My "California Sober" story. Everything you need to know.

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. This applies to life. If you get rid of the stuff that’s “bad” for you, it will improve your life. Period. This is my story and routine on becoming “California Sober.” I first learned of the phrase California Sober many years back. Whenever I found out that someone didn’t drink but still smoked weed, I was always curious about how and why. I basically drank from the age of 15 until last year in August when I promised myself I’d never touch alcohol again. I quit a few times in my 40s but always returned eventually. It’s going to feel weird typing this and having people read it because I’ve never written about it. I was never a “drunk,” but I definitely drank daily the whole time I drank as an adult. I definitely smoked a lot of weed too. I would usually smoke bowls throughout the day, and in the evening, I’d switch to alcohol. Many times, I would consume them both at the same time, especially back in the band days and living in a music house. I loved a good wake and bake and a huge cup of brewed coffee. Damn, I loved weed. I loved everything about it, from the way music would sound to the creative surge I would get from it. Anytime I’d ever have the conversation about “if you had to pick one, which one would it be?” weed was always the winner. I liked drinking alcohol. It was fun. For me, it was a reward for getting through a full day as a hairdresser. Just one more cut 'til beer:30. It was the medal at the finish line. Weed during the day, but at night it was craft beers or a damn strong pour of some brown water or a filthy dirty martini. This was my routine for many years until marijuana became legal and edibles became the new thing. I had ingested weed many times before this, usually in the form of a brownie or a Rice Krispy treat. I loved eating it, but the problem I’d run into was that I never quite knew the potency. And, lord help me if the brownie tasted good, especially when you’d eat them after a few too many drinks. There used to be a bar in Calumet City, IL called the Grapevine. This piano jazz bar was something out of a movie set. I f’n loved it, and so did all of my friends. It was our hangout and musically the most impressionable place ever. Ever. I remember one night eating too much of a pot brownie and knowing I had to go home. At that time, I was living back at home with my parents for a few months while saving to buy a house. I put a Sublime CD on my 3-disc changer Magnavox, then stripped myself of all my clothes to hide from the wolves that were across the street. Damn, lol. My little brother came in, turned the light on, then freaked and left at how odd the scene was, lol. This never turned me away from eating edibles, but they became a lot safer when the milligrams were numbered and the strain was identified. The legalization of weed really revolutionized the knowledge of how much and what kind you’d be consuming. Now I’d experiment with harder substances here and there mainly in my 20s, but thank the lord I never got into them heavily. My mom gave me this advice once: “Two things: don’t be a dick and never do a drug that you can’t tell your mom you’re doing.” When I started buying edibles, I learned the difference between sativa, hybrid, and indica. Eventually, I found the dosages and brands that worked for me. O.K., I’ll get into all that later, but the other part of my “California Sobriety” recipe is mushrooms 🍄.

Anyone who’s ever experimented with these usually has a story about overconsumption and might have only done mushrooms a few times at a huge dose. I can’t really remember the first time I tried mushrooms. I think it was with a group of buddies during the summer of our senior year at the dunes. Holy shit, lol. I remember drinking cans of beer, listening to The Doors and Cypress Hill, and watching the earth come alive. This experience was way different than alcohol or THC. This was special and needed to be explored. Unlike weed and alcohol, mushrooms were all based upon when available. Back in the 90s and in the 2000s, they would show up every once in a while, and if the time was right, they would be taken. For years, I had a group of friends who would trip on mushrooms every year at the Renaissance Faire. It turned the fair into an epic adventure of discovery and uncontrollable laughter. I never had a “bad” experience with mushrooms in my younger years. I always did them outside, and at times it was tribal. Eventually, the shrooms went away, and my main thing was alcohol and the herb. Right around the time edibles became super popular, I started hearing the word “microdose.”

I knew I wasn’t supposed to drink forever. I never had a bad experience with THC or mushrooms, but I have had many shit shows from the sauce. Fuck alcohol, lol; it only makes you drunk and leads to plans you’ll never keep. Nothing good comes from it, and holy shit, once you’re addicted, you’ll make up every excuse to continue. I quickly became an every-night THC edible consumer in my early 40s. I eventually learned that 10mg of sativa during the day would give me a calm awareness that I truly, truly enjoyed. Nighttime around 8 p.m., it was indica at first 50 mg, then it turned into 25 for years. It’s no secret to people who know me well that this is my lifestyle. Even when I traveled as a celebrity stylist, everyone knew I smoked. I’d even have groups of people after shows take me out back and smoke a joint with their salons, and I’d take selfies with people and just talk. Weed brings people together; alcohol tears people apart. When I started my running journey in 2018, it had been years since consuming mushrooms. I can honestly say probably since my early 30s. Occasionally, here and there at concerts, but very rarely. They just weren’t around, and for years they were hard to get. So I was a huge craft beer and whiskey guy. During the day, it was small doses of sativa, and at night it was indica. Smoking weed became very rare because I started to feel like it was interfering with my running.

When I unfollowed everyone on social media, it gave myself a fresh start on what I would or wouldn’t see when I scrolled. Unfollowing hairdressers and beauty companies and following Ironman and David Goggins-type pages completely switched my AI. All of a sudden, I tapped into a different algorithm of endurance sport, cold plunge, sauna therapy, and men’s self-help. This is right around the time I first heard about serotonin levels and dopamine levels. This is when it all made sense to me. It wasn’t about satisfying the addiction of alcohol and marijuana but finding ways to increase my levels of serotonin and dopamine. 💥 Holy shit, now I just needed to quit drinking. This was way harder than I thought it would be. Way harder. Eventually, I won the battle and attempted being alcohol-free in the summer of 2021. I was drinking tonic and limes and NA beer. Sativa 5 mg only during the day if I felt extreme anxiety, and in the evening, I went back to high doses of indica to help me sleep. Wow, I felt better, and after a few months, my moods stabilized, and I found a new “normal.” The following year was a pivotal year for me with my rediscovery of the magical mushroom. It seems like when natural substances become “legalized” in parts of the US, they become easier to obtain one way or the other. Low and behold, a few years ago, I was reintroduced to this amazing natural wonder. This time was different.

Psilocybin (the active ingredient in magical mushrooms) consumed in small “microdose” amounts is a f’n game changer. Period. Especially if you’re anything like me. So what do I mean by that? Well, glad you asked! Here’s how I would describe myself: f’n nuts. 🥜 Insane, passionate, driven, and at times I feel like I’m dying. Focused, delusional, paranoid, and trustworthy. Tortured but brilliant and kind. My best friend and my worst enemy. Introverted as fuck but incredibly outgoing. Sound like someone you know? My initials should be O.C.D. Here comes a lane change. If this sounds like you, I highly recommend the following. First of all, get outside and move around. It doesn’t have to be marathons and shit; just get outside. Move, walk; if you can use your legs, use them, and if you can stand and walk, do it. You’ll feel better than how you felt before you did. Don’t go for a bike ride or go to the gym; walk at a moderate tempo outside. Even when it’s cold or hot, just get out there. In extreme weather, stay close to home for safety if you’re scared. Just do it. Don’t drink canned energy drinks; they’re f’n stupid and will mess up your anxiety and your overall health. If you can’t get out during daylight, buy a headlamp for 20 bucks on Amazon and do it at night. Find 30 minutes. If you feel like you’ve reached a mental breakdown, take a shower. For some reason, water has a way of resetting your mood. Start with hot and end with cold. Outside movement and a “factory reset” shower will make you feel “better.” Ok, that’s the most important step: do something to help you control your “worst.” When it comes to substances, here are my thoughts. When it comes to alcohol, always remember it’s a depressant with nothing to teach. I honestly believe that a couple of glasses of red wine aren’t gonna kill you, but keep in mind it’s not going to do anything except temporarily alter your mood. Alcohol in overconsumption is the devil. A majority of my negative internal mental health came from alcohol. If you can’t quit, then try harder or ask for help and toughen the fuck up and do it! Enough tough love ❤️. If you or anyone you know struggles with this nasty addiction, seek help; this is a super hard addiction to break on your own. Sometimes it takes others to heal. Ok, now control your eating. Break down your diet into: is this helping me or hurting me? Natural foods or chemically processed? At this point in our society, we know what’s healthy and what’s killing us. A pack of bananas and some nuts is the same as a Happy Meal.

Ok, now that we’ve laid some basic framework, let the California sober tale begin. Here’s what worked for me. After I became active, I felt better. That’s the first step. It’s necessary to feel better by your actions rather than from marijuana and mushrooms. Natural “raw dog” approach first to fully benefit from the lifestyle. If you’re not going to do what I previously wrote, then the rest of this will not be as beneficial. Period. Edibles played a huge part in my addiction to alcohol. Here’s how I’d explain the difference in strains of THC edibles. There are three to my knowledge. 1) Sativa: this strain works well during the day. The best way I could describe it is like taking a small amount of Xanax but with a small iced coffee to follow. It’s calming but the energy is still there. For me, it minimized my craving for alcohol and allowed me to see my problems one by one rather than as a huge scary monster. Disclaimer: edibles are not good for you. Most of them still have synthetic dyes and sugars and other nasty little things. I do not recommend taking them for a long-term approach to being California sober, but they are an easy and affordable way to get started. 2) Hybrid: these, to me, are the equivalent of a glass of wine. The lower the dose, the smaller the glass. Still doable but not as functional as only sativa. I recommend hybrid if you’re ever going out and will be around others who might be drinking. 3) Last but not least, indica: otherwise known as "In Da Couch." Yup, night night. These are perfect for bedtime. I recommend consuming them 30 minutes prior. Buyer beware with these; the more you consume, the more likely you’ll be passing out, depending on your size and tolerance. Pro tip: a side effect of these little nuggets of glory is something called “the munchies.” In my case, what was a great option for me to not gain weight but rid myself of the munchies was a low-calorie NA brew. Go Brewing is an excellent NA beer with hardly any calories and the taste of a good craft beer. If you want to go super inexpensive, soda water with lemon has a similar effect. If you’re looking for a non-gummy option, I highly recommend checking out a dispensary and asking about THC tinctures or liquids, which in my opinion are a more natural, less processed route. I love gummies, but the more I continue this journey, the more I stay away from anything processed on a daily basis. Do your research and find your own way to best suit you. “Budtenders” at dispensaries are full of knowledge and love their jobs.

When you start missing alcohol, remember that you “don’t” drink. I know it’s pretty tongue-in-cheek, but it’s that simple. You didn’t “quit;” you just “don’t.” It’s more permanent. You will not benefit if you drink alcohol while doing this. Not even in moderation. Period. Ok, now that we’ve found a groove and a good routine on what makes us feel our new “normal,” it’s time to do some math. Ask yourself these questions: How much am I doing? What are the doses? Try going down. For example, after about 6 months, I quit the sativa. I felt better just from taking a cold shower or going for a run. 🏃‍♀️ I didn’t quit right away; I weaned myself off of the dosage. I went from 25 to splitting it in half, and then another half. I lowered it over time. The only thing I kept at the 25 mg was the indica, and at times I’d do 50 but not often. Hybrid I’d do if I was ever going out to play music, which is seldom these days. It definitely kills the urge to drink for me. I can’t remember the last time I took one. Life hack: tonic with a lime at a bar or restaurant will immediately curb the feel to drink alcohol. I still don’t keep tonic and lime in my house and only consume it when I’m in a social setting. It’s my “reward.”

Ok, here’s what we’ve all been waiting for (drum roll please): microdosing mushrooms. 🍄 I’ve been practicing this now for about three years, and the benefits I’ve discovered are just insane! There are two ways in which these can be administered. First is in a tea. Mushrooms are dried and can easily be put in a small mixer like a bullet or a ninja. Using about one cap and stem (I’ve never measured), break it down into a powder. Toss it into a mason jar, add about 12 oz of water and 1/2 a lemon, and leave it overnight. The next day, take a shot glass worth, and you’re off and running. If you’d like to ingest raw, think of the size of a peanut M&M. I do both, depending on whatever I have going on. Consume 30 minutes prior to going outside for movement. I never consume and stay inside. Never. If you do, you are not experiencing the benefits of this lifestyle. It’s tribal when you’re outside. The act of movement is increasing your mood. The mushrooms are guiding your thoughts and allowing you to see the world around you. You are the center of it all. Don’t listen to music; listen to everything around you and be grateful. I don’t know how else to explain it. It turns everything 4K. The clouds become more pronounced. Colors are more vivid. Thoughts become clearer. It’s an awakening of the senses. The longer you move, the better you’ll feel. If you’re looking to spend a lengthy amount of time, I recommend repeating the same amount of dose every 90 minutes. For peace of mind, vitamin C will help neutralize the effects, so either an orange 🍊 or a chewable vitamin C will almost instantly decrease the effect if need be. Remember, it’s not about getting f’d up but a journey of self-discovery.

I’ll leave you with this: none of the above information I’ve shared with you will make your life any better. The people and environments that you consider toxic will still be toxic. Every day is a new adventure or a battle depending on your situation. What I’ve learned about my personal journey with my California sobriety is that it will change your perspective on how you view yourself and your potential. A majority of people are so disconnected from nature and themselves. Every day, outside movement along with eating more of the right foods, avoiding the wrong ones, and staying away from things designed for profit and illness will help you live a better life. The trick is to first strengthen your mind through your actions. Good luck with all of your future endeavors, and never be afraid to see what’s out there. It’s not a race; it’s a journey. Until next time, friends.

B.