Mind & Spirit
Why I smoke weed: Canadian women chat about their relationship to cannabis
Illustration by Genevieve Pizzale
Mind & Spirit
Why I smoke weed: Canadian women chat about their relationship to cannabis
We chatted with a few Canadian women about their cannabis use—here's what they had to say.
You might be surprised to discover that one in five Canadian women have consumed cannabis in the last year—and you might be further interested to know that two-thirds of those women use the substance primarily for recreational purposes (instead of it being prescribed medically). This came news to me from Mary Beth Williamson, the chief marketing officer at Fleurish, a Canadian company dedicated to developing and marketing cannabis exclusively for women. Women have taken to cannabis and it’s not primarily to get high—although that's definitely a perk for many. They're also looking to manage anxiety, to replace alcohol and to ease physical pain. In fact, Williamson noted that there are many strains that are entirely or predominantly CBD, which don’t include the psychoactive THC component at all. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that cannabis is a negative substance,” says Williamson. “Cannabis is already a safe and important part of women’s lives.”
On that note, we asked several women who are outspoken about their cannabis use to share their own personal insights and reasons for incorporating marijuana in their lives.
Camille Chacra, founder and creative director at Allume
Camille Chacra
Why do you use cannabis?
I use it for both recreational and medical purposes. First off, I love that feeling of being completely blissed out. From a treatment perspective, it keeps my migraines at bay and helps me sleep deeply throughout the night. If I don't get enough rest, I put myself at risk of having a seizure, so weed is a great fit for me all around. Though I always like to point out that it's definitely not for everyone.
What is the biggest misconception about cannabis?
I'd say one of the biggest misconceptions is that cannabis makes you lazy and stupid. I know so many entrepreneurs, medical professionals and even scholars who use weed; these are smart, successful people who are anything but slothful. We have to realize that there's such a diverse range of tokers out there. We're not a stereotype!
Lorilynn McCorrister, co-founder and CMO of WDBX
Lorilynn McCorrister, Image by: Kayla Rocca
When did you realize cannabis was something you wanted to incorporate into your everyday life?
When I first starting getting into training competitively with CrossFit and was having trouble both getting a good night’s sleep (to get up early to train again), and feeling recovered enough (to train again), a friend suggested I try cannabis. It has worked wonders for me as a natural sleep aid and a pain management and recovery tool. My training continued to improve and so did my sleep. Now it’s just a part of my lifestyle. It doesn’t have any negative side effects for me and the different uses and ways to consume have allowed me to incorporate it in so many different ways. I’m excited to see how this advances and changes come legalization. The products and the innovation will only evolve.
What do you wish more people knew about using cannabis recreationally?
There are so many different uses for it. A lot of people tend to associate cannabis with stoner or slacker culture and being slumped on a couch, eating Doritos. In fact, cannabis can be a tool to energize you, to enhance creativity, to motivate you. Different strains and methods of consumption obviously have different effects, but cannabis exists in a lot of people’s lives in a lot of different ways. Experimenting and learning about all the options available is key to finding what works best for you.
Michelle Bilodeau, writer and co-founder of HIGHTEA podcast
Michelle Bilodeau
Why do you use cannabis?
Mostly for relaxation. I also use either CBD oil or smoke a joint when I have period cramps—it’s amazing how quickly they disappear.
How does using cannabis make you feel?
It depends on what I am consuming. I am still learning about how my body takes different strains. I prefer to smoke an uplifting sativa, and I have two or three strains that do that for me. I have a vape pen that has an indica oil, so I’ll use that before bed on the weekend to help me wind down.
Editor’s note: Indica and Sativa are the two main types of cannabis plant and strains tend to fall into one of these two categories. Indica is known for encouraging more relaxation, while Sativa is often more energizing.
The Rebel Mamas (Aleks Jassem and Nikita Stanley), founders and creators of The Rebel Mama – Don’t Call It A Mom Blog and authors of The Rebel Mamas Handbook for (Cool) Moms
The Rebel Mamas (Left: Nikita, Right: Aleks)
How does using cannabis make you feel?
Cannabis gets us out of our heads. We’re perfectionists. We’re planners. We’re worriers. (We’re parents.) Cannabis, when dosed properly, helps us be more present and calm and allows us to appreciate (and enjoy) the minutia of everyday life.
When did you realize cannabis was something you wanted to incorporate into your everyday life?
We’ve been using cannabis for a long time—like, a really long time. The only time we ever stopped using it completely was during our pregnancies. Incorporating it back into our lives after we had kids was a no-brainer—there’s no better way to unwind after a long day of the parenting grind. Add a nice stretch session to that and you’re golden.
Sarah Hanlon, media personality and writer
Sarah Hanlon
What do you wish more people knew about using cannabis recreationally?
I wish more people knew that everybody's experience with cannabis is unique and almost every experience with cannabis will be unique. By that I mean, it’s never really exactly the same outcome and it all depends on what you are looking for. I usually liken it to caffeine—you know how some people can have 3 espressos before bed and other people (me) are jitters after a green tea? Cannabis is a very personal experience and it’s about finding your relationship with it. If it turns out you don't want that relationship at all? Cool. But one bad experience or one bad story from a friend can't speak to the whole diversity of the plant and how it works with people. Different strains, growers, locales, different methods of consumption, different times and environments will have different outcomes. More importantly, everyone has a different endocannabinoid system (the system responsible for cannabis' effects on the body) so it’s literally a different experience for everyone. So basically, if you're judging someone's cannabis use based on your experiences alone, chances are you are going be way off base because it’s a whole different thing for them.
When did you realize cannabis was something you wanted to incorporate into your everyday life?
When I first got sick with my gastroparesis ten years ago it really wasn't a choice for me. I didn't really know what was going on with my body, everything the doctors were giving me wasn't helping and I had lost 60 pounds. The only thing I knew was that when I smoked weed I could eat a bit. Then, as I got better I realized that cannabis was not only helping so many parts of my health but it was improving my overall outlook on life. I slowly began to unpack the stigma around heavy everyday cannabis use and embraced the fact that it had helped my life in so many different ways. I used to jump to judgement of others so quickly and cannabis really helped me see the beauty in others and in the world in general. It makes me more empathetic and thoughtful of others, and it helps me be easy on myself, which I struggle with. So regardless of my stomach issues I would use cannabis because it just generally improves my life. It was definitely hard and I wasn't open about it all the time, but eventually, I became comfortable sharing it with more and more people.
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