These Unorthodox 'Nuns' Grow And Sell Weed-Based Products

BY LINDSEY ROBERTSON

If you're like me, your perception of nuns might not extend past "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria" and "Climb Every Mountain." Imagine my surprise, then to discover that nuns don't necessarily have to conform to the stereotypes to which we're accustomed — or the religious affiliations, for that matter.

Two self-proclaimed "nuns" in Merced County, California, are making waves by growing their own medical marijuana, and creating healing balms and tinctures from the plant. 

Darcy Johnson and Christine Meeusen, known as Sister Darcy and Sister Kate, respectively, started their online store Sisters of the Valley to create healing products from their greenhouse of marijuana plants. 

Sister Kate gained her identity during the Occupy Wall Street movement, when she began dressing like a nun to demonstrate her solidarity with the protestors. It is important to note that Sister Darcy and Sister Kate are "nuns" in their own sense of the word, and are not associated with any religious order.

"When people say, 'Well, they're not real nuns,' my answer is there are no nuns. They're going extinct in this country," Sister Kate told Tech Insider. "If you look up what makes up a sister, there are five elements. ... We live together, we wear the same clothes, we take a vow of obedience to the moon cycles, we take a vow of chastity (which we don't think requires celibacy), and a vow of ecology, which is a vow to do no harm while you're making your medicine."

The balms and tinctures sold by Sisters of the Valley do not contain THC, meaning that they will not get you high. The products are made with cannabidiol (CBD), which is an active ingredient in cannabis. The Sister of the Valley line aims to provide pain relief, healing, and calm to customers.

As for the Sisters' preferred method of weed consumption? While smoking is occasionally on the table, Sister Darcy tells Tech Insider that she prefers her marijuana raw and blended in a smoothie. 

The products are sold on the Sisters of the Valley website, and the majority of profits are invested in creating new and improved profits. 

The Sisters emphasize creating their products during the new moon cycle, giving thanks to their "Creator God" and "Mother Goddess" before they begin their work. Sister Kate says the business is about taking some of the stigma away from cannabis, as well as empowering other women. 

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"We would like it to be such that wherever you saw women in their blue jean skirts, white blouses, and hats ... those women know about cannabis. They know about pain relief. Our brand is uniting the women who feel the same."

And really, props must be given to such diligent and hard-working businesswomen. It may be an unorthodox undertaking, but their operation definitely has strong roots — pun intended.