Combining Cannabis With Color? 🤔

From cancer awareness to infused Palomas, we have a lot to cover this week!

First, I want to talk about our latest Cali Sober Mom Podcast episode, where we discuss overcoming life’s (many) hurdles through the healing power of cannabis and hemp.

Our special guest, Livi, shares her incredible journey from personal trauma to founding Discover Your Color, a company dedicated to simplifying the cannabis experience.

By matching consumers with the right products based on their needs, Livi’s mission is to take the guesswork out of finding the right cannabis for wellness goals using years of research and science-backed data. (But you’ll hear even more on that later! 😉)

But the podcast isn’t all we’ve been up to:

We also attended an exciting event last week—Unlocking the Energy of Cannabis: Its History & Potential Benefits—where we deepened our understanding of how cannabis can be a powerful tool in wellness and healing.

There’s so much to see, learn, and do in this industry right now. Life becomes so much more fun when you step out of your regular echo chamber and routine. Have you tried it?

-Monica

“When a cannabis gummy wears off, do you just take another? I’ve never really taken more than one or two at the same time and feel unsure about the timing.”

Totally fair question! Edibles can be tricky.

Personally, I get anxious about taking too much, so I usually stick to one dose I’m confident in. That said, for long events, I now prefer drinks or beverages. They kick in within 15-20 minutes and wear off in about 90 minutes, making it easier to pace yourself throughout the day.

There are also plenty of products like syrups, drops, or tablets to carry in your purse so that you can adjust your dose at your own pace. Remember to trust your intuition and that it’s always better to take too little than too much!

Try to remember that your ideal dosage depends on everything from:

• The particular type of product

• How much you use

• How you take it

• Your level of tolerance

It’s all about finding what works best for you!

(P.S. Do you have a question you’d like answered here? Reply to this email, and we’ll include it in a future edition!)

What We’re Drinking: Infused Palomas 🌺

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I have a confession: I was never the type to make fancy cocktails when I was drinking.

Who had time for that when I was just chasing a buzz? For me, it was all about keeping the wine flowing. But now? My cocktail shaker has seen more action since I stopped drinking than it ever did since we got it six years ago as an engagement gift!

This week, we’re making an Alcohol-Free Infused Paloma featuring THC-infused, alcohol-free tequila from MXXN (yep, THC tequila is a thing!)

I’ve made it a few times now for my friends, and it’s been a hit every time:

Ingredients:

• 1 oz MXXN Jalisco Agave (THC-infused, alcohol-free tequila)

• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

• 1/2 oz honey or agave syrup

• 3 oz grapefruit juice

• Sparkling water (to top)

• Lime slice & salt for garnish

Directions:

1. Rim your glass with salt, if you’re feeling fancy.

2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the MXXN Jalisco Agave, lime juice, honey/agave syrup, and grapefruit juice.

3. Shake well and strain into your prepared glass.

4. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Who needs a tropical vacation when we’ve got island vibes right at home? 🏝️

Education Spotlight: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

While we usually focus on cannabis education, I want to shake things up in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So much attention is placed on finding a cure through genetics and treatments, but I believe we're missing one of the most important pieces—prevention.

And guess what? One key prevention strategy is something I’m passionate about: reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption.

The Unfortunate Reality

It’s a well-researched fact that alcohol increases a woman’s risk of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Drinking just three alcoholic beverages a week raises your risk by 15%, and for each additional drink you regularly consume, that risk goes up another 10%.

Why? Alcohol increases estrogen levels and may also damage the DNA in cells, contributing to cancer growth.

Here’s another wild stat: Teen girls aged 9 to 15 who drink three to five drinks a week have three times the risk of developing benign breast lumps, which can later lead to breast cancer.

And it’s not just about the initial diagnosis:

Research shows that women who’ve been treated for early-stage breast cancer are at a higher risk of recurrence if they continue drinking—even as little as three to four drinks a week.

Bringing Awareness of Alcohol’s Risks

I know this is heavy stuff, but it’s important. Understanding these risks empowers us to make more informed choices, especially when considering how our habits impact long-term health.

This month, as we raise awareness for breast cancer, let’s also consider what we can do in our everyday lives to reduce risks—not just for ourselves, but for the people we love.

If you’re interested in learning more about alcohol’s health risks, I encourage you to check out this interview I did with Dr. Dr. Austin Baeth:

Products with a Purpose: Discover Your Color

In the spirit of this week’s podcast episode, I wanted to dive deeper into the important work that Livi from Discover Your Color is doing for the community.

Livi’s company is taking the guesswork out of cannabis selection by introducing a color-coded system that makes choosing the right product intuitive and reliable.

How does it work?

Through scientific analysis, Discover Your Color categorizes cannabis into four easy-to-understand groups—green, yellow, purple, and blue.

Each color relates to a specific effect, whether it’s energetic, uplifting, calming, or resting. This makes cannabis more accessible to both new users and seasoned consumers who want a more consistent experience without the trial and error.

Livi’s story resonates because, like so many of us, she saw a problem and wanted to provide a real solution.

By partnering with dispensaries like Flore in San Francisco, Discover Your Color has shown how this approach doesn’t just improve customer experiences—it also drives real results.

Customers know what they’re getting, and that clarity has shifted how dispensaries manage their inventory, offering more of what people actually want.

If you’re curious about Livi’s work and how it’s paving the way for a more user-friendly cannabis market, check out Discover Your Color and listen to the latest episode of our podcast!

If you want to get more involved - send me a message or follow my soon to launch advocacy corner on Youtube!

Healing Out Loud - so others don’t have to

Recently, I noticed her social media posts shifting, and I wasn’t sure if she was going through something or simply becoming more comfortable speaking her truth.

It turns out, after nearly three years sober, she fell into the common belief that she could manage drinking responsibly again. It didn’t take long for her to realize that wasn’t her path, and now she’s working to rebuild the life she had without alcohol.

Should we judge her for this? Absolutely not. It takes incredible vulnerability to admit when we’ve made a mistake, face it head-on, and try again.

The all-or-nothing mentality we often hold can be so damaging. Life rarely exists in black and white; we live in the gray areas, the spectrums of effort, belief, and progress.

It reminds me of a time when I gave up alcohol for almost six months:

I hadn’t dealt with the core reasons for my addictive behaviors. I just swapped wine for business and ice cream, never truly understanding how my dopamine deficiencies were driving my habits.

Looking back, I wonder how differently things could have played out if I had known then what I know now about addiction, alcohol, and my own mental health.

But that’s the beauty of life—it’s a ride. Good or bad, it takes you where you need to go.

Would my life look completely different without a random listeria outbreak? Probably. But I wouldn’t want my life any other way than it is now.

So let’s stop expecting sobriety to be all or nothing. Let’s stop judging people when they fall off the path they’re trying to walk, and instead, let’s support them wherever they are on their journey.

Because one day, we might need that same support, too.

(P.S. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Reply to this email, and we’ll include it in a future edition!)

Don’t Miss Out On EVEN MORE Cali Sober Content:

Aside from my usual content, I’ve had the pleasure of appearing on some incredible blogs and podcasts! Check them out for a more in-depth look at my journey: