Welcome to this inspiring conversation with Maria Coronado, an artist, mother, and advocate for the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. We’ll explore her self-discovery, healing, and creativity journey, offering you insights and resources that could change your perspective and, perhaps, your life.

Features

• Release Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023
• Episode Number: Season 1, Episode 55
• Special Guest: Maria Coronado, founder of MTC Artistry

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Full Transcript

Maria: I like to remind everybody that weed is just a tool. You don’t need it to be creative, but it helps. You don’t need it to cure your depression, but it helps. You still have to use your mind.

Announcer: Welcome to the Well With Cannabis Podcast, a show dedicated to telling the life-changing stories of those who live well with cannabis all while teaching you how to do the same. Meet your host, Emily Kyle, a registered dietitian nutritionist turned certified holistic cannabis practitioner. Emily changed her life for the better with the help of the cannabis plant, and now she’s committed to helping others do the same.

Tune in each week to hear heartwarming stories and gain the knowledge you need to feel connected, inspired, and supported on your own cannabis journey. Whether you’re a new cannabis consumer or a lifetime lover, you’ll benefit from these uplifting tales of real-life journeys that will show you how you, too, can live your best life well with cannabis.

Disclaimer: Hi there. Before we jump into today’s episode, I wanted to share a note on potentially sensitive content. The episodes on the Well With Cannabis Podcast are created for adult audiences only. We will, at times, cover sensitive topics, including but not limited to suicide, abuse, mental illness, sex, drugs, alcohol, psychedelics, and the obvious use of plant medicine. Explicit language may be used occasionally. Please refrain from watching or listening to the show if you’re likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

The information on this show is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. If any of the content on this podcast has brought up anything for you, please reach out or speak to a professional or someone you trust.

Emily: Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the Well With Cannabis Podcast. I’m so excited to be talking about all things cannabis today with Miss Maria Coronado. Welcome. 

Maria: Thank you for having me. 

Emily: I want to talk about cannabis, being a stay-at-home mom, and cannabis and being an artist. So, let’s talk a little bit about your history. What brought you to cannabis?

Maria: When I was 18, I was rebellious and looking for something to do. People talked about how fun getting high was, and I wanted to see what that was all about. That’s what got me started.

Emily: That’s what a lot of us do. Has it transitioned into more of a medical lifestyle type option for you? How did that look?

Maria: I’m a stay-at-home mom now, but when I was working, I hated it! I worked in a warehouse, and I would have to get high to go to work. There were young people there, but many older people had been programmed to think that cannabis was the devil’s lettuce. 

Emily: Literally

Maria: They would look at me like they couldn’t believe what I was doing. My thought process was that I could smoke, or I could have an attitude with everyone in there. I realized that some people smoke and cannot function. Once, a girl passed out cookies at work, and three people went home, so not everyone has the same body chemistry and tolerance. I understand some of the looks they would give me because they couldn’t handle cannabis the same way I could. I feel like people would always say that we smoke weed every day and nobody wants to talk about being depressed, and it made me think about depression. 

Emily: Let’s talk about it a little. What do you use cannabis for? How does it help you?

Maria: I don’t consider myself depressed anymore. Technically, I was never depressed. I had gone to my doctor and told them I was tired, and they decided to give me an antidepressant because there was nothing abnormal in my bloodwork. I was surprised to find that they could diagnose that without any other questions. They just marked me as “messed up,” but now I think everybody’s a little messed up, to be honest with you.

Emily: Absolutely.

Maria: I started with cannabis recreationally when I was 18, feeling rebellious and wanting to see what getting high was all about. As I transitioned into motherhood, then single motherhood, and having to work, cannabis really did help me cope with the everyday stress of life. Now, it’s more spiritual to me. Every time I get high, it’s another level; I get deep thoughts. 

Maria: Now I don’t need it as much because I stay at home, so I don’t feel so constrained by the stresses of the outside world. I get to be with kids who, I feel, live life on a natural high. My kids and I talk openly about it. It was definitely a coping mechanism, and sometimes, when I feel myself getting too stressed and start snapping at my kids, my son will even ask me to smoke. Then I’m a little nicer.  

Emily: Let’s talk about cannabis in motherhood. There are many mothers who say they would never use cannabis, but there are also so many mothers who suggest that you do use cannabis. It makes parenting so much better on so many levels. Talk a little bit about how it helps you being a mom. 

Maria: I’m a little programmed myself, and once upon a time, I thought that weed was bad and that it would have a negative effect on my children. So, I didn’t smoke or anything during my pregnancy. Being a single mom and not having a male figure in the household is a heavy responsibility. I had to be nurturing, protecting, and providing all at once, and I would get really stressed and snap at my kids a lot. 

Maria: I found that I would lean more into the project and provide side, and my nurturing side would leave. When I would smoke, or now when I ingest it because of asthma and allergy issues, it would help me sit with my kids. Many people say that they would never bring cannabis around their kids or with their kids, but they still drink wine around them. Everybody has their vice. Some people are emotional eaters, and they think they’re doing okay, but then their kids irritate them, and then all of a sudden, they force three packages of cookies down their throats.

Maria: I’m open with my kids about how I’m feeling and what I’m going through because I want them to know that they can come to me with their feelings. They may even have to use cannabis one day. 

Maria: I didn’t use cannabis with my first two pregnancies, but my third pregnancy was complicated. I didn’t have any appetite, was still struggling mentally, and was in pain the whole time. I did ingest weed during my third pregnancy, and I don’t know if my child would have made it into this world without it because I was so sick. I have never understood how we can grow a baby with morning sickness – or even why they call it morning sickness when it lasts all damn day. I threw up all day and couldn’t even keep water down. 

Maria: I told my doctors I use weed because I wanted to see how they felt about it. I wanted to know if they would try to give me pharmaceuticals or if they’d be understanding. The first doctor was very understanding and said it was fine. Some doctors tried to tell me that it’s linked to autism, but Tylenol is linked to autism right now, so…

Emily: I was going to say that. They don’t have any proof that cannabis is linked to autism. And the lawsuits that are coming out for Tylenol and autism? Hello. I 100% agree.

Maria: They were trying to get me to take the Tylenol in the hospital after I had the baby. I had heard that it was bad for people with asthma and didn’t want to take it. They told me that ibuprofen was the one that was bad for asthmatics. Regardless, it still didn’t work. They can keep their drugs, and I’ll take God’s drug that grows from the earth. Thank you.

Emily: I did not use cannabis with my first pregnancy, and I had morning sickness with my second, and I used cannabis in my second pregnancy as well. I was the same as you. I was not going to touch a prescription medication. I trust cannabis, and I feel completely confident still in my decision. My baby is amazing. He’s just as smart, if not more intelligent, than his brother, who I didn’t use cannabis with. I notice no difference between my children. Do you?

Maria: Yeah. I do, but I really think that it’s also my baby’s about to be one in April. So, I’m convinced the kids who came after COVID are different. 

Emily: There’s something to be said for that. 

Maria: It’s our different air that we’re breathing. I’m more spiritual, and some people think I’m out of touch with reality, but I know there’s something in the air. Every time it rains, everybody around me has congestion issues, and we have allergy issues in the wintertime. Y’all need to understand that there’s something going on. There’s something bad in the air.

Maria: Besides that, she’s tiny. I feel like obesity is still a growing issue in America. Her doctors were insistent that she was too small because she was only six pounds. But all my kids were six pounds.

Emily: My baby was six pounds; he was a normal baby.

Maria: I wanted to do a home birth. The doctors were so scared because of how small she was. But I don’t eat your standard American diet. I’m not taking in all the meat and steroids just because they’re trying to keep up with the consumption. Weed really got me on my natural stuff. I don’t want your pesticides or GMOs. My baby might be a little smaller, but she’s super strong and super bright.

Maria: I feel like my parents always told me that weed makes you dumb and makes you lose your brain cells. Listen, I was never dumb. I used to struggle to understand physics, but it all made sense when I started smoking weed. I don’t think that weed makes you dumb. It just opens my mind and lets me see the world differently. It puts me in a different state of mind, but it really depends on how you approach it. If I intend to smoke to feel better and be nicer to my kids, then that’s what it will be. If I smoke to get some excellent sleep, that’s what it’s gonna be. Intention setting is crucial.

Emily: You are not the first person I’ve heard talk about intention setting when it comes to cannabis consumption. I’m so glad you said that because you really can control your experience with your mindset and what you’re thinking of when you go into it, which is awesome.

Maria: Yeah, it is. The mind is so powerful; the mind is more potent than the weed itself. If you say that you don’t think the weed is going to do anything to you, then it might not do anything to you. They say that Indica makes you sleepy and Sativa gives you energy, but my life experiment has proven otherwise. I’ll tell myself that I’m going to smoke some weed, paint a picture, and then fall asleep. And what do I do? I smoke weed, paint a picture, and then fall asleep. It goes perfectly.

Emily: We need to talk about your painting then because we talked about being a stay-at-home mom. Let’s talk about the creativity part of it because so many people say that cannabis has brought out this creativity in them that they never knew they had. Talk about your experience with that.

Maria: Okay. I’m MTC Artistry, but I also do henna tattoos. I use cannabis both ways, right? I do puff and paint classes because I come to art from a therapeutic standpoint. When you get high, your creative energy opens up, making it easier. We let the music play, we feel good, and you just draw whatever. It’s not about making it look good; it’s about feeling good, and you don’t leave until you like your piece.

Emily: I’ve wanted to go to a puff and paint so bad. I would love to go to one with you. Who are the people who come to this event, and who do you serve?

Maria: Everybody. I serve everybody. I wish kids could be there; that’s a little meh. Maybe we’ll try CBD on the babies. But I open it to stoners. I don’t market it as therapy, and most people who come are looking for a party. I’m in Missouri, where we just made recreational cannabis legal. I’m not into the whole dispensary legal system, so before it was medicinal, I found a building where you could smoke inside. They also helped people get their medicinal cards. So that’s where I was hosting them. My target audience is anyone who smokes weed and is looking for something different to do. I was never a person that went to clubs,

Maria: My target audience is anyone who smokes weed and is looking for something different to do. I never went to clubs, so when people come into my puff and paint looking for a party, they don’t really like my music. I let them put on what they like to listen to. I was playing Bob Marley because I thought they would like it, but I heard somebody ask about what was up with the music.

Emily: Really? That’s so weird.

Maria: Yeah, someone else seconded that. It was actually my boyfriend and another girl agreed with him. I had made a whole playlist of 420-loving songs, and they weren’t feeling it. I was so surprised, like, “Never mind. I’ll help y’all pour y’all paint, then.”

Emily: Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. 

Maria: I think everybody gets into a creative state, and then I like to remind everybody that weed is just a tool. You don’t need it to be creative, but it helps. You don’t need it to cure your depression, but it helps. You still have to use your mind. I’m still developing my style with my henna, and I find that if I smoke or take an edible before, I get into my flow faster. I don’t sit there thinking about what I’m going to do and how I’m going to tie things together. I immediately love the piece, and the person loves the piece, which is what I want to hear as an artist. I want you to appreciate my art because I’m trying not to be sensitive about it.

Emily: It’s our work; of course, you’re a little sensitive. Can we talk a little bit about the spirituality piece, as well? Tell me how it brings all the creativity and wellness together into one beautiful package for you.

Maria: As far as spirituality, one thing I know about myself that I didn’t realize other people were doing is called shadow work. I call it reflecting on my actions and understanding why I did what I did or didn’t do what I didn’t do. Weed has taught me to stand up for myself because of what it means to everyone around me. I grew up in a Christian household and stopped going to church when I started smoking weed because I felt guilty. I remember kids would come to church high, and I thought that I couldn’t go in there because Jesus wouldn’t like that.

Maria: Weed taught me to be aware of how to listen to what people are saying, how to feel the energy they’re coming from, and how to understand their mindset when they’re talking. Instead of being ashamed to be high and admit to smoking weed, I say I am who I am and do what I do. If you feel some way about it, that’s on you. I had to learn to stand up for myself and be confident in my actions instead of being shy. Weed is not bad, so I had to learn how to stand up for it.

Emily: I also find that it does give me confidence as a woman. I don’t know why, but I feel like I can trust myself and know myself, and my intuition is always correct. Cannabis has been a gift in that way, and it helps me to trust that my intuition is correct. I’m so thankful for that. Do you find that, too?

Maria: Yeah, I do. I refer to cannabis as a tool that we don’t necessarily need but can help. I’ve had friends who have battled depression, just like I’ve had to get through it. They would say that they couldn’t smoke weed because they were on pills. Both of them are things that are supposed to help you out mentally. Remember that you can get sucked into weed and smoke every time you feel bad, but if you don’t get to the root of the situation and resolve to change it, you won’t get anywhere. 

Maria: So I love it, but it’s a tool. It’s just there to help you. Your mind is still the most important piece. I had to move through feeling like I couldn’t go without weed to reach a point where I knew I could go without it. My mental health, confidence, and intuition have all stepped up so much. I learned to quit second-guessing myself because my confidence was so lifted. I stand up for what I believe in. Weed did that.

Emily: Isn’t that an amazing thing? It’s so special. I love it so much. I’m just so happy that we get to talk about it this way, too. It just makes me feel like other people see the beauty that I see.

Maria: Yeah, because we’re all out here. Everybody’s on different levels. I went through the recreational side of weed. I went through the medical side of it during pregnancy to help with morning sickness. It helped with the pain. I used to make brownies when I was a single mom because I couldn’t stand throwing my money away to weed. I needed it to pay for itself. All my clients would tell me that they needed their brownies because their fibromyalgia was flaring up. The reports that returned to me told me that this is not a bad drug but a healing drug. Now, do we always need THC? No, we don’t. Sometimes, we need CBD, but it’s still a miracle drug. My final take on weed is that it’s not made in a lab; God creates it. 

Emily: Perfect. And I want to respect your time, but I always ask my guests the same four questions. Are you ready for them? 

Maria: Let’s go. 

Emily: Okay. First one. What are you most proud of in your life to date?

Maria: Oh, wow. Is it cocky if I say me?

Emily: No. Oh my gosh. No. Say it. I would do the same thing.

Maria: My art. I’m so proud of myself in the art world. I started out years ago thinking that I’m no artist, and now I’m doing these gallery shows and booking henna appointments. I’m doing it.

Maria: I’m so proud of you for doing me. It’s amazing. It’s like the best 

Emily: I’m so proud of you. It’s amazing. It’s the best feeling to be able to say that you’re proud of yourself.

Maria: Yes, being an entrepreneur. Not everybody can take this path, especially with kids. I incorporate my kids into my business. If you come to an appointment, there might be a baby in the back and some older babies watching that baby.

Emily: But that’s all right. They’re this family. I love it. 

Maria: They’re smart. They already know what’s going on. They know they can work for themselves. There was a point where I realized that I didn’t want them to have screen time before bed, so I started drawing before bed. Guess what they started doing? Drawing before bed. They do what they see me do, so I have to be the change I want to see in the world. We don’t demonize weed in this house. 

Emily: They’re going to be so much better off for it, though, in the long run. They won’t have to go through second-guessing, the stigma, and all the other bullshit we went through because that’s how we were taught.

Maria: Yep. And they’ll really learn to fight for the truth, to fight for justice. We’re fighting our fight here. And when we’re no longer here, they’re going to be fighting their fight, and they’re going to teach their kids to fight the fight, too. It doesn’t matter what the world has to say. Just because something is illegal does not mean that it’s wrong. Just because something is legal does not mean that it’s right. We’re teaching our kids different lessons, and I’m proud to be here.

Emily: I’m so excited for you in the future and everything that’s coming up. Next question. This is everybody’s least favorite question. Are you ready for it? What does your life look like without cannabis?

Maria: You know what? It’s not a problem for me. I feel like once upon a time, I used just randomly to take detoxes. It was almost like me checking in with myself to make sure I was not addicted and that nobody could say I was. People would ask why I wasn’t smoking, and I would let them know I was taking a break. I’m not an avid user right now, but I feel good. I feel happy, and I feel like I’ve healed myself. It’s great to be able to use cannabis as a tool to feel high, but my end goal is to feel naturally high, to wake up and be happy with myself.

Maria: So, my life without cannabis is still good, it’s still happy, it’s still what I want it to be. I don’t have to slave at a job for somebody else, I’m blessed, and I know where to get it if I do feel myself stressing. I’m also a nursing mother, and I felt so guilty about nursing my baby, but now I don’t. I realized that I can’t stress because stress will pass on to the baby, too, and I don’t want to pass that stress on to her. I don’t know where I’d be without cannabis, but I’m glad that I don’t have to depend on it to be happy now. I still love my kids and can tap into my creativity without having to depend on cannabis. I love it here.

Emily: I think that is my favorite answer I have had so far to that question. It’s perfect.

Maria: It’s a goal, man. It’s my goal. It’s like being on antidepressants forever. Who wants to do that? That’s what the doctors tell you have to do. Not me. Not me. I’m getting to the root of the problem, and I’m fixing that. 

Emily: I love it. And you’re focusing on your natural happiness. I love that you said that.

Maria: Yeah, and weed definitely is the reason. I always fought to say that weed was natural, and if we are going to stick to the natural thing, let’s be natural all the way.

Emily: Okay, next question. If you could go back ten years ago to give yourself a piece of advice, cannabis-related or not, what would it be? 

Maria: Oh man, love yourself. Love yourself. You might think you love yourself, and then you find out that you’re playing yourself when people play you. Really listen to your mind, don’t doubt yourself. Stop overthinking because you probably came to the solution in two minutes, and now you’re wasting time doubting yourself. Listen to the voice that tells you when something is wrong because it’s up to you to fix it. You got to be the change you want to see in the world. So love yourself. And by loving yourself, you will make the world a better place.

Emily: That’s beautiful. Last question. If you could be remembered for just one thing in the cannabis space, what would it be? 

Maria: I guess I want to be remembered for my art anyway, so I want the people in the cannabis space to remember the puff and paints. I want people to remember that even if they don’t have me available and accessible and hosting a party, they can always do something creative. And in that state of mind, it would be cool if people remembered my drinks or brownies because I used to get so hyped up about the food that I would make. If y’all remember me in the cannabis world, remember that I’m the one who put art and cannabis together and encouraged everyone to be an artist.

Emily: If people want to see and follow some of your artwork, where can they follow you? 

Maria: So I’m on Facebook and on Instagram as MTC Artistry. They’re my initials. 

Emily: Oh, perfect. I’m going to put links so everyone can click through and find you, check out your artwork, and see all the amazing things you’re up to. Thank you so much for coming here and sharing this with me. It’s such a great conversation with you. 

Maria: Yeah, thank you for having me again. I feel so honored. I was so happy when I saw you were starting the podcast. I’m just a little popular nobody in my world, but I love cannabis. I love what you’re doing in the cannabis world and appreciate you. So I’m so glad that you chose me to be here with you. 

Emily: Thank you so much. I’m so good. I always feel like the plant brought us together. It feels so amazing. So, thank you for being here and doing this with me.

Maria: Of course.

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