How Cannabis Helps Plant Mama DeJanae of Green Goddess Glow Own Her Glow, Cultivating To Heal Generational Trauma

Black Girls With Gardens: What inspired you to start growing cannabis?

Well, I’ve always wanted a garden. Cannabis seemed like a good place to start. I have a friend who was a cultivator and the way she explained it to me was: “if you can grow cannabis, you can grow anything.” The home I live in has been in my family for generations and I wanted to grow not only because farm-to-table and herbal medicine is important to me, I want to be able to pass that on—a kind of legacy in a way. It’s not just about cannabis; it’s about a plant-based lifestyle. That’s my definition of generational wealth. A wealth you carry that rooted in a sense of self-care by way of how you treat your body. That’s how you glow from the inside out.

BGWG: What does growing your own cannabis do for you? Do you consider it a form of self-care?

Growing my own cannabis has become a sort of self-care ritual. I’m generally happier, less stressed and usually glowing with gratitude. While cannabis itself is something I plant, water and nourish, I’ve learned as I was growing that I was also nourishing my mind, body and spirit. I was nourishing my mind by spending more time with my own thoughts, meditating as I shoveled dirt, built plant beds and watered the grass. I was appreciating my body by spending more time working in the yard, breathing fresh air and grounding. And the process fed me spiritually by allowing me to create space to be silent, deepen my relationship with Self and appreciate the beauty the world around me has to offer.

BGWG: How does this tie back into creating generational wealth?

I think cannabis can be a tool for developing a deeper self-awareness, when used with the right intention. Conscious consumption is something that’s slowly being introduced but hasn’t really reached the forefront of conversations around cannabis use in communities of people that look like me. It’s absolutely crucial to have discussions about creating more self-awareness and unlearning the misinformation we’ve been taught about the plant to really be able to use it as a viable healing tool. Like many black and brown people, I come from a family with a long history of mental health and substance abuse issues. Growing cannabis, which can help combat those illnesses and the break cycle of addiction, along with other herbs and vegetables—which can also be considered medicine—is empowering. I want that for future generations. When we have better relationships with ourselves, we can have healthier relationships with our family members and we are available to be more present and impactful in our communities.

BGWG: The biggest challenge with growing cannabis has been…

Now, this may seem silly but the biggest challenge for me was cutting down my male plants. Which is probably absurd to anyone else who grows cannabis because essentially when growing cannabis you only want female plants to live out their full growth cycle. But I feel my connection to the earth and nature has been redefined by my experience growing cannabis so if there was any part of the experience that has probably been the most difficult for me—even more than pests and goffers.

BGWG: The most rewarding thing about growing cannabis has been…

Again, just spending my time in a way that’s more conducive to creating better habits and a better quality of life. While sometimes it feels like a yet another responsibility, the reward is in developing a new skill and discipline, the ritual of growing something with love and medicine you trust.

BGWG: Tell us about yourself and how cannabis fits into your lifestyle.

I’d like to say I’m a fun-loving, optimistic, creative person with drive but on a day-to-day basis, shit happens. It’s how I maintain a sense of wellbeing when things happen that seek to throw me off balance. Cannabis fits into my lifestyle because it’s a healing plant. It’s a nurturer, a revealer and, when used with intention, it helps me tap deeper into myself. I use cannabis as a wellness tool: as a stress reliever, as a grounding aid, as something to help me stay present and in the moment. And to that point, I make the conscious decision not to consume when I’m angry, in a funk, or feeling a type of way. Cannabis is a feminine essence, and her wanting to be honored and appreciated encourages me to honor and acknowledge my feelings so that I can move through them in a healthy way.