Austin Stevenson, vice president of product and innovation of Vertosa, was in town for a quick round of questions, and he knocked it out of the park! This super cool man of color in cannabis comes from the Midwest but has lived in Brooklyn and Oakland, so his coastal culture roots spread deep! He and Danielle Guercio went to all the corners of the consumables conversation, in double time, and the Emerald can’t wait until they are back in town.

Oakland residents should check out Vertosa’s First Friday happy hour. RSVP on Facebook is a must.

The two Gemini babes steering the Humble Bloom ship, Danniel Swatosh and Solonje Burnett, use cannabis and complementary sensory experiences to push the conversation forward in a completely unique way. Burnett is a people gatherer, bringing others together to dance, sing and herald the world we want to see, while Swatosh is a “manifestor” who bridges the art and commerce. Together, they are creating space in the cannabis industry for womxn, people of color and the LGBTQIA+ communities. 

In this episode, which featuring two Dan’s and a Sollie, the team talks about the way that their organization uses brand partnerships and community engagement to destigmatize cannabis and spread social equity past conversation and into reality. 

CannaClusive’s Mary Pryor is everywhere in the cannabis industry, so pay attention! Her and Danielle have made lots of product review videos together, so while they talk about the ins and outs of the industry, they sampled various CBD products. The results are sometimes hilarious, sometimes deep, but always educational. 

Brittany Carbone, founder of Tonic Vibes, is growing fragrant and fabulous hemp in New York’s Southern Tier. We had the pleasure of seeing the plants up close and personal. In this mini-episode, Carbone and Guercio talk about state regulations, maintaining phytochemicals after harvest, and how CBD can help New York’s farming community. 

https://www.tonicvibes.com/