Still from 'The Freak Brothers'
“Endometriosis made me want to jump off a building,” Tiffany Haddish admits candidly, revealing the extent of her chronic pain. For Haddish, cannabis has been a vital tool for coping with the relentless agony she faces during her menstrual cycle. Her voice carries real gravitas as she describes how smoking marijuana helps relieve the physical pain she has suffered for years. “When I discovered the actual power of marijuana and how it can help relieve that inflammation, bring that pain down… It has helped me so much,” she explains. “I went to Panama and learned about the different things that cannabis can do and how you can use it. I like mixing it [cannabis leaves] with coconut water and making tea out of the flower.”
Haddish isn't a stranger to cannabis. She first tried it at 18 but found herself overwhelmed with laughter and discomfort. “I didn't like that. I couldn't stop laughing. So I was like, ‘I'm not messing with this,’” she voices.
She returned to the herb later, in her early twenties, while navigating emotional turmoil. “I had a choice between some weed and some other drug. And I chose the weed because I felt like that was a card, versus the other thing that was sitting on the table there,” she says. From that moment on, marijuana has played a significant role in her life, evolving from an occasional escape to a reliable source of relief during her most painful times. “It made me feel relaxed. It took away a lot of my emotional pain. At first, it was like an occasional thing. Then, as I experienced endometriosis pain, especially during my cycles, during my period, I would smoke weed basically for a week straight while I was bleeding. And, that changed the game for me. I was able to function. I wasn't like crying and super emotional all the time,” she adds.
The comedian has long been outspoken about the ways in which cannabis has positively impacted her life. She’s not shy about the medical benefits, recounting how cannabis has helped her manage pain and improve her overall well-being.
Cannabis And Endometriosis
The use of cannabis to manage endometriosis has garnered interest in recent years, with research offering promising insights into its efficacy. A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada surveyed Australian women with surgically confirmed endometriosis, revealing that 13% of them turned to cannabis as a self-management strategy for symptom relief. The study showed that cannabis was particularly effective in reducing pain, with a self-reported effectiveness score of 7.6 out of 10, and 56% of women who used cannabis were able to reduce their reliance on pharmaceutical medications by at least half. Participants also reported improvements in sleep, nausea and vomiting, with few adverse effects observed.
Recent studies have further investigated the potential of cannabis in treating endometriosis-related pain and its associated symptoms. A 2023 review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine analyzed existing research on cannabis use for endometriosis, uncovering promising mechanisms where cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the gut microbiome to alleviate symptoms. The review highlighted that cannabis-derived compounds can have anti-inflammatory effects, decrease gut permeability, and act as natural painkillers, offering significant relief from bloating, a common endometriosis symptom. Another study published in PLOS One collected data from over 250 participants with self-reported endometriosis, recording more than 16,000 cannabis use sessions. The results indicated that cannabis effectively reduced pelvic pain and improved gastrointestinal symptoms and mood, with inhaled cannabis showing quick pain relief, while oral ingestion had a longer-lasting effect for mood-related symptoms.
In Haddish’s view, many women are suffering silently due to a lack of understanding and awareness about conditions like hers. Cannabis, for her, offers a viable solution. “I think it's not talked about widely because men don't get endometriosis. If men got endometriosis, it would probably be something talked about… You need to give women the right to be able to smoke or ingest cannabis legally… If you are going to take the right for women to make the decisions off of their uterus, then you need to give them the right to be able to smoke or ingest cannabis legally, completely across the board,” she says.
Acting Through The Pain
“That's why I think I'm a phenomenal actress; I learned how to act through the pain, but I'm dying on the second day [of my cycle],” Haddish asserts, emphasizing the toll endometriosis took on her daily life. Smoking marijuana made it possible for her to function during those difficult times. Over the years, she became more conscious of the ways cannabis could enhance her health.
For Haddish, cannabis is also key in managing other health issues. She shares stories of friends who have multiple sclerosis. Initially, they were against marijuana, she says, but medical advice convinced them to try it. They quickly experienced improved mobility and communication. This is why Haddish highlights how cannabis can help those with health challenges in moderation and when used with purpose.
“I've never hid my cannabis use from anybody – except for maybe my grandma. And then I did a TV show way back in 2008. And, I know she knew, cause she could see the roaches in the ashtray, but that I would try to hide under the bed and stuff when she would come to my house,” Haddish says with a chuckle.
Despite her love for cannabis, Haddish has recently had to change how she consumes it. She mentions that she's been off THC for several months due to testing requirements but remains unperturbed. “I haven't experienced any withdrawal symptoms,” she notes, adding that she's still able to enjoy the other benefits of cannabis through non-THC products like teas and other extracts.
A Freaky Collaboration
Cookies, the influential cannabis brand co-founded by rapper and entrepreneur Berner, has teamed up with TV show “The Freak Brothers” for a unique collaboration that merges cannabis culture with entertainment. For Berner, stepping into the world of “The Freak Brothers” feels surreal. “It’s a real trip to see myself in the Freaksverse alongside entertainers I’ve looked up to for a while,” he remarks, appreciating the chance to blend his passion for cannabis with a project that has such deep roots in counterculture.
The original “The Freak Brothers” comic series, created by Gilbert Shelton in the late 1960s, carries a legacy that continues to shape cannabis culture today. Known for its counterculture humor and satirical take on stoner life, the comic has found a new home as an adult animated series, now featuring a cast that includes Haddish, Woody Harrelson, John Goodman, Pete Davidson and Berner. This modern incarnation pays homage to the series' roots while bringing it into the contemporary world of cannabis and entertainment.
Cookies x 'The Freak Brothers'
In tandem with the TV show, Cookies and “The Freak Brothers” have produced a special joint, aptly named the “LSD Joint.” The collaboration behind this product reflects the shared ethos of both brands. As Berner explains, “The synergy was undeniable — kind of like an old school meets new school vibe with us both being from The Bay.” The collaboration embodies their vision of cannabis culture, aiming to create a product that the original Freaks themselves would have enjoyed in the '60s and '70s.
“With the Freaks being a real trippy crew, we just knew we needed to put something out that the Freaks themselves would have loved to spark up back in the 60s and 70s,” the rapper adds.
This collaboration between Cookies and “The Freak Brothers” stands out as a vivid illustration of how far cannabis culture has come. It's a testament to the evolving perception of cannabis in popular culture, where the lines between entertainment and advocacy are increasingly blurred. The LSD Joint serves as a symbol of this intersection, uniting old-school and new-school cannabis enthusiasts through a shared appreciation for the plant.
Berner is enthusiastic about the cultural shift that allows a stoner show like “The Freak Brothers” to reach the mainstream. “Man, I love to see more mainstream entertainment embracing the culture, it’s about time,” he says.
‘If You’re Lazy, You’re Lazy’
Navigating the shifting terrain of cannabis acceptance, Haddish embodies a spirit of authenticity and openness that resonates deeply within the community. She’s quick to counter negative stereotypes around cannabis users, especially those who assume it leads to laziness or a lack of productivity. “If you’re lazy, you’re lazy. Period,” she asserts, noting how cannabis can be an integral part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
“There are lots of very productive, business-minded, business-oriented, resolute people that smoke or ingest marijuana in some sort of way, shape or form,” she adds, emphasizing how many successful individuals incorporate cannabis into their lives without compromising their productivity.
Haddish doesn't hesitate to highlight the contrasting effects of alcohol and cannabis, suggesting that alcohol should be illegal due to its negative impacts on society. “There’s a lot of domestic violence because of alcohol. A lot of child abuse because of alcohol, but not because of weed," she points out. For Haddish, cannabis promotes relaxation and calm, in stark contrast to the aggression often linked to alcohol consumption.
By means of conclusion, the actress emphasizes the importance of intent in usage, urging people to understand their purpose for consuming cannabis and to align it with their goals, whether for sleep, pain management, or anxiety relief. She strongly believes in legalization, particularly for women. In her view, there are many misconceptions about cannabis, and “a lot of women are in jail right now, because of endometriosis, because it will make you make some poor decisions.”
“But I've never seen nobody try to hurt anybody or fight anybody after taking in a little bit of marijuana,” she ends.
