Table of Contents
On January 22nd, 2016, as the sun dipped below the Colorado mountains, casting an orange glow across the landscape, I was sitting along I-25 north of Denver wondering where my life was headed. Just 24 hours earlier, I’d made a life-altering decision. Leaving a world of stability behind in Minnesota, I chose to uproot my life and start over.
After 20 years in corporate America, I fell into the cannabis industry, and what I learned saved my husband’s life, sparking a passion that even I didn’t fully grasp.
Having a deep understanding of cannabis changed everything.
The Birth of a Cannabis Advocate
When I first stepped into the role of advocate and writer, it wasn’t just about the plant; it was about becoming a voice for a product and an industry that I believed in.
After becoming a freelance writer for Cannabis Tech nearly 7 years ago, my roles as a writer, editor, and, now, publisher for our site have provided me with incredible insights into the roots of the industry.
Over the years, I have interviewed the experts, scientists, researchers, and legends of the cannabis industry. I have attended conferences, led discussion panels, and even spoken at academic expos.
I can honestly say, that getting involved in the cannabis industry has been the single best educational experience I’ve ever had.
But, just as astronomers learn about the universe by looking at the stars from a safe distance, astronauts take all the risk. For the last seven years, I have been covering the cannabis industry like an astronomer. Living in Colorado as a cannabis journalist is a little like working at NASA as an astronomer. I’m about as close as I can be without actually risking anything.
And I want to be an astronaut!
A New Approach for Cannabis Tech
For the last several years, Cannabis Tech has made its niche as a site focused on the world of commercial cannabis production technology and equipment. Since 2017, we’ve been exploring the advances in production that make the legal industry possible – from cultivation and extraction to processing and testing – we’ve covered it all.
Our publication has always maintained a professional approach to our content and our coverage as we showcase the newest equipment, commercial production solutions, and the companies who are using these solutions in their processes. This voice came easily for my colleague, Christine, and me, as we’ve spent the majority of our lives stuck in a corporate environment.
While we have always had a passion and interest in what makes the cannabis industry tick, we also realize that we’ve neglected to connect with a significant portion of our audience in a meaningful way. So we’re putting together a plan…
Let’s Go On a Journey with Cannabis Tech Coast-to-Coast
The key to ending stigmas and stereotypes is education and transparency, and we’re going all in on a first-of-its-kind two-year content plan to do just that.
Today, I’m once again throwing caution to the wind and stepping into uncharted territory, fueled by a passion to better connect with our audience, continue my mission to teach others what I’ve learned, and show the world what goes on behind the curtain in the cannabis industry.
I, along with my husband, Gary, and our dog Bo, are selling everything we own to invest in an epic quest of discovery.
We’ll soon call a fifth-wheel RV our home, and the road will be our guide as we travel through the patchwork quilt of legal cannabis states. But this isn’t just a journey on wheels; it’s a narrative unfolding—a visual story of cultivation facilities, extraction labs, and the heart and soul of an industry that’s evolving right before our eyes.
We’re inviting you inside the cannabis industry. See what we see, go where we go, and learn what we learn. Virtually, of course.
Cannabis Consumers Need to Know
Just as cannabis industry decision-makers need to stay informed about the latest technology that benefits their business, cannabis consumers (and the general public for that matter) should also have an opportunity to see behind the curtain.
Consumers deserve to know how their products are grown, how they are processed, and how they make it to the shelves of their favorite dispensaries.
Education is the Common Denominator
One of the most common phrases I hear when I interview someone for an article is, “We need more consumer education.”
The second most common phrase I hear is, “I know I’m preaching to the choir.”
Frankly, that’s the approach that cannabis companies have taken since their inception. They are “marketing for the choir,” not the general public… and we’ve been just as guilty at Cannabis Tech.
So, with that mission in mind, we’re taking a new approach. For years, we’ve been telling the industry about the latest and greatest equipment, technology, and products to improve their processes and production methods.
Now we’re headed out on this expedition to SHOW the world how these innovations are shaping a legal, legitimate, and trustworthy industry.
Introducing Cannabis Tech Coast-to-Coast
Living in central Colorado, I’ve had a front-row seat to the growth of the industry. But now, the cannabis industry is alive and well in 24 states. So, we’re trading in our “sticks & bricks” home for an RV to spend the next two years traveling across the nation exploring the patchwork quilt of legal cannabis states.
- We are going to visit the cultivation facilities, the extraction labs, the hemp processing centers, product manufacturers, and the retail locations in each state we visit. Giving our audience (you!) an opportunity to see the reality of a challenging, complex industry.
- We will interview the people, listen to the stories, and bring humanity and compassion back to the forefront of the American cannabis industry.
- We’ll highlight policies that are working, those that aren’t, and the state-to-state variances that plague the industry’s growth.
- We want to showcase the brands that are bringing natural, sustainable, ethical products to market and how they are making an impact in their communities.
- We’re going to attend events and explore how the cannabis industry is working to end the stigmas and stereotypes associated with over a century of propaganda and misinformation.
But most importantly – we’re inviting you to follow this journey of discovery, travel, cannabis production, and intentional consumption.
Gaining Momentum and Support for Our Vision
Although the house (and disc golf course!) must sell before we can get rolling, our plan is well in motion. We’re adding thumbtacks to our map of destinations and we’re putting tentative dates on events and expos. Our goal is to hit the road in the first quarter of 2024, traveling through 35 states over two years.
We are currently working with several brands including consumption device manufacturers, beverage and edible producers, consumer cannabis brands, and even software providers to help pave the way for this epic, content-creation adventure.
We’ve seen an incredible amount of excitement about our vision and we’re working with cannabis industry networker Lauren Mundell at Hi-Curious to increase our engagement and your exposure.
Want to help sponsor our journey? Do you have a cannabis destination to add to our list? Want to be included in this epic journey of travel and exposure? Have a product you’d like us to showcase?
Are you doing something unique at your grow? Taking a different approach to extraction? Do you have processes and procedures in place that set the standard for quality cannabis? Maybe you produce a hemp product that you want us to showcase?
We want to hear from you! Contact our agent, Lauren, to find out how you can involved with Cannabis Tech Coast-to-Coast today!
