Mexico’s weed ‘nuns’ want to take marijuana back from the narcos

International group of cannabis-smoking nuns, Sisters of the Valley, spread "gospel" of healing powers of cannabis & run successful small business.

Beneath each full moon on the outskirts of a village in central Mexico, a group of women in nun habits circle a roaring fire, cleanse themselves with burned sage, and give thanks for the moon, animals, and plants.

Then they inhale deeply from a joint and blow clouds of marijuana into the flames.

Despite their clothing, the women are not Catholic or any other religion. They are part of an international group founded in 2014 called Sisters of the Valley, which has pledged to spread the ‘gospel’ of the healing powers of cannabis.

In the U.S. , where around two dozen states have legalised recreational marijuana, the group has also launched a successful small business, selling CBD tinctures, oils and salves online, and raking in over $5,00,000 last year.

But in Mexico, where a drug war has ravaged the country and Christianity is embedded in society, the image of a marijuana-smoking nun is more an act of rebellion, the women say. The sisters frequently post on social media, primarily Instagram, where they can be seen caring for cannabis crops, giving workshops, and attending cannabis-related events.

Their product sales are a fraction of that of their U.S. sisters — around $10,000 annually.

While prominent online, the women — five in total — are cautious about giving away too much about the location of their operations. They conduct business out of a two-story concrete false storefront with one finished room.