Whoopi Goldberg Talks Cannabis: ‘Medicine Doesn't Have To Be Horrifying Or Unreasonably Priced’
Whoopi Goldberg Launches Cannabis Brand Emma & Clyde.
“Cannabis is probably the greatest medicine on the planet that everybody can have,” says Whoopi Goldberg as she phones in from her home, her cat comfortably nestled on her lap. The actress, comedian, and entrepreneur speaks passionately about her long-standing relationship with cannabis, reflecting on its dual benefits as both a pain reliever and a source of joy. “For people like me, it was always used to stop the [menstrual] cramps – and the side hustle of that is that it was fun, it made you laugh and stuff,” she adds.
Goldberg is an advocate of medicine that feels good. Why should medicating feel uncomfortable? Why does it have to feel like a hard pill to swallow – literally? “We know that's wrong. And people say, ‘Well, that's just anecdotal.’ But it's not anecdotal. Everybody you talk to would tell you that medicine doesn't have to be horrifying. Especially when it's herbal, when it's growing out of the ground and doesn't need an additive, which means it can stay reasonably priced for people to go pick it up,” she voices.
All In The Family
Goldberg’s relationship with cannabis is deeply personal and family-driven. Her latest venture, Emma & Clyde, encapsulates this connection. “Emma & Clyde is named after my family because my mother used cannabis for medicinal purposes. And my brother liked the recreational. They are two people that represent weed as it stands in the real world,” she explains. This brand, under the WhoopFam umbrella, aims to provide high-quality products for both medicinal and recreational users.
The line will launch on July 20th in select stores, with a state-wide release planned for a later date, and will feature edibles, pre-rolls, flower and accessories.
Her journey with the plant began long before it became a business venture. “I'm not sure when everybody in my family got on board. I didn't realize that my mother had been utilizing it for herself until after she passed away,” Goldberg reveals, adding a poignant layer to her advocacy.
She also reflects on her early experiences with cannabis, recounting how she and her brother would smoke in the days when the plant was still taboo. “My brother and I used to smoke in the days when it was just something that you could do under the tree in the backyard when nobody could see you. And I know that he would love this idea that you can go and get what you need medicinally. You can go and get what you need recreationally,” she recounts. This early exposure laid the groundwork for her later advocacy and business ventures, which are not just focused on creating products but also on challenging societal norms and pushing for broader acceptance and legalization of cannabis.
“Medicine should be in the hands of people,” she asserts. Her mission is clear: to demystify cannabis and make it a readily available option for those who need it.
Keeping things within her close circle of friends and family, Goldberg has once again decided to partner with Maya Elisabeth, co-creator of the original Whoopi & Maya brand. The choice was driven by the exceptional quality of their initial collaboration. “We made a great product. Whoopi & Maya was great. We were out there first and before many, many other people. So far, I haven’t found anything as good as what we created back then,” she says.
Stop The Pain
Goldberg’s defense of medicinal cannabis use is deeply personal, particularly for managing menstrual pain. “My premier reason for utilizing cannabis always was for making sure I could stop the pain,” she shares, drawing from her own experience with debilitating cramps.
Her close friends also played a major role, as several of them were cancer patients medicating with cannabis. “We always made sure in our circle that we had enough for everyone, for whatever reason it was. And, you know, you used to be able to go buy a dime bag this big [spreads her arms] for $10, and you’d take out all the stems and seeds, and you would try to plant the seeds hoping something would grow… But you always knew it wouldn't.”
As Goldberg goes on to reflect on the road traveled, from the $10 bag days to the current landscape of legality and sophisticated cannabis products, her tone is one of fascination. “For me, it is an honor because I think it's probably the greatest medicine on the planet,” she repeats. “You don't have to mix it with things you can't pronounce. It is what it is: it is clean, it is strong, and you can regulate how much strength you need depending on what you're doing with the plant.”
Addressing the parallels between the taboos surrounding women’s health issues and the stigma associated with cannabis use, Goldberg responds emphatically that the stigma is dissipating. “They're not taboo anymore because we all know women get a period. We know. So you can either make it hard, which they've done in terms of creating something that helps women... But this [cannabis] we know works,” she asserts.
She acknowledges that while cannabis may not be for everyone, it offers a great alternative for those it does help. “Everybody can't do it. Everybody doesn't do it. But for those who can, this is a great thing. Some people want to take a Midol or they want to take any of the other things that are out there. And, you know, maybe it works for them. It didn't work for me. Cannabis works for me,” she explains.
Consequently, Goldberg recommends people explore the various benefits of cannabis. “I encourage people who are looking for something that gets rid of pain, that makes you less anxious. There are all kinds of things that this particular plant can do, and I suggest people look into all those things and know that what makes it affordable is that it's grown out of the ground by regular, normal people, and you can't lace it with anything. You can't mix it with anything because it doesn't take it; it doesn't want to be mixed with anything. Either roll it up or crush it up. Put it in some hot water, make a tea, whatever you want to do, but try it and see if it works for you. For me, it removes a lot of pain issues.”
Goldberg’s perspective resonates with the experiences of other celebrities who advocate for cannabis use in managing women’s health issues. In a recent Forbes interview, Tiffany Haddish shared her struggles with endometriosis and how cannabis has been a vital tool for coping with chronic pain. Haddish's candid revelations echo Goldberg's sentiments about the necessity of considering cannabis as an effective tool to manage women’s health issues.
Scientific studies support Goldberg’s claims about the efficacy of cannabis in treating menstrual pain. Research published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada found that cannabis significantly reduced pain and improved sleep and nausea for women suffering from endometriosis. Another study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine revealed that cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system to alleviate symptoms, offering a promising alternative to traditional pain medications.
In the United States, the menstrual cramp treatment market is substantial, with millions of women seeking relief from pain each year. The global market for menstrual pain treatments was valued at almost $6 billion in 2022, and it continues to grow as more women seek effective and natural remedies. Goldberg’s commitment to this cause is not only personal but also addresses a significant and often overlooked market need.
‘We Never Left’
In discussing the restructuring of her business and the creation of WhoopFam, Goldberg highlights a family-oriented approach. “We've not actually left the cannabis game, but we've had to sort of restructure things. And once we figured out that that's what we wanted to do, we then went ahead and we approached Maya and went also and created the new products, which is that Emma & Clyde, which are named after my mother and brother and, created a family umbrella which is called the WhoopFam. So we all put different things under our umbrella; other people's products... We'll take ideas from people and create stuff, simultaneously with them. So it's really nice,” she explains.
The actress and businesswoman also addresses the need for supportive laws and banking reforms to help entrepreneurs, especially people of color, succeed in the cannabis industry. “Once we're able to get people to stop talking about it negatively… There's a lot of stuff that's bad and we shouldn't be doing it, but it's perfectly legal out there. This [cannabis], I want to make sure it gets away from being classified incorrectly so that all the people they say they want to help, mostly black and brown people, the ones who went to jail, can have a shot in this business.”
She continues, "And now we are taking them out of jail and we want to give them the licenses. Well, not only do you have to give them the licenses, but you have to change the banking laws so they can have a shot at making it. Because, right now, it's impossible."
Goldberg emphasizes the importance of realistic support. "I know that people have the best ideas in mind at heart. But let's be realistic: If you're going to do that, you have to help people succeed, not put more things in their way. And this banking thing is a problem,” she ends.
As she continues to champion cannabis and its myriad benefits, Goldberg’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the plant’s potential to heal, bring joy, and drive social change. Stay tuned for more updates on Emma & Clyde.
