By Diana Sanmiguel
When the pandemic hit in 2020, everything about my life as a mother changed. I went from seeing my kids a few hours a day to being with them 24/7, practically overnight. Like many moms, I found myself juggling remote learning, a scaled-back work schedule, and the emotional toll of uncertain times—all without my usual outlets for release (since we were trapped indoors). As a single mother, entrepreneur, and lover of being social, the isolation was hard. That’s when I found CBD—and it quietly changed everything.
Discovering CBD as a Wellness Tool
I needed something to keep me calm given the hectic times and bring me back to myself. I began using CBD through edibles and vaping because of its ability to help me stay grounded without the psychoactive effects of THC. I was new to cannabis and didn’t want to get high. What started as a wellness experiment quickly became a tool in my toolkit to not only help with stress relief but also to help me show up more fully for my kids.
I’ve always embraced a mindful and open-minded approach to motherhood. I meditate. I practice yoga. I don’t spank. I let my children express their emotions, even when it’s loud, even when it’s messy. CBD became a natural extension of that mindfulness—another way to be present and more regulated when coping with the unknown.
Shedding Shame, Choosing Calm
Still, I know not everyone understands. For some, the idea of a mom using cannabis or CBD seems irresponsible, even immoral. But I reject that shame. I believe that caring for ourselves is part of caring for our families. When I choose to use cannabis, I’m choosing calm over chaos. I’m choosing to stay patient instead of yelling. I’m choosing to relax so I can meet my children with love instead of exhaustion.
And I’m not alone.
Across the country, more mothers like me—Cannamoms—are stepping forward to say, “This helps me.” We’re no longer hiding our cannabis use behind closed doors. We’re sharing our stories on social media, podcasts, and in conversations with other moms at school pick-up. We’re creating supportive communities and advocating for education over judgment.
Always Learning, Always Evolving
We’re also becoming leaders in the industry—starting wellness brands, launching educational events, and creating cannabis products tailored to moms like us. We’re doing the research. We’re talking to healthcare providers. We’re modeling responsible use at home, locking products away, setting clear boundaries, and teaching our kids that wellness can look many different ways.
Personally, I’ve explored CBD lotions for back pain, THC oils for better sleep, and low-dose gummies and mints for long days when my patience runs thin. I continue to learn and grow as a consumer, and I always encourage other moms to do the same—do your research, read labels, talk to professionals. The World Health Organization and the National Institute on Drug Abuse have confirmed cannabis’s therapeutic effects, so we can now speak with more confidence about its benefits.
I often say moms are the influencers of the family. We make everything work. But we can’t pour from an empty cup. Whether it’s cannabis, therapy, a long walk, or time with friends, we all need tools that refill us. For me, cannabis is just one of those tools. It doesn’t make me a bad mother—it makes me a better one.
Looking back, 2020 was one of the hardest years of my motherhood journey so far. But I came out stronger and calmer. I have become more in tune with myself and my kids. And that, to me, is the heart of being a cannamom: finding your version of balance and refusing to feel shame for it.
The more we share, the more we normalize this conversation. We’re not just breaking the stigma—we’re rewriting the rules.
