In suburban St. Louis on a recent Sunday, about 50 women gathered in a simple event space for a lively and unusual bingo night.
Inside the pink and green walled room, women crowded around card tables filled with bingo cards, bags of popcorn, chips, cheese puffs, and candy bars.
Also visible on the tables were piles of loose marijuana flowers, rows of pre-rolled joints, and bowls of edibles. In one corner, there was a “dabbing station” for those who prefer a more intense THC high.
Through a haze of smoke, it was clear many of these women were using marijuana.
Welcome to a gathering of “STL Cannamoms,” a group of Midwestern mothers who regularly use marijuana for various reasons and believe it enhances their parenting.
Cannabis. Marijuana. Grass. Weed. Pot. Whatever you call it, they say—just don’t call them bad moms.
“We have grandmothers… and we have mothers who are lawyers, realtors, cleaning ladies, bartenders, teachers, or nurses,” says Kimberlee Kesterson, the group’s co-founder.
Missouri is one of 24 states, along with Washington, D.C., that have legalized recreational marijuana. Kesterson and Jessica Carroll, a mother of two, started STL Cannamoms in 2022. Their Facebook group now has over 4,000 members.
“It’s a non-judgmental space,” one mom told CNN at the recent game night.
“I’m not doing it to party,” another mom said about using weed. “I’m doing it to relax.”
As barriers to marijuana use decrease across the country, these women are among a growing number who openly embrace cannabis. Some have faced criticism but emphasize they limit their intake while parenting. Others question whether small doses of weed make them less responsible than moms who drink wine.
“It definitely helps me be more patient as a parent,” says Kesterson, a mother of four, about her marijuana use. “I actually want to sit down and engage with my kids instead of just scrolling on my phone all day.”
These “cannamoms” say they don’t have doctor’s prescriptions. Instead, they use small amounts to manage life and motherhood’s stresses.
“I feel more present… more insightful, playful, and willing to watch ‘Moana’ for the fiftieth time,” says Shonitria Anthony, a journalist and podcast host. Anthony, her partner, and their two children live in Georgia, where recreational marijuana is illegal but limited medical use is allowed.
She started her podcast, “Blunt Blowin’ Mama,” nearly a decade ago to “normalize moms who smoke weed.” The podcast celebrates moms who use marijuana, share their experiences, and provide cannabis industry information.
While the exact number of mothers using marijuana is unknown, with over 85 million moms in the U.S. and a 2023 survey showing 19.5 million females 12 or older used marijuana in the past month, millions likely consume it.
Thirty-nine U.S. states allow medical marijuana. Research suggests cannabis can help with pain, nausea, and appetite, though its psychological effects vary.
Anthony started smoking weed at 18 as a “communal ritual.” Now, she calls it her “medicine,” though she has no prescription. She says cannabis reduces her anxiety and helps her parent her 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son better.
“I find I’m calmer, make better decisions, and react less,” says Anthony. “Consuming cannabis makes me a 1,000% better mom.”
Sabrina Guerrero, also a mother of two, uses cannabis. She has an 8-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter.
Guerrero, a stay-at-home mom, uses marijuana multiple times daily to cope with PTSD and ADHD. She says she used to take prescription drugs, but with marijuana, she “finds her kids funny, laughs with them, and enjoys the moment,” which she couldn’t do on pharmaceuticals.
Guerrero, a content creator in central California, where recreational marijuana is legal, writes about cannabis and hosts events where moms can openly consume without judgment.
Despite this, they still face judgment.
Critics argue marijuana is harmful and doesn’t improve parenting.
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance in the U.S., with growing use, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
It’s classified as a Schedule 1 drug, like heroin and LSD, with high abuse potential. However, there’s a recent push to reclassify it as lower-risk.
Cannamoms believe responsible marijuana use has more benefits than risks.
Anthony faces online attacks from people who claim marijuana is harmful and question her parenting.
“I’ve gotten emails saying I shouldn’t be a mom,” she says. “Or that I don’t deserve kids.”
Guerrero and her husband face similar criticism, with people saying they don’t love their children and should have them taken away.
Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, and impaired judgment, which can be problematic when caring for children.
“Children deserve healthy mothers with good coping skills,” says Aubree Adams, director of Every Brain Matters, a nonprofit created by families harmed by marijuana.
“My son became addicted and had psychosis from high-potency marijuana,” says Adams, from Colorado, where recreational marijuana is legal.
Adams, an anti-marijuana advocate, calls the idea that weed isn’t harmful “one of the biggest deceptions of our time.” She says, “Impaired parenting is not good for America’s children.”
These moms are open with their children about their drug use.
Anthony’s children know she uses marijuana.
“I have grinders and rolling trays. I call them my cannabis tools, and they know what they look like,” she says. “I want them to learn about cannabis from me first.”
Guerrero’s 8-year-old son saw her using it.
“I’m not hiding, but I’m not throwing it in their faces,” she says. “I want him to respect the plant like pharmaceuticals.”
Cannamoms say there are misconceptions about their ability to use drugs responsibly while parenting.
“How are you protecting your kids when you’re drinking wine?” Anthony says. “The idea that we’re stoned out of our minds is ridiculous.”
Like alcohol, they say, it’s about knowing your limits and using small amounts.
“I’m not getting wasted. It’s microdosing throughout the day just to feel normal,” says Guerrero.
“We are good moms, wives, daughters, and contributing members of society,” she says.
However, some health experts say microdosing is imprecise due to varying tolerance and THC levels. Marijuana potency has increased, potentially surprising users, and regulations haven’t kept up.
In St. Louis, Kesterson smokes a joint in her garage while her kids are inside. She says she’s not worried about others’ opinions.
“I’m secure in who I am and how I use cannabis,” she says. “If people judge me, that’s their problem, not mine.”
