ElPlanteo.com exclusive interview with American mixologist Warren Bobrow, author of Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails & Tonics: The Art of Spirited Drinks and Buzz-Worthy Libations.BYTHE PLANTINGJULY 22, 2022
Warren Bobrow was just 5 years old when he tried a cocktail for the first time. He was a glass of sherry mixed with ginger-ale and a salty olive in Barcelona, Spain, with his parents. “I remember it was really hot and the refreshing quality of the ‘kids’ drink has stuck in my brain to this day,” says the mixologist, chef and writer known for Cocktail Whisperer and author of Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails. & Tonics: The Art of Spirited Drinks and Buzz-Worthy Libations .
Warren Bobrow’s Book of THC Drinks
The memory of that drink became a complex, unusual and unexpected introduction to mixology. “Even if it was made for a kid, it was still a cocktail ,” says Bobrow.
And, in his life, one thing led to another: he was a dishwasher, he studied at culinary school, he became a chef, he worked in restaurants of all kinds, he became a renowned bartender and he was even nominated for the Spirited Awards – Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, renowned industry awards. He has written six mixology books and hundreds of articles in magazines around the world. “It’s been a very busy life.”
As it is, that “busy life” is anointed in the game, in the tests and in the innovation. But, curiously, he supports his professional decisions based on a certain simplicity. “A well-mixed cocktail shouldn’t have a plethora of disparate ingredients,” he acknowledges.
Your first experiences
In that sense, since he was 16 years old he began to investigate the world of cannabis in drinks. And that kickoff was also subject to a bit of a fluke: As a teenager, she bought some awful faso brownies in New York’s Washington Square Park. He came to his house, put them through the blender, dumped a bunch of chocolate liqueur and chocolate ice cream on them. And… Boom!
“I was with some friends and we were very drugged and drunk.”
Over time, this trend was reversed and cannabis was taking a more prominent place in his bibliography.
But his link with cannabis did not occur in his investigative stage, but has an atavistic link: his grandfather had a botanist where he manufactured pharmaceutical products . “It was just snake oil, but I feel like there’s a correlation,” he confesses.
The famous cocktail with THC
Among the most popular cannabis-infused cocktails is the Mezzrole , which is sold exclusively in California, USA.
What is Mezzrole? A combination of small limes from the French Caribbean in a puree, blended with a touch of Japanese vinegar in a tangy, herbaceous version. A very spicy ginger syrup base from Pickett’s hailing from Denver, Colorado. “The best ginger beer concentrate in the world, and I’ve tried many during my research,” he says.
The cocktail follows with a base of 100 proof Agricole, a THC nanotech handcrafted creation. That includes about 10 milligrams of THC, from a strain called Hippie Crasher.
“It’s a really revolutionary drink full of terpenes,” he confesses.
Mezzrole, re crazy
At the time, the Mezzrole is a Bobrow creation whose goal is to drive its drinkers crazy . “You don’t get destroyed, but it’s not too different from the social version of smoking a joint . Of course, without the annoying smoke that announces your presence, ”says the mixologist.
He continues: “ I wanted to build a THC cocktail that would allow you to carry out all the social interactions of the plant without condemning yourself to social ostracism from non-smokers. I am offering the full cannabis experience in a well-constructed cocktail that truly smells like a well-cured cannabis flower.”
Among the riskiest cannabis drinks is the one he made during his appearance on Viceland . “They asked me to make a CBD/THC cocktail that they could feel.”
There, emboldened by the production’s suggestion, he mixed a bottle of straight bourbon on tap with a serving of roasted orange juice, ruby grapefruit with angostura bitters, and Italian orange soda. In addition, he added about 250 mg of THC and CBD .
“They lit up a little bit ,” Warren jokes.
Good and bad, bad and good
His book Apothecary Cocktails is about to reach its fifth printing imminently .
However, it’s not all good news for Bobrow: “ The bad part is that I was blacklisted by the liquor industry , so there was a lot of animosity and fear towards me. Unfairly, the truth. But that was kind of the end of my career . Although, in the abstract, it was not what ended my career.
How!? Did Warren Bobrow Retire From Bars?
“ I had to do it for my health. I put on a lot of weight working as an off-premise craft spirits brand ambassador and as a rum judge for the Ministry of Rum and Rum XP. My job was to get people drunk with the best spirits in the world , with the recipes in my books and the experience that working for Chris James at the Ryland Inn as a bartender gave me,” he reveals.
“It’s not an easy job!” He says, between jokes, at 61 years old.
Today, Warren runs the company that produces Klaus , a cannabis-infused ready-to-drink , and excels at the vice of popularization by writing regularly for Skunk , Cannabis Cactus and Different Leaf magazines .
—The first time you had a drink with cannabis was during that anecdote you told when you were about 16 years old. Now, when was the last one?
—Mmmhhh… The last time was the other night. The experience was, precisely, with Klauss, my drink. I didn’t want to drink any of the caramel-flavored carbonated waters, nor the syrups. They are too sweet, I don’t like them. That is why my drink is not sweet, far from it: it is acidic and well balanced.
THC banned, THC welcome
Meanwhile, the world of professional cocktails looks with some suspicion at the world of cannabis . It is that, these days, the consumption of THC mixed with alcoholic beverages is illegal in the United States (with the exception of California). For this reason, their drinks are not available in American bars .
Among his next creations, Bobrow plans to make a new version of the classic Zombie , a cocktail made up of various types of brandy and rum mixed with various types of fruit juices. The cocktail will feature details from a sativa strain that “will make you want to dance bossa nova.”
In his case, the famous mixologist uses cannabis medicinally because he suffers from glaucoma and marijuana “preserves his vision.” Likewise, he admits that he likes to “be crazy ” because it makes him “feel inspired” and allows him to write, open his brain and, according to him, unlock his third eye . “For various reasons, cannabis is part of my life.”
Let me tell you about Ben Larson, or better yet, I want Ben Larson to speak for himself. And what an opportunity I had to crawl inside Ben’s head, even for a short while.
Interviewing someone as busy as Ben Larson can be a problematic adventure. But with the help of brilliant overseers, I could capture what I believe is Ben Larson unbounded by your typical corporate double-speak messages. After all, I have a deep interest in what Ben does for Vertosa. Ben has achieved a certain level of nirvana working in weed. Being able to share his passion for the plant with fervent entrepreneurs who have dreams but not necessarily the ability to harness THC-based technology, Ben has brought boundless enthusiasm into this nascent space. What Ben is talented at doing is a thing of dreams. He should know that deep in his heart, as he has achieved amazing things by being a deeply talented entrepreneur in the nano-technology space.
Ben is doing what others can only imagine doing. His deep passion for the plant is evident in his ability to capture the essence of cannabis alchemy. To me, he has truly woven straw into gold.
The things I’ve tasted spun out of the minds at Vertosa are nothing short of brilliant.
Thank you, Ben, for listening to my dreams and helping me achieve drinkklaus.com.
WB: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you living now? Tell me about Vertosa. Where did the name come from?
Ben Larson: I was born and raised in Northern California – setting aside a brief high school career in Utah. After graduating from CalPoly, San Luis Obispo, with a Civil Engineering degree, I spent the first six years of my career as a professional engineer working in the transportation planning and engineering sector. Having moved to the Bay Area and immersing myself in the Silicon Valley community and culture, it wasn’t long before I took the leap of faith into tech startups. Like a true, ill-advised leap where I abandoned my professional license and cashed out my 401K.
While I never did prove myself as a successful tech startup founder – I had my fair share of tries – I did discover my love of the creation phase and the startup community-building aspect. After managing global operations for Founder Institute, mentoring many early-stage founders, and directing programs around the Bay Area and beyond, I decided to take my expertise and passion to the cannabis industry where my business partner and I launched California’s first cannabis startup incubator, fund, and co-working space, Gateway. It was here where I had the opportunity to earn my place in the California cannabis community, was educated on the history of cannabis, and discovered my purpose and responsibility in the movement.
I’ve since settled with my wife and two kids in the East Bay in the City of Walnut Creek, where we’ve called home for the past six years.
I met my co-founder, Dr. Harold Han, while I was investigating infusion technology opportunities in the cannabis space back in 2017. He was just starting to explore the industry and had an infectious curiosity, remarkable humility, and the perfect expertise to fill a void we were observing in the market. Sometime between Harold developing the first prototypes that would eventually become the core offering of Vertosa and the structuring of the business, I discovered I was destined to be back on the operating side of the industry.
Not only did I know that the industry needed reliable technology to create the next generation of infused products, I knew this industry needed a reliable B2B manufacturing partner that infused trust into an otherwise challenging supply chain. We also knew that this industry deserved a company that strived to be the best place to work and walked the talk when it came to building a corporate culture that resembled the ideals that we all sought for this industry. This is what we’ve focused on building over the past four years at Vertosa: superior, proven ingredients, building trust with our partners and the industry at large, and creating the best company culture this industry has seen.
Now, we haven’t always been called Vertosa. We were actually called Nanogen for the first year of business. It was a great starting point as it screamed science and built a great deal of trust, but as we built relationships with more mainstream natural products companies, we knew we would have to rebrand.
The name Vertosa speaks to who we are and the promise we deliver. VERT speaks to both green and truth – in line with our roots in cannabis and dedication to being the best partners to our customers. OSA, Spanish for the female bear, portrays our strength and proud California roots, with an important nod to the power of the female cannabis plant. Vertosa – not too dissimilar from virtuoso – was intended to be the trusted expert that walks the line between plant and science, commerce and medicine, and business and consumers.
WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing those obstacles?
Ben Larson: For many in the cannabis sector and beyond, the next 6-12 months are all about survival. We know that great companies are born and proven in challenging markets. Those that learn to navigate these waters will have the opportunity to ride the next wave to success. We’ve had great momentum thus far, so I’ve asked our team to give themselves the permission to not only believe that we will survive but that we have the opportunity to thrive in today’s environment.
What does thriving look like? Well, we will continue to create market-leading ingredients that provide the foundation for the fast-acting, infused product category. We believe that all infused products in the future will be fast-acting. It’ll be table stakes. Fast-acting everything.
We have recently launched our private label offering, where we are helping companies map out their future product releases and designing the products that are leveraging our ingredients. Not all brands need this assistance, but not only do we have the greatest knowledge of our products and how to apply them. We’ve amassed a great brain trust internally with professionals that worked at the likes of Mondelez, Constellation Brands, and McCormick.
Finally, we’re striving to continue the expansion of our global platform that allows brands who work with us to access the same reliable ingredients and services in many markets around North America. While we’re headquartered in California, we’re very active in Canada, Nevada, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maine, and several other states. The goal is to be a multistate B2B platform that enables brands to grow their total addressable market with ease.
WB: When did you discover cannabis? How old were you? Why cannabis?
Ben Larson: I discovered cannabis when I entered college, but it definitely wasn’t love at first sight. Like many, I chose alcohol in college, or I suppose it chose me. Not saying it was a great choice; that’s just the culture of much of collegiate America.
I rediscovered cannabis when I was at Founder Institute, and people began inviting me to coach cannabis startups and judge cannabis pitch competitions. I remember attending Weed Club’s 420 Pitch Competition back in 2015, where I met many of the OGs still around today. There was so much passion and enthusiasm in the room, but also a lot of really— let’s just say, raw talent. The community needed help—professionalizing— and the ability to speak investor language. This was my entry point. It was my passion for helping people realize their ideas while building supportive entrepreneurial ecosystems that really allowed me to see an opportunity to create value. That was the genesis for Gateway.
However, why I stayed goes much deeper. I became a student of the plant and the movement: the history, the politics, the false stigma, the drug war, all of it. I saw the immense amount of good this plant could bring society and so many wrongs that needed to be made right. I’ve always had a little bit of vigilantism coursing through my veins, and this was a way for me to dedicate my career to it. For the past seven years, I’ve been hell-bent on building up the community around me, being a voice for those unheard, creating opportunities for others as I create them for myself, and ensuring that we all get to benefit from the rising tide.
WB: Do you cook? If so, what is your favorite thing to prepare? Favorite restaurant? Where?
Ben Larson: I love to cook. My wife certainly does the majority of cooking when it comes to feeding the family, but given the privilege of time and freedom of thought, I absolutely love getting lost in the preparation of a meal. Perfecting my art around preparing challenging cuts of meat, like racks of lamb or lamb loin chops, and then creating the perfect sauce to pair it with is probably where I get the most joy, but I really love cooking just about anything. I mean, have you ever had the joy of turning spaghetti squash into actual spaghetti? It’s so awesome and easy. Most of the time, I just love the challenge of creating something from nothing or whatever we have in the pantry and fridge. Finding creative ways to cook vegetables or preparing an unlikely main is where my creativity really gets to show. When I hear someone say, “we don’t have anything to eat,” it’s like a Bat-Signal for me, and I find myself springing into action while saying, “au contraire.”
WB: What is your passion?
Ben Larson: My passion is for helping people manifest their dreams. From the time I was a kid, I always had a lot of ideas but didn’t always see the path forward. My life experiences have allowed me to discover those paths, and I find great joy in lending those learnings to others and helping them see their dreams come to fruition. And in the event I don’t know the path, which is often, I think I make a great companion in the entrepreneurial journey. There is no greater joy for me. I’ve done this for the past decade by working with early-stage startups and now get to continue it every day through the work we do at Vertosa and the hundreds of brands and partners we work with in the space.
Cannabis really tastes differently at sea level than it does at fifty-seven hundred feet above sea level. Hence the conversation that is about to take place. I sat down with Steve Duran and his wife when I visited Denver at the beginning of June. What I discovered by smoking his herbs was a crystalline reminder that I need to get more of his marvelous herbs the next time that I’m in town. Sure, they tasted pretty bodacious at altitude, but bringing the same flowers down to sea level with all the humidity that New Jersey is famous for, brings an entirely deeper experience. This is crafted cannabis that speaks a different language than my usual menu of herbs. Impressive? I’m humbled. Because it’s my job to capture the nuances in cannabis. The taste of the place if you will. With indoor grown cannabis this art is much more intrinsic of an experience. The quality is just so good, it’s hard to say one variety supersedes another. But the pleasure I experienced when smoking Steve’s cannabis is that of the first time, I tried Colorado herbs. A mile up it’s just a different metaphor. The air does something to this proficiency, an art form not yet discovered by mere tokers. If you are spending your life at sea level, you owe it to yourself to taste herbs as ebullient as the ones produced by Cookies in Pueblo. And when you get home, open up that little package stuffed into your shirt pocket and smoke some more. Let me know what you think.
Cheers! WB
Photo Credit: Steve Duran/Colorado Kush
WB: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Living now? Tell me about Cookies. Where did the name come from? How long have you enjoyed the plant?
Steve Duran: I was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, by a single parent in a low-income household with every possible barrier set up against me. I actually started smoking at a really young age and the stigma associated with it followed me into my teenage years. Once I hit adulthood, I was incarcerated for cannabis, which surprisingly led to me qualifying as a social equity licensee. It’s still pretty surreal to think about everything I went through and know I was able to come out of it with this type of cannabis license. I always hoped cannabis use would become less stigmatized, so it’s awesome to see legalization happening in my lifetime. I feel blessed to be able to publicly embrace the power of the plant and share what I’ve learned over the years with my community. That focus and drive is really what pushed me to open my first dispensary, Seven One Nine – now known as Colorado Kush – with my wife in our hometown.
It wasn’t until a few years down the road that we opened Cookies Pueblo and that came from partnering up with Berner. We wanted to expand our footprint and felt like Cookies was the perfect fit for us. It’s effortless when you work with people that feel your vibe and share similar personal and professional values. We opened our doors a little over a year ago, in April 2021, and have enjoyed every minute of it. The Cookies team just gets it, and we’re grateful they share our commitment to quality above all else. In addition to owning and operating Colorado Kush and Cookies Pueblo, my wife and I recently launched a cultivation line called Colorado Kush Co. on the retail side, which is sold exclusively at Cookies Pueblo, so that’s definitely been a major highlight for me.
WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing those obstacles?
Steve Duran: I’d say my six and twelve-month goals are focusing on keeping my businesses afloat, driving foot traffic to the stores, and building brand awareness around Colorado Kush Co., all while keeping social equity at the heart of what my wife, Monique, and I do. Our ongoing goal is to just share the knowledge we’ve gained with others in similar situations in hopes of getting more minorities involved and increasing representation in cannabis.
Even with legalization, there are many challenges associated with the cannabis industry as a whole – especially for black and brown Americans. As you know, the war on drugs continues to disproportionately impact people of color, making it extremely difficult to overcome the economic and regulatory obstacles associated with entering the legal market. I look around and ask myself, “Why aren’t there more owners and executives that look like me?” That’s what we’re trying to change through education and service to our community. I want to make sure that everyone, despite their race, gender, or socioeconomic status has a fair place in this industry.
Photo Credit: Steve Duran/Colorado Kush
WB: Who are your mentors and why?
Steve Duran: There have been a lot of folks who’ve helped me out along the way and given me solid advice, but on a personal level, I’ll always have to show my mom some love. Watching her do whatever it took to raise me as a single parent really instilled the value of hard work in me. I wouldn’t be who I am today without her love, support, and guidance.
Professionally, I have to give a shout-out to Berner. Seeing him turn Cookies into this international cannabis brand was inspiring – I knew I wanted to work with him and learn from his experience in the legal market. That level of insight and just knowing how the legal market works are priceless. We’ve both been in the industry for a minute so it’s motivating to see another Latino build this cannabis empire that’s still about the culture. We need to see more of it in the industry.
WB: When did you discover cannabis? How old were you? Why cannabis? What brought you to the plant?
Steve Duran: I was 12 years old when I smoked cannabis for the first time. Back then, you didn’t have all these reports on the medical benefits of it but everyone in my circle knew there was this holistic component to it. You can see how pills and hard drugs change people, but cannabis didn’t have the same impact. It was different, it actually helped people. It’s been a part of my life ever since. I’ve always used it to relieve stress and anxiety, boost my mood, and increase my appetite – and honestly, I just enjoy it. I truly believe this plant can elevate people’s quality of life by serving as a natural remedy to a variety of ailments. It’s the undeniable sense of community created by a mutual appreciation for the plant that’s kept me dedicated all these years.
Photo Credit: Steve Duran/Colorado Kush
WB: Do you cook? If so, what is your favorite thing to prepare? Favorite restaurant? Where?
Steve Duran: Yes, I love to cook! I grew up around my mom and grandma who were both amazing cooks so I got to taste some of the best homemade food in the world right at home. I would say my favorite thing to make is a pot of green chile cooked with Pueblo Chile of course. That’s my favorite meal to cook because of the smells and flavors that go into it (onion, garlic, chile, spices) – it’s always a reminder of home. When you walk in the house and there’s a pot of chile going there’s no other smell like it. I would take a pan of my mom’s red chile enchiladas, her Spanish rice, and this strawberry banana double-decker cake she makes over any restaurant that I’ve ever been to.
WB: What is your passion?
Steve Duran: My passion is centered around elevating people within the cannabis community. I really want to educate and empower people like me, who came from similar environments and circumstances. I want to be a driving force behind the effort to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal market. I want to help people transition from the illicit market to the legal market. Cannabis is a billion-dollar industry and yet thousands of people of color remain in prison for possession and/or consumption every day. I aspire to be an example of how legal cannabis can lift historically marginalized individuals and ultimately serve as a means of economic prosperity for a well-lived life. We’ve got a limited amount of time on Earth, and we need to make the most of it, regardless of what we’ve been through.
What a pitch. How could I say no? I was and am stunned by the depth of this interview. It digs so deeply that my words are trite in reply. There is really nothing for me to say other than thank you for your service, sir.
Warren,
A true pleasure! We are thankful for your support, and I look forward to speaking with you.
As a new Veteran owned and operated cannabis brand with a non-profit, distribution network, and outdoor/light dep grow, we have developed an incredible mission plan to offer premium cannabis products to Veterans at a discounted price, and proceeds from every sale go directly towards our mission:
Our Mission:
“We support the use of medical cannabis to treat the symptoms of combat-related Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, and other military service-connected disabilities.”
The use of medical cannabis is known to address profound symptoms of mental and physical health issues that are difficult to treat otherwise. There is currently an epidemic of opioid overdose and veteran suicide in America that we hope to prevent by easing pain and anguish with medical cannabis use.
Support Group
Access donated cannabis for local veterans and other veteran advocate groups
Discuss the medicinal uses of cannabis
Promote and support other veteran advocates
Resource Center
Help veterans file VA disability claims
Provide a list of other veteran advocacy groups
Help navigate VA benefits/services
Disseminate Information via Conference Calls
Educate
Cannabis use and methodology
Dosing and getting started
Talk about VA Mental/Health services
Networking
Create a Strong Veteran Coalition
Veterans doing business with Veterans
Veterans supporting Veterans
Veterans hiring Veterans
Job Placement
Help veterans find employment in the cannabis industry.
I have a personal story to share that led to joining Brothers Mark Cannabis (BMC). I first wrote and self-published my book in 2015 while trying to drink myself to death after coming home from war/s it was my therapy that blossomed into a small bio I felt was important to publish for several reasons…. ‘The Strains of War.’
The Strains of War: a True Story and Still Growing – Kindle edition by Amsler, R.Gage. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phone, or tablet. Use features like bookmarks, note taking, and highlighting while reading The Strains of War: a True Story and Still Growing: www.amazon.com
After 18 months of talks, Jeremy Freitas (Veteran owner of BMC and the Veterans Cannabis Group 501(c)(3)) and I have agreed to build this brand together, so I left my other professional career and my life, packed my things, and drove from Michigan to Cali.
I would not have taken this job if we could not produce excellent medicine. It is obvious with the products we are just now releasing through distribution how incredible this brand is already starting out. We pride ourselves on growing only premium flower and working with the finest extraction/production companies to deliver these products.
Letter w/menu to retailers:
MILITARY VETERAN BRAND
BROTHERS MARK CANNABIS IS A MILITARY VETERAN BRAND.
OUR FARM IN SONOMA COUNTY, ‘PATRIOT VALLEY FARMS’, IS WHERE WE GROW PREMIUM CANNABIS FOR THE BROTHERS MARK BRAND.
WHAT WE FOUND IN RETAIL STORES 10% – 20% OF YOUR PATIENTS ARE MILITARY VETERANS. IN FACT, MOST RETAILERS OFFER A VETERAN DISCOUNT AND HAVE IDENTIFIED THEM IN THEIR POS SYSTEM.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH MANY OF THE RETAILERS TO DO MARKETING EFFORTS IN REACHING OUT TO YOUR 10% – 20% VETERAN COMMUNITY. OUR BRAND OFFERS FLOWER, PRE-ROLLS, CONCENTRATE PRE-ROLLS, AND MORE
Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How did you discover the plant? When was the first time you discovered it? Where?
I grew up mostly in southern California but moved often. My father abandoned us when I was eight years old, and my mother married six more alcoholics after. While most kids were growing up and discovering the world and their purpose, I was just trying to survive in a severely abusive household. My PTSD started quite early. My mother abandoned me in my senior year in high school, so I dropped out to work. Through unfortunate events, I ended up homeless at 18yo in Orange County. My best option was the military, so I achieved my GED and went to the recruiting office. All four doors/branches in one location…whoever talked to me first was my calling, I had no idea where I wanted to go. I entered the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman in 1990. Kuwait was just gearing up, and the Marines needed combat field medics, so I went to the green side as an 8404 FMF Combat Field Medic with 1st Recon LAV, 1st Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton, San Diego. I went to support the Kuwait Liberation in 1991-2 for six months.
After my four years, I decided to move on with my GI Bill. I was accepted to the University of Michigan for a medical student program and moved there in 1994. After growing up mostly on the beach, then the military and war, I found out I could not stand to be indoors, so I quit that program and decided to become a paramedic in 1996. I advanced in trauma, cardiac, and pediatric emergency medicine. In 2000 I then became a professional Firefighter in Dearborn, Michigan (the largest Arabic population per capita outside of the Middle East) for the next five years. I was at Station #4 the morning of 9/11. I wanted to support our country again, but I could not go back into the military; this is when private contracting really took off like Blackwater, Triple Canopy, and SOC. A military buddy contacted me who was recruiting for these contracting companies. They are paying big money for medics with my type of military background. It took almost a year to the day, and I received my secret security clearance. I trained in Reston, VA, and became WPPS (World-Wide Private Professional Securities) certified by the Dept. of State. I dropped boots on the ground in Basra, Iraq October 2005.
I spent the next four years all over Iraq.
I decided to take a break and took some time at home. My PTSD was full throttle at this time. It was 2008-9, and Michigan had just gone legal for medicinal cannabis. A friend introduced me to growing and the possibilities of financial gain. I was intrigued by the holistic patient care side, and the idea of making a living doing this seemed like a great plan. I dove headfirst into everything cannabis. Read Jorge Cervantes’s Marijuana Bible three times, and I finally had that AHA moment! When you realize the absolute truth about this plant, the government’s sick intentions and the abuse of so many were gut-wrenching. Changed my entire perspective…… and my life. I obtained a caregiver license and began growing medicine I believed would support my patients’ symptoms. It went well for a little while; unfortunately, it was not enough, and there were many learning curves. So, I ended up going back, but to Afghanistan this time in 2010.
I was handpicked for a 4-man SpecOps Team to directly support security operations for USACE (Army Corps of Engineers) as we were tasked to build small FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) along the mouth of the Taliban Trail near the border of Pakistan in the Paktika Province. Including other extreme operations, we were tasked with, I did this for another four years.
In the second week of November 2013, we were in search of a new area for building a new FOB. We were a bit off grid and accidentally came across the plants growing almost out of rock at 8000′ with a little bit of snow coverage on the ground. With the cannabis knowledge I had and the medic in me, I had some sort of epiphany on top of that Kush mountain. Some of the plants were dropping seeds, so I grabbed what I could.
Over the course of the next year, I made the realization these seeds were worth risking my life for. I found a way to bring them home. It was a harrowing experience I did not put in my book. In 2015 I began researching these genetics and started phenohunting. My complex PTSD was on a different level, and it was a bad time in my life, locking myself away on thirty-four acres and pushing everyone away in my life. I began to drink myself almost to death. At this same time, as I was also growing, I began to write my story, first, just for therapy. As I continued to write, I realized maybe this story was worth telling others, maybe to help them in some way through my pain and suffering. Since I was only growing and could not use cannabis if I wanted to visit my local VA due to my mental health, I was drinking… heavily. In fact, at one time, I tried to drink myself to death until I began bleeding from my eyes, and I woke the fuck up. Moving forward, I began to mix other favorite strains with my Afghani, and I started MERAKII Genetics. Giving away the medicine I grew to Veterans and others with mental health concerns was also therapy for me.
Almost eight years later and California calls me back.
I contacted Aaron Augustus with the Veterans Cannabis Group when I found out about the wonderful resources they were offering for Veterans. I was then introduced to Jeremy Freitas, and their BROTHERS MARK CANNABIS brand. After much discussion, I made a visit to the farm to see for myself what this brand has to offer. Absolutely incredible medicine sun grown/light-dep flower from the terroir of Sonoma!!
Toda I have left my career and my family (for now) to live on the farm in Sonoma County as the Director of Sales and Marketing & Brand Ambassador for BROTHERS MARK to help build an owned and operated Veteran cannabis brand with a 501c3 that is a beacon for all Veterans to find support with.
Please tell me about your company, what do you do? What makes your work different? What are your six and twelve-month goals?
The Brothers Mark team believes in safe access to medicinal cannabis to all those who seek it. We aim to provide clean, quality, and affordable products to our military veterans and those who support them. Today the scientific community is finding that cannabis has many medicinal properties, and that’s how we view it as a medicine.
We support the use of medical cannabis to treat the symptoms of combat-related Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, and other military service-connected disabilities.
The use of medical cannabis is known to address profound symptoms of mental and physical health issues that are difficult to treat otherwise. There is currently an epidemic of opioid overdose and veteran suicide in America that we hope to prevent by easing pain and anguish with medical cannabis use.
The Veterans Cannabis Group offers:
Support Group
Access donated cannabis for local veterans and other veteran advocate groups
Discuss the medicinal uses of cannabis
Promote and support other veteran advocates
Resource Center
Help veterans file VA disability claims
Provide a list of other veteran advocacy groups
Help navigate VA benefits/services
Disseminate Information via Conference Calls
Educate
Cannabis use and methodology
Dosing and getting started
Talk about VA Mental/Health services
Networking
Create a Strong Veteran Coalition
Veterans doing business with Veterans
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Help veterans find employment in the cannabis industry
What kind of obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? Who is your mentor? What are you smoking right now that is just brilliant?
As a newer brand in the great “green brand rush” there is of course, competition from all angles to be recognized and accepted as a brand you can trust that will consistently bring premium medicine to the market. Currently, we have a fully legal 172-acre farm offering full-sun and light-deprivation cannabis along with two greenhouses. We procure the finest northern California genetics that offers, in our research and opinions, incredible opportunities for those with PTSD and related conditions. The continuing drought has a lot of farms desperate for water, and many may fall victim, including to other issues like over regulations and taxes. We have been lucky to have the knowledge, dedication, and support to make this brand sustainable. We just tapped a well on our tallest hill that shows incredible return, so we will be in Cloverdale for a while as we develop this brand and grow incredible flower. The best way to remove obstacles to building this brand is to network, and let everyone know who we are and that we bring the same integrity, passion, and dedication to this medicine and brand as we did in the military and our previous successful careers. I have been introducing myself all over NorCal, and as the events begin this year, we will find many opportunities to find Veterans and others who could benefit from our flower and products. We have wonderful distribution for the entire state, and so far, Brothers Mark is in many retail stores already.
Who is my mentor? Anyone who shares the same passion (or more) than I do about this plant certainly has the knowledge and a perspective I am always curious about. I would say my mentors are those who have always viewed this plant as medicine and non-harmful and have fought the law in some way or another to use or provide this to others. The laws on this plant are unnatural, and natural law is my first law. The underground breeders that have developed so many of these amazing strains.
If I had to name a few; Jack Herer, Mila Jansen, Dennis Peron, Cheech & Chong, Willie Nelson, Steve DeAngelo, Terrence McKenna, Jorge Cervantes, Al Byrne, Mary-Lynn Mather, Nurse Heather, the list of canna-warriors goes on like this.
What am I smoking now that I am loving? There are a few, and of course, it looks like I am biased, but I am truly loving Brothers Mark Apricot Papaya for my daytime smoke. (Papaya x Green Crack x Papaya) is a very uplifting and creative smoke that offers a real focus. Another daytime is Gold Seals ‘Congolese’ cultivar. It’s a 13-week sativa that offers incredible energy and focus, and the taste is absolutely unique. While in LA recently, I picked up some Apples & Bananas by Blaze Mota, a beautiful hybrid and absolutely craft flower. I am really liking this for later in the day.
Right now, we are harvesting the second run of my own hybrid I have developed from my Afghani genetics…. Trigger Hippie Hindu Kush. Over the last 7 years, I have developed several hybrids with my Afghani, and this one pheno has proven herself. This cultivar offers me the perfect daytime smoke that gives me true energy, no jitters, and attention to detail as I enjoy laser-sharp focus on whatever I am doing, then relaxes me without knocking me out. I am very proud of this and am working to release this soon.
What kind of food do you enjoy? Favorite restaurant? Do you cook? Is there anything that you go to when you’re imbibing cannabis?
I went plant-based about three years ago, so I find the most enjoyment in a veggie pizza or Mediterranean food; all that garlic and hummus is my favorite!
I love to cook. In fact, I learned to be a pretty decent cook when I was in the fire department. It was not easy at first, cooking for a bunch of demanding, judgmental guys, but I learned fast. I then learned to enjoy cooking and have always ever since. In fact, I do 90% of the cooking in my house. When I am stoned, I go for anything I can eat with my hands I don’t have to cook. Old pizza, trail mix, ice cream cone, and of course, anything chocolate.
What is your passion?
What inspires me? After so many years learning about myself and what drives me, I have found that I truly love and support Mother Nature and the Earth that offers us everything we could ever need. As a bridge or ambassador of some sort to connect people to what Mother Nature has provided to a better life through health and wellness is an honor and a path. I have found myself continuously on from a Recon medic, paramedic, firefighter, security, and now breeder and grower of natural medicine. My passion IS this journey.
As a New Jersey medical cannabis program patient, I can tell you that low THC cannabis is what my particular affliction requires. But good luck going into a dispensary and asking for strains that test lower than 10 or 12 percent THC. The consensus is pretty clear. The chasing of (high) THC levels is something that is not going away. You’re going to get blank stares, or worse, should you ask the budtender for anything that actually alleviates your ills. With the marketing behind cannabis driving up THC levels, it’s truly refreshing to find people like Joshua Steensland, who studies low THC level cannabis
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me where you’re from and where you live now? What do you do? Please tell me about your company.
Joshua Steensland: I was born in Northern California and grew up in SE Washington state. After serving in the Marines and going through
Photo Credit: Steve Raisner
my roaming gypsy phase, I set roots back in the area I grew up to raise my family. I currently work with our family business, Regenerative Ecoworks LLC, to help cannabis cultivators develop living soil cultivation systems around the world. I also own and operate a premium living soil, low THC, flower facility with two of my Marine veteran brothers, Ohio Fire Factory. The barrier to entry in the high THC space in Ohio is steep and nearly impenetrable in its current state. We decided to leverage the emerging low THC flower market and build out an indoor facility to the same spec one would build a high THC facility with the intention of switching to high THC as soon as the state will allow or recreational gets voted in. Our flower is cold cured, hand-trimmed, and grown in living soil beds under LED lights. Our attention to detail and commitment to treating the flower with the same care and consideration one would with high-value THC flower produces a quality not seen very often in the smokeable hemp flower game. We actually don’t really like calling it hemp because of the negative associations of hemp flower being low quality. Our product is indistinguishable from top shelf, high THC flower. We prefer to call it what it is; ultra-premium, low THC, cannabis.
WB: What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? What are your six and twelve-month goals?
JS: These are great questions! I’ve really found over the years, nearly all of the obstacles to my success have been self-imposed in some way. What I mean by that is in the past, I wasn’t open to the deep self-analysis that is necessary to make course corrections on the fly and be a more effective communicator.
Balancing being self-critical with giving myself grace and allowing for forgiveness when I’ve been a less than an effective communicator. Yes, it still happens. This has been a critical thought exercise that helps me retain my sanity when the juggle starts to feel chaotic or if things start to feel unstable. It gives me the time to analyze objectively and not make important decisions based on emotions only which tend to be a very temporary and limiting headspace.
Photo Credit: Joshua Steensland
In 6 months, I would like to see Ohio Fire Factory’s three-phase build-out complete, and in a years’ time, I would like to see our product changing the low THC flower game nationwide while inspiring veterans and cultivators alike to cultivate with living soil systems.
WB: Who is your mentor? Who taught you your craft?
JS: I have several mentors, and they are, either directly or indirectly, my teachers also.
Firstly, Masanobu Fukuoka. He is the author of “The one-straw revolution .”His book really opened my eyes to the possibility of simplifying farming and cultivation by paying attention to the forces of nature and learning to work with mother nature’s design as opposed to against it and hammering it to our will. It’s a very easy and inspiring read. His story of how he transformed his property is nothing short of amazing.
I need to include Dr. Elaine Ingham in this list. Her decades of work studying the important role biology plays in plant growth, and nutrient cycling deserves more attention than it receives. Her body of work, “Foundation Course” classes and microscopy training were fundamental in helping me connect the dots as to what I was observing in my living soil cultivation journey and strengthened my resolve when it comes to my Fukuoka style of minimal input, hands-off cultivation.
I think some honorable mentions would be Rudolf Steiner, John Kempf, Dr. Tom Dykstra, and Dr. Arden Andersen. I highly suggest checking out the body of work these gentlemen have produced regarding regenerative cultivation practices and finding ways to incorporate them into your systems.
WB: What is your favorite food? Restaurant? Why?
JS: Favorite food!!! That’s a tough one. We love food in our house. My daughter and I actually have spent hours watching street food videos
Photo Credit: Joshua Steensland
and already have our dream Japanese street food vacation planned! We don’t eat at many restaurants because we like to cook and prepare food at home as much as possible. We try to eat healthy, vibrant, and nutritionally dense foods but recognize the need for flexibility and balance and enjoy a slice of cake or cookies from time to time, probably a little more than we should, but what’s life if you aren’t living it right?! My absolute favorite foods are any authentic Mexican food or a pan-seared rib eye, bloody rare, with sweet potatoes and broccoli. Pretty simple guy to please here.
WB: What is your passion?
JS: My passions are pretty simple. Family. Cannabis and simple living. The real joy has been finding a way to put all of those things together and create revenue streams that put a roof over our head, food on the table, and explore and deepen my relationship with cultivation in general. This also affords my wife the ability to explore her passions and set the example to our children that one can quite literally forage their own path in this world if you lead with integrity and courage.
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 based
Photo courtesy of Marianne Cursetjee
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.
Veritas Fine Cannabis in Colorado has kept itself ahead of the rest of the industry with quality products, innovative branding, and promotions.
No, the company is breaking away from the rest of the pack by appointing environmental health and safety manager, Elizabeth Lee, to spearhead their sustainability efforts. Along with her degree in environmental studies, Ms. Lee was recognized as the woman for the job after internal meetings revealed her deep interest in sustainable practices.
DENVER—Oct. 26, 2021 —Veritas Fine Cannabis, Colorado’s original craft cannabis, today announced the company’s new position of Environmental Health and Safety Manager, promoting packaging lead Elizabeth Lee into the key role. The position will oversee company initiatives to advance sustainability, including energy conservation and packaging, two notorious problem areas for the global cannabis industry.
“Veritas has championed sustainability since inception and we are very eager to leverage this new role and Elizabeth’s background to elevate this commitment to new proportions,” said Mike Leibowitz, CEO of Veritas Fine Cannabis. “We started ‘Veritas Talks’ last summer, where employees have a platform to spark conversations about how we can progress as a company. Through this, Elizabeth shared several ideas we implemented and immediately felt an impact, so much so that it flourished into this new position.”
“Sustainability is something I’ve always found passion in, along with working in cannabis,” said Elizabeth Lee, Environmental Health & Safety Manager at Veritas Fine Cannabis. “Having the opportunity to help Veritas be at the forefront of sustainability in the cannabis industry is a dream for me.”
Ms. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from American University and is approaching the final year of her master’s degree in the Environmental Health & Safety program at the University of Denver. In addition to spearheading sustainability initiatives, Elizabeth will oversee Veritas’ environmental health and safety program.
About Veritas Fine Cannabis
Quality, consistency, honesty, and preserving the unique terpene profile of each strain—these are the guiding principles that set Veritas Fine Cannabis apart as one of America’s first premium cannabis wholesalers. Named after the Roman goddess of truth, Veritas is more than a cultivator; it is a curator of the cannabis experience. From first cuts through harvest and packaging, the Veritas team does everything by hand to optimize the full expression of a strain’s terpenes that yield singular effects. The company continually adds to its library of hundreds of proprietary genetics and catalogs each cultivar by terpene profile so consumers can find the perfect Veritas product to fit their individual needs. With buzzworthy strain drops each month, Veritas leads the market in connoisseur cannabis. For more information, visit veritascannabis.com.
I had the opportunity to dig a little bit deeper into Veritas Fine Cannabis and it made me appreciate their website even more. This is a brand that resonates with nerds like me!
Cheers! WB
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself? Why Cannabis? What brought you to the plant?
Elizabeth Lee: I am originally from Minnesota and lived there my whole life until I went to college. I took the big leap and moved out East to attend college at American University in Washington D.C. I have a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies and a minor in sustainability. After graduating, I decided to move to Colorado without even visiting, and it was the best decision for me. I knew with my degree I could find a job I’m passionate about and decided to look into the cannabis industry. I saw that growing the plant was energy and water-intensive and required copious amounts of packaging. With no federal regulation and influence, I felt the cannabis industry had the opportunity to be at the forefront of environmental sustainability. And once I started working in a cultivation and packaging facility, I saw the hazards workers are exposed to, and it made me think a lot about the health and safety side of cannabis. In June of 2020, I decided to pursue my Masters at Denver University in Environmental Health and Safety. I am set to graduate in June 2022.
Warren Bobrow: Indoor or outdoor grown? Why? Organics? Biodynamics? Favorite strain? Grown by whom?
Elizabeth Lee: As a home grower, I prefer to grow outside. Why not take advantage of the Colorado sun! My favorite Veritas strain is Tropicana Cookies. I love the pungent citrus smell and taste that comes from it.
Warren Bobrow: What are your six and twelve-month goals?
Elizabeth Lee: A sixth-month goal of mine is to execute a company-wide safety policy. We want to implement new employee safety training and quarterly training thereafter to ensure every employee feels safe and confident doing their job. OSHA has not set standards specified to cannabis yet, but there will be a time when that happens, and Veritas wants to be at the forefront.
As a twelve-month goal, we want to reduce our reliance on new packaging and find a solution to sanitize and reuse our cannabis jars. Package waste is a serious issue, and we need to divert waste from landfills. Since we already use glass jars, the opportunity to sanitize and reuse them would divert many of these jars from even making it as far as the recycling bin.
Warren Bobrow: Favorite food when stoned? Favorite food memory from childhood? Do you cook? Who taught you?
Elizabeth Lee: I would say my favorite foods to eat when stoned are desserts. I really love watching “The Great British Baking Show” and have now taken a liking to gourmet desserts. Tarts, mousses, cakes. The show gives me a lot of inspiration to expand my baking skills, as well! I also really enjoy cooking. My great-grandma Kate used to cook and bake such amazing things when I was younger—so good that we had a recipe book created before she passed away. I still cook her recipes to this day. Some of my favorites are tater tot hotdish and her famous waffle cookies. I also love finding food accounts on Instagram and making their recipes.
Warren Bobrow: What is your passion?
Elizabeth Lee: I am passionate about living a life that considers the health of people and our planet. I’ve always enjoyed making changes that better my life and the overall environment. I think we forget that we all have an opportunity to ignite change and one person can have a great influence on others.
Being a creative person, I’m naturally interested in the work of other creatives. When I was introduced to the originative world of Pilgrim Soul, I felt a certain kinship. After all, I had in my past life worked with high-level individuals within a creative part of a private bank for nearly twenty years. This capability of furthering the thought process stimulated my need in later years to become a six-time published author. The intellect needed to write books is in many ways similar to starting a corporation or leading someone else’s company. You face many challenges in publishing as you do in the corporate world. Politics and silos abound, watch your step and tread lightly? Usually or not a chance… But the world has changed since I did my part to further myself in the corporate world. It would have been nice to have been able to support the efforts of someone like Shawn Gold, the Founder, and CEO of Pilgrim Soul. He’s a really intriguing man, with ideas that mimic my own ethos. I’m fortunate to have been able to interview his efforts for Skunk Magazine. I hope you find inspiration in his broad-reaching ethos for organic change. It’s not too far-fetched nor solely California Centric. There are global implications for his metrics and challenges. I hope you click through to learn more about his efforts.
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
Thank you, WB.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself? Why did you start working in cannabis? Do you prefer indoor or outdoor-grown cannabis, and why?
Shawn Gold: My career has consisted of CMO roles at tech-driven start-ups and imagining business models that did not exist. From social networking at MySpace, blogging with Engadget, social storytelling with Wattpad, and working with brands like Fabletic and SavageXFenty, it’s always been about thriving in the ambiguity of a new idea. Throughout my career, I have used cannabis to generate ideas, empathize with my customers, see things symphonically and make non-linear connections. So, when the legal cannabis industry started to emerge, I decided I wanted to help people benefit from my experience with cannabis.
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
As far as indoor or outdoor, I am a huge fan of consuming things as nature intended while being kind to the planet, so my default would be sun-grown California cannabis. You can make a delicious and potent product under natural conditions; I don’t necessarily need to have super high potency indoor cannabis to have a great experience. That said, if you have some amazing indoor cannabis, I’d love to see it and learn more about it.
You could say the creative interactions that I experienced through Pilgrim Soul opened my third eye. Thank you. WB
WB: Please tell me about Pilgrim Soul? What makes this brand different? Do you have a favorite [vape pen]?
SG: Pilgrim Soul’s mission is to help people unlock their innate creativity to help them gain a competitive edge in life and work. We do this with exclusive cannabis blends, creative curriculum, community-driven creativity programs, and expert content via PilgrimSoul.com.
It is best to think of Pilgrim Soul as a creativity company, where cannabis is just one of the products. The brand is designed to allow any creativity-enhancing product – we may even accommodate psilocybin when that becomes legal.
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
As far as our cannabis products go, we worked with the scientists at AbstraxLabs to create live resin blends of the top creative strains for different types of creative thinking – Creative Focus, Creative Reflection, Creative Imagination, and Creative Awareness. We analyze hundreds of cannabis strains that index high for creativity and other states of mind, according to survey data. After identifying each strain’s cannabinoid and terpene profiles, we built a matrix of strains that are then blended and mapped back to specific types of creative impact. This ongoing research is supported by focus groups and feedback from iconic creative leaders across varied industries.
WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals [for Pilgrim Soul]?
SG: Pilgrim Soul is looking to be the category leader in cannabis for creativity. We launched our cannabis line in July, and it is already a best-selling live resin oil blend in MedMen, Sweet Flower, The High Note, and The Cannabist.
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
Additionally, we are expanding our creative curriculum in the form of our Creative Thinking Journals meant to be used while you are high. These journals are filled with fun and shareable, creative challenges meant to spark the imagination and help people rethink the way they see the world. In November, we will debut a new journal in partnership with a well-known comedian.
The success metrics for all these efforts, other than money, are helping people enhance their lives with creative thinking – to help them uncover new possibilities and ideas.
WB: What is your favorite food when smoking cannabis? Do you have a food memory from childhood that involves cannabis?
SG: That is an interesting question because I don’t have a lot of cannabis-specific experiences. I use cannabis as a way to enhance experiences in general. I find smoking and going to a restaurant can make the food better because I’m more focused and present. I become more conscious of the flavors, the textures, the ritual, and the people I am dining with.
WB: What is your passion?
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
Humor and laughter. I love people (well, most people), and my favorite thing is to laugh and riff on ideas with friends and new
acquaintances. I find laughter to be the shortest distance between two people. When two people are laughing at the same thing, they are basically saying, ‘I share your perspective, your values, and I certainly share what you think is amusing.’ Cannabis is an aid in this process. It helps with divergent out-of-the-box thinking by getting the neurons in the frontal lobe firing in a more uninhibited way. It also represses the area of the brain called the dorsolateral cortex, which is about judgment. I guess you could say I use cannabis to make everything slightly more interesting.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me who you are. What you’re working on right now?
John Bayes/Mike Abramson: We are the Dharma Police. However, on an average day, we are known as John Bayes of Green Bodhi and Mike Abramson Of Brothers Grimm Seeds. We are working on bringing awareness and intention back to the industry. Intentional Horticulture, coined by John, is a way of life cultivating Dharma from within to apply to the plant, but more importantly, to apply to every aspect of what you do. Another one of our focuses is bringing back the Brotherhood/Sisterhood atmosphere to the culture. Pre 2005, there wasn’t the amount of hate and shade thrown towards any cultivator or breeder. We have decided to team up on a number of projects and invite those with true Dharma into what we are doing. With our current obsession with social media, there have been plenty of keyboard warrior trolls harassing people for literally anything and everything. We are here to stick up for those being bullied.
Photo: Gorilla Boost
WB: As far as philanthropy goes, what are your six and twelve-month plans? What are you working on right now?
JB/MA: This is our favorite thing outside of our families that we prioritize heavily. Currently, we have two main philanthropic endeavors, the first being the #WaterForLife. This is a purely intentional project, no 501c3, no tax-deductible letters. India has some of the worst living conditions with a lack of access to clean water. Most villages are drinking and bathing in the same water animals frequently relieve themselves in. Bodhgaya, which is in the state of Bihar, is the holiest of cities for Buddhists and where the Buddha attained His enlightenment. This area is one of the poorest regions in India, “3rd world” would be a compliment here. So, John decided to work with two friends over there and challenged them to come up with an idea that could help the locals and feed their families. In short, when telling Mike about it, he had to be in. We are currently at monies raised for over 50 wells, with an average of 3-5 a week being donated and the 29th being installed soon. For $700, a village gets access to clean water, thousands of lives are changed instantly.
Another big project we are working on is raising funds for “His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Library and Learning Center,” which will be located at Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, NY. This is the only seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the western world, and currently His only seat outside of India. John has been a student of Namgyal monastery for 10years now and has been appointed as the “Outreach Coordinator” for the project. We both hold the highest regard and reverence for His Holiness and His compassionate commitment towards all beings of the world. Beyond just raising funds, we have ventured into a collaborative philanthropic breeding project where all proceeds will go to the center. We are currently working on a 3-way breeder collaboration, Brothers Grimm, Green Bodhi, and Bodhi Seeds. This will officially drop at the Harvest Cup in Worcester in November.
WB: Favorite cannabis strain right now? Developed by whom? What is it, sativa? Indica? Who developed the genetics?
JB: Purple Hindu Kush. I got the cut from @MrBobHemphill, a legendary strain collector and legacy breeder, the other half to the genetics company “Crickets and Cicada Seeds.”
MA: The Dumpster Diver a Cali Super Skunk x Hazmat OG bred by Covert Genetics. Which is a sativa leaning hybrid.
WB: Favorite food when on the road spreading the word?
JB/MA: Noodles. Spending a lot of time on the road and at the monastery, we have discovered that any composed noodle dish is the fuel we need. Ramen, Pho, Pad Thai, it’s literally a whole meal. Spice is a requirement; the hotter, the better.
WB: What is your passion?
JB/MA: Our families, friends, living a life of intention and compassion. We also love to “Send It” with everything we do, from surfing to hitting the mountains in the winter.
I was just out at the Hall of Flowers held yearly at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California. While there, I had a chance to taste the fine flowers offered by fumé, and without even being patient and getting some at the show, I bought some from a dispensary. I knew that there would be no shortage of fine flowers available to me, but if I wanted to capture any tasting notes, I was forced by necessity to do them early in my day’s work. Such is the life of a cannabis-tasting notes aficionado. At least it’s not like doing a rum tasting. The hangovers from the sugar were insurmountable sometimes. Cannabis offers no such experience, especially not cannabis, from companies such as fumé. They offer such an elevated show. It’s refreshing to smoke their offerings early in my tasting routine, which this year was no disappointment.
Please enjoy the following interview with Ian Hackett, Napa Valley Fumé CMO, and Head of Compliance. Did I say that their herbs are deliciously different?
They are.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about the new brand.
Ian Hackett: We created our new brand, fumé (pronounced foo-may), in an effort to showcase what we believe to be some of California’s best cannabis strains. We developed this premium line with the educated cannabis consumer in mind; those who seek out unique strains with complex terpene profiles and are grown by farmers who honor the plant and go the extra mile to grow responsibly in order to protect the planet. The fumé consumer understands that terpenes are key players in their experience, and they have a passion for sustainability and giving back to the cannabis community, two key components of our brand. We evaluated dozens of strains–held blind sensory panels for aroma, taste, and experience–and met with the growers in person to hand-pick the strains. To complete the experience, we coupled them with premium smoking accessories that allow people to experience the true flavor of these terpene-rich cultivars. We wanted to push the envelope in terms of cannabis packaging. I have an issue with the number of single-use plastics that, due to regulations, we can’t really avoid. So, I worked with an amazing packaging supplier, and my designer and I came up with a stunning, child-resistant certified, plastic-free solution for our king cones, pre-roll packs, and flower.
WB: Why cannabis?
IH: I want to help people. It’s simply part of who I am. I believe that the cannabis plant–with all of its healing properties–can help people fix themselves. The positive results have been demonstrated time and time again. From the medical perspective and how critical cannabis was in helping those suffering from HIV/AIDS and cancer starting in the 80s to how it’s used today to treat PTSD for our Veterans, and it is helping so many people who suffer from anxiety and depression with real results. We should try and heal ourselves, not mask or medicate with opioids that have been overprescribed and subsequently abused for many decades. That said, I also see the massive opportunity that the cannabis industry brings to the economy. I was lucky enough to be part of the e-commerce boom, and to me–aside from space–the cannabis industry is the next frontier.
WB: Indoor or outdoor grown? Why?
IH: I believe that outdoor is the ideal growing style for cannabis. It’s the most natural and cost-effective method. I just love the idea of the cannabis plants basking under the California sun and swaying under our big blue skies. That said, I am a big fan and love a good greenhouse grow. You can take advantage of the sun’s energy, maintain a hospitable environment when mother nature is having a bad day, and you can have multiple harvests per year. We have one sun-grown strain in the fumé lineup called Dank Fruit, and it recently took third place in High Times’ NorCal Cannabis Cup in the sun-grown category. It’s a cross between Purple Papaya Punch x Blue Dream. I dubbed it an introvert’s paradise, and it’s my current go-to weekday strain because it delivers such a well-balanced high, and it smokes super smooth. The other two strains in the fumé line are absolute stunners. Our Double Chem OG (Light Dep) is a heavy-hitter and delivers that body buzz before taking you into a calm, relaxed state. And, our Cherry AK (Mixed Light) has an incredible nose—I get goosebumps whenever I smell it. It’s sweet and piney, and it packs a burst of energy right out of the gate; it’s a cerebral banger, and you’ll want to move around.
WB: Favorite let’s get stoned food, where?
IH: Gimme the salt all day. Pretzels, pizza (duh), and olives. This is why I really love an overflowing Mezze platter when I smoke with friends. I like the freshness of a Mezze platter and how savory the items are—the olives, feta, eggplant, tzatziki, and the warm flatbreads just hit the spot for me. With a loaded Mezze platter, there is something for everyone so we can just settle in, listen to music, talk, and graze and blaze.
WB: What is your passion?
IH: I am honestly just in love with the cannabis community. I have never felt so protective, engaged with, and proud of a group of people. I want to help people find healing with the plant and bring joy to others through recreational use. So, to combine my passion for helping and healing through the plant with my professional desire to build things, I have found an industry and community that gets the best parts of me. I have used cannabis since high school recreationally and medically after my first panic attack about eight years ago. But, being able to work with the plant, develop products and brands, and collaborate with some amazing growers, marketers, retailer buyers, and my awesome team makes me very thankful for the opportunity I have been given to work in this industry.
*Unique, high-quality cannabis, grown responsibly
fumé strains are uncommon as they are small-batch cannabis with complex cannabinoid and terpene profiles that deliver a full-spectrum experience. The strains are visually appealing, have vibrant colors, and produce enticing aromas when squeezed. Each large bud was cured to perfection and hand-trimmed with care.
The flower is sourced based on the sustainability of the grower’s cultivation practices. The brand showcases the growers, many of whom are heritage growers who have honed their craft of growing small-batch cannabis sustainably and responsibly. That means no run-off from their grow, no chemicals or toxic chemicals are used, and they don’t import water.
*Elevated packaging and smoking accessories
fumé strains are offered in three formats–Flower (3.5g), King Cone (1g), and Pre-Roll Pack (3.5g). The flower is beautifully packaged in a premium UV-resistant, air-tight flower jar that preserves the flower five times longer than any other jar on the market. The King Cone and Pre-Roll Pack include custom cherry wood smoke tips created by a small wood accessory maker in the US and an organic beeswax hemp wicks to remove the taste of sulfur from a matchstick or butane from a lighter, allowing to taste the flower in its truest form. fumé packaging is totally sustainable, 100% recyclable, and child-resistant certified–to open the King Cone and Pre-Roll Packs, you simply insert a credit card to expose the snug-fit tray where each cone joint is housed in a glass tube with a cork for freshness.
*Giving back to the cannabis community
In 2020, Napa Valley Fumé partnered with Last Prisoner Project to free people who are currently incarcerated for a drug that is no longer illegal. The company continues to be an active partner with continued support in its ongoing efforts with recurring monthly donations. Napa Valley Fumé is proud to be long-standing supporters of Last Prisoner Project.
fumé is now available throughout California on Eaze.com, Sweet Flower in Los Angeles, and select High Times dispensaries.
Napa Valley Fumé is a vertically integrated cannabis company based in Napa, CA. The company’s mission–Planting Trees for Future Generations–comes from its vision to plant seeds to grow a brighter future for cannabis by bringing the most innovative products and experiences to market. Its first brand–LAKE GRADE–entered the market in July 2019, and its proprietary strains quickly became one of the most popular sun-grown cannabis on the market. In August 2021, Napa Valley Fumé launched its flagship brand–fumé–for those who seek an elevated cannabis experience.
Warren Bobrow has been a dishwasher, the owner of the first company to make fresh pasta in South Carolina , a television engineer and he even worked at Danceteria in NYC, then a trained chef which led to a twenty year career in private banking. A cannabis, wine and travel aficionado, Warren is a former rum judge and craft spirits national brand ambassador. He works full time in the cannabis business as an alchemist/journalist. Cocktailwhisperer.com Drinkklaus.com Instagram: warrenbobrow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Bobrow
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