Talking to your parents about cannabis doesn’t have to be completely awkward. Even if they were super strict and against pot 100% when you were young, it doesn’t mean that their minds haven’t opened up.
Before you start thinking you’re cool, remember this sobering fact: your parents were likely smoking weed long before you even knew how to say the word. Many Baby Boomers consider themselves former pot smokers, people who enjoyed toking before technology careers, and family all came into play.
Lots of Boomers were also unfortunately swayed with the 80s era “Just Say No” campaign and many were parents themselves when it hit. It’s one of the reasons after school specials clung to the pot topic and why parents and teachers started seeming like such squares.
But the tides have turned once again, and now most educational materials are rooted in the benefits of cannabis, not in scare tactics that helped fuel fear and a failed Drug War, which makes broaching the subject of cannabis with your aging parents all the easier. They’re bound to have heard at least some of the miraculous pot stories going around.
Getting older has its perks: you’ve gleaned some wisdom, can choose eat ice cream for breakfast, and you’ve definitely learned what you like and how you like it. But it comes with some other stuff, too.
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Aches and pains are at the top of the aging list for most people. Knees begin to pop and get sore more often, back muscles throb, it gets harder to fall and stay asleep, food goes down in flavor a little, sometimes having an empty nest can be lonely, and being set in your ways can also become a drag.
This is where cannabis and “the talk” come in. Talking to your parents about cannabis doesn’t have to be completely awkward. Even if they were super strict and against pot 100% when you were young, it doesn’t mean that their minds haven’t opened up. It’s hard to stay mad at a plant that’s been proven to be beneficial in so many ways.
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Still, bring it up gently, without pressure and with a ton of information. Knowing the ins and outs of what you’re talking about will lend credibility to the argument that mom and/or dad should pick up the pipe/vape pen. Remind them that it’s impossible to overdose on pot, the biggest side effects are an appetite and the giggles and that aches and pains will melt away.
Speaking of which, starting with a topical may be the best way to broach the subject. There’s no chance of getting high from the topical — even if it’s activated with THC — and a good topical with responsibly sourced ingredients can work magical feats on sore spots. Of course, having a toke along with will enhance the effects and add its own medicinal properties, but go at whatever pace your parents are comfortable with and only join in if everyone is really ready.
