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Cecilia Mendes ’ Story Starts with Parents Advocating for Cannabis Education
by Alexandria Stith , contributing writer
When you think of cannabis , an array of words more than likely come to mind . Would one of those words be “ education ?” If not , don ’ t beat yourself up . Like most that enjoy cannabis , new and seasoned , there was a time when cannabis could only show its surface potential , which was just getting high . However , even without federal regulation for its full diagnostic study , the true medicinal effects that cannabis has are undeniable . Its effects go beyond the scope of just giving you euphoric effects , even though we can all agree it is a bonus .
Cannabis ’ story is beyond the people who use it . It is also the stories of the medical impact it has had on people ’ s lives . It ’ s supporters like Missouri Medical patient and founder of Parents Advocating for Cannabis Education ( P . A . C . E .), Cecilia Mendes , one of St . Louis ’ self-proclaimed “ STL Stoner Moms ,” who made it their personal and business mission to educate the parent community about cannabis that creates the most impact . Mendes is also determined to develop a network whose mission is centered around helping combat and show support for other parents struggling with stigmas they face outside of the cannabis community . “ When I found out I was pregnant with my first child , I decided there was no way I could be a cannabis parent because at the time , it was illegal , and to society ’ s standard , it was immoral . I understand what that feels like , so I wanted to do my part in supporting parents that may be experiencing that ,” explained Mendes .
Mother of two , Mendes , recalls the first time she tried cannabis and how her experience was the opposite of what most people expect the first time they smoke . “ I remember the first time I smoked , and I just did not like it . I remember feeling so anxious to the point I told people I was allergic because of that first experience .” However , that would change as she got older and better understood its
Cecilia Mendes , founder of Parents Advocating for Cannabis Education is on a mission to educate the parent community about cannabis . ( photo courtesy Cecilia Mendes )
effects . “ Once I got to college and started smoking again , it really became more than an interest . I noticed that smoking made me a better student , and it was a lot easier for me to slow down .” Smoking up until the first time she became pregnant , the societal stigmas surrounding cannabis she faced would lead to her drinking , which , unfortunately , led to another difficult truth Mendes would have to face . “ When I suffered a miscarriage after having my first child , that was my wakeup call . I was working seven days a week fulltime at that point , and I was making very destructive decisions that were hurting my family , so I quit drinking .”
With a fresh start and another baby on the way , Mendes knew this pregnancy had to be different . “ After my second child was born , I really struggled with post-partum depression , and so instead of turning to drinking , I started to explore my other options ,” she said . “ I looked at anti-depressants , got regulated on the anti-depressants . Not long after that , I had surgery , which led to complications with my gallbladder dying , and it had to be removed .” To help with her mental and physical management , Mendes was prescribed narcotics , and after only briefly being on them , she started to understand their negative side effects . She said , “ Anyone who has ever been prescribed narcotics can quickly speak to the nasty side effects , and I felt it right away .” It was not until she spoke with her brother about his use of Delta 8 to help manage his back pain that she was able to explore the benefits of the medical side of cannabis .
“ The first time I tried it , I hadn ’ t had my med card at the time , and I thought it was a great place to start ,” said Mendes . Describing the CBD ratio to the Delta 9 strain is what set her on the path of getting her medical card and accurately helping herself without spiking her anxiety , something that can be common when