Women Reconnect with their Canna-Roots

A growing surge of cannabis wellness retreats is focusing on women.

For centuries, women have come together in support of one another to discuss and find solutions for life situations that include intimate and personal issues. Seeking advice and support on topics ranging from fertility and health to emotional and physical healing, we had a sense of community that allowed us to thrive and feel like we had a village. 

Unfortunately, in recent times there has been a shift in the societal narrative that tells us to be wary and untrusting of one another, causing a detrimental wedge among us that negatively impacts our ability to thrive and nurture our well-being. This disconnection not only pertains to each other, but it also relates to a detachment to nature and natural healing practices.

History shows that the connection between women, weed, and wellness dates back over 4,000 years. In a 2017 interview with Vice, Ellen Komp, author of Tokin’ Women: A 4,000 Year Herstory, shares how Queen Victoria used weed to quell the aches and pains of menstruation and how in the third millennium Ishtar, a predominant Siberian goddess, was associated with the cannabis plant.

However, decades upon decades of disconnection have left women depleted and longing for a reconnection—and there is hope! We are on the verge of a shift. The recent surge in the female-driven wellness and self-care movement has reignited women’s natural inclination to unite and engage in restorative healing practices and seek solace from the tedium of our daily lives.

As women continue to pioneer the wellness movement and establish themselves as a driving force in the cannabis industry, the merging of these two female-centric industries is upon us. As a result, there is a rise in women-only cannabis retreats across the United States—and the world.

Given the moniker “cannabliss retreat,” these getaways offer yoga and meditation and provide an atmosphere that encourages women to reconnect with one another and themselves while fitting in a “sesh” at their leisure–no judgment.

In a 2017 article by Erin Magner on Well+Good, Sailene Ossman, co-founder of Ganja Goddess Getaway, stated, “The vision is to offer women a way to connect with their divine feminine and to connect to each other as sisters, and we feel that cannabis is the ideal tool to accomplish both. We’re creating a movement of sisterhood and connection through cannabis.”

This emerging trend, coined feminism wellness by a report published by the Global Wellness Summit in 2018, is only anticipated to grow in the years to come. A Google search for “women’s cannabis retreats” generates roughly 3.2 million results. Add “in California” to that, and you’ll get just over 1 million results. So, ladies, if you’re searching for the perfect female-empowered “trip,” your options are plenty.

As science delves deeper into the cannabis sphere, I find it inevitable that a resurrection of the female connection through cannabis will continue to emerge. The women of today cannot afford to keep on keepin’ on the way we’ve been: overworked, overstressed, overlooked, overprescribed, and overwhelmed. We are left with no choice but to regain control over our own health and well-being and re-establish our connection to other like-minded women.

Article originally posted in Orange County Sensi June 2019 issue as well as San Diego Sensi June 2019 issue.

Mamacitas Blazing the Way

In our first installment of Women, Weed & Wellness: CBD is the answer to reclaiming our health. 

Let me start by being totally honest: My experience with cannabis until the last year has mostly been from my days as a teenager—and that was many moons ago. I have been on a personal wellness journey, which eventually led me to cannabis. I do a lot of research on the natural products that stock our shelves, but it can be a bit overwhelming. I started simply, finding products that were safe for me and my family to use. In no uncertain terms, CBD is where I landed. 

As I write, my house is in the throes of a butt-kicking flu virus—body aches, headaches, and inflammation are just a few of the symptoms. Instead of reaching for the NyQuil to suppress them, I’m turning to CBD. Like many other women I know, I am looking to steer clear of the synthetic pharmaceuticals of yesterday and replace them with natural homeopathic substitutes. CBD is in my arsenal because when my family and I need relief, whether it be for the common cold, the flu, or pain management, CBD is the best recourse. 

Women are establishing a place at the forefront of the booming cannabis industry from a wellness standpoint. The majority of those women are mothers. In a recent article in The Atlantic, Lindsey Hunter Lopez reports that as cannabis becomes more socially acceptable, mothers are turning to the plant’s many derivatives to deal with stress, anxiety, aches, pains, and more. Cannabis marketers have taken notice of the increasing popularity among the mom demographic and are expanding their efforts from what was a predominately male target demo to include women and children. 

As part of that precise demographic, I was initially motivated to research cannabis for its wellness and non-addictive properties. But I have also been inspired to hear from women directly in the business, to find out what drives them to pursue this dynamic and unsteady industry. 

I recently spoke with Katie Hernandez, CEO of the cannabis startup Elevated Greens. As a mother and longtime supporter of the movement, she has developed a line of cannabis products that are beneficial for the whole family, including 100 percent vegan, all-natural baked goods, teas, salves, and oils. Personal experience inspired Hernandez’s jump into the cannabis industry. In a joint statement with co-founder Gloria Memije, Hernandez said, “We have children who cope with eczema and have tried numerous products, prescription and over-the-counter—none of which provided relief. With that being said, we decided to create a product that we were comfortable using on our ourselves and on our families. Thus, we created Elevated Greens.” 

These ladies are among many who are on a mission to raise awareness and reduce stigma around cannabis, particularly among women and the elderly. As this movement is still in its infancy, these women are motivated by three things: passion, ambition, and an opportunity to see each other thrive in the cannabis space. Elevated Greens has hit the ground running, and you’ll find the line at various the women-in-cannabis events around LA, Orange County, and the Inland Empire (updates on Instagram @ELEVATEDGREENS_EST2019). 

As I immerse myself more and more into the cannabis industry, documenting the stories of ambitious women who are driven by passion and a better way of life, I look forward to witnessing—and experiencing—firsthand how women blaze the way in cannabis, especially as it pertains to wellness and overall quality of life. Whether you’re down for the count from the flu or ready to tackle the day, light it up, ladies! A revolution is afoot. 

Originally posted in Sensi May 2019