Being a Weed Mom in the South with Christine Harrell

How Motherhood Brought Her Back to Cannabis

Chrissy shared with me that her introduction to cannabis in the early 2000s was very social. “It was introduced to me in a party environment, before and during college. You never knew what you were getting, so it was a different experience every time. But I have very chill memories of cannabis in those days. Weed people used to sit around at parties and share stories – very community-oriented.”

But life got in the way. “I graduated and got an adult job, and I just didn’t see how cannabis fit into my life.”

She took a long break from cannabis. There were other, more acceptable coping mechanisms. “I was old enough to drink, so I went to bars and self-medicated there. I was escaping. Alcohol was pushed as the norm, but I’ve never had a good relationship with it. Some people can consume a few drinks and be fine, but that’s not me.”

Her turning point with cannabis came about in 2020, years after the birth of her children.

“I stopped drinking completely. To deal with that, I turned to medical cannabis. It piqued my interest because it was different when it was legal – tested. I could tailor my consumption to meet my needs as a consumer.”

Cannabis and Motherhood in the Deep South

But living in the Deep South brought its own set of challenges, even in a state with a medical marijuana program. “I’m from the Northeast. I was shocked to see how much pearl-clutching there was from southern moms when cannabis entered the conversation. I want to reduce the stigma.”

Chrissy came back to the plant years after the birth of her kids – but that plant has still had a major impact on the way she parents.

“Cannabis improves my quality of life. I don’t have time to do it socially – it’s about my well-being. Now that I have kids, I’m much more mindful about how and when I consume. My kids and their schedules come first, so I can’t just take an edible at 5 pm if I want one. If I’m wired at night, I set an alarm to take an edible so it kicks in just before bedtime. My timing has to be good; if I take it too late, I may be groggy in the morning, but if I take it too early, I won’t be as functional as I need to be.”

That intentionality is a core piece of Chrissy’s relationship with the cannabis plant. “It’s about finding balance. You can overindulge in anything – even water. It needs to be a value-add to my life.”

Talking to Kids About Cannabis

Like many canna-parents, Chrissy faces the conversation around the plant head-on.

“Every kid is different. My oldest stepson – he’s not interested at all. But my younger stepson is a different story. He started experimenting much younger. But I had compassion for him because I know cannabis is medicine, and I know that kids who experiment with substances are trying to deal with something. My consumption gave me credibility with him when we sat down to talk about it. I could be honest with him about his brain development and valid use cases for THC.”

Age plays a big role in how Chrissy frames the conversation around the plant. “Kids don’t need to be bubble-wrapped, but they should be exposed to age-appropriate things. You don’t have to share everything about the plant or any plant medicine.”

So, talking about weed looks a little different for her little ones.

“For my younger kids, they know that Mom’s medicine helps me be my best self. They can see my life is better than it was 5 years ago. I’m honest with them that it’s a plant, it’s medicine, and it was put here for humans to use intentionally. It’s one of many plants that can help us with ailments and conditions.”

And, the effects are obvious.

“Cannabis makes me a better mom. A more chill mom. It takes the edge off, so I’m calmer and more engaged. I can shut the ‘work’ section of my brain off and really be present with them. It makes quality time with Mom better – not different, like with alcohol. I’m 100% more patient, more thoughtful, and less irritated.”

Trading Wine Moms for Weed Moms

Chrissy would love to see other moms give cannabis a try, instead of a nightly drink. “Wine O’Clock is such brilliant marketing. It’s not the savior of moms – there are so many negative side effects of drinking that you don’t get with cannabis.”

But Chrissy also acknowledges that cannabis has its limitations. “It’s not for everyone. If you struggle with anxiety, sleep, or pain, there are other plants out there to help [outside of cannabis].”

Still, the stigma in the South is slowly changing.

“It’s getting easier to talk about weed with people. My friends who thought it was weird that I got into this industry are now using topicals and eating edibles. It’s really cool to see folks opening up to the idea that cannabis makes you feel good. Even here in the south, Mom culture is shifting.”

Cannabis has also helped fill a social void that alcohol left. “People can get uncomfortable with just drinking water. The beautiful thing about cannabis getting into the CPG space is that I can have a hemp drink when I’m out with my friends. It takes the load off and creates a more inclusive environment.”