Join Me for a Conversation with Nappy 2000 about Being a Mom in Cannabis, Working with Snoop, my Personal Spiritual Journey, and Much More
I recently had the pleasure to sit down with Nappy 2000 for his new podcast, Bong Talk. You can follow him on his Instagram to catch new episodes as they’re released.
Q: Today I’m here with a friend of mine, The Cannabis Cutie. I know you’ve been busy, tell me what you’re up to.
A: Well the first and obvious part is that I’m a Mom of two. So that’s a grind that never ends, I just had to drop the kids off at school on my way here.
And then of course there’s the cannabis education and advocacy part of my business. I live in Orange County, and most of the cannabis industry is based in L.A., so I’m constantly traveling back and forth to meetings, events, and shoots.
I’ve also got my shows coming up, and I’ve got my 101 course, book club, and ebook.
Q: So what is it like being a Mother in cannabis with young children. How do you balance that and let them know that weed isn’t like crack?
A: During the pandemic, we had a lot of time at home, so we decided to start growing some of our own food. So we grew some fruit trees, some herbs—as well as cannabis.
They helped with the entire process and saw my cannabis seed become a plant. All we were adding was water and nutrients.
So at the end of it, I asked them what was the difference between cannabis and the rest of the plants. And the only difference they could think of was that they weren’t allowed to touch the cannabis plant.
They saw firsthand that there was nothing evil that happened. It was just a seed grown with sunlight and water and love.
So I told them that it is medicine, but that they could expect a police officer to come to their school and tell them it’s bad. Don’t argue with him, just know that he’s lying.
I did also tell them about the risks of too much cannabis consumption, so I tried to give them a well-rounded view.
Q: What risks did you tell them about?
A: I let them know that the jury is still out on whether cannabis can negatively impact the developing brain—although most of those studies have been propaganda. I also let them know that if they start using it as a coping mechanism or escape that it’s not good.
Q: So how many places is it legal right now to consume cannabis?
A: Over 40 states have legalized, or are about to legalize, a medical program. And 11-12 have an adult-use program. As we get closer to 50, my prediction is that the Federal government is going to chime in and want some tax money from all this revenue.
Q: So when did you yourself learn that cannabis wasn’t evil?
A: I believed cannabis was evil until my freshman year of college. I went into college as an all-star student with great grades, and then at the end of my first semester I had a 0.8 GPA.
I didn’t believe it was possible, but I did it. Meanwhile, the resident pothead on my floor who always smelled skunky made the Honor Roll.
So I was like, wait—the D.A.R.E. program said this was supposed to be the opposite outcome.
That’s what finally opened my mind to be willing to try cannabis. So I did, and lo and behold my life improved, not just academically but emotionally & mentally.
Q: I’ve heard you mention that it also helped with anxiety?
A: Yes, like most people of color in this nation, I have PTSD. When you grow up basically in a minimum security prison, in an area that is constantly policed, where they’re just waiting for you to mess up so that they can kidnap you and put you into a legalized system of slavery.
There’s lots of traumatic things that happen there: young death, generational trauma, financial issues, lack of overall feeling of safety.
So when I left that setting, that’s when the PTSD and depression came to the forefront. Even up to today I still struggle at times with feeling safe and peaceful.
So weed has helped me to relax and sleep. It helped me to be more social, and to be open-minded to other people who had had different experiences from me.
It helped me to stop focusing on my sense of dread and to study.
It helped so much immediately, that from that moment on I could’t stop talking about it.
Q: So these days, what is your mission statement. What is it you want people to know?
A: It was about 10 years later that I started to learn the science behind cannabis. Before that, people just thought I was a crazy pothead, now I had the facts to back up my experience.
So that’s what I’m here to share. The science. And now the same people that dismissed me as a whacko before are DM-ing me asking about sativa & indica.
Q: Since you mentioned sativa & indica, which do you prefer?
A: I think those are great words that describe what the plant looks like and how it grows. But I prefer OG’s. I don’t go by those categories. OG’s smell like L.A. to me.
Q: I don’t smoke OG’s often, I don’t see them much. When do you think they’ll make a comeback?
A: It’s already here. I think the people that smoke OG’s are pretty sensitive to things. They’re what I would call “cannoisseurs,” and they’re very snobby. But there are some great OG’s out there.
Q: So let’s talk about your experience working with Snoop Dogg?
A: It’s a dream come true. I think everyone in cannabis dreams of working with him. And he’s exactly what you see. I’ve met plenty of famous people, and they usually have egos and arrogance that come with the territory.
But Snoop is just a genuinely down-to-earth person, who’s very mission- and purpose-driven. It’s so inspiring to be around that energy and have that support from him.
Q: How did he find you?
A: On Instagram. It was my video about The Kent State Massacre, and how cannabis played a role in it. He commented on the video, and it was like oh my gosh.
And then the next thing I got was a DM telling me he wanted to work with me on some cannabis initiatives.
Then we met, and it’s all taken off from there. So I’ll be on some GGN episodes, and then have my Cannabis Cutie Show which will be fun and educational. And then I’ll have my Higher Goals podcast which will be about sports and some more deep conversations about life.
Q: I want to dive more into your personal endeavors. What are you doing on The Cannabis Cutie side of things?
A: My shows are a big part of what I’m working on. My brand is also going through a big overhaul. We just got a new logo, and we’re about to launch my apparel line. I recently dropped my Ultimate Guide to Cannabinoids Ebook, and I’m excited to re-film version 2.0 of my Cannabis 101 course.
I’m also getting ready to release a new course on Cannabis & Spirituality.
Q: You’ve mentioned spirituality many times in this conversation. What does that mean to you?
A: For me it’s personal. I was raised Catholic. Then I left that at 8-years-old with much protest. Then I went Baptist, which I also had to get out of. So then I went non-denominational. And then I went full atheist.
Then I came back to it’s whatever feeds me and has me adding value to myself and to the world.
So now I feel there’s a Presence, a Creator energy, and we’re here in Earth School to grow our spirits.
Q: So you’re an educator here in this Earth School, so what do you want people to know?
A: As long as you’re always trying to improve and move with intention, that’s what’s important. If you did harm, and it wasn’t your intention, don’t get stuck on that. You’re not your mistakes. You’re not your diagnosis.
You have to fall down in order to learn, and be aware of who and what you are. You’re just here trying to figure it out like the rest of us.
And don’t let adversity stop you. Take time, and pause to feel it, for sure. But then let it move through you.
And don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, because that’s how you grow.
Q: What are some of the ways you’re challenging yourself now in order to grow?
A: I’m taking singing lessons, which used to make me sweat and cry. But it helps me since I’m on stage communicating a lot.
I find that when I really don’t want to do something, that’s usually a sign that I really need to go do it. And it usually pays dividends right away.
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