November 13, 2025 • 60 mins
What if relief from relentless anxiety became the spark that rebuilt your career, your community, and your voice? That’s the charge running through our conversation with Ishqa Hillman, founder of Canna Boss Babes, whose personal healing journey with cannabis led to a platform elevating women, creating real opportunities, and challenging the systems that keep small operators on the ropes.
We start where change usually does: at home, wide awake, and out of options. Sensitive to pharmaceuticals and drawn to plant medicine, Ishqa used cannabis to sleep, breathe, and slowly re-enter the world. She breaks down how Canna Boss Babes was born to end gatekeeping and reward agency, guided by two rules: handle your own business first, and make up your own mind. Connection isn’t a buzzword here, it’s a job filled, a door opened, a life re-routed.
If you care about cannabis culture, small-business survival, and stories that turn listeners into leaders, you’ll find fuel here. Continue the conversation at the Bite Me Cannabis Club.
Join the waitlist at JoinBiteMe.com/challenge - Music by Alexander Blu
Visit the website for full show notes, free dosing calculator, recipes and more.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (01:38):
What happens when you take a love of food, a
passion for culture, and aknowledge of cannabis and you
toss them all into one bowl?
You get Bite Me, the podcastthat explores the intersection
of food, culture, and cannabisand helps cooks make great
edibles at home.
I'm your host, Margaret, acertified gangier, TCI certified
cannabis educator, and I believeyour kitchen is the best
(01:59):
dispensary you'll ever have.
Together we'll explore stories,science, and the sheer joy of
making edibles safe andeffective at home.
So preheat your oven and let'sget ready for a great episode.
And today I am joined forepisode 325 by Ishka Hillman.
Ishka hosts a podcast, runsincredible events, and is the
(02:22):
founder of Canaboss Babes.
What's a Cannabas Babe?
I'm glad you asked.
The Cannabas Babes are acollective of cannabis
professionals who are dedicatedto empowering entrepreneurship
and creating opportunities fordiversity to thrive within the
industry.
We cover a number of topics inthis conversation, like how
Ishka transitioned from acorporate career to the cannabis
(02:44):
industry, how she created avibrant community around the
cannabis babes, the hurdles thatsmall business in the cannabis
space have to confront, and howthey can remain competitive and
a whole lot more.
Ishka has become a voice in thecannabis community and the
cannabis industry that is worthlistening to.
So without making you wait anylonger, please enjoy this
(03:06):
conversation with Ishka Hillman.
All right, we're live.
Ishka, thank you so much forjoining me today.
I'm really excited to have youon Bite Me the Show about
Edibles.
And before we get into today'sconversation, if you could just
let the listeners of Bite Meknow a little bit about yourself
and your cannabis journey.
SPEAKER_01 (03:28):
Yeah.
Um, well, it was unexpected.
I know that.
Um I, you know, I kind of alwaysgo and I default to saying I'm
just a single mom.
And so I am a single mom.
Um I entered the industry whenmy daughter turned 18, but when
(03:48):
she was about 12, I startedusing cannabis medically.
Um, I was struggling from somesevere social anxiety.
Um, it took about four yearsbefore I was leaving the house
regularly, like a person, normalperson again.
Um, but I I went to work and Itook my daughter to school, and
that was pretty much the gist ofit.
(04:10):
And cannabis really helped me.
Basically, what had happened,and I didn't even realize it,
um, was I had been operatingwithout any kind of healing for
a very, very long time.
And not without any healing, butum, I had a very traumatic
childhood.
I was on the streets and injuvenile halls and group homes
as a kid.
(04:30):
So um I think my default isalways figure it out and keep
going.
And so I'm very good at that.
And it caught up with me after awhile.
Um, and so cannabis really, Icouldn't fucking sleep for like
it was months.
(04:50):
It was so long.
It was so long.
And uh cannabis helped me startfalling asleep at night.
It started helping me um slowdown and breathe.
And then eventually really justuh do some work on my own
mindset, which led to furtherhealing, the ability to go
(05:13):
outside uh to a cannabis eventand uh and continue to grow.
So right.
SPEAKER_00 (05:19):
So, what drew you to cannabis in the first place then
as like a tool to help youthrough a lot of the stuff that
you've been through versus otheroptions that would be out there?
SPEAKER_01 (05:29):
Oh, I tried a lot of other options.
I mean, that was, you know, I Iworked corporate for almost 20
years.
Like I had great insurance.
So, you know, the doctors wereprescribing all the different
options.
Um, I've just always been reallysensitive to medication.
Um, and so, you know, theyprescribe me something and
(05:49):
they're like, you'll feel it intwo weeks.
And two days later, I'm like, myskin's crawling, something's
crawling into my skin, get itout of me.
There's no way you can even feelit by now.
I was like, no, no, no, no, getit the fuck out of me.
Like, I don't like this.
You know, like my walls aremoving in my office.
I'm not, this is not what Iwant, you know.
Um so I think being thatsensitive has limited my
(06:15):
options, but also always made mereally interested in plant
medicine.
Like one of the oldest books onmy bookshelf is like this, you
know, four-inch thick naturalencyclopedia from when my
daughter was a baby.
So, you know, like I've alwaysreally loved plant medicine and
been interested in how we'vealways healed ourselves with
(06:39):
what's around us and what isnaturally provided for us.
Um and so yeah, I thinkdefinitely there was a little
bit of stigma to get over.
I think being a young single momand it not always being legal
when she was little, right?
Um, and being too afraid in myprofessional life and what I was
(07:03):
trying to build for us, youknow, um financially to go and
get a medical card or be on alist somewhere, different
things.
So it took a while before Istarted using it as medicine.
It definitely was like a funlittle sneak recreation thing
before that.
SPEAKER_00 (07:23):
Um so you had a little bit of experience with it
beforehand, but you Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:28):
I mean, I started smoking it when I was like 12.
SPEAKER_00 (07:30):
So yeah, like you know, for sure.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:33):
Mad kid, remember?
Like, no.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
Yeah, that's fair.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's you did mention thatyou're you're working in
corporate for a long time.
So I'm glad you mentioned thatbecause that sort of leads into
my next question, which was thatyou worked uh a corporate job,
had built a career for 20 years,and then you have become a
prominent voice in the cannabisindustry, and that's a pretty
(07:57):
major shift going from corporateto the cannabis industry.
What was the most pivotalpivotal moment that made you
decide to leave the corporateworld and go dedicate yourself
to cannabis and the cannabisbabes?
SPEAKER_01 (08:11):
Well, um, loaded question, and let's preface it
by saying I was never a verygood corporate employee.
I always asked you manyquestions.
I always said a little too muchshit.
Um, I was, you know, definitelyalways the one that was like,
(08:36):
you know, I mean, when I I usedto work for American Haunted
Motor Company, and it's a greatcompany.
I loved my experiences there.
Um, having FedEx on site is agame changer when you suck at
shipping things.
While I worked there, all myChristmas presents were on time.
I've never been on time outsideof that.
(08:58):
Um, so you know, things likethat on site, you know, like
having your car get serviced andit like disappears while you're
at work and it comes back andit's clean.
And like, you know, there'sdefinitely some perks that are
nice, right?
Um I I loved it.
It was it was great.
I loved the whole, you know, umwork Barbie outfits and six-inch
(09:19):
heels I used to wear then too,because hey, I was I was in my
20s.
So um, you know, all of that wasreally great.
But I left because there um werethings that were not in
alignment with what they saidtheir values were, and that
didn't make sense to me.
And when things don't make senseto me, I ask questions.
(09:42):
And uh in environments likethat, um, much like in the
administration we have here inthe United States today, they
don't like that.
So um when I was 29, I I left,you know, working in in large
corporations to start working insmaller businesses where I felt
like it had more of an impactand also help with some of those
(10:07):
other things in order to create,um, I've always called it a
better human experience, right?
It's like, yes, of course, thecustomer experience, you want
the sales, but that reallybegins with the employee
experience.
And the employee experience isimproved through you know, clear
communication, efficientoperations, and and some fun
(10:28):
little perks, right?
Like the like treating them likehumans.
SPEAKER_00 (10:33):
Yes, yeah.
I feel like more people need tobe doing that these days, but
yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
Well, you know, yeah, yeah, that was what I
thought I'd be doing.
The transition to cannabis wassuch an interesting thing
because it was not planned.
I had actually um cannabis hadbeen helping me heal for a few
years into my last job, and mylast company was an amazing
company in the architecturalindustry.
(11:00):
It was a 10-year-old businesshere in Long Beach, eight people
making six figures.
They were all very moderatelyhappy.
Um, my hiring seminar, it waslike me and a bunch of other
people, and I was like, Iremember standing at the door
and the owners like literallyclosing the door because we're
like dun-dun.
And I'm like wanting to know,well, what have your thoughts
(11:21):
been on franchising andexpanding?
And like, and I'm just curious,you know, I'm always curious.
Um, and and I ended up gettingthe job, and so within five
years' time, I helped them growto three locations, two states
$5.8 million through improvingtheir different um systems and
(11:43):
just a lot of things.
I know a lot over there.
But it was time.
Like there's something that Itell my daughter, my daughter's
in a transition right now, she's24, that um sometimes the
universe will use people aroundyou to move you.
You know, like when our time wasdone, it's done.
And so I had no idea about thecannabis industry.
(12:04):
I hadn't even considered that,but I knew that my time was
coming to an end.
And I actually, and the reasonwhy I wear the 710 necklace is
because I, before I even knewwhat it meant, I resigned on 710
2019.
And so 11 days later wasactually when I went to uh
(12:24):
cannabis education, like littlething after work.
One of the women I had hired forthat company years before was
moonlighting as a bed tender,because you know, we could do
that here then.
And um, and so I was like, Yeah,sure, I'm curious about learning
more, you know, because I it hadhelped me so much already at
(12:48):
that point.
I was curious in an industry,and like, oh, brands and people,
and okay.
And I go in, and yeah, therewere tons of brands, tons of
people.
The room was way too packed.
Um, but there was also speakers,and that's where I heard the
term endocannabinoid system forthe first time, and my life was
(13:11):
changed in that instant.
I got visuals.
I always say I always feel likethis too, because I saw prison
bars on this side with the doorsopening and a golden cage with
the door opening.
And I just was like, everyonehas a right to know what this
system does and that it's in ourbody, and like we all deserve to
(13:35):
be free.
SPEAKER_00 (13:35):
So right, I love that.
I I the ECS, the endocannabinoidsystem is what changed you.
That's kind of that's reallycool.
Yeah, and yeah, how did cannabosbabes come about then after
that?
SPEAKER_01 (13:48):
So that was such a funny thing because I had
actually um gotten my businesslicense and built a website and
brochures and business cards andthe whole champagne market um
for what I thought was going tobe a curated culture.
And so my idea when I left therewas that I was going to be doing
business consulting and thenworking in juvenile halls on my
(14:11):
free time with kids like me tohelp just teach them some of the
things it took me decades tolearn about myself and my
capabilities and my place inthis world and what I'm capable
of.
And so, and I'm still learningthose things, 48, still learning
those things.
Um, but you know, uh I I thoughtthat's what the plan was gonna
(14:33):
be.
Uh the cannabas babes resultedbecause from that first meeting,
I started meeting people leftand right.
And so it was the strangestthing because I really only
talked to the people I workedwith for four years, right?
Like I didn't talk to otherpeople for four years.
(14:53):
All of a sudden, there's allthese different people, all
these people, and I'm meetingthem all, and they're all very
entrepreneurial, you know, likeProp 64 had just passed, so
recreation had just legalized.
So everyone's very hopeful andlike wanting to have a part
within this ecosystem that we'rebuilding here.
(15:16):
And it was just really inspiringto meet all these incredible
women and then find out, ohwait, they didn't know each
other.
So, like from the beginning,even though I was the new girl,
I was like, oh, well, you needyou, and you need you, and you
need you.
And then simultaneously, here Iam, because I'm I'm a corporate
mom, kind of fresh out ofcorporate, right?
(15:38):
I'm looking for all the events,I'm paying way too much money
for a lot of these things.
Um, um, and trying to findcommunity.
And the women's groups at thetime were not nice, they were
mean girls.
And so then also as I'm havingconversations with these
individual women that areamazing and need inspiration,
(15:59):
I'm hearing about these meangirls.
And I was like, it's just soweird.
And so how it happened was I wasone day sitting with two of my
friends.
Um, and one of them was beingthreatened on Instagram to have
her page taken down if shedidn't unfollow someone.
(16:20):
Oh wow.
And I just and my response wasat the time, I'm 42, my
daughter's 18.
I don't understand.
We'll just create a new spaceand then people don't have to
choose.
And I went into Instagram andthe Canaboss Babes was
available.
Uh, canabas babes had beensomething from years before, but
(16:41):
it didn't hadn't been touched inyears.
So I was like, okay, the can ofboss babes, like we're cannibals
babes, we don't have time forthis.
Like, we're doing things.
And um, and a week later, Ibought the domain, and um a few
months later, or no, two weekslater, we did our first event
(17:01):
with my brother from anotherMother Ricola Meet.
Um, and it just it took off.
Like from the beginning, though,people are like, oh, I've heard
of you, oh, I've heard of you.
And and I think it just was thename, right?
Like I think the name is one ofthose names, like, oh yeah, you
know.
Um, but yeah, that's what it is.
(17:22):
And so, you know, we've got acouple little can of boss babe
roles.
The first one being, and thefirst one's always the main one,
but a can of boss babe handlestheir own business first.
And that is for us to know thatwe can prioritize ourselves and
should prioritize ourselves.
But then also as the groupcollective, to not get upset
(17:42):
when we go off and take care ofourselves in whatever way that
looks like, but to celebrate thereturn, right?
To celebrate that that that's ahard thing to do to go against
the group, right?
And do what you need to do foryou, but that's a good thing,
and we celebrate that here.
So that was one really importantto me.
And then the other one is acanabas makes up their own mind
(18:04):
because like I don't want to beresponsible for anybody else's
life decisions.
Like, we're here to shareinformation and then we all
support each other's decisionsin whatever was best in that
moment for them.
Because yeah, I just think thatcontrol stuff's weird.
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (18:23):
I yeah, I totally agree with that.
So you started Cannabas Babesand it started out as, as I
understand, an entrepreneur,entrepreneurial support
platform, but now you've growninto a multifaceted brand.
You have a podcast, you do someconsulting services and events.
So, what was your originalversion for Cannabas Babes?
And how has it how has itevolved over the years?
Obviously, touching on the factthat you have all these cool
(18:45):
things happening under oneumbrella.
SPEAKER_01 (18:49):
Thank you.
You know, it's really funny.
I started this with a wholebunch of other people, right?
Like it was like a group of us,it was the pandemic, we had all
this free time, a lot of us hada little extra free money.
Um, and so when it got started,there were a lot of ideas, and
also the recreational umindustry was new and fresh, and
(19:12):
there was still money.
And in California, we arestruggling so hard.
That's not here, that's notreal.
Um, a lot of those were dreams,um, and they're beautiful
dreams, and and we'll see themthrough.
It just wasn't gonna be asquickly as maybe we thought as a
group at the beginning.
(19:33):
And so, you know, as the worldwent back into its new normal
and people went back to work andthe kids are back in school,
actually in school, and youknow, like I and Instagram took
our page in 2021, the end of2021 after 804 lives, which that
just crushed a lot of the babes.
(19:55):
I don't know what's wrong withme.
Like people always talk to meabout, oh, your consistency is
though it's a good thing.
And I'm always like, There mightbe something wrong with me
though.
Like, I don't know if that's agood thing.
Like, I'm glad you think it's agood thing, but there might be
like I don't sometimes I don'tknow why I keep going.
Um, but I do.
It's it's really honestly forthe conversations to be able to
(20:17):
share the stories.
Um, it's um it's my purpose.
I don't know how to explain itother than that.
Is like it lights me up to beable to see and provide a space
to allow others to feel theirimpact in the world.
SPEAKER_00 (20:36):
Right.
Yeah, that's such a beautifulthing.
And that's one of the reasonswhy I love having guests on my
show to talk about how they'resharing their cannabis message
with other people.
And so, you like I mentioned,you have a podcast and it's it's
a top-ranking podcast for forwomen in cannabis.
And what do you believe is thekey to its success?
Uh, and what are some of themost impactful stories you've
(20:58):
had the opportunity to share andyou know, asking for a friend.
SPEAKER_01 (21:01):
So um, yeah.
Gosh, you know, I I think thekey to its success is that I
just kind of started doing it,right?
That no one had to be perfect,that no one that that, you know,
(21:21):
we were just doing it, justhaving the conversations, um,
imperfect as they are.
I think that that allows formore listeners and more people
to self-identify and resonatewith what's possible for them
and hearing the real raw storiesfrom others.
(21:45):
And so, you know, I thinksometimes that we see a lot of,
you know, podcasts andeverything looks shiny and
fancy.
And so we think that that's onlyfor shiny and fancy people and
not for us.
SPEAKER_02 (21:58):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (21:58):
And um I pride myself on being a space that's
for anyone who asks for it.
You know, I've had people who umdon't even smoke cannabis.
I had a woman reach out once andasked to be on the podcast and
she waited her.
I mean, it's it's I'm backed up,you guys.
(22:19):
Like I'm booking 26 right now.
It's September, like, you know.
Um, I so and she waited.
She waited her, I think it waslike two months and then came
on.
And she didn't even know whatCBD was.
She just was on there and wantedto share the importance of women
joining the trucking industry,both as one, a great way to be
(22:43):
able to homeschool and raiseyour child from the road, a
great income.
And also the more women that wehave on the road, the more we
can protect other women in theworld.
SPEAKER_00 (22:54):
Right.
Yeah.
I love that you're also sharingstories of people who don't
necessarily consume cannabis aswell, because we need those
allies in the cannabis space.
And uh, there's some of the bestallies out there or advocates as
well for the for the plant.
SPEAKER_01 (23:08):
I mean, it was awesome because I got to start
the show with a little teachingher a little bit about our plant
too.
And right, and usually it's justme like, okay, teach me what you
know.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It was great, you know, likethat's that's good too.
But um, oh my favorites, man,I've got, I've got, I feel so
(23:31):
blessed.
I'm totally gonna start ballingagain.
I feel so blessed to have donethis work, and I don't even know
all the lives that I've touched,but I do know that the people
that reach out let me know.
Like the impact's real, youknow?
(23:52):
Like, um Carl Wagner, highschool teacher in Indiana.
Indiana doesn't even havemedical, like, they're not
anywhere, they're not eventrying to do any of that.
For years, years, he watched theshow um with uh, you know, like
an Instagram handle, no onewould know who he is.
(24:15):
Years.
Um, joined the weed mom bookclub, was the only guy in the
weed mom book club and showed upevery week, but had his video
camera completely off to protecthis identity because again,
scary situation in Indiana.
Um, and after a couple years,and after even coming on the
(24:37):
show and sitting in the dark andsharing his story like America's
most wanted, like a couple, afew, just a few months after
that, he ended up posting onFacebook and this beautiful
op-ed as to why it's time forIndiana to wake up and start
(24:59):
having this conversation.
And now he leads a group of over2,000 people on Facebook, and
like and that grew to like athousand within the first year,
and it just is so beautiful tosee someone who was too afraid
to advocate, learn so much thatthey can't help but to, right?
(25:20):
Yeah, and that, and so likeCarl, damn, and respect because
it's still not okay there, youknow what I mean?
Like, like he's still dealingwith that.
Um, and so I think anyone whocan um put themselves out there
and at risk that way.
Um, my babe Misty is also one ofmy favorites.
(25:42):
She um she was watching theshow, she's actually local to
me.
She was watching the show.
My daughter was helping me withum all the social media and
stuff at first because it was alot with all the different hosts
and shows and things.
You know, we had 10 shows aweek, so it was a lot.
Um, and and then she decided shewas gonna go and get a job.
(26:06):
So I was like, oh, I'm gonnaneed some help.
So I like put out a little calland Missy's like, oh, I want to
help with social media, and andI was like, okay.
And so we ended up meeting inperson, which was fun because
we'd been, you know, engagingonline for a long time.
And I ask her, and this I askeveryone this um, what is it
that you really want to do?
(26:27):
Because I love to find ways forpeople to do that.
That's what lights me up, andthat's also what the show is
about.
And so um, she says, I reallywant to grow.
I said, Well, do you haveexperience?
She's like, not really, like alittle at home.
I was like, okay.
I don't know what it is.
I always tell people give melike 48 hours.
I got a phone call from a friendof mine.
(26:48):
I also have a nonprofit, and sofrom the mental health sector
from my nonprofit life, right?
Called me.
She's like, You're the onlyperson I know in cannabis.
My husband's friend has a grow.
He just lost his guy.
Do you know anyone?
And I said, Well, what's awoman?
And she says, Well, can she lift50 pounds?
I said, Well, if if Misty's notdabbing on her Instagram, she's
(27:11):
lifting weights on herInstagram.
So I'm pretty sure she can.
She went in there on like acouple days later on that
Monday.
Uh, three months later, she wasrunning that girl on her own.
Now she's one of like the topfucking cultivators at one of
the top brands actually in theworld.
Um, and I won't name thembecause the owner doesn't want
(27:32):
her to get poached.
So, but like things like that,you know, like really being able
to um, you know, but it's alsobeen things like last year at
the network show, there was ayoung woman who I'd never even
seen before, and she asked, Youdon't know me, but a couple
years ago you said something onyour story, and I quit my job
and here and handed me her vape.
(27:52):
She's like, and now I have myown brand.
So, like, it's just cool.
It's a lot, you know, like it'sa variety of things.
SPEAKER_00 (28:02):
It sounds like you're a real connector of
people as well, which is youknow, I think the world needs
more of that, it needs more ofthat kind of sentimentality
around rising or rising tideslift all ships.
There's space for all of us inthis in this cannabis industry,
but you've created a reallystrong community around the
cannabis babes, emphasizinginclusivity and support.
(28:23):
What are some of the biggestchallenges and rewards of
fostering community in anindustry that's still pretty
stigmatized?
SPEAKER_01 (28:31):
Oh um, you know, the marketing, right?
Like the being the limitationsthat we have on social media,
the limitations on really beingable to expand in order to let
more people know this communityexists.
Um, I'd say that's probably thebiggest challenge.
(28:52):
Um other things are also, Idon't, it can be a challenge for
me at times.
I'm definitely human, notperfect at all, but this
industry has really in communityhas really um taught me, and
this plant has really taught meto give myself and others more
(29:16):
grace.
Um, 80% of disabilities areinvisible in this plant as a
medicine.
We really don't know.
We make a lot of assumptions umbased on how people look that we
have an idea of what they'vebeen through.
And the truth is we really haveno idea.
And so I think sometimes therecan be challenges with that,
(29:39):
with you know, um, there's alsochallenges with for me because I
had the social anxiety to all ofa sudden go to um very much more
public positions is I don'talways um I I have spent so much
(30:04):
of my life looking to helppeople live to their highest
selves.
Um, not you know, high on weed,but highest calling.
And so I see that in a lot ofpeople.
And sometimes people want thatfor themselves, but the work to
do that's hard.
(30:24):
And they don't always want to dothat part.
And so I think sometimes thehardest part for me, and I've
I'm getting better, but muchbetter, um, is detaching from
when they're not ready.
And so, really, just like look,creating more of this is an
opportunity.
I'd love to explore this withyou when you're ready to show up
(30:46):
for you.
Let me know.
And so I used to chase, and nowI don't chase anymore.
SPEAKER_00 (30:53):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, it's funny you mentionedyou touched on the social
anxiety again because I find itlike you seem so outgoing.
And I feel like I can learnsomething from you about that.
And it's hard to imagine thatyou would have any kind of
social anxiety.
So that's that's incredible tome.
SPEAKER_01 (31:07):
Yeah.
I'm at home.
I'm at home.
My daughter and I talk about itas um, so I say there's like
three anchors that I have when Igo out.
And so, and it's do I know thepeople I'm going, do I know the
place I'm going, and do I knowwhat the fuck I'm gonna wear?
Like that's always the mostanxiety producing.
Um, especially if I don't knowwhere I'm going and maybe I'm
(31:31):
arriving alone, right?
And so, like, I don't know theparking situation.
Or, like, I don't know.
SPEAKER_00 (31:36):
So, those are the three things that you try and
like figure out ahead of time,or one of those three things to
make it feel more comfortable.
SPEAKER_01 (31:43):
So, you know, I have to say, now with cannabis, the
control I need to have overthose things has changed.
SPEAKER_00 (31:54):
Right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (31:55):
And so now, I mean, one, I usually am going places
where I'm going to know people.
I went to New York earlier thisyear and I knew people there.
So like I just it surprises mehow small this industry really
is, you know.
And I love it.
I'm I'm grateful.
It's, it's, I always have thatanchor now, right?
You know, I may not know whereI'm going or what I'm gonna
(32:16):
wear, but I know I'm gonna knowsomebody.
Um, that helps.
Uh, but also I developed amindset in order to be able to
go out and do all this.
You know, one, what you seehere, I'm comfortable.
I'm at home.
Like I've been saying for years,like it's funny to me that this
is blown up so much because I'mjust a mom on her couch.
(32:37):
You know, like I'm like, I'm I'mchilling at home and talking to
people.
Like, how much more comfortabledoes this get?
I'm wearing pajama shortsunderneath this dress right now,
you know.
Like, I mean, right, you know,um dress from the top up.
Like uh, yeah, it's this iseasy.
Like I can be at ease here athome.
Um, I'm also high, like, youknow, I've I'm I've got my
(33:01):
stuff.
I I had a couple bowls thismorning before we did this, as
early as it is.
Um, so that helps.
Um, but also I really love theconversations and the
one-on-ones.
Like, I I love that.
I I do a group thing thoughthough, too.
We have um an online group thatwe host bi-weekly on Mondays.
Um, and that's been awesome withpeople literally all over the
(33:24):
world joining us.
Like it's and all over theindustry.
It's really kind of amazing allthe different people that come
together and the ways that wecontinue to find to connect.
So um, yeah, there might be highand asked how to answer
questions today.
SPEAKER_00 (33:41):
No, that's fine.
Uh, you to you've touched on tooabout the survival squeeze that
small operators in the cannabisindustry face.
What do you think are thebiggest hurdles for small
business and entrepreneurs whoare trying to succeed in a super
competitive landscape?
And also, I mean, I know thisall too well myself, but just a
landscape with players that havemuch deeper pockets than I do,
(34:04):
or some of these other smallplayers might.
SPEAKER_01 (34:07):
I mean, even the ones with the deeper pockets,
those pockets are getting moreshallow, right?
Like really honestly, thebiggest challenge is
regulations, is is uh the wholefederally rescheduling.
My prediction, and I've beensounding like a conspiracy
theorist online for a year now,but I think people starting to
(34:29):
believe me now, is that if weget rescheduled, how they're
gonna take out the smaller shopsis by forcing them to have a
pharmacist on staff, and that'sno small salary.
SPEAKER_02 (34:40):
Right.
unknown (34:41):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (34:42):
But if it's re you know, schedule three, yeah,
that's standard operating.
So uh the regulations are a bigone here in California.
Uh taxes were raised evenfurther on July 1st.
Uh, it was announced yesterdaythat they will be dropped, but
(35:02):
not effective until October 1st,which why are you trying to take
three months from people thatyou like you made that decision
knowing we don't have it?
But that's another way to takebusinesses out.
Is so we see different phases.
There's certain events of theyear that you see that shortly
after, usually businesses aregone.
(35:23):
It won't be like your last bighurrah, and then a week later,
oh, all these layoffs.
That's a very common thing wesee around here.
Um taxes definitely take peopleout.
We've got that a couple times ayear, you know, that goes
through phases.
And so what we've been seeing,you know, as we're going into
our sixth year, right?
(35:44):
Um, of rec is that uh theseinvestors even are like tired
and this is a little too long agame for them to right.
So that's the biggest challenge.
Um, and then because of thosetaxes, the prices being too
(36:05):
high, things not moving in thedispensaries, so then even the
quality of the dispensary isless, even though you're paying
more.
So the traditional market isthriving once again.
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (36:18):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (36:19):
And, you know, and honestly, that all comes down to
an issue with accessibility.
SPEAKER_00 (36:25):
Yeah.
Yeah, 100%.
So I guess you're suggestingthat legislation is sort of the
only way out of that, but thatalways seems like there's big
horizon.
SPEAKER_01 (36:33):
I do, because that's how we we need banking, we need
tax write-offs, we need theability to be able to market
publicly and provide educationand not just leave it up to some
Netflix show to like half-asswhat the experience of weed is.
Like, right, you know, we'regetting better content, but
(36:56):
there's still so much stigmaaround the content that is being
produced, and it actually pissesme off.
So, like, like I love the TVshow Shameless, and the last
season of Shameless, they didWeed So Dirty.
SPEAKER_00 (37:13):
I don't remember that, and I watched all of it.
SPEAKER_01 (37:16):
Did they?
Oh, yeah.
No, they did Weed So Dirty.
One of the first episodes of theseason was that two guys in the
bar, I think, ate a brownie orsomething and got stupid high,
and then ended up like becausethey had a whole weed business
after years of beingheterosexual, now all of a
sudden are homosexual, andthere's nothing wrong with
(37:37):
homosexuality, but to sit thereand like say that weed made them
do like I've never known anyoneto get high off weed and make a
decision like that suddenly.
Right.
Like that.
SPEAKER_00 (37:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (37:53):
That's not a good thing.
SPEAKER_00 (37:55):
It sounds very reefer madness like.
Yeah, I really totally forgotabout that storyline.
SPEAKER_01 (38:01):
Like, as real as that show had been for so many
other things, um, like I mydaughter and I laugh.
Uh Frank Gallagher in that showis the father.
Yeah, he is like my dad.
Like every single episode mydaughter and I saw, we'd be
like, Oh, Poppy.
That is my dad.
He even kind of looks like him.
(38:21):
It's wild.
Um, so they got so many otherthings right.
And and yeah, they fucked thatup and made me mad.
SPEAKER_00 (38:31):
Yeah, because I I had totally forgotten that
didn't two of the charactersthat ran the bar start a
business selling edibles out ofthe bar?
Yeah, I totally forgot aboutthat.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm always surprised that thestigma is still hanging on so
much, even though legalization,like where you are and where I
am, has been around for a while.
It just always surprises me thatthe mainstream isn't catching on
(38:53):
faster.
I don't get it.
But I guess there's still a lotof forces working against it,
unfortunately.
SPEAKER_01 (38:59):
It's really interesting, you know, it's it's
mainstream media, and it's thesame thing that we see in our
news, right?
Like we know we can't trust ournews, our news is propaganda,
mainstream media is too.
Everything that we are fed orget to pay a subscription for is
going to be what they want us tosee and think.
(39:22):
Um, I find content from realpeople way better.
I love it like the, you know,who doesn't love a good like
food account on Instagram,right?
We all love to get hot and lookat the good foody things.
Um, I am no exception.
I watch way too much foodvideos, but that's okay.
Um and I love seeing like thechefs that'll just sit there and
(39:46):
like they're not even likestoner chefs necessarily or
anything like that, but they'llbe like, I just had an edible,
we're gonna make this.
And then like you even see themas they eat it at the end, their
eyes are so low, but they're sohappy.
And I'm like, that just that,right?
SPEAKER_00 (40:05):
Like, yeah.
Yeah, we'll get maybe we'll getthere one day.
Who knows?
I guess we'll we'll just have towait and see, wait it out.
SPEAKER_01 (40:12):
But I mean, I've always said it's like I feel
like it's like the railroad.
So I've always thought that likethis is like we're building the
railroad, and some lives aretaken and become a part of the
railroad so that futuregenerations can ride it more
easily.
And and that's the work withwith this.
That is the work with withcannabis and bringing bringing
(40:34):
back plant medicine to thepeople.
SPEAKER_00 (40:36):
Yeah, and that's so true too, because like there's
kids growing up right now whereI live that have never known it
not to be legal, which is crazyto me.
But yeah, they've justdispensaries have always been
there, and it's like that'stheir life.
And I'm like, wow, it we a lotof people.
SPEAKER_01 (40:53):
You know, the conversation I had with my
daughter when she was youngerwas it was medicine.
She always saw it as medicinefor me, and and it helped that
she would see its effect, right?
Like she would know, like, oh,we'd be out shopping and have to
run a bunch of errands becauseit's like school shopping, and
like, oh my god.
And I have social anxiety, solike, I don't want to do any of
(41:16):
this, but we got to because Ilove you, and so anything for
you, boo boo.
Like, you know, and and yeah,and she'd be like, um, mom,
here, take your vape.
SPEAKER_00 (41:26):
Like, you know, this'll help, yeah.
Yeah.
Now, social equity in thecannabis industry is something
that gets talked a lot about,but often it's a lot of words
and not a lot of action.
From your perspective, what arethe most critical steps that
need to be taken for a moreequitable and just industry?
SPEAKER_01 (41:49):
Um God.
Okay, so the reason why I'mhesitating is because my very
first thought was fuck thegovernment.
Um I just I and I don't know,and I'm sitting here like
trying, like, well, how do I saythat in a nice way though?
And then I'm like, well, no, butfuck the government.
(42:10):
And and um honestly, it's asetup.
So social equity was a reallygood idea to make certain people
feel good about things and like,oh, and and you know, to like
get the support of and like, oh,it's a thing.
But I learned very early on inworking with a subcommittee here
(42:32):
and my local government in thelovely city of Long Beach,
California, um, years ago intheir social equity department,
that you know, as long as thegovernment's gonna hire idiots
and people who are willfullyignorant, um, um, and it's by
mandate, I'm sure, and like, youknow, certain psych profiles
(42:53):
only, um, IQs very low.
Uh there's a willful ignorancethere.
Um my first call with them, souh just so basically to the very
first year of social equity.
Only one of 87 candidates madeit through and got their loan.
(43:16):
Only one of 87.
Right.
The very first call, so uh wespent as a subcommittee, we
spent months havingconversations with people who
are social equity conversationswith other operators in the
space.
I'm a part of uh my local uhLBCA, Long Beach Collective
Association.
(43:37):
It's different cannabisoperators.
I of course do not hold alicense, however, um being
adjacent and volunteering forthem from the very first time I
heard endocannabinoid system attheir their event.
Um, I've I'm active.
You can't get me out of thisstuff.
So um uh yeah, the very firstmeeting we had with our city
(44:00):
department was uh, hey, there'sa problem.
Only one of 87 candidates madeit through your system, which
means that it doesn't work.
And here's like the differentpoints as to why.
And they said, no, no, no, no.
Only one out of 87 wanted it badenough.
SPEAKER_00 (44:17):
Oh, interesting.
That's an interesting way tolook at that.
SPEAKER_01 (44:22):
I just don't, I was like, You gotta be that dumb on
purpose.
Like it was, it was you haveconversations with them, and it
is you you sit in city councilmeetings and and and they're
dumb on purpose.
You know, you talk about theenvironmental impact of bringing
in these giant cruise ships, andand they're like, huh?
(44:44):
Vote yes.
We want the money, and it's justyeah, fuck the government.
SPEAKER_00 (44:50):
So do you think there's anything that can be
done to improve those kind ofnumbers?
Like when they have socialequity programs for the colour.
SPEAKER_01 (44:56):
There's the other thing, social equity and the way
that they're set up is to putadditional burden on other
cannabis businesses.
Um, social equity is not theresponsibility of the cannabis
industry.
The cannabis industry hasalready been negatively impacted
by the lack of social equity inthe world, in the in every
(45:18):
industry, in as a whole.
So to put the bird, so even theway that it's written again,
right?
Like it's good PR.
So my my wonderful mayor, RexRichardson, who I'm not allowed
to tag online anymore.
Um I I he is such a sellout, butum he, you know, I mentioned
(45:43):
earlier, nonprofit, my partnerin the nonprofit during the
pandemic, uh, our localcommunity here in the park, the
homeless issue, way out ofcontrol.
Um for two, we celebrated theirtwo-year anniversary of serving
people, uh, shower truck,laundry truck, clothing, food,
(46:03):
weekly, like you know, trying toserve a hundred people each
week.
Like it's not enough, but it'ssomething.
And and all of a sudden you seeafter two years an article in
the newspaper with Rex and about10 other people none of us have
ever seen before talking aboutall the services we've been
(46:27):
providing, as though they'vebeen providing it.
And I'm like, who are who areany of those people?
So it's PR.
Everything with politics is PR.
And that's the thing thathonestly these canimus
conversations have taught me inthe last six years, is what a
setup it all is.
SPEAKER_00 (46:48):
Right.
Yeah.
So there is no traditional,there is no real answer from our
government, essentially, whichkind of makes sense to me.
Like it does make sense to me.
SPEAKER_01 (46:59):
No, it's intended to fail.
All of this is intended to fail.
If you look at if they reallywanted this industry to succeed,
they would not make it so hardto survive in.
Uh, taxes are 36% right now, 39%going back down to 36% in
October 1st.
Woo! Um, 36%.
(47:22):
When I first entered this space,because again, I was like
business consulting, right?
And I hired 36% and there's nofinancing and there's no
marketing, and 36% in taxesalone is more than overhead is
in most other businesses.
The entire overhead.
And that's just taxes.
(47:44):
That's not employees, that's notrent, that's not SCE and their
bullshit electric bill either.
Um, it's what?
Right.
So I don't know what's wrongwith me.
Like I said earlier, there'ssomething wrong with me.
I like a challenge.
Let's go.
And that's kind of what happens.
SPEAKER_00 (48:03):
Yeah, because the cannabis space is definitely
very challenging to operate in.
I I find even being in Canada,we've had legalization like rec
for about over six years now, itit's not any easier up here in a
lot of ways.
SPEAKER_01 (48:17):
Cause you don't have marketing, your packaging is all
right.
SPEAKER_00 (48:21):
Like, yeah, there's pretty much none.
So there's definitely challengeshere as well.
But as a woman, you've broken alot of barriers and you operate
in a really male-dominatedspace, even though we're all
here celebrating the plant,which is female, somehow it's
still very male-dominated.
But what advice would you givefor other women who are looking
to build a career in thecannabis space?
(48:42):
And are there any particularopportunities right now that are
that are great for women, inyour opinion?
SPEAKER_01 (48:49):
Oh, I mean, I think there's always opportunities
that are great for women to bein this space.
It's not hard.
It's not, you know, if you wanta soft life, if you're a soft
life kind of gal, don't comehere.
Like, you know, you have to bewilling to be, you know, chewed
up and spit out a few times.
Um, I I've earned a lot ofcannabis stripes.
(49:12):
I used to be uncomfortable withpeople calling me an OG because
I don't feel like six years hasbeen all that long, but actually
I've been through a few things.
I I got some stripes over here.
So um, you know, don't comeexpecting it to be easy.
Um come because this plant haschanged your life, not because
you want to make money.
(49:32):
Um I don't, yeah, I don't expectto make money.
Um, you know, if you're someonewho has is able to serve a lot
of people and do consultant typework similar to myself or 1099,
um, definitely keep clients inother industries that will help
(49:52):
you keep your lights on um inbetween.
Um and find community, be wary,though.
Also, there are again like 80%of disabilities are invisible
going on.
Um, and also a lot of people arevery, you know, cannabis has
(50:15):
attracted a lot of reallyamazing healing-centered people
and also a lot of opportunists.
And sometimes you can't tellthem apart until it's too late.
So, you know, be patient, don'tdive in too quickly, do your
research.
Um, but also don't judge peoplebased on other people's
experiences entirely because youknow, everyone's got their
(50:39):
reason for their perspective.
SPEAKER_00 (50:42):
Right.
Yeah.
And I do love that you mentionedto find community as well,
because I think that that'ssomething that we all need,
regardless of whether you're inthe cannabis space or just
living your life out in theworld.
Like we need we need people.
SPEAKER_01 (50:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (50:54):
To be to be around us and to support us.
SPEAKER_01 (50:57):
Yeah.
I would say join one of theCannabas Babes Connect groups,
um, you know, every other Mondayevening.
I love that's really I we'vedone three.
We just did the third one lastnight.
It's an idea I've had forever.
Um, I had a guest on my podcastrecently that was talking about
being really lonely, like havingso much work, she doesn't get to
(51:20):
leave work very often, butwanting that community.
And so, like, oh, well, we canmeet online.
That's an easy thing.
And I was like, Oh, I've beenthinking about doing, let me
just do it.
Let me just stop talking, like,let me just do it.
And it's been amazing.
Like the very first one.
Um, you know, it's limited to 50people.
We end up having about half showup because, you know, it's a
(51:41):
free event online people forgetand realize I didn't pay
anything for it.
So I'm gonna go eat dinnerinstead, and that's fine.
Um, but it's been about 20people each time, 20 to 25.
And we just kind of share who weare, what we're doing in the
space, maybe some of what we'reworking on, how we'd like to
serve, or what we could use.
(52:03):
And um, from the very firstmeeting, there was someone who
needed an employee.
Three of the other people endedup applying.
One of them got hired, the othertwo ended up with one-on-ones
with me, and one of them's goingoff, and I've connected her
already to someone else to dosomething that was even more
aligned with what she reallywants to do.
And so, um, you know, it'sreally exciting.
(52:25):
We've always got new people.
There's definitely a lot offamiliar faces.
Um, there's big names from allover the industry, too.
I really love my friends.
I'm so blessed.
Like, I geek out that these arelike, these are my people, these
are my friends.
Like, like Luna Stour comes andsleeps on my couch when, you
know, like, you know, like yeah,yeah.
(52:46):
Um, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (52:48):
Yeah.
Well, it's very cool that youstarted, you call it Cannibas
Babes Connect.
I really love that idea.
And honestly, when you said thatyou just wanted to do it, my my
mantra this year has been justfucking do it.
Because so often, like I justoverthink things.
And I'm sure this is anexperience common to many
people.
You just overthink things,you're waiting for it to be
perfect, like all these reasonswhy you can't just do it.
(53:10):
And then when you do do it,you're like, oh my God, I'm so
glad I did.
Just like your calls that you'rehosting on Monday nights.
So I love that.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (53:19):
Well, in writing, I actually it just was published
for the first time two weeksago.
Two weeks ago.
Um, and hosted my first panellast week as well.
And those are two things thatyou know, hosting a panel I've
been wanting to do.
Writing, I've always loved todo, but I had in my head for the
(53:41):
longest time, like, I didn't goto school for that.
I've not worked in like eventhough like I've literally
created a magazine andeverywhere I've ever worked.
And like I've done it informallyso many places throughout my
entire life.
So that was a huge thing.
I wasn't even planning on doingthat.
(54:01):
It ended up being um thepublication wanted um my
connection to be in it, and thensaid, Oh, well, Ishko write an
article about you, and uh, andthen ended up telling me I told
them you'd write an article, andI was like, You did, huh?
Okay.
Yeah, well, you know, sometimesyou just have to do it because
(54:24):
it unlocked something in me inthat I've always loved to write.
I write a ton on my blog.
Um, and and and I've always beenlike, oh, I'm not a writer, and
now I get to be like Right.
SPEAKER_00 (54:38):
Yeah, because you just fucking did it.
I love it.
SPEAKER_01 (54:40):
And it was great, and everyone loved it.
So it was like that's excitingand affirming too, is is you
know, yeah.
So I get to just share morestories in more formats and more
ways.
And I've been getting reallyinto like the SEO and the blog
and building out the website toalso, again, just draw more
attention to all of the stories,you know.
(55:02):
Um, so yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (55:04):
Yeah.
Now, this is a question that I Ilike to ask a lot of the guests
that I have on my show.
So, what would surprise peopleabout you?
SPEAKER_01 (55:12):
Oh, that I'm not really extroverted.
SPEAKER_00 (55:15):
That is surprising to me.
You seem very gregarious.
SPEAKER_01 (55:18):
So I'm I um I'm a home at Cama shards.
Um I, you know, I love spendingtime alone.
I really spend so much timealone and so much time in my
head, and I even like laugh atmyself at how much I really do
just entertain myself and dreamup new work to do and new
(55:40):
projects to do.
Like, no one, like, no one paysme to do this.
Like, I come up with this stuffon my own.
I just keep giving myself morework to do.
Um, and and I love it, and it'sjust so fun.
And I, yeah, I love being alone.
I think, especially right now,um, being perimenopausal as
(56:01):
well.
I love sleeping alone.
I go to bed at night and then Ilike stretch out.
I'm like, I'm so glad I'm sharewith anybody.
Like, if I wake up at oneo'clock in the morning and I
can't sleep for four hours, likeI'm just chilling and smoking
weed in the living room and likeno one's asking me, Are you
okay?
Are you gonna come in?
Like, no, go away.
Like, yeah, sometimes it mightbe nice if dinner was delivered
(56:24):
to my desk because I'm notgetting up, but um, and working
late.
But you know, other than that, Ireally love being alone.
I I and then when I go out to myevents, it's lovely and
wonderful, but I do make sure tocharge up a lot before done.
And I make sure to give myself afew days afterwards because some
(56:45):
of the bigger events, like oneof my favorite things to do is
go walk every day.
It's like a two, almost threemile walk.
And when I come back from bigevents, I don't even want to go
on my walk because I don't evenwant to say hi to a neighbor.
Like, yeah, I don't wannarecharge.
I think that's probably whatwould surprise people is like I
(57:08):
do end up becoming nonverbal,and then people are like, wait,
what?
And I'm like, Yeah, I don't wantto talk yet.
SPEAKER_00 (57:16):
I'm not ready.
I've got to recharge the socialboundary.
Yeah.
Now finally, what is next forCan of Boss Babes?
And do you have anything on thehorizon that you're excited
about in particular?
SPEAKER_01 (57:27):
Yeah.
Um, so I am co-hosting a suitein Vegas again this year for MJ
Bizcon with my babe KellyRiddle, who I hosted um a
beautiful uh townhome in Hudson,New York earlier with.
And so we're going to Vegas.
(57:48):
We've got a corner suite at oneof the top hotels.
It's one of the ones you guyswant to be at.
And we've got Sarah Pyan comingin and hosting a few hours and
doing some fun things.
And Luna Stewart's coming in andhosting a few hours, and we're
gonna have a fun little photoshoot at the Neon Graveyard with
(58:11):
10 lucky influencers, and youknow, just uh I'm looking
forward to more connections.
I love this.
I love being able to haveeveryone come from all over the
world, seeing all the babestogether in person.
But, you know, it can beoverstimulating sometimes on the
(58:32):
showroom floor and like a lot,you know, there's so much going
on.
The conversations are like thisversus when you have a suite
where, you know, maybe we evenhave like a massage therapist or
something, um, and a nicelittle, you know, dabby dab bar.
Um you can relax enough to havea conversation and to really
(58:56):
explore where alignment isbetween you and growth
opportunities.
And and that to me is what it'sall about is creating more
connections so that we cancreate more opportunities for
growth.
SPEAKER_00 (59:08):
Yeah, that's amazing.
So people can look out for youat MJBizCon.
And of course, you have yourpodcast that people can tune
into as well because you do newepisodes every when when do you
put out new episodes?
SPEAKER_01 (59:19):
Um every week we put up a new one.
I am taking off September.
September's been a big month.
There's been a lot of differentevents, um, but I will be back
in October.
And then I'm also going to bepodcasting live from Ignite It,
which is formerly Benzinga.
Um, their California marketspotlight is here in Anaheim on
(59:40):
October 8th, and I'll bepodcasting live from there as
well.
SPEAKER_00 (59:43):
That's amazing.
So I'll be sure to include allthis stuff in the show notes so
people can find you and findwhere to connect with you.
And Ishka, I just want to thankyou so much for your time today.
It's been a really greatconversation, and I appreciate
you.
SPEAKER_01 (59:54):
Yeah, thank you so much, Margaret.
I can't wait for you to join meon my.
SPEAKER_00 (59:58):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to that too.
I trust that you enjoyed thatconversation as much as I did.
I will include the links whereto find Ishka and the cannabas
babes in the show notes.
And please share thisconversation with someone as
curious about cannabis as youare.
Join us over at the Bite MeCannabis Club.
And until next time, my friends,I am your host, Margaret, and
(01:00:20):
stay high.
What happens when you take a love of food, a
passion for culture, and aknowledge of cannabis and you
toss them all into one bowl?
You get Bite Me, the podcastthat explores the intersection
of food, culture, and cannabisand helps cooks make great
edibles at home.
I'm your host, Margaret, acertified gangier, TCI certified
cannabis educator, and I believeyour kitchen is the best
(01:59):
dispensary you'll ever have.
Together we'll explore stories,science, and the sheer joy of
making edibles safe andeffective at home.
So preheat your oven and let'sget ready for a great episode.
And today I am joined forepisode 325 by Ishka Hillman.
Ishka hosts a podcast, runsincredible events, and is the
(02:22):
founder of Canaboss Babes.
What's a Cannabas Babe?
I'm glad you asked.
The Cannabas Babes are acollective of cannabis
professionals who are dedicatedto empowering entrepreneurship
and creating opportunities fordiversity to thrive within the
industry.
We cover a number of topics inthis conversation, like how
Ishka transitioned from acorporate career to the cannabis
(02:44):
industry, how she created avibrant community around the
cannabis babes, the hurdles thatsmall business in the cannabis
space have to confront, and howthey can remain competitive and
a whole lot more.
Ishka has become a voice in thecannabis community and the
cannabis industry that is worthlistening to.
So without making you wait anylonger, please enjoy this
(03:06):
conversation with Ishka Hillman.
All right, we're live.
Ishka, thank you so much forjoining me today.
I'm really excited to have youon Bite Me the Show about
Edibles.
And before we get into today'sconversation, if you could just
let the listeners of Bite Meknow a little bit about yourself
and your cannabis journey.
SPEAKER_01 (03:28):
Yeah.
Um, well, it was unexpected.
I know that.
Um I, you know, I kind of alwaysgo and I default to saying I'm
just a single mom.
And so I am a single mom.
Um I entered the industry whenmy daughter turned 18, but when
(03:48):
she was about 12, I startedusing cannabis medically.
Um, I was struggling from somesevere social anxiety.
Um, it took about four yearsbefore I was leaving the house
regularly, like a person, normalperson again.
Um, but I I went to work and Itook my daughter to school, and
that was pretty much the gist ofit.
(04:10):
And cannabis really helped me.
Basically, what had happened,and I didn't even realize it,
um, was I had been operatingwithout any kind of healing for
a very, very long time.
And not without any healing, butum, I had a very traumatic
childhood.
I was on the streets and injuvenile halls and group homes
as a kid.
(04:30):
So um I think my default isalways figure it out and keep
going.
And so I'm very good at that.
And it caught up with me after awhile.
Um, and so cannabis really, Icouldn't fucking sleep for like
it was months.
(04:50):
It was so long.
It was so long.
And uh cannabis helped me startfalling asleep at night.
It started helping me um slowdown and breathe.
And then eventually really justuh do some work on my own
mindset, which led to furtherhealing, the ability to go
(05:13):
outside uh to a cannabis eventand uh and continue to grow.
So right.
SPEAKER_00 (05:19):
So, what drew you to cannabis in the first place then
as like a tool to help youthrough a lot of the stuff that
you've been through versus otheroptions that would be out there?
SPEAKER_01 (05:29):
Oh, I tried a lot of other options.
I mean, that was, you know, I Iworked corporate for almost 20
years.
Like I had great insurance.
So, you know, the doctors wereprescribing all the different
options.
Um, I've just always been reallysensitive to medication.
Um, and so, you know, theyprescribe me something and
(05:49):
they're like, you'll feel it intwo weeks.
And two days later, I'm like, myskin's crawling, something's
crawling into my skin, get itout of me.
There's no way you can even feelit by now.
I was like, no, no, no, no, getit the fuck out of me.
Like, I don't like this.
You know, like my walls aremoving in my office.
I'm not, this is not what Iwant, you know.
Um so I think being thatsensitive has limited my
(06:15):
options, but also always made mereally interested in plant
medicine.
Like one of the oldest books onmy bookshelf is like this, you
know, four-inch thick naturalencyclopedia from when my
daughter was a baby.
So, you know, like I've alwaysreally loved plant medicine and
been interested in how we'vealways healed ourselves with
(06:39):
what's around us and what isnaturally provided for us.
Um and so yeah, I thinkdefinitely there was a little
bit of stigma to get over.
I think being a young single momand it not always being legal
when she was little, right?
Um, and being too afraid in myprofessional life and what I was
(07:03):
trying to build for us, youknow, um financially to go and
get a medical card or be on alist somewhere, different
things.
So it took a while before Istarted using it as medicine.
It definitely was like a funlittle sneak recreation thing
before that.
SPEAKER_00 (07:23):
Um so you had a little bit of experience with it
beforehand, but you Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:28):
I mean, I started smoking it when I was like 12.
SPEAKER_00 (07:30):
So yeah, like you know, for sure.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:33):
Mad kid, remember?
Like, no.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
Yeah, that's fair.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's you did mention thatyou're you're working in
corporate for a long time.
So I'm glad you mentioned thatbecause that sort of leads into
my next question, which was thatyou worked uh a corporate job,
had built a career for 20 years,and then you have become a
prominent voice in the cannabisindustry, and that's a pretty
(07:57):
major shift going from corporateto the cannabis industry.
What was the most pivotalpivotal moment that made you
decide to leave the corporateworld and go dedicate yourself
to cannabis and the cannabisbabes?
SPEAKER_01 (08:11):
Well, um, loaded question, and let's preface it
by saying I was never a verygood corporate employee.
I always asked you manyquestions.
I always said a little too muchshit.
Um, I was, you know, definitelyalways the one that was like,
(08:36):
you know, I mean, when I I usedto work for American Haunted
Motor Company, and it's a greatcompany.
I loved my experiences there.
Um, having FedEx on site is agame changer when you suck at
shipping things.
While I worked there, all myChristmas presents were on time.
I've never been on time outsideof that.
(08:58):
Um, so you know, things likethat on site, you know, like
having your car get serviced andit like disappears while you're
at work and it comes back andit's clean.
And like, you know, there'sdefinitely some perks that are
nice, right?
Um I I loved it.
It was it was great.
I loved the whole, you know, umwork Barbie outfits and six-inch
(09:19):
heels I used to wear then too,because hey, I was I was in my
20s.
So um, you know, all of that wasreally great.
But I left because there um werethings that were not in
alignment with what they saidtheir values were, and that
didn't make sense to me.
And when things don't make senseto me, I ask questions.
(09:42):
And uh in environments likethat, um, much like in the
administration we have here inthe United States today, they
don't like that.
So um when I was 29, I I left,you know, working in in large
corporations to start working insmaller businesses where I felt
like it had more of an impactand also help with some of those
(10:07):
other things in order to create,um, I've always called it a
better human experience, right?
It's like, yes, of course, thecustomer experience, you want
the sales, but that reallybegins with the employee
experience.
And the employee experience isimproved through you know, clear
communication, efficientoperations, and and some fun
(10:28):
little perks, right?
Like the like treating them likehumans.
SPEAKER_00 (10:33):
Yes, yeah.
I feel like more people need tobe doing that these days, but
yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
Well, you know, yeah, yeah, that was what I
thought I'd be doing.
The transition to cannabis wassuch an interesting thing
because it was not planned.
I had actually um cannabis hadbeen helping me heal for a few
years into my last job, and mylast company was an amazing
company in the architecturalindustry.
(11:00):
It was a 10-year-old businesshere in Long Beach, eight people
making six figures.
They were all very moderatelyhappy.
Um, my hiring seminar, it waslike me and a bunch of other
people, and I was like, Iremember standing at the door
and the owners like literallyclosing the door because we're
like dun-dun.
And I'm like wanting to know,well, what have your thoughts
(11:21):
been on franchising andexpanding?
And like, and I'm just curious,you know, I'm always curious.
Um, and and I ended up gettingthe job, and so within five
years' time, I helped them growto three locations, two states
$5.8 million through improvingtheir different um systems and
(11:43):
just a lot of things.
I know a lot over there.
But it was time.
Like there's something that Itell my daughter, my daughter's
in a transition right now, she's24, that um sometimes the
universe will use people aroundyou to move you.
You know, like when our time wasdone, it's done.
And so I had no idea about thecannabis industry.
(12:04):
I hadn't even considered that,but I knew that my time was
coming to an end.
And I actually, and the reasonwhy I wear the 710 necklace is
because I, before I even knewwhat it meant, I resigned on 710
2019.
And so 11 days later wasactually when I went to uh
(12:24):
cannabis education, like littlething after work.
One of the women I had hired forthat company years before was
moonlighting as a bed tender,because you know, we could do
that here then.
And um, and so I was like, Yeah,sure, I'm curious about learning
more, you know, because I it hadhelped me so much already at
(12:48):
that point.
I was curious in an industry,and like, oh, brands and people,
and okay.
And I go in, and yeah, therewere tons of brands, tons of
people.
The room was way too packed.
Um, but there was also speakers,and that's where I heard the
term endocannabinoid system forthe first time, and my life was
(13:11):
changed in that instant.
I got visuals.
I always say I always feel likethis too, because I saw prison
bars on this side with the doorsopening and a golden cage with
the door opening.
And I just was like, everyonehas a right to know what this
system does and that it's in ourbody, and like we all deserve to
(13:35):
be free.
SPEAKER_00 (13:35):
So right, I love that.
I I the ECS, the endocannabinoidsystem is what changed you.
That's kind of that's reallycool.
Yeah, and yeah, how did cannabosbabes come about then after
that?
SPEAKER_01 (13:48):
So that was such a funny thing because I had
actually um gotten my businesslicense and built a website and
brochures and business cards andthe whole champagne market um
for what I thought was going tobe a curated culture.
And so my idea when I left therewas that I was going to be doing
business consulting and thenworking in juvenile halls on my
(14:11):
free time with kids like me tohelp just teach them some of the
things it took me decades tolearn about myself and my
capabilities and my place inthis world and what I'm capable
of.
And so, and I'm still learningthose things, 48, still learning
those things.
Um, but you know, uh I I thoughtthat's what the plan was gonna
(14:33):
be.
Uh the cannabas babes resultedbecause from that first meeting,
I started meeting people leftand right.
And so it was the strangestthing because I really only
talked to the people I workedwith for four years, right?
Like I didn't talk to otherpeople for four years.
(14:53):
All of a sudden, there's allthese different people, all
these people, and I'm meetingthem all, and they're all very
entrepreneurial, you know, likeProp 64 had just passed, so
recreation had just legalized.
So everyone's very hopeful andlike wanting to have a part
within this ecosystem that we'rebuilding here.
(15:16):
And it was just really inspiringto meet all these incredible
women and then find out, ohwait, they didn't know each
other.
So, like from the beginning,even though I was the new girl,
I was like, oh, well, you needyou, and you need you, and you
need you.
And then simultaneously, here Iam, because I'm I'm a corporate
mom, kind of fresh out ofcorporate, right?
(15:38):
I'm looking for all the events,I'm paying way too much money
for a lot of these things.
Um, um, and trying to findcommunity.
And the women's groups at thetime were not nice, they were
mean girls.
And so then also as I'm havingconversations with these
individual women that areamazing and need inspiration,
(15:59):
I'm hearing about these meangirls.
And I was like, it's just soweird.
And so how it happened was I wasone day sitting with two of my
friends.
Um, and one of them was beingthreatened on Instagram to have
her page taken down if shedidn't unfollow someone.
(16:20):
Oh wow.
And I just and my response wasat the time, I'm 42, my
daughter's 18.
I don't understand.
We'll just create a new spaceand then people don't have to
choose.
And I went into Instagram andthe Canaboss Babes was
available.
Uh, canabas babes had beensomething from years before, but
(16:41):
it didn't hadn't been touched inyears.
So I was like, okay, the can ofboss babes, like we're cannibals
babes, we don't have time forthis.
Like, we're doing things.
And um, and a week later, Ibought the domain, and um a few
months later, or no, two weekslater, we did our first event
(17:01):
with my brother from anotherMother Ricola Meet.
Um, and it just it took off.
Like from the beginning, though,people are like, oh, I've heard
of you, oh, I've heard of you.
And and I think it just was thename, right?
Like I think the name is one ofthose names, like, oh yeah, you
know.
Um, but yeah, that's what it is.
(17:22):
And so, you know, we've got acouple little can of boss babe
roles.
The first one being, and thefirst one's always the main one,
but a can of boss babe handlestheir own business first.
And that is for us to know thatwe can prioritize ourselves and
should prioritize ourselves.
But then also as the groupcollective, to not get upset
(17:42):
when we go off and take care ofourselves in whatever way that
looks like, but to celebrate thereturn, right?
To celebrate that that that's ahard thing to do to go against
the group, right?
And do what you need to do foryou, but that's a good thing,
and we celebrate that here.
So that was one really importantto me.
And then the other one is acanabas makes up their own mind
(18:04):
because like I don't want to beresponsible for anybody else's
life decisions.
Like, we're here to shareinformation and then we all
support each other's decisionsin whatever was best in that
moment for them.
Because yeah, I just think thatcontrol stuff's weird.
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (18:23):
I yeah, I totally agree with that.
So you started Cannabas Babesand it started out as, as I
understand, an entrepreneur,entrepreneurial support
platform, but now you've growninto a multifaceted brand.
You have a podcast, you do someconsulting services and events.
So, what was your originalversion for Cannabas Babes?
And how has it how has itevolved over the years?
Obviously, touching on the factthat you have all these cool
(18:45):
things happening under oneumbrella.
SPEAKER_01 (18:49):
Thank you.
You know, it's really funny.
I started this with a wholebunch of other people, right?
Like it was like a group of us,it was the pandemic, we had all
this free time, a lot of us hada little extra free money.
Um, and so when it got started,there were a lot of ideas, and
also the recreational umindustry was new and fresh, and
(19:12):
there was still money.
And in California, we arestruggling so hard.
That's not here, that's notreal.
Um, a lot of those were dreams,um, and they're beautiful
dreams, and and we'll see themthrough.
It just wasn't gonna be asquickly as maybe we thought as a
group at the beginning.
(19:33):
And so, you know, as the worldwent back into its new normal
and people went back to work andthe kids are back in school,
actually in school, and youknow, like I and Instagram took
our page in 2021, the end of2021 after 804 lives, which that
just crushed a lot of the babes.
(19:55):
I don't know what's wrong withme.
Like people always talk to meabout, oh, your consistency is
though it's a good thing.
And I'm always like, There mightbe something wrong with me
though.
Like, I don't know if that's agood thing.
Like, I'm glad you think it's agood thing, but there might be
like I don't sometimes I don'tknow why I keep going.
Um, but I do.
It's it's really honestly forthe conversations to be able to
(20:17):
share the stories.
Um, it's um it's my purpose.
I don't know how to explain itother than that.
Is like it lights me up to beable to see and provide a space
to allow others to feel theirimpact in the world.
SPEAKER_00 (20:36):
Right.
Yeah, that's such a beautifulthing.
And that's one of the reasonswhy I love having guests on my
show to talk about how they'resharing their cannabis message
with other people.
And so, you like I mentioned,you have a podcast and it's it's
a top-ranking podcast for forwomen in cannabis.
And what do you believe is thekey to its success?
Uh, and what are some of themost impactful stories you've
(20:58):
had the opportunity to share andyou know, asking for a friend.
SPEAKER_01 (21:01):
So um, yeah.
Gosh, you know, I I think thekey to its success is that I
just kind of started doing it,right?
That no one had to be perfect,that no one that that, you know,
(21:21):
we were just doing it, justhaving the conversations, um,
imperfect as they are.
I think that that allows formore listeners and more people
to self-identify and resonatewith what's possible for them
and hearing the real raw storiesfrom others.
(21:45):
And so, you know, I thinksometimes that we see a lot of,
you know, podcasts andeverything looks shiny and
fancy.
And so we think that that's onlyfor shiny and fancy people and
not for us.
SPEAKER_02 (21:58):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (21:58):
And um I pride myself on being a space that's
for anyone who asks for it.
You know, I've had people who umdon't even smoke cannabis.
I had a woman reach out once andasked to be on the podcast and
she waited her.
I mean, it's it's I'm backed up,you guys.
(22:19):
Like I'm booking 26 right now.
It's September, like, you know.
Um, I so and she waited.
She waited her, I think it waslike two months and then came
on.
And she didn't even know whatCBD was.
She just was on there and wantedto share the importance of women
joining the trucking industry,both as one, a great way to be
(22:43):
able to homeschool and raiseyour child from the road, a
great income.
And also the more women that wehave on the road, the more we
can protect other women in theworld.
SPEAKER_00 (22:54):
Right.
Yeah.
I love that you're also sharingstories of people who don't
necessarily consume cannabis aswell, because we need those
allies in the cannabis space.
And uh, there's some of the bestallies out there or advocates as
well for the for the plant.
SPEAKER_01 (23:08):
I mean, it was awesome because I got to start
the show with a little teachingher a little bit about our plant
too.
And right, and usually it's justme like, okay, teach me what you
know.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It was great, you know, likethat's that's good too.
But um, oh my favorites, man,I've got, I've got, I feel so
(23:31):
blessed.
I'm totally gonna start ballingagain.
I feel so blessed to have donethis work, and I don't even know
all the lives that I've touched,but I do know that the people
that reach out let me know.
Like the impact's real, youknow?
(23:52):
Like, um Carl Wagner, highschool teacher in Indiana.
Indiana doesn't even havemedical, like, they're not
anywhere, they're not eventrying to do any of that.
For years, years, he watched theshow um with uh, you know, like
an Instagram handle, no onewould know who he is.
(24:15):
Years.
Um, joined the weed mom bookclub, was the only guy in the
weed mom book club and showed upevery week, but had his video
camera completely off to protecthis identity because again,
scary situation in Indiana.
Um, and after a couple years,and after even coming on the
(24:37):
show and sitting in the dark andsharing his story like America's
most wanted, like a couple, afew, just a few months after
that, he ended up posting onFacebook and this beautiful
op-ed as to why it's time forIndiana to wake up and start
(24:59):
having this conversation.
And now he leads a group of over2,000 people on Facebook, and
like and that grew to like athousand within the first year,
and it just is so beautiful tosee someone who was too afraid
to advocate, learn so much thatthey can't help but to, right?
(25:20):
Yeah, and that, and so likeCarl, damn, and respect because
it's still not okay there, youknow what I mean?
Like, like he's still dealingwith that.
Um, and so I think anyone whocan um put themselves out there
and at risk that way.
Um, my babe Misty is also one ofmy favorites.
(25:42):
She um she was watching theshow, she's actually local to
me.
She was watching the show.
My daughter was helping me withum all the social media and
stuff at first because it was alot with all the different hosts
and shows and things.
You know, we had 10 shows aweek, so it was a lot.
Um, and and then she decided shewas gonna go and get a job.
(26:06):
So I was like, oh, I'm gonnaneed some help.
So I like put out a little calland Missy's like, oh, I want to
help with social media, and andI was like, okay.
And so we ended up meeting inperson, which was fun because
we'd been, you know, engagingonline for a long time.
And I ask her, and this I askeveryone this um, what is it
that you really want to do?
(26:27):
Because I love to find ways forpeople to do that.
That's what lights me up, andthat's also what the show is
about.
And so um, she says, I reallywant to grow.
I said, Well, do you haveexperience?
She's like, not really, like alittle at home.
I was like, okay.
I don't know what it is.
I always tell people give melike 48 hours.
I got a phone call from a friendof mine.
(26:48):
I also have a nonprofit, and sofrom the mental health sector
from my nonprofit life, right?
Called me.
She's like, You're the onlyperson I know in cannabis.
My husband's friend has a grow.
He just lost his guy.
Do you know anyone?
And I said, Well, what's awoman?
And she says, Well, can she lift50 pounds?
I said, Well, if if Misty's notdabbing on her Instagram, she's
(27:11):
lifting weights on herInstagram.
So I'm pretty sure she can.
She went in there on like acouple days later on that
Monday.
Uh, three months later, she wasrunning that girl on her own.
Now she's one of like the topfucking cultivators at one of
the top brands actually in theworld.
Um, and I won't name thembecause the owner doesn't want
(27:32):
her to get poached.
So, but like things like that,you know, like really being able
to um, you know, but it's alsobeen things like last year at
the network show, there was ayoung woman who I'd never even
seen before, and she asked, Youdon't know me, but a couple
years ago you said something onyour story, and I quit my job
and here and handed me her vape.
(27:52):
She's like, and now I have myown brand.
So, like, it's just cool.
It's a lot, you know, like it'sa variety of things.
SPEAKER_00 (28:02):
It sounds like you're a real connector of
people as well, which is youknow, I think the world needs
more of that, it needs more ofthat kind of sentimentality
around rising or rising tideslift all ships.
There's space for all of us inthis in this cannabis industry,
but you've created a reallystrong community around the
cannabis babes, emphasizinginclusivity and support.
(28:23):
What are some of the biggestchallenges and rewards of
fostering community in anindustry that's still pretty
stigmatized?
SPEAKER_01 (28:31):
Oh um, you know, the marketing, right?
Like the being the limitationsthat we have on social media,
the limitations on really beingable to expand in order to let
more people know this communityexists.
Um, I'd say that's probably thebiggest challenge.
(28:52):
Um other things are also, Idon't, it can be a challenge for
me at times.
I'm definitely human, notperfect at all, but this
industry has really in communityhas really um taught me, and
this plant has really taught meto give myself and others more
(29:16):
grace.
Um, 80% of disabilities areinvisible in this plant as a
medicine.
We really don't know.
We make a lot of assumptions umbased on how people look that we
have an idea of what they'vebeen through.
And the truth is we really haveno idea.
And so I think sometimes therecan be challenges with that,
(29:39):
with you know, um, there's alsochallenges with for me because I
had the social anxiety to all ofa sudden go to um very much more
public positions is I don'talways um I I have spent so much
(30:04):
of my life looking to helppeople live to their highest
selves.
Um, not you know, high on weed,but highest calling.
And so I see that in a lot ofpeople.
And sometimes people want thatfor themselves, but the work to
do that's hard.
(30:24):
And they don't always want to dothat part.
And so I think sometimes thehardest part for me, and I've
I'm getting better, but muchbetter, um, is detaching from
when they're not ready.
And so, really, just like look,creating more of this is an
opportunity.
I'd love to explore this withyou when you're ready to show up
(30:46):
for you.
Let me know.
And so I used to chase, and nowI don't chase anymore.
SPEAKER_00 (30:53):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, it's funny you mentionedyou touched on the social
anxiety again because I find itlike you seem so outgoing.
And I feel like I can learnsomething from you about that.
And it's hard to imagine thatyou would have any kind of
social anxiety.
So that's that's incredible tome.
SPEAKER_01 (31:07):
Yeah.
I'm at home.
I'm at home.
My daughter and I talk about itas um, so I say there's like
three anchors that I have when Igo out.
And so, and it's do I know thepeople I'm going, do I know the
place I'm going, and do I knowwhat the fuck I'm gonna wear?
Like that's always the mostanxiety producing.
Um, especially if I don't knowwhere I'm going and maybe I'm
(31:31):
arriving alone, right?
And so, like, I don't know theparking situation.
Or, like, I don't know.
SPEAKER_00 (31:36):
So, those are the three things that you try and
like figure out ahead of time,or one of those three things to
make it feel more comfortable.
SPEAKER_01 (31:43):
So, you know, I have to say, now with cannabis, the
control I need to have overthose things has changed.
SPEAKER_00 (31:54):
Right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (31:55):
And so now, I mean, one, I usually am going places
where I'm going to know people.
I went to New York earlier thisyear and I knew people there.
So like I just it surprises mehow small this industry really
is, you know.
And I love it.
I'm I'm grateful.
It's, it's, I always have thatanchor now, right?
You know, I may not know whereI'm going or what I'm gonna
(32:16):
wear, but I know I'm gonna knowsomebody.
Um, that helps.
Uh, but also I developed amindset in order to be able to
go out and do all this.
You know, one, what you seehere, I'm comfortable.
I'm at home.
Like I've been saying for years,like it's funny to me that this
is blown up so much because I'mjust a mom on her couch.
(32:37):
You know, like I'm like, I'm I'mchilling at home and talking to
people.
Like, how much more comfortabledoes this get?
I'm wearing pajama shortsunderneath this dress right now,
you know.
Like, I mean, right, you know,um dress from the top up.
Like uh, yeah, it's this iseasy.
Like I can be at ease here athome.
Um, I'm also high, like, youknow, I've I'm I've got my
(33:01):
stuff.
I I had a couple bowls thismorning before we did this, as
early as it is.
Um, so that helps.
Um, but also I really love theconversations and the
one-on-ones.
Like, I I love that.
I I do a group thing thoughthough, too.
We have um an online group thatwe host bi-weekly on Mondays.
Um, and that's been awesome withpeople literally all over the
(33:24):
world joining us.
Like it's and all over theindustry.
It's really kind of amazing allthe different people that come
together and the ways that wecontinue to find to connect.
So um, yeah, there might be highand asked how to answer
questions today.
SPEAKER_00 (33:41):
No, that's fine.
Uh, you to you've touched on tooabout the survival squeeze that
small operators in the cannabisindustry face.
What do you think are thebiggest hurdles for small
business and entrepreneurs whoare trying to succeed in a super
competitive landscape?
And also, I mean, I know thisall too well myself, but just a
landscape with players that havemuch deeper pockets than I do,
(34:04):
or some of these other smallplayers might.
SPEAKER_01 (34:07):
I mean, even the ones with the deeper pockets,
those pockets are getting moreshallow, right?
Like really honestly, thebiggest challenge is
regulations, is is uh the wholefederally rescheduling.
My prediction, and I've beensounding like a conspiracy
theorist online for a year now,but I think people starting to
(34:29):
believe me now, is that if weget rescheduled, how they're
gonna take out the smaller shopsis by forcing them to have a
pharmacist on staff, and that'sno small salary.
SPEAKER_02 (34:40):
Right.
unknown (34:41):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (34:42):
But if it's re you know, schedule three, yeah,
that's standard operating.
So uh the regulations are a bigone here in California.
Uh taxes were raised evenfurther on July 1st.
Uh, it was announced yesterdaythat they will be dropped, but
(35:02):
not effective until October 1st,which why are you trying to take
three months from people thatyou like you made that decision
knowing we don't have it?
But that's another way to takebusinesses out.
Is so we see different phases.
There's certain events of theyear that you see that shortly
after, usually businesses aregone.
(35:23):
It won't be like your last bighurrah, and then a week later,
oh, all these layoffs.
That's a very common thing wesee around here.
Um taxes definitely take peopleout.
We've got that a couple times ayear, you know, that goes
through phases.
And so what we've been seeing,you know, as we're going into
our sixth year, right?
(35:44):
Um, of rec is that uh theseinvestors even are like tired
and this is a little too long agame for them to right.
So that's the biggest challenge.
Um, and then because of thosetaxes, the prices being too
(36:05):
high, things not moving in thedispensaries, so then even the
quality of the dispensary isless, even though you're paying
more.
So the traditional market isthriving once again.
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (36:18):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (36:19):
And, you know, and honestly, that all comes down to
an issue with accessibility.
SPEAKER_00 (36:25):
Yeah.
Yeah, 100%.
So I guess you're suggestingthat legislation is sort of the
only way out of that, but thatalways seems like there's big
horizon.
SPEAKER_01 (36:33):
I do, because that's how we we need banking, we need
tax write-offs, we need theability to be able to market
publicly and provide educationand not just leave it up to some
Netflix show to like half-asswhat the experience of weed is.
Like, right, you know, we'regetting better content, but
(36:56):
there's still so much stigmaaround the content that is being
produced, and it actually pissesme off.
So, like, like I love the TVshow Shameless, and the last
season of Shameless, they didWeed So Dirty.
SPEAKER_00 (37:13):
I don't remember that, and I watched all of it.
SPEAKER_01 (37:16):
Did they?
Oh, yeah.
No, they did Weed So Dirty.
One of the first episodes of theseason was that two guys in the
bar, I think, ate a brownie orsomething and got stupid high,
and then ended up like becausethey had a whole weed business
after years of beingheterosexual, now all of a
sudden are homosexual, andthere's nothing wrong with
(37:37):
homosexuality, but to sit thereand like say that weed made them
do like I've never known anyoneto get high off weed and make a
decision like that suddenly.
Right.
Like that.
SPEAKER_00 (37:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (37:53):
That's not a good thing.
SPEAKER_00 (37:55):
It sounds very reefer madness like.
Yeah, I really totally forgotabout that storyline.
SPEAKER_01 (38:01):
Like, as real as that show had been for so many
other things, um, like I mydaughter and I laugh.
Uh Frank Gallagher in that showis the father.
Yeah, he is like my dad.
Like every single episode mydaughter and I saw, we'd be
like, Oh, Poppy.
That is my dad.
He even kind of looks like him.
(38:21):
It's wild.
Um, so they got so many otherthings right.
And and yeah, they fucked thatup and made me mad.
SPEAKER_00 (38:31):
Yeah, because I I had totally forgotten that
didn't two of the charactersthat ran the bar start a
business selling edibles out ofthe bar?
Yeah, I totally forgot aboutthat.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm always surprised that thestigma is still hanging on so
much, even though legalization,like where you are and where I
am, has been around for a while.
It just always surprises me thatthe mainstream isn't catching on
(38:53):
faster.
I don't get it.
But I guess there's still a lotof forces working against it,
unfortunately.
SPEAKER_01 (38:59):
It's really interesting, you know, it's it's
mainstream media, and it's thesame thing that we see in our
news, right?
Like we know we can't trust ournews, our news is propaganda,
mainstream media is too.
Everything that we are fed orget to pay a subscription for is
going to be what they want us tosee and think.
(39:22):
Um, I find content from realpeople way better.
I love it like the, you know,who doesn't love a good like
food account on Instagram,right?
We all love to get hot and lookat the good foody things.
Um, I am no exception.
I watch way too much foodvideos, but that's okay.
Um and I love seeing like thechefs that'll just sit there and
(39:46):
like they're not even likestoner chefs necessarily or
anything like that, but they'llbe like, I just had an edible,
we're gonna make this.
And then like you even see themas they eat it at the end, their
eyes are so low, but they're sohappy.
And I'm like, that just that,right?
SPEAKER_00 (40:05):
Like, yeah.
Yeah, we'll get maybe we'll getthere one day.
Who knows?
I guess we'll we'll just have towait and see, wait it out.
SPEAKER_01 (40:12):
But I mean, I've always said it's like I feel
like it's like the railroad.
So I've always thought that likethis is like we're building the
railroad, and some lives aretaken and become a part of the
railroad so that futuregenerations can ride it more
easily.
And and that's the work withwith this.
That is the work with withcannabis and bringing bringing
(40:34):
back plant medicine to thepeople.
SPEAKER_00 (40:36):
Yeah, and that's so true too, because like there's
kids growing up right now whereI live that have never known it
not to be legal, which is crazyto me.
But yeah, they've justdispensaries have always been
there, and it's like that'stheir life.
And I'm like, wow, it we a lotof people.
SPEAKER_01 (40:53):
You know, the conversation I had with my
daughter when she was youngerwas it was medicine.
She always saw it as medicinefor me, and and it helped that
she would see its effect, right?
Like she would know, like, oh,we'd be out shopping and have to
run a bunch of errands becauseit's like school shopping, and
like, oh my god.
And I have social anxiety, solike, I don't want to do any of
(41:16):
this, but we got to because Ilove you, and so anything for
you, boo boo.
Like, you know, and and yeah,and she'd be like, um, mom,
here, take your vape.
SPEAKER_00 (41:26):
Like, you know, this'll help, yeah.
Yeah.
Now, social equity in thecannabis industry is something
that gets talked a lot about,but often it's a lot of words
and not a lot of action.
From your perspective, what arethe most critical steps that
need to be taken for a moreequitable and just industry?
SPEAKER_01 (41:49):
Um God.
Okay, so the reason why I'mhesitating is because my very
first thought was fuck thegovernment.
Um I just I and I don't know,and I'm sitting here like
trying, like, well, how do I saythat in a nice way though?
And then I'm like, well, no, butfuck the government.
(42:10):
And and um honestly, it's asetup.
So social equity was a reallygood idea to make certain people
feel good about things and like,oh, and and you know, to like
get the support of and like, oh,it's a thing.
But I learned very early on inworking with a subcommittee here
(42:32):
and my local government in thelovely city of Long Beach,
California, um, years ago intheir social equity department,
that you know, as long as thegovernment's gonna hire idiots
and people who are willfullyignorant, um, um, and it's by
mandate, I'm sure, and like, youknow, certain psych profiles
(42:53):
only, um, IQs very low.
Uh there's a willful ignorancethere.
Um my first call with them, souh just so basically to the very
first year of social equity.
Only one of 87 candidates madeit through and got their loan.
(43:16):
Only one of 87.
Right.
The very first call, so uh wespent as a subcommittee, we
spent months havingconversations with people who
are social equity conversationswith other operators in the
space.
I'm a part of uh my local uhLBCA, Long Beach Collective
Association.
(43:37):
It's different cannabisoperators.
I of course do not hold alicense, however, um being
adjacent and volunteering forthem from the very first time I
heard endocannabinoid system attheir their event.
Um, I've I'm active.
You can't get me out of thisstuff.
So um uh yeah, the very firstmeeting we had with our city
(44:00):
department was uh, hey, there'sa problem.
Only one of 87 candidates madeit through your system, which
means that it doesn't work.
And here's like the differentpoints as to why.
And they said, no, no, no, no.
Only one out of 87 wanted it badenough.
SPEAKER_00 (44:17):
Oh, interesting.
That's an interesting way tolook at that.
SPEAKER_01 (44:22):
I just don't, I was like, You gotta be that dumb on
purpose.
Like it was, it was you haveconversations with them, and it
is you you sit in city councilmeetings and and and they're
dumb on purpose.
You know, you talk about theenvironmental impact of bringing
in these giant cruise ships, andand they're like, huh?
(44:44):
Vote yes.
We want the money, and it's justyeah, fuck the government.
SPEAKER_00 (44:50):
So do you think there's anything that can be
done to improve those kind ofnumbers?
Like when they have socialequity programs for the colour.
SPEAKER_01 (44:56):
There's the other thing, social equity and the way
that they're set up is to putadditional burden on other
cannabis businesses.
Um, social equity is not theresponsibility of the cannabis
industry.
The cannabis industry hasalready been negatively impacted
by the lack of social equity inthe world, in the in every
(45:18):
industry, in as a whole.
So to put the bird, so even theway that it's written again,
right?
Like it's good PR.
So my my wonderful mayor, RexRichardson, who I'm not allowed
to tag online anymore.
Um I I he is such a sellout, butum he, you know, I mentioned
(45:43):
earlier, nonprofit, my partnerin the nonprofit during the
pandemic, uh, our localcommunity here in the park, the
homeless issue, way out ofcontrol.
Um for two, we celebrated theirtwo-year anniversary of serving
people, uh, shower truck,laundry truck, clothing, food,
(46:03):
weekly, like you know, trying toserve a hundred people each
week.
Like it's not enough, but it'ssomething.
And and all of a sudden you seeafter two years an article in
the newspaper with Rex and about10 other people none of us have
ever seen before talking aboutall the services we've been
(46:27):
providing, as though they'vebeen providing it.
And I'm like, who are who areany of those people?
So it's PR.
Everything with politics is PR.
And that's the thing thathonestly these canimus
conversations have taught me inthe last six years, is what a
setup it all is.
SPEAKER_00 (46:48):
Right.
Yeah.
So there is no traditional,there is no real answer from our
government, essentially, whichkind of makes sense to me.
Like it does make sense to me.
SPEAKER_01 (46:59):
No, it's intended to fail.
All of this is intended to fail.
If you look at if they reallywanted this industry to succeed,
they would not make it so hardto survive in.
Uh, taxes are 36% right now, 39%going back down to 36% in
October 1st.
Woo! Um, 36%.
(47:22):
When I first entered this space,because again, I was like
business consulting, right?
And I hired 36% and there's nofinancing and there's no
marketing, and 36% in taxesalone is more than overhead is
in most other businesses.
The entire overhead.
And that's just taxes.
(47:44):
That's not employees, that's notrent, that's not SCE and their
bullshit electric bill either.
Um, it's what?
Right.
So I don't know what's wrongwith me.
Like I said earlier, there'ssomething wrong with me.
I like a challenge.
Let's go.
And that's kind of what happens.
SPEAKER_00 (48:03):
Yeah, because the cannabis space is definitely
very challenging to operate in.
I I find even being in Canada,we've had legalization like rec
for about over six years now, itit's not any easier up here in a
lot of ways.
SPEAKER_01 (48:17):
Cause you don't have marketing, your packaging is all
right.
SPEAKER_00 (48:21):
Like, yeah, there's pretty much none.
So there's definitely challengeshere as well.
But as a woman, you've broken alot of barriers and you operate
in a really male-dominatedspace, even though we're all
here celebrating the plant,which is female, somehow it's
still very male-dominated.
But what advice would you givefor other women who are looking
to build a career in thecannabis space?
(48:42):
And are there any particularopportunities right now that are
that are great for women, inyour opinion?
SPEAKER_01 (48:49):
Oh, I mean, I think there's always opportunities
that are great for women to bein this space.
It's not hard.
It's not, you know, if you wanta soft life, if you're a soft
life kind of gal, don't comehere.
Like, you know, you have to bewilling to be, you know, chewed
up and spit out a few times.
Um, I I've earned a lot ofcannabis stripes.
(49:12):
I used to be uncomfortable withpeople calling me an OG because
I don't feel like six years hasbeen all that long, but actually
I've been through a few things.
I I got some stripes over here.
So um, you know, don't comeexpecting it to be easy.
Um come because this plant haschanged your life, not because
you want to make money.
(49:32):
Um I don't, yeah, I don't expectto make money.
Um, you know, if you're someonewho has is able to serve a lot
of people and do consultant typework similar to myself or 1099,
um, definitely keep clients inother industries that will help
(49:52):
you keep your lights on um inbetween.
Um and find community, be wary,though.
Also, there are again like 80%of disabilities are invisible
going on.
Um, and also a lot of people arevery, you know, cannabis has
(50:15):
attracted a lot of reallyamazing healing-centered people
and also a lot of opportunists.
And sometimes you can't tellthem apart until it's too late.
So, you know, be patient, don'tdive in too quickly, do your
research.
Um, but also don't judge peoplebased on other people's
experiences entirely because youknow, everyone's got their
(50:39):
reason for their perspective.
SPEAKER_00 (50:42):
Right.
Yeah.
And I do love that you mentionedto find community as well,
because I think that that'ssomething that we all need,
regardless of whether you're inthe cannabis space or just
living your life out in theworld.
Like we need we need people.
SPEAKER_01 (50:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (50:54):
To be to be around us and to support us.
SPEAKER_01 (50:57):
Yeah.
I would say join one of theCannabas Babes Connect groups,
um, you know, every other Mondayevening.
I love that's really I we'vedone three.
We just did the third one lastnight.
It's an idea I've had forever.
Um, I had a guest on my podcastrecently that was talking about
being really lonely, like havingso much work, she doesn't get to
(51:20):
leave work very often, butwanting that community.
And so, like, oh, well, we canmeet online.
That's an easy thing.
And I was like, Oh, I've beenthinking about doing, let me
just do it.
Let me just stop talking, like,let me just do it.
And it's been amazing.
Like the very first one.
Um, you know, it's limited to 50people.
We end up having about half showup because, you know, it's a
(51:41):
free event online people forgetand realize I didn't pay
anything for it.
So I'm gonna go eat dinnerinstead, and that's fine.
Um, but it's been about 20people each time, 20 to 25.
And we just kind of share who weare, what we're doing in the
space, maybe some of what we'reworking on, how we'd like to
serve, or what we could use.
(52:03):
And um, from the very firstmeeting, there was someone who
needed an employee.
Three of the other people endedup applying.
One of them got hired, the othertwo ended up with one-on-ones
with me, and one of them's goingoff, and I've connected her
already to someone else to dosomething that was even more
aligned with what she reallywants to do.
And so, um, you know, it'sreally exciting.
(52:25):
We've always got new people.
There's definitely a lot offamiliar faces.
Um, there's big names from allover the industry, too.
I really love my friends.
I'm so blessed.
Like, I geek out that these arelike, these are my people, these
are my friends.
Like, like Luna Stour comes andsleeps on my couch when, you
know, like, you know, like yeah,yeah.
(52:46):
Um, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (52:48):
Yeah.
Well, it's very cool that youstarted, you call it Cannibas
Babes Connect.
I really love that idea.
And honestly, when you said thatyou just wanted to do it, my my
mantra this year has been justfucking do it.
Because so often, like I justoverthink things.
And I'm sure this is anexperience common to many
people.
You just overthink things,you're waiting for it to be
perfect, like all these reasonswhy you can't just do it.
(53:10):
And then when you do do it,you're like, oh my God, I'm so
glad I did.
Just like your calls that you'rehosting on Monday nights.
So I love that.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (53:19):
Well, in writing, I actually it just was published
for the first time two weeksago.
Two weeks ago.
Um, and hosted my first panellast week as well.
And those are two things thatyou know, hosting a panel I've
been wanting to do.
Writing, I've always loved todo, but I had in my head for the
(53:41):
longest time, like, I didn't goto school for that.
I've not worked in like eventhough like I've literally
created a magazine andeverywhere I've ever worked.
And like I've done it informallyso many places throughout my
entire life.
So that was a huge thing.
I wasn't even planning on doingthat.
(54:01):
It ended up being um thepublication wanted um my
connection to be in it, and thensaid, Oh, well, Ishko write an
article about you, and uh, andthen ended up telling me I told
them you'd write an article, andI was like, You did, huh?
Okay.
Yeah, well, you know, sometimesyou just have to do it because
(54:24):
it unlocked something in me inthat I've always loved to write.
I write a ton on my blog.
Um, and and and I've always beenlike, oh, I'm not a writer, and
now I get to be like Right.
SPEAKER_00 (54:38):
Yeah, because you just fucking did it.
I love it.
SPEAKER_01 (54:40):
And it was great, and everyone loved it.
So it was like that's excitingand affirming too, is is you
know, yeah.
So I get to just share morestories in more formats and more
ways.
And I've been getting reallyinto like the SEO and the blog
and building out the website toalso, again, just draw more
attention to all of the stories,you know.
(55:02):
Um, so yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (55:04):
Yeah.
Now, this is a question that I Ilike to ask a lot of the guests
that I have on my show.
So, what would surprise peopleabout you?
SPEAKER_01 (55:12):
Oh, that I'm not really extroverted.
SPEAKER_00 (55:15):
That is surprising to me.
You seem very gregarious.
SPEAKER_01 (55:18):
So I'm I um I'm a home at Cama shards.
Um I, you know, I love spendingtime alone.
I really spend so much timealone and so much time in my
head, and I even like laugh atmyself at how much I really do
just entertain myself and dreamup new work to do and new
(55:40):
projects to do.
Like, no one, like, no one paysme to do this.
Like, I come up with this stuffon my own.
I just keep giving myself morework to do.
Um, and and I love it, and it'sjust so fun.
And I, yeah, I love being alone.
I think, especially right now,um, being perimenopausal as
(56:01):
well.
I love sleeping alone.
I go to bed at night and then Ilike stretch out.
I'm like, I'm so glad I'm sharewith anybody.
Like, if I wake up at oneo'clock in the morning and I
can't sleep for four hours, likeI'm just chilling and smoking
weed in the living room and likeno one's asking me, Are you
okay?
Are you gonna come in?
Like, no, go away.
Like, yeah, sometimes it mightbe nice if dinner was delivered
(56:24):
to my desk because I'm notgetting up, but um, and working
late.
But you know, other than that, Ireally love being alone.
I I and then when I go out to myevents, it's lovely and
wonderful, but I do make sure tocharge up a lot before done.
And I make sure to give myself afew days afterwards because some
(56:45):
of the bigger events, like oneof my favorite things to do is
go walk every day.
It's like a two, almost threemile walk.
And when I come back from bigevents, I don't even want to go
on my walk because I don't evenwant to say hi to a neighbor.
Like, yeah, I don't wannarecharge.
I think that's probably whatwould surprise people is like I
(57:08):
do end up becoming nonverbal,and then people are like, wait,
what?
And I'm like, Yeah, I don't wantto talk yet.
SPEAKER_00 (57:16):
I'm not ready.
I've got to recharge the socialboundary.
Yeah.
Now finally, what is next forCan of Boss Babes?
And do you have anything on thehorizon that you're excited
about in particular?
SPEAKER_01 (57:27):
Yeah.
Um, so I am co-hosting a suitein Vegas again this year for MJ
Bizcon with my babe KellyRiddle, who I hosted um a
beautiful uh townhome in Hudson,New York earlier with.
And so we're going to Vegas.
(57:48):
We've got a corner suite at oneof the top hotels.
It's one of the ones you guyswant to be at.
And we've got Sarah Pyan comingin and hosting a few hours and
doing some fun things.
And Luna Stewart's coming in andhosting a few hours, and we're
gonna have a fun little photoshoot at the Neon Graveyard with
(58:11):
10 lucky influencers, and youknow, just uh I'm looking
forward to more connections.
I love this.
I love being able to haveeveryone come from all over the
world, seeing all the babestogether in person.
But, you know, it can beoverstimulating sometimes on the
(58:32):
showroom floor and like a lot,you know, there's so much going
on.
The conversations are like thisversus when you have a suite
where, you know, maybe we evenhave like a massage therapist or
something, um, and a nicelittle, you know, dabby dab bar.
Um you can relax enough to havea conversation and to really
(58:56):
explore where alignment isbetween you and growth
opportunities.
And and that to me is what it'sall about is creating more
connections so that we cancreate more opportunities for
growth.
SPEAKER_00 (59:08):
Yeah, that's amazing.
So people can look out for youat MJBizCon.
And of course, you have yourpodcast that people can tune
into as well because you do newepisodes every when when do you
put out new episodes?
SPEAKER_01 (59:19):
Um every week we put up a new one.
I am taking off September.
September's been a big month.
There's been a lot of differentevents, um, but I will be back
in October.
And then I'm also going to bepodcasting live from Ignite It,
which is formerly Benzinga.
Um, their California marketspotlight is here in Anaheim on
(59:40):
October 8th, and I'll bepodcasting live from there as
well.
SPEAKER_00 (59:43):
That's amazing.
So I'll be sure to include allthis stuff in the show notes so
people can find you and findwhere to connect with you.
And Ishka, I just want to thankyou so much for your time today.
It's been a really greatconversation, and I appreciate
you.
SPEAKER_01 (59:54):
Yeah, thank you so much, Margaret.
I can't wait for you to join meon my.
SPEAKER_00 (59:58):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to that too.
I trust that you enjoyed thatconversation as much as I did.
I will include the links whereto find Ishka and the cannabas
babes in the show notes.
And please share thisconversation with someone as
curious about cannabis as youare.
Join us over at the Bite MeCannabis Club.
And until next time, my friends,I am your host, Margaret, and
(01:00:20):
stay high.
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