PROTECT Our Children
PREVENT
Accidental Consumption and Irresponsible Usage
INTERACT and EDUCATE
About Cannabis Safety , Science , and Personal Experiences smoking Delta 8 . After getting her med card , she was able to get off her prescribed medication from the complications of surgery . “ I realized that cannabis was starting to affect me in a way that I hadn ’ t been able to understand before ,” explained Mendes . From the improvement in her focus to how she was able to manage her stress , she knew that cannabis was on another level . In her present work environment , Mendes found herself at a crossroads . “ I remember when I was on my way to work , I was at an intersection deciding if I would drive to work or drive to get myself committed . The money and resources were great , but at this point , I don ’ t see my kids or my husband , and I was truly facing a mental health crisis .” Knowing that she had to make a tough choice , she walked away from a job that , as she stated , took exceptionally good care of her and her family .
Looking forward and contemplating how she could still choose herself and her mental health , Mendes began to ask herself what she was enthusiastic about . “ I started to ask myself what was I good at ? With that , I knew two things ; I was a damn good mom , and I liked to smoke , which in turn made me a damn good mom .” With this realization , she decided to become “ The STL Stoner Mom .” Launching a blog and creating a logo to bring this all to fruition , Mendes saw a new beginning , where she established a support campaign that gives cannabis parents a safe space to share resources , P . A . C . E . Through this campaign , she has opened new doors that not only advocate for its use , but also offers education services for parents who want to expand their knowledge . Still in the preliminary stages of what P . A . C . E . stands for , Mendes hopes to one day take the campaign to the next level . “ It exists as both a resource and hub for parents , consumers , and even the canna-curious ,” she said . Not wanting to isolate anyone ’ s experience with cannabis , Mendes ’ hopes for the first two years of the campaign are practical : building the network and the resources .
Support for this endeavor , however , was not met with the same enthusiasm . “ Everyone I told , told me that I was crazy ,” said Mendes . “ They told me this would make it hard for companies to hire me and that I was going to become a social piranha .” However , that day on the highway , when she walked away from a sustainable career , Mendes had decided one thing : she would no longer allow the opinion of others to shape her life . “ I honestly didn ’ t care what anyone had to say about it because these stigmas that people still use are outdated , and I know a truth they haven ’ t experienced ,” she stated . “ I knew that if I kept repeating the same facts over and over , then they could either listen or not . Whatever the case , I continue speaking my truth .”
With a future that she has never looked more forward to , Mendes is hopeful for what her life will look like moving forward . With her focus on P . A . C . E . and her blog and continuing to be the best mom she can be to her kids , Mendes hopes for the campaign to grow beyond the digital realm and offers the community she hopes to provide . “ I didn ’ t have a purpose , any goals or passion ,” she explained . “ I didn ’ t know who I was because I had spent so much time being whatever version everyone else had of me , and I was just so unhappy .”
The future of cannabis is undeniable , and with voices like Mendes ’ fighting every day , dedicating themselves to its educational understanding , we know the future of cannabis is in good hands .
Alexandria Stith ( Alex ) is a St . Louis , MO native and budtender at Jane Dispensary , located on the famous Delmar Loop in St . Louis . Stith , a freelance writer , quickly identified that her love and understanding of cannabis could leave a positive impact on someone ’ s life . She expresses that through her writing . A graduate of the University of Central Missouri , she is currently studying for her master ’ s at Webster University . Never expecting to change the trajectory of her Digital Media Production career to Cannabis , Stith hopes to elevate her career in both cannabis and writing by capturing stories and voices of an ever-expanding and ever-changing industry .