For the girls that get Marijuana paranoia
I was a pothead for years. Not the cute “occasional puff at a party” kind—but like, full-blown, gravity-bong-in-the-bathtub kind of stoner.
In college, I sold flower to the girls in my roommate’s sorority and our little coven of heady babes. I liked to think of it as community care- I was saving these women from having to flirt with some sketchy dude in a bandana or, god forbid, negotiate weed prices with a frat bro who thinks “indica” is his moon sign.
I’d buy two ounces at a time, sell one, and smoke the other. That usually lasted… about a week.
My whole class schedule was planned around my next bowl. When I was short on time (or down to scraps), I’d hit the geeb. An efficient, chaotic, and unhinged kind of high.
But now? I swear, if you even show me a gravity bong, my chest tightens and my ancestors scream “not again.”
I stopped smoking near the end of college- broke, writing my thesis, accidentally learning how clear-headed I could feel when I wasn’t chronically high. It was nice. But when I tried to return to cannabis years later, it was a disaster. My body would tense up, I’d get flooded with anxiety, sometimes even start shaking. I’d hear voices (which we’ll unpack another time… they might be aliens, TBD), and basically be incapable for the next 8 hours.
And I know I’m not alone.
Turns out, this isn’t just about being “too sensitive” or “not able to hang.” It has a name, a pattern, a reason. Here’s what’s likely happening...
When you consume THC, it binds to the endocannabinoid receptors in your brain—especially around the amygdala, the part that regulates fear, stress, and anxiety. If you’re already sensitive (thanks, hormones/genetics/childhood trauma/all of the above), too much THC can overstimulate that part of your brain and kick you into full-blown panic mode.
There are a few reasons some of us get hit harder than others:
Genetics: Some people’s brain chemistry lights up differently with THC—especially if the back of the brain is more sensitive than the front. This can cause more fear/paranoia than calm/euphoria.
THC Content: The higher the THC, the more likely you are to tip from bliss into existential dread. A study showed that 7.5mg chilled folks out, but 12.5mg increased negative feelings. (Which honestly explains my edible years.)
Sex Hormones: Estrogen can increase your sensitivity to cannabis by up to 30%. Which means people with ovaries often get hit harder—both the highs and the lows. Check out the study here.
As a proper feminist, I wasn’t about to let my hormones stop me from enjoying altered states. I just had to find another route.
So I created OMEN, my herbal smoking blend for the sensitive stoner, the ex-stoner, the spiritual stoner, the stoner who lowkey had a panic attack in the Whole Foods parking lot. It’s made for folks who want to feel elevated, not annihilated- who crave ritual, connection, sensuality, and a little cosmic sparkle without the anxiety tax.
It’s smokeable, steepable, and stunning in a joint, pipe, or tea. No THC. No paranoia. Just plant magic that actually loves your nervous system.
I guess I’m still out here doing community care, but, honey, you know I’ve got you.
