These Mexican Women Are Disguising Themselves As Nuns To Grow And Sell Cannabis
“The moment [cannabis] is legal, it will stop being bloody.”
In Mexico, five women are defying traditional norms by disguising themselves as "nuns" to grow and sell cannabis.
Known as the Sisters of the Valley, these women advocate for the drug's legalization to remove it from the hands of the country's drug cartels or narco groups.
Despite wearing traditional religious clothing, these women are not linked with Catholicism or any other religion. The Sisters of the Valley are part of an international movement founded in 2014 that promotes the healing powers of cannabis.
Cannabis has been legal for personal use in Mexico since 2021.
However, in a country struggling with drug violence and where 75% of the population is Catholic, seeing a nun smoking marijuana is a powerful act of defiance.
In the US, where recreational marijuana is legal in nearly 24 states, the group has launched a successful small business selling CBD tinctures, oils, and salves online, generating over US$500,000 in revenue in 2023.
In Mexico, however, they sell only about US$10,000 worth of products annually, a small portion of what their American sisters sell.
“The sisterhood is in a totally different context here in Mexico – because of how religious the country is and because of the plant’s ties to cartels. We want to take the plant back from the narcos,” one of the nuns, known as Sister Bernardet online, told Reuters.
She primarily works as a homeopathic practitioner and has recommended cannabis to her patients suffering from cancer, joint pain, and insomnia.
The sisters maintain a strong social media presence, particularly on Instagram, where they share posts about tending to their cannabis plants, conducting workshops, and participating in events related to cannabis.
Despite this, they are careful not to reveal the specific location of their operations and remain undercover due to fears of potential threats or extortion from local authorities or gangs.
They set up their business in a two-storey concrete building with one fully furnished room intended to look like an actual shop.
When Reuters visited their place of business, the curtains were closed, and marijuana bundles were drying in unusual places—some hanging on a secret laundry line, others hidden within the stove.
The sisters travel to several Mexican cities to support the cannabis community's fight for full legalization. They teach seminars on making cannabis-infused products and understanding the plant’s chemistry.
The group's founder, called Sister Camilla, experienced many challenges growing up in an orthodox household. She left home at the age of 16 due to her mother's strong religious beliefs.
“It was hard for her to accept. She had certain ideas, heavily shaped by religion,” she said.
However, after extensive discussions about cannabis and its legalization campaign, her mother now plays an important role in the group's operations, helping with farm administration and logistics.
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Selina Wu
Kassy Cho
