For those who have known me, know I have had a deep and intimate relationship with the cannabis plant since age 15. It has been a winding road that led to me dedicating all of my life force to the liberation of this plant. So much so that I completely burnt out. Ironically losing the very essence and medicine of the plant altogether and putting me back in a similar place that led me to her medicine in the first place.
I’ve taken time and space and it’s brought me so much perspective and respect for a plant I once so heavily relied on.
After years of working with thousands of patients, I learned the layers of nuance that exist within a relationship with cannabis. The relationship is truly unique to each person and the season they are in. No way is right or wrong. With awareness, consciousness, and reverence, any form of that relationship can be medicine. Often, awareness alone can cause something that may be off balance to shift or set you in the right direction.
But I still find that we can’t even access the nuance of that relationship with all the guilt, shame, and judgment in the way.
I often run into closing in spiritual spaces when I bring up cannabis. People turn up their noses at you if you use cannabis, still subconsciously assuming you must be a stoner or too dependent on it.
And then reversely, in the cannabis world, people grip so tightly to her. If you even suggest there is an imbalance in relating to her or in the collective relating within “the industry”, or if you say it doesn’t support you in this season of life, there is quick and sharp closing.
Judgment and exclusion.
“They must not be a “real activist”
Which makes sense, it’s all so understandable.
With such intense programming and fear, there’s going to be a closing from either perspective. And that closing can cause us to grip and we miss the nuance because we are scared to let go of that grip on the plant, or are scared to open our minds to her. Either way, we are closed and completely missing the point.
I always feel I need to make a disclosure any time I speak or write about her because there’s so much armor built up around her.
SO here goes: If you don’t get down with her now or ever… amazing! If you hang out with Mary Jane every day and that’s the only thing that gets you through the day…amazing!
Whatever place you are coming from, I invite you to see if you can keep your mind open and your heart receptive to exploring a bit deeper with a plant that we share so much with.
My wish is that we all remember we are in relationship with cannabis whether you ever utilize her or not. You are intrinsically connected through your Endocannabinoid System and also through the way your subconscious runs beliefs about her and the way you project those out into the world, which in turn creates our reality in relation to this plant and in relation to all things.
This plant is a symbol of our relationship to the feminine. She has been exiled and deemed evil and “of the devil”. Much like many feminine processes and symbols i.e. death, the word witch, menstruation, snakes, etc. And I’ve learned, that if anything is demonized, and the masses are conditioned to fear it, that is usually where the true power lies. That’s my clue to dig deeper.
And if that demonization creates more “othering”, i.e. encourages the judgment and dehumanization of the “other”, that is my signal to ask,
Who benefits from this division?
Is it the systems that profit from putting people in prison over a plant?
Or the systems that profit from people being on multiple pharmaceuticals?
Orrrr is it the “new & budding” industry that profits off of people “needing” to rip ten wax hits a day?
And beyond the division, can we see this plant for what she really is?
A master teacher, a gift from Earth, a beautiful manifestation of feminine power, full of nutrients, wisdom, and guidance, if we’d just listen.
It wasn’t until I gave her space that this clarity came in and I can now sit here and say that I have a healthy relationship with cannabis, unique to me and this season of life. I honor her medicine and no longer need her. I trust the intuitive hit to let me know when my body could use cannabinoids to support its healing. Or when a bit of relaxing smoke would help me connect some thoughts instead of attempting to escape them.
She helped show me my power in countless ways and I am forever grateful. And that truth came through her showing me the need to alchemize all the distortion.
Now she serves in my life as a guide and an ally but is no longer a crutch for my physical, spiritual, or emotional health. Space and healthy boundaries live here and we can both breathe better.
This space has me wondering, maybe in the alchemization of all the shit that’s been shoveled on top of a plant, more than any other plant…
We unlock a power more pure and beautiful than we could’ve ever imagined.
From one plant. One that comes from Earth.
For a reason. What is that reason?
Don’t we owe it to ourselves and to the earth who gifted this to us, to truly find out?
How would you describe your current relationship/perspective on cannabis?
Let me know 💚
Sending love,
Lisa Marie
I think she’s great! I’m still trying to figure out what’s what. Clearly I don’t know enough about her. I’d love to use her to chill rather than get fucked up. Any suggestions. Also gummies verses smoking or vaping. Here you are asking the question and I wind up asking you a question. At any rate I love her 😍