How i became a ganja gurl
Growing up in the city, weed was always in the air — literally. I think I smelled it before I even knew what it was. It was everywhere: in movies, music, and culture. Honestly, it seemed cool to me. But like many kids, I grew up with parents and propaganda painting weed as something dangerous. They said it would make me dumb, kill my brain cells, and lead me down a path to harsher drugs. None of that turned out to be true.
You know who really convinced me that weed wasn’t as bad as everyone made it out to be? Rihanna. I think I was a sophomore in high school when a photo of Rihanna with a joint made the news. That moment was life-changing. I thought, "If Riri’s smoking, it can’t be that bad." From then on, I was open to Mary Jane. I decided I’d try it when I went to college to see what it was all about. Celebrities really do have influence because, from that moment, I saw weed as something cool and badass. (I think this was during her "Rated R" era.) I didn’t know the effects yet, but I was convinced it wasn’t as bad as society or my mom made it out to be.
When I got to Temple University in Philadelphia, I still had my mom’s voice in the back of my mind. During my freshman year, I took a science course called Brain Matters. I sat in the front row and asked the professor, "Does weed kill brain cells?" To my delight, the professor said no. Then they pulled up a PowerPoint breaking down how different drugs affect the mind and body. We learned that many drugs mimic or overstimulate natural chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which can lead to harmful effects. But weed was different; it worked with cannabinoid receptors that already exist in our bodies.
This blew my mind. Weed wasn’t about introducing something foreign into the body; it worked with a system we were already built to have. I learned that weed speeds up neuron transmission, which is why we often have creative ideas when high. In contrast, drugs like alcohol and cocaine stagnate neural transmission, causing negative effects on brain development. After that class, I was convinced. I had the knowledge I needed and was ready to try it.
One weekend, I went to an off-campus party with a group of friends. They had weed, and I knew this was my chance. We all went into a room — about five or six of us — and started passing around a joint. Drake had just dropped "Nothing Was the Same," and "Pound Cake" was playing in the background. It was the perfect soundtrack for the moment. I took a puff or two and instantly felt it.
The experience was surreal. Walking around North Philly felt like being in a movie that I was both watching and starring in. I could taste every flavor of the snacks we ate, from chocolate to Lay’s chips. At one point, I saw a living room outside. (Looking back, someone probably had a TV and couch on their porch, but in my high state, it felt magical.)
What made the experience truly special was how I met my first college friend, Lex. She stayed by my side the entire time, making sure I was okay and talking me through the high so I wouldn’t have a bad trip. From that moment on, we became best friends, and weed became a constant companion in my life. It wasn’t just a substance; it became part of my journey, helping me connect, reflect, and grow.
