My family and I had to leave our home in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Due to my high anxiety and PTSD, I decided to obtain my medical ma*****na license. I had used prescribed medication for depression, anxiety and even sleeping in the past, and honestly, did not like the way I felt. I did not see the "typical" stoner picking up medicine. I saw very serious professionals and surprisingly, a l
ot of elderly patients. I remember a lady who looked to be about 80 with her completely silver hair and fashionable exercise outfit. She was jogging in place while she waited for her medication in the lobby. This lady looked like she stepped out of a Bloomingdale catalog and was waiting for her favorite latte. She inspired me. She wasn't trying to be a wallflower. She was not ashamed or embarrassed at all. This was not the stoner world that we were all warned about. Later at home, as I put my medicine away in the shoebox I kept under my bed, I felt the need to not be embarrassed or ashamed of the way I choose to medicate. This should not be a dirty little secret. That 80-something-year-old woman became my hero. I had a small printing business back home and although I lost all of my equipment, I could still design and contract a printer to create my vision. This was the birth of CannaGear420. I started to create stash bags for myself which turned into a small business on Etsy. I slowly added other products including home decor and most recently, I published a cannabis wellness journal. My hope is that we can all come out of the "canna closet" and feel comfortable without worrying about being "mom-shamed". I am supportive of other women who choose this method without judgment, normalizing plant medicine one puff at a time while creating an aesthetically pleasing environment and most importantly, no more shoeboxes under the bed. Thank you for supporting me through my journey. Stay lifted,
Jessie