They call it “California sober.”  Generally speaking, this term applies to folks who use marijuana but abstain from alcohol and other drugs, particularly narcotics or other highly addictive substances. People choose this lifestyle for a variety of reasons, though it’s often encountered in people who have had medical, legal, or financial problems with alcohol. 

Is marijuana better for you than alcohol? While there are recognized medical benefits from cannabis for some people, it’s problematic to use it purely as a replacement for more harmful substances, medical professionals say. In this week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, writer Art Bukowski checks in with those who advocate for this lifestyle, those who live it, and those who caution against it.

This week's Northern Express also has several other stories on the marijuana industry, including a guide for first-time cannabis users and an in-depth look at how Gaylord and Traverse City plan to invest hundreds of thousands of excise tax dollars in their communites from marijuana revenues.

The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy on newsstands at more than 650 locations in 13 counties across northern Michigan.