ALPHA CENTAURI? –
Mar. 7, 2026 – Those who don’t like to drink booze but still need a buzz at the end of a long week are increasingly embracing the “California sober” lifestyle, which shuns alcohol and embraces cannabis as a so-called “healthier” alternative that doesn’t come with hangovers.
Sparking up a joint or splitting an edible with a friend doesn’t come with the same risks as alcohol consumption, studies show:
Per the CDC, more than 170,000 people die every year from excessive drinking. That includes deaths related to chronic drinking and from consuming too much alcohol on one occasion.
According to an NIH study, deaths from marijuana toxicity are “negligible,” though the DEA reports that there has been an increase in emergency room visits due to misuse of edibles.
That doesn’t make it harmless, however. Driving under its influence is as dangerous and illegal as getting behind the wheel after too many drinks. The negative health impacts of marijuana are still being explored.
