In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sista Vee Nohombile Bush, a Rastafarian from South Africa and the author of "Cannabis is the Human Companion Plant." Sista Vee. shared her incredible journey and deep connection with cannabis, which she has been working with since she was 12 years old.

Sista Vee. explained her African name and her close ties with the Isikosa tribe, who protected her during her field research. She currently resides in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, where she serves as the medical officer at the Cannock Club, a private cannabis club. As a registered traditional healer, she uses the whole cannabis plant in her treatments, including the bud, leaves, roots, and seeds, and emphasizes the importance of using virgin organic coconut oil.

We delved into her book, which was inspired by her grandmother, also a healer. Sista Vee. shared how her grandmother continues to guide her through visions and dreams, helping her stay on her path of healing with plant medicine. She discussed the challenges she faced, including multiple arrests and the need to work in secret due to the legal status of cannabis in South Africa during apartheid.

Sista Vee. highlighted the medical benefits of cannabis, noting its effectiveness in treating a wide range of conditions, including liver diseases and even cancer. She also touched on the fascinating history of the endocannabinoid system, which dates back 350 million years, and its presence in various animals, except for bees.

We also discussed the current legal landscape of cannabis in South Africa, where it is now legal for private use but not for trade. Sista Vee expressed her concerns about the challenges facing the hemp industry in the United States and the need for more collaboration and understanding of the plant's benefits.

To wrap up, Sista Vee shared how listeners can purchase her book and connect with her on social media. It was an enlightening conversation that showcased the profound impact of cannabis on health and well-being, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share Sista Vee's wisdom with our audience.

xhosastyles.blogspot.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sista-vee-nohombile-bush-b2072418/?originalSubdomain=za

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I had the pleasure of speaking with Laura Hand, the founder of Laura Loo Experience Design. Laura is a fractional Chief Marketing Officer who works with cannabis brands across the United States and globally, helping them navigate the complexities of marketing in a highly regulated industry.

Laura shared her journey from working in a large healthcare membership organization in Iowa to diving into the cannabis industry. Her transition was fueled by personal tragedies, including the loss of her brother to opioid addiction and her father's battle with brain cancer. These experiences ignited her passion for cannabis as a wellness product and motivated her to help other families avoid similar heartaches.

We discussed the unique challenges of marketing in the cannabis space, such as social media restrictions and banking issues. Laura emphasized the importance of thought leadership and creating memorable experiences to build brand presence. She also highlighted the significance of owning your media and being strategic with lead generation.

Laura's advice to women in the cannabis industry is empowering: "You are good. You are enough. You belong. Give yourself the green light to just go." She encourages women to overcome imposter syndrome and be their authentic selves.

Throughout our conversation, Laura's resilience and dedication shone through. She described herself as a "lighthouse," steadfast and strong despite the waves of personal loss. Her story is a testament to turning tragedy into a force for good, and her work continues to inspire and support others in the cannabis industry.

Biography:
Laura Hand is the CEO and Founder of Laura Loo Experience Design (LLXD). She is an award-winning marketing executive rooted in technology and customer experience design. With 20+ years of leading a digital advertising agency to corporate healthcare marketing teams, Laura offers executive-level fractional marketing expertise for companies that want to remain lean but recognize they need marketing leadership to take them where they want to go. She works with wellness brands that want to reach their desired audiences, be seen as the authority in their space and practice the “Less but Better” marketing mindset of doing what is most impactful to move their business forward. She is a Board Member and Marketing Chair for the Cannabis Travel Association International (CTAI), a mentor for women-owned businesses and has served at the national level of the American Advertising Federation on the Council of Governors and still serves as an AAF creative competition judge. Learn more at www.customerdelightprocess.com

You can find Laura:

Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lauralooexperiencedesign/

Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhand/

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From Family Roots to Industry Leadership: Jamie Pearson's Cannabis Story

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Jamie Pearson, a dynamic leader in the cannabis industry. Jamie is the CEO of New Holland Group, a global consultancy that helps cannabis companies and brands expand across borders. She shared fascinating insights into her work, including helping a woman-owned company that makes vaginal suppositories and assisting a major European seed company in entering the U.S. market.

Jamie’s journey into the cannabis industry is deeply personal and unique. Growing up with a father who has been cultivating cannabis for over 57 years and a cousin who is the DJ for Cypress Hill, Jamie was surrounded by cannabis culture from an early age. Despite initially distancing herself from the industry, her path led her back when she helped Cypress Hill navigate endorsement deals in the burgeoning legal cannabis market.

Her tenure as CEO of Bhang, a well-known cannabis brand, was particularly enlightening. Jamie discussed the challenges and triumphs of leading a company through public listing and navigating the complexities of the cannabis market. She emphasized the importance of integrity, emotional intelligence, and understanding the unique culture of the cannabis industry.

Jamie also touched on her current role at New Holland Group, where she leverages her extensive network and industry knowledge to help clients succeed. She candidly shared her internal debate about whether to scale her consultancy or continue operating on a more personal level, highlighting her commitment to helping others, especially women and people of color, without always seeking financial gain.

Throughout our conversation, Jamie’s passion for the cannabis industry and her dedication to supporting others shone through. Her advice to reach out to admired individuals, embrace curiosity, and approach challenges with humility is invaluable for anyone in the industry.

You can connect with Jamie on LinkedIn under Jamie Lurie Pearson or follow her on Instagram at @jboogie.22. Thank you, Jamie, for sharing your incredible journey and wisdom with us.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamielpearsonnhg/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/newholland-group/

https://bhangnation.com/

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Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Bodacious Women in Cannabis podcast! Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Adelia Carrillo, the Chief Marketing Officer of Event Hi, a cannabis-focused event ticketing platform.

Adelia shared her compelling journey from corporate America to becoming a pivotal figure in the cannabis industry. Her story began with a personal health crisis that led her to discover the healing benefits of cannabis. This transformative experience inspired her to leave her stable career in the consumer electronics industry and dive into the cannabis space, initially founding Direct Cannabis Network, a cannabis tech and entrepreneurship platform.

The conversation delved into the challenges Adelia faced, particularly with mainstream ticketing platforms that flagged and froze funds for cannabis-related events. This significant hurdle led to the creation of Event Hi, a platform designed to support cannabis event organizers by providing compliant payment processing and banking solutions. Adelia detailed the arduous process of finding a bank and a payment processor willing to work with them, ultimately partnering with Partner Colorado Credit Union and a supportive merchant processor.

Despite the setbacks from the pandemic, Event Hi has grown significantly since its launch in 2017, now operating in 47 states. Adelia highlighted the types of events that thrive on their platform, particularly intimate gatherings and infused events centered around food and crafts.

Adelia also shared her insights on marketing strategies, emphasizing the effectiveness of newsletters over social media due to the risk of shadow banning. She stressed the importance of organic growth and community engagement in their success.

Towards the end of our conversation, Adelia reflected on the most joyful moments of her journey, including winning the Best Tech Company award at the Cannabis Business Awards in 2019 and receiving heartfelt messages from event creators who appreciate Event Hi's support and customer service.

For women looking to enter or feeling stuck in the cannabis industry, Adelia offered valuable advice: leverage your unique skill sets, honor the legacy of the cannabis plant, and seek support from women-focused organizations like Blunt Brunch and Empower Her Cannabis Society.

Adelia's unique brand of 'Bodaciousness' lies in her unapologetic authenticity, sharing both the highs and lows of her entrepreneurial journey and personal challenges to remind others that they are not alone.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Be sure to check out Event Hi at eventhigh.io and Blunt Brunch at bluntbrunch.com. Stay bodacious!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeliacarrillo/

https://www.eventhi.io/

https://bluntbrunch.com/

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In this episode of the Bodacious Women in Cannabis podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Debi Wimberley, the visionary founder of Effective Cannabis and the Effective Cannabis newsletter. Debbie shared her powerful and inspiring journey from being abandoned by doctors during the opiate crisis to discovering the life-changing benefits of medical cannabis. Her personal battle with chronic regional pain syndrome and severe lung conditions led her to become a passionate advocate for medical cannabis education.

Debbie discussed how she transitioned from being in a wheelchair with a 24-hour caregiver to regaining her independence and significantly improving her health through the use of medical cannabis. She emphasized the importance of proper education and the need for collaboration among experts in the field to provide accurate and accessible information to patients.

Effective Cannabis curates a newsletter that collaborates with certified educators, doctors, scientists, and patients to share research and firsthand stories about the benefits of medical cannabis. Debbie highlighted the challenges of educating the public about medical cannabis, including the lack of interest from dispensaries and restrictions on advertising.

Despite these obstacles, Debi and her team of volunteers are dedicated to making a difference by providing valuable resources and support to those in the medical cannabis community. Her unwavering commitment to her vision and her belief in the power of collaboration make her a true inspiration.

To learn more about Debi Wimberley and subscribe to the Effective Cannabis newsletter, visit effectivenewsletter.com. Thank you for joining us on this enlightening episode, and stay tuned for more stories of bold and brilliant women in the cannabis industry.

https://www.effectivenewsletter.com/

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Alison Farrell, the co-founder and CEO of Red Moon, a pioneering company based in San Francisco that has developed the first CBD-infused menstrual pad. Allison shares her personal journey with endometriosis and how it inspired her to create a product that addresses menstrual pain and discomfort in a natural and effective way.

Personal Journey and Inspiration: Alison Ferrell opens up about her struggles with endometriosis and how cannabis, recommended by her doctor, helped her manage post-surgery pain without resorting to heavy drugs. This experience led her to explore the potential of combining period products with CBD to help other women facing similar challenges.

Product Development: The conversation delves into the inception of Red Moon in early 2020, right before the pandemic hit. Despite the timing, Alison and her team pushed forward with research and development, eventually creating a menstrual pad infused with CBD.

Challenges and Persistence: Allison discusses the numerous obstacles they faced, particularly in getting their product onto major platforms like Amazon. After two and a half years of persistence and numerous rejections, they finally succeeded. She attributes their success to a combination of stubbornness and a strong belief in their mission to help women.

Customer Feedback and Education: The episode highlights the importance of customer feedback in refining their product. Allison notes that while most reviews are positive, some women do not experience the same level of relief. She emphasizes the need for continuous use to see better results and explains the science behind the product's effectiveness.

Educational Efforts: A significant part of Red Moon's mission is to educate women about their bodies and menstrual health. Allison shares surprising statistics about how little women know about their own reproductive systems and the harmful effects of conventional period products.

Empower Her Network: Alison talks about her involvement with the Empower Her Network, a global community of women in the cannabis industry. She praises the network for its support and the opportunities it provides for women to connect and grow their businesses.

Future Aspirations: The episode concludes with Allison reflecting on the journey so far and her hopes for the future. She expresses her commitment to turning her pain into passion and power, aiming to empower other women through Red Moon's innovative products.

Website: GetRedMoon.com

Amazon: Search for "Red Moon hemp pads"

Social Media:

Instagram: @RedMoonPeriod

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonferrell/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/getredmoon/people/

All social media links are available on their website.

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In this inspiring episode of the Bodacious Women in Cannabis podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sysamone Phaphon, the CEO of Savanh Wellness, an Asian-inspired hemp wellness company. Sysamone's story is not only about her entrepreneurial spirit but also about cultural heritage, family traditions, and breaking barriers in both the cannabis industry and her community.

Sysamone's journey with cannabis began in her childhood, where it was a normalized part of her family life. Her parents, who are refugee immigrants, grew cannabis in their garden and used it in traditional cooking, such as infusing pho broth with weed buds. This early exposure to cannabis as a natural and beneficial plant laid the foundation for Sysamone's future endeavors.

Despite the challenges posed by the war on drugs, which caused her family to pause their use of cannabis, Sysamone's understanding and appreciation for the plant grew as she became more educated. She entered the cannabis market legally when California became regulated, carrying forward her family's legacy and the lessons they taught her about the plant's healing properties.

Sysamone's first role in the industry was with an active ingredient manufacturer, where she supported other brands entering the market. Her experience there, combined with her personal background, led her to create Savanh Wellness. The brand is a testament to her culture, featuring products with Asian flavors like lychee and guava, and even the packaging includes Laotian language to honor her heritage.

One of the most remarkable achievements Sysamone shared was her success in obtaining Thai FDA approval to import her products into Thailand, a significant feat given the patriarchal business culture there. She navigated through the challenges with determination and the support of her brothers, who accompanied her as a sign of respect in meetings with Thai parliament members.

Sysamone's "Bodaciousness" is evident in her ability to stand firm as a female leader in a male-dominated culture, both in the United States and abroad. Her brand not only showcases her culture but also empowers other women in the AAPI community to embrace their heritage and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

Listeners can support Sysamone's work by purchasing products from Savanh Wellness online and can connect with her through the company's social media platforms or by email. Her story is a powerful reminder of the impact one woman can have in changing perceptions and inspiring a community.

For anyone interested in the cannabis industry, Sysamone's advice is clear: don't be afraid to ask questions, seek guidance from those with experience, and be persistent in your endeavors. Her journey is a testament to what can be achieved with grit, tenacity, and a deep connection to one's roots.

https://www.savanhwellness.com/

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