The rise of the Gummy Mummies.

Is there anything better than the satisfying sound of shutting down your computer and cheers-ing to the start of the weekend? 

Well... yes, apparently. According to an increasing number of busy, sleep-deprived mums, it's not the sound of a wine bottle opening that signals the end of a tough week, but a container of colourful gummies.

"It's probably not great, but it's a relaxing thing to do with friends with kids around," says Emma*. "[But] they don't know any different, they can't smell it or see it, and just think the mums are being a bit giggly." 

For Rachel*, grabbing a couple from a mate is all about getting a decent night's sleep. "A friend of mine gets prescribed them for insomnia and they always have a few spare," she says. "I like having them sometimes because a good night's sleep when you're perimenopausal is so needed."

Clearly, the trend is going strong – strong enough that the women who partake have earned themselves the nickname 'gummy mummies' – and the four women we spoke to aren't alone in reaching for the jelly-like marijuana chews when looking to relax. 

In North America, gummies are often seen as an attractive alternative to vaping or smoking, with the numerous medicinal claims furthering their popularity. 

Kris Jenner purchased gummies for the family from her local dispensary in 2022, and more recently, Kyle Richards hosted her second edibles-infused dinner party on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And while marijuana is still only legal for medicinal purposes and, as such, requires a prescription, Australia is quickly following suit it seems.

Watch: Health myths, debunked. Post continues below.

"Demand in Australia is high as patients have a desire for alternative medication options," says Fleta Solomon, Executive Director at Little Green Pharma in Melbourne. "The industry is experiencing rapid growth, and an increasing number of doctors are adding this natural medication to their toolkit."

Doctors in Australia have been able to prescribe medical marijuana since 2016, but unlike some other countries – such as the UK, the US, Germany, and Switzerland, where low dose CBD only medications are often classified as a food rather than a medicine and consumed alongside vitamins – Aussies wanting to access CBD and other medicinal cannabis products legally require a prescription. 

Though this doesn't seem to be turning people off.

There were 85,660 approved applications between 2016 and 2020, while the figure from 2021 shot up to 361,651. The top reasons were chronic pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders. 

So why the jump?

"Most of us are living our daily lives with a million things on our to-do list and not getting enough time to rest and recharge," says Sydney-based doctor Rebecca Goadby. "I see women in my clinic daily who are burnt out, anxious and not sleeping. We're all looking for something to help us with these symptoms."

But just how harmless are "weed gummies"? And are they really the answer to a hangover-free Saturday morning?

Infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the 'high' produced when consumed, THC gummies have more negative side effects than cannabidiol (CBD) alone, which is non-intoxicating. THC is also detectable anywhere between 24 to 48 hours in your blood and saliva, and up to 30 days in urine, which makes it tricky if it's your turn to carpool or if you need to give a blood sample. 

And it's important not to assume plant medicine, such as medicinal cannabis, is completely risk-free, even if it's obtained via legal pathways.

"CBD is normally well tolerated with minimal side effects, the most common side effect being diarrhoea. The biggest area of concern is the interaction with other medications when taken together," says Dr Goadby. "This can lead to increased levels of active ingredients in the bloodstream, having effects such as increased sedation, liver damage or increased risk of bleeding."

Listen to The Quicky where we discuss the highs and lows of medicinal cannabis. Post continues after podcast.

At the end of the day, sharing edibles with your girlfriends simply isn't the same as splitting a bottle of wine. In fact, it's akin to sharing any medication – which isn't recommended. 

"I would encourage anyone considering trying products containing CBD to discuss this with their GP first," says Dr Goadby. "This is the same advice for any new over-the-counter supplement you are thinking of taking, as we know that some of these supplements interact with prescribed medications and are also not recommended in patients with certain health issues."

The first step is making an appointment and bringing along a list of medications you're currently taking. 

If you're struggling with pain, anxiety and sleep issues, your doctor will look at preparing a mental health care plan with subsidised psychology support. "This is the gold standard treatment for anxiety and insomnia," says Dr Goadby. "We can trial other medications to assist and make sure that CBD is safe to use at the same time as these medications."

Other lifestyle tweaks that could help in the meantime include reducing alcohol intake, increasing exercise, and ensuring you have a support network around you.

"We want to know what you're struggling with so we can come up with a plan to assist, which may or may not include CBD products," she says. 

"My advice is always this: don't suffer in silence, talk to your GP and let's make a plan together."

*The women in this story are known to Mamamia and have chosen to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. 

Feature Image: Getty.

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