Despite coming under threat from Californian authorities, two weed-growing nuns known as the ‘Sisters of the Valley’, continued to cultivate marijuana, which they use to make medicinal salves, tinctures and oils, at their abbey in Merced, Sunday.
Sister Kate and Sister Darcy, who began their business last year, have developed their own formula of topical cream containing drops containing Cannabidiol (CBD), which is a non-psychoactive ingredient unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The salve was concocted to fight arthritis as well as muscle and joint pain, however it also reportedly relieves other pains such as toothache, migraines and can even help with sleeping problems.
Asked about their religious beliefs, Sister Kate denied belonging to any creed and explained that they have their own ‘holy trinity’. She went on to say that their products are “honouring Mother Earth, honouring the people in two ways: making medicines for them and healing them, but the third thing is our progressive activism.”
The self-proclaimed nuns ship their products all over the globe and earn a profit of around $10,000 (€8,800) a week. The salve sells from $10 (€8,8) to $95 (€83).