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Discover and harness the magic of cannabis and get wicked high, in this first-of-its-kind guide to weed in witchcraft.

Cannabis and magic are woven together throughout history, and there has never been a better time to embrace your inner weed witch. In this comprehensive guide and spellbook, practicing witch and cannabis writer Sophie Saint Thomas explores the beautiful relationship between the two, offering everything you need to use marijuana in all its forms to awaken your inner magic, enhance your practice, care for your body and soul, and reach your highest self.

Weed Witch explores the foundations of witchcraft and a complete cannabis rundown so everyone from beginners to experts on both subjects can blend them safely for optimal harmony. In these pages, you'll learn to use weed to magnify and augment your relationship with astrology, tarot, crystals, moon magic, and much more. The book also contains an exhaustive compendium of stoned spells for love and sex, money and work, protection and healing, and of course, fun.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is also dedicated to cannabis (obviously). Thank you for being there in sickness and health, joy and despair, and for the best medicine I ever met. Thank you to my dear agent and fellow Scorpio, Eric Smith, and all of P.S. Literary. Much love to my editor Shannon Kelly and everyone at Running Press and Hachette Book Group for putting this vision together with me. I couldn’t have done this without my man, Dr. Chad Johnson, my best friends, my familiar Major Tom Cat, my family, and my two homes: New York City and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

INTRODUCTION

Strangely, I wasn’t high during my first Black Mass, which boosted my interest in witchcraft. I was there working on a documentary, trying to keep myself together and, unfortunately, sober. At the time, I was a shell of a person, recovering from a series of traumas—most significantly, a sexual assault that ruined my ability to relax and enjoy sex. The Black Mass and the witches and even Satanists that I met were nothing like your conservative Christian relatives would imagine. They were fierce yet kind, and the whole point of the ritual was to make a political statement in favor of freedom of speech.

I fell for someone (a stoner) while working on the documentary. Black Masses tend to bring people together. This was in 2013, before I could even get a medical marijuana card for my PTSD in New York City. However, after researching cannabis for PTSD and speaking with my psychiatrist, I gave it a shot. I was always pro-cannabis and legalization. I grew up in the Caribbean, surrounded by ganja culture, blessed with liberal parents, but I didn’t understand the power of the plant until I needed it.

I found that cannabis allowed me to inhabit my body, rather than dissociate, during sex. Research suggests it works for PTSD and trauma for anyone, not just sexual assault survivors. In addition, it can be excellent for people with other conditions, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, migraines, seizure disorders, and more. When I took it at the correct dose—always start low and go slow—I also found that it turned my social anxiety around. Before weed, while I had managed to keep my professional life together, I would frequently get a panic attack outside a party door and jump in a cab home. Sure, I had benzodiazepines—I’m not against Western medicine at all, and I believe that anxiety meds can be helpful when used as directed—but I was so sedated, benzo withdrawal was hell, I didn’t remember my last name, and I still couldn’t go to a party. Cannabis changed that for me.

Over the last decade, I healed. I no longer need cannabis to relax during sex or reduce my PTSD nightmares. Instead, I’ve watched it transform from a lifesaving medicine to a social tool for me, a way to enhance orgasms, obtain creative insight, and, yes, still lower my anxiety. But you don’t need a diagnosis to enjoy cannabis. This plant medicine should be—and one day will be—legally and safely available to everyone. And no one understands that more than witches.

It took more than a single Black Mass to get me into witchcraft. But, as with cannabis, I was well-primed. I had always had a wild heart and was fascinated by the Hoodoo and Voodoo traditions I learned about growing up in the Caribbean. So when I moved to New York City right after graduating college in 2010 and lived in the East Village, one of my first stops was a little occult shop called Enchantments. Slowly, I learned the craft thanks to friends such as Annabel Gat, the greatest astrologer on Earth. Eventually, I used tarot cards daily for insight, created candle spells, and even joined a coven.

This is my third book on cannabis and also my third book on witchcraft—and three is a powerful number. So I invite you to join a new coven: one exclusively for weed witches.

Cannabis alone is magic. It’s a plant medicine used in India by ancient yogis to enhance their meditation. In fact, the earliest mention of cannabis is from the Vedas, or sacred Hindu texts dating back as early as 2000 BCE, although any trip to Los Angeles and to groups such as Ganja Yoga will show that plenty of yogis continue to use it today. Rastafarians rightfully consider it a sacrament. It’s alchemy: transforming flowers into the ability to shake off your kink shame, get famous using psychic powers, summon social equity—and yes, those are all spells found in this book. Speaking of social equity, you must know that activism, cannabis, and witchcraft are deeply intertwined, from the racist history of prohibition of cannabis to the accused lesbians burned at the stake. This book will change your life, but it will also help elevate the world around you through your workings. Remember, as Spider-Man’s uncle taught us: with great power comes great responsibility.

Weed and witchcraft are a little scary, and that’s okay. Both carry stigma and come with important considerations, but weed and witchcraft can complement and uplift one another when used responsibly. Now, I’m about to pass you a rose petal blunt magically infused to banish fear—are you going to take a hit?

NO 1

BASIC WITCH

Whether you’re a crone with tarot or a maiden new to your witchcraft journey, there are some things that you need to learn before I let you anywhere near the spells. For instance, is magic even real? Well, some studies confirm what witches have suspected all along about the primal power of the full moon (crime goes up) or the passion of the color red (men rate women wearing red as more attractive than in other colors). But to be a witch, you cannot be a member of the fun police. You have to use your imagination. Life is just more fun when you believe in magic.

So, for one, how does your zodiac sign impact your relationship with cannabis? Well, any sign ruled by Venus, especially the earth sign Taurus, is sure to love weed, and intense water signs such as Scorpio can seriously benefit from some sedation to help with that anxiety. I mean, who wants to feel anxious when there are 4/20 parties to be held? We’ll get to that. In fact, there’s an entire spell for throwing a 4/20 Taurus Season Abundance Party in the money and work chapter. Still, you first need to learn the Pagan holidays and how to celebrate appropriately, such as for Samhain, aka the true roots of Halloween, my dear witch.

Oh, and are you totally new to tarot? Don’t worry; there’s a section that defines every single one of the seventy-eight iconic cards through a weed witch perspective, too.

Eerily
(and Frequently)
Asked Questions

Are witches transphobic? If you hex someone, is that black magic, and is that bad? Wait, is magic even real? Chill out, witch. Let’s get some questions out of the way before we take this thing any further.

Is witchcraft real?

No, of course witchcraft isn’t real. Okay, now that the haters aren’t reading: yes, it is. As I like to say, being a witch just means that you’re aware of your power and aren’t afraid to use it.

How does this all work? Well, we have studies that show that phytocannabinoids (THC, CBD, and countless others) affect us by connecting with our endocannabinoid receptors (yes, our body is programmed for cannabis—more on that in another chapter). But no, there are no studies that confirm that Tauruses tend to love getting high or that pulling the Tower card means that your life is about to explode. There are studies, however, that show that men rate women wearing red as more sexually attractive. Witches use red in color magic, candle magic, glamour magic, and more, for sex and love spells all the time, and did so far before this research existed and named this “the red dress effect.” So, if you need a scientific study to throw in your skeptical date’s face, there you go. Oh, and of course, research also shows that crime goes up during the full moon, confirming what astrologers tell you: watch out for drama during that phase.

To me, it doesn’t matter if it’s real. It’s fun. And in this world, fun is hard to come by. Plus, there’s power in ritual. If I take a green candle, carve a money-drawing sigil in it, and garnish it with powders and incense for abundance, will I automatically get rich? No, but I will have a burning reminder of my intention, egging me on as I manifest that money. Ritual is why we have weddings, funerals, and proms and take time to prepare meals for people we love. And, honestly, if I do happen to transmit my money-drawing intentions using ancient rituals to the unknown powers that help guide this universe while also reminding myself of my strength, well, good for me.

Can any gender be a witch?

Shame on you. Before Western colonization in many cultures—and to this day in some—trans and gender nonconforming folks have been considered divine, from the two-spirits of Indigenous North American tribes to the hijras of India. Any gender can be a witch, and that also includes men. The world is only doing more damage by leaving cis men out of the conversation. While it’s understandable for some to want to have spaces offering them a break from feeling surrounded by the patriarchy, if we don’t include men and educate them, how will we ever break down harmful expectations of masculinity? Just like men should be able to wear dresses, or love to dance, they can be witches (or warlocks, if they prefer), too.

What’s the difference between black magic and white magic?

In my opinion, there is no distinction between black and white magic; there is simply magic. Some say that “black” magic is any spell intended to harm. But, as the wise Fez told Lexi in Euphoria, sometimes people need to get their feelings hurt. I do not feel bad for hexing racists and homophobes, but I have found that the best revenge is living well when it comes to personal vendettas. Therefore, if you really want to make your partner’s ex mad, skip the hex and work on love spells so you can show off an engagement ring on IG.

But here’s the other thing. Frankly, the whole black magic/white magic thing feels a little racist. The idea of this blonde witch Glinda in a pink ball gown representing goodness is just so… dated and out of touch. Not to mention, much of what people consider “black magic” does come from Voodoo or Hoodoo, which are African in origin. So let’s lose these phrases and just work on improving our lives and the world around us, please.

Is the Rule of Three real?

The Rule of Three comes from Wicca, a Pagan religion, and warns that if you do magic to cause harm, the results will come back to you three times worse. So let’s say you curse someone to give them a bad hair day. The Rule of Three states that they’ll have a bad hair day, but yours might fall out.

Frankly, I do not believe in the Rule of Three. However, I do think that if someone is in a place where they’re putting all their time and energy into hexing someone else, especially over petty things, they’re likely in an icky state of mind. Their hair might start to fall out, but probably from the self-inflicted stress of being an asshole.

What if someone hexes me?

Well, this is what protection spells are for, honey. Don’t worry; there’s a chapter on that. Also, see above—they’ll probably be worse off than you are.

How do I cast a circle?

Casting a circle is something that witches do to create a protected area while performing magical work. There are many ways to do this. To cast a circle by calling upon the elements, see the spell for Navigate Consent & Cannabis in the Stoned Spells for Love & Sex chapter. But you don’t need to hold an entire ritual before each spell. We’re weed witches: we can take the chill approach. You can also use sage, incense, or, as any weed witch loves, cannabis smoke to clear a space. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with sprinkling a circle of salt.

You can simply close the circle when you’re finished. A reversal of the first step often does this. So announce to the universe that you’re done and thank the gods and goddesses for their protection. Then, call upon the elements in the opposite direction, clean up your salt, or dance around with sage or smoke once again just for the hex of it.

Can I identify with a religion and still be a witch?

Absolutely! Don’t listen to any Evangelical Satanic Panic; you can have fun with weed and witchcraft and maintain your religious or cultural identity. Have you ever seen a Catholic ritual? They get dressed up and drink the blood of their God, for Christ’s sake. That puts my pink love candle infused with rose quartz to shame.

What’s up with the devil?

You may hear about Satanism during your witchcraft journey, so I’d like to take this moment to clear some things up. In Christianity, the devil is evil, the worst of the worst, and a figure of fear and ruin. He’s often depicted as Lucifer, the fallen angel, who couldn’t hang with Christ so decided to rule over hell. But, for most modern-day witches, Satan represents freedom and individuality. The devil isn’t scary; he’s an individualist and wants nothing to do with the church or conformity. As a result, Lucifer, the devil, Satan—or whatever formidable name you give him—can be a source of inspiration when you’re looking to go your own way.

To be fair, there are some Satanists who took the whole “I am my own god” thing into some sketchy, sexist, and even racist territory, but you don’t have to be like them. I don’t think even Satan approves of that shit.

Wicked High Astrology

Understanding your sun sign is like understanding the differences between indicas, sativas, and hybrids. It offers a basic but helpful and—most importantly—fun way to understand yourself and others. No, there are no scientific studies that prove Geminis are epic heartbreakers, but anyone—including the Twins themselves—who has dated one will absolutely back that up. Life, especially a life that already involves the alchemy of cannabis, is just more fun when you believe in magic.

Sun signs and reading horoscopes are a great way to integrate astrology into your practice. But for a comprehensive understanding, get your entire birth chart done. (You can easily do this online as long as you know your birth time and location.) It’s like only knowing that Northern Lights weed is an indica versus obtaining a detailed strain breakdown on the specific Northern Lights you bought complete with terpene and cannabinoid profiles.

Sun signs are divided into the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) are the bold ballbusters of the group. While they’re likely most comparable to a high-octane sativa or massive dab hit, they should probably work on integrating more calming cannabis into their routine. This way, they can burn like a star rather than burning bridges.

Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) tend to be more grounded, like an earthy indica. But because they’re also hard workers, they don’t want anything that will throw them into a long-term couchlock. So when choosing the best way to consume cannabis, one must think beyond immediate gratification and look for what’s most elevating in mind and spirit.

Meanwhile, the air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) can be flaky, so they can benefit from using cannabis for focus. Air signs, Aquarius in particular, act as the humanitarians of the zodiac and will benefit from getting involved in social equity work in the cannabis industry. Geminis chat enough as it is, so make sure they remember to puff, puff, and pass! And flirty Libras will enjoy the focus derived from a light buzz to connect with others.

And as for those passionate water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)? Well, they can benefit from opting for calming strains to help them navigate the blessing and curse that causes them to feel emotions so profoundly.

The modality of a sign refers to its position in the season where it exists. Each of the four elements manifests in each of the three modalities: cardinal (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn), fixed (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius), and mutable (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces).

Cardinal signs each kick off a season—they like to go first. So catch these signs on top of the latest cannabis technology and bogarting the joint at parties. Fixed signs fully embody their modality, and they don’t care much for change—odds are that these signs have one favorite strain of cannabis and haven’t changed their mind in over a decade. And as for mutable signs? They complete the season, understand that change is inevitable, and will likely take whatever they can get.

Your sun sign is an enjoyable way to help you understand yourself, others, and your relationship with cannabis, but remember, you are unique and there is only one version of you. Northern Lights is a famous indica, but its buds you encounter across the world will vary greatly depending on where they are grown, how much sunlight they get, the soil used, and a wide variety of other factors. Likewise, your life experiences, relationships, upbringing, rebellions, and every moment that leads you here make you different than the one-twelfth of the world who share your sign. So learn what your sign means and what your planetary ruler and corresponding tarot card are, but understand that your journey with cannabis is unique and personal to only you.

That being said, it’s time to spill the astro-tea when it comes to weed.

ARIES

DATES: March 21–April 19

ELEMENT: Fire

MODALITY: Cardinal

SYMBOL: The Ram

PLANETARY RULER: Mars

TAROT CARD: The Emperor

WHAT BODY PART DOES IT RULE? The head

STRAIN TO TRY: Girl Scout Cookies

MOST LIKELY TO: Take a massive dab and insist that the night turn into karaoke

Cosmic Cannabis Consumption Tips

As the first sign of the zodiac and ruled by Mars, the god of war, these fire signs like to get what they want. While Aries tend to gravitate toward intense experiences, such as massive bong rips, dabs, and strong sativas, they can benefit from mellowing out. Aries rules the head and, despite their intimidating demeanor, can be prone to anxiety—so this sign wants to avoid paranoia when getting stoned.

Try opting for an indica-dominant hybrid such as Girl Scout Cookies if you’re an Aries. Because Aries loves to try new things, these rams may enjoy rolling spliffs with an herbal blend such as rose petals, lavender, or chamomile.

TAURUS

DATES: April 20–May 20

ELEMENT: Earth

MODALITY: Fixed

SYMBOL: The Bull

PLANETARY RULER: Venus

TAROT CARD: The Hierophant

WHAT BODY PART DOES IT RULE? The neck and shoulders

STRAIN TO TRY: California Orange

MOST LIKELY TO: Already be high as hell on the couch, enjoying an epic cheese plate

Cosmic Cannabis Consumption Tips

Taurus is ruled by Venus, the luxurious and sensual planet that encompasses love, abundance, and beauty. This grounded earth sign has a reputation for loving weed, but because they can already be a bit lazy, Taurus wants to avoid sinking into a permanent couchlock with heavy edibles. Take a break from indicas for a more uplifting hybrid, like the old-school California Orange.

If you’re a Taurus looking for a new way to integrate cannabis into your life while maintaining sensuality, try a topical. Because Taurus rules the neck and shoulders, they are prone to discomfort in these areas. Have your lover give you a massage with anti-inflammatory cannabis cream. (Yes, it can be complete with a happy ending.)

GEMINI

DATES: May 21–June 20

ELEMENT: Air

MODALITY: Mutable

SYMBOL: The Twins

PLANETARY RULER: Mercury

TAROT CARD: The Lovers

WHAT BODY PART DOES IT RULE? Throat, lungs, breath

STRAIN TO TRY: Grandaddy Purp

MOST LIKELY TO: Mainly use cannabis during an MDMA comedown

Cosmic Cannabis Consumption Tips

Gemini is represented by the twins, and their corresponding tarot card is the Lovers. While this doesn’t mean that Gemini is apt to settle down quickly—in fact, these chatty heartbreakers tend to play the field—they thrive in group settings. The plant is all about community; cannabis is meant to be shared.

So if you’re a Gemini, roll several joints and bring them to your next party, making sure to share with friends and lovers. Don’t forget the puff-puff-pass rule. Because chatty messenger Mercury rules Gemini, you can be prone to overthinking and paranoia, so it’s best to avoid strong sativas with a high THC content. Instead, try a euphoric indica such as Grandaddy Purp—and yes, Gemini, sex parties count as social settings.

CANCER

DATES: June 21–July 22

ELEMENT: Water

MODALITY: Cardinal

SYMBOL: The Crab

PLANETARY RULER: The moon

TAROT CARD: The Chariot

WHAT BODY PART DOES IT RULE? The chest, including the torso and breasts

STRAIN TO TRY: Orangeade

MOST LIKELY TO: Get high on the beach like fellow Cancer Lana Del Rey

Cosmic Cannabis Consumption Tips

Cancers tend to present themselves as the sweet homebodies of the zodiac, but don’t forget, these crabs have pinchers. They’re horny little beasts who will cook up an infused three-course meal for their chosen family, but they’re also interested in what goes down after dinner. Cancers will benefit from trying the pleasure- and intimacy–boosting effects of cannabis for sex, as it will help them come out of their shell.

So if this is your sign, open your mind to trying infused pleasure oils, suppositories, or simply sharing a joint with a lover. Because you’re a water sign ruled by the moon, you’re profoundly intuitive and sensitive but can be prone to bouts of sadness. Relieve your worries with a mood-boosting strain such as Orangeade.

LEO

DATES: July 23–August 22

ELEMENT: Fire

MODALITY: Fixed

SYMBOL: The Lion

PLANETARY RULER: The Sun

TAROT CARD: Strength

WHAT BODY PART DOES IT RULE?

Genre:

Weed Witch promises to be a fascinating read for anyone interested in witchcraft, cannabis, or both. The book offers a unique perspective on how these two practices can work together to help individuals unlock their full potential and live their best lives.—Benzinga

On Sale: Apr 4, 2023
Page Count: 224 pages
Publisher: Running Press
ISBN-13: 9780762482092

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WHAT’S INSIDE

Sophie Saint Thomas

About the Author

Sophie Saint Thomas is a writer and practicing witch based in New York City and originally from the US Virgin Islands. She is the author of books including Weed Witch, Finding Your Higher Self, Sex Witch, and Glamour Witch. She has been published in GQ, Playboy, VICE, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Allure, Glamour, Marie Claire, and more.

Learn more about this author