"Stiletto Stoners" -- Women Smoke Pot, Too

By Sabina Fendrick, Executive Assistant, NORML/NORML Foundation

I have never been more proud to be a part of the marijuana movement as I was after reading an article in the October issue of Marie Claire titled “Stiletto Stoners”. The feedback and comments in relation to this have been fast and overwhelming.

The woman cited in the article is quoted as saying, “‘I hate the term pothead—it connotes that I’m high 24/7, which I’m not,’ Jennifer Pelham says, wincing. ‘I don’t need it to get through my day. I just enjoy it when my day is over.’ Her nightly ritual costs only $50 a month. It never induces a post-happy-hour hangover and, unlike the Xanax a doctor once prescribed for her anxiety, never leaves her groggy or numb… ‘It’s really not a big deal.’”

The normalizing of recreational cannabis consumption is not just happening with men, which is what most people think of when they think of pot smokers. Women, who are not necessarily left out of the movement, are rarely recognized as a major demographic that is essential for the reform effort to push forward in a truly legitimate fashion.

This underreported phenomenon is now spreading across the mainstream media. From Matt Lauer and the Today show...

...To the Los Angeles Times.

This story is spreading like wildfire across the Internet and I am willing to bet, it will only get bigger.

To be honest, I didn’t even realize the extent of this closet practice among my female cohorts. Perhaps it’s just that they’re not as outspoken as the men? Or maybe it’s because they have more at risk? Whatever it is, the fact that more and more women are admitting to smoking cannabis (or marijuana or pot) is truly inspiring.

As a side note, I posted this article to the NORML Facebook page and within an hour there were already more comments on this post than almost any other on NORML’s facebook page! Here are just a few from some NORML women:

-- “Finally, Female stoners who aren’t classified with dreads and no make up. It’s definitely been around for a while but now there is recognition! Successful Stoner Ladies Unite!”

-- “Hell yeah! Finally some coverage of us smart, sexy pot smokers.”

-- “That’d be me!”

-- “I am a successful Optician by day, and a happy pothead by night!”

-- “And some of us run three business’s and support a household too!”

-- “Exactly!”

-- “Wooo! Thanks for the shout out guys!!”

-- “This is so great…I actually read this in a salon the other day…”

-- “I know a dentist, a lawyer, a paralegal and a few managers who all smoke and they are brilliant women who just like to relax after making all that $$…lol”

-- “I’m a stay at home mother during the day and at night i have a job and go to school, and i rather smoke a joint once I’m home from work and the kids are passed out then have a glass of wine.”

-- “Agreed everybody!! Don’t know what I would do without this option!”

This is a major response that reinforces my belief that women need to get on the bandwagon and start to fight for an end to these archaic marijuana laws. When was the last time you saw this many comments, from women about women and their marijuana use? What does that say?? Let’s go ladies! It’s time to get vocal and become an active participant in your own liberation.

Like one person commented on my wall earlier, “Blaze on Stiletto stoners. I am proud to be one of you!”