The “million-dollar question” for cannabis-consuming parents is often: How do I explain this without the stigma? While millions use cannabis for wellness, many still feel forced to lie to their children. I refused to do that. I wanted my son to have a language of his own to describe our reality—one rooted in safety, not shame.
From the Pavement to the Parent
I’ve never been one for secrets. Long before it was trendy or “legal-adjacent” in the Midwest, I was on the pavement. In 2013, I was out with the Ohio Rights Group, clipboards in hand, collecting signatures to bring medical cannabis and hemp to the Buckeye State.
While other parents were having hushed conversations, I was explaining the endocannabinoid system to strangers. Because of that, I never felt the need to hide my cannabis use from my child. My son didn’t grow up wondering what Mom was doing; he grew up seeing a woman fighting for a plant she used for both wellness and recreation. To him, cannabis wasn’t a taboo drug—it was a cause, a career, and a household staple.
The Search for a Shared Language
Even with my history of transparency, I realized that being an activist and being a parent require two different sets of “educational tools.” It’s one thing to explain the legislative nuances of a ballot initiative to an adult; it’s quite another to explain to a seven-year-old why Mom’s “medicine” looks like a brownie or smells like the woods.
I didn’t want my child to just accept cannabis; I wanted him to understand it. I needed a way to translate my advocacy into “kid-code”—and that’s when I found our family’s guide: Stinky Steve.
Our Family’s Anchor: The Stinky Steve Series
The first book I used with my son was Stinky Steve Explains Medical Marijuana. It was the perfect bridge. Written in friendly, rhythmic rhyme with a bandana-wearing skunk as a mascot, author Maggie Volpo leans into the “stigma” (the smell!) and turns it into an educational tool.
What makes this series so vital is that it doesn’t shy away from complex realities. Every book provides a consistent, trusted voice for a wide range of topics:
- Stinky Steve Explains Medical Marijuana: The foundation for explaining cannabis as medicine.
- Stinky Steve Explains Mommy’s Medibles: A crucial look at “infused” foods and the importance of safety.
- Stinky Steve Explains Grandma’s Growroom: Normalizing the cultivation process and the garden.
- Stinky Steve Explains Daddy’s Dabs: Breaking down different forms of adult consumption.
- Stinky Steve Explains Kids Who Use Cannabis: Helping children understand and support peers who use cannabis for pediatric medical needs.
- Stinky Steve Explains Why Papa’s in Prison for Pot: A brave, necessary look at the reality of prohibition and its impact on families.
- Stinky Steve Explains Casual Cannabis: Discussing adult recreational use in a balanced, honest way.
- Stinky Steve Explains Cannabis and CPS: Addressing the legal fears and social services in an age-appropriate manner.
“Stinky Steve Explains Medical Marijuana”: An Educational Children’s Book About Cannabis Written By Maggie Volpo Illustrated By Mauricio J. Flores. More info/buy: https://a.co/d/0gNIZIBI
Expanding the Bookshelf: Other Resources I’ve Found
While Stinky Steve has been our go-to, my research as an advocate has led me to other great books that offer different perspectives for the modern cannabis household:
- For the Career Perspective: Kids of Cannabis: My mom & dad work in cannabis; this is our story. This is a wonderful mirror for kids whose parents work in the professional industry.
- For the “Icebreaker” Moment: Mommy What’s Weed. A simple, gentle introduction for younger children who are just starting to ask questions.
- For Early Literacy: Budding Kindness: ABC Chronicles. Uses the alphabet to make terminology like “Hemp” and “Cannabis” as normal as “Apple” and “Ball.”
- For the Safety Manual: Smart Choices: A Kid’s Guide to Cannabis Safety. A laser-focused guide on boundaries and preventing accidental ingestion.
The Ultimate Irony: From Forbidden to “Lame”
In 2013, my son was five years old, and I was on the pavement fighting for his right to a science-based education. Today, he is almost eighteen. I succeeded in removing the stigma, but I might have succeeded a little too well.
Because cannabis was never a secret—because it was a career, a cause, and a conversation—it lost its rebellious edge. To him, cannabis isn’t a “dangerous drug” or a “cool escape.” In his eyes? It’s just kind of… lame.
Standing on that sidewalk over a decade ago, I was fighting for a legal right. Today, I realize I was also fighting for his right to be bored by it. By moving away from the “lie and hide” culture, we built a household rooted in such deep trust that he doesn’t feel the need to rebel through substance use.
We didn’t just normalize cannabis; we normalized the truth. And if the price of that truth is my son thinking my “cause” is an eye-rolling Mom-hobby, I’ll take that win any day.
