Maria + Jane: Women In Cannabis Business

Today I’m chatting with Hannah O’Brien, Director of Operations for Confident Cannabis. Hannah is responsible for supporting labs and their clients with the on-boarding process, implementation and integration of METRC and state tracking systems. She has experience leading teams at several high-growth technology companies, including operations for the peer-to-peer marketplace Shift. Prior to beginning a career in technology, Hannah travelled the world in an awesome way, earning her language teaching certification through Cambridge and teaching English abroad in France and Korea. Hannah holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and French from Colorado University at Boulder. She’s an avid hiker who loves experiencing the peaks of high mountains in new places. In our chat, Hannah and I dig into: Her travels and experiences teaching abroad; Her personal cannabis self-discovery and how it helped her anxiety; Confident Cannabis’s mission to bring transparency to cannabis test results; How Confident Cannabis’s tech con

  Today I’m chatting with Molly Peckler, the world’s first cannabis friendly matchmaker, lifestyle consultant and career coach. Her mission is to disrupt the stoner stigma and normalize cannabis. Molly focuses on helping cannabis consumers gain confidence, pursue professional success in the growing cannabis industry, or find lasting love with a partner who appreciates cannabis in a relationship. In our chat, Molly and I dig into: The unmet need Molly saw in the matchmaking/cannabis space and how Highly Devoted came to be; How matchmaking for cannabis lovers works; The ways in which cannabis can be used as an intimacy tool; Molly’s upcoming new podcast called "High Felicia"- about love, sex, dating, relationships and how cannabis shapes them all; And so much more! Find Molly Highly Devoted Highly Devoted IG Highly Devoted Facebook Molly on Twitter

Today I’m chatting with Stephanie Graziano, Co-Founder and COO at Green Flower. Graziano has been a driving force in the Film and Television/licensing/asset management business for 30+ years (DreamWorks, Fox Kids Network, Marvel Studios) and she and her business partner Max Simon have built a powerhouse media company whose mission is to spread trusted cannabis knowledge around the globe. Working with 700+ of the world's top cannabis experts, doctors, scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and thought-leaders Green Media produces trusted content that gives you the facts, science, and knowledge of cannabis today. For a career in cannabis, using cannabis as medicine, starting your own cannabis business, investing in the space, cooking with cannabis, becoming a more powerful cannabis leader, growing your own cannabis, helping to change the laws, and much more, they’ve got you covered. In our chat, Stephanie and I dig into: Her incredible 30-year career in the Entertainment Industry; Transitioning from

Today I'm chatting with Solonje Burnett, Co-Founder of Humble Bloom, a Brooklyn-based boutique firm that is focused on humanizing experiences with cannabis. Solonje is a cannavist and people advocate at Humble Bloom where it is her mission to give the underrepresented a seat at the table in the cannabis industry. She believes that we can shatter stereotypes and poor business practices through culture curation and by providing the industry with more access to strategic branding, advocacy and inclusive community experiences. As a culture consultant, she creates innovative workplace conferences, designs and implements D&I plans, as well as forges partnerships for agencies. Clients include Databricks, Working Mother Media, BetterCloud, and Koya Leadership Partners. Solonje produces events and festivals for conscious companies, hosts nightlife parties, as well as programs music at membership clubs. Afropunk, Summit Series, Le Bain at the Standard Hotel, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and Soho H

Today I’m chatting with Joline Rivera, Founder & Creative Director of Kitchen Toke, a new magazine centered around cooking with cannabis. This quarterly publication includes innovative recipes and techniques, on-trend seasonal entertaining suggestions, reliable information, and features on the latest advancements in cannabis related to food and health. Most notably, Kitchen Toke is the first publication dedicated to promoting health and wellness through culinary cannabis. Joline has more than 25 years of experience as a creative director, lending her design expertise to clients like Food Network Kitchens, US Foods, Meredith Publishing, Crate & Barrel, and more. She has also directed award-winning publications, including Food Fanatics, Sweet Paul, and Uncrate. In our chat, Joline and I dig in to: How Kitchen Toke got started and what prompted her to make this career shift; Joline’s vision for creating the definitive voice of cooking with cannabis; How rapper, TV Host & culinary enthusiast, Action B

This week I’m talking to Orleatha Smith, Co-Founder of InclusivePay, a payment processor that specializes in serving the cannabis and hemp industries. Orleatha is a serial entrepreneur who also founded 20 Dishes, a digital meal planner and app. She holds an advanced degree in education, a biology teaching credential, and is a certified holistic lifestyle coach. She has also been featured in popular publications such as First For Women Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, and on television. In our chat, Orleatha and I dig into: Her career as a serial entrepreneur and how each business has informed the next; The state of payment processors in the cannabis industry today; The launch of her free upcoming CBD Summit and why it's an invaluable resource for anyone looking to get into the booming CBD industry; How to spot a gap in the market and follow up to see if it’s an opportunity worth pursuing; Researching a biz niche before jumping in; Orleatha's top tips for productivity and connecting with people in any industry

This week I’m talking to Andrea Brooks, Co-Founder & CEO of Sava. Andrea is a cannabis advocate, lobbyist for social change, and entrepreneur with a passion for health and wellness. Following a disabling injury in which cannabis played a crucial role in her recovery, she was inspired to enter the cannabis space. Building on a non-profit career that focused on strengthening human and social services agencies, she applies her expertise in conducting needs assessments, developing strategic partnerships, and creating community to Sava all while leading the growing team. In our chat, Andrea and I dig into: Her background working in non-profits & NGOs and the crossover from those experiences into the work she’s doing today; The disabling injury that led to cannabis playing a crucial role in her recovery and how that inspired her to enter the canna space; The evolution of Sava’s online platform — focusing on customer experience, multi-brand management, and complex delivery logistics; Behind the scenes of Sa

This week I’m talking to Beryl Solomon, Founder of the multi-branded CBD beauty and wellness site, Poplar. Beryl conceived of the Poplar site upon her fruitless search to find a trusted resource in the CBD space that provided both content and commerce. Poplar offers a highly curated assortment of vetted, independently tested CBD products alongside digestible editorial content featuring CBD uses and benefits. In our chat, Beryl and I dig into: How she went from being a 20 year fashion industry vet to canna entrepreneur; Recognizing her vast business experience in operations, supply chain, finance, merchandising, marketing & strategy and parlaying these skills into a new industry; Working out the kinks to create a seamless buyer experience on an e-commerce site; The importance of being meticulously legally compliant and thoroughly vetting all the products; The power of connecting, treating others with kindness and not burning bridges; Recognizing the ways the war on drugs has disproportionately affected co

This week I’m talking to Jennifer Skog, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MJ Lifestyle, the first ever luxury cannabis publication. MJL is devoted to evolving a positive community of strong women through femininity, open-mindfulness, and empowerment. They believe we can inspire change by promoting diversity and radical inclusion; giving a space for proper recognition to personal stories, entrepreneurs, writers, artists, and social activists. Their core mission is to lift the stigma by cultivating a positive image for women and cannabis. In our chat, Jennifer and I dig into: Her career evolution from soccer-mom/photographer to magazine founder; Coming out of the canna closet over and over; Bootstrapping her venture from start to finish and collaborating with like-minded women; The one thing she'd go back and change about her process/mindset when she first started MJL; The power of all-women work spaces; The unexpected lessons she's learned thus far running a print & digital magazine; And more! Tune into our

This week I’m talking to Kim Sanchez Rael, CEO of Azuca. A passionate business leader, startup veteran and investor in innovation, Kim has an extensive background as an operating executive and venture capitalist, focusing on early-stage investments in tech companies. Prior to her career in venture, she co-founded an advanced energy company and held numerous management positions at Intel, where she managed a $200 million capital budget, led planning for a $1 Billion expansion, and held roles in finance, operations and strategic planning. Before joining Intel, she served as an aide in the US Senate focusing on foreign affairs and science and tech policy. In our chat, Kim and I dig into: Azuca’s proprietary process for making edibles fast acting and predictable; Their initial product line, which includes sweeteners and syrups (and more) that can be added to food and beverages as the building blocks of a sophisticated culinary cannabis experience; We discuss what it’s been like Introducing CBD Products to the fo

This week I’m talking to Rachelle Robinett, Founder of Supernatural - a company dedicated to real-world wellness - that includes an herbal cafe, a product line of plant-based remedies, ongoing workshops and events, and personal health coaching. Rachelle also co-launched and manages the Bowery Cannabis Club with The Alchemist's Kitchen, and offers professional consulting for companies of all sizes. She is a plant-based wellness practitioner combining holistic, natural medicine with practical lifestyle work to help people find balanced, lasting health. Entrenched in the wellness world, but with an eye on the rest of the world, Rachelle brings a global perspective to individual health, and also that of businesses and brands. In our chat, Rachelle and I dig into:The state of CBD in the wellness industry and how it’s being used in product lines; Her thoughts on the current trends in the canna industry; What type of products she would like to see come into the market place; Where she's seen some product makers get 

This week I’m talking to Sasha Perelman, Founder and Chief Event Operator of Revolver Productions and Forward by Revolver. Sasha has been producing corporate events and building training programs for global brands for over 15 years. In 2014, she founded Revolver Productions, creating a revolutionary approach to venue sourcing and event production. Forward, by Revolver, is an experiential agency created for cannabis brands and consumers, to engage on a thoughtful and visceral level, unparalleled in the industry. Their curated environments combine education, advocacy, and awareness with immersive, memorable experiences that is dedicated to moving the industry forward. Rolling Stone coined a recent event “The best pot party in California.” In our chat, Sasha and I dig into: The biz of event planning & production, how it's evolved over the years and where she believes it’s headed; Getting your brand message across effectively and creating impact; Her recent project, MARY Talks, in which she partnered with Ma

This week I’m talking to Celebrity Chef Stacey Dougan, Co-Founder Simply Pure Vegan Restaurant and IV & Twenty. With roots in Atlanta, Georgia, Chef Stacey Dougan has been featured internationally in media as an expert gourmet vegan and raw foods chef and nutritionist. In our chat, Stacey and I dig into: Her passion for teaching stems from her own life-changing experience overcoming numerous health issues; Her latest business venture IV & Twenty, which creates plant based cannabis infused fine dining experiences; Stacey's focus on inspiring others to embrace more plant-based foods in their diet without feeling deprived; Tips for managing life as a busy mom & entrepreneur; Her best advice for starting your own business (hint: don’t be lazy); And more! Tune into our chat now! __ This episode is supported by S.W. Basics. S.W. Basics is revolutionary minimalist skincare. Most importantly, minimalist skincare that works. Fewer ingredients = better skincare! Use the code JAC at checkout for 15% OFF the

This week I’m talking to Denise Biderman, Co-Founder and CEO of Mary's List. A former criminal attorney, Denise took her passion for helping people from the court rooms of New York City to the cannabis space. Mary's List is a freelance services marketplace for the cannabis community allowing businesses to hire freelancers and other service professionals on a project-to-project basis. It hopes to serve as a catalyst for normalizing work in the industry and bridge the gap for community amongst professionals in the space, all over the country. In our chat, Denise and I dig into: Her years as a multi-time Junior Taekwondo champion, how that led to multiple knee surgeries and eventually using cannabis to help her heal; Going west to explore a mature cannabis market place to get firsthand experience and how she parlayed her attorney skills; Denise shares the aha moment when she realized there was a gap in the marketplace and she came up with the idea for Mary's List; We also chat about networking, learning new ski

This week I’m talking to Laura Beohner, Co-Fouder of The Healing Rose Co. Based in Massachusetts, The Healing Rose Co handcrafts hemp-derived CBD infused body care products in small batches using natural and organic ingredients. They combine organic herbs and essential oils with hemp-derived, 100% THC-Free Phytocannabinoid Rich Hemp Oil with only high quality organic butters & oils. All body care products are made with care in Andover, MA. In our chat, we dig into: The inspiration for her company’s name (hint: it's doggy-related); We talk about the company's process of taking an idea to inception; How Laura and her co-founder Zack learned about formulating organic skincare via an online course; Ways in which they kept the company lean so they didn’t have to take on investors; How creating standard operating procedures and staying organized has contributed to the company's success; Withstanding the ups & downs of entrepreneur life while wearing a gazillion hats and working 90+ hr weeks; And more!  __

This week I’m talking to Jamie Garzot, Founder of 530 Cannabis and Roots Consulting, an agency designed to bridge the gap between canna-businesses and governments, communities, and other industries. Jamie draws from nine years of boots-on-the-ground experience as a compliant cannabis operator and an appointed city official. She understands complex cannabis-related policies because she has been actively engaged in the process, both at the state and local level. Jamie logged thousands of hours advocating for responsible cannabis regulation before the California State Legislature, working directly on policy analysis of the three Medical and Adult-use Cannabis Regulatory and Safety Act foundation bills. Her two state licensed retail storefronts and ongoing expansion plans are proof of her successful cannabis strategy work at the local level. As an industry pioneer Jamie is a sought-after resource on local cannabis policy and her companies serve as examples of how cannabis businesses can be a positive force in the

This week I’m talking to Naomi Granger, Co-Founder of Dope CFO, a company that provides accounting services to legal marijuana businesses and educational tools for accountants & financial professionals (or anyone interested in becoming a cannabis accounting professional). Naomi has over 12 years of experience in both public accounting and industry accounting. She is very passionate about the rapidly growing cannabis industry and works with CEOs to help them navigate the ever-growing list of compliance concerns, banking issues and federal tax limitations so they can focus on maximize their cash flow, minimize their tax burden and never worry when the auditors come around. In our chat, we dig into: the state of accounting for cannabis related businesses today and why Experienced bookkeepers, accountants and tax professionals are needed in a big way to service the cannabis niche; the most common financial woes plaguing cannabis business owners today, and how to avoid falling victim to them; being in the kno

This week I’m talking to Barbie Sommars, COO of Mary Jane University who brings over twenty years of corporate operations experience, with a background in high net-worth asset management. After a medical diagnosis in 2008, she sought alternative ways of healing and pain management and found cannabis. From patient to activist to educator, she now resides in the beautiful Mojave desert near Joshua Tree, CA and commits herself to a life of healing, activism, and education to restore this ancient healing herb to its rightful place. Barbie is also the Chief Experience Creator for High Dining where she takes fine dining to new heights with upscale events infused with education; and she is the President of Faerie Jane, a cannabis lifestyle brand that celebrates activism through the art of adornment. She’s also the Founding Co-Chair of Women Grow Orange County. In our chat, we dig into: Why educational cannabis events are a critical part of the industry’s transition and growth; How her events are creating an art for

This week I’m talking to Robin & Chaos, Co-Founders of The Farmaceuticals Co., a women owned and operated healing company. Through their uniquely crafted tinctures, topical products, and edibles they provide access to lab tested, whole plant, organically grown cannabis medicine. They prioritize sourcing each element from local, women-owned farms and businesses. It is important to them to work with, source from and be in reciprocal, vibrant community with other women. In our chat, we dig into: The origins of the company and how it was inspired by their moms; What Clean Green Certified means and how impacts the flower & environment; How running a “sustainable” company impacts cost and the financial bottom line; Managing the rollercoaster of new regs as they come; Navigating bringing a company to life without a business background; How their feminist principles guide Robin & Chaos in everything they do and more! Tune into our chat now! __ This episode is supported by S.W. Basics. S.W. Basics is revo

This week I’m talking to Dusti Arab. Dusti is a brand strategist specializing in content marketing for cannabis brands and creatives. An Amazon bestselling author, she is the CEO of Cannabis Bakeshop & Co. and serves as Director of Operations at Oov Magazine. In our chat,  Dusti and I dig into her super cool mom’s work as a high-end cannabis chef; The twist and turns of taking edibles to market; The importance of content marketing for cannabis brands (and getting it right!); Not depending on social media to house all of your brand’s content; Building your email list to communicate and engage directly with your customer; Dusti’s picks for brands that are doing it right; Being community-centric and actively uplifting voices that aren’t getting heard; How to establish your brand guidelines and more!  __ This episode is supported by S.W. Basics. S.W. Basics is revolutionary minimalist skincare. Most importantly, minimalist skincare that works. Fewer ingredients = better skincare! Use the code JAC at checkout