Some mothers claim a little weed makes them better parents. Doctors are not amused. They are urging extreme caution when mixing cannabis with childcare.
Take Rachel Gibbs. She is a Texas content creator who broadcasts her life online. She is part of a growing digital tribe of “canna moms” and “garden moms” racking up millions of views. They do not see weed as an escape hatch. Gibbs insists it is just another tool in her parenting kit.
But the human body reacts to THC in unpredictable ways. How it hits you depends on how you take it and how often. The CDC warns that cannabis can mess with your heart, lungs, and brain. It slows your reflexes. It ruins your driving.
Addiction experts are tired of the narrative that weed is a harmless, organic alternative to booze. Both substances impair your brain. Dr. Lief Fenno, who chairs the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Addiction Psychiatry, points out the obvious danger. If you are watching a toddler, you might need to make a split-second, lifesaving decision. You might need to drive to the ER. Being high makes that incredibly difficult.
Gibbs disagrees. She says weed silences the mental static. It does not make her a couch potato. Instead, she claims it gives her the patience to deal with her three-year-old and five-year-old. It takes her out of fight-or-flight mode so she can connect with her kids.
She is not alone. Another mother, Amy, went viral on TikTok declaring that “gardening” makes her a superior parent.
Gibbs uses cannabis four to five times a week but claims she has strict boundaries. She never drives high. She only uses it when another sober adult is present. Her kids never see the stash.
Still, the numbers are staggering. Over 64 million Americans used cannabis last year. The CDC estimates that roughly 30% of users suffer from cannabis use disorder.
Medical experts warn that the science does not back up the hype. Dr. Tara Narula notes that cannabis is not regulated like FDA-approved medicine. A massive review of 50 studies recently found zero evidence that cannabis helps with anxiety, PTSD, or psychotic disorders.
For parents who choose to partake, the American Academy of Pediatrics has some basic advice. Do not use it in front of your kids. Do not expose them to secondhand smoke. And lock your stash away where little hands cannot find it.
