Cannamama Chats With Tiff
We love having a team full of parents on our team - such a wealth of support and commiseration on the good and the bad days. While most of us are still in the toddler and early-childhood days, Tiff’s experiences as a mom of teens gives us a light at the end of the tantrum tunnel (and absolutely terrifies us at the same time - the problems only seem to get more complicated!!) Read on to hear some of Tiffany’s thoughts on parenting, cannabis, and how she integrates the two.
What’s your weed routine?? Are you a post-bedtime only smoker? An all-day micro- (or macro-) doser? How do you like to consume and has that changed with different stages of parenting?
My weed routine is constantly changing and evolving. I would say right now, I am an all-day micro-dosing type person. I am a joint girl at heart, I love the instant gratification you get from a nice spliff (minus the tobacco of course.) However, recently I invested in a Pax 3 vaporizer and really like that I can now incorporate concentrates into the mix whenever I need a boost or use it as a dry herb vape when my lungs need a break from high combustion temps! My consumption methods and amounts have changed over the years being a mom. I find I smoked much heavier when my kids were younger. I was a young Mom at 20 and very stressed with the day-to-day of life and all that comes with parenting, so I found my consumption reflected that. Now that my kids are young adults between the ages of 12-19, I consume fewer macro doses in one session. I like to stretch it out throughout the day so that I am more present and functional. I aim to stay in a more homeostatic or balanced kind of vibe. Don’t get it twisted though, if it is my day off and I have nothing on my schedule, then it’s an “edibles and micro-dosing psilocybin kind of vibe” to recharge and reset my energy.
If you’re co-parenting, is your co-parent on-board with your cannabis use? Have you had to navigate differences in opinion?
I do co-parent and my partner is a medical user so he’s on board for sure!
How do you think through talking to your children about your cannabis use? How have those conversations changed as your kids have gotten older?
Cannabis has always been a part of our lives and there was never a stigma around it in our household. I never consumed in front of my kids, so we didn’t have many discussions about it as they were growing up. Our kids do know that when they are legally allowed to consume, they can come to their parents, and we will help them navigate their own journey. My oldest will be 20 this year and he recently approached me wanting to try cannabis. I was honoured that he felt safe to come to me, his (cool) Mom to talk about weed. He values my experience and opinions enough to help him make a more informed decision and that makes me feel great!
How do you navigate the perceptions of other parents, daycare providers, teachers, etc.? Do you worry about your children telling others about their Mama’s cannabis use?
I’ve been consuming cannabis for 25 years and as a BIPOC woman, I constantly struggle with the fear of honouring myself and this new normal of freedom cannabis has evolved into. For YEARS I had to hide a major part of who I am for the comfort of others. I can’t tell you how stressful it is to have to dumb yourself down for external reasons to fit into society’s norm of who they think we should be. It’s as if you can never truly live your authentic life which is exhausting! Since legalization and now that I am 40, I have come more into my own true self. I care less about what others think of me and can now say proudly that I am a Canna Mom. There are a LOT of us out there. We deserve to feel safe and have access to judgement-free spaces where we can talk about, purchase, and consume cannabis. If you don’t like cannabis, don’t consume it. It really is that simple. The world would be a much happier place if we cared less about what others do on their journeys and focus more on our own.
What do you worry most about as a mom who smokes weed?
That’s a great question, I think I have the same worries as a mom who doesn’t smoke weed. As parents, we worry constantly about everything when it comes to our children, and I don’t know if that ever truly goes away even as they get older and fly the nest.
What are you most proud of as a mom who smokes weed?
Well, that is easy…. I am proud of me. I get to live my truth by nurturing my cannabis journey and continue to do the work needed to educate myself and others about cannabis and its benefits.
Thank you so much for sharing your words and experiences, Tiff.