Why are the women not mentioned? - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

Deb-HAS-grn · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 06:58 PM

Why Aren't Women More Into Marijuana?

Posted: September 18, 2009 at 1:50 PM
By Samantha Henig

If you’re a woman, then the cause to legalize marijuana wants you. Most activists working with the Marijuana Policy Project are men, Laura Greenback writes in High Times. But they want to change that. So Greenback is doing some soul searching about why women aren’t gunning for ganja. She offers the theory that women “feel the pressure to be seen as strong workers and perfect mothers, so we shy away from getting behind something our coworkers and PTA members might see as ‘out there.’ ”

Another possibility: We just don’t have any strong pot-loving women role models. Stoner flicks are notoriously dudes only, save a stray female friend here and there, like Charlyne Yi in Knocked Up. Perhaps Peggy’s foray into to reefer on Mad Men will make pot as cool as well-defined waistlines, but until then, we’re struggling to think of strong female role models who do the dope. We’ve been kicking it around over e-mail, and here’s what we’ve got so far:

Noreen offers Jennifer Aniston in Friends with Money, but points out that “she's not having very much fun.”

Ellen says “Annie Hall in Annie Hall, but the point was quite different ... It was more like she needed pot to have sex with him because she was losing interest in the relationship. It was more about him being neurotic.”

Rachael brings up Weeds, which she says has “a feminist angle” because Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) deals drugs but “stays sober while the buffoonish men around her smoke pot and act like children.”

June’s response: “And when former neighbor Celia Hodes, who started out as a clamp-down-on-crime puritan got her taste of drugs, she immediately became a full-on, falling-down, whoring-herself-out-to-score addict. Hell, you know she had it bad—she even lost a front tooth. It's hard to see a message here other than women and drugs don't mix.”

Dana says Smiley Face is “a great female stoner odyssey.” And there’s also just about everyone from That '70s Show.

Still a pretty anemic list, compared to the full catalog of pothead dudes prancing around—or, sprawling out lethargically—on the big screen these days. If there were a truly awesome, hilarious film about lovable, relatable pothead girls, would that change things? Or is Greenback right that women’s hesitance to be strong weed supporters is more rooted in our need to be perfect overachiever types, which runs so counter to the pothead ethos of lounging around and eating Cheetos?

I DEB-HAS-grn, I've been googling from time to time trying to find Woman advocates for marijuana,, I have had very little luck on this. I did come across this article today and thought I'd put it up while I still search for a list of Woman advocates and marijuana and their stories. I do agree that there may be few woman who are out there in the public as the men are but, I have to disagree when they say there are no woman advocates for legalizing marijuana.... We have them right here on Green Passion,, we are everywere but for some reason there is little talk of the increasing woman fighting for the cause. We are the wives or mothers or daughters of the men who are out there in the public, we are standing by our family and friends,, We are scientist, lawyers, doctors who maybe fighting behind the scenes,, We are the woman who are taking care of our loved ones who need the medical marijuana, we take chances at what we do to get the oils to them,, We are woman who are spreading the word, maybe by the research that has been put into a list, there is woman putting a life time of their time and knowledge into what they believe in,, We are woman who keep a site like GP going so that more can be said and done in the fight for legalizing. We are behind the scenes I would say but we are there..... I will be doing another thread this week in hopes to have some stories of the woman behind the scenes or not behind, but out in the open......... I know we are out there.....

traceydm · #2 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 07:16 PM

wow!! cool post debs!! you are so right.....just because we are not "out there" in the limelight certainly doesn't mean we don't exist! a lot of the time like you say ,we can't afford to be public about it.
really thought provoking!.......

jangel · #3 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 07:18 PM

One of my favorite chick flicks is The Banger Sisters with Goldie Hawn and Susan Seranden. I so would be Goldie when she was young, if I had been in LA! LOL! I just love that movie! And Susan Seranden is a very vocal supporter of cannabis. I wouldn't doubt if both of those ladies are long time tokers!

Also, a somewhat cult flick that IS my all time favortite is Tank Girl. She tokes in there, as well as other things. Futeristic, but still she is a strong female role model.

Check it out if you ever can.

Great subject Deb.

Peace

traceydm · #4 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 07:20 PM

i've jusy had a thought......if it were publicly known tommorrow that i am doing what i'm doing my life and that of my kids would be a complete disaster....school,nursery.... my kids would have a hard time and so would i ....yet...i'm pretty sure if my hubs was the one being outed ,sure there would be a hissy but not with the same intensity as for me....simply because i am a mother!

jangel · #5 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 07:23 PM

Oh for sure Tracey! My daughter could be taken away, and my mum put in a home.

Peace

Deb-HAS-grn · #6 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traceydm

i've jusy had a thought......if it were publicly known tommorrow that i am doing what i'm doing my life and that of my kids would be a complete disaster....school,nursery.... my kids would have a hard time and so would i ....yet...i'm pretty sure if my hubs was the one being outed ,sure there would be a hissy but not with the same intensity as for me....simply because i am a mother!

You are ever so right Tracey,, It has always been that way for woman

traceydm · #7 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 07:27 PM

god.....thats actually quite shocked me....i'd never really thought about it before....they'd all just say "oh what a guy that so and so is" and forget the fact he's a father!......wow!
(you know, i'm going to have to stop toking at the computer!!!i think too much!!)

Deb-HAS-grn · #8 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 07:53 PM

I don't have the responsibility's that you, Jangel and Tracey, have but I would just be brushed off as this old hippy still gone crazy, I would be considered a big mouth or such,,,But you know what, I just don't care what they all think,, But if it was years ago when my kids were young it would be different, I would have to care

MedGarden420 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 08:18 PM

When it comes to medical marijuana, I'm about as outspoken as they come. I will even discuss it with people who are completely opposed to marijuana for any reason. The best way to be an advocate is to give your testimony to others. Real life miracle stories.

Perhaps it is grandmothers like myself who might make the best advocates. I raised 4 children and I smoked pot the whole time (not always when pregnant though), and my kids are fine. I hold down a full-time job. I'm a responsible person just like millions of other Americans.

Unfortunately, the pot culture carries with it a reputation for loose morals and low aspirations. I think it is most women's nature to protect her family from any negative fallout from activism. Men have been asked to take a stand or pick a side for thousands of years. We're relatively new in the war games, be it equal rights for women, or fighting in real life wars. Some may even argue (playing devil's advocate here) that men make more convincing advocates because men and women are more likely to give credence to something a well known male figure says before a female, even in this day and age.

Personally, I say, "Where do I sign up?"

po

P.S. Great thread, Deb!

jangel · #10 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 08:33 PM

We are fortunate here to have found more well spoken women than on many sites, that do speak out. maybe it is slowly changing. I hope so. I know on the mostly rec sites, women are given a pat on the head and told they couldn't possibly understand business or the science part of growing. I know many women, because of that attitude, have not stated their gender. I know some well known growers are really women. But they know their wisdom would not be appreciated or honoured if it was known. And some of the best ones are no longer posting as they are most likely raising a family. It seems right now, we women have to choose, and it is not fair. But it is a fact. Kids or to be an advocate. Mine are almost grown and so I know, they couldn't really be taken from me. But it tarnishes how people look at them as a reflection of their parents, so you just can't do that to them. it is all a toss up.

Peace

Jigsy420 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 09:15 PM

That speaks to the archaic double standards that still have a hold on most modern societies. I agree it's a shame, and it should be rooted out as the sham it is. Suffrage was only a beginning, there is so much ground to be covered. as the father of a daughter, I have a vested interest in it's demise, aside from my own feelings of equity across divisions.

Mr Tumnus · #12 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 09:53 PM

Hi Ladies,I know it's the Womens Lounge,but here's a thought from a guy.
The generation who thought a womans place was barefoot,pregnant and chained between the kitchen sink and the cooker have gone.
The generation who (mostly) thought marijuana was the devils weed and led to murderous feelings,criminal behaviour and more and stronger drugs,are dying off.
The general populations of developed countries are becoming more and more enlightened as the years go by.
The age of openly strong women is upon us,although there are still those who harbour the belief that women can't or shouldn't hold down a career and still raise kids,the number of those who doubt that are dwindling rapidly,in the face of overwhelming proof to the contrary.
It only takes one brave woman to stick her head above the parapet to start a landslide(pardon the mixed metephors)
The cause needs strong,publically vocal women,and they will appear.
In short,your time will come,sooner rather than later.
Go Sisters Go!!

Yours in the cause,T

MedGarden420 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Tumnus

Hi Ladies,I know it's the Womens Lounge,but here's a thought from a guy.

The cause needs strong,publically vocal women,and they will appear.
In short,your time will come,sooner rather than later.
Go Sisters Go!!

Yours in the cause,T

AMEN! Woot!

It's a lot of fun to speak out in an intelligent way about a topic you're knowledgeable about and see opinions changed forever when they realize they have known you for months and never suspected you are a medical marijuana patient. That's cause we're just like your mother, sister, daughter who takes medication for asthma, back pain, or whatever. If someone is given morphine for back pain no one bats an eye because he can't get off the couch. But if we smoke a joint for the same thing we're criminals? COME ON!

Time to get vocal girls! I'm serving through writing and photography and in whatever other ways I can dream up.

po

Deb-HAS-grn · #14 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 11:25 PM

But we are vocal and doing our part. There is just some of us who stand to lose a whole lot if we give out any names and other personal information. Some are not even legal enough to be free to to say what they would like to..... Some talk freely to most people but not too all... I too am open to what I do feel and say, but I am not legal, so that means I have to watch what it is that I say to some people....

sabasi · #15 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 01:28 AM

Didn't Janis Joplin smoke too? Just trying to remember who I had as role models growing up lol I was a rebel!

Deb-HAS-grn · #16 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabasi

Didn't Janis Joplin smoke too? Just trying to remember who I had as role models growing up lol I was a rebel!

Awww Janis,,, I would of loved to have met her...wish she had been here all these years, You got to know she would still be speaking out. I was a rebel too, the oldest child at that, so It was hard on my parents and me both,,, after all, I just wanted to be me...lol

traceydm · #17 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Tumnus

Hi Ladies,I know it's the Womens Lounge,but here's a thought from a guy.
The generation who thought a womans place was barefoot,pregnant and chained between the kitchen sink and the cooker have gone.
The generation who (mostly) thought marijuana was the devils weed and led to murderous feelings,criminal behaviour and more and stronger drugs,are dying off.
The general populations of developed countries are becoming more and more enlightened as the years go by.
The age of openly strong women is upon us,although there are still those who harbour the belief that women can't or shouldn't hold down a career and still raise kids,the number of those who doubt that are dwindling rapidly,in the face of overwhelming proof to the contrary.
It only takes one brave woman to stick her head above the parapet to start a landslide(pardon the mixed metephors)
The cause needs strong,publically vocal women,and they will appear.
In short,your time will come,sooner rather than later.
Go Sisters Go!!

Yours in the cause,T

i hear ya mr t .......but the fact remains that even a lot of my contemporaries would not be impressed with what i'm doing......don't get me wrong ,i have talked with many friends whose loved ones have cancer about the oil and some are receptive and some are not .....and it seems to be accepted if i am using oil supplied by another party but i know for a fact that the growing thing is a whole new ballgame.......and who is the brave woman going to be??? if i didn't have kids i'd love it to be me but the fact remains...i'd destroy their lives and i just couldn't do that to them.......and that will always be womans problem.....we have too many others to consider in the fall out that would ensue.and then i'm faced with the question....am i selfish for not standing up to be counted?....or am i selfish if i do?.....either way it seems to me that i lose!

bloody frustrating.......but i wish there were more good men like you!!.......rock on tumnus!!!

sabasi · #18 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 04:16 PM

Are there any current living celebrity females who smoke the ganja?? Hmm I'm thinking Amy Winehouse is hip to it but I guess she's not really a good role model lol

Deb-HAS-grn · #19 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabasi

Are there any current living celebrity females who smoke the ganja?? Hmm I'm thinking Amy Winehouse is hip to it but I guess she's not really a good role model lol

There are some that freely say what they do and have done,, I hope to get a list out this week,, one that is very honest is Malissa Etheridge, She also used it when going through Breast Cancer...

jangel · #20 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 06:52 PM

Susan Serandan is another, as well as Goldie Hawn I beleive and also Whoopie Goldberg. I will check out a few things, and come back.