Coming Out About Cannabis: My Personal Story

Article Features

• A personal story about my experience, originally published in 2019
• Practical tips for talking to loved ones about your cannabis use, if you choose to
• Want to explore your options? Premium, high-quality cannabis products are available through recommended retailers and delivery services in many areas. Consider vetted sources and prioritize safety and legality.

Why You Will Love This Post

“I have used cannabis every day for the past ten years…”

I never thought I would type that sentence for anyone to read.

For much of my young adult life, I kept my cannabis use private because of political and social stigmas and the negative assumptions people make about cannabis users.

I use cannabis daily to support my overall health and wellness, and I have done so since I was 20.

For a long time I carried shame about using cannabis and wrestled with the idea that others might label me a ‘drug addict.’

Today, I proudly say that cannabis helps enhance my well-being, and I hope my story can help you find the confidence to be honest if you choose to do so.

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The Backstory

To understand my present, it’s important to understand my past.

As a teenager I struggled more than many of my peers. I could not control my anger and emotions, and my relationship with my parents was volatile. I was rebellious and sometimes destructive. My parents did their best, but we all had a hard time.

We tried counseling, but the problems persisted. My family had a history of mental health challenges—anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder—and I was too young at the time to fully grasp how those patterns affected us all.

A Family Tragedy

When I was 16, my cousin, who was also 16, took her own life. I have not shared this publicly before. It was a devastating and profoundly painful moment for our family.

In the weeks that followed, I was numb and confused. My mother later mentioned that my cousin had recently started a new medication for depression, and many of us in the family wondered about its role. The experience changed how I viewed prescription medication and mental health forever.

I’m sharing this as part of my story, not to offer medical advice. Everyone’s situation is different, and treatment decisions should be made with qualified professionals.

An Introduction to Cannabis

At 17 I left for college. I was still the angry, difficult teenager my parents had known. After one semester at Fredonia State, I returned home with a 1.8 GPA and felt like a failure. I was depressed and anxious.

Around that time I started dating someone who introduced me to cannabis. His family used cannabis casually and openly, and I saw how it could be part of a healthy lifestyle for some people. Hindsight makes the path look clearer now, but when I started, I was simply looking for relief.

With more consistent cannabis use, I experienced a noticeable change: I could control my anger and mood swings, and for the first time in a long while I felt contentment.

I enrolled in community college, worked as a waitress, and met my future husband. Slowly, things began to improve.

Cannabis Changed My Life

Using cannabis consistently helped me stabilize emotionally, and that stability allowed me to become motivated, productive, and creative. During my first semester at community college I earned a 4.0 and made the Dean’s List.

For the first time in a long while I accomplished something meaningful on my own. I felt hopeful about my future and driven to create a better life.

This all began when I began using cannabis as a tool for wellness.

What I Have Accomplished Because of Cannabis

I enrolled in a nutrition program, made the Dean’s List and the Honor Society, and received scholarships. After a year I applied to a nearby university and was accepted. My GPA at RIT never dropped below 3.75.

I volunteered, participated in campus life, and felt inspired to become a registered dietitian. I continued to work nights and weekends, saved money, moved in with my partner, paid my own bills and tuition, and did so independently.

I applied to a distance dietetic internship and graduate school so I could pursue my goals without uprooting my life. We moved into our home, I completed my internship, graduated with a Master of Science, and became pregnant—accomplishments I am deeply proud of.

I truly believe I would not have turned my life around so quickly without the emotional stability I found while using cannabis.

Cannabis Use After Motherhood

I did not use cannabis while pregnant with my first son. After he was born I experienced a period of postpartum depression and felt stuck professionally. Although I had earned my degree, I hadn’t yet passed the licensing exam and found myself back waitressing.

With encouragement from family, I took the exam when my son was five months old—and passed. That opened a new path for me. I returned to cannabis use and immediately felt renewed motivation and inspiration.

I started a blog while caring for my infant, working part-time in a clinical role and part-time on my business. For a while I lived with the fear of being ‘found out’ about my personal choices, and I often avoided situations where a drug test could threaten my work.

I am Successful Because I Use Cannabis

In 2017 I left a hospital job that didn’t fit me and focused fully on growing my business. Since then I have been self-employed and have achieved more than I imagined possible.

A blog that began as a small project for mom-to-mom support grew into a business that now contributes to our family’s financial stability. I was able to start paying down student loans, build a dedicated workspace, and design a life that fits my values.

Happiness was the Result

Every day I feel gratitude for the life I live now. I’m aware of my privileges and appreciate that I live in a time when I can be more open about who I am.

Cannabis use is not for everyone. My main message is this: do what works for you. If you have found a practice or treatment that improves your life and is safe and legal where you live, there is no need to be ashamed.

Thank you for reading and for not judging me. I appreciate your support and honesty in exploring what wellness means for you.

Want to learn more about my story? Listen to the full conversation on the Well With Cannabis Podcast episode where I share more about this journey.