Struggling w/ Dry January? Meet High January!

The holidays were a ton of fun... but now it's January, and I'm feeling a little bloated and tired from the excessive sugar and spirits that came with the marathon of holiday get-togethers.  For years, I've attempted a strict Dry January to jumpstart a healthy new year, but let's be honest with ourselves.  I'm not going to socially hibernate all January, and in our current culture, adult socialization typically involves a drink in hand.

We all know the benefits of giving up booze, even for a month: lower consumption of sugar and empty calories, better sleep and mood regulation, more hydrated and glowing skin, and most importantly, a health break for your kidneys, liver, stomach, and brain.  But when Friday night comes along, I've been cooped up working all week, and my girlfriends are calling me to come out and play, the logic of Dry January takes a back seat to my need to have fun... unless I plan ahead.  At the bottom of this article, I've curated a list of my favorite low-dose THC drinks to suit any social situation so you can still partake in all of the giggles without giving up on your Dry January goals.

Damp January can be a slippery slope.  We all have those friends who are perfectly content to hang out at the bar / concert / club 100% sober.  Bless them - that ain't me.  To quote Blake Shelton, "if I have one, I have 13..." and if that resonates with you, you know it's better to stick with non-alcohol alternatives like I mention below than play the "maybe I'll have just one" game.

If you're already the captain of the No Booze Cruise, lead your friends through this rewarding challenge!  Introduce them to activities that don't revolve around alcohol.  If they're 420-friendly or 420-curious, have a few of these High January alternatives on hand.

My High January Saviors:

• Perfect White Claw Replacement for house parties and BYOB settings: Cycling Frog Seltzers - online; delivery available throughout US (Cycling Frog | Hemp-derived THC & CBD Products).  These are genuinely enjoyable seltzers in low, buildable doses that are lower in calories and sugar than their alcohol alternatives.
• Ultimate Discretion and Versatility for bars and clubs:  MyHi STIX - available at dispos in MA, MI, and NY.  These are plastic straws filled with 10mg of water-soluble THC powder that let you turn any drink into a THC drink (especially the flavorless version)!
• Liquor replacement for a Mocktail:  Canna Cantina tinctures - available in NY at Kaya Bliss, Torches, and Happy Munkey dispos.  These discreet bottles fit in your pocket, and while they pack a wallop (100 mg per bottle!), they smartly designed the cap to measure out a perfect 5mg dosage.  The flavors are tasty and versatile, and the watery consistency blends perfectly into cold drinks.
• Perfect for hot drinks - Honey Bomb lozenges - CBD options available online for US delivery; THC options available in AZ dispos.  Each lozenge contains throat-coating honey and feel-good cannabinoids which melt perfectly to spice up your Not Toddy or Sober Hot Cider this winter (Get 20% with code PuffPuff20 - Wellness Blend – Honey Bomb).

And if you need any more motivation to participate in High January this year, every option I mention above costs less per package than a single roof-top cocktail.  Cheers to a happier, healthier 2026!