the – least toxic drugs, requiring thousands of times the dose one would use to get the desired effect to lead to death. This “thousands of times” is actually theoretical, since there has never been a case of an individual dying from a marijuana overdose. Meanwhile, the CDC attributes more than 1,600 U.S. deaths per year to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol use also damages the brain. Marijuana use does not. Despite the myths about marijuana killing brain cells, it turns out that a growing number of studies seem to indicate that marijuana actually has neuroprotective properties, meaning that it actually works to protect brain cells from being harmed. Alcohol is definitely damaging to brain cells. Not only is alcohol more addictive than marijuana, it can increase the risk of injury for the consumer than marijuana does. Cannabis does not seem to increase risk-taking behavior. This means that marijuana rarely contributes to violence either to others or to oneself, whereas alcohol use is a major factor in deliberate self-harm, domestic accidents and violence. Interestingly enough, some research has even shown that marijuana use has been associated with a decreased risk of injury.

Are THC drinks better than alcoholic drinks?

There seems to be less risks that come with cannabis consumption compared to alcohol consumption, nonetheless, there are still quite a few factors to take into consideration. They are each their own unique substance producing its own effect, which can make side-by-side comparisons challenging. Getting drunk or high can feel similar to some people, while others describe the sensations as very different. Of course, the way you feel while intoxicated also depends on how much of the substance you consume. The truth is that marijuana is widely used in a manner quite similar to alcohol. Most adults consume it while socializing with friends or relaxing after work. And while some consume it for its medical benefits, others use it for therapeutic purposes. For example, some consume it to alleviate arthritis, relieve a migraine, or because it helps them fall asleep and get a good night’s rest. Most  people would agree this is not “bad,” “wrong,” or “immoral” if it is done responsibly, just as it is not “bad,” “wrong,” or “immoral” for an adult to drink a cocktail after work, a beer during a ballgame, or a glass of wine with dinner. Consuming marijuana is simply something that some adults choose to do, some of which specifically choose to do it instead of having that cocktail, beer, or glass of wine. And for good reason – marijuana is less toxic than alcohol, less addictive, less harmful to the body, and less likely to contribute to reckless or violent behavior.

Where can I buy THC drinks?

Right with us, Nurse Wellness! We actually have a few options when it comes to THC drinks. One of our most popular companies is Cycling Frog! They make 5mg THC and 10mg CBD seltzers in 4 flavors: Black Currant, Guava Passionfruit, Ruby Grapefruit, and Wild Cherry. They also make a high potency iced tea lemonade for experienced users containing 50mg THC and 50mg CBD! Our newest THC seltzer we have is from Crescent Canna, called Crescent 9. This one contains 6mg THC, 3mg CBD, and 40mg of caffeine and comes in a Tropical Mango flavor. They do also have a high potency seltzer with 50mg of just THC in a Strawberry Lemonade flavor. This can be broken down into 12 1-ounce servings, making each serving equivalent to 4mg of THC. Looking for a THC drink that’s more of a single serving? We also have 30mg THC shots from Juice Joint! They come in 4 different flavors – Aloha Punch, Mango Pineapple Ginger, Peach Lemonade, and Strawberry Lemonade. It is 30mg through a 4oz bottle, so it can be split up into multiple servings for those who are more sensitive to THC. Visit us at any of our 5 retail locations or order any of these THC drinks right from our website.