Cannabis Culture and Parenting – The Stoner Mom – breaking cannabis news today

Let’s say there’s nothing wrong with chilling out with a drink or whatever. Parenthood is difficult, and no one wrongly names healthy vices. Whatever a person has to do to cope with a long day as a caregiver is endorsed as self-care by this author. This is not “wine culture is wrong and cannabis culture is right”. Nor is this a defense of addiction.

In recent years it has become a common mama trope that “you are the reason mama drinks”. It’s a joke, a fun little reason to explain why you enjoy having a drink or two in the evening. In all honesty, we all know parenting is hard work. Being the primary caregiver is a tough, stressful, and demanding job.

Why is smoking still stigmatized by parents?

Even in 2021, people are still eyeing all parents who admit they smoke cannabis. While it is perfectly okay for someone to have a glass of wine while they cook dinner or give a child a bath. It is not the act of rethinking that is ridiculed, but rather the stereotypes of a stoner and the negative connotations associated with cannabis.

Stoners are lazy, so they must be bad parents. It gets difficult not to generalize, but this is the most common myth about cannabis users. Tokers have been trying to dispel this rumor for decades, and while many different strains lock a person on the couch, it is ignorant to believe that people who smoke are suddenly more lazy than someone who drinks or doesn’t drink or smokes.

When I speak from personal experience, smoking can help me focus on maintaining law, order, and health. Sativa strains are best for the daytime to help with my personal chronic pain and fleeting thoughts. It helps me focus on the repetitive and boring chores associated with having a home-bound parent. I can’t be the only one who hates dishes! While indicas helped me do marathon cartoons with the kids when it’s a cold and wintry Alberta day. You know, the days when the house is clean, the kids get bored, and when you have to watch Frozen 2 all over again, something might crack.

Biased information is still floating around

At this point, even Health Canada’s website feels antiquated with its information on smoking cannabis during parenting. Cannabis, like alcohol, is a controlled substance and it is strongly recommended / enforced that a sober person should always be present with children. This also applies when children simply sleep in the house. The laws of being a parent and smoking cannabis are pretty unclear. So please make sure you protect yourself and your children by educating yourself about the regulations.

“Cannabis use can affect parent-child interaction and bonding.” Is almost an insulting claim from the Government of Canada website. It can be argued that a parent who smoked or ingested cannabis is not themselves high; it goes hand in hand with the “Weed as LSD” culture that Harry J. Anslinger helped create. The website has not been changed since October 17, 2018 and appears to be inconsistent with factual science in some respects.

It is interesting to see that the Government of Canada website does not cite any sources, magazines, or explain why they make any of the claims on this particular page.

As stoners, we can only hope and work towards a more positive association. Every day we manage to raise our children, being productive members of society is another step towards breaking the negative stigma surrounding our favorite herb.