In my first article, “Invitation Only,” I welcomed readers to join my journey through the cannabis space from the perspective of a Naive Newbie. I briefly described my dysfunctional relationship with the industry as being similar to an orphan because I don’t have any legitimate claim into either Big Pharm nor the Legacy grow space. I am a loner, and thus The Naive Newbie is born.
My actual stoner birthday wasn’t until I was—well, I don’t remember. I want to say I was 25, but I honestly can’t recall. I’ll tell you later why I’m named Amnesia. What I can recall, though, was the exact experience I had with it. Every moment. Every feeling. I treasure that memory because it was the beginning of Blue Amnesia. Not in a literal sense, but that was the night my pretty little healing seed was planted!
My Cannabis Awakening
I am grateful for many things that my ex-husband has brought into my life, but introducing me to cannabis was…I’m not going to say it was as big of a contribution as, let’s say, my kids, but it ranks high on the list of things he did right. Our marriage was already crumbling on the naive foundation we built as kids, and we sensed its doom. I hadn’t really smoked weed before and was uptight about it, raised in a strict household. Years later, I would find out my parents had a secret history with the plant.
It was at a holiday party when my then-husband suggested cannabis would save our marriage. Naive, huh? Spoiler alert: it didn’t save my marriage, but it did save me. That night, smoking together became my favorite memory of our marriage.
At first, I was frustrated. I thought I would be too high-strung to enjoy it. I curled up on the couch, throwing myself a pity party, until the moment it hit me. The lights of the Christmas tree were mesmerizing! The colors danced, my senses heightened, and my mind felt both connected and free.
Connecting Through Cannabis
Suddenly, I wasn’t just connected to the moment; I felt connected to Earth, my husband, and, most importantly, myself. I realized how much judgment I had carried toward cannabis and how it became my guide through life’s turbulence, including a difficult divorce.
Years later, I’ve continued my love affair with the plant, though mostly in secret. Now that I no longer fear the stigma, I feel empowered to explore its healing potential openly. Thus, “The Naive Newbie” was born—a place to share insights, embrace curiosity, and connect with others.
I hope this series offers a welcoming space for fellow naive newbs to learn and grow alongside me. Let’s celebrate all that cannabis is, was, and will be.
