Melissa Etheridge became a big proponent of marijuana after it improved her quality of life during her agonizing cancer battle in 2004. Apparently it was David Crosby, the sperm donor for her two oldest children, who convinced her to try it to help with pain management. While appearing in the documentary Weed and the American Family, Melissa admitted that she smokes with Bailey, 20, and Beckett, 18, and that she discusses her use openly with her younger children so there will be no stigma in the household. Melissa, who is launching her own line of cannabis products, hopes to help spread the good word about marijuana and stamp out people’s misapprehensions about it.
Melissa Etheridge thinks it’s high time society moves past the stigma surrounding smoking marijuana.
The Grammy-winning rocker opens up about her use of the drug in the new Yahoo project Weed & the American Family, and PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at her interview.
As Etheridge, 55, reveals in the clip, she smokes marijuana with her wife, Linda Wallem, and her adult children daughter Bailey, 20, and son Beckett, 18.
“I have smoked with my older two,” she told Yahoo. “It was funny at first, and then they realized, it’s a very natural, end-of-the-day [thing] … And it brings you much closer. I’d much rather have a smoke with my grown kids than a drink — oh, God, no.”
Furthermore, Etheridge said toking up plays an important role in her marriage.
“Cannabis is the best marital aid,” she added. “When it’s date night … It takes down your inhibition; your sexual desires are enhanced. We take a bath every night and smoke and talk and wind down and sleep a very, very good night sleep — and sleep is extremely important.”
Indeed, the star — also mom to 10-year-old twins, daughter Johnnie Rose and Miller Steven — says the drug is first and foremost a remedy in her household.
“My children have a very clear understanding of cannabis,” she said. “When I hold it without shame or confusion, then they can understand it as simple as if I was pointing to a bottle of Percocet and said, ‘That’s Mama’s medicine.’ You take the naughtiness out of it, and it’s not something that kids run to.”
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve never used marijuana. However, I drink alcohol and although I quit smoking cigarettes regularly, I won’t pretend that I haven’t bummed one from one of my few friends who still smoke. So there is absolutely no moral stance in my thoughts on this. Obviously, Melissa is trying to remove the shame surrounding marijuana and those who use it. I’m on board with that. Beckett and Bailey are legally able to smoke it so it’s not my place to make that decision for them. I appreciate that she’s saying if she was given the choice of vices, she’d prefer they smoked than drank. And a smoke break is a great time to catch up with folks. However, smoke is a carcinogen regardless of what you are smoking so it’s a little odd to hear a cancer survivor celebrate it. I agree about being open in regards to medication, we are at our house as well. Melissa believes that “anybody who smokes cannabis is using it medicinally, whether they consider it so or not.” So I understand the connection for her but to lump these thoughts together as she does, it reads a little like she would swap Percocet’s with her older kids as well. Like I said, I encourage reeducating people on the misconceptions about marijuana, I just think Melissa needs to work on her message a little more.
She did catch my attention with the martial aid suggestion, however. Although, if I’m being honest, throwing off all inhibitions for me would more likely to lead to a karaoke bar than the bedroom.
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