High Priority

Are you hungry? If not, you will be very soon. To end the year, High Priority is headed to the dinner table with Miguel Trinidad, executive chef at 99th Floor. The dynamic, inventive chef talks about everything from the moment he discovered his father smokes cannabis to the fascinating intersections of cannabis and culinary cultures. Along the way, Trinidad gives a bit of insight into a few of his favorite infused dishes, explains the process of determining the dosage for each meal and invites chart-topping artist, podcaster and entrepreneur N.O.R.E to 99th Floor.

It is never easy being the first, but anything worthwhile is going to present challenges. This week, High Priority welcomes Tengku Chanela Jamidah, founder of Halal Hemp and the first member of the Malaysian royal family to openly advocate for the legalization of medical cannabis in her home country. From a perspective that only she can provide, Jamidah openly discusses the stigmas around cannabis use in Muslim communities, the stringent regulations around cannabis in many Asian countries and how she founded JIWA, a holistic wellness center grounded in her cultural lineage. Above all else, Chelsea and Alexis ask the hard-hitting question, "Why do adults also struggle to open child-proof packaging?"

Early in the month of November, voters in Maryland and Missouri made a major statement by legalizing the recreational use of cannabis. While it is always great to see voters and lawmakers make an effort to change the way cannabis is perceived on the books, there are still a few barriers that stand between eligible consumers and the various benefits provided by the plant. Negative stereotypes, cultural perceptions and the impact of the War on Drugs have placed a negative stigma around the plant in many communities of color. Fortunately, there are innovative figures within the cannabis industry that are working to tear down this negative stigma one day at a time. In this week's episode, Sysamone Phaphon, Founder of KhuenPhu and Eunice Kim, Founder of HiVi, talk about their personal relationships with the plant, negative perceptions of cannabis within AAPI communities and their Modern Cannabis campaign. Kim and Phaphon also emphasize the importance of conscious consumption while sharing strategies to create a more inclusive cannabis community among AAPI consumers.

Life comes at you fast, but the growth of social media will come at you faster. Within the last 15 years, sites such as Instagram, TikTok and Twitter have become indispensable tools that impact politics, economics, news and beyond. As a result, businesses and brands have increased their use of these platforms to promote their work. Why? A 2022 study found that half of Instagram users say that they’ve clicked through to a brand’s website after viewing their stories. Furthermore, 92% of users say that they’ve acted in the moment after seeing a product on Instagram. Recognizing the impact that social media has on society, a new generation of brand ambassadors and influencers have gone online to bridge the gap between the evolving cannabis industry and social platforms. This week, our guest, Cae "Jungle Cae" Jones, opens up about transitioning from becoming a budtender to a botany influencer, racial disparities within the cannabis industry and how he plans to use social media to become the "cannabis reporter of our generation."

There are many entry points into the cannabis industry, but few are quite like that of this week's guest, Whitney Beatty. After developing several successful non-fiction projects for FOX, BET, Sony, Discovery and CMT, Beatty found herself in the emergency room experiencing a frightening health scare. To combat this severe health scare, a doctor suggested that Beatty try cannabis to deal with her condition. Little did she know, that suggestion would inadvertently lead her down a path that would change her life. In this week's episode, Whitney Beatty, founder of Josephine & Billie's and CEO of Apothecarry Brands, Inc., opens up about her cannabis journey, highlights the importance of social equity within the industry, and answers the all-important question, "What Josephine Baker song would you most like to smoke to?"

Rob Sims brings new meaning to the popular slogan, "More Than An Athlete." Following a nine-year pro football career and a successful stint in the real estate field, Sims reunited with his teammate, Calvin Johnson, to launch Primitiv, a forward-thinking company committed to the advancement of cannabis as a form of elevated wellness. In this week's episode, Sims reflects on his transition into the cannabis field, explains how he launched a business with his former teammate and looks forward to the future of cannabis in the midwest. Additionally, Sims discusses his company's social responsibility efforts and offers insight into Primitiv's plans for the future.

Addressing complex issues of socioeconomic importance requires complex approaches. Whether it's through film, fashion or advocacy, Kristal Bush, founder of Stay Lyfted and Free My Weed Man, has utilized every portion of her diverse skillset to address the prohibition of cannabis in the state of Philadelphia and beyond. In this episode, we speak to Kristal Bush about the effects of the War on Drugs, social advocacy and reuniting over 3,500 families with their loved ones who have been impacted by the criminalization of cannabis.

People of color face many challenges in and out of the workplace when entering the cannabis industry. Entrepreneurs of color must not only navigate business spaces that were often not designed with them in mind, but they must also overcome the stigmas surrounding the plant in various underrepresented communities. In this week's episode, we speak to Felicity Chen, founder and CEO of Polit, about navigating the negative stigmas surrounding cannabis within the Asian-American community to create one of the most well-respected brands in California's adult-use market. Felicity also shares her insights regarding fundraising through NFTs and Web3 platforms and offers advice for young entrepreneurs experiencing operational setbacks.

Studies often point out that the average millennial remains with an employer for less than three years before transitioning to a new job or place of work. While younger generations have a propensity to move into new roles quicker than their predecessors, few millennials pivot from working as business analysts to becoming the owners of cannabis fashion brands. In this week's episode, we talk to Dae Lim, founder of Sundae School, about his journey into fashion, challenging cannabis stigmas and confronting the lack of AAPI representation in the industry.

Twenty-six episodes have aired, more than two dozen guests have discussed their journeys into the cannabis industry and countless memories have been made. Fifty-two weeks after highlighting the work of social impact brand 40 Tons, High Priority turns one! In this week's episode, High Priority co-hosts Alexis Dionne and Chelsea Wei talk about what led them to create the podcast, recall their favorite interviews and discuss their future goals for the show. Alexis and Chelsea also invite High Priority producer Ryan Shepard to play a few cannabis-related mini-games and talk about his experience with the podcast. Not to be forgotten, the High Priority first-anniversary episode will conclude with a special announcement from Alexis, Chelsea and Ryan.