Many cannabis imbibers grew up during times when cannabis was stigmatized, pretty much across the board, and was compared and categorized with hard drugs like heroin and crack. Parents were strict back in the day and if one was a youthful toker, they likely didn’t share it with their parental units.
That doesn’t mean that the folks never tried it themselves, though, and the potential is there that with all the legalization going down, the science coming up and stigmas falling by the wayside, that they may have not only opened their minds, but perhaps have returned to or started up with the plant you’ve been so careful to not mention at the dinner table.
RELATED:Â How Marijuana Can Actually Make You An Even Better Parent
If you’ve been experiencing this kind of tension for years or if you just want to be able to talk freely with your family, there’s a good chance that the time has come. Especially if you suspect that the rents are ingesting cannabis themselves. Perhaps it’s even time for you to break out your stash and have that first sesh as an adult with them.
Approach gently. Cannabis is such a hot topic these days that there’s bound to be a topic for you to springboard off. From new local laws to the recent passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp in the U.S. once again, broach the topic from a non-personal point of view, explore legislation and get a feel for the room.
If you’re met with stony silence, don’t go for the family sized joint you prepared in advance. Instead, keep the conversation positive, talk about the benefits of cannabis and let it go if things get weird. If you’re a die-hard weed activist, you may want to keep pushing, but just know that pulling out paraphernalia in that type of situation isn’t going to end well for anyone.
RELATED:Â A Guide For Talking To Your Teens About Marijuana
If the conversation flows, however, and it sounds like they have been paying attention to all the big news stories on cannabis, the industry and continued expansion, start the potential smoke session alk with some questions, like, “Did you smoke pot in college?” “How long has it been?” And the big one, “Do you want to try it with me? I think it would be a good bonding session for us…”
It may get nervous in there if it’s been years since the parents tried marijuana, so don’t push if the initial answer is “No,” or “Not yet.” You’ll have planted a seed and will have certainly made for an interesting conversation after you leave for the day. If you do get through and the sesh goes down, kudos! You’ve broken into a new form of communication and enrichment with your parents and your interactions moving forward from that day on.
