How Can I Celebrate the New Year Without Alcohol?

Of course, you can have fun without alcohol on New Year’s Eve. So, whether you’re avoiding a booze-soaked party or you’re planning alcohol-free activities, we’ve got the perfect suggestions. So, let’s dive in.

1. Break Out the Dance Moves

For social drinkers, it can be hard to imagine hitting the dance floor booze-free! But not only will your moves be much more coordinated, but dancing also provides a lovely endorphin high that’s certified hangover free.

2. Attend an Alcohol-Free Event

If the idea of being the only non-drinker at a party stresses you out, seek an alcohol-free hangout. Check Meetup or your local sober living Facebook group for leads.

3. Karaoke

There are few better things than belting out Total Eclipse of The Heart to a room full of friends and strangers. And without alcohol, you might be organized enough to hit those high notes while staying on beat.

4. Try a Midnight Meditation

A midnight meditation is a fantastic way to come into 2024 centered, relaxed, and activated. Join an existing event, or invite your friends to join you in following a pre recorded guided meditation.

5. Hit the Rink

Roller skating is back in a big way, and you’ve gotta be sober on skates! So hit up your local roller rink for an old school skating party, complete with nostalgic jams and that one weird, overly patterned carpet they all have for some reason.

8. Have a Dinner Party

Ring in the new year with a bountiful feast with friends. Try a buffet of good luck new year’s dishes from around the world, or prepare a comfort food bonanza for everyone to tuck into as they try not to fall asleep before midnight.

Pro Tip: Hit our Instagram page and navigate our how-to cooking series videos with Denver cannabis chef Dave Hadley.

9. Sip a Mocktail

Just because you’re sober doesn’t mean you can’t have a cocktail in hand! An alcohol-free mocktail brings the same fancy fun as a boozier alternative without the risk of overindulging. And unless you choose to share, no one has to know what’s in your cup.

10. Have an Art Party

Get in touch with your creative side by hosting an art party. Paint, draw, or sculpt with friends to create meaningful mementos you can cherish for the next year and beyond. By the way, if you haven’t made pottery while high, you’re missing out on an excellent sensory experience.

12. Take a Trip

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all and reset. Taking a new years trip is a great way to remove yourself from the potential pressure of the big night while making new traditions of your own.

13. Do a New Year’s Hike

You don’t have to climb to the top of the highest local peak, but a new years hike is an amazing way to kick off 2024 feeling energized and in touch with your body. Take a mindful walk with friends, or venture out for a centering solo stroll.

Blending Passion and Rigor

Zach’s deep love of the plant inspired him to undertake a more serious course of cannabis studies. “After being a passionate cannabis consumer for over 15 years, it felt meaningful to have an official certification from a governing body with indisputable qualifications,” he said.

The program’s focus on consumers’ and patients’ needs and preferences is a detail that drew Zach’s interest. “There’s an appropriate product for every consumer,” he said. “This program trains you to be a personal cannabis advisor, consulting with customers on their favorite products—from flower to edibles and anything else they might be looking for.”

He wanted to build on his personal experience with cannabis as a tool for joy and wellness by undertaking training that would help him inspire others. 

“Living under prohibition as a second-class citizen was humiliating, disheartening, and painful for every cannabis consumer,” he said, describing the era before Colorado legalized cannabis. Interestingly, Zach explained many of his fellow students come from states without legal medical or adult-use cannabis. 

Living in Colorado, Zach said cannabis consumers often forget how lucky we are to have access to a safe, legal, and high-quality consumption experience on our terms. 

He hopes as legalization spreads, programs like The Ganjier will bring mainstream acceptance of the plant as an excellent wellness resource and a non-toxic recreational alternative.

Mastering His Craft

Once Zach had a handle on the SAP system, he began fine-tuning his taste and aroma palates using techniques laid out in Ganjier course material created by Ganjier Council Member, Kimberly Hooks, also known as Madame Cannoli. 

While not required for initial certification, The Ganjier encourages students to undertake a blind cannabis product evaluation the same way wine sommeliers taste their way through a series of unlabeled glasses, determining the varietal, region, vintage, and producer using only their senses. 

With this method, students can further develop their vocabulary of flavor descriptions and decide if they have what it takes to proceed to higher certification levels.

Zach assembled sample jars to use as a study aid to prepare for the exam before leaving for the testing in Humboldt County, California. 

Placing a different herb, such as basil, cinnamon, or oregano, in each jar, he challenged himself to learn how to identify them by aroma alone, training what he called his “aroma lexicon.” 

He employed the same process to identify blindly labeled cannabis strains, becoming intimately familiar with their distinctive aromas.

He needed to understand how to consciously utilize “sensory evaluation” by activating both “mouth smelling” and “nose-smelling,” terms taken from traditional food and beverage analysis science that Ganjiers use to describe the process of simultaneously employing olfactory and gustatory senses to take in the product’s full complexity.

“I was interested in developing a solid grasp on the general impacts of cannabis terpenes, identifying them by their flavor notes and understanding how those notes correspond to their effects. For example, cannabis strains with lemony, fruit-forward notes will traditionally be more uplifting and activating, making them better suited to daytime consumption. In contrast, cannabis with earthy fuel notes might be more relaxing and sedating.”

By understanding how terpene profiles impact the cannabis consumption experience, Zach can tailor his recommendations to meet customers’ specific needs.

In the end, individual body chemistry dictates each consumer’s preferences. Picking your favorite cannabis is like picking your favorite dish at a restaurant – only you will know your favorite. Still, expert opinions can guide you to popular options. This is why the Ganjiers perspective is so important.

“Zach’s deep experience and background in cannabis, coupled with his easy-going demeanor and instinctive skills at assessing quality, seamlessly combine to make him uniquely qualified for his role at Lightshade.  We’re genuinely proud to include him among the ranks of Certified Ganjiers and as an ambassador of our mission to elevate the service and quality standards within our burgeoning industry.” –Derek Gilman, Managing Director, Ganjier

A Bright Future for Budtenders

Zach believes that the growing popularity of the Ganjier certification program will help Budtenders better serve cannabis consumers. 

“The cannabis industry needs Ganjiers because there are a lot of myths and misinformation out there,” he said. “Many customers and patients don’t know how to discern quality, they don’t know what they’re looking for, and those who do might be purchasing based on incorrect info they previously absorbed.”

Currently, most consumers purchase cannabis flower-based purely on THC percentage, opting for higher percentages for a more immersive experience, which Zach says is “a scientifically inaccurate way to proceed with that goal.” 

He believes expanding consumers’ knowledge of cannabis terpenes and minor cannabinoids will help them understand what they actually like.

Lightshade is one of the first Colorado dispensaries to stock brands like Artsy, which puts its terpene notes on each product label. “Very few people go to the liquor store for Everclear,” says Zach. “THC should be seen as the gas in the car—terpenes are the driver.”

With an exponentially growing number of brands, products, and strains on the market, Zach hopes that The Ganjier program will inspire producers to create higher quality products on which consumers can depend. 

 “Ganjiers can sift through the noise to identify true quality on every level.”

What does 420 mean?

So what is the significance of 420? Put simply, it’s an easy shorthand for flagging your appreciation of all things cannabis.

Of course, 420’s meaning changes depending on context.

In some instances, it can refer to cannabis itself or the act of consuming it. It can signal a willingness to meet up and smoke up or merely an appreciation for cannabis as an art form.

No matter how it appears, 420 means cannabis—and it signals that cannabis lovers are in for a good time!

Where did 420 originate?

We know the meaning of the number, but why is 420 associated with weed?

There are a few theories, but the truth behind the link between 420 and cannabis is shrouded in mystery. 

Some people claim that 420 was California law enforcement’s way to flag crimes associated with marijuana before it was legal in the state. Still, no evidence has emerged to support that theory. 

But if it’s not the cops, where did 420 come from? While the origins of 420 are officially unconfirmed, we have a pretty good idea of where it came from. 

According to cannabis lore, 420 got started back in the 1970s in San Rafael High School in Marin, California. 

Every afternoon, when school let out at 4:20, a group of students calling themselves the Waldos would gather at the flagpole in front of their school to smoke up and search for a field of cannabis one of the student’s older brothers claimed to have planted before he left for Vietnam. 

While they never did find the field, the students would signal their intent to keep searching by whispering “420” to each other in the hallways, marking the first recorded use of the term.

Every year when April rolled around, 4/20 became the perfect excuse to indulge in cannabis with friends and loved ones.

What is 420-friendly?

Aside from the date itself, you might see 420 mentioned in ads where people are looking for friends, roommates, or dates identifying as 420-friendly. So what does 420-friendly mean?

As you might have guessed, the answer to what is 420-friendly is subjective, but it generally implies a permissive attitude towards cannabis consumption. 

Someone who is 420-friendly might not smoke every day, but they’re cool with living, hanging with, and dating those who do!

Where is the biggest 420 celebration?

Once you find your 420 friends by posting a 420-friendly ad (or two), it’s time to get down with the many 420 festivities April has to offer!

When is 420? April 20th, of course! Here are some of the biggest and best places to say happy 420:

• The Mile High 420 Festival in Denver is the largest free 420 event in the world
• The Hash Bash in Michigan is a fun yet political push for legalization
• 420 on Hippie Hill in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is a great way to honor the holiday’s origins 
• The National Cannabis Festival is a massive 420 party in DC, featuring live music, swag, and even weed weddings
• SweetWater420 in Atlanta is a weed-themed music festival
• Outside of the US, 420 Hyde Park is the UK’s biggest smoke out
• 420 Vancouver celebrates the city’s cannabis culture on Sunset Beach

Why is it important to keep a clean dab rig? 

Firstly, clean dab rigs are better for your health. 

Over time, dab rig pieces – the bowl, in particular – become coated with charred layers of burnt crust. And like other burnt materials, this buildup is carcinogenic. 

When you heat your machinery in preparation for a fresh dab, you’ll release harmful materials into your lungs, where they can be absorbed into your body unless your rig is clean. Cleaning a dab rig removes this buildup and protects you. 

A clean dab rig is the key to a successful dabbing experience. Learning how to clean the buildup safely and effectively will mean your hits taste smoother and fuller, and your lungs stay happier. It also helps keep your equipment in good shape so it will last (it’s an investment, after all).

What are the parts of the dab rig?

Here are the basic building blocks of a dab rig:

How often should I clean my dab rig and bowl?

You should regularly clean your dab rig. Experts recommend you wash your banger and bowl after every dab. However, you can trust your judgment for the rest of the rig. If you’re a heavy consumer, we suggest weekly cleaning (don’t roll your eyes – clean after you take a rip, and the time will pass quickly). 

Do you have to clean your banger after every dab?

We know, cleaning your banger and bowl after every dab sounds like an immense pain. But once you get in the rhythm of it, it’s surprisingly easy and faster than you might expect. 

Simply use a cotton swab or Q Tip to wipe down your banger and bowl, so you’ll be ready for the next dab; you’ll have a much better experience if you use fresh glass for your dab!

How do I get the dab residue out of my rig?

It’s surprisingly easy to remove dab residue. But like the other basic maintenance tasks you need to do every day—from washing dishes to showering—having the right tools is essential to getting it done.

But fortunately, you only need a few basic supplies.

What should I use for dab rig cleaning?

A good cleaning job is all about the tools. Here’s what you need for a squeaky clean dab rig:

• Cotton swabs or Q Tips
• Isopropyl alcohol 
• A clean cloth for wiping

Those are the basics! And yes, it is that simple.

What are the steps to cleaning a dab rig?

Now that your supplies are assembled, it’s time to get cleaning! According to experts, here’s the best way to clean a dab rig.

• Step One: dump the dirty water
• Step Two: run warm water through the rig to loosen the residue
• Step Three: pour a little isopropyl alcohol into the chamber
• Step Four: plug the holes and shake the alcohol around
• Step Five: rinse thoroughly with water
• Step Six: clean up any remnants with q tips or your dab tool
• Step Seven: lay out on a towel to dry

It only takes a few minutes to clean out your rig, and your smoking experience will be better (and safer) every time you do.

Are there different methods to clean a dab rig?

Variety is the spice of life! If you want to mix things up, there are a few primary methods for dab rig cleaning.

You can skip the alcohol and only use hot water.

You can add alcohol to get things extra clean.

You can add alcohol plus coarse rock salt for even more cleaning power.

You can clean the rig using heat. Slightly heat up your isopropyl alcohol (not too much, or it’ll explode!) for a deeper clean.

How do you clean a dab rig without alcohol?

While you need alcohol to get things properly squeaky, perhaps you don’t have any on hand. Don’t panic! Here’s how to clean a dab rig without alcohol:

Simply eliminate the alcohol and use warmer water to wash out the rig. If you have rock salt on hand, you can add that into the mix to get out some of the gunk. 

This is an excellent temporary solution, but make sure to stock up on isopropyl alcohol next time you’re at the drugstore. It’s dirt cheap, and will last for months, making it an essential investment for any tidy dabber.

Can I use reclaim?

Whether or not to use reclaim is largely based on budget and personal taste. Using reclaim is a good way to get more bang for your dabbing buck, but some people don’t like the taste.

When dabbing with reclaim, you’ll notice that the taste is not as smooth as it was the first time. However, it’s still perfectly safe. But if the taste doesn’t appeal to you, you can always eat it! The heating process used in dabbing means that your reclaim is already decarboxylated, so you can use it in edibles and experience the psychoactive effects.

How do I collect reclaim?

Collecting reclaim efficiently is a two step process.

Step One: pour the liquid out of your rig through a fine-mesh strainer to collect the little golden hued clumps that remain behind.

Step Two: melt it out. You’ll need wax paper and a torch. Let your dab fully dry, then remove the nail and hold the connector over the wax paper, holding a touch to the reclaim until it melts and drips down. You can then collect the reclaim and use it as you see fit.

If this sounds complicated, you can always use your dabbing tool to scrape out the banger and reclaim catcher before starting the cleaning process. Then proceed from step three in our guide. You’ll have a clean dab in no time!

First, What’s An Edible?

Let’s start at the root question. Edibles consist of an array of THC-infused food and drink products. They take on a multitude of forms, including gummies and chocolates. There are typically four categories of THC edible:

• Sativa-only
• Indica-only
• Hybrid (sativa and indica mashup)
• Pure CBD

However, even within each category, not all edibles are created equal …

What’s A Good Edible?

Making the right choice at the point of purchase is crucial to getting the edible experience you want. But with so much to choose from, what makes one edible better than another? After all, they’re all so similar, right? Well, not exactly. There are two main factors to consider while perusing the THC edibles at your local dispensary: ingredients and price. Those two factors are the twin guiding lights you need to follow. 

Edible Ingredients

Look past cutesy packaging and the persuasive charm of your budtender and set your sights on the ingredients of your edible. First, make sure the ingredients are listed. Then, consider what you see. The general rule of thumb is, “if you can’t pronounce it, then you don’t want it in you.”

Edible Prices

This factor relies on another adage: “You get what you pay for.” Anytime you’re presented with a product—any product—that seems unusually affordable, chances are there’s a reason it’s so comparatively cheap. Higher price points typically equal better ingredients and a more enjoyable high with edibles. 

How Do Edibles Work?

As we’ve all learned from our first experience with weed edibles, they just hit differently than cannabis that’s smoked or vaped. The main reason for this is the pathway pot takes to our bloodstream when eaten. Smoking weed sends it to your lungs and immediately to your bloodstream, causing you to feel high almost instantly. But when you eat cannabis, it metabolizes through the liver and travels through your digestive system, where it takes far longer to process than it does in your lungs.

How Fast Do Edibles Kick In?

The journey from eating an edible to getting high can usually take 30 minutes. It’s a delayed reaction that often leads consumers to eat more edibles in one sitting because they think the first serving isn’t working. To that, we say, “hold up!” Give your weed edibles a chance to flourish in your system, and then after 30-40 minutes, gauge your high before going in for a second bite.

What Edible Dose Is Right For Me?

Slow down, speed racer! Dosing is essential when engaging with edibles, especially for beginners or anyone nervous about getting too high. Categorized by milligram, edible doses range from reasonably high to radically out there.

What’s the Difference Between Sativa and Indica Edibles?

When consuming sativa or indica edibles, the two primary strains of cannabis follow the same rules as to when they’re smoked or vaped. Sativa induces a “head high” and more uplifting, energetic effects. Indica is more of a bedtime bud, delivering a “body high” that puts you on the couch and keeps you there, feeling relaxed and sedated. A hybrid strain takes both of those characteristics and blends them, resulting in a boost of euphoria that’s more muted and contemplative than goofy and off-the-wall.

How Do You Store Edibles?

Like flower, cannabis edibles require proper storage and protection from heat, sunlight, moisture, and other elements that can harsh the effects. 

First things first, air is the enemy of your edible weed. Edible gummies, hard candies, and baked goods should be stored in an airtight container, which wards off moisture loss, staleness, and poor texture. And if you plan on keeping your edibles for an extended period—you know, instead of eating all of it in one night—there’s nothing wrong with keeping your goodies in the refrigerator or freezer. 

Exposure to heat can destroy edibles, degrading the overall effect and devastating the flavor. When edible chocolate and edible candies melt, they never regain the same taste, texture, and impact when you try to re-solidify them. In general, edibles benefit from cooler temperatures. Whether that’s in a cabinet away from a heat source or in the refrigerator, as long as it’s in an airtight container, you’ll be OK.

What Types of Edibles are at Dispensaries?

It can be a THC-infused edible if you eat it or drink it. Here are some of the most common types of edibles you can find in recreational and medicinal cannabis dispensaries:

• Gummies: THC gummy bears, drops, and chews of all shapes
• Candy: Chocolate bars, caramel chews
• Hard Candy: Lollipops, lozenges, and mints
• Baked Goods: Brownies, cakes, and cookies
• Savory Snacks: Peanut butter, cheese crackers, potato chips, popcorn
• Drinks: Seltzers, soft drinks, shots, beverage enhancers

How does cannabis influence sexual pleasure?

Let’s start with the big question: is weed good for sex? 

While the marijuana-sex connection has been buzzed about for years until recently, the link between THC and sex has been mostly personal. People love smoking weed and having sex, and it’s hard to argue with personal experience!

However, thanks to the increasing number of states legalizing cannabis, the connections between pot and sex are gaining scientific backing. 

A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine concluded that “Many participants…found that cannabis helped them relax, heightened their sensitivity to touch, and increased intensity of feelings, thus enhancing their sexual experience.” This study, and other scientific research, indicate that cannabis sex can indeed be more pleasurable for people of all genders.

But how does this connection work? What does weed do to you sexually? And why is having sex while high on weed so much dang fun? The answer may lie in your body’s endocannabinoid system.

What role do endocannabinoids play in sex?

It’s no secret that weed functions by interacting with your body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors throughout the brain and body that helps you maintain regular operation and is involved in a variety of the essential functions of your central nervous system.

The research shows that endocannabinoids play an essential role in your body’s sexual responses, explaining marijuana’s effects on sex. So how does weed affect you sexually? By interacting with endocannabinoid receptors within the areas of your brain that control sexual function. 

Using cannabis for sex helps stimulate those receptors within the brain like naturally produced endocannabinoids would. 

THC sex can feel more powerful simply because the cannabinoids interact with the neurotransmitters and hormonal messaging systems linked to the body’s sexual response.

Does weed lower your sex drive?

While the research shows that the cannabis-sex connection is positive, there’s a persistent rumor that overindulging can cause you to be less interested in sex. So what’s the truth? Does weed make you less sexually active?

To answer the question “does weed lower sex drive?” we need to look at another study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine that looked at sexual frequency among people who consumed cannabis and those who abstained.

The study found that there was, in fact, a connection between marijuana and sex drive, but it was positive. People who self-reported as consuming cannabis actually had more sex. 

Let’s take a closer look at why that might be by examining the various ways men and women respond to pot sexual experiences.

How does Cannabis affect women during sex?

Recent research has made the connection between marijuana and female sexuality clear. Yet another study in the JSM showed that women who used cannabis more frequently also reported lower rates of sexual dysfunction and higher rankings for arousal and orgasms.

While the “why” of this relationship isn’t yet clear, the researchers theorized that using cannabis could help women experience less anxiety during sex. 

“It is possible that a reduction in anxiety associated with a sexual encounter could improve experiences and lead to improved satisfaction, orgasm, and desire.” 

They also theorized that the increase in pleasure could be due to the endocannabinoid system kicking into high gear or reduced anxiety about time passing.

TLDR: does smoking affect women’s sex drive? If so, it’s for the better!

How does Cannabis affect men during sex?

We’ve got the ladies covered, but does weed affect male sex drive?

According to the sexual frequency study we cited earlier, yes, and for the better! Men who reported using cannabis regularly also said that they were having more sex than their non-weed-using counterparts in the study. 

As with the ladies, this connection is probably due to various factors, including the good ol’ endocannabinoid system and a reduction in anxiety that makes men less likely to experience sexual dysfunction. One study found that men who consumed cannabis were less likely to have trouble maintaining an erection.

Cannabis also seems to make sex more enjoyable for men and their female counterparts. As one respondent to an informal Psychology Today survey said, “Marijuana engulfs me in sex foam. I’m just pure sex on that stuff. It’s great. I could never feel that way sober or drunk.”

What type of weed should you take before sex?

If you’re already a cannabis lover, the odds are that all this evidence has got you ready to text a “u up?” to that special someone.  But before you do, let’s talk about how to select your weed for sex. What’s the best marijuana for sex? Are there particular strains that work best?

In terms of genre, finding the best pot for sex is usually a question of choosing your favorite edibles for sex. The connection between edibles and sex makes sense—there’s nothing more V-day appropriate than sharing something sweet with your sweety. 

But what are the best edibles for sex? Our pick has got to be the classic cannabis-infused chocolate bar. Not only is it seasonally appropriate, but chocolate is also an aphrodisiac, taking the best weed for sex to the next level.

What are the best cannabis strains for sex? 

We’ve got the delivery down, but what are the best strains for sex? Here are five of our favorite go tos when we’re getting romantic:

Should you use lube during sex on cannabis?

Like any other sexual encounter, sex after smoking pot is a matter of personal preference. Using or not using lube is up to you and your partner, and there’s no scientific evidence that cannabis will impact you or your partner’s ability to lubricate naturally. However, some people report cases of “cotton vagina,” so check in with your partner and make sure to have lube on hand just in case!

We’ll leave you with a final bonus tip. 

If you’re a cannabis and lube enthusiast, you should probably know there’s weed-infused lube on the market. A very romantic gift for your stoned sweetie! But whatever cannabis product you choose to indulge in this valentine’s day, we hope it’s a great one.