Marijuana and motherhood don’t seem like two topics likely to share the same sentence, but quietly in the Valley area a movement called Arizona Moms for Marijuana is slowly growing.
Victoria Nunez is a mother a a 22 month old girl, and president of Arizona Moms for Marijuana. Having already served on the board of the national organization Phoenix Normal (a group that saught to reform Marijuana laws) Nunez is now focusing on lifting the taboo on Marijuana in one of the US’s toughest drug enforcement states. Nunez medicinal use of marijuana began when she was involved in a serious car accident with a drunk driver 5 years ago. Prescription drug medications made Nunez sick, and so she found solace in smoking marijuana. Since the birth of her child she has forgone smoking until she can do so legally, but she is hoping to bring to light the many beneficial facets of marijuana use. Nunez explains, “It is a safer alternative recreationally, medically AND environmentally”.
Erica Johnson, another Arizona mother to three teenagers, makes the assertion that smoking marijuana helps makes her a better mom. 4 years ago she was diagnosed with the debilitating disease Multiple Sclerosis. During treatment she lost her hair and at one point became partially paralyzed. Johnson insists that a combination of physical therapy and marijuana has helped her heal. “I will go and take one little puff off of my pipe and that will usually…help me be a little energetic. Because fatigue is a big problem”. Johnson insists that she’s doing the right thing, “there are moms out there that whether it be medical or recreational, they shouldn’t face losing their kids or losing their lives behind something thats this innocent and far safer than a bottle of vodka”. They want to be able to take part in recreational and medical use of the drug with out out worrying about facing marijuana charges or criminal prosecution in Phoenix.
DJ Diebold, a psychotherapist who specializes in addiction, calls their conclusions, “slightly delusional”. Although he has had patients who praised it’s ability to suppress pain, he hopes to, “make it clear that it will not help you be a better parent”.
Arizona Moms for Marijuana has a membership of over 200 people and growing.