What was your pandemic lockdown hobby?
Mine was becoming a certified “interpener” (weed sommelier) and creating an entire cannabis education platform to help inexperienced consumers navigate the wilds of the California pot market, de-stigmatize casual consumption, and provide education in support of regenerative farming and racial equity.
I wrote a monthly newsletter, posted reviews and content on a blog and instagram account, and curated at-home “tastings” for local members, which I led via Zoom. My unique voice and brand positioning struck a chord and helped me get hired at West Hollywood cannabis boutique+lounge Aeon Botanika (unfortunately their licenses got tied up in bureaucratic red tape and the business never opened) and as a featured critic on Budist.
The people I met in the cannabis industry were some of the kindest, most genuine, and people-centered of any industry I’ve engaged with. However, I decided to not continue with these endeavors when I realized I was much more interested in learning about and educating people on the product than consuming it.
As a portfolio piece, this project showcases my skills in:
email (Mailchimp) & blog (Squarespace) content writing
social media strategy & content creation (@pot.luck.collective)
graphic design for digital marketing
entrepreneurship
A peek at the website:
Pot Luck Tastings
The tastings were how Pot Luck started. I would curate a small selection of strains from brand that I thought deserved the spotlight, and give a sampling of each to participants who signed up for that month. I’d deliver the selection along with a detailed booklet of research, observations, and predictions, to help these inexperienced consumers feel more confident in managing their expectations and curating their experience.
