Women and Weed Part 1: Motherhood
Cannabis and Women: The History
Cannabis has been used to relieve period-related pain since the nineteenth century. Western physicians at the time were highly keen on prescribing cannabis to patients for pain during menstruation, pregnancy, and active labor. Cannabis usage among women became popular following the reigning Queen Victoria, who reportedly had wicked menstrual cramps. Her doctor Sir John Russell Reynolds had prescribed the Queen with cannabis tinctures to relieve period pains. Along with treating his patients with cannabis, Sir John Russell Reynold had also published his research “Indian hemp…is of great service in cases of simple spasmodic dysmenorrhoea”.
Alongside Sir John Russell Reynold doing extensive research on the relationship between cannabis and menstrual cramps and dementia, an American physician named T.L. Wright had found that cannabis helped a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum – a severe case of vomiting during pregnancy – which could endanger both mother and the fetus. In 1862, Dr. Wright published a book where he specifically noted the benefits of cannabis in relieving vomiting, “I found the vomiting completely arrested by cannabis Indica, given in repeated doses of three grains every four hours until several doses were taken.”
Cannabis and Motherhood
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that middle-aged parents are more likely to use cannabis than their teen children.
An article “Marijuana moms' say smoking pot makes them better parents” aimed to eliminate the stigma around cannabis usage while parenting. A woman in her thirties named Kaycee Bawdon is a mother of four who participates in play dates often to share herbal refreshments with other moms. She believes that smoking cannabis while parenting is totally acceptable as it can help with pain and depression, anxiety and boosts productivity.
Adam Grossman, a CEO of a cannabis company has noticed an increased interest in cannabis amongst moms who purchase his products. Over time, as cannabis becomes legal across the globe, parents are becoming more open-minded about having conversations and taking part in cannabis knowledge, breastfeeding, and parenting. Mothers are often drawn to cannabis because of its reputation for combating nausea, depression, and postpartum.
One particular product is exceptionally popular in the mom circles: sublingual spray, a THC-infused ingestible liquid used under the tongue. It takes about 60 seconds to take effect and “the high” doesn’t stay for too long. Leslie Sue a founder of a cannabis company that sells sprays started her venture following experiencing postpartum depression. “Everything felt dark”, after she had her daughter…but weed, therapy, time and running brought her back on track.
Other cannabis products such as drops, drinks, and tinctures with very low levels of THC are also popular in the parent circles. Cannabidiol (CBD) tinctures are sold by most - cannabinoids associating with inducing relaxation and alleviating insomnia - can be a way to relieve pain and inflammation.
A mother and jewelry designer in Los Angeles, Carrie Hoffman, uses CBD products to help alleviate pain from breast cancer and reduces her stress levels of being a single mom to a toddler. She explains “By using it, I was able to reduce all the other drugs they gave me for nausea and pain.”
Currently, medical professionals [and product labels] do NOT recommend pregnant or nursing mothers to use cannabis products. However, cannabis use for everyday stresses and pains is growing every day. As moms are now ditching their cabernet for vape pens, sublingual sprays, and CBD tinctures, it’s no surprise the pot industry is only booming creating products designed for gentle highs and relaxation.
Reference
https://www.today.com/parents/marijuana-moms-say-smoking-pot-makes-them-better-parents-t114510