The «Stoned Moms» phenomenon in the United States

Cannabis use and parenting are often seen as incompatible. A growing number of mothers in the United States are protesting against this association. A phenomenon that has come to be known as «stoned moms», and which has become a crucial market segment for the cannabis industry.

A growing phenomenon

The Stoned moms is particularly prevalent among stay-at-home mothers. They claim the right to treat their stress with cannabis, but also other ailments linked to their condition as women and mothers, such as postpartum depression, menstrual pain or menopause. This also applies to conditions that also affect men, such as depression, anxiety and chronic pain, all of which cannabis is reputed to be effective in treating. They also call for responsible recreational use of cannabis. American comedian Jessica Delfino remarks: “Cannabis use among mothers is becoming more widespread because it's becoming more legal, so people feel more able and willing to discuss it».

Adam Grossman, CEO of Papa and Barkley a cannabis company. He noted a growing interest in his products and cannabis in general from mothers: «In the last month alone, we've seen the emergence of many workshops on how to parent and use cannabis or articles on «parenting and cannabis» as well as Facebook groups.» «More and more women are starting to have conversations about cannabis and breastfeeding, cannabis and pregnancy and cannabis and parenting» he notes.

Breaking the taboo

Although it is becoming increasingly socially acceptable to smoke cannabis, the stigma surrounding this use is still present. Parents who publicly admit to using cannabis expose themselves to all kinds of judgment, while, as many of them point out, drinking alcohol is completely trivialized. In her article at High Times Supporting moms who get high, However, Jessica Delfino, who discusses this new trend, points out: “Mothers and women who use medical cannabis are often put in a position where they feel obliged to justify themselves and explain why they use it, in an attempt to avoid the judgment that inevitably follows a confession.

To break the stigma surrounding cannabis use among mothers, some are turning to blogs. This is the case, for example, of Kathryn VanEaton, now known as The Stoner Mom. She explains that she's just another mother, but that «in addition to being a mother and a wife,» she's also an activist for the medical and recreational use of cannabis. On her blog and Youtube channel, she posts videos to help parents develop responsible consumption habits and protect themselves from the stigma around cannabis such as: »10 tips to avoid looking like a stoner« or »8 ways to be a responsible stoner parent«. Living in Colorado, she grows her medical cannabis in a locked room in her basement to treat her depression.

This freedom of speech is increasingly common among American mothers, and encourages a sense of community. According to Kiri Westby publicly confess in the media and through her blog about being a mother and smoking a lot of cannabis: «In light of our recent emancipation from the illegality of cannabis, I think it's high time we lifted the veil on cannabis and motherhood». She explains that being a «stoned mom» is like «entering a sorority (...) with a complicity cemented by mutual understanding and shared shame».

It's against this sense of shame induced by the stigma around cannabis that she calls for responsible consumption: «We can't deny that we smoke, but we can have our own discipline of consumption and make healthy choices for our children... and to do that, we have to start freeing the word. (...) We have to accept that cannabis is coming out of the dark alleys into our homes, right next to whisky and painkillers, and we have to prepare our children accordingly».

Industry adapts

The specific needs of this new market of female consumers a inspired new types of products which are designed to be discreet or to control dosage more effectively. These include sprays, drinks, drops and oils. By dispensing with bongs and joints, mothers avoid being labelled irresponsible stoners. Despite legalization, this stereotype still clings fiercely to cannabis users, and the industry is trying to combat it. A case in point is Medmen: Forget Stoner.

Siu, CEO of Mother and Clone, For example, a Colorado-based company markets sublingual sprays. They wanted to create a practical and safe product for mothers. The dose is micro-dosed, takes effect in one minute and lasts only one hour. The dosage is therefore easy to control, and it's almost impossible to overuse. She explains that she embarked on this project after suffering postpartum depression, and came out of it thanks to cannabis. Another product particularly popular with moms is CBD oil, as it contains little or no THC, takes effect quickly (15-20 min) and can be mixed with food or ingested in drops. Adam Grossman explains that more and more of his customers are mothers looking to combat depression and nausea.

Kristie Amobi, founder of Rebalan, a cannabis education company that promotes the virtues of cannabis. micro-dosing explains his surprise at the prevalence of stress and anxiety among mothers who turn to cannabis for relaxation. Could cannabis be the miracle cure for the ailment of the century? «There's no magic formula,» Kristie explains, «but I'm confident there's a place for cannabis in small doses to help people manage stress, especially when compared to the side effects of alcohol or other medications.» On her blog, the Stoner Mom comes to the same conclusion: «There are a lot of people with mental health problems who are not treated or not properly treated. Children really benefit from having parents who are present and cheerful, and since I introduced cannabis into my daily routine, my children have never seen me have a depressive episode».

Despite the importance of this movement, scientific research into the effects of cannabis on stress, anxiety and depression is lacking. What's more, psychiatrists and doctors are generally reluctant to prescribe it to nursing mothers or pregnant women because of the lack of available data on these effects. L’Infant Risk Center explains that some studies suggest that cannabis use during pregnancy or breastfeeding can have a harmful effect on a child's development, but admits to lacking precision.