Last year, I had the chance to interview Judy Yee about her experience going from an NBA dancer to the founder of K-Zen Beverages, a cannabis beverage company. Earlier this year she launched Moms for Mary, an online community of parents who share their experiences with pot and parenting. I’ve heard a lot of different opinions on the intersection of these two topics, which is why I was eager to get her perspective and learn more about her latest venture.
Tell me a bit about Moms for Mary and what inspired you to create this blog.
I’m an active mom who has incorporated cannabis into my routine, so I’m passionate about celebrating fellow moms and dads who use cannabis. It’s one of the reasons why we launched Moms for Mary, a community of moms (and dads!) for those who want to share their stories and positive experiences with cannabis.
Once parents have incorporated cannabis into their routines and experienced the benefits for their own health and well-being, I think it will be challenging for them to go back to life without cannabis. Our intention is to inspire those who are curious to discover how the plant can improve their overall well-being and contribute to ending the unfair stigma surrounding parents and responsible cannabis use.
In our last interview, you mentioned that you were raised with a much more conservative, “say no to drugs” view of cannabis. Have you been able to bring other family members around on cannabis as a legitimate wellness product?
Absolutely. Our Sleep Tonic that’s infused with CBN, in particular, has been adopted by many of my friends who have had continued challenges with getting a good night’s sleep. My good friend’s mom – who is currently battling cancer – is also taking our Sleep Tonic to help her relax and rest during her recovery periods.
And although my mom hasn’t been able to try my company’s products (she lives in WA and interstate commerce is not yet allowed in cannabis), she has now incorporated cannabis topicals into her self-care routine… which is something I never thought I’d say!
I don’t have kids myself, but I’ve heard from several friends that cannabis helps them be a more relaxed, patient, and centered parent. Have you had a similar experience?
Yes, and there’s data to back this up. We recently commissioned a nation-wide online survey conducted by The Harris Poll to learn more about parents and their cannabis use. Two thirds of parents of kids under 18 who have used cannabis (67%) say that using cannabis makes them a better parent. And 64% of parents of kids under 18 who have used cannabis said that they use cannabis to help them deal with the stress of parenting.
I also know this from personal experience and when I speak with my fellow parenting friends. In the same way airlines tell you to secure your oxygen mask before helping children and those around you, I believe that responsible cannabis use is a form of self-care which leads to being a better partner and parent.
I have also heard from friends that they sometimes feel guilty or like they’re doing something “wrong” if they consume and then spend time with their kids (even if the kids are totally unaware), as if it makes them a bad parent. Yet you don’t hear the same out of the “wine mom” culture. I think social stigma has a lot to do with this, but I’m curious to hear your thoughts about “mom guilt” and cannabis use.
It’s interesting you say that because I’ve heard similar things — as a mom, I’ve definitely experienced “mom guilt.” For me personally, cannabis is more of a “me time” or “couples time” — something I do in the evening when my daughter is already asleep. It’s less because of guilt but more as a way to compartmentalize my day so that I can relax and chill out for the rest of the night.
This topic also plays a big part in the survey we conducted as we were curious to hear what parents had to say. According to our survey, 46% say they would perceive parents and their parenting abilities more negatively if they consume cannabis responsibly than if they drink alcohol responsibly. This proves our point that there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done to destigmatize cannabis and people’s perceptions about the plant.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about parents who smoke weed or enjoy cannabis in some other way?
I think ultimately it comes back to the fact that we need to reverse the stigma of cannabis use that was perpetuated by the war on drugs. Some misconceptions are that you’re a ‘stoner’ or an irresponsible parent, which is obviously not true if it helps improve your well-being and you’re consuming responsibly.
I hope the Moms for Mary platform and hearing parents’ positive experiences with cannabis helps in clearing up these misconceptions. Through continued legalization in new states (and hopefully federal legalization is on the horizon), to cannabis education and efforts to help normalize cannabis use, I think there will be a positive shift in attitudes toward parents’ use of cannabis in the years to come.
Read the latest posts on the Moms for Mary blog through the Mad Lilly website. If you’re in the California area, you can order some Mad Lilly products for delivery through the Eaze app.