The Pair Bringing the Sisters of the Valley’s Teachings To Mexico

On a farm in California’s nutrient-rich Central Valley, a group of nuns meticulously care for rows of cannabis plants. Here, cultivation takes an entirely different meaning than the mechanical and monotonous routine of mass production. In the place of timesheets and algorithms, moon cycles instead dictate when cannabis is saged, set, and bottled into CBD tinctures. 

The Sisters of the Valley (SOTV) were born under the glow of the 2014 Harvest Moon. Guided by the tenets of their Beguine ancestors, the SOTV are equal parts scholars and spiritualists. At the core of the group is the mission to share cannabis—one of the earth’s many gifts—with the world as a vehicle for holistic healing.

On social media, the “weed nuns” (as they’ve come to be known) document their cultivation process and host workshops demystifying the plant — breaking old stereotypes of what cannabis users look like. Their small CBD business has also found some success, bringing in over $500,000 in medical CBD sales last year. 

Thanks to these small triumphs, the SOTV’s teachings have spread, picking up new disciples along the way like Sister Camilla and Sister Luna. 

Born and raised in Puebla, Mexico, Camilla and Luna are brining the SOTV’s teachings to their home country. 

From Students to Leaders: Sister Luna and Sister Camilla Carry The Torch

Prior to becoming SOTV, Sister Luna and Sister Camilla were active in cannabis reform clubs across Mexico. A testament to their dedication to the plant and what it stands for, the pair took vows to become SOTV in the summer of 2018. The two kept a steady presence at the Central Valley farm, learning the ins and outs of cannabis cultivation, studying the teachings of the convent, and learning how the business side of the operation works.

Though their dedication to the convent made them the perfect disciples, the pairs commitment to academic excellence is what set them apart and made them the perfect candidates to bring the SOTV’s teachings to Mexico. 

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Sister Luna comes from a science background with a BA in Biology and Masters in Biomedicine. Sister Camilla comes from a business background with BA in International business and a Masters in Economics. Together, the pairs disciplines make them a powerful force — encapsulating the SOTV’s mission to educate the public on cannabis’ beneficial properties and to distribute high quality products that facilitate holistic healing.  

With the support of the SOTV, Sister Luna and Sister Camilla founded the Hermanas Del Valle (Sisters of the Valley Mexico) in 2022. Though the two years since have been filled with challenges and obstacles, the Hermanas Del Valle have nonetheless managed to become a cultural force in their own right.

What It Means To Be A “Weed Nun” In Mexico

As subversive as the image of a nun with a joint in her mouth may be in the U.S., in Mexico, the image represents an outright act of rebellion. 

Consider for a moment that 77.7% of Mexico’s population is Catholic. For practicing and conservative Catholics, a “weed nun” is downright sacrilegious. Further, consider that despite decriminalizing recreational use in 2021, Mexico’s failure to pass subsequent legislation left cannabis cultivation in a legal gray area — tying it to cartles responsible for thousands of deaths. 

Living in fear of violence and retribution from cartels and social ostracization from family and friends — the HDV operate in relative secrecy. The convent operates in a small village on the outskirts of central Mexico. There, five Sisters grow cannabis plants in paintbuckets lodged in the walled-off private gardens of trusted elders. They dry the plants in crevices and covered laundry lines hidden in the back of the house they use as a fake store-front. When interviewed and photographed by Reuters, many Sisters asked that their names, professions, and whereabouts be omitted.

Despite their limitations, the HDV have found different ways to make their presence felt. On social media, the HDV post about their cultivation journeys and host educational workshops like their American counterparts. They also make visits to Mexico City to stage community outreach and to advocate for the plant’s full legalization. The HDV even have an e-commerce store where they sell mushroom coffe, incense, sage and other handmade products.

Though they follow the teachings of Sisters of The Valley, the Hermanas Del Valle have taken on their own unique purpose: “We want to take the plant back from the narcos”.