Cannabis and Women: Is this the new relaxation ritual? | Emily Paulsen & Lisa Hurwitz
There is an unspoken default in our culture: when we’re stressed, we pour a drink. When we want to celebrate, we pop a bottle. When we’re overwhelmed, overstimulated, or just trying to shift gears at the end of the day, we reach for alcohol, even when it doesn’t actually help.
Recently, I sat down with Lisa Hurwitz, President of Happi, a cannabis-infused, low-dose seltzer designed for women who want something different. We talked about the rituals we’ve inherited, the ones we’re quietly outgrowing, and the power of giving ourselves better options, especially when we’re tired, burnt out, or trying to take the edge off without checking out completely.
Lisa’s story starts with insomnia, Ambien, and corporate burnout, and leads to a bold reinvention, a move to Nicaragua, and the launch of a product built for women who want to feel good without guilt, stigma, or side effects.
This isn’t about being anti-alcohol or pro-cannabis. It’s about asking better questions. And in this episode, we asked a lot of them.
Why Wine Became the Default and What Happens When We Question It
Wine is marketed to women as celebration, reward, relaxation, and identity. But many of us are waking up to the reality that it’s also masking stress, interrupting sleep, and creating rituals that don’t support us.
Lisa shared how that realization hit her personally—when she was exhausted, reliant on Ambien, and still unable to rest. A single puff of a vape pen helped her sleep through the night, which sparked a larger curiosity: what else could support women in a more intentional, gentle, and functional way?
That’s where Happi comes in. A cannabis beverage that’s low-dose, delicious, and intentionally designed to fit into women’s lives. Not disrupt them.
We talked about dosage, formulation, and how this isn’t about getting high—it’s about getting relief, clarity, and rest.
What Women Deserve That the Industry Hasn’t Delivered
The cannabis space is still overwhelmingly male. And most of the products on the market? Designed for high doses, big experiences, or consumers who aren’t thinking about how they need to show up for life the next day.
Lisa is one of the only women leading a cannabis beverage brand—and it shows. She talked about how Happi was designed for the way women actually live: multi-tasking, caregiving, showing up to work, and needing something that supports rather than shuts down.
We also got into the stigma. Why women still feel uncomfortable saying they use cannabis. Why so many of us are still conditioned to feel like we’re doing something wrong if we don’t cope in the ways we’ve been taught are “acceptable.” And how visibility, education, and storytelling are helping shift that narrative—one honest conversation at a time.
Curious About Cannabis, Self-Care, and Building Better Rituals?
Here are a few ways to explore this for yourself—no pressure, no shame, just curiosity:
Pay attention to what you reach for at the end of a long day. Is it helping? Is it just habit?
Notice the difference between coping and caring. Do your current rituals actually restore you—or just pause the stress for a minute?
Explore the ingredients in products you use for sleep or stress. What would it feel like to understand what your body is interacting with?
Consider experimenting with low-dose cannabis in a safe, intentional way. Start low. Go slow. Do it at home. Track how you feel.
Reflect on the shame. Have you ever felt judged for how you unwind? What beliefs are you ready to release around that?
Think about what “celebration” or “relaxation” could look like if it started from support instead of performance.
Let’s Stay Curious Together
This conversation isn’t about cannabis. It’s about permission.
Permission to rest. Permission to rewrite the rituals that no longer fit. And permission to feel good without explanation.
You can listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. And if it sparked something for you—a shift, a question, a memory, I’d love to hear it.
Join me on Instagram @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman and tell me what you’re rethinking about stress, rest, and what you reach for when the day ends.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here.
And join the conversation on Instagram @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.
