Hallo, ik ben Inke Gootjes, ik ben een toegewijde en gemotiveerde professional met een sterke achtergrond in strategische verkoop, nieuwe bedrijfsontwikkeling, klantacquisitie en organisatorisch leiderschap. Beschikken over meer dan 6 jaar succesvolle ervaring met het adviseren over veelzijdige projecten, het plannen en implementeren van effectieve promotiecampagnes en het faciliteren van winstgevende relaties met een breed scala aan klanten en belangrijke zakenpartners.
Here was my pitch. I included it here because the framework for this intriguing piece is in the pitch, a beautifully written one, I must add. Thank you, my friend, for sending this my way, appreciated deeply.
Hi Warren – Alibi Cannabis is about to announce its first line of premium pre-rolls curated for Oregon’s discerning cannabis consumer.
Made with 100% handcrafted flower, Alibi’s new Mariposa pre-rolls celebrate empowered, fierce females with the sexy NFT, Mariposa Takes Flight, on the packaging. (She is on their homepage!)
Alibi Cannabis is a woman-owned craft cannabis farm founded in 2017 by Marianne Cursetjee.
With an MBA and a high-powered tech career, Marianne did not expect to become a cannabis entrepreneur. Then she got cancer. Her career changed when a cannabis product eliminated the need for over ten drugs to combat side effects from chemo prescriptions. Marianne bought property in Oregon, started a cannabis farm, and became a cannabis expert. Alibi has earned recognition for growing some of the best flower in Oregon.
Can I interest you in speaking with Marianne about Alibi, the new pre-rolls, and her journey?
*YES*
Photo courtesy of Marianne Cursetjee
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about your inspiration for the brand? Where did the name come from? Is this your first cannabis venture?
Marianne Cursetjee, MBA, CEO and Cofounder of Alibi Cannabis: At Alibi, we imagine a beautiful place where you can be the best version of you. The joy that comes from cannabis enhances our relationships, our bodies, and our spirits. The word “Alibi” is simple, but the idea can be whatever you dream. We hope people take a moment, enjoy the smoke, and look for the beauty around them.
We bought the land for our cannabis farm when I was just finishing up treatment for breast cancer. I had a vision of building a fabulous weed farm. Now, here we are seven years later, thriving in a tough market and looking forward to continued growth. The business has grown from an idea to a commercial-scale craft farm with a compelling story and beautiful imagery.
WB: Who is your mentor? When did you discover cannabis? How old were you? What are your six and twelve-month goals?
MC: I was raised in a very conservative Christian environment, so cannabis was not part of the culture. I was 45 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Going through chemotherapy and radiation, managing side effects is a whole cascade of pharmaceuticals. A friend gave me some cannabis and said that it might help with nausea and pain. It was amazing! I was able to eliminate a whole host of pharmaceuticals and replace them with just cannabis. My dad is currently battling brain cancer, and I’m giving him cannabis to help with that. He tells me his head is all whirly, and some nice 1:1 chocolates make him feel better. Love that the industry is now better able to support those in medical need and also those who just love how cannabis makes them feel.
Our goals for the business are continued growth, more unique cultivars, and delivering amazing quality cannabis products. Having grown in Oregon since 2017, we’ve learned that Oregonians are weed connoisseurs constantly looking for new and unique products and flavors.
Our signature branding, “Mariposa Takes Flight,” is base
Photo courtesy of Marianne Cursetjee
d on an NFT we purchased. Figuring out how to utilize blockchain, NFT’s and the metaverse in cannabis is an exciting new frontier.
We just launched Mariposa pre-rolls to celebrate empowered, edgy females with the sexy NFT on the packaging. Made with 100% handcrafted indoor flower, the pre-rolls have received rave reviews. We are in discussions to launch this brand into other states and plan to introduce a line of gummies soon in Oregon. I’m pleased that we have found some fabulous companies to collaborate with. Also, this year, we are launching a merch shop featuring Mariposa. Look for amazing merchandise over the coming few months at Alibi.shop
WB: What kind of obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing these obstacles?
MC: We face the challenges common to all cannabis companies, such as restrictions on marketing and advertising, limited tax deductions, and the high cost of regulatory compliance. The challenges specific to us are a flourishing unregulated market and an oversupply of product in the regulated market. It has been said that if you can survive Oregon, you can survive anywhere!
We are known for our top-shelf handcrafted flower. We will continue with new genetics and improved quality while also looking at more products and new states. There are so many opportunities available across the US; finding the right partners is key to long-term success.
WB: What is your favorite food to savor when you have smoked Alibi minis? Do you have a favorite restaurant? What is the name? Where? Indoor or outdoor-grown cannabis? Why?
MC: Portland is such a food haven! So many good things to eat! If I’m trolling for munchies at home, I love Bordeaux Cherry Balsamic vinegar on vanilla ice cream. Sweet and sour, oh my! Seriously, it’s totally the bomb! Our Lava Cake cultivar is really a heavy munchie strain, so stock up before you toke. For restaurants, I love Thai and Indian, but my favorite restaurant in Portland is a Lebanese restaurant called Nicholas. Their baba ghanoush, cauliflower, caramelized onions, yum! Spicy food really goes well with our GMO Glue cultivar — it’s a totally old-school hitter with garlic notes.
For cannabis, I like the consistency and freshness of indoor flower. I’m a little bit spoiled since we grow such amazing weed at our farm. I like knowing that what I’m smoking is fresh and clean. When you buy your bud at dispensaries, look at the harvest date. I’m surprised how much old stuff is on the shelf. Look for something harvested within the last 2 or 3 months. Older than that, and it just isn’t quite as nice. Get to know the farms and their growing practices and ethics.
Photos courtesy of Marianne Cursetjee
WB: What is your passion?
MC: So many things! I love training Krav Maga. I started training when I was going through chemotherapy. It’s great physical exercise, and the “never give up” mentality is huge. Feeling and being strong physically is wonderful. Of course, Covid took a toll on my training, but I’m back in the gym now and kicking ass! I also love scuba diving. Diving is an activity my daughter and I do together. We just got back from diving in Mexico. The world under the sea is so amazing! We have seen strange creatures in the water, but my favorite is the mantis shrimp. It’s a bizarre creature with some freaky traits. You can read more about this underwater nightmare at https://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp.
What brings me real joy is knowing that my efforts at work and in the community are improving lives. Alibi is founded on the philosophy of doing the right thing. We treat our customers, vendors, and employees right.
The last couple of years have been really rough, and it’s important to find the little things that can change the day from gloomy to bright. This is the essence of Alibi’s Mariposa line — find the beauty, take a moment, appreciate life. What’s your Alibi?
WB: I love your flowers, as they are smiles in every pull. The GMO Glue is true to the name with aromatics of freshly raked loam, orange oil, dried morel mushrooms, and shavings of bitter chocolate. The high comes into view, right in front of my forehead, offering pain relief and optimism; a talkative conversation ensues into deeply relaxing metaphors for sleep and renewal. Lucky is the person who will enjoy such evocative experiences. Oregon offers that in their wines and their cannabis. The taste of the place, the terroir- it sets Oregon into a realm of conscious cannabis.
April 24th, 2022, San Luis Obispo, CA – MACE Media Group, an event giant known for its educational series & B2B driven expos, announces, The Delta 8 + Conversions Expo in Partnership with The CBD Expo and Psychedelic Medicine Conference TOUR: Charlotte, North Carolina. This three-day event will be taking place on June 23rd – 25th at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa.
“This will be our first event in North Carolina, we’re excited to offer our buyer club and companies the opportunity to expand their network to the east coast” Said Graciela Moreno, COO.
The Delta 8 + Conversions Expo in Partnership with The CBD Expo, happening from June 23rd – 24th, will insist of an exhibit floor with over 90 exhibitors, showcasing their latest Delta 8 THC, Hemp-Derived Delta 9 THC, HHC, THC-O and CBD products. In the heart of the exhibit floor, MACE Media Group will introduce its new Keynote Theater. A stage dedicated to key topic presentations in the Hemp, CBD, and Conversions Industries as well as breakthrough research and innovations. Across the hallway from the exhibit hall, panel discussions and workshops will happen continually. Several panel discussions will be focusing on topics many Hemp farmers, growers, and cultivators in the state of North Carolina have become familiar with this year. Those being, the 2014 farm bill, USDA Domestic Hemp Production Program and USDA Hemp Licensing and Rule.
“Our event has become a platform for small businesses in the CBD and Hemp Industry to get their voice heard ” Said, Moreno. “We’ve done it in Texas after the regulations of Delta 8 pondered and now we’re heading to North Carolina with the same energy and dedication to ensure that happens there”, Moreno stated.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture recently handed regulation power of the Hemp Industry in the state to the USDA. Any company interested in harvesting, growing, or cultivating hemp will now have to hold a USDA-issued hemp license to continue to lawfully operate. This has created chaos in the state’s Hemp Industry as companies race to ensure that they meet the June 30th deadline.
The Psychedelic Medicine Conference, happening from June 24th – 25th, will solely focus on education. Its first day will consist of hourly panel discussions, from 12p – 5p, covering key topics of interest in the Psychedelic space. It’s second day, will host two workshop courses on the growing of mushrooms presented by Chris Wasnyck, also known as Professor Mushroom. The second workshop course will be on The Extraction of Mushrooms, presented by world renowned, Dr. John MacKay.
To purchase tickets or learn more about the industry’s most professional trade show experience, go to https://www.cbdexpo.net/ or email info@macemediagroup.com
About MACE Media Group
MACE Media Group produces many trade events including The Delta 8 Expo in Partnership with the Original CBD Expo, The Delta 9 Expo, Psychedelic Science Conference, and Extraction Expo. MACE Media Group is also the largest publisher in the cannabinoid space. Its premiere title, Terpenes and Testing Magazine, was the first industry trade publication devoted to cannabis science. Its sister publications, CBD Health & Wellness Magazine, and Extraction Magazine revolve around the growing cannabinoid industry to provide news on trending applications, medical research, and updates with laws and regulations
About The Delta 8 + Conversions Expo in Partnership with The CBD Expo Tour
The first of its kind to bring the largest Delta 8 & CBD event platform to broadcast products with the community and share knowledge with the industry. The events feature nearly 100 exhibitors each, along with a substantial lineup of speaker presentations and panel discussions from experts in the research, production, globalization, and sale of Delta 8 & CBD products. Remaining 2022 conferences will be in St. Paul, Minnesota, Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada.
The FDA and CBD have had a rocky relationship since day one. The source of their issues has largely been medical claims —some of which are unfounded and/or far-fetched — that CBD products can “prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat or cure various diseases,” which violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).
Herein lies the problem, or one of the problems – saying that something can potentially happen and saying that something will surely or most likely happen are two vastly different things, which the FDA treats as identical. We’ll get to that in a second. CBD companies that make these problematic claims often fall into one of two categories: over-zealous, wide-eyed dreamers who mistake therapeutic potential and their own, personal CBD experience with solid medical facts; and blatant charlatans.
COVID-19 Considering that COVID-19 has unleashed a flood of misinformation on one hand, and a flood of conflicting, nuanced, and ever-developing information on the other, CBD companies were bound to chime in on the free-for-all conversation and offer their solutions.
Naturally, the FDA wasn’t happy about that and issued warning letters to several companies on March 28. This comes on the heels of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Operation CBDeceit, which is the regulatory body’s most sweeping crackdown on CBD yet. It’s worth noting that the FDA is concerned with unfounded claims, whereas the FTC is after false advertising. The FDA’s latest batch of warning letters went to:
The warning letters cite the various studies, referenced by the CBD companies in support of their medicinal COVID-related claims, concluding that “it is unlawful under the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 41 et seq., to advertise that a product can prevent, treat, or cure human disease unless you possess competent and reliable scientific evidence, including, when appropriate, well-controlled human clinical studies, substantiating that the claims are true at the time they are made. For COVID-19, no such study is currently known to exist for the products identified above.”
FDA Mistaking Theories for Claims
To play Devil’s advocate, some of the cited studies speak in theoretical terms, using words like “can” and “could.” Moreover, while these studies do bridge CBD and COVID-19, at least they do so via CBD properties that do have some scientific backing, like CBD alleviating cytokine storms and thus inflammation, which is a well-known fuel of the virus.
In other words, some of these problematic claims aren’t really claims but theories – other researchers’ referenced theories at that – and moreover, they are not beyond the realm of possibility.
Above everything else, this case underscores the need for the clearer and uniform CBD regulations, which have now been long overdue – something that is not the fault of CBD companies, but of the bodies governing them.
When it comes to cannabidiol (CBD) and children, we may be somewhat familiar with the cannabinoid being used to treat seizures. But CBD may also have a place in other childhood disorders, including autism.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that is characterized by reduced communicative abilities, issues with social skills, and repetitive behaviors. Autistic children behave differently than others, to varying degrees. While some children with autism may be able to carry on a conversation with little issue, others may be entirely nonverbal. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 1 in 44 children in the US are affected by autism. The disease seems to impact boys more than girls, with 1 in 27 boys affected, compared to 1 in 116 girls.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms Targeted by CBD
Children with autism often experience comorbid symptoms, including hyperactivity, aggressiveness, anxiety, self-injury, and sleep disorders. Conventional pharmaceutical medications may be used to treat these symptoms, such as antipsychotics, stimulants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
However, CBD may also have its place in the treatment of such comorbid symptoms. Studies are being conducted on CBD consumption for autism. CBD has been shown to have antipsychotic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and antiemetic properties, which may be useful in targeting certain symptoms associated with autism.
Studies Show CBD may Help Alleviate Symptoms Associated With ASD
One study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology looked at the effects of CBD oil in children with ASD. After just over two months hyperactivity symptoms, self-injury, and sleep problems appeared to have been somewhat alleviated. Among the children with hyperactivity symptoms 68.4 percent showed improvement while 67.6 percent of study participants who self harmed experienced improvement in that area. Additionally, among the children reporting sleep issues, 71.4 percent reported improved slumber.
Interestingly, CBD did not seem to have a significant effect on anxiety. However, overall, the researchers found a 74.5 percent overall improvement rate in ASD comorbidity symptoms. [1]
What Parents Should Know About CBD and Autism for Their Children
While some studies have been done on CBD and its effects on autism in children, more research is required. Furthermore, parents should keep certain considerations in mind before administering CBD oil to their children.
For starters, it’s important to know the exact concentration of CBD in the oil, as they may differ from one product to another. Parents should also be on the lookout for any other compound in the oil that may have a detrimental effect on their child, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has mind-altering effects. Since CBD oil products are not lab tested across the board, there could be THC and other unknown ingredients in the product. CBD could also interact with certain medications, and some side effects — such as drowsiness, among others — are possible.
The 18th annual Emerald Cup competition (www.theemeraldcup.com) is currently underway, with 90+ expert judges from all corners of California spending weeks sampling and analyzing nearly 1000 entries spanning over 50 different cannabis consumption and associated categories.
For the past 13 years, the reputation for authenticity and fairness that the Emerald Cup has earned has been strengthened by a working partnership with Santa Cruz-based SC Labs (www.sclabs.com), itself a stalwart of trust in California’s cannabis culture and industry, to provide Certificates of Analysis verifying both the potency and the purity of products entered into the competition.
SC Labs has been testing and gathering data on terpenes for more than a decade, and in 2021 licensed Napro Research LLC’s proprietary data visualization tool, PhytoFacts®.
This technology provides a visual profile of the chemical makeup for a specific cultivar and provides much-needed standardization for defining and determining terpenes in a language that anyone from consumers to budtenders, to contest judges, to cultivators themselves can find familiar and useful.
“Our partnership with Emerald Cup is about much more than just giving out awards,” according to Jeff Gray, CEO of SC Labs. “We’ve been working together each year to help move the industry forward in how we define quality cannabis and all the nuances of the plant; thanks to the high visibility of these awards and the new classifications, brands are starting to take notice of the role terpenes play in marketing to consumers.”
With a common goal to propagate a greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity and range of cannabis chemistry and put everyone on a level playing field, including small farms, this collaborative new data-driven approach by the Emerald Cup and SC Labs ensures that judges are rating similar terpene profiles against each other and eliminates any potential of subjectivity or flavor bias.
Through combined terpene testing and classification, the Emerald Cup and SC Labs hope to lead the conversation away from ‘indica vs. sativa’, and THC potency and hope that cultivators, brands, and consumers will begin cataloging, conversing, and marketing based on a cultivar’s unique aromas, flavors, and effects as defined by its terpene profile.
“We’re especially excited to see this year’s competition embrace the process of sorting entries via flavors and aromas that will be more meaningful to consumers,” said Alec Dixon, co-founder of SC Labs. “The fact that there are more than 1000 entries this year tells us that brands and consumers are ready to embrace this new approach and sort products into categories that make more sense and that buyers are familiar with.”
This year’s Emerald Cup Judges convened on March 19th, 2022, at the picturesque Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California, to receive the generous amount of anonymous samples associated with their assigned category, as well as to receive in-person instruction from Alec Dixon of SC Labs on how to properly implement the Emerald Cup Cannabis Classification System based on PhytoFacts® and powered by SC Labs into their own personal analytical processes.
“I’ve been telling people for years that the highest THC flower entry has never won the Emerald Cup. Our judges are looking for a cultivar that expresses a unique cannabinoid and terpene profile,” says Emerald Cup Founder Tim Blake. “When SC Labs first showed up at the Emerald Cup twelve years ago, most farmers wondered what they were there for, other than to get THC numbers. Through testing and education, we’ve gone from a 65 percent failure rate for concentrates to under 5. If the rigorous testing cannabis has to undergo was applied to other agriculture in California, our whole food supply would be cleaned up within years”.
Judges then have two weeks to assess and personally rank the dozens of samples from their category before gathering once more, this time on April 1-2, at Yokayo Ranch in Ukiah, California, to compare notes and have one final sampling session to determine which entries will be unveiled as the best of California cannabis.
The iconic Emerald Cup Awards will take place on May 14th, 2022, at the historic Ricardo Montalbán Theatre (www.themontalban.com) in Hollywood, California. The 2022 competition judges panel includes a diverse cast of leading experts, journalists, scientists, activists, celebrities, and cannabis aficionados who will help the Emerald Cup shape tastes in California and beyond for years to come. A list of all judges is available at www.theemeraldcup.com/2022-judges.
Media seeking to connect with Emerald Cup, The Emerald Cup 2022 Award Show, or to speak with founder Tim Blake regarding this announcement, please reach out to Kenneth Loo, Chapter 2 at ken@chapter2agency.com.
Those looking to connect with SC LABS, please reach out to Beth Graham, Kip Morrison, beth@kipmorrison.com.
Emerald Cup (https://www.themeraldcup.com) is now the world’s premier virtual cannabis destination and purveyor of the plant’s most iconic live events. While advancing the concept of sustainable, sun-grown farming, the 17-year-old organization’s reputation is firmly solidified as the largest, most-respected cannabis competition in the world. As a group, Emerald Cup prides itself in bringing together the leading experts in the cannabis industry to educate and inspire our fellow farmers, patients, and patrons each year. A community celebration that has grown to become a global movement honoring the year’s finest, organic, sun-grown cannabis harvest as well as the finest cannabis products available. The Cup has stood as a celebration of excellence and over the years has seen founder Tim Blake recognized as a guardian of the industry.
ABOUT SC LABS
Founded in 2010, SC Labs is one of the cannabis industry’s oldest licensed testing labs. SC Labs is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, and is accredited to ISO 17025 in California and by Oregon’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP). SC Labs is a leader in the testing and education of terpenes and the role they play in cultivars’ quality attributes and the consumer experience. SC Labs is part of a network of three cannabis and hemp testing laboratories. Together with Colorado-based Agricor and Botanacor Laboratories, the respected organizations offer science-first cannabis testing in CA, CO, and OR, and best-in-class hemp testing across the U.S. and throughout the world. For more information, visit www.sclabs.com.
As cannabis continues on the road toward normalization, many challenges still present themselves. One is the proper categorization and quantification of cannabis plants at the genetic and chemical levels.
Current Labeling Practices Cannabis professionals and many in the mainstream use the terms sativa and indica when referring to different types of plants. They use these terms in reference to a plant’s certain characteristics, including the plant’s scents and the psychoactive effects it has on consumers.
However, the authors of a recent study argue that these two terms, sativa and indica, are unhelpful in conveying any meaningful information regarding the genetic and chemical profiles of cannabis plants. In fact, with specific reference to cannabinoids, researchers found that there was no distinct difference at a genomic level between the two different types of plants as categorized by current labeling practices. [1]
The Research The research team analyzed nearly 300 THC-containing cannabis plants genetically using a five-point labeling scale. At no time did the terms sativa and indica, as used today, accurately express any real genomic, important distinction. Instead, the researchers found that the use of these terms is currently controlled by the psychoactive effects of a particular plant and the expression of its aroma-creating terpenes, which are governed by the genetic variation of terpene synthase genes and not the genetic variation of cannabinoids. [1]
The Takeaway What this all means is the terms sativa and indica are very limiting in what they actually describe. They do not offer any insight into the genetic differences between cultivars at the cannabinoid level, but instead only apply to a limited subset of characteristics based on terpene aroma and plant psychoactivity. Clarifying and establishing terms and categories of classification are essential for a healthy development of the cannabis market. With more research and dissemination of information, the researchers hope for more precise and comprehensive labeling practices in the future.
“There will not be a magic day when we wake up, and it’s now okay to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it’s simply the way things are.” – Tammy Baldwin
420, they say that it started as a timestamp for a group of high schoolers to meet and smoke. The Waldos, who attended San Rafael High School, would meet up daily at 4:20 pm at the same location on campus to smoke. They chose that time because, by that time, after-school activities were usually done. The name “Waldo” came from them meeting at the wall, to post up and sesh. Before the spark of the joint, they would say to each other, “4:20”.
This month, my tribute to 420 is celebrating LGBTQ-owned businesses in cannabis. Below I highlight four businesses, in/or serving the cannabis industry:
Matte Namer with Cannabeta Realty: the first real estate firm dedicated to serving the cannabis industry in New York and New Jersey.
O’Neil Rudolph with Cannachange: a company that offers incentives to consumers that recycle their cannabis packaging, through Cannachange app, designed to create a more sustainable cannabis industry.
Luke Anderson with Cann: a cannabis-infused beverage company offering social tonics as a fun alternative to alcohol.
Antuanette Gomez with Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: a Canadian medical cannabis company focused on developing therapies targeting sexual health conditions.
In the Q & A below, these LGBTQ business owners in cannabis share their experiences in life as gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/queer/trans people and as business owners in cannabis and the struggles they do/have faced. They talk about the people and things that inspire them, what they dream/dreamed of, their journey into cannabis from other industries, and advice for the aspiring LGBTQ business owner in cannabis.
Celebrating 420 with 4 LGBTQ Business Owners in Cannabis
Photo Credit: the Cannabis Investor
We will jump into cannabis in a sec; I want to get into early life- pre cannabis business owner. Who were you in high school, and did that person change in college? If so, in what ways?
Cannabeta Realty: “I passionately believed I was a renegade and an artist in high school; I used cannabis often and became an advocate for cannabis early in my life. I started learning about my sexual identity in college and the communities that supported folks like me. In hindsight, realizing that I was very different from such an early age really contributed to a sense of being a maverick or renegade that I’ve kept for my entire life.”
Cannachange: “In high school, I was always very concerned with other people’s perception of me. I cared so much about what other people thought and spent most of my time and energy dwelling on that. This constant anxiety led me to be very quiet and introverted, spending most of my time alone at home and trying to do what I felt would make the people around me happy- even if I was neglecting my own needs in the process. After high school, I realized I’m still very much an introvert and honor my need to spend lots of time alone/at home, but it no longer comes from a place of fear of others’ judgments. I’ve changed a lot since high school and now put my own happiness above anyone else’s, which has allowed me to come out of my shell and discover what I truly want out of life, even when it’s unconventional in comparison to my peer’s aspirations. A big part of that self-discovery journey was realizing I was gay and being able to fully embrace that part of myself, rather than suppress it like I tried to during high school.”
Cann: “I was such a fucking nerd In high school. I was so straight edge, didn’t drink, and certainly did not smoke. We were taught that being a stoner was ‘bad.’ In college, I started drinking — a lot. I was a Division 1 diver and was gaining weight from all the beer (and chicken tenders and ranch dressing) and it totally derailed my athletic career because I started making very big splashes in a sport where you’re supposed to make a very small splash. So I basically came in as a goody-two-shoes and ended up a lazy drunk mess.”
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “In high school, I was depressed, had such a hard time with the outdated learning curriculum, and always questioned why we learned most things in school. It wasn’t until later in life that I went to the Canadian School of Holistic Nutrition that I learned about holistic nutrition and alternative therapies and started a journey of loving and healing myself and others. My biggest takeaway is how healing foods and herbs could be for so many.”
What was your dream job/business venture?
Cannabeta Realty: “Throughout high school and college, I wanted to be a rockstar, but I started losing confidence and passion for becoming a professional musician by the end of college and became interested in business. It ended up that I had a bachelor of music for undergrad and then got a graduate degree from the master’s program in real estate at NYU. I felt naturally talented at business administration, but also have always had a strong creative side. I guess it’s not terribly surprising then that I started the first cannabis real estate brokerage on the east coast.”
Cannachange: “I’ve had a ton of different dream jobs throughout my life, but many of them had to do with a form of public influence/speaking that would allow me to make an impact on the world. I did speech and debate in high school and was always very passionate about that, so for a while, I dreamt of being a lawyer. I’ve always felt that our medical system needs major reform, so I had other aspirations of being a doctor. I love creative writing, so I also considered doing that for a living. Then there was my phase of wanting to be a marine biologist because I love marine life and wanted to help better their ecosystem. At the end of the day, I realized I just see a lot of issues in the world that I want to be able to help solve, and I don’t think any one career path would be the right one for me. I care about the environment. I care about animals, I care about marginalized communities and creating the safe/supportive spaces that I didn’t have growing up. So my dream job is now one that allows me to be flexible and use my creativity to work on solutions to the problems I care about, so I can leave my mark as someone who made the world a better place.”
Cann: “I studied architecture in college. I wanted to design houses, but I always had a dream of making tiny washing machines that could only handle small amounts of workout clothes. Just like a little baby machine that would whir quietly overnight and take sweaty gym clothes and make them clean by the time you wanted to work out in the morning. So I guess I kinda always wanted to be a weird entrepreneur as well.”
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian, but when I was around 21, I found myself being a Tantric Sex Coach and LOVED it. I loved showing people how healing and nourishing true intimacy can be. Growing up, I always wanted to be a CEO like my father and be in business, but my soul wanted other things. I like that I can reflect now and laugh at the perfect balance of being the CEO of a cannabis sexual health company.”
Who did you look up to/aspire to be like?
Cannabeta Realty: “I was drawn to rock stars like Jim Morrison, David Bowie, Trent Reznor, and others that I felt had a real message. But in my twenties, I started to be fascinated by friends who were starting tech companies based on really interesting novel ideas. I knew one person who shared an idea I thought was silly, and two years later, he had sold that company to a giant tech firm for hundreds of millions. It taught me that outrageous things were possible even if they were very difficult or unlikely.”
Cannachange: “I’ve always really looked up to my brother because he follows his passions unapologetically and always manages to make the best out of every situation. Seeing the way he navigates his aspirations has shown me that it’s okay to not just stick with one career path, especially if it’s not one that makes you happy. He’s so intelligent and creative and uses those attributes to make a positive impact on the world, which is always my goal as well.”
Cann: “My mom. Always my mom. She raised me and my sister, working three jobs and always creating a magical atmosphere even where there was nothing. She’s the ultimate hero.”
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “I look up to be like phenomenal women that I know of, like Michelle Obama, Arlene Dickinson, and women that have paved the path to leadership positions to do what’s right and leave the world a better place than how found it. It’s important for me to be a good person and restore people’s faith in humanity in a world of chaos. I’m a firm believer in leading by example. Sometimes I feel it’s the only way people learn.”
People talk about the ‘closet’, were you ever in it, or have you always been out and proud?
Photo Credit: Spreadshirt
Cannabeta Realty: “I look at this a little differently than an either-or thing. My sexual orientation is one aspect of my sexuality, but gender identity, relationship styles or preferences, proclivities, and many other things are things one can come out about. I identified, for instance, as bi or pansexual from early on in college but only came out as being non-binary 3 or 4 years ago. In some ways, I am still coming out and even doing this article is part of that process. I think there were many times in my life that I thought I was out and seemed proud, but I had actually been holding some very essential parts of myself back. I am lucky that I have been met mostly with nothing but support from my friends and family throughout each stage of my journey, which obviously makes it so much easier to be confident. Many others in this world can face consequences as severe as death for being out, even in this country.”
Cannachange: “I realized I liked girls when I was in middle school, and “came out” to my family as bisexual around 12 years old, but still felt extreme shame around my sexuality, and overcompensated for that throughout high school by avoiding my attraction to girls and “dating” guys. This led to relationships where I’d try to force feelings that just weren’t there, making me feel even more guilty and ashamed. Although I initially thought I was bisexual, I realized through my experiences with guys that I wasn’t attracted to them at all and was never going to genuinely feel that way, no matter how hard I tried. After I graduated high school and was away from such a toxic environment, I was finally able to accept my identity as a lesbian after constantly running from that label and the feelings that come along with it. Since I came out as gay to not only the other people in my life but to myself, I’ve felt a strong sense of pride through being able to shed all the shame and guilt I held around my sexuality for so long.”
Cann: “I was gay for a minute when I was 18. I had a secret boyfriend named Spencer, but I didn’t really feel comfortable talking about him to more than my closest friends. I was still really attracted to women and had a number of really great relationships, so I honestly thought that I was going to be straight forever, and the ‘closet’ didn’t feel right as a description of what I was living. But when I met my husband and fell in love with him, I was like, ‘oh, I guess we have to get married, so I need to be publicly gay.‘ It wasn’t really a typical coming out journey, but I consider myself pansexual, so I guess all the rules are kinda different.”
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “I was definitely in the closet in high school. At the time, I don’t think there were many out and I didn’t feel comfortable doing it alone. I also struggled with my identity of lesbian vs. bi vs. pansexual. I desperately wanted to explore and love that I was very brave in love even at a young age. I think for me, it was learning that my sexuality is far more vast than a label.”
What role did cannabis play in your life between high school and college?
Cannabeta Realty: “I would say it had a profound impact on the way I experienced culture and community. For instance, I had friends I would smoke with and play music together (jam) or go to funky art museums with. Growing up in NYC, I also think about how much time I spent trying to avoid police or getting arrested while smoking pot. When applying that personal experience to the knowledge I learned in college about the impact of drug prohibition and how that has led to mass incarceration and racial injustice, it ignited a passion in me to reform our nation’s drug laws.”
Cannachange: “I got my medical marijuana card towards the end of high school, but still had a lot of fear around the use of cannabis, besides small amounts for things like nausea, pain management, anxiety, and sleep. I was only able to face the fear of feeling ‘impaired’ once I graduated high school and was living on my own. Since then, I’ve realized that fear wasn’t actually of feeling “impaired” but, rather, feeling afraid of my own mind and the things that would be brought up through the more intense use of cannabis. Once I made this connection, I was able to use cannabis more freely for medical reasons but also as a way to heal from past trauma and form a closer bond with myself and my mind. My life has improved greatly since I started using cannabis regularly, and I’m very grateful for the ways it’s helped me heal, grow, and expand in all aspects of my life.”
Cann: “My friend Jake had this idea for a microdosed THC beverage, and I thought I was really stupid because all of my smoking or edible experiences were so chaotic and unsettling. Then, after I had a two-day hangover in my early 30’s, I thought, ‘how doI never have this again?’ Turns out there is something to a non-alcoholic social drink that gets you a tiny bit buzzed but doesn’t make you feel like dog shit the next day. Plenty of people out there recognize how harmful alcohol is but don’t like the idea of being completely sober (yet), and I started really feeling that need. So we designed something for those people – something that would show them cannabis, in the right quantities, is a solution.”
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “I tried cannabis for the first time in high school and hated it. I never got the ‘high’ feeling and would just end up eating everything in the kitchen. It wasn’t until I was in college interning at a chronic pain clinic that I learned how many patients were using cannabis for their chronic pain ailments. This changed my perceptions of cannabis and consumers. This showed me how cannabis was giving people a quality of life from a life full of pain. People didn’t want to just get high – they wanted a life of no pain.”
Fast forward to cannabis business idea, plan, and launch- can you share insight into your journey?
Cannabeta Realty: “Since leaving college, I’ve spent my entire career in the real estate industry with a regional focus. I had also really been waiting for my entire adult life for New York to legalize cannabis which it finally did in March of 2021. Along with Connecticut and New Jersey, which also legalized around the same time, it became apparent to me that an industry which could ultimately reach $10Billion in annual revenues in these states was going to have to be created from scratch in a few short years. Essentially all of this creation would involve real estate. I felt our team was uniquely qualified to understand our local real estate industry in a way that would be incredibly useful to cannabis businesses and that our knowledge around cannabis policy would be incredibly useful to the local real estate industry. Finally and perhaps most importantly, as someone who has spent over 20 years as a cannabis activist, I felt it was important to be a part of developing this industry in a way that honors not just the activists who spent tireless decades to get us to this place but also the tens of millions of Americans that suffered incarceration because of draconian drug laws. We are proud of our mandate to donate 10% of our profits to these causes.”
Cannachange: “As a regular user who was always accumulating cannabis packaging waste, I was shocked to find out that there wasn’t a universal way to manage that. I had seen a few small dispensaries throughout the US try to launch recycling programs of some sort, but because of their lack of customer incentive and exposure, they often weren’t successful. I felt that the best way to facilitate a consumer and retailer relationship with a sustainability initiative was through a mobile app, which is how cannachange came to be developed. I wanted to incentivize consumers to return their recyclable cannabis packaging to participating dispensaries by distributing points that turn into dispensary credit, which increases customer loyalty for dispensaries and helps differentiate them from others. If dispensaries can address consumer concerns around cannabis packaging waste and leverage those concerns, they can greatly improve their profitability, benefiting both retailers and consumers that care about sustainability.
I also wanted consumers to truly feel like their actions make a difference- because they absolutely do. So quantifying waste saved in the app and displaying that information to consumers also incentivizes them to keep participating in cannachange and helps them see their positive impact on their environment. Since our launch, we’ve been able to expand into collecting compostable and reusable packaging through our program, along with recyclables, and can even offer points for cartridges and batteries that are returned in some states. My main goal now is integrating cannachange into more dispensaries to make the program as accessible as possible while establishing more relationships with waste haulers/processors on the back end to service our participating dispensaries and help them manage the returned packaging.”
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “I learned so much about medical cannabis at that chronic pain clinic. I had a variety of patients with MS, Cancer, Veterans, Crohn’s Disease,….. but what stood out to me the most was Endometriosis. People who suffer from sexual health ailments rarely get the respect they deserve and healthcare, and sexual pleasure is often looked at as not important to overall health, although I’d argue if you don’t have a healthy sexual health lifestyle, you don’t have a healthy life. This started my journey of creating cannabis formulations for patients since most were already expressing how smoking was helping them. I knew there must be better medical applications, and that’s when we first designed the cannabis lubricant and suppository. Over the nine years, we’ve expanded internationally and founded an incredible medical team focusing on furthering research-backed sexual health products.”
What was the hardest thing you’ve had to deal with as a cannabis business owner?
Cannabeta Realty: “Of course, there is this widespread misconception that anyone with a cannabis business is making money. Plant touching cannabis businesses deal with enormous state sales taxes and then, after that, pay the highest federal income taxes out of any industry. Sometimes the tax bills are even greater than the profits. So our government is honestly who is making any real money right now. For service businesses like mine, we don’t deal with these tax problems. However, we are still running a business with a long-term perspective in a highly volatile and rapidly evolving industry. Our company isn’t profitable yet, for instance, essentially because adult-use cannabis businesses aren’t actually open yet in any of the states we operate in yet. This makes it hard to scale right now, as most people who might join my team can’t wait two years to get a paycheck, even if it might be a radically large one, and therefore, we have to take on the risk of paying them in the meantime.
Changing legislative environments or industry trends can ultimately have an impact on our business as well. In New York State, there is this exciting $200MM fund announced to lease spaces and build them out for social equity candidates. However, if the state or the managers of the fund decide to hire only one corporate real estate firm to help them accomplish this goal, then small businesses like mine could suffer.”
Cannachange: “Besides the issues with a lack of flexibility around regulations and sustainable waste haulers/processors, being at the intersection of tech, sustainability, and cannabis as a Black, gay woman also brings up many challenges. Far too many people are under the impression that the cannabis industry is more diverse and equitable than others, but at the end of the day, it’s not any easier to navigate than other industries dominated by straight, white men, and I’d definitely say the same for tech and sustainability.”
One of the blindspots that I think a lot of people have when it comes to the management of cannabis packaging is how difficult it is to manage recyclable, compostable, and reusable materials that once came into contact with cannabis. Due to the restrictions around cannabis and its packaging, we’re unable to use one universal waste hauler/processor to service our participating dispensaries on the back end and cannot cross any state lines with the packaging returned through our program. Instead, I’ve had to work state to state to facilitate well-established relationships between dispensaries and waste haulers that can reliably manage recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging. A big issue around sustainability is ‘greenwashing’, and companies saying they’re disposing of materials in a sustainable manner when they’re not, so I’ve had to work very hard to ensure that all the packaging returned through cannachange is truly being diverted from the landfill. Most typical recycling services don’t divert nearly as much from the landfill as they should, and there’s definitely a lack of recycling/ composting services in many states, which I think many people also aren’t aware of.”
Cann: “Taking care of my mom while she had brain cancer this past year and trying to deliver at work was extremely difficult. Experiencing personal and business pressures simultaneously is nearly impossible, and grief is isolating as hell. People are always like ‘oh I can’t imagine how hard that is‘; but kind of expect you’re going to be full of life and energy at the same time. And when you’re expected to be funny and engaging as a part of your job? Well, buckle up, it’s going to be a dark comedy.”
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “The incredibly restrictive and expansive landscape that is cannabis. For a queer minority who didn’t come from money but was directly impacted by the war on drugs, I can definitely say it’s been an uphill battle, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. As much as it’s difficult to really do anything in the industry – I know it must be done. This plant has the opportunity to change healthcare and sustainability as a whole. It would be a disservice to not be a part of the solutions for me after knowing so much.”
What are you most grateful for as a cannabis business owner?
Photo Credit: DGO
Cannabeta Realty: “My high school pot-head self would be so ridiculously proud!! Kidding aside though, I get to love what I do every day and feel like I’m contributing to something I believe in. I have a greatly talented and entrepreneurial team who are also passionate about cannabis and enjoy working with one another. I also quietly chuckle when I get to see the looks on people’s faces when I tell them I’m a cannabis real estate broker. It’s particularly fun to tell people who were probably telling hippies to cut their hair and get a job their whole lives.”
Cannachange: “I’m always extremely grateful to meet like-minded individuals in the cannabis industry and to be able to have connections with them that energize me, even when I’m feeling very stagnant or defeated in my work. As a young person who sees the detrimental effects that climate change will have on my generation and feels a responsibility to do something about it, I feel so thankful to other young people who support my work and also have a passion for sustainability. I feel similarly when those in older generations reach out with support or want to take action because much of the defeat I feel when environmental issues are pushed aside comes from a lack of acknowledgment or urgency from generations above mine. The sense of community in cannabis culture and the passion that comes from other environmentally conscious individuals is what keeps me going and what I’m most grateful for.”
Cann: ‘I’m grateful to have a team of people who are incredible at what they do, and who generally let me be my weird self. It’s a gift to show up to work and be celebrated for who you are rather than have to pretend to be more professional.”
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “I’m grateful that I get to create a life I want and a team that I love working with. I’m grateful to witness these medical miracles and be at the forefront of cannabis research. I’m grateful to be a part of a community that’s so passionate about helping people.”
What advice do you have for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer high school, and college students working on becoming the next cannabis business owner?
Cannabeta Realty: “I felt I had gotten to a certain point in my career where I could be out about who I am in business circles and, for instance, have my pronouns listed as they/them on my email signatures. Given this is the first time I’ve done this in my career and that I’ve mostly worked in NYC gives a sense of how scary this can be. Folks like myself worry about it, distracting clients or colleagues or even getting rejections on things we may never know could’ve been the result of discrimination. However, I think, generally speaking, people will do business with one another despite what their beliefs are or who they are outside of work, or how they feel on the inside. Most importantly, if you do feel safe to come out at work, you are doing an amazing thing helping normalize our community and helping clear the path for the next generation as my LGBTQ+ forebears have done for me.”
Cannachange: “Your ideas are so extremely valuable, and no one, regardless of how hard they try, can take the value of your creativity away from you. There will always be people who don’t accept you because of your sexuality or gender identity, and although I hope to see that discrimination greatly declines, I know it can be so defeating and make it seem impossible to get ahead. Something I always keep in mind is that for every person who doesn’t accept you because of your identity, there’s someone who will embrace your identity unconditionally. I believe we need trans and queer representation in cannabis now more than ever, so if there’s something you want to execute, consider what’s holding you back, and remember that anything can happen once you take a risk and face your fears. You’ll never know where your ideas can take you until you make them a reality, and in doing so, you’ll become a role model and inspiration for others in the LGBTQ+ community. ”
Cann: “Be out and proud! There’s something inherently queer about cannabis. It’s seen as a ‘bad thing’ in public, but once you come to understand it better, people realize just how human it is. Just like being LGBTQ+”.
Pleasure Peaks + Peak Pharm Labs: “There’s so much strength in your individuality. Who you love will never define you, but how you love will. Network with everyone and anyone you can, build relationships in the industry, and follow your skills and passions; there’s truly a space for everyone in cannabis. Strap up your boots because we have lots of work to do!”
This article was sponsored by The Grl & Co; a woman-owned CBD company founded by Noel D’Allacco. Noel is passionate about healing with cannabis as well as LGBTQ causes. She was on the Westchester, NY LGBTQ Advisory Council and through the Grl & Co., donates a portion of sales to missions tied to LGBTQ charitable causes.
