Cannabis and Motherhood: Megan Mbengue
Cannabis and motherhood is a complex and taboo topic that deserves a more nuanced conversation. Moms (and parents, generally) who consume cannabis are not inherently bad parents, any more than parents who drink are bad parents. The stigma around cannabis has pervaded this conversation to the point where it’s challenging to have a real discussion about it. In this series, I aim to highlight the reality of moms who consume cannabis, why they do it, and how they approach the conversation with their children.
Mom Spotlight
Name: Megan Mbengue Location: California Occupation: Founder and visionary of EntheaCare Kids: 2 boys, 7 and 10 Preferred consumption method: TinctureNothing in this article is meant to constitute or should be taken as medical advice.
Cannabis and Motherhood: Megan Mbengue
Although Megan Mbengue (pronounced Beng) is a well-known and respected figure in the cannabis industry, her journey with cannabis doesn’t go as far back as you may expect. In fact, both of her sons were born by the time Megan came around to cannabis. “It was a COVID thing.” She said. “I smoked a joint with my mom.” When I asked how it was, she laughed. “I had too much, and I got dizzy. It wasn’t spectacular.”
Changing Her Mind on Cannabis
In her former life as a hospice nurse, cannabis wasn’t really on her radar. “I was a nurse who was taught all of the risks and drawbacks of cannabis and none of the benefits. I had to take urine tests every three months.” What finally began to change her mind on the plant was public radio. “I heard a story on NPR about how we have cannabinoid receptors. I started to explore cannabis and epilepsy, and it just went from there.”
Where it went was her local dispensary. “I was so overwhelmed by all the options. I knew my [hospice] patients could benefit from this, but if I couldn’t even navigate all the options at 30 years old, how could they at 65? Patients need guidance.”
Megan went on to get her Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Therapeutics from the Pacific College of Health Sciences and founded EntheaCare, a hemp-product company that aims to bridge the gap between patients and cannabinoid medicine. All while raising her two boys, ages 7 and 10.
Learning to Listen to Your Body
When I asked Megan how cannabis changed her as a parent, she answered quickly. “The plant softened my edges. I became more present and less strict with my boys.” It was a process of dropping in and getting to know herself better. “Cannabis opened up a world of being able to connect with my body, for the first time in my life. I could listen to what my body was saying, in terms of food, pain, body image – all of that.” Changing her relationship with herself and her body also changed her relationship with motherhood. “I teach my kids how to listen to their bodies and respond. I share tools with them, like meditation and body scans. These were things I had never done before cannabis. But now, I can teach them how to listen to their intuition.” Like many people, cannabis led Megan down a path of diving deeper into herself and her body. “I learned other ways to maintain my endocannabinoid system, working out, meditation, sound baths, and breath work.” The magic of cannabis often happens in the introspection, the quiet moments after consumption, when whispers become clear. There’s something about the plant that often makes it easier to listen to one’s inner knowing. “One of the most profound changes that I remember from then [when cannabis became a part of her life] is around my workouts,” Megan said. “I was working out six days a week, this highly regimented workout, no matter what else was going on. When I started consuming cannabis and listening to my body, I realized that I don’t have to do it if it doesn’t feel good.” Six years later, that mindset still guides her. “If I’m feeling it, I’m going to do what works best for me. And if I’m not feeling it, I don’t have to do it.”Cannabis and Kids: A Nurse’s Perspective
Working in the industry from a medical perspective makes Megan uniquely equipped to lead a conversation about cannabis with kids. Not just her own; Megan wrote an article for the Kids & Cannabis edition on how to talk to your kids about weed, broken down by age. And her strategy is no different when it comes to her boys. “We talk about it. I approach it like any other medicine. In my house, CBD is like Windex from My Big Fat Greek Wedding.’ Her education on the plant also gives her a broader range of how cannabis can help, especially outside of THC. “CBD goes on rashes and wounds. My kids take it for headaches. We use CBG for anxiety. It’s all very normal in my house.” Her training and knowledge of the plant make her comfortable dosing all the cannabinoids for her kids, when appropriate. “I have given my kids THC [in dry herb vapes] when they’re so ill they can’t keep food down. It’s not a common thing, but it can help.” It helps to understand each cannabinoid so deeply that the right situation is obvious. Her older son plays soccer and is at high risk for concussions. Megan has written before about cannabis protocols for concussions, both for adults and kids, and her son has needed it before. When it comes to her kids’ perspective on cannabis, Megan wants them to be discerning above all else. “My hope is that my kids grow up to be weed snobs. They can be knowledgeable for their classmate. If someone brings a D8 vape, they know it’s trash. They’re not even interested in consuming that manufactured garbage.”
Embracing Controversial Topics, Like Cannabis and Motherhood
If she’s known for anything outside of being a fierce advocate for the plant’s medicinal uses, it’s perhaps for pole dancing. Megan was even featured in the Sports edition of Fat Nugs Magazine, discussing how cannabis helps her recover from tough pole training sessions. “Cannabis and pole dancing could be considered equally controversial. But once you learn about it more, it’s just a medicine, it’s just an athletic activity.” Of course, both weed and pole dancing are two delicate topics – so what do her kids think? “There’s a pole in my living room.” Megan laughed. “My boys use it as part of the jungle gym. When they grow up, it might be surprising for them that other people didn’t grow up with a pole. I hope growing up with a different on pole dancing and cannabis means they’ll respect both when they get older.”Cannabis, Plant Medicines, and Intentional Consumption
Cannabis was only Megan’s introduction to plant medicines, psychedelics, and entheogens. “Cannabis opened my mind. I learned about how relatively safe cannabis is, then psyilocybin, and then even how LSD is relatively safe as well. Cannabis showed me how life-changing all of these substances can be when used with intention and guidance.” Like many people, COVID was a time of great change for Megan. But in retrospect, it was all for the better. “I am a completely different person than I was 6 years ago, because of these medicines. They brought me onto a better path, and my family and kids. I’m more connected to them and myself. I can do what’s best for myself and my family, not whatever is going on in this matrix hampster wheel we live in.” Her medical background also gives Megan a wider perspective. “These substances can be life-changing. They can be, and are, abused. But when you have mindfulness and intention, they can change your life. They’re just tools in a toolbox. You can’t build a house with a screwdriver, and you need multiple tools to rebuild your house. Cannabis, psychedelics, they’re just two tools.” She stressed the importance of being discerning with your cannabis products. “The quality [of your products] matters so much. There’s a lot of crap out there, even at dispensaries. More is not always better – lower doses can have life-changing effects.” When I asked Megan if she had any advice for parents, she’s clear. “Cannabis is a tool, not a panacea. Get medical advice to avoid the very real effects of overuse. And start microdosing mushrooms!”
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