Revisiting Cannabis: History, Stigmas, and Sustainable Futures

Weed, Green, Wacky Tobacky, the Devil's Lettuce, Sweet Mary Jane, SweetLeaf (if your Ozzy) these are all common names for Cannabis Sativa the plant that can be medicine, paper, textiles, construction materials, and, perhaps most surprising, fuel. Cannabis has been used throughout most of recorded history and we have archeological evidence that it was in use prior to recorded history. It’s no wonder that our ancestors cultivated these fascinating plants before tomatoes. 

Today I want to focus on some of the more modern thoughts surrounding what is arguably one of the most versatile plants in existence. I grew up in the DARE era. I was shown commercials about how my brain on drugs looked like a fried or broken egg. Weed being one of the most talked about for some reason. Sure, the program talked about coke and heroin but for some reason, weed was the focus of the media it seems. This was of course decades ago now and I live in a state that has legalized the “recreational” use of cannabis. I put recreational in quotes because I am of the opinion that all folks that are using mind and mood altering substances are self-medicating to some degree. 

“What are your qualifications?” I can hear some of the more critical folks asking. I have been observing and living various degrees of addiction since I was born. I’ve seen it all. I lived with an alcoholic mother who at some point developed a love affair with booger sugar and other things that we don’t often automatically even consider as addiction. Members of my extended family have all shared stories of their own addiction struggles. I spent years tending bar. I’m observant and psychology is a hyper fixation of mine, even though I do not have a degree. I have spent years observing addiction and drug use, in various settings. And I have that face that everyone wants to share their demons with. You start to notice some patterns after a while. 

Now back to cannabis, specifically. Did you know that our Founding Fathers smoked, just, a lot of pot and used hemp as textiles? Neither did I until I started working in the cannabis industry. I started working with a company that took great pride in their caregiver roots. Caregivers are what the medical industry called folks that grew for medical use patients. Card carrying patients with any number of ailments ranging from chronic pain and loss of appetite caused by cancer and cancer treatment to severe and debilitating anxiety. Because this company took great pride in what they were doing, they provided us with reading material for education purposes that we were encouraged to read during our down time. I unfortunately can’t remember all the books that I read, but I will do my best to include a list of references for more reading.

Wait, so the founding fathers smoked pot and used hemp and then it was bad and now it’s good again? How did we get here? Great questions. Hemp and Cannabis are the same plant, but one is bred specifically for its medicinal benefits. We actually used cannabis in this country for like 100 years without an issue. Then POC brought us jazz music and jazz cabbage became associated with POC. I shouldn’t have to tell you that during the early 1900s we, those of us lacking melanin, were particularly heinous in our treatment of what we perceived as others. Many of us STILL are and unfortunately that is a conversation for another day. So, I am saying that racism set our country back significantly. 

Had it not been for racism and greed we could have had a healthcare system that bothered to research why cannabis is medicine and we could have been further ahead in identifying exactly which compounds work best for which ailments. Had it not been for racism and greed we could have saved millions of acres of forests in Michigan alone. I’m not here to educate you on why that’s bad. I’m sure there are better resources for that. Well where does greed come in, you ask. It was lobbyists with personal interest in things like paper made from trees and criminalizing the medicine to make a profit that convinced corrupt politicians to help demonize it. Crazy to think that we still allow lobbying despite humans proving again and again that they will only look out for their own best interests instead of the best interests of the many. But again, that is not today’s topic! Stay on track.

When Nixion had cannabis scheduled as a drug, it was against medical professionals advice. For context, because context is always important, there were protests against the Vietnam war going on at this time, there were civil rights protests and there was the women's liberation movement. Politically it was an active time. Culturally, the communities that would be disproportionately affected by the criminalization were - you guessed it- POC. There are better educators out there than me to explain the nuance here, but it boils down to this, believe POC when they tell you their experience and how it is we got here. Generational trauma gets passed down in two ways; behaviors like people pleasing and code switching (and many others.) and a literal genetic component. Trauma: individual like abuse suffered in the home and collective like slavery, lynching, and an un-winable war literally change our DNA. None of that is actually today’s main focus however it is an important bit of context. And you are always encouraged to fact check me.

Medical professionals knew that there were real world applications for cannabis in the healing sector, even in the 70s. In the 70s, maybe for the first time, we were seeing things like PTSD which were talked about as “shell shock” and “combat fatigue”. While there was a huge stigma around mental health, even more so than today, especially in regards to our veterans, what they were seeing would eventually be labeled as PTSD. I can’t say for sure that medical professionals knew cannabis would help with mental health things back then, but given that was when they were also looking at LSD for its ability to rewire the brain, it's not hard to imagine they had an inkling. 

What we know now is that humans have what is called an endocannabinoid system. Its a complex system that I once read described as being responsible for the body’s homeostasis. Research on this is a bit on the newer side of course but what we know is that the shape of the compounds found in the cannabis plant fit perfectly into this endocannabinoid system. This system helps regulate things like cortisol, the stress hormone and other systems. It is a key player. I can’t remember specifically if I read this next bit or if it is an original thought, but it seems to me that the endocannabinoid system can be thrown out of wack by living in fight or flight and this effects the cortisol levels. I don’t remember the specific science that led me there, unfortunately. Smoking pot, anecdotally, helps me function like a normal person with a normal nervous system. Smoking pot helps others manage their physical pain. Cannabis is medicine.

Moving forward, I hope to see a future where we use cannabis in sustainable ways. Imagine less deforestation and more hemp farms. Picture a shift from oil to hemp biofuel and replacing concrete with hempcrete for building materials. Cannabis is a plant that requires fewer resources to grow than most crops, and its applications are endless. If we hadn't demonized this plant a century ago, we might already be living in a greener, more sustainable world. But the second-best time to make this a reality is now. If you have thoughts on how we can make this vision a reality, let’s chat in the comments.

With love,

Mia Marie

P.S

Further Reading
Green: A Field Guide to Marijuana by Dan Michaels and Erik Christiansen
Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America by Emily Dufton
The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness by Steve DeAngelo and Willie L. Brown Jr.
Terpenes: The Magic in Cannabis by Beverly A. Potter Ph.D

Additional resources:
Generational Trauma
Trauma and Addiction

Generational Trauma and substance use

War on Drugs and the demonization of Cannabis

For all your CBD (and THC if your in MI) Needs, check out Swamp Yeti Project and get $5 off when you use coupon code MIAMARIE 

Breaking Silence: My Journey Through Domestic Abuse and Healing PT. Poe

I recently broke my silence on big things that have happened in my life in a big way. One way was calling out my husband for continuing to refuse a divorce after almost 13 years as the only way he has to maintain control over me. In honor of breaking my silence and in observance with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I have decided to share my various stories of abuse. I’ve experienced a lot, if I’m honest, with a lot of people. To keep on track, I will only be focusing on the fellas I actually shared a home with. (I acknowledge that I have had a lot of relationships. It is worth noting I do not accuse all of my exes and I am, in fact, friends with some of them.)

Some of you may find this series unbelievable. I understand; not everyone recognizes the cycles and patterns of abuse. Not everyone understands the generational trauma that so many of us witness and relive until we decide to break the cycles. The first step to breaking the cycle is awareness. The second is knowledge and identification of abuse. The third is real people sharing their real stories to help break the shame surrounding the abuse we’ve suffered and the silence that the patriarchy benefits from.

It is my goal to illustrate some aspects that we don’t always immediately recognize as red flags. If you’ve always been blessed to have a functioning nervous system and don’t care to see other perspectives, this series isn’t for you—and honestly, I may not be for you. But if you are open to different perspectives and, like me, grew up licking love off of knives or being spoon-fed general dysfunction, please stick around.

It is best to start at the beginning. So, let’s begin with the boy I dated when I was a freshly minted “adult.” At 17, I was living in an apartment, having recently graduated from a pre-independent living program after living in a group home. We aren’t here to talk about how I got there. I was no longer eligible for the program because I had graduated high school a semester early, so I went to college, worked, and lived independently at 17. Poe and I met on one of the two buses I took to and from school each day. I was enamored with Poe, and Poe was enamored with me.

We became fast friends, and he quickly divulged a laundry list of mental health disorders. I was young and naive, studying psychology, and thought I could handle it. At some point, he stopped taking all of his medications. What ensued was unintentional, but very real harm—for both of us. I debated even including this story for a couple of reasons: one, I believe I was partially culpable—I was in some kind of spiritual psychosis and thought I could heal him; and two, I am very aware that he was not well.

As far as I know, Poe is usually doing well these days, and I have no ill feelings towards him. I’m sharing this story strictly because it highlights some heavy abuse tactics. He would often show up to my job in hysterics, claiming that demons in our apartment were causing problems—not to cause me trouble, but a lot of abusers will use this tactic to make you lose your job to keep you trapped. I eventually dropped out of school, worked two jobs, and left or lost both, either directly or indirectly because of him.

He would manufacture crises, keeping me in a state of fight or flight. This can be done on purpose to keep the target confused and stressed. Again, his motivation was not to cause problems; unfortunately, the outcome was the same. He would wake me up while I tried to sleep. Sleep deprivation isn’t just any ol’ kind of abuse; it’s legit torture. And that’s why I ultimately decided to put Poe in this series. It showcases some of the more insidious and difficult-to-catch signs of abuse. It’s all crazy-making behavior.

As I continue to unpack my experiences, I invite you to join me in this series. Let’s create a safe space for sharing our stories and learning from one another. I hope to hear from you, whether it’s through comments, messages, or sharing your own experiences. Together, we can foster understanding and support, paving the way for a healthier future.

With Love and Compassion, 

Mia Marie

The Power of Names: Exploring Meaning, Personality Traits, and Numerology

I have other, more important blog posts to write, but I woke up thinking about names and their meanings. This isn’t the first time I’ve thought about it, but it is the first time it woke me up at a brisk 5 a.m. So, here we are. What’s in a name? Who named you, and why?

My father gave me three things: a cool name, a wild mane, and an addictive personality (not so cool). My name, Mia, was rare—at least until The Princess Diaries came out. I met only one other girl growing up who shared my name, but we both moved too much to stay in touch. (This was before social media and cell phones.) It’s worth noting my name has never been short for Amelia, and any hair similarities are coincidental. Also, if you have a dog named Mia, or your cousins dog is named Mia I don’t want to know. Please, please, if I have to hear about one more dog that shares my name I will cry. You don’t want me to cry do you?

My father insisted my name meant “My Precious One” in Irish. Don’t come for me—those were his words. I never found any evidence to back up that particular meaning, and believe me, I looked. What I did find is that my name means "mine" in Spanish and Italian, "water" in Swahili, and most recently, I discovered my favorite meaning: In Sanskrit, Mia was a lesser hearth goddess. I mean, come on, I’m nothing if not a kitchen witch. 😈 My middle name, though? It means "bitter." So depending on how you spin it, I’m either “my precious bitter one,” "mine bitter," "bitter water," or a bitter hearth goddess. And there was definitely a time when I resonated a little too hard with that "bitter" part.

I’ve had a theory for as long as I can remember that people with the same name share similar personality traits, and almost without exception, similar energy patterns. I think this is how we get meme names like Karen and Kyle. I mean, we all kind of instinctively know it’s true to some extent, right? Sure, there are exceptions, but by and large, tell me you don’t expect Karen to give you a hard time in a customer service setting. And for me, it goes even deeper when we start looking at the difference between given names and their shortened versions—like Matthew to Matt, Robert to Rob (or Bob), or my personal favorite, Bobert, Douglas vs. Doug, Cassandra vs Cassie, Rebecca vs Becky or Becca. You get the picture and Urban Dictionary can help solidify what I’m saying here. Not that Urban Dictionary is true or accurate, but its fun and you’ll see listings for names that essentially back up your own preconceived ideas about the name.

I will never date another Matt, but I’ve never met a Matthew with the same behaviors or energy signature as someone that goes by Matt. I have anecdotal evidence that I am not the only person that knows the name Matt equals a hard time. Fun fact about me: I used to play on a dart league. While throwing darts my friend and I often spoke about a couple of Matt’s we knew and how awful they were, then one day we were up against a team named “Matt Sucks” which just solidified that our experiences were the norm for men named Matt. So because this is a phenomena I’ve been observing my whole life, I got to wondering why. 

The truth is I don’t know why. For me it’s quite the chicken or the egg quandary. Did their names shape their personality or did their parents happen to choose a name that fit them perfectly? I have a feeling until we know a lot more about energy, quantum physics and how it works we will never know. Something I explored that came close to explaining this was numerology. Disclaimer: I only dabbled. The premise behind numerology, as relevant to today’s conversation, is that each letter has a numeric value. Each name adds up to a number. Each number carries its own energy signature. 

So, Mia Marie would break down like this. M=4 I=9 A=1, M=4 A=1 R=9 I=9 E=5 You add those together and get 42, 4=2 = 6. So, 6 is my number, and it holds a specific meaning (which I can’t remember because, again, I only dabbled). Usually, you do this with your last name too. If you want to learn more about numerology, there are plenty of books available. Unfortunately, I lost mine, so I don’t even know what I used. You can also find numerologists like you would astrologists, if you are less of a DIY spiritualist. If you happen to be in Houghton Lake, MI, Arjay at Mystical Awakenings offers numerology readings (this is not sponsored, I’m just aware of his offerings). His wife, Deb, offers mediumship sessions if that’s more your thing.

I just think that the name we are given holds more weight than what we usually consider. Names are important, never give yours to the Fae or the creepy dude/dudette at the bar. Maybe consider not naming your child Jeff Jeffries or Markus Markle, or any other silly repeating thing. Don’t name your children names that carry negative meanings such as Matt. Just kidding, name your kid Matt if you want, but he’ll be the reason the next generation knows that Matt’s are dishonest, disloyal, and sometimes disgusting. Maybe stay clear of Mallory, which means ill-fated, and I have had occasion to meet a few Mallorys, they often are dealing with unfortunate circumstances. So, just be careful out there when choosing your kids names and your own should you find yourself needing to rebrand. Maybe don’t choose names of ancient Gods, either. But that’s a little too superstitious, even for me. Tell me in the comments what your favorite name is, what your name means, and how you feel about it. 

With love and humor, 

Mia Marie