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: Bri Smith
Location: Minnesota
Occupation: Writer and Brand Strategist
Kids: 5-year-old daughter
Preferred consumption method: Beverages and joints
Cannabis has changed my life in many ways, especially as a parent. I proudly stand behind it.
Cannabis & Motherhood: Bri Smith
Bri Smith has been consuming cannabis for many years. Long before this single mom stepped into the journey of motherhood, cannabis was by her side.
“18 years,” she told me with a smile. “Wow. It started as recreational. I’ve always loved to consume while socializing. It was a stress reliever and a social thing.”
Attending a 2013 Green Flower symposium began to change her attitude towards the plant.
“I started using cannabis more frequently for wellness and pain management. It’s helped me with everything from digestive issues to joint and muscle pain.”
Cannabis & Pregnancy
When Bri found out she was pregnant, her relationship with the plant began to shift again.
“There wasn’t, at the time, a lot of information around pregnancy and cannabis consumption. I had a few contacts in the cannabis space who had studied this a little, but everyone wanted me to stop. It gave me a caution around consuming.”
Bri switched to tinctures with occasional dry herb vaporization during her pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
“I was always cautious of my consumption during that time. I never wanted to overconsume, because for me, cannabis is about balance. I relied on microdoses for specific symptom relief. Not once was I ever worried about transference.”
Bri also points out that babies are exposed to endocannabinoids from the time they’re born. Breast milk is a rich source of endocannabinoids that babies rely on while they’re in crucial growing stages.
Her daughter is about to turn 6 now.
“I’d like to add, my daughter is amazing. She was ahead on all of her development milestones, formed sentences before other kids her age, and is bilingual now!”
Conversations Around Cannabis & Plant Medicine
Bri wants her home to be a place of empathy and understanding, and a big part of that is being open and honest with her daughter.
“She’s known about cannabis since she could talk. We even have two books on it! One of them is It’s Just a Plant. She has always been around the plant, in books, and the products in my home. She understands that Mom needs medicine, and she knows it comes in many forms.”
These discussions are crucial, Bri insists, even at a young age, to keep appropriate boundaries around the plant and to keep her daughter safe.
“She knows what the leaf looks like, that it means medicine, and it’s not for her. She will always ask if I have medicine before she has a sip of my drink. And she knows when Mom steps outside for a minute, that she comes back inside feeling better. And, lockable cannabis storage options are so important for parents. Safe storage keeps everyone safe.”
Bri admits her daughter is still young to have questions about cannabis, but she does want to know why Mom needs medicine.
“I tell her about the pain in my joints and how it means I can’t pick her up, or the pain in my head and how it makes me not want to play. Cannabis has helped me manage pain in a way that other medicines can’t. Pharmaceuticals take away the pain, but they take away other things too. Cannabis takes away my pain without taking me from the moment.”
These conversations around cannabis are part of a larger series of conversations in Bri’s home around plant medicine and how the earth cares for us all.
“Plants and food are medicine. She knows that her food comes from farms and from Mother Earth, and that herbs and plants are medicine. I really try to emphasize the relationship between us and the plant. When we go on walks, we’ll bring gloves and a bag to pick up trash.”
The conversation around plant medicine doesn’t start and stop with cannabis, either.
“When my daughter had hand, foot, and mouth disease, we used plant medicines from the start. She was on a regimen that included lemon balm, lavender, valerian root, CBD, and other medicinal herbs. Other kids [in her preschool] had 50+ blisters all over their bodies; she only had a few on her hands and feet. Plant medicine made all the difference.”
Cannabis & Kids
Bri wants to see the conversation around kids and cannabis evolve away from a place of complete fear-mongering.
“The taboo around children and cannabis is unfair, especially considering some of the medications they’re prescribed as they grow up. We need to have more realistic conversations around phyto-cannabinoids and our kids. Giving your kids CBD should not be a crazy thing!”
For Bri, the plant that she has relied on since her teenage years now plays a different, but equally vital role in her life.
“Cannabis centers me and helps me regulate my emotions better. When I’m maxed out on sensory overload and totally dysregulated, I lose my capability to communicate calmly. Cannabis helps me be present and give all of my attention to my daughter, instead of worrying about a million things like dinner, dishes, and bedtime.”
In other words, cannabis keeps her in the moment and in a playful mindset, something that’s crucial for kids.
“Something I’ve noticed as a single parent is how much she feeds off my energy. I’m distracted all the time–it’s hard to juggle giving her enough attention with staying on schedule and cooking dinner, and getting her to bed. The more frantic I get, the more she vies for my attention by jumping, pulling, and pushing. I’ve realized that when she starts pulling for my attention like that, it’s a cue for me to consume, re-regulate, and be present in the moment together.”
For Bri, cannabis is an integral part of her journey, particularly in motherhood.
“Parenting is so tied to your mental health. Cannabis has changed my life in many ways, especially as a parent. I proudly stand behind it.”
You can reach out to Bri on LinkedIn, Instagram, or on her website.
