In this interview, we talk about what cannabis community service looks like from a mental health perspective. To do that, I spoke with Shannon DeGrooms, director of the This is Jane Project. It’s a California based project, but DeGrooms is from Jersey.
The organization focuses on using cannabis to help trauma survivors. During her time in Jersey, DeGrooms has been providing free cannabis to non-binary and women survivors of sexual assault and other forms of trauma.
Here, we talk about cannabis access, medical patients and what ancillary organizations that fill in coverage gaps look like. There’s another event on Aug. 24 in Trenton at HUB13, a well-known industry hangout and cannabis-friendly business incubator. This interview took place when the organization showed up at Curaleaf’s Bordentown location in June.
Q: So you’ve seen a need for providing cannabis to survivors of trauma — What are some of the barriers they face?
A: I think it’s a state-by-state basis. Oftentimes, geography affects whether or not you have access. What we found more than anything is that a lack of financial resources is a barrier to access.
Fifty percent of the people we’ve surveyed make less than $35,000 a year. The majority of them are in California and Colorado, where the cost of living is asinine. Here [in New Jersey], too.
Where can we go where there’s a need? The truth is — it’s everywhere, right?
The goal is to have these on a bi-monthly basis so it’s not a one-and-done. We want survivors to have access on a regular basis.
Q: You’re in for the long haul?
A: As long as recreational cannabis is here, we’re going to fight for access for people to use it as medicine.
Q: What are some of the barriers that sexual assault trauma survivors face when it comes to access from a traditional medical system?
A: What I hear from other survivors is that the barriers are being believed, knowing that you have to go to a hospital and have a whole rape kit done. A lot of times, people don’t feel safe doing that. Oftentimes, they are doing it with a male physician. Reporting and wanting to bring charges against your abuser — that’s often traumatic in and of itself.
I’m a survivor myself. I often say it took a gun to my head for me to try cannabis.
A violent carjacking crippled me with PTSD. It brought up all of that old sexual trauma — childhood trauma — and someone suggested that I try cannabis.
I was ignorant at best. I was like ‘No, absolutely not.’
Three weeks later, I was so desperate I went to a medical marijuana doctor. He prescribed me cannabis.
It still took me three days to get into a dispensary. I bought a vape pen. The very first day, it changed my life.
I couldn’t leave the house before that. I was scared to leave the house. I was scared of the dark. I was scared to drive. These are things that trauma survivors experience.
I tried cannabis, and it saved my life. So, I’ve dedicated all of my passion into this industry into really making it accessible for people like me.
Q: What does the cannabis space need to do to meet some of the more specific needs of non-binary and women SA and trauma survivors?
A: I feel like the cannabis community and the cannabis industry at large has a responsibility, and that’s to patients. We wouldn’t have legal cannabis if it wasn’t for patients, specifically queer patients, specifically those with HIV and AIDS and their caregivers.
There’s so many access programs for veterans. What about civilians who’ve experienced trauma? We have a hard time digesting their experience. There’s so much stigma.
Q: What do you think people miss out on by not being as educated on this discourse?
A: Those who use cannabis are 2.5 times more likely to experience symptom relief. People don’t know that.
That’s why we say we’re healing, not high.
Jelani Gibson may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @jelanigibson1 and on LinkedIn.
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