Unless your folks are Snoop Dogg or Mila Jansen, telling your parents that you smoked weed probably wasn’t the easiest thing. Maybe it was, but undoubtedly for everyone it was a moment, and that “first time” surely lives on somewhere in your memory. Not everyone started as teenagers, not everyone was precocious when it came to this smoking matter. However, most likely, trying weed early on led to tense, awkward, unusual, or even memorable conversations with your parents.
Each family’s cultural or religious perspective defines the implications of that “milestone” and the weight it might carry. And, depending on our own sensibilities, that “issue” wasn’t always handled with maturity or empathy. Was it shared out of honesty or necessity? Was it a desire to normalize the topic? Did your parents react as you expected? Was there a “good time” to do it?
According to experts, it’s best to create a trusting environment, avoid provocations and generational head-butting, appeal to openness, and, of course, do it face-to-face. Text messages don’t process emotions, guys! Keep that in mind!
Explaining risks, responsibilities, dosages, rationale, and, most importantly, making it clear that your life is in order can be a relief for parents. Or maybe not. But it’s important to validate their opinion: it shows maturity and empathy for their position. Therefore, it’s recommended to be honest and assertive. Maturity and responsibility are paramount. We did what we could. You did what you could.
So, to commemorate that historic moment, a series of testimonies from the High Times community in which they described what it was like, what they said, the context, and even how their parents reacted when they told them (or found out!) that they smoked weed. Light one up, relax, and let yourself be carried away by these stories brimming with joints, smells, complaints, jokes, anger, and surprises.
Towelie
I was at school and my stepmom was working from home. She walked into my room to look for towels so she could wash them, looked under my desk and saw my 22-inch 13 mm thick bong, then proceeded to ransack my room, looking through my drawers and found an entire drawer dedicated to weed with almost a quarter pound and a bunch of wax (pure consumption).
Your poor stepmom! Surely she suspected it, but didn’t necessarily expect to see an arsenal in your closet.
Cool Dad
Smoking a bowl in the old man’s bathroom. He came home, walked into his room and hollered, ‘What ya doin in there?!’ I wasn’t going to lie to him, so I told him. He walked in, packed the bowl and walked out. Later, I smoked some weed with hi,m I planted when I was still sneaking around.
Your old man is a cool guy: don’t take that for granted.
The Munchies
When I was a sophomore in high school, my dad walked into my room where me, my brother, and all my girlfriends were ‘hanging’, and said, “It doesn’t smell like cigarette smoke in here…” Then he left, and my girlfriends and I went to the grocery store across the street at 11pm. I bought a frozen cheesecake and ate the whole thing.
Bet your parents got suspicious when they started running out of snacks. It wasn’t that you were growing up; it was a bad case of the munchies!
Snitches!
Went out while they were taking a nap on New Year’s Eve, got a big delivery from a sketchy sight, got way too high and came home way too late. They busted into my room and called the cops on me. The time after that, my friend didn’t tell me he was on speaker and I mentioned when I got back from vacation I wanted to smoke. His dad heard and told my parents.
Ultimate betrayal, completely unforgivable.
A Classic
I was rolling a joint and left the tiniest piece of weed, the smallest LEAF, and my mom was like, ‘So you smoke now.’
Your story is like many others. That’s okay, one just has to go, “Yes, Mom,” and move on.
Burger OD
Every Thursday was a special day. My Mom made her special hamburgers and I was always there for them. Early before dinner my friend said he had Purple Hash so I went with him and smoked 3 grams of it. I remembered it was Burger Night so went back home: all the food was at the table and I was high as shit and came and sat down at the table with them. Both my mom and dad stared at me and I was trying to keep it together but when I took the ketchup bottle and shot it in my glass of milk instead of on my hamburger they knew I was High LOL.
How delicious was the milk’n’ketchup? Do tell!
The Dad Who Knew Too Much
My parents picked me up while I was traveling dimensions on my first ever edible. The combination of red eyes/jumpy reactions kinda gave it away. My stepdad proceeded to play “White Crime” by Lil Dicky the ENTIRE 30 minutes home.
Great song! He was setting the stage for you to light up.
Adulting
I turned 18 & told my parents ‘I’m 18 & I’m gonna smoke weed now because im an adult now’. Then I moved out 2 weeks later.
Well done! Very thoughtful of you.
Green Thumb Family
When I was 14 years old, my dad caught me harvesting my plants on the back side of our property. To my surprise, instead of getting mad at me, he asked if he could have some. We’ve been smoking together ever since. 33 years.
A family that grows together stays together.
‘Nuff Said
My parents took me to Amsterdam at 17.
They did the right thing. Right?
An Open Secret
My parents found out for sure, ‘cause one day I came home from high school and my quarter pound of swag had been dumped out on the kitchen table. My brand new Proto Pipe had been melted into a blob by my dad’s welder and it was sitting on top of the pile. When I walked in the door, my mom said ‘You have anything to tell us?’ LOL.
And what did you tell them? Were you honest or were you just lying? Parents aren’t stupid, bro!
Common Sense
I asked my mom if I could and she said ‘Better than alcohol.’
When parents are right, they’re right.
Walter White, Is That You?
I went home for vacation. I was living in Southwest Florida, and my parents found $100,000 in my suitcase. I had to explain to them that besides being a commercial fisherman I was getting paid $75,000 a night offloading bales of weed from boats coming from all corners of the Caribbean.
Well, no comment.
Mother Knows Best
My first time smoking was with my mom.
Lucky you!
It’s The Sound Of Da Police
The cops let them know, very nice of them.
Thanks for the service, officers! The community owes you so much.
The Traitor
Took one of my brother’s roaches and smoked it. He came home early from work and he smelt it and told my mom.
Bro…
All Things Must Pass
Honestly, it just kinda happened and no one really cared LOL.
Maybe they did care and chose not to worry?
Shit Does Indeed Happen
I shit my pants.
What on earth did you smoke?! Are you sure it was weed?
Congratulations, You Played Yourself
I told ‘em cause I thought they already knew.
At least you told them.
That Doesn’t Lead to Narnia…
My parents found out because I put a padlock on my closet door and there was purple light coming from underneath… They were not happy.
Well, they raised a son, not a mad scientist!
Editor’s note: Some quotes have been lightly edited for clarity.
Photo: Shutterstock
