Years ago, in the late 1980’s when I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, I was gifted a very special tool from my old friend, Jean-Jacques, used for smoking cheeba. He named it the chalice. It was a very simple device, a piece of timber bamboo with a hole in it, where a sandblasting tip had been inserted and sealed with wire and clay for airtightness. You would fill the sandblasting tip with ouid and light it up. Your mouth would rest on one end, the other acted as a carburetor. The hits that the chalice put out were exemplary and potent. I’d never smoked anything like it until a car-ride with Chris Louie on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, when he passed me a glass, curiously filled with concentrated cannabis smoke.
Chris instructed me to drink the smoke, just like you would drink a glass of fine Burgundy, sip gently and deeply. Not too much at a time…. Something I failed to hear, because Chris’ chalice was filled with diamonds. No, not the kind that go on your finger, but concentrated cannabis that had formed these gorgeous little gems. Once heated these gems melted and filled my inexperienced lungs with their secrets.
I coughed and then again. Whatever was going through my head was twisted up, form shifting… Manhattan? Park Avenue? This is a serious piece of equipment, Chris’s Chalice.
My piece of bamboo was lost to history, yet it remains vibrant in my mind… Chris’s Chalice on the other hand will be in my mind forever, primarily because it’s just limitless what you can do with it. Starting with that car ride… In Chris’s dad’s car.
A priceless experience of a lifetime.
Chris sent me a Chalice and it can be used one of two ways, the first with a 710 cartridge, it screws right in. Or you can use a concentrate. The learning curve is very short, and the quality of the device is sturdily built and very elegant. The gold lip is pure luxury.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me what you’re working on in regard to luxury. How do you define a luxury cannabis experience?
Chris Louie: At Made In Xiaolin, we focus on luxury to craft exceptional cannabis journeys. We believe luxury means uncompromised excellence, elegance in presentation, and a superior sensory experience. We’re developing products that appeal to those who seek the finest in cannabis—not just for its effects—but for the complete experience it offers. For example, our 6 gram Capo combines 5 grams of premium flower with 1 gram of rosin, providing a rich, flavorful, and enduring session that’s perfect for aficionados who appreciate the nuances of high-quality cannabis. Additionally, our commitment to personalized customer service, innovation, exclusivity, and sustainability enhances the overall luxury experience. We believe in building strong relationships with our customers by offering personalized service, exclusive events, and educational resources. This approach ensures that our customers not only enjoy our products, but also feel valued and part of a larger community of like-minded individuals.
WB: Why the chalice name? What is the inspiration?
CL: It’s inspired by ideas of celebration and reverence. Historically, chalices are used in ceremonies to signify something precious and communal. For us, it symbolizes an elevated cannabis experience meant to be savored and shared. Our products are designed to capture those senses of specialness and unity that make every session a luxurious ritual.
Our Chalice represents a vessel of enjoyment that elevates the act of consuming cannabis into something more ceremonial and sophisticated. We want our customers to feel that each use is an occasion—a moment to be appreciated and enjoyed to the fullest. This inspiration drives us to create products that not only deliver high quality but also offer a unique and memorable experience.
WB: Tell me about the product. What is it? How is it used?
CL: The Chalice is our innovative vaporizer device that we crafted to provide a unique yet familiar experience for consuming cannabis concentrates. Unlike typical vaporizers, the Chalice features an atomizer with a quartz coil that heats the concentrates into vapor. The vapor is collected in a glass cup—or chalice—which can be removed and “sipped” or “drunk,” much like you would enjoy a fine drink. To enhance the luxurious experience, we’ve added our signature gold detailing that includes a gold rim around the mouth of the glass and adds an extra touch of elegance and sophistication.
Additionally, the Chalice is designed with versatility in mind. The atomizer can be replaced with a pre-filled 510-thread vape cartridge, allowing it to function in the same manner. The vapor from the cartridge fills the glass cup, which can then be consumed in the same sipping or drinking fashion. This dual functionality ensures that the Chalice provides a sophisticated and practical cannabis experience, whether you’re using concentrates or cartridges.
Our focus on creating a user-friendly, yet luxurious device means that the Chalice stands out not only in its functionality, but also in its ability to provide a ritualistic and refined cannabis experience. This innovative design bridges the gap between traditional cannabis consumption and modern vaping technology to make each session special and memorable.
WB: What makes your chalice different from others in this market?
CL: What sets our Chalice apart is that we’re a dedicated cannabis company with deep roots in the industry. We’ve been crafting exceptional cannabis products that deliver unique experiences since 2018, and other companies that offer devices with similar functions aren’t primarily cannabis companies. Our expertise and commitment to excellence ensure that every Chalice stands out and provides a luxurious and unparalleled cannabis experience.
Moreover, our deep understanding of cannabis and our commitment to quality set us apart when we combine our expertise in cannabis with innovative design to create products that truly enhance the enjoyment of cannabis concentrates. The Chalice is not just a vaporizer; it’s a product born from our extensive experience and passion for cannabis, so consumers can be confident that it meets the highest standards of quality, excellence and performance.
WB: What’s next?
CL: We’re going to expand our product line and continue to maintain our commitment to excellence and luxury. We’re developing new and innovative products to elevate the cannabis experience, and we’re increasing our presence in upscale dispensaries with exclusive events to connect with our consumers.
We are also expanding our brand into different states, including New York. We’re also looking to enter the upscale cannabis hospitality sector and create environments where our luxury products can be enjoyed in premium settings. Our goal is to keep setting new standards in the luxury cannabis market by offering products and experiences that captivate and inspire. By constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the cannabis industry, we aim to offer our customers something truly extraordinary while continuing to lead the market in luxury cannabis products.
New Mexico Gets First Taste of Award-Winning Innovation: Klaus Cannabis-Infused Frozen Custard by Master Mixologist Warren Bobrow
ALBUQUERQUE, NM (June 28, 2024): Klaus, the innovative ready-to-drink, functional-infused cocktail brand under the Harmony Craft Beverages portfolio, announces the launch of a cannabis-infused frozen custard in New Mexico. This exciting collaboration brings together Klaus’ masterfully crafted cannabis beverages with Dutch Bliss, an artisan frozen dessert producer in the state.
Klaus Mezzrole Frozen Custard: A Spicy Ginger-Forward Delight Dutch Bliss + Klaus Frozen Custard is a first-of-its-kind treat, offering a refreshing and delicious way to experience cannabis. Created by renowned master mixologist, author, and influencer Warren Bobrow, known for his unique recipes and high-quality ingredients, the Klaus Mezzrole infused frozen custard features a spicy ginger-forward taste profile. It is made with renowned Picketts Ginger Beer, fruit purees from Fierce Fruit, and Bobrow’s signature touch, delivering a flavorful and satisfying experience.
Each 2-ounce container of Klaus Mezzrole Frozen Custard is infused with OG Chem live rosin from Goldfish Farms, a women-owned cannabis farm and rosin extraction company from New Mexico, and contains 25mg THC.
A Collaboration for New Mexico Cannabis Enthusiasts “We’re thrilled to launch Klaus Mezzrole Frozen Custard in New Mexico through our partnership with Dutch Bliss,” says Evan Eneman, CEO at Harmony Craft Beverages.
“This innovative product is a testament to Klaus’ commitment to pushing boundaries and offering consumers unique and delicious cannabis experiences.” “Creating a frozen custard has been a dream of mine, and I’m glad that I could make it happen with Klaus,” says Warren Bobrow, Co-Founder of Klaus. “I can’t wait for New Mexicans to try it.” Dutch Bliss + Klaus Frozen Custard is now available at the following locations in New Mexico. ● Flower and Herbs Market in Albuquerque ● Picuris Smoke Lounge and Casino in Picuris Pueblo (near Taos) ● Endo Dispensary in Santa Fe For more information about Klaus and its products, please visit drinkklaus.com. Klaus beverages will be back out this summer. Stay tuned for more exciting news and announcements. About Klaus Klaus is a ready-to-drink functional beverage brand under the Harmony Craft Beverages portfolio. Created by master mixologist Warren Bobrow, Klaus offers a range of unique and flavorful infused beverages crafted with high-quality ingredients. The brand is committed to providing consumers with delicious and innovative ways to experience cannabis. It is beyond delicious. For more information, visit the Klaus Website and Klaus Instagram page. About Dutch Bliss Dutch Bliss is New Mexico’s infused ice cream company. They specialize in artisan craft custards and frozen desserts infused with top shelf rosin. The brand has been around since the launch of recreational cannabis sales in New Mexico with statewide distribution at licensed retailers. Visit the Dutch Bliss Instagram for more information. About Harmony Craft Beverages Harmony Craft Beverages is a purpose-driven beverage operating platform dedicated to developing better-for-you wellness brands, with a focus on functional-infused beverages. With a portfolio of award-winning, market-tested, innovative brands, we aim to lead the alternative beverage space by delivering premium-quality beverages that promote health and wellness while redefining the consumer experience. As a full-service beverage platform with innovation and acceleration arms, we support nonalcoholic and functional beverages across the supply chain. We’re more than just a company; we’re a collective committed to fostering human connection through better-for-you beverages. Visit our website and social media channels (Instagram, LinkedIn) for more information.
My soundtrack for this very short journey was some inspirational music for me, attached below. It followed me throughout the trip as part of the framework for my writing these observations. So, indulge me with a listen to my friend DF Tram while you read my words.
I find that his imaginative explorations work with my visual and emotional interpretations of that elongated day and a half in Redding, California. This music influences the sky and my dreams, and that looming, snow-covered mountain is where the water used to nurture the plants really comes from. https://canopyofstars.bandcamp.com/album/the-upsweep
The Spiritual Guides
Nishant Reddy and his crucial EO, Leslie… took care of everything just perfectly as I, too, worked as an EO for decades, and I understand the pressure. It’s hard work, and she does it with alacrity and deep humility. Everything was perfect in my vision. From the sounds of the birds outside my hotel room balcony (I left deep/snowy winter in NJ, so having my door open and letting in the sound of the birds gently waking me after a long flight from NJ…To the first wake and bake of the day, inhaling a micro joint of A Golden State with the freshness of the mountain air surrounding my head. Those little joints of Woods — appropriate somehow being up in the mountain forest — this is what I enjoyed first thing in the morning — a pleasure and an honor. Then, a real mountain breakfast with far too much handcrafted food; each glimpse around me was of freight trains going by (lots of trains) and the metaphor for my journey, the omnipresent snow-covered mountains that encircle this magical place. They are the reason why I am here. The water that melts down off Mt. Shasta is life-giving! It’s amazing! I experienced much visually during my visit, both inward and outward. Smoking cannabis of this quality from A Golden State, at their elevation, really was a pleasure. My interactions with the terroir were punctuated by the ring of snow-covered mountains spilling their visual secrets whenever you gazed up.
Thank you for allowing me glimpses of your world. It was just perfect.
A Golden State… Wow, what you have achieved here is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and I get around the world. Is there a term for ultra-craft? I hope so because of what “Bear” and Nishant have achieved with a cast of artists — all striving for a canopy of dreams… It’s striking for me to view the inner vista. The Aboriginal people call it the Dreamtime. When I’m around thriving plants, the energy from these creations fills my brain for lucid dreaming later on — the scent, the visuals, the feel, the conversation. It was a university course, condensed down to a couple of hours. I could have spent all day asking questions with just observations. Lighting from below, the side, on top, hands giving energy and taking the experience to another level. Like the great masters of art, cannabis of this complexity is not manipulated. There is a purity that oozes off each densely textured inhalation.
The Resin
It was that sticky stuff, and it was all over my fingers and surrounding my head. I couldn’t even focus my Leica; the lens was fogged up anyway from the room’s inner rainforest terroir (forest floor and almost visible droplets of humidity experiment), nor my iPhone, because my beforementioned fingertips were stuck together from that juicy bud of Lemon Creamsicle smeared all over the lens. The plethora of dazzling LED-lit plants that surrounded me was gluing up my nostrils with their perfumes and my glove-covered fingers with their gummy juices. The air hung weightily in my head and fingers, coated with a certain lifegiving sap. Pan Asian spices like cardamom and bursts of Thai Chilies stung the inside of my nose. The rainforest-like humidity made my usually comfortable wool socks dripping sweat buckets. As I walked around each plant, drinking in her energy, I realized that it wasn’t unpleasant; in fact, I wanted to spend the rest of the day in there, like in a friendly steam room located inside a country club. In this case, the rooms filled with thirsty bushes of perfectly hand-tended flowers. Just gazing at each happy plant and marveling at the sticky stuff that was suspended in each breath, the aromas literally coating my glasses with ebullient plant juices.
It was ironic, but as I was searching for a way to keep my fingers and everything else from sticking together, my spirit guide on the personal tour recommended that I “run my fingers through my hair.” Hmmmm. Why, I wondered. As if on cue, the explanation given to me was perfectly simple. The oils in our hair dissolve the cannabis resin nearly immediately. Just one more thing I learned about the plant. No soap and water were needed, and that effusive perfume of their juicy strains enveloped my airspace in her sweet/gassy aromatics of the opulent cannabis varietals.
I want to wear the myriad of her olfactory-pleasing perfumes as my cologne all day long.
The Grow
Each room is consistently tended to, from the top down to the absolute bottom up. The air smells clean, and everything gleams like the first day the system was installed. Each grow room is different, with micro-experiments held right within their more traditional approaches. Metrics are essential, with vast amounts of data brought into the grows. Each room is a consistent experience in these metrics as they reference and compare certain observations. Constantly day in and day out, hour by hour, pressure, humidity, temperature, light, dark, watering, feeding, testing, and retesting, hand watering, weighing, spoken kindly to, I think it matters…. I’d hoped to have music played for the plants. I’m sure they’d enjoy some of the Upsweep.
In the end, it’s all about her, the plant. She is carefully hand-tended, and it is grueling, nonstop work. She rewards this completely mind-numbing activity by offering a deeply Zen experience that requires profound patience. What it really requires is a sense of swiftness because there are thousands of plants to tend to. Each plant is essential and equally important to life itself.
The Mantra
Starting at the bottom is not working as a plant-touching person at A Golden State; there are many steps to take before the plant becomes the primary focus. It really becomes an intonation or a mindful activity in the grand sense of the word because there is always something to do in the care of the facility and the cleanliness of everything within. Perhaps the explanation for this, my explanation, lies in the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which should be in their welcome new employee kits, as this book might help in the nature of their work. I’ve been to grows all over and this was the first one that I wanted to hook up an electrical current reader to the plant and listen to the sound of the good energy that flows through each flower. Aside from the technical stuff, this is an organic plant that just feels good to be around. If the entire universe was in a microcosm of cannabis scent, each sniff was coating the inside of my nose and filling my head with all sorts of canna-driven possibilities.
I couldn’t wait to taste what was waiting for me later back in my jacket pocket. A Golden State grows some of the finest cannabis I have ever savored. True, I am well-traveled and have enjoyed many a fine grower’s special home stash… Without factoring in the basic premise that I couldn’t possibly have tried everything, of course, in the fifty years I’ve appreciated the plant. What A Golden State does is profoundly unique due to the relentless determination exemplified by every team member from the bottom up — from the flower trimmers to the master growers. They clearly love what they do, and it shows in every essential task, from vacuuming out an entire room and breaking down each part of the air-conditioning to the dehumidification units to the combination of lights to their very placement, vertically, horizontally, and from above and below. It’s all an encyclopedia of the plant and how to do better by her.
My observation? This is a deeply crafted project. Sure, they want to be perfectly efficient, but patience is absolutely a virtue. Their positive methods are many, and each experiment is meant to emulate something greater than it was prior. How else do you learn? And my favorite strain? Empanadas Diez… the sense of elation is paramount to me. I get things done.
The effort that goes into every 1/8th of an ounce glass jar from A Golden State is not just physical; it’s a deeply emotional experience. Each cultivar is an involvement in the anti-stoner experience. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I got plenty “high.” But cannabis, on this level, does more for me than just being obliterated. It opens my mind and forces me to think about what I’ve been experiencing in life. My thinking offers a certain clarity and intellectualism. I don’t feel like I’m going to be sleeping; I want to create beautiful articles.
A Golden State’s THC levels are lower than most, and that’s a really good thing. I’m on the record, and I want to reiterate again that ultra-high numbers from THC cannabis do not help me from a medical standpoint. They just don’t reduce my eye pressure. It doesn’t do anything but give me a headache; it’s no fun when using medical cannabis for a specific purpose. What the strain named Empanadas Diez offers is just right for me. A coating on the backside of my brain. Lagniappe is my description. A little something extra.
What A Golden State has achieved through its commitment to the uncompromising equilibrium of craft cannabis to commerce in the macro sense is exemplified in its purely noble approach to the plant. What I initially envisioned as something more mechanical in nature was immediately dispelled by the fact that this ultra-craft cannabis grow exists because of exemplary reasoning. The details and attention shown to every plant in the rooms are utterly mind-blowing.
Sure, you can robotically mechanize a cannabis grow; I’ve seen it and wondered how the plant likes being manipulated in this way. But why would you when every plant in every room at A Golden State is loved, every single day, around the clock? Day in, day out. It’s their life work.
If they were glass blowers, I’d be watching them hand-pull fragile Murano glass. It’s that level of expertise without fail because they are dealing with extremely expensive materials. Cohesive, behavioral, consistent perfection in everything they do in the life-cycle of the plant, from popping seeds to packaging the flowers, it’s all done right here.
If you can’t do the best, don’t do it at all. At A Golden State, they have achieved something very distinctive through what appears to be an intense, laborious series of mind-numbing exertions. Tending their vast myriad of miniature and fragile seedlings right down to the elegant, finished product, all by hand, is arduous work taken on with a profound desire and even empathy. Their work is mindful, and their jobs can be deeply fulfilling on an innate level. Something that craft cannabis allows us to experience that special feeling I felt.
What A Golden State has achieved in craft cannabis is very different from the corporate cannabis machine, which unfortunately shows very little finesse, so we won’t be discussing that genre!
The art of craft cannabis shows in everything they do, from their pastel “California Desert” hue packaging in the slender little tins containing tiny hand-filled joints to their handsome glass vessels sitting in tiny cutouts inside their thoughtfully designed packages. Each is devised to eliminate any lateral or vertical motion that may damage the unsullied, hand-trimmed flowers. And the end result? That’s for you to experience.
Seek out A Golden State and see what their eloquent purpose brings to you. I think it is very special, rare, pleasurable, and intensely transcendent.
Their Brand New Redding California Dispensary
Located just around the corner from the Redding Airport is their brand new flagship dispensary/grow. You’ll need to see what they have accomplished; it’s essential to your gourmet cannabis edification.
They’d love to see you at the dispensary, and the warmth that is emulated in the room is not just something you can see. It’s something you feel inside. Rest your legs awhile on the sumptuous couches and savor the stylish architecture of the building. Enjoy the view of the fully scaled cannabis grow situated just behind large windows facing the equally large windows fronting their always-changing streetscape in a very safe area of town.
I’ve never been in a facility anywhere in the world that looks as visually beautiful as this facility. It’s organic in style and peacefully designed, yet vividly lit from the inside. A blazing series of LED lighting arrays. They are immediately punctuating your entire visual experience. The plants growing behind you are oozing with green, purple, orange, and white flowers. Others, in their trimmed state, are displayed in jewelry cases, set prominently on the broad, modern mountain-designed stone counters with roughhewn edges reminiscent of George Nakashima wood tables, yet fabricated by local stones- are interactive and demand your touch. Shopping is encouraged, or just let the friendly and deeply competent budtenders personally guide your canna-centric experience with gentleness. Their verbal anecdotes and canna-vision are pleasant and non-sales pushy. That get ’em in and out in five minutes or fewer minutes just doesn’t exist here. You are encouraged to come as you are and enjoy the views, either outside or inside. I loved both because I’d never experienced a dispensary with a full-sized grow just behind. Sure, I’ve been to Colorado and Oregon, where there were micro-grows of a couple of plants in the shops. But this was a completely full-scale operation, with no messing around with it just for show grow. The space is pristine; they are always cleaning and hand-tending to the plant. This is what is always going on in the background. The plant is what is important here, with the visionary plants from A Golden State guiding my dreams.
The store itself is visually more akin to a high-end NYC design shop, reminiscent of the Museum of Modern Art store in Soho. A Golden State has achieved another arrow in its quiver with its non-obtrusive design. The plant in her glory is presented in large glass cases. The lighting is soft, and the color palate is earthy and calming. The entire length of the dispensary is punctuated by large glass windows facing an LED-bathed professional grow.
An experience in architecture, light, the giant windows gazing into another dimension. A fully in action, craft cannabis grow. Very impressive indeed.
May I have another twenty minutes?
Thank you to Nishant Reddy, who helped me go further emotionally on this trip than I thought possible at this time of my life. Nishant redefined my enlightenment by offering something tangible in a manner I’d never experienced before. Remarkably, I was open to being taught because I truly know nothing about this purely craft side of the cannabis business, and each visit to A Golden State going forward is with full mindfulness and thirst for future knowledge.
Klaus was awarded a Gold Medal in the first ever High Spirits Awards competition.
High Spirits Awards is a new beverage competition by L.A. Spirits Awards, launched in 2023 and open to all cannabis-derived beverage products legally sold in California and all hemp-derived (CBD/alternative cannabinoid) beverages from anywhere in the U.S.
I’m fortunate to have a photographic memory for tastes and scents. This helps me in mixology because I’m influenced not by fast food flavors, but ones on a global basis. You see, when one spends a good amount of time traveling and not eating in American hotels, you tend to learn something about flavor and how memory fits into the equation of how flavors work together.
If you want another lazy seltzer, flavor and memory are unimportant. So no amount of concentrate is going to make that drink palatable. But take a craft beverage, add a thoughtful amount of the best ingredients that money can buy, and combine them in a way that unlocks memories of the first time you tasted a given recipe? That is what makes the efforts of Iconic Tonics resonate with not only your taste buds but your dreams as well. And that is what a good beverage does. It offers you an alternative to industrialized experiences. I come from Craft Spirits and although I don’t drink hard alcohol any longer and haven’t in some time, I will say that the art of mixology is never forgotten, just examine the work of Jerry Thomas! You could say he is a great influence upon me. And another person, Beach Bum Berry, who influenced a generation of Tiki Bars and party people. I am deeply influenced by the rum lore of the Caribbean and the Beach Bum Berry classic named the Zombie Cocktail is one of my favorites in the repertoire of rum soaked classics. I on the other hand have reinvented the classic, with Cannabis instead of rum- because there is nothing elegant about a Sailor’s Hangover. And a THC infused Rum punch, without the rum? Essential. You don’t need it. You won’t miss the rum, I promise!
A thing of Rare Beauty.
Why use the best ingredients? I believe we have a social responsibility to eat simply, drink healthier, and enjoy life- without liquor. At Iconic Tonics we are uniquely geared to the traditional reinventions of the classics of mixology and we are also able to harness your wildest dreams in flavor… To make your dreams come true as well. Why?
Because we dream in flavor and sipping our unique craft beverages and the very special ones, the ones we consult upon are magical in many ways.
We can make your dreams come alive, one sip at a time.
The only thing holding you back is your imagination!
A Simple LYB, a garage rock n’ roll, yet sailor-influenced Rum Punch- without the Rum… But with THC. And you decide how much you want. I wouldn’t go over 25 mg per drink, but then again, that’s up to you. Cheers!
I use the Ardent to decarb my cannabis (no more burnt batches) and I recommend the Levo2 to infuse the simple syrup with a crazy amount of ouid or Delta 9.
Ingredients for five or six thirsty lost rock and roll stars… who have been too long at sea:
4 oz. Grilled Pineapple Juice- Slice pineapple into rounds and grill until marked, cool and juice
2 oz. Each: Freshly squeezed tangerine, mango, orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit and sour cherry juice
1 oz. Orgeat – almond flavoring
3 oz. Demerara Simple Syrup, infused with THC
Good ice that doesn’t taste like the fridge. *put large cube ice trays in double freezer bags, no…… it won’t be perfectly clear ice, but then again it won’t taste like last week’s garlic pasta lurking in the back of the fridge…*
Angostura Bitters
Prep:
Combine all juices in a Boston Shaker with the orgeat (fill the shaker ¾ of ice)
Shake darned hard for fifteen or so seconds
Double Strain into a couple old fashioned glasses with a couple of your fancy ice cubes
Garnish with grilled pineapple spears
Dot with Angostura and serve.
How much THC? That is up to you, my friends. Don’t destroy yourself!
Warren Bobrow is a master mixologist and author of 6 beverage books on cannabis cocktails, mocktails, and tonics. He is also the CEO & Co-Founder of Klaus – Ready-to-drink functionally-infused cocktails. With extensive expertise and creativity, Warren brings valuable insight and creativity to our team and clients at Harmony Craft Beverages. If you’re interested in working with Warren on your next beverage innovation, reach out to Harmony Craft Beverages today!
Snoop Dogg’s beverage empire is expanding. The legendary rapper and entrepreneur announced a strategic investment and partnership with Harmony Craft Beverages today that brings along both his existing range of THC-infused beverages – Death Row Records Do It Fluid and Dogg Lbs Doggy Spritz – and his considerable cultural cache.
The deal creates a new company, Iconic TonicsIconic Tonics, that folds in both Snoop’s brands launched. in December 2023: the carbonated four-SKU line Do It Fluid in 12 oz. cans, and Dogg Lbs Doggy Spritz. Those will be integrated into Harmony’s existing functional portfolio, which includes Klaus, Malus, Love Yer Brain, and Lift.
“We’ve known [Snoop and his team] for a long time, and really this gives a much broader, and I would say, deeper exposure for Snoop in the functional beverage space,” said Evan Eneman, Co-founder and CEO of Iconic Tonics.
“I’ve always been about innovation, and functional beverages are the next frontier,” said Snoop Dogg in a press statement. “People want drinks that do more than just taste good – they want benefits, and they want choices. Harmony Craft Beverages has been pioneering this movement, and together now as Iconic Tonics, we’re bringing something fresh to the table. This is more than a brand – it’s a lifestyle.”
Beyond his personal expertise in all things cannabis, Snoop’s arrival brings “more mainstream viability” to the emerging THC drinks category, said Eneman. Harmony’s portfolio reflects that approach: partners like acclaimed mixologist Warren Bobrow (with Klaus) and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips (Love Yer Brain) have unique reach with different audiences and use occasions, all under the auspices of functionality.
“Snoop is really endemic in culture. Wayne is deeply endemic in creativity and art. And so these are people that represent I would say more movements and cultural shifts,” said Eneman. “Them together, plus someone like Warren, it just brings a lot of these, you know, endemic understanding and global influence together.”
Snoop’s prowess as a businessman and marketer can come at a cost; some recent CPG ventures, including an RTD coffee and an ambitious cereal brand now in litigation, fizzled quickly, while his other successful projects (Gin and Juice, Still G.I.N.) put more demands on his time. Eneman described Snoop’s participation as a “50-50 partner” in Iconic Tonics, working across the full portfolio, and noted the rapper “will be active in the ways that he can incorporate [the brand] into what he’s doing going forward.
The products themselves are available mainly both online (DoorDash) and in stores like Total Wine & More and Woodman’s Markets.
“We want to reach consumers in a way that they’re used to, having optionality based on occasion or day part or experience they’re looking for. That’s how we’ve built our brands. That’s how we built our experiences,” said Eneman. “And it’s early for us, but we’re seeing that bearing out in the ways that consumers are reacting.”
When I look back into the past and my path to becoming the person I have finally become, it’s important to remember the people who I’ve bonded with along the way. Two of these people knew me when I worked for that business-centric magazine because I wrote about them. Now, more than a few years later, I had a dream. And in the dream, I was smoking a perfect .25 gram Selfies: The Lime. The next day, I was going through my cabinet, and what I thought was an empty box of The Lime/Selfies dropped out onto the floor. I thought it was empty because it’s been a year since I’ve been out west and had the opportunity to procure a few packs. But getting back to the box, which I thought was empty, I found a perfect little preroll for selfies inside. It was calling me as if to say, please savor me. Smoke me. Enjoy me. And the back story is, lately, the cannabis I’ve been enjoying has not been from California. It’s someplace different. And when I lit up that perfectly stuffed, delicious “the lime,” it brought me back to the place where I bought it in Los Angeles when I developed the liquor and non-alc program at Love, Life, Nourish in LaLa… This brought me back to square one professionally and gave me the ability to pivot right back to the people who still influence me.
The people behind Selfies, that is.
I’m the lucky one to be able to be influenced by their passion for the finest California-grown cannabis, stuffed into a .25 space with a paper filter and the marvelous box around. They have succeeded and found their niche amongst many. I wish they were available in New York or New Jersey. Or anywhere near me. I’m a massive fan of the brand, yes. But more importantly, the people behind the brand resonate with a very special place in my experience, and their interview is from the heart. Glad to have done this interview with you, my friends.
Cheers! WB
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourselves. Where are you from? Where are you now? How did you choose to open your business in California?
Kristen and Chad Heschong: We are the co-founders of SELFiES. We’re both from California: Chad is from the Bay Area, and Kristen is from Orange County, CA. We’ve both lived in California our whole lives, and our families are here. California has our hearts, so deciding to start our business here was easy and natural.
WB: Please tell me about your business. What do you do? What are your strengths? Please tell me about Selfies. What’s in the name?
KH: Heshies is our parent company, specializing in contract manufacturing and white-label services. We collaborate with some of the most respected brands in California, building our business on a foundation of strong relationships and exceptional product quality. Our commitment is to consistently exceed client expectations, ensuring the success of every partner we work with. Rather than focusing solely on financial gain, our priority is to deliver premium, clean products that California consumers can trust and enjoy.
CH: I oversee all aspects of the business, with a primary focus on manufacturing, inventory management, and sales. In addition to my day-to-day responsibilities, I dedicate significant effort to identifying and cultivating new partnerships to drive the continued growth of our company. Given the dynamic nature of our industry, we all wear multiple hats to ensure success. While we launched over seven years ago, the challenges of operating within California’s evolving market make it feel as though we are still navigating the early stages of a startup.
KH: I oversee the creative and marketing divisions of our business, while also stepping into various roles as needed. With a background in public relations and marketing for consumer brands, I was eager to merge my professional experience with my passion for the plant. This has allowed me to create a product offering that I am truly proud of.
SELFiES started due to Chad constantly bringing home new products to try and me not wanting half-smoked joints on our coffee table. I wanted to try everything, but in a smaller format, so Chad started rolling and bringing home smaller and smaller joints. When he got to the .25g minis, we both knew we were on to something- there wasn’t anything in the market like this, this size, this quality – it was unmatched. My biggest issue at the time with the cannabis market was the creative/ marketing; it was either super stoner-like or apothecary-like. I wasn’t drawn to the super-stoner branding, and as appealing as the apothecary-like branding was, I saw it as a disservice to our biggest goal in the industry, which was the destigmatization of the plant. Masking cannabis in packaging that is fit for a pricey candle at a high-end store felt insincere to me. I wanted to shine a light (this is where holographic came into play) on this amazing product we have, and on destigmatizing this wonderful, magical plant we have on our beloved earth. We have a great quality product, and we’re fun and approachable. It was so important to articulate that in our branding.
WB: What about the name?
KH: Chad came up with the name SELFiES, but to be honest, at the time, I wasn’t completely sold on it. Having spent so much time in fashion and being so excited for a meaningful career change, it was hard for me to detach my conceptions at the time of being self-absorbed and the term selfies. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I vividly remember a long conversation Chad and I had about the need for small joints in a pack you could share. We chatted about all the times we shared a joint with strangers and realized, wow, how awesome would it be to be able to share a joint without sharing YOUR joint? Everyone keeps their germs to themselves, but everyone gets to smoke and share the experience together. We also loved the idea of treating yourself whenever that made sense! The size makes it so non-committal I would never feel bad about lighting and enjoying one solo.
WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? Do you have a mentor? When did you first discover cannabis?
KH/CH: 6 Months: Continue to expand and capture market share in California. 12 Months: Expand into other states with the right partners that share a similar vision.
Obstacles: Ever changing regulations, TAXES & AR collections. One of the most significant challenges for brands in California is collecting payments according to the agreed-upon terms. This unpredictability makes it incredibly difficult to maintain an accurate financial forecast, as we’re never certain when—or if—we will be paid. It’s the primary source of stress for us. We are fortunate to have an exceptional, dedicated team, and ensuring we can retain and compensate them fairly and on time is a non-negotiable priority. To mitigate financial uncertainty, we rely on our personal savings to continuously bootstrap the company, taking on the larger financial sacrifices ourselves, along with Tyler, the other co-founder of Heshies. Additionally, we are constantly navigating the complexities of an oversaturated California market (both legal and illegal).
Removing Obstacles – The majority of the obstacles we face are unfortunately beyond our control. Addressing these challenges will require significant policy changes, such as the de-scheduling of cannabis, the passing of the Banking Act, the removal of Section 280E, and improvements in funding—though we are determined to avoid external funding for as long as possible. What we can control, however, is our response to these challenges. Adapting and overcoming the numerous hurdles thrown our way has become our greatest strength. One area where we do have control is in how we navigate the saturated market, continually setting ourselves apart by offering unique, high-quality products.
WB: When did you first discover cannabis?
CH: In high school, I injured my back while lifting weights, and the only relief I found from the pain was through cannabis—rather than the prescription medications my doctor recommended. The day I turned 18, I took my medical records to a physician, obtained my medical cannabis license, and have since been dedicated to creating a product that can provide the same kind of relief for others dealing with pain, anxiety, depression, and other challenges.
KH: My parents may read this, so let’s say I first discovered cannabis at 18 in college in San Francisco (shoutout to Hippie Hill!). I had always struggled with anxiety, although at the time, I didn’t know that was what it was. I just knew that cannabis made me feel better, more at ease, able to process hard things better, and overall just live a better life. And I enjoyed it! Much more than drinking or anything else people were doing.
WB: Circling around to a more personal question, What kind of food do you enjoy when imbibing your products? Do you have a favorite restaurant or meal you like to enjoy when imbibing?
KH: We’re both trying to be healthier currently (it’s the beginning of the year, right?!). After COVID-19, the stresses of the industry, and a heartbreaking 3-year fertility journey, we’re trying to make a concerted effort to prioritize what we’re giving our bodies. Recently, we’ve been devouring The Good Soup by Caroline Chambers. It’s full of veggies and the best thing I’ve made in a while. Maybe it’s ever? I have a huge sweet tooth, so I am constantly trying to find healthier sweet alternatives- currently, lots of dates and chocolate recipes, and we both love popcorn to satisfy any late-night cravings.
More than food after smoking SELFiES, we LOVE experiences. THRIFT SHOPPING- flea markets all over California are one of my favorite things to do and have become one of Chad’s favorite things as well (Long Beach Flea and Alameda are our top picks). So much of our furniture, decor, and clothing comes from thrift shopping; we love the hunt, and we love buying preloved items to help our beloved earth. We also love getting out in nature after enjoying our products; they make us both stop and really appreciate all the beauty around us and focus on gratitude no matter what we are dealing with in life at that time.
WB: What is your passion?
KH: To destigmatize the cannabis plant and provide exceptional products so that many more can experience the incredible healing properties it has to offer because that will make the world a better place.
I haven’t presented a proper gift-giving list in a few years, maybe because every day is a gift with much fine cannabis from my travels at my disposal. Or, more accurately, I just didn’t get around to it until now.
I like to give cannabis to others, just because it was a really long time- in my life at least, that I went without great cannabis; most of it wasn’t much of anything worth smoking at all. That was during a particularly difficult period here in New Jersey before establishing myself in the cannabis industry. The only time I could get really good weed was when I traveled outside of my home state, up to Maine or Massachusetts, or out west. Unfortunately, it’s still that way. I’ve yearned for great cannabis from NJ, but it’s going to be a lot longer until curing becomes an art instead of just a science and a profit-based industry.
This is just my opinion. Sorry to be so harsh.
Here is my list for gift-giving any time during the year. Because you deserve what I’ve been smoking (and eating!)
A Golden State; California. If you don’t know about it, then the first thing I’d want to do is hop on an airplane and get yourself out to Redding, California. The cannabis grown here is world-class, and the water is pristine. I dig it in every way, especially the attention to detail in the grow rooms. Clean doesn’t even start to teach what goes on and what doesn’t go on. First of all, the water. Pure and clean from Mt. Shasta. Nothing is added. I think that says it all. Fresh, exceptional, non-manipulated, gorgeous cannabis grown with love and what I say is extreme hands-on attention. What A Golden State has achieved is ultra-fine smoke, a unique and deeply pleasurable journey.
Verdes; New Mexico. Not many have been to the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and that’s too bad because I truly believe that some of the finest cannabis in the land is grown in this magical place. The vertically integrated dispensary named Verdes is doing something I can only say is diverse and gorgeous. I’ve tasted my way through many of their offerings, and I cannot find anything that is cured or dried out. It’s tough to say when the humidity hovers around 5% or less for most of the year. Whatever their secrets are, their craft cannabis speaks for itself. I’m seriously impressed by their carefully nurtured/indoor-grown expressions—especially the Soap. I still have a couple of nugs from my last trip out to NM. Great work.
Dutch Bliss frozen custard; New Mexico. This is the finest live hash rosin frozen custard that I’ve ever tasted. Terpene forward, each bite is a revelation of excitement. It’s like stepping into a Belgian ice cream shop with high butterfat content delicacies lighting up the room with every elegant scoop. I’m thrilled to share the lush potent flavors like the “Klaus” Mezzrole collaboration (I created the recipe) to the richly textured European style chocolate and vanilla offerings built by cannabis alchemist and master flavorist, Josh Hurwitz.
Baked Chicken Farms; New Mexico. No, they don’t bake chicken there, but the history of this venerable place supersedes any cannabis grow that I’ve seen in New Mexico. Because it actually was a nearly self-sustaining chicken farm for dozens o! The entire place is huge. I’m a massive fan of their carefully tended flowers, primarily because the quality of their indoor-grown cannabis is par with the best in the land. And they have the consensus to prove it. But don’t let the awards say it all because the flowers themselves take you to a place of quality, not just commerce. Although commerce is essential, the quality of the end result is stunningly beautiful and really gets me “baked.” I especially love their Doobie Ounce Pack, which stuffs twenty-eight perfectly formed one-gram joints into a tiny nitrogen-filled can. No bouquet at all escapes the can, making it extremely travel-friendly. Listen up, Texans! And which strain excites me? Well, I haven’t tasted through their entire lineup yet, but the Cromagnon Man gave me the impetus to clean my entire house and mow all the lawns in the snow. Motivation indeed! Their Cock-Tails *Cannabis infused libations* are lush and pertinent. A touch on the sweeter side, their flavors will entice and charm the inquiring imbiber who likes something both unusual and delectable. Baked Chicken Farms isn’t just making scrambled eggs! They are writing an entirely new chapter in the annals of ultra-quality cannabis memories.
Carver Family Farm; New Mexico. Located in a nondescript office park— maybe that’s the idea. Carver Family Farm is turning out exceptional work. Using no-till, natural soil, hand trimmed and organically grown. Their hand-groomed cannabis doesn’t resemble any “indoor” cannabis that I’ve ever savored… because they don’t grow in coir, nor hydroponically in the fluid. What they do is utilize their square footage to grow exceptional cannabis that speaks of the outdoors with the passion of an indoor grow. And you’d never imagine that world-class cannabis is being grown and sold in an office park! Triangle Kush charms!
Royal Road; New Mexico. Founded and operated by Corrina Miramontes, this ultra-tuned-in “healing space” is my idea of deep inner change. I want to spend my time learning about the finest outdoor (and some well-chosen indoor) grown cannabis in the state of New Mexico and I want to enlighten myself about the plant and her magical healing powers. There is an art gallery; murals on the outside walls that draw you in. And a most marvelous outdoor space is out back. Here is a unique place meant to chill the soul and educate the mind. Under the stars, surrounded by healing spirits. As many dispensaries as there are in New Mexico, this one really resonated with me. Maybe it’s the owner. Fierce, intellectual, and generous with her time, Corrina offers something that most dispensaries don’t offer. And that in itself is a comforting sense of place in the universe.
The Grower Circle. The first time I went to New Mexico, I was introduced to a craft grower named The Grower Circle. I am a big fan of their efforts, and I wish I had more time to dig deeply into their terroir-driven offerings. Their Raw OG and Cosa Nostra stick out in my memory as juicy, not too sweet, and deeply stony—just the place I want to be if given the opportunity again.
Fourteen Counties. Yes, they’re doing Temple Ball Hash in Massachusetts and if you’re ever in this state, I deeply recommend their traditional and more modern offerings. Frenchy would be proud of their efforts in the lexicon of temple ball hash. I’m a huge fan of what they have achieved.
Made in Xiaolin Cannagars. Founded in Colorado and now available in New York State, the craft work that Chris Louie has attained through his exceptional attention to detail and the acquisition of the finest flowers and adjuncts make for an ultra-luxury experience. The quality of workmanship is without compare. Details like the gold leaf and 100-dollar bill rice paper make for a very impressive compliment. But what’s inside is the culmination of decades of blood, sweat, and tears. Success in small ways. Quality over quantity. Made in Xiaolin!
Ihad the pleasure of meeting Corrina through a mutual friend and the honor of visiting her one of a kind, art gallery/dispensary/performance space in Las Cruces, New Mexico was one of the highpoints of my journeys through this land of enchantment. The time we were afforded was ever too short- as all great conversations are but I’m encouraged at the opportunity to revisit- and discuss the myriad of fine flowers that seem to be ethereal and effervescent- all at the same time.
Her space, redolent with art and gorgeous luxuriant planks of old wood floors, encapsulated in a historical adobe shell, mid-century modern before anyone coined the name. The energy of her space is palatable, and you can feel the spirits of this historic place dance around you. Her building? Spiritual for certain- filled with the energy from the healers who lived here, I sensed it the second I came in. Made the hairs on my arms rise up, as if to say, rest awhile, learn. experience. Share. Good people this Corrina Miramontes… My family of cannabis luminaries has expanded deeply. What an honor to learn from her! She is truly a cannabist.
Her massive, Great Pyrenees puppy with many tasks to complete met me at the door and ran with me around the back yard. Fun! Great personality. Tons of energy! Good dog!
Now, please enjoy my interview with Corrina. And if you make your way through Las Cruces, stop in to her dispensary/art gallery and introduce yourself. Have a glass of alkaline water, meet the spirits… Relax and learn what you don’t know… Plenty as I found out.
And now? What’s next? Please enjoy.
Photo credit: Rebecca Munoz
Waren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Live now? Where did you get your start in the hospitality business? You are evidently extremely talented in fine wine and how do you use this knowledge in what you are doing now.
Corrina Miramontes: My name is Corrina Miramontes Strauss, I was born in southern California raised in Northern California & New Mexico. I am currently spending my time between Las Cruces and Albuquerque. My family owned a restaurant in Northern California for 25 years, but I will say my ex-husband’s family had a Mexican employee that taught me so much about serving and hospitality. Arora was her name, and she just passed this year. She taught me so much about being of service truly.
Yes, I learned about terpenes in wine! I defiantly analyze cannabis and cannabis products like wine and smell is everything! Smell, sight, taste! Next to smoking. I suppose a lot of what I learned as a Sommelier helps me in the Cannabis industry.
WB: Please tell me about your business in Las Cruces? How did you decide to put in a dispensary? You have amazing strains that I’ve seen nowhere else… Do you source your own plants? How do you choose what you sell? Terroir? Sungrown? Landraces?
CM: Royal Road Cannabis Company dispensary, art gallery, apothecary, community space.
My father’s family was from Chihuahua and settled in the area, Ahaa the Borderlands and it’s trauma. I came here, to care for my grandmother the winter of 2021, rec just passed. I felt drawn like “It was meant to be “for me to share the knowledge gained in Northern California, not only in Cannabis but as an example for young, underserved Latinas in the community.
Thank you for the strain (or cultivar) compliment, I research growers, strains, style of growing and intention of the human growing the medicine. I cannot source my own plants YET but in the future!
Photo credit: Madeleine Strauss
WB: What are your six and twelve month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing those obstacles? Tell me about your historic building that your dispensary is in… What makes it so special….
CM: My six month goals are to get the word out! WE are here, open and have incredible products for you!
My goal for twelve months is to launch a few products under The Royal Buzz brand.
The biggest obstacle is my place is not on a major street, so its challenging to find. We had a huge Mural painted on the building to bring attention to the building.
The building was built in 1915, and you can most certainly feel that when you are in it. One of my favorite stories of the space is that during WW2 a woman whose husband was at war, was living here. She prayed every day for strangers. The main wall in the dispensary was filled with photos of strangers, this women, who lived in this building was a “Prayer warrior”. She would pray for hours every day. What an angel.
Also, it is on the Camino Real hence the name Royal Road, it’s on the original road that went from Mexico City to Santa Fe. Pat Garett, the man that shot Billy the kid lived on my street. I could go on with the history of my house, street and neighborhood. I am actually the Historian for the neighborhood Historic Preservation group.
WB: What are your favorite foods? Do you cook? If so, what is your go/to when imbibing fine wine- I mean the plant! And fine wine too… Do you have a favorite restaurant? Where? What do you enjoy eating when you go out?
Photo credit: Adrain Medina
CM: Favorite food? Well, that is a hard one for me, I worked with French Chefs most of my Beverage Career. Chef Cammile Swartrz was from Alsace and Chef Roland Passot from Lyon, their food is so incredible!
These days I don’t eat much rich food. Mexican food feeds my tummy and my soul.
Yes! I love to cook, and I don’t have a particular favorite style, I do have years of question to Chefs and family members. I adore fine ingredients. I’ll focus a whole meal on an ingredient I’ve found. When I do drink, I love finely executed mocktails, Champagne, Burgundy (red or white) and agave spirits like Tequila, Mescal, Sotol and Bacanora. As far as plant medicine I LOVE Hash Holes, I love a broad range of cultivars, I think there is a place for it all. Narrow leaves for me during the day although they can be cerebral, but they do stimulate my creativity and productivity. I love a wide leaf in the evenings, during my moon, and after a long day snowboarding. I love 1:1. I grew 1:1 last year and it was such a lovely smoke.
Lavender Trainwreck was my favorite plant ever! To grow and smoke!
Rosin is a special treat for me, the layers of taste reminds me of wine. And that is why I LOVE Hash Holes.
Favorite restaurants, in Las Cruces I have to say Café Paisano has the best flavors and ingredients. Saenz Gorditas is the best fast food! My grandpa would take me there. When I am in Albuquerque, I like to eat at Annapurna clean and intentional. I have to say my favorite meal ever was at Quintonil in Mexico City. It was like tasting through my childhood and culture but with the execution that was second to none. I am pretty adventurous when it comes to eating. I did say no to Llama!
WB: What is your passion?
CM: Passion well…. I love being a mother! I can’t wait until my children have children.
I love community and I am hopeful there is a community focus shift in consciousness. I am very passionate about sharing knowledge of any kind with those in need. I have come from an underserved community of brown and indigenous women, and it is my greatest passion to serve them as our future.
Gardening is my heaven (is that different than passions?) Snowboarding is my exhilaration. Learning is my drive. I didn’t realize how much I’d love advocating, but it makes sense, and I am so thankful for my cannabis crew and historic preservation crew. Music is my church and snowboarding is my self care.
Thank you, my friend, for affording me the time in your world in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I learned something I didn’t know about myself in the process. Cheers! WB
Carolina Fortuna Applauds Passion For The Plant in Argentina
Carolina is driven to succeed in her life. From working in the spirits industry to being inspired by good health (no meat), and of course, there’s the plant in the form of “plant medicine”… You cannot keep from being inspired by her enthused passion for the plant… And we can consider ourselves extremely lucky that she found her path to the plant. Why? Because the world of medicinal cannabis doesn’t revolve around only the USA. She is determined to succeed with medical cannabis as her métier. With Carolina, and yes, she’s from South America. Argentina, to be exact, was a place that was pretty
stigmatized by even the mere mention of the plant for decades.
It’s sad, really, that the government stifled the medicinal qualities of cannabis. It’s kind of like our nation: stigmatized.
I consider myself lucky to have met Carolina, not in person, but through the magic of the Internet.
Waren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Where do you live now? What is your job?
Carolina Fortuna: My name is Carolina Fortuna, and I am from the city of Buenos Aires. I grew up in a suburban neighborhood bordering the city and the province. This neighborhood, “República de Mataderos,” led me to see a different reality. Children look in the garbage to eat, and people live in the street.
As a child, it shocked me at first, with a lot of anger, to see other children suffering for not meeting their basic needs. A little later, when I was about ten years old, I started collecting garbage. It was a game for me, and I could get quick money. I started collecting glass bottles, then continued with aluminum cans and cardboard. My family encouraged me to keep doing it, this was the first job I had. Years later, something awakened in me. It was an awareness about waste and collection, which I expanded to include the urban collection of certain medicinal plants found in the streets.
I live in Buenos Aires now, having recently arrived from an 11-month-long trip to Mexico and the United States. I moved to a studio that is a bit small to accommodate all my laboratory equipment, but it is only temporary and cozy. I work as a culinary consultant, creating conceptual menus for bars and restaurants and developing conceptual menus for private and mass events. I have my own brand of tea, I am a teacher giving classes on the use of plants in cocktails, and I recently launched my website: www.carofortuna.com, where I host courses and information necessary to get started in this fabulous world.
WB: I have seen your writings on the Internet about cannabis philosophy. Who inspired you to be philosophical and intrigued about the plant?
CF: Being philosophical about the plant inspired me to try the plant itself. I tried it when I was 16 years old. In my neighborhood, as a child, there was only one version of marijuana that came compact in a small box with a bad smell and many seeds.
When I had the honor to see, smell, and touch a cannabis plant growing in a friend’s backyard in direct soil, I swear my life changed. I understood many things thanks to cannabis. It is a plant that regulates anxiety and stressful moments. My work occupies several fields of action, and many times, I feel stuck with work. At the end of the day, a good weed connects me with my center, that beautiful place that we all have inside and that, sometimes, in everyday life, is difficult to access.
WB: Is cannabis legal where you live? Is hemp legal? Who is a leader in this field? When did you first try cannabis?
CF: The great historical failure of cannabis in Argentina was thanks to a mother of an autistic child who went to jail for growing cannabis to produce the oil her son needed. She got a writ of amparo to let her grow, and the organization Mama Cultiva was formed. From then on, everything went uphill. In Argentina, a medical cannabis law was passed in 2020, it was a historic event. I was at work, and I got the news because I was watching what was going on in Congress. We have a very good medical cannabis law because it is a law that promotes self-cultivation, this law states that each patient can have at home up to 9 flowering plants and an indefinite number of plants in the process of vegetation.
To be able to cultivate, you must access a permit that is granted by specialized doctors who enter you into the program called REPROCANN. I have been registered there since it came out. They give you an identification, and then you can access to cultivate and transport even by plane up to 40 grams of cannabis in the internal flights of the country. The current conflict is due to the change of government. This new president wanted to audit absolutely all the measures of the previous government, so now we are almost 200,000 medical cannabis users with our registration expired or about to expire. Many others are waiting for approval because, at this moment, this new governmental administration has slowed all the procedures.
Hemp is not legal in Argentina, although there is a HEMP MUSEUM where I was able to attend talks and events where they serve excellent hemp flour cookies. It is very difficult to choose a single leader in the cannabis area because there are many people who give their lives to the plant. I would say that it is very interesting to talk with Celeste Pallavicini (@cpallavinici,) who is a Neuroscientist and CONICET researcher who brings to the table some ideas about the future of medicinal therapies with entheogens that are really focused on a better possible future. I also find the PORRO podcast (@podcastporro) on Spotify very interesting. It is made by @los_cocos_dtw, who has his cannabis NGO @donmarcelinoyloscocos. This podcast talks about different aspects of cannabis and hemp in a relaxed way and with an excellent musical accompaniment to listen to it smoking one and learn about the history, medicinal properties, and uses of this plant that does so much good to humanity.
WB: Do you have a favorite food or restaurant that you like when you drink cannabis? What is the relationship between terpenes and food?
CF: I like to accompany a flower with some mate. In Argentina, we drink a lot of mate; it is a non-psychoactive herb that contains caffeine and various medicinal properties. For lunchtime lately, my favorite recipe is some oatmeal cookies that I am making frequently with two bananas, cups of oatmeal, two eggs, two tablespoons of peanut butter, raisins, and seeds. They are ready in the oven in 5 minutes and healthy, which goes perfectly with all my exercise and yoga routine that I have been doing for a few years now.
It is difficult to find a restaurant where I can smoke because smoking is not really allowed in public spaces, but I like to go on Thursdays to Lado V, a vegan restaurant where sometimes my friend Flor Bocona sings. Also, in 7 Vidas, there is a hamburger proposal with terpenes that I didn’t try because I haven’t consumed animals for 5 years.
The relationship of terpenes with food is ancestral, but biotechnology has allowed us to isolate these components to enhance the flavors. I developed some cocktails with terpenes for the last Expo Cannabis Argentina at the fair complex La Rural. The public’s acceptance was amazing, especially considering that the cocktails had no alcohol and no psychoactive effects.
One cocktail I made had a decoction of pineapple skins, and its juice was mixed with a vegan strawberry ice cream with terpenes from the Blackberry Kush plant of the Argentine and Spanish brand CannaCream. This cocktail received the name LOW STRESS, referring to a technique of L.S.T. cultivation that tries to change the direction of the branches of the plant with some tutors so that it grows healthier, gets better light, and enhances its growth.
WB: What is your passion?
CF: I am passionate about life and about communicating novelties that improve people’s quality of life. I started with cocktails when I was 18 years old, and from the beginning, I mixed with unusual ingredients such as Bach flowers and mother tinctures. Along the way, I came across the tea plant and many native plants from South America, which inspired me to generate a consciousness focused on the sustainability of the ingredients. My passion has several areas: medicinal plants, native plants of my region, conscious living in relation to food, writing as a poet and teacher (I am finishing my book to be published in 2025), and communication with several years in radio broadcasting this style of cocktails, and undoubtedly teaching. Teaching is something I am very good at, and I consider myself very creative when it comes to transferring information. I also like to create events and different proposals. Currently, I would say that my passion is to connect with my most faithful version by being authentic all the time and loyal to my vision; in this way, life is easier because the same passion is guiding me toward projects that resonate with my mission that has to do with spreading the power of plants to create a life in connection with nature.
Let’s talk about luck for a moment. Having just returned from Las Cruces, New Mexico, where I tasted for the first time an outdoor grown in the high desert (with love and abundant sunshine) cannabis from this magical place. The location was the most marvelous dispensary named Royal Road, filled with spirits. Some known, and others hovering outside, waiting patiently to be dispersed in the small packages of outdoor-grown cannabis. Had I had more time, I would have dug deeper into this mysterious plant that arrives in dispensaries in many formats, from edibles that take time to assimilate to beverages and flowers. Hash is in there too, I’m sure of it; everything was so thoughtfully chosen. I just didn’t ask the right questions. Next time, I’ll try to do better.
This conversation about terroir and the classics leads me to a trip to an island off the coast of Massachusetts. In this cast-away place, surrounded by the churning seas, the dream of creating temple ball hash made its way to my inland empire, and what delicious hash this is. The artisan crafts enlighten the traditionalist, something that I consider myself. Mostly because I wasn’t just born, and the first time I tried “temple ball” hash in the form of a small brick was in the Ivory Coast in Africa in 1976. Hey, you asked; I was about twelve. The guards of the place we were staying smoked this tobacco and hashish stew in large chalices. Was it ceremonial? I probably was because the sharp stone-tipped spears they carried weren’t for show. They got pretty high on hash, as did my young self. Something wild that remains with me in spirit to this day.
When I investigated Fourteen Counties @fourteencounties on Instagram, they had the usual dabbing stuff. The bubble hash and some truly gorgeous live rosin, but no offense to them; I’m not a dabber. The scents of the plant certainly are beguiling in this format, but I don’t understand the ritual. I need to learn someday, but for all intents and purposes, I love the classic temple ball hash. And that’s what I love to describe. Although I believe hash should be aged, this had all the stuffing. I felt like having a dream from many years gone.
There was something that caught my admiring gaze. That was the Fourteen Counties Hash, real temple ball hash, inspired by Frenchy. Need I say more? Probably not if you know, and if you don’t, I implore you to set aside your dab rig. Search for a hash cloche. Made of glass with a little glass tip that comes out. Inside, you’ll find a small chunk of wood with a thin nail protruding into the glass bell-shaped contraption. Remove with your fingers a nice chunk of the temple ball hash. Roll it around in your palm, smell the aromatics, and tap into the soul of the flower, the plant in all her glory. Form a little ball in your palm and pierce it on the nail. Light it until it glows, blow out any flame, and replace the glass lid. When it fills up with smoke, pull open the top opening and inhale the delicious aromatics.
What you experience is very personal. Hash feels like the embrace of an Angora wool blanket to me. I love the sleep it offers at the end of the day. I’m charmed to know that Fourteen Counties is making the stuff of my dreams. Thank you for being patient. I’ve been traveling, mostly in my mind.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. What was your path to the plant? Where are you from? Where do you live now? When I met you, we were at Martha’s Vineyard. Your roots are deep there- want to tell us about it? When did you first try cannabis? How old? With whom? (A lot to cover, I know, but I like to get a feeling to the readers about who YOU are….)
Ian Mattson: Taking a debate class in high school where I had to debate being pro-medical marijuana. The research and effort behind that experience fueled a lot of interest and background I was unaware of beforehand. I was born in Santa Cruz, CA, and lived in Oakham MA, as well as Martha’s Vineyard. I currently live in Oakham/Barre, in Central MA. I spent summers on the Vineyard throughout my childhood. My grandfather, Alvin Seymour Lane, was stationed there in the Navy as a lieutenant and ended up building a home. Because of this, my family has deep ties to the Vineyard through my grandfather. He has a hospital wing named after him there. The Vineyard did and still does play a big role in my life since my family still lives there, and I visit often. I was only 13 years old with friends at the time and ended up doing it because everyone else was. Overall, it was a negative first experience, but the outlook improved later with the debate and research at school.
WB: What are you working on right now? Why hash? Who is your inspiration? Why? What style of hash is your favorite? Do you smoke flower too? Any particular strains? Growers you want to give props to.
IM: Right now, I am focusing on expanding the 14 Counties’ solventless concentrates to bring clean, high-quality hand-washed hash and live rosin to the Massachusetts market. After being unimpressed and uninspired by rosin on the market, I used my inspiration from Frenchy Cannoli and my passion for hash to focus on creating top-quality solventless concentrates for consumers in Massachusetts. The holistic benefits of hash as a medicine, with its’ terpene content and powerful expression of the entourage effect, make it a stand-out in terms of concentrates. It really focuses on being clean and high-quality throughout the process. Yes, but mostly smoke live rosin and consume full-spectrum edibles because of the holistic benefits associated with them.
Fresh Connection is a highly respected indoor cultivator fueled by passion and a deep background in cannabis. Fresh Connection has continued to provide us with top-tier flower ground-break collaborations (like our traditional hash) and a solid friend in the community.
Picnic is an exceptional small-batch indoor/outdoor cultivator focused on growing intended for hash production. Our continued partnership with Picnic has allowed us not only to bring in amazing flower but collaborate back and forth on results from seed to jar.
Live rosin. It is the best expression of quality from input-output & overall process.
WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? Do you have a mentor? If so, who?
IM: Frenchy Cannoli. His ethos is inspirational. His passion for hash, from the genetics of the plant to growing it to the best processing methods possible, his dedication to every part of the process, and the education he has provided have been inspiring and motivating forces.
To bring exceptional rosin to the MA that is not only high-quality but also explores more strains grown locally to better fit the MA market.
Sticking with Fourteen Counties in creating the best non-solvent concentrates I can while consistently improving and introducing new products to the community.
Start pressing hash in personal amounts for my own endeavors and research and development of new techniques.
Cannabis regulations are a huge obstacle. Our regulations do not operate the same way other retail markets do. Heavy restrictions on packaging and in-store rules make finding product details difficult before purchase. During purchase, daily limits (unseen in alcohol) and high tax rates make the experience price-focused instead of product-focused. Then, after purchase, there are almost zero return protections if there are issues.
I am mostly self-taught through YouTube and online sources. However, some people in the traditional market have provided help in the past.
Currently, Good Will Hunting at Blue River Terps is an excellent collaborator/mentor type, pointing me in the right direction for refining my process.
WB: What does hash do that smoking (plain) cannabis doesn’t do? Is it more spiritual for you? Does it unlock your brain differently?
IM: Hash has more of a medicinal benefit for me due to how it plays into the entourage effect. The higher potency (terpenes and THC%) brings a more intense experience.
Because of the more intense combined effects and the potency of hash, it can be influential spiritually. However, the focus for me is medicinal. It provides a strong version of the intended effects, so better pain management, focus, etc.
WB: What is your passion?
IM: Hash is truly my passion! I live, breathe, and literally eat hash. I don’t have a direct place where I can say where my passion comes from, but I’d like to think my Lebanese background has a heavy influence.
As many of my readers know, and for those who don’t, I’m currently working on a couple of projects in New Mexico. For the past few months, I’ve been working with a New Mexico based, craft cannabis company, which let to my completely life-changing experience of sourcing some of the finest cannabis in the land. This friends, would be in New Mexico and this is in my humble opinion. And what has happened to me is striking in the respect to the local terroir and overall history of the plant and what she has taught me about life and good health.
Through the magic of social media, a collaborative effort was born and my path to New Mexico only deepened with a correspondence with Monica Davalos, who is very intent on craft cannabis, outdoor grown- using landrace strains…. She’s doing something outside of the norm (indoor grow, multiple times) and in Monica’s life, she grows once per year without chemicals or pesticides. In the high desert!
New Mexico!
Nearly everything I’ve tasted that has been grown outside with nearly zero humidity has opened my eyes to that false axiom (again, my opinion) of chasing the higher and higher levels of THC as a merit of quality. NO, this is not so! Quality in my opinion is not high THC, it’s the history lessons, The landrace strains, low THC, medicinal cannabis. The stuff I require for my medical use… These are history lessons from the past, grown in the wild outdoors, under the sun with miniscule amounts of rain… In the wine world we call it dry farming with cover crops. What Monica has achieved is in this regard to terroir? Dry farming with cover crops? It is truly the taste of the place.
And it’s the natural way!
But what caught my attention is Monica’s dream of making her own temple ball hash.
Frenchy would be proud.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Where do you live now? Do you travel to other places?
Monica Davalos: My Name is Monica Davalos, I am a fifth generation native New Mexican. I was born and raised here in Bent NM. I am the fifth generation owner of our family farm where I have been lucky enough to start my cannabis grow. I travel, however, not as often as I used to. I am usually occupied with the farm.
WB: Tell me what you’re working on right now.
MD: At the moment I have just finished harvesting. The future is wide open for me. Recreational cannabis is still in its infancy. With the amount of acreage and plenty of water I have space to expand on ventures. That being said, my passion is to keep the natural integrity of cannabis in all forms. I am starting to explore old school ways of using and producing cannabis i.e., temple balls, growing only landrace strains from our region, outdoor growing seasonally, chemical and pesticide free.
WB: What are your six and twelve month goals?
MD: To Keep expanding, Taking on new projects and creating new products…the goal is to make cannabis a viable and socially acceptable product. More so than alcohol, tobacco, and Big Pharma
WB: What obstacles do you face?
MD: Being a woman growing in this industry, Finding people that hold the same values and passions as I do about cannabis, overcoming the cannabis stigma
WB: How do you anticipate removing them?
MD: In this industry I believe it will be much easier for women to excel. It’s starting to get better and better. I have and continue to find people in the cannabis community that want and do uphold the same work ethic and curiosity as I do. I believe patience is on my side.
WB: Tell me please about the plant and your experiences with her. What strains are you working with? Why?
MD: This beautiful medical plant has opened me up to new ways of thinking and approaching her. When I started growing to scale, I didn’t want to mass produce on a scale that would dilute the importance and integrity of the plant. As I write this NM has a long way to go as far as educating our cannabis community in all faucets of her wonders. NM still bases cannabis values on high THC levels and the quick “high” if you will. I would like to see us grow our tastes that include the whole expression of the flower. From the terpenes to the last flavor of the exhale. I also didn’t want to grow indoor; I do realize this is a touchy subject. But because of the area I farm it would be a waste not allowing the plant to express the full terroir… the sun, high desert mountain air, fresh water, beautiful soil,….it would be a disgrace!!!
As I mentioned I love the landrace strains. Acapulco Gold has been my go to since I started growing, I will be adding on some Sinaloa and Oaxaca. I also experienced landrace strains have better genetics and are healthier and more stable for growing in the high desert.
WB: Please tell me about food. What do you like to eat? Do you cook? Where do your recipes come from?
MD: As a Latina I’m all about food. It’s how we love. Of course I love all the Southwestern NM food. I was raised on it. On the regular I stick to pretty basic veggies, fruits and meats. I’m a busy human so I have to make sure I am healthy and stay that way. But when I want something more I love great home cooked meals, elegant French dinner, Hearty Italian, Thai is also a favorite…GEEZ I could go on and on.
WB: What is your passion?
MD: Keeping it artisanal and simple…boutique style. I’m sure you’ve noticed when products are made on a big scale the quality is compromised. Only the best wines, cigars, truffles, pasta, breads etc. are simple and in small batches. All the top shelf ingredients go into a top shelf product. And they are rare…but it’s all worth the work and wait. The end product is the PASSION…the taste, the smell, the sight, the feel…
Thank you for the questions, it was a joy answering them, M.
WB: My thanks to you, Monica, for teaching us something new about your passion for the plant and a little about you too.
Synergy Innovation is dedicated to creating the world’s most compelling cannabis consumption products. Established in 2023 by Cort Smith and Bruce and Charlie Hoch and led by CEO Shauntel Ludwig, Synergy Innovation unites DaVinci Vaporizers and Eyce Silicone under one house of brands, delivering an unmatched customer experience for both. The company’s commitment to a brighter future for its customers and partners is supported by a diverse range of products rooted in integrity with a continuous drive to deliver new, groundbreaking devices to enhance consumer lifestyles.
Shauntel Ludwig, Chief Executive Officer of Synergy Innovation
Shauntel Ludwig is an expert in brand building, global market penetration, and product strategy, with over a decade of leadership experience in the U.S. cannabis technology sector. She employs a hands-on approach in shaping the strategic direction of Synergy Innovation’s consumer brands, Eyce and DaVinci. As a founding member of the DaVinci vaporizer brand, Shauntel leverages her extensive institutional knowledge to enhance the strategic positioning of the house brands, expanding their global footprint, while streamlining operations costs.
Shauntel earned an MBA in international management from Bellevue University and started her professional journey in global product sourcing. Prior to her current role, she spent 12 years building the DaVinci vaporizer company into a global brand, following the mantra of Vision, People and Process. Outside the professional sphere, Shauntel is an outdoor enthusiast and an active parent.
I’ve had an Eyce pipe for years and loved it. Lost to history, I was just sent one of their new Eyce Silicone pipes and I set out to compare it to the plethora of other pipes and one hitters that I have in my growing collection. What a pleasure to smoke out of. Constructed out of cool silicone, the device splits apart for easy cleaning, and the tiny poker- in its own little pocket on the bottom, charms! You don’t have to look for a stick from a tree to clear the bowl any longer.
Now the ingenious part….
There is a clear container on the top to fill with frozen water. Yes, you can fill the top, replace the clear silicone cap and freeze it overnight for an exceptionally memorable rip in a hand-held space! This is the most unique product I’ve ever used…. And the ice container is completely silicone sealed from the rest of the pipe. Three little magnets on the inside tie the entire bowl together because it splits for easy care. There is a little carb hole on the side and your super-cooled canna smoke zigzags its way through a somewhat circuitous route. It’s a crafty little device and I like it a lot. It does rip, especially when you remember to fill the container up top with water, then throw it in the freezer overnight.
BOOM!
I must recommend removing the glass bowl before freezing the silicone pipe, just good practice…it pops right back in. And during the overnight freeze, you can dip the bowl into 91% ISO… Clean as a whistle in the morning, just in time for a mind opening, wake and bake!
They also sent me an ingenious cartridge battery device from DaVinci *I love the name* because it looks intellectual. Which it is. https://davincivaporizer.com/ Well priced, this cartridge battery doesn’t shout that I’m using a vaporizer. It’s super sleek and slim with a handsome anodized finish that speaks luxury and panache. This is an “ultra-cooling cartridge vaporizer” that does the job efficiently and kindly. The DaVinci Artiq speaks to my intellectual side, filling my brain with imagination. On the practical side, the device will never burn my lips, tongue nor my lungs with the cooling technology built in. Good stuff!
This is luxury design for design conscious people, personified.
Shauntel Ludwig, CEO, Synergy Innovation
Warren Bobrow: Tell me what you’re working on right now? What is Synergy? What is EYCE and DaVinci?
Shauntel Ludwig: Synergy was founded by the original inventors and founders behind brands like Eyce and DaVinci, and we are dedicated to driving innovation and quality in cannabis technology. Through Synergy, our teams have recently bought those brands back and returned to the helm of daily operations. Currently, we’re focused on expanding our product offerings for both brands, particularly in enhancing consumer experiences within the cannabis space. Eyce is a go-to for consumers looking for durability and convenience without compromising on performance, while DaVinci excels at providing innovative technology to the cannabis consumption industry. Our ongoing work involves pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cannabis consumption, ensuring our products meet the evolving needs of our customers by really listening to them.
WB: How will the collaboration between Synergy and Eyce/DaVinci change the cannabis landscape?
SL: Synergy Innovation’s brands Eyce and DaVinci revolutionize the cannabis landscape by elevating DaVinci’s cutting-edge technology and Eyce’s renowned user-centric design. We’re creating products that are not only functional and durable, but also affordable to align with the lifestyle of modern cannabis consumers.
WB: What age group are you aiming at? Who are your customers?
SL: Our target audience spans across a wide range, but we start with focusing on medical patients and of course adults between the ages of 25 and 40. Medical patients require the highest quality and reliability and those are values we want to make sure all of our customers benefit from, even if they are in the recreational use category and just want to avoid rigs breaking in their active lifestyle.
WB: What are your six and twelve month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing those obstacles?
SL: In the next six months, we’re focused on solidifying our global distribution partners, rebuilding our inventory to be able to support all of our partners and customers and improving our customer service. Over the next 12 months, our goal is to launch additional products across every vertical that both Eyce and DaVinci offers. One of the main obstacles we face is navigating the complex regulatory environment in different regions. We often have to comply with both cannabis and tobacco regulations at the same time, which can be a real challenge. To overcome this, we’re working closely with legal experts and staying informed about the latest developments in cannabis legislation.
WB: What is your favorite strain right now? Grown by whom? What is your passion?
SL: I’m old school when it comes to my flower. My daily driver is still Jack Herer – my favorite!
As for my passion, it lies in solving real problems for consumers through innovative product development. I’m deeply committed to creating products that not only meet but exceed consumer expectations, driving the cannabis industry forward in a way that prioritizes quality, sustainability, and user experience.
