Living with a chronic illness often means that traditional social gatherings and cannabis events feel out of reach, especially when a “flare” keeps you stuck on the couch or in bed. The Flare Friendly Smoke Sesh, taking place from April 2nd to April 4th, 2026, was created specifically to bridge that gap. This three-day content experience is designed to be a safe haven for those who often feel as though they are missing community. It’s more than just a gathering; it’s a mission to ensure that no matter how sick or broken you might feel, you have a seat at the table—whether that’s in person or from your own living room.
Wellness and Connection from the Comfort of Home
This Virtual Stoner Slumber Party event focuses on the intersection of cannabis as medicine and the power of creative self-expression. Because the entire experience is being filmed for YouTube, participants can engage in a low-pressure environment that honors their physical limits. The schedule is packed with activities designed to soothe the soul and spark connection, including Campfire Chats, Games & Crafts, and Hot Tub Hangs. We’re also diving into the culinary side of wellness with Elevated Munchies & Mocktails, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy regardless of their dietary needs or preferences.
Cannabis for the Mind and Body
One of the major highlights of the weekend is the Live Yoga session with @stonedyogapdx, happening on Friday, April 3rd, at 5:30 PM PST. This session is tailored specifically for the chronic illness community, focusing on gentle movement and mindful breathing that meets you exactly where your body is that day. It is an opportunity to reclaim a sense of wellness without the pressure of a high-intensity workout. If you want to participate in this specific portion of the event, be sure to head over to TikTok to sign up and secure your spot in the virtual studio.
This inaugural event is just the beginning of a larger movement to make the cannabis space truly safe, accessible, and inclusive for everyone.
Meg, the founder and organizer of the Flare Friendly Smoke Sesh shared that they are incredibly grateful to our sponsors—including Pink’s Products, Green Elevator Cannabis, DaySavers, Twisted Tees & Totes, Pot Girl Stuff, and Stoned Yoga PDX for helping us launch this vision. She shared this about her journey with chronic illness and cannabis:
My name is Meg Gonzales, and I’m a content creator and the founder of Twisted Tees and Totes, a lifestyle brand centered around comfort, humor, and community. What started as a creative outlet has grown into something much more meaningful for me – a way to create connections and build community.
Before my health declined, I worked for years as an Accounts Receivables Manager and was always a very independent person but chronic illness eventually changed my ability to work a traditional job, which forced me to rethink my path and find a different way to build something meaningful.
And even though my diagnoses didn’t come until adulthood, chronic illness has been part of my life since I was young. My health struggles started at 13 with IBS, then severe endometriosis in my mid-20s, and in my early 30s I developed fibromyalgia and POTS. Each stage changed what my body could handle, and for a long time I lived with symptoms without fully understanding why I felt the way I did. Living with invisible illnesses can be incredibly isolating, because from the outside I often look fine, even when my body is struggling the most.
Shortly after 21, Cannabis became a part of my healing and pain management journey. Over time, I became more interested in learning about the science and knowledge behind cannabis and how it can support people living with chronic illness. The more I’ve learned, the more passionate I’ve become about helping break the stigma surrounding cannabis, particularly for people who rely on it as a tool for managing chronic pain and other symptoms outside of traditional medications.
So the inspiration for the Flare Friendly Event came from my own experience navigating chronic illness. Many traditional events are not designed with chronically ill or disabled individuals in mind and can be physically demanding, overstimulating, or inaccessible. I wanted to create a space that intentionally centers accessibility, comfort, and understanding.
The Flare Friendly Event is designed to be a wellness-focused community gathering for people living with chronic illness. It will include flare-friendly yoga designed to be gentle and accessible, guest speakers sharing knowledge around wellness and cannabis, and opportunities for connection and conversation within a supportive environment. The goal is to create a space where people can participate at their own pace, rest when they need to, and feel comfortable showing up exactly as they are.
Lastly, part of my motivation for creating this event also comes from the misunderstandings that often surround invisible illness and cannabis use. While not everyone in my life has understood my health journey, my husband has supported me through every stage and continues to stand by me as I work to create this community.
My hope is that this event becomes the beginning of something much bigger. I would love to continue creating flare-friendly spaces and conversations -both online and in person where people living with chronic illness can connect, share resources, and feel less alone.
I hope you will join me!
Meg
By joining us this year, you aren’t just attending a slumber party; you are helping us build the foundation for an even bigger and better experience next year. Let’s come together to support one another, share our stories, and celebrate the healing power of community!
