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The 10 simple cannabis-related resolutions you need to start 2022 on a high

The 10 simple cannabis-related resolutions you need to start 2022 on a high

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Creating cannabis-focused resolutions symbolizes a fun, feel-good way to shake up your perspective on the new year ahead. For many, cannabis is already part of a wellbeing or self-care regimen and creating mindful resolutions can further enhance each person’s relationship with this special plant. Resolutions can nudge your cannabis use into healthier territory, or encourage you to dip your toes into trying new things.

To support you in all your cannabis-focused goals, we’ve formulated a list of our top ten new year resolutions. Some of these intentions don’t even use cannabis, and all are oriented towards helping you develop a relationship with cannabis that is healthy and sustainable. Most importantly, these are all super easy to stick to.

1. Try dry herb vaping

Using a dry herb vape can not only help you get the right dose you need, but it can also be a healthier option (Shutterstock)

Cannabis delivery formats have advanced in leaps and bounds in recent years. Until recently, a homemade joint was the only available option for if you wanted to inhale cannabis. Nowadays, however, options abound. Dry herb vaping is rapidly emerging as one of the least toxic consumption methods.

In comparison with smoking, the benefits are myriad. They include:

  • For starters, dried, unprocessed cannabis can be heated to a temperature so it doesn’t burn. Heating cannabis to a lower temperature minimizes the production of tar and other carcinogenic chemicals. 
  • Another advantage to vaping is that vapor rather than smoke is produced, which is less harmful for the lungs. 
  • Finally, vaping makes it easier to get precision dosing. If you haven’t yet tried dry herb vaping, 2022 is the year to give it a go. If you’re a smoker trying to quit, your lungs will thank you. 1 2

2. Get creative while high

Cannabis can bolster creativity, but it depends on a wide variety of factors (Shutterstock)

Cannabis has long been celebrated for its ability to spark creativity. Maya Angelou, Steve Jobs and Carl Sagan experimented with cannabis to tap into their creative reserves and explore avenues to refresh their perspectives. Increasingly, entrepreneurs are turning to cannabis to generate new ideas. 3

What’s more, there’s scholarly evidence that cannabis may contribute to unleashing creative genius. The plant  boosts blood flow to the brain’s frontal lobe, the region associated with creativity. 4 5

A 15mg dose of THC edibles in non-regular cannabis users was found in one study to improve verbal fluency (great news for aspiring writers). Other researchers have found that dose makes a difference: heavy hits of weed can actually impair divergent thinking, so remember that a little goes a long way. If you are curious about dabbling in your creative side, try painting, sculpting, writing, knitting while under the influence. 6 7

If the idea of diving into a solo creative activity leaves you feeling intimidated, consider a group activity. Initiatives like Puff, Pass and Paint create a safe space for people to use cannabis creatively in a social setting. Who knows, you could be the next David Hockney.

3. Use tobacco alternatives in your spliffs

You can avoid the highly addictive and carcinogenic properties of tobacco with some tasty alternatives to your cannabis rolls (Shutterstock)

The more we learn about tobacco combustion, the clearer it becomes that smoking tobacco poses a detrimental risk to health. More than 8,000 potentially harmful chemical constituents are created during tobacco combustion. What’s more, each nicotine hit can lead to addiction-forming habits. 8

If you’re accustomed to blending tobacco with cannabis in your spliffs, 2022 could be the year to shift to using alternatives. The good news is that there are abundant alternatives available, and many may even be growing in your back garden. 

All of the following natural alternatives can be added to spliffs:

  • lavender
  • rosemary
  • sage
  • chamomile buds 

These can contribute to the aromatic profile and elevate the terpene content. Simply harvest the flowers, dry them in the sun, grind, add to your spliff, and hey presto, you’ve crafted an artisanal, nicotine-free smoking experience.

4. Integrate cannabis into your wellness routine

One of the most common reasons people consume cannabis is as a way to cope with the stress of daily life (Shutterstock)

Cannabis is quickly cultivating a reputation as a plant that boosts wellness. Essentially, wellness embodies principles such as self-care, self-healing, and the pursuit of an optimal state of health and wellbeing

Contemporary cannabis users turn to the plant to ease stress and tension, promote sleep, improve focus, elevate experiences of intimacy, or enjoy social gatherings. Elevating our human experience in 2022 is definitely something we can all get behind.

5. Eat healthier munchies

Some healthy alternatives for munchies include natural nut butters, trail mix, avocadoes, hummus and smoothies (Shutterstock)

Cannabis goes hand-in-hand with food. The unique effects of the plant on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ESC) mean that weed can help stimulate appetite, leading to a serious case of the munchies. An edible or toke on a joint often sees many of us reaching for deeply satiating, fat-dense foods such slices of pizza or blocks of chocolate. 9

Let 2022 be the year you cleanse your pantry of hyper-processed foods, replacing them with more nutritious alternative sources of fat and nutrition. Natural nut butters, handfuls of trail mix, avocadoes, hummus with raw vegetables, and smoothies all represent excellent, nutrient-dense options to address an attack of the munchies.

6. Whip up healthier homemade edibles

Elevate your edibles experience by making them healthy and nutritious at the same time (Shutterstock)

Similarly, if you currently make edibles that tend towards the unhealthier end of the spectrum, make a resolution to try out healthier edible recipes. There are plentiful recipes available online for wholesome, plant-based takes on brownies, cookies, mousses and cheesecakes. The vast majority of the recipes can be utilize with an infused oil replacement to keep you dose constant, but improve the quality of the food you’re consuming

Best of all, plant-based whole foods are often rich in sources of healthier monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Fats are an essential component of edibles, as they help enhance the bioavailability of cannabinoids, boosting their efficacy. Not to mention these healthy fats are also the dietary precursors to endocannabinoids like anandamide and 2-AG10 11

7. Consider a diet that supports your endocannabinoid system

Unlocking the potential of the endocannabinoid system can improve quality of life for many people (Shutterstock)

Speaking of food and diet, why not set a resolution to incorporate more foods that boost your endocannabinoid system into your diet? Recent research suggests that the endocannabinoid system plays a critical role in our general health, thanks to its influence on systemic energy metabolism, inflammation, and brain health. 12

Foods that can support healthy endocannabinoid system function include balanced levels of omega 3 and omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ironically, hemp is one of the few foods that contain a perfect ratio of omega 3 to omega 6. It’s important to note that most people consume an excessive amount of omega 6, but an insufficient supply of omega 3. 13

You can also support ECS health with other omega-rich foods such as flax seeds, walnuts, algae, and chia seeds. Vegetables and fruits that are high in fiber, and fermented foods that contain probiotics can also boost your ECS. Fiber and probiotics are both instrumental to good gut health. There’s robust evidence to suggest that gut health and ECS function are intricately linked. 14

8. Work out with cannabis

There is evidence that working out while high can increase bodily sensation and awareness (glebstock/123rf)

It may sound counterintuitive, but training or working out while high can be a game-changing experience. Athletes who regularly go running under the influence of THC report enhanced bodily sensation and awareness–and the same goes for other disciplines such as yoga and resistance training. Individuals who practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu share that the cannabinoid can help with the problem-solving aspects of the practice. 

If you’re not up for experimenting with intoxicating cannabinoids like THC, consider trying CBD. This non-intoxicating cannabinoid has also been linked to enhanced workouts. There’s evidence that CBD may ease inflammation, accelerate recovery from skeletal injury, and help with pre-performance nerves or anxiety. 15

9. Learn how to grow your own cannabis

Growing your own cannabis may actually be easier than you think (Canva)

Few things are more empowering than growing your own food and witnessing the passage from seed to table. If you prize self-sufficiency and place importance on the provenance of your cannabis, why not try cultivating it yourself? Weed isn’t called weed for nothing. With a little knowledge, preparation, and the right conditions, cannabis is fairly straightforward to grow. 

There are numerous benefits to growing your own cannabis, the foremost advantage being that you can control the entire process. With spring or rainwater, organic fertilizer and full sunlight, you can produce exceptionally high-quality weed. Cannasseurs, 2022 is your chance to get your hands in the earth and cultivate some home-grown goodness.

10. Keep your smoking equipment clean 

Ideally, bongs should be cleaned after every session, and the water should be replaced (Shutterstock)

Regular cannabis smokers will already be acutely aware of the consequences of dirty, neglected pipes, bongs, and dab rigs. Build-up from consecutive smoking sessions accumulates over time, affecting your equipment and potentially your health. Inhaling from a pipe lined with black gunk is never an experience to savor.

More problematically, this residue can increase your exposure to carcinogens, detrimentally affect the flavor of your cannabis, or even catch fire. It’s essential to learn how to clean your equipment, and commit to regular cleaning sessions in 2022 (aim for once a week). Alternatively, if your current bong is too far gone and beyond cleaning, or you could just use an upgrade, now is the time to treat yourself to a new bong

Here’s to a happy, healthy 2022 for all of us–and plentiful supplies of high-quality cannabis!

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