A lot of my friends don’t get high. Maybe they used to but don’t any longer, or maybe they just never really resonated so well with cannabis.

As an experiment, I had seven of these individuals over one evening last week for a strictly sober Higher Thought game. (Well, there WAS chocolate … but no other mind-altering substances.) 

Did I find it significantly different to play the game unstoned vs. stoned? Every Higher Thought game is so different, it’s hard to make sweeping statements. 

However, upon reflection, I noticed the following:

1. The game was just as compelling straight as it is stoned.
2. A sense of cozy communion took shape, just as it generally does when the game is played stoned.
3. The game brought us all a little closer emotionally, as it does when the game is played stoned.
4. Unstoned, I found it easier to listen closely and follow other people’s answers. (Problem is, when I get high during a game, I usually smoke too much.)
5. There were fewer giggles than there usually are during a stoned game.
6. I don’t recall any big laughs during the sober game. (Usually, during a stoned game, there are some.)
7. I didn’t miss the giggles or big laughs. Something precious other than giggles or laughter was present.
8. The sober game lent itself more naturally to turn-taking and going around in a circle, rather than “popcorn style” participation.
9. I can’t say I had more or less fun playing sober than stoned. But there was something EASIER about participating in the sober game.
10. As with stoned games, people seemed energized and happy when we eventually completed. We played for about three hours, which went very quickly. We covered six or seven questions.

Jill and I conceived this game in the spirit of advocating for “higher” (i.e. not brain-dead) uses of cannabis. We wanted to recruit the capacity of the plant to induce insights and meaningful conversation. So cannabis was (obviously) intrinsic to the whole idea of Higher Thought: The Cannabis Game.

That said, based on anecdotal evidence – and now personal experience – it’s clear to me that the Higher Thought game need not be limited to occasions where cannabis is present, much less prominent. 

We invite you to experiment with unstoned play (if that hasn’t already occurred to you!). 

One friend of mine recently told me that she keeps the cards around and, with friends, occasionally picks out one or two and they have a conversation – and that she loves the game and has not yet once played it stoned.

Maybe we should have called it Higher Thought: The Cannabis-INSPIRED Game. That might have been more accurate. 

–Marc