Today's Mom on Cannabis

I am a mother of two children and four fur-babies, and I’m pro-Cannabis. There, I said it. I recently came out to my friends and family and it felt pretty damn good.

I feel like I have been silent for so long because I wanted…needed, to preserve an image I set for myself. I didn’t want to take a stance out of worry and fear that I wouldn’t be accepted. Truth is, I believe in cannabis and the benefits of its use.

I’m from a state that is legal to admit that you consume cannabis. So, the only thing I would be losing are “friends” that can’t accept me for who I am. By admitting this out loud I realized that there are many mothers, fucking GREAT mothers, who can’t be vocal about this truth. If they did, CPS would be knocking at their door and their whole world would be taken away from them. It’s a silly but serious thought for me. Losing your kids over Cannabis.

I know what it’s like to live paralyzed by my own thoughts and anxiety. Depression is real. Anxiety is real. Pain is real. For instance, postpartum depression can be linked to mothers who drown their kids or walk into traffic, that is real. And the only option in most states is pharmaceutical drugs. Chemicals that are legal but have so many negative side effects that they can lower the overall quality of your life or even ruin it altogether. Cannabis has absolutely made a positive difference in my life by alleviating the fears and anxieties I have as a mother. When I became a mother I was suddenly and powerfully gripped by fear over every hypothetical crisis. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Over time I realized I could receive clean, natural, organic, homegrown help in lowering my anxiety, reducing stress, and helping me sleep. I’m still going to worry about my kids because that’s what parents do, but I wouldn’t ever want to be told my only solutions are Xanax and Ambien. 

When I say, “I am a mom and I am pro-cannabis,” it doesn’t mean I’m smoking as much as Cheech and Chong or Snoop Dog while parenting my children. When we want to medicate, my husband and I give each other time outside away from the kids. We medicate separately and for different reasons. My husband smokes to relieve his joint and muscle pain. He is more of a day smoker and likes to do be productive. You can find him doing housework or working in the garden. Smoking helps him get through the motions. I personally medicate to aid my sleep and rid myself of my anxiety. I like to smoke after my kids are fed, bathed, clothed, and put down to sleep. Then it’s my time to relax and prepare for bed.

When I tell someone I smoke cannabis, I remind them that I’m still the same old me, and as the world changes and time goes on, I know the preconceived notions surrounding cannabis will change too. For now, I’m taking the first step toward normalizing cannabis for moms out there who can’t have a voice. To the mothers who medicate in a legal state, I encourage you to stand up and the only way we could do that is by being honest with ourselves and with the people out there who want to listen.

We’ve had an outpouring of support messaged to us through our Instagram. Please feel free to share your story here to help other moms get a sense that they’re not alone. In fact, we’d love to hear from parents of both genders!