You made it! This 3-part series of Women & Weed is coming to an end (I know I think I originally said 4 but I think a trilogy is a good place to leave this… for now) So what is left to say? Well…a lot!  In this blog we will cover an few of topics on why “we have the final say”.

Femininity in Weed…

Cannabis is nothing new, as I’ve previously stated it has been used in many countries around the world for YEARS without any cause for concern. The beauty of this plant is not only magnificent in its creation but is very similar to the embodiment of women. With every turn and curve that you see in a leave, it’s the same complicated landscape of the female body. The many compounds (cannabinoids) that are contained are varied in measurement and with its consumption can give off many different effects much like the aura of a woman.

See, the bud that most of us consume as whole flower is in fact female. You heard it, female plants when isolated from their male counterparts; grow large, seedless wonderful buds. I mean who has ever gotten flower ready to roll or put in a bowl and its filled with seeds…. YUCK! Female is Queen!

Cannabis, the real affordable care act…

Get out of your feelings, I love Obama too; Im just saying the misconception that cannabis is draining women’s pockets is just simply not true. That is propaganda to divert the narrative from making this industry even more lucrative than it already is. Let’s dive into this a little.

ReLeaf Health dispensary located in Portland, Oregon

First of all, women are dominating in purchasing power. According to Girl Power Marketing, “More women are taking the reins with their own finances, holding 60 percent of the country’s personal wealth, and 51 percent of all U.S stocks. 85% of all consumer purchases in the US are made by women.”

With that being said, when I tried to research cannabis sales broken down by demographic nationwide, I was hard pressed to find the numbers. I did find an analytics report by Eaze for 2018,  who polled 450,000 cannabis users in their system. “Year of the female cannabis consumer: With female consumers nearly doubling, the growth of women entering the market outpaced men and continued the trend of increasing female participation, with women now 38% of cannabis consumers”, Eaze reports. This was a 95% increase over previous years. I imagine 2019 will be an even larger increase.

So, with all the spending that is happening, how can CANNABIS be a drain to women’s pockets? Weed and hemp CBD products are dominating the health and wellness industries as alternatives to big pharma or long time over the counter treatments. You will find many CBD products in various places from boutique small businesses to gas stations (please don’t purchase your CBD from gas stations). With more and more states legalizing recreational marijuana and even more with medicinal; there is a place for every budget. At ReLeaf Health, I carry products for as low as $2 (a preroll), so you can’t convince me that this market is draining money fast than the fashion and cosmetics industries, NOPE.

Is smoking vs. ingesting cannabis, more harmful?

Hawaii Maui Waui – Rolled in Raw papers

As I’ve stated before, cannabis whether its marijuana or hemp, is proven to interact positively with our body’s already existing endocannabinoid system to assist with various ailments. There are some health concerns, though, especially if smoking is your chosen method of consumption. While there are many ways to “smoke” your weed, the one that is most harmful is using certain types of rolling papers. Common rolling paper such as Backwoods or Black & Mild you can get at your local gas station. These types of papers often have chemicals used in production and are typically a harsher smoke on your throat and lungs. If rolling your weed is preferred, try a hemp papers such as Raw, these are cost effective and much easier on the lungs & throats.

Next, we have vaping. Before we start, I know about the “crisis” that has caused many states to discontinue the sale of flavored nicotine and cannabis oils, but let’s be clear those products were not tested or regulated and are truly a minority in the industry. Vaping cannabis oil, is a less harsh way to smoke your cannabis. The main difference with this is that typically the smoke is less odorous and is easy to travel with because it can be a discreet device. One thing to note: because the concentration of THC can be high in cannabis oil, you need to make sure and start slow to monitor your high. Don’t be overly eager and inhale too much too fast.

Kashmiri Kush & pipe

Lastly, you can smoke your cannabis in a device like a bong, hand pipe or hookah. This smoke is again, less harsh than if you were using the typical rolling paper and gives you the full smell of the flower.

Again, we need additional research across multiple test cases with controlled variables to determine the long-term harm of the different smoking methods. If we use Snoop Dogg as a case study, I think it safe to say… you can smoke cannabis frequently without having long term effects if you are an otherwise healthy person.

Bottom Line …

Cannaboss in her cape!

Whether you’re a woman paving her way in the world or a mom raising a family, cannabis can be that affordable, safe alternative. If your self-care routine already consists of mani/pedis, massages, nice dinners, cocktails and a little retail therapy; spending a few bucks on quality cannabis will not break your bank. The truth of the matter is, depending on how you consume cannabis can be much more cost effective than drinking wine and definitely healthier if you are purchasing your products from licensed businesses with verified test results.

Our voice matters! As women, we need to make sure we are not being critical of women who choose to consume. We need to make sure we are supporting our sisters in the cannabis industry. This includes consultants, photographers, models, growers, processors, dispensary owners & more. Our purchasing power is unmatched and we can control the conversation the most simply through our buys. Support your sister in service and in intention. Most importantly, make sure you are paying attention to new laws that are being passed in your state and attend the open meetings and let your voice be heard. Cast your vote in 2020 for any states that will have legalization on their bill.

Even if consuming cannabis isn’t your thing, it won’t hurt you to support your sisters who do consume. Remember, clean cannabis is no more dangerous than alcohol 😊

Love & Light,

Mommi Trese, Unapologetically

Founder of ReLeaf Health

Disclaimer: All sources are sited through links. Anything not cited is an opinion, my opinion, and not supported by the FDA or representative of any platform that chooses to repost or use. Please do your due diligence and contact your physician with any additional questions or concerns