Jeff Yapp 2018 BRIAN GERATHS, PRINTS CHARMING/ PHOTOMEDIAPRODUCTIONS(.COM)
I’m a big fan of Chalice Farms, probably because I’ve visited some of their dispensaries while I was recently in Portland, Oregon. They do a really nice job with training their staff to be compassionate and kind. Great work by a company that really cares about their guests. For once I didn’t feel sold to, but guided by. You really have to experience this level of service yourself. At least I experienced a warm and friendly environment. Very refreshing indeed. Now, without further delay, may I introduce Jeff Yapp, the CEO of Golden Leaf Holdings.
Santa Rosa, CA – 6/16/20 –Care By Design, a wholly-owned CannaCraft brand, announced today the launch of its Care By Design Hemp line. Formulated and manufactured by the same team of scientists and experts that created the brand’s top-selling signature ratio line for the California medical cannabis market, Care By Design Hemp is now sold online direct to consumers and retailers and ships nationwide. The popularity of Hemp CBD has been on the rise since the federal government legalized hemp in 2018. In a recent Project CBD survey, the cannabis researcher’s comprehensive survey found that of the 3,600 CBD users polled, 52% reported using hemp-derived CBD as opposed to cannabis-derived CBD. The latter being less accessible as it is only sold in states that have legalized cannabis.
Kebra Smith–Bolden and CannaHealth KEBRA SMITH–BOLDEN
Kebra Smith–Bolden’s career journey spans over 22 years which began as a young CNA to LPN specializing in the area of Homecare with a passion for community to an exceedingly skillful RN who has always held the highest standard of care for her patients. Kebra leveraged her medical knowledge and decades of professional experience to create CannaHealthTM, the first and only Connecticut cannabis business owned by an African-American. CannaHealthTM is a division of The Healing Choice LLC and HK Smith Enterprises, LLC. Its innovative community based business model offers disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs education about medicinal cannabis, as well as safe and legal access through medical marijuana program evaluations. Referred to as the “Marijuana Guru in CT” by Hot 93.7’s Nancy Barrow, Kebra has taken the Cannabis Industry in Connecticut by force. She is a member of the Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana and organization that advocates for development within the industry, provides opportunities for diversified marketing, promotes safe and sensible regulations to protect the environment, safeguards public health and safety, and prevents youth marijuana use. In addition, Kebra is a member of The Minority Cannabis Business Association, whose mission is to create equal access and economic empowerment for Cannabis Businesses, their patients, and the communities most affected by the war on drugs.
Tara Wells, co founder ganja goddess PHOTO COURTESY OF GANJA GODDESS
In 2011, Tara Wells co founded Ganja Goddess, which capitalizes on one of the hottest consumer trends in the U.S.: the rise of online ordering, delivery of consumer packaged goods (CPGs) and a curated-online cannabis lifestyle experience in the world’s largest cannabis market, California. Wells is one of the first female pioneers and entrepreneurs in the cannabis sector, who brings significant experience in premium online shopping, cannabis delivery and cannabis lifestyle brands that will be instrumental to success amid growing consumer demand during the COVID-19 crisis. Wells keeps a close eye on the company’s direct-to-consumer data on consumption habits and trends to enable Ganja Goddess to quickly anticipate consumer demands.
I’m a massive fan of Papa & Barkley, the Eureka, California based manufacturer of ultra-high quality cannabis and hemp products. A couple of years ago, I visited their manufacturing facility and was let into a little secret. There are very few producers of cannabis products in California who are as diversified in their offerings. Sure there are other vertically integrated companies, but no one has as much experience and fortitude as Papa & Barkley. And the secret? They perform their craft with healing in mind, not just metrics. This is why Papa & Barkley are in it for the long haul, to help people live better lives through their attention to detail and passion for the plant. Thank you. WB.
Elliot Lewis is the founder Catalyst Cannabis Co.; he currently owns and operates 5 retail storefronts in Southern California including – Long Beach, Bellflower, and Santa Ana which have recently gone through a rebrand of all existing stores as they continue to build the Catalyst name up and down the coast. As a manager of numerous cannabis businesses, Lewis has established himself as one of the top commercial marijuana operators in California as he continues to expand with dreams to bring cannabis to every city state-wide. He’s blazing new paths into places unheard of just ten years ago. Ambition drives Elliot and I’m proud to introduce him to the world. Thank you, WB.
Derek Du Chesne touring the Candera processing facility CANDERA
As a rule in my journalistic career, I’m pulling away from CBD, but Derek’s story made perfect sense to me and I felt that world deserved learning about his scene. I wanted to do this primarily because of his understanding of the pharmacological benefits of the plant. Not just another snake oil product. This is accurate for me because what Derek doesn’t do is CBD infused pain lotion, nor another CBD infused toothpick, but a philosophy that is grounded in deep healing. And after writing the book named Apothecary Cocktails, this path that he is taking is very familiar to me. It fulfills the desire to do well by others through healing. Thank you.
Most entrepreneurs are not at all like Christian Schenk. They just don’t possess his work ethic. He is very clearly driven by a greater internal power than most.
I got that immediately because I feel that I was cut from the same cloth as Christian. Being born to non-stop workaholics and also having an overachieving father and grandparents made that happen for me. After reading through his interview, I discovered that his work ethic was ingrained into him by birth. It was his father who influenced him so deeply, so succinctly. I got that loud and clear.
Frances González is recognized as one of the leaders in the women’s entrepreneurs movement in Cannabis. With more than 15 years of experience in corporate telecommunications, operations and international relations in 2015 she decided to launch her own business in Puerto Rico as founder and executive director of Millennia Solutions, a provider of digital communication tools and solutions for business. Months later medical cannabis is legalized on the island and she pursues further education with subject matter experts. Through her educational journey, Frances launched Latinas Cannapreneurs, a non profit organization based in Puerto Rico with a mission to inspire, educate and elevate the latino community about the culture and industry of cannabis through education, activism and entrepreneurship. Through our network of partners and collaborators we provide educational tools and support to break down stigmas while promoting inclusiveness in the growing green age. Frances was also invited to speak on Cannabis entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico in May 2019 for Canna Ciencia 2019 in Bogota, Colombia, which is the largest cannabis conference in Latin America. She also took the stage to speak last September in CanEX 2019 in Jamaica where she shared the stage yet again with personalities like Steve DeAngelo and Vicente Fox. She attended and presented in Cannabis Salud 2019 in Mexico, and in December she was a featured speaker at the National Women of Cannabis conference in Las Vegas. Her companies are sponsors for all these conferences and also sponsored the Women in Cannabis Study. Frances is also a member and Chair of the Caribbean Policy research of the Minority Cannabis Business Association whose mission is to support equality and diversity in the cannabis industry through policy, empowerment, and connection.
