Spliff Society

This past weekend, I was honored to attend the Lucky Leaf Expo in Minneapolis representing Spliff Society! As a graduate of Saint Mary’s in Winona, the state of Minnesota holds a special place in my heart. We were lucky to be blessed with good weather on Thursday when we made the drive in and we got to stop in Winona for a few hours - enough for a quick tour of the town and lunch break - before heading north on 61 and enjoyed the scenic route along the Mississippi River. When I attended school in Minnesota, it wasn’t rec. but back at home in Illinois, we had just recreationally legalized. I questioned myself if I was missing out or falling behind. I promised myself I’d finish my double major in Entreprenuership and Marketing but that I’d come back home to combine my passions of cannabis and helping people with my new knowledge in business. It feels like a dream to return to Minnesota years later as a business professional in the Cannabis Industry and represent a small business that I’m so proud to be a part of. I’ve been so excited about the recent recreational legalization in MN, and I learned so much at the convention from conversations with different professionals in the industry. This huge step of legalization for the state of MN, sparks so much potential for small businesses, job opportunities, and changing the entire community for the better. There’s a lot more to go on this journey but “you betcha!” things are looking up! 💚🌱❤️

There’s a green wave happening in a Chicago far-south neighborhood named, Blue Island. A multi-state, cannabis community has been gathering there for blow out cultural celebrations. Cannabis entrepreneurs like Briggs, of The Real Spliff Society and Madeline Scanlon and team’s High Focus Media collabed to throw down another event last night. Here you can see old friends, connect with growers, meet fantastic artists, get all the accessories you need, put your hands on a variety of healing arts, eat local makers good foods and dance a bit too much. You can wander out to the main bar and come back with a tequila too if you want, having checked the screens for the football scores. Last night I was grateful there’s owners of venues like Blue Island Beer Company that welcome the cannabis community inside. And entrepreneurs who organize community like those who gathered last night. I met a man who felt free to travel up from Independence, Missouri. He called his multi-day trip a “canna-cation.” I also met a unicorn, a wearwolf (very clever) and a man with big buds, named Bob. Economically speaking: some currency was circulating too. From pulled pork to massive prerolls, street wear to house plants. Nothing square about that. Kudos to what we’re cultivating. In the thick of it last night: Kirsten Velasco Michael Velasco Xavi V. Robbie Dossa Katie Sullivan and Joshua Hernandez and Peter J. Balsara of Bonsai Bakery (PS: “Cannabis economy” as a hashtag does not exist. Telling.) #cannabiseconomy #cannabisculture #cannabiscommunity #chicago