COMING OUT
GREEN OUT OF THE
CLOSET
Coming out of, what I like to call, “The Green Closet”, about your cannabis consumption to friends and family can be challenging. Whether you’re coming out to your parents, discussing the medical benefits to a friend or relative with a condition cannabis may help, talking to your children or grandchildren about your consumption, or using it to help your child’s quality of life, discussing cannabis isn’t always the easiest conversation. There are some families who have a long tradition of sharing a joint at gatherings and others avoid the topic, as if the world isn’t progressing with new states adding a legalized program every year. Since cannabis has become mainstream and is being discussed across all media platforms, it’s most likely everyone has seen a headline about cannabis. Many people continue to hide their cannabis consumption, but discussing it with family and friends in an open and honest way can help normalize cannabis, share education, and spread awareness. Openly discussing your lifestyle can create stronger relationships and help create a connection with family. Social gatherings around the holiday season bring opportunities to have conversations about cannabis with your family and friends. At the very least, if you’re a cannabis consumer who has been hiding your use, having a discussion may help you feel better about being honest. I know how difficult it can be to have a conversation with someone who has a different view about consuming cannabis. I’m from Missouri and grew up believing
52
BY HEATHER DEROSE
all the misinformation surrounding cannabis and those who used it. I believed it would make you lazy or lower your IQ and was bad for your health. I was also diagnosed with epilepsy when I was a teenager. Cannabis was not mentioned to my family and it wasn’t until I had seizure recurrence in my early 20’s and a suggestion from my husband who’s been a long-time user, that I really started researching the plant’s benefits. I started with learning hemp doesn’t contain enough of the cannabinoid THC to create a psychoactive or “high” effect. The Farm Bill was passed last fall, which enables farmers to grow hemp throughout the United States. Hemp can be used to create fibers for clothing, textiles, and paper. Medicine can also be derived from the hemp flowers. More and more states are passing legislation, and the current lawsuit against the federal government has made history as their fight continues. There is still a lot of misinformation being published to fight against legalization, especially by companies who have a lot to lose once legalization occurs. Despite the pushback, there are over 30 states that have some form of legalized cannabis in the United States. Canada is the world’s first G7 country; they legalized at a federal level in October 2018. For many people, the topic of cannabis can evoke an emotion and non-scientific response. This may be, in part, because of the misinformation and fear surrounding the plant and cannabis consumers for decades, or they just don’t know the
facts. It’s important to understand that some people choose to reject topics they know nothing about, and these discussions may need to be handled with specific care. Throughout my journey with cannabis, I’ve discussed my consumption with people who have views all across the board. Even people living in Colorado were difficult to talk to about cannabis at times. For me, the most difficult discussions have been those with family members about some of the most basic concepts, such as cannabis not being an opioid. There’s so much information and misinformation broadcast across all media platforms, some funded by those who have something to lose. Navigating information can be challenging, but information is your most powerful resource. It wasn’t until I moved from Missouri to Colorado that I came completely out of The Green Closet to my family. I was working at a cannabis cultivation facility and told them about it. The conversation was brief. My mom, sister and brother-inlaw moved to Colorado in 2017 and were finally consuming cannabis minimally. At this time, I didn’t feel as comfortable consuming around them and limited my consumption enough at one point that I had a seizure. That was my last seizure almost 2 1/2 years ago. Despite the information I’ve learned from the most credible resources, I still get pushback on how cannabis can help so many people and why, but I’ll never lose hope of breaking the barriers with information and conversations.
