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[isaskiameetsworld]

Women of Color and Cannabis

SOLELY MY OPINION: 

It is nothing new that people of color are disproportionally arrested for the possession of cannabis even though most races use marijuana at about the same rate. Something that is long overlooked and I will like to make a blog about is the women of color that are effected on both ends of the spectrum and the stigma that continues to plague women of color that use cannabis for medical or recreational reasons. Why is it that black women are defeminized and criminalized for something White housewives do all the time. This is not just societal but also in the ingrained in the laws that govern us. 

As you found out in my last post, I started experimenting with cannabis at sixteen and with that came stigma from my family and society. My family saw me as a drug addict on the verge fo rehab and organization saw me as some type of delinquent. Keep in my alcoholism, and other forms of addiction run in my family. 

 My first legal encounter involving cannabis was when I was eighteen years old. I was on probation for a prior incident, and I was drug tested by my probation officer. I informed the probation officer that I had not directly used and that it was from contact, but I was violated. Part of my violation was the revoking of my pre-trial diversion and sixty days in jail. That meant I would lose my job, which I used to pay for my probation. I would then be violated again. 

Luckily after much persuasion, my father got me a lawyer, which something that not a lot of women of color have at their disposal. With this (non-court appointed) lawyer, I was able to get the prosecutor to settle for me doing Sunday’s in jail. This would not be the last experience I would have with the law and cannabis. 

During my time in undergraduate, I was quite depressed, and this was due to some things going on in my personal life. I regularly use cannabis. I used it on my commute and knew the risk but continued to smoke in my car. It was all good until I realized that day. 

I got a call from the KSU police department to meet them in my car. I was in the middle of a cycling class, so my heart rate was through the roof. I went to my car to find an officer and a girl sitting next to my car. She claimed that I had sideswiped her car when parking but i knew that was not the case. The officer asked me to move my car to show him, and when I did, he smelt the cannabis I had burned earlier. The officer was a black man, and at the moment he told me that i had to be careful as a black woman trying to become educated in this world. I understood what he was saying, but that did not sway me to stop smoking. i disposed of the cannabis and continued about my way with no citation for either. 

I was again lucky because what happens when you are arrested and not even charged with possessing cannabis as a lasting effect. One of those is the loss of any chance of getting financial aid to pay for college. This can cause some people not to be able to get a job. These are just the surface level of how things can go wrong for you when and after you are arrest for cannabis possession. African American women are incarcerated at twice the rate of white women. 

Being incarcerated, also has effects on the people's ability to get jobs and increases the risk of contracting diseases like HIV/AIDS. With all this happening over an herb but why do women of color use cannabis to medicate?

In my opinion, there are several reasons. First, of those being women of color’s pain is alarmingly ignored. Black people are 50% less likely to receive pain medication from medical professionals as are white people. This is the case if we are even able to afford to make it to the hospital.  Especially in the region of the United States that I am from, the Southeast, women of color don't have access to health care, and many have jobs that do not provide healthcare to or for them. Being a black woman, our pain is often ignored by medical professions when we can afford to see them. Many take pain management into their own hands. 

Cannabis has in the last twenty years seen an increase in medicinal use. People are using marijuana to treat anything from physical to mental pain. So with no access to formal healthcare or often being ignored when seeking pain management from a healthcare professional, women of color may turn to the use of cannabis. A dime bag is far cheaper than paying $75 an hour to talk to a therapist or $150 or more for a prescription. This is often the only alternative some have at relief, but they also run the risk of losing a lot along with this.

This is just a glimpse into my thoughts on women of color and cannabis. i think societally, women of color are defeminized and seen as lazy because of the use cannabis. As more women of color enter into the cannabis industry, they are hard pressed not to be stigmatized into the queen pin roll as well as being overlooked despite their qualifications and knowledge.

Even in film and television white women/girls are portrayed as funny loving, goofy, girl next door, stoners. Shows like Broad City, Weeds, Mary + Jane, and Disjointed underrepresent women of color that use cannabis for whatever reason. Whether it be for recreation or medicinal purposes. Black women are not allowed to smoke and definitely not allowed to do it for fun. 

 This is where my career path is beginning and i hope not only to enter the industry but advocate for other women of color who are looking to do the same. 

[isaskiameetsworld]

Cannabis you?

I was sixteen years old when I smoked my first blunt, but it would be almost two years before I actually got HIGH. I had graduated from D.A.R.E. in fourth grade like everyone else I knew, and while I definitely knew meth, cocaine, and heroin were big No No’s to name a few, I never understood the issue with smoking weed. So when the guy, who I was crushing on and lost my virginity to, passed me the blunt and showed me how to inhale, I got high for the first time. I was eighteen AND FINALLY getting high! 

The experience of my first high was on mid or low-grade weed that was about five dollars a gram. I felt the high throughout my body, and it was terrific. I tasted food like I never had before, heard music like never before, and watched tv like never before. It was great, and from there I would smoke almost every day for the next decade. 

Cannabis became my love because it helped me through many things and experiences I never had before, and this was beyond the high. 

Travel---- because of cannabis I have found one of two purposes of my travel. Along with veganism, Cannabis has let me see countries like Morocco, Spain, Netherlands. And MANY states in the United States that have legalized cannabis.  I have been able to heighten my experiences as well as enjoy some delicious weed.

Friendships---- During my travels and while at home, I have been able to make friends with some people because of cannabis. Whether they had it or I did, we connected. I went to Spain recently, and while was there I made friends at the hostel I was staying at, and they smoked with me. While I was in Maui, I met a guy hitting a bowl and got some weed for my trip. Its all about just breaking that barrier and when you have a common illegal activity that you participate in there is a sense of comradery. 

Building a platform- With the swiping legalization/decriminalization of marijuana in the United States and abroad as well as the dropping cost for travel, I think it is essential to inform people about something they might not have thought to do on their own or even think of in the first place. Check out my YouTube for updates on traveling as a vegan stoner!! I want to show everyone able how amazing the experience can be flying the world HIGH!!! (BUT ALWAYS SAFE)

Career- As I wrote above, the Cannabis industry is BOOMING!!! It's time to get a piece of the pie. I love cannabis, and I have an entrepreneurial spirit to make, so I am currently working on my business plan and will keep you guys posted. 

Now at twenty-eight, I am shouting to the world,” CANNABIS US!”. i HAVE FOUND MY ONE TRUE LOVE AND PASSION!

[isaskiameetsworld]

I have a YouTube now, and its (almost) all about my vegan and cannabis travels!! Check it out and----comment, like, subscribe, and share with your friends. 

I'll be posting on here again soon. 

[isaskiameetsworld]

Toking Traveler

I've smoked Sour Diesel in New York, hash in Morocco, at a coffeeshops in the Netherlands, hotels in London, a bowl on the beaches of Hawaii and across the Rockies in Colorado. I, Saskia, have smoked all over the world and that's what I came to realize is I love cannabis like I love travel. Since I was eighteen years old I have been a regular and avid cannabis user. Being a women of color in the South, where marijuana is mostly criminalized, and racism is rampant, does not make that a natural or accepted hobby. So why am I writing this post??? Because during my sabbatical in Europe these last nine weeks, I concluded that it's my career path.

i have been smoking for a decade, and it's helped me through some of the tough stuff i have had to encounter and my anxiety and depression. It's helped me tremendously, and i want to help others get access to that. i also want to do something I love that will help me live a stable life and travel. i want to monetize my passion.

What is my passion? I would like have an impact in drug reform and also help with development in developing countries. i am sowing over a business plan but I also need to figure out how I will get funding for it as well.

[isaskiameetsworld]

From experience!!

[isaskiameetsworld]

Workaway. Should you try it? The do’s, don’ts, how’s, and what I learned in my experience with the platform. Part 2

[isaskiameetsworld]

Workaway. Should you try it? The do’s, don’ts, how’s, and what I learned in my experience with the platform.

[isaskiameetsworld]

My Nine Weeks Abroad Part 3

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My Nine Weeks Abroad Part 2

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My Nine Weeks Abroad

[isaskiameetsworld]

My move

So in the last two weeks, a lot has changed. I went to Portland, and then I moved to Spain. I got here, and it did not work out with my work away, and I had a crazy amount of anxiety, but luckily I have made friends with people from all types of backgrounds. I am happy that I am slowly determining my boundaries and this is the best place to test them. I have some concerns that continue to plague me, but I know that the less my expectation is set, the less I have to be disappointed in. It is hard because I feel that I should always have a goal to reach but this journey is for me and only for me. Social media is just a platform that I must set boundaries with as well to avoid getting carried away. It was hard not wanting to put on a show because I have suffered from being insecure for a while but I am learning the most from this trip is that I need to accept failure as a part of the process that everything is part of the process. 

You will not know what to do. You will not always be happy. You will be alone. You will have to learn to cope by yourself. You will learn what friendship truly means. You are learning to have conversations with guys that do not always have an objective. I am learning to rid myself of expectations and get comfortable with living my life as if I was living instead of expecting. Things may never go as planned by I cannot say I have hated my life. I have been dealt my blows, but I have also given some and even lived to tell about the ones I have received. I want growth from this trip if anything if I do not get what I am hoping for I do suppose that I love myself more than I did at the beginning of this journey. 

I know this was not a detailed post, but it definitely was a post from the heart. Once I can get my thoughts and words together, I will post a complete blog on how things are going here. Love those who follow!!!

[isaskiameetsworld]

Eco friendly minimalist

Coconut oil for Vaseline

Dr. Bronners for dish detergent, shampoo, all-purpose cleaner, shaving cream and toothpaste just to name a few

Arrowroot powder for baking soda

Essential oils for perfume

Mason jars in place of Tupperware

Wash rag with toilet paper

Hanky for tissues

Hydrogen peroxide for bleach and alcohol

ACV for cleaner

Reusable grocery bags (preferably non-plastic or recycled plastic) for traditional grocery bags

[isaskiameetsworld]

Minimizing

Stuff everywhere!!! I’m leaving for Spain, and i need to pack as little as possible but still cover the essentials. Also, i just want to declutter my life. These were my thoughts at the end of 2017. Having lived with my father for the past eight years, I only had a room's worth of stuff to account for, but still, i felt that was too much!

Soi began by going through and removing things i would never wear or didn’t want anymore. Divided that pile into sell and give away. I kept an eye on my laundry patterns for several months and did the hanger turn trick. The hanger turn trick is simple. You turn the hangers-on individual items (in season) you’re not sure about getting rid of. Give it about three months if the hanger is the same way at the end of the season then that means you probably don’t need it and can get rid of it.

This isn’t a one day or even week process it can take months. I did and still am doing several pair downs. I wish i could get my money back on all the things i didn’t need but it’s all good makes me more mindful of my purchases!

It’s hard because I’m a sentimental person and will find any excuse to keep anything but I’m proud of my progress for my winter wardrobe, and I’ll start working on my summer during that season.

[isaskiameetsworld]

[isaskiameetsworld]

Box of Reusables I got from @holysponge