Groovy Gma with FND

I have used cannabis for a VERY long time; I had my first real hit of a burning joint in 1993, after meeting the man that would become my husband. He was a AMS2 and Drug Counselor at North Island when I was transferred from boot camp to Hospital Corpsman A school in San Diego. If you don’t know, North Island is an amazing drive up The Strand from when he lived in Imperial Beach to an amazing town called Coronado, it’s beautiful and expensive! (I wrote about how we met in “Young, Dumb and In Love”)

Little did I know, Ray was deep in the drug world, even as an active-duty Navy member AND drug counselor. He was in the perfect position to beat the tests, and help others beat the test, which he did on a regular basis. He was using methamphetimes, cocaine, marijuana. He wasn’t using needles, but hung out with guys that did, specifically a gay male couple that were both HIV positive…. hence why Ray didn’t shoot meth with them. They also had another single guy that was their “little brown friend”, a five foot two black guy that never said more than three words each time I met him. Ray was honorably discharged from the Navy after coming forward about his drug problem.

I had my first joint with him, and while in the Navy. I was amazed at how relaxed it made me feel. Not a care in the world…I was always very tense, and still am if I’m not medicating/medicated. I worry constantly about so many things. We listened to music, played dice, had sex. As long as I was back at the base for school or watch, I was otherwise at his house. He has endless access to it because of the neighbors, and I NEVER touched anything else.

I was transferred to the New England area for my first duty station. Once we were settled in Navy housing, we discovered a neighbor had a plug for weed. YAY! However, I was pregnant so I stayed off it till our daughter was born. I failed at breastfeeding and quickly started smoking again…not often, maybe a couple-few nights a week.

My next duty station in 1994 was a ship, and I was whisked away to sea shortly after reporting. I didn’t have any more cannabis until I got out of the Navy in late 1995, then moved back to Oregon in early 1996. My brother had been living in Southern Oregon since 1992 and had developed plugs. My use became steadier once we were settled in Oregon, and was more on than off until I obtained my first medical card.

I applied for and was approved for my first medical marijuana card in Oregon in 2013 while a student in a community college. I’ve had my medical card since then, except for 2021-2023 because I had moved to CO and didn’t want to change my license to CO. I was still pretty attached to Oregon after leaving my now ex-husband.

My use has changed very recently. I used to have a dab rig and a torch but switched to a Puff Co Proxy 2. I used to smoke preroll joints, now I use a dry herb vape called the Venty. I’m able to use my cannabis indoors and there’s no smell. I used to smoke inside my old apartment, so the cold weather wasn’t an issue. Now that I’m in a brand-new place, I don’t want to stink it up. I use edibles intermittently and at bedtime as well.