‘I smoke weed before reading my kids bedtime story – it should be normal to do’
A mum who started smoking cannabis in her mid 30s says she is a much better parent for it.
Danielle Simone Brand is now 44 and enjoys lighting up a spliff before reading her kids bedtime stories or helping with their art projects.
The writer has even had a book called Weed Mom published to try and ease the stigma.
READ MORE: 'I have a kid and smoke weed daily – people call me drug addict but I'm a good mum'
Her kids, aged 13 and 10, find it normal that their mother makes time for cannabis.
And speaking with us, she said: “My kids don’t see me consume it and I lock my cannabis when not in use but we talk about the subject because normalising cannabis as a society starts with informed conversations.
“For them, having a mum who uses cannabis is normal just like alcohol is normalised in a lot of other households.
“Responsible cannabis use is key, don’t over consume and I am always emotionally available to them able to respond appropriately to situations.
“And just like parents who drink responsibly, I don’t drive or do anything that requires my quickest reflexes while cannabis is in the mix.
“But I do find it wonderful for slowing down and connecting with my kids in low stakes moments where connection is the goal, think bedtime reading, playing with the dog, art projects.”
The California based author tried wacky backy early in life but said she didn’t realise it could be a “wellness tool” until she was in her mid 30s and was already a mum of two.
At the time she was figuring out parenting while often being sleep deprived.
And asked how smoking joints improved her standard of living, she explained: “It helped me sleep better which is a huge boon to my wellbeing and parenting.
“It also helps me manage migraines in a few ways and replacing social alcohol use with cannabis has reduced the frequency of migraine attacks and I’m able to handle symptoms with CBD and THC much less painfully when they come.”
Danielle smokes at home away from family members with an air purifier but she also does it at friends’ houses or in legal cannabis consumption spaces when travelling.
And she believes it is “absolutely” still stigmatised despite alcohol being the more “toxic” vice.
She said: “Alcohol causes or is associated with many negative health outcomes and in my experience cannabis is much gentler on the body than alcohol and it helps me in my parenting journey.
“I’ve interviewed a number of mums who say they felt impatient and irritable when alcohol was part of their routine, and that cannabis actually improves their patience and connectedness while parenting.
“And I have experienced the same shift. I’m a calmer, happier parent now that I sleep better and I have few migraines and I know how to release stress in a way that feels much healthier than alcohol.”
Danielle has been targeted with “rude” comments on social media – but overall speaking out has encouraged a positive reaction.
She attributes this to what she described as a growing acceptance surrounding the plant.
And as for being so transparent online, she concluded: “I’m open about being a cannamom because I believe that the stigma will fade as more parents and other consumers admit to consuming cannabis while also showing themselves as healthy and productive people.
“Because we’re talking about the internet in 2023 there are trolls. But generally speaking, I’ve experienced a lot more interest and curiosity than judgement about the weed mom message.”
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