Cannabis has a tough history, and we’re here to ask the tough questions about this emerging industry. Join co-hosts Alexis and Chelsea, two PR professionals and women of color in the cannabis space, for in-depth conversations with industry experts about the past, present and future of cannabis. High Priority is a production of MATTIO Communications. New episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays.
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Miguel Trinidad: Infusing cannabis into the world of culinary arts
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Are you hungry? If not, you will be very soon. To end the year, High Priority is headed to the dinner table with Miguel Trinidad, executive chef at 99th Floor. The dynamic, inventive chef talks about everything from the moment he discovered his father smokes cannabis to the fascinating intersections of cannabis and culinary cultures. Along the way,…
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Tengku Chanela Jamidah: Breaking down cannabis stigmas as a member of the Malaysian royal family
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It is never easy being the first, but anything worthwhile is going to present challenges. This week, High Priority welcomes Tengku Chanela Jamidah, founder of Halal Hemp and the first member of the Malaysian royal family to openly advocate for the legalization of medical cannabis in her home country. From a perspective that only she can provide, Ja…
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Sysamone Phaphon and Eunice Kim: Breaking Down Cannabis and the Stigmas That Surround It
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Early in the month of November, voters in Maryland and Missouri made a major statement by legalizing the recreational use of cannabis. While it is always great to see voters and lawmakers make an effort to change the way cannabis is perceived on the books, there are still a few barriers that stand between eligible consumers and the various benefits…
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Jungle Cae: Cannabis Reporting in the Age of Social Media
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Life comes at you fast, but the growth of social media will come at you faster. Within the last 15 years, sites such as Instagram, TikTok and Twitter have become indispensable tools that impact politics, economics, news and beyond. As a result, businesses and brands have increased their use of these platforms to promote their work. Why? A 2022 stud…
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Whitney Beatty: A Journey From The Director's Chair To The Dispensary
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There are many entry points into the cannabis industry, but few are quite like that of this week's guest, Whitney Beatty. After developing several successful non-fiction projects for FOX, BET, Sony, Discovery and CMT, Beatty found herself in the emergency room experiencing a frightening health scare. To combat this severe health scare, a doctor sug…
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Rob Sims: Building the playbook for elevated wellness through cannabis
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Rob Sims brings new meaning to the popular slogan, "More Than An Athlete." Following a nine-year pro football career and a successful stint in the real estate field, Sims reunited with his teammate, Calvin Johnson, to launch Primitiv, a forward-thinking company committed to the advancement of cannabis as a form of elevated wellness. In this week's …
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Kristal Bush: Creating Cannabis Criminal Justice Reform
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Addressing complex issues of socioeconomic importance requires complex approaches. Whether it's through film, fashion or advocacy, Kristal Bush, founder of Stay Lyfted and Free My Weed Man, has utilized every portion of her diverse skillset to address the prohibition of cannabis in the state of Philadelphia and beyond. In this episode, we speak to …
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Fel Chen: Recipes for success for BIPOC entrepreneurs in cannabis
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People of color face many challenges in and out of the workplace when entering the cannabis industry. Entrepreneurs of color must not only navigate business spaces that were often not designed with them in mind, but they must also overcome the stigmas surrounding the plant in various underrepresented communities. In this week's episode, we speak to…
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Dae Lim: Amplifying the Representation of AAPI Entrepreneurs in Cannabis Fashion
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Studies often point out that the average millennial remains with an employer for less than three years before transitioning to a new job or place of work. While younger generations have a propensity to move into new roles quicker than their predecessors, few millennials pivot from working as business analysts to becoming the owners of cannabis fash…
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A High Priority Birthday: Celebrating One Year of Amplifying Diverse Voices in Cannabis
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Twenty-six episodes have aired, more than two dozen guests have discussed their journeys into the cannabis industry and countless memories have been made. Fifty-two weeks after highlighting the work of social impact brand 40 Tons, High Priority turns one! In this week's episode, High Priority co-hosts Alexis Dionne and Chelsea Wei talk about what l…
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Tiyahnn Bryant: Creating a cannabis delivery platform in an emerging market
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With a little water, care and hard work, the cannabis industry continues to grow in the Garden State. New Jersey's thriving medical market coupled with the launch of adult-use sales is expected to generate $1.6 billion by 2025. As the state's marketplace continues to evolve, innovators continue to explore new ways in which they can service consumer…
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Laury Lucien: Elevating marginalized voices in the cannabis industry
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It is not often that a successful corporate healthcare and merger acquisitions attorney transitions into the cannabis industry. In this week’s episode, we talk to Laury Lucien, co-founder of Major Bloom, about her career journey, Major Bloom’s unique business model and the challenges she faces as an entrepreneur of color. Additionally, Lucien offer…
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Mehka King: Creating a dedicated platform for BIPOC cannabis stories
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In recent years, mainstream media outlets have become more receptive to cannabis stories, but for writers like Mehka King, this moment in time reflects a distinct need for publications dedicated to elevating BIPOC cannabis experiences. In this episode, we speak to the founder of CashColorCannabis about the significance of launching in Atlanta befor…
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Khadijah Tribble: Understanding the driving forces behind effective cannabis CSR initiatives
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Creating a more equitable cannabis industry has already taken form in numerous campaigns and initiatives –but what does it mean to codify these values as a full-fledged corporate social responsibility (CSR) program? In this episode, we speak to Curaleaf’s SVP of CSR, Khadijah Tribble, about her approach to developing and launching the first CSR pro…
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Ophelia Chong: Elevating AAPI visibility in the cannabis business community
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Cannabis has been a part of Asian healing traditions dating back to 2900 BCE –so why is the plant so stigmatized within Asian cultures today? In this episode, we speak to Ophelia Chong, founder of Asian Americans for Cannabis Education, about how the War on Drugs was able to gain a foothold throughout Asia, the most impactful ways to discuss cannab…
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Jessica Gonzalez, Esq.: Safeguarding your cannabis business’ brand and intellectual property
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With the U.S. cannabis industry inching closer to federal legalization each year, more companies than ever are entering the fold. Considering the steady influx of new businesses in this increasingly saturated market, how can new and established cannabis brands ensure that their name and intellectual property are protected from competitors and copyc…
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How can cannabis companies work with community organizations to help right the wrongs of the War on Drugs?
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While the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, the impact of the War on Drugs lingers on. Thousands of people remain incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses with little to no legal support. Furthermore, those who are able to secure their release often struggle to gain employment or find other necessary resources upon their …
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Caroline Phillips: Celebrating the cannabis industry's vibrant history and culture in our nation's capital
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Washington, D.C. is home to many of the nation's most prominent lawmakers and policy discussions about the federal legalization of cannabis. However, the nation's capital is not often thought of as a hub for cannabis innovation and business. Fortunately, there are advocates, entrepreneurs and policymakers working tirelessly to reshape the way in wh…
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Courtney Davis: Building social equity programs around outcomes instead of opportunities
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Over the past two years, social equity programs have become noticeably commonplace in all sectors of the cannabis industry. While committing time, capital and resources to addressing the lasting consequences of the War on Drugs is a necessary first step, the onus is now on industry stakeholders to tangibly deliver on their promises. In this episode…
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Vladimir Bautista: The next frontier for legacy operators
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Legacy operators defined cannabis culture throughout the decades-long War on Drugs. Now, these businesses have a unique opportunity to proudly own their history and grow their brands in plain sight as more states create a pathway for legacy businesses to participate in the regulated space. In this episode, we speak to Vladimir Bautista, the co-foun…
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Martine Pierre: Fostering industry inclusion through cannabis Edtech
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In a constantly evolving industry like cannabis, it can be especially difficult for aspiring entrepreneurs to find the appropriate educational resources to start their own companies. For business owners of color, this becomes yet another barrier to entry in a sector where success often hinges on capital and industry connections. In this episode, we…
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Kassia Graham: Celebrating and elevating Black voices within the cannabis business community
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While the regulated cannabis industry continues to flourish with record rates of year-over-year growth, Black ownership and representation have actually dwindled across the country. Cannabis for Black Lives (CfBL), born out of Cannaclusive, aims to eliminate the specific barriers still keeping BIPOC business owners from actively participating in th…
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Tahir Johnson: Driving cannabis reforms at the federal and grassroots level
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The fragmented nature of cannabis legalization has made it especially challenging for industry advocates to pass comprehensive social equity-focused policies across the U.S. –but Tahir Johnson is in a unique position to enact change on both federal and local levels. In this episode, we speak to the Director of Social Equity and Inclusion at U.S. Ca…
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Tremaine Wright: Making social equity the focal point of New York’s forthcoming cannabis market
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Since passing in March 2021, New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) has been recognized as one of the most progressive pieces of cannabis legislation in the country. While the bill prioritizes key social equity initiatives –including accessible licensing for communities impacted by cannabis enforcement, a community reinvestment fun…
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Monique Jackson-Fitzgerald: Creating space for inclusive cannabis hospitality
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Cannabis has become one of the most coveted lifestyle products in recent years, but many consumers still face obstacles finding 420-friendly lodging while on vacation. Monique Jackson-Fitzgerald and her husband, Rick, set out to introduce an inclusive solution through InnDica, a platform where cannabis enthusiasts can book carefully curated destina…
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Amber Senter: Laying the groundwork for an equitable supply chain
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While there are now numerous points of entry within the cannabis space, many of these opportunities are not always accessible to professionals of color. Industry veteran Amber Senter recognized these disparities early on and has spent the past six years tackling these barriers to entry throughout the supply chain. Through her ventures –including Su…
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Dr. LungZzz: The upside of pursuing non-plant-touching opportunities
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In newly legal cannabis markets, the knee-jerk reaction for aspiring business owners is to either open a dispensary or launch their own product. But what if you don’t want to go through the grueling (and expensive) licensing process? In this episode, we speak to Sumera Galvez and Rocio Mata, co-owners of Dr. LungZzz, one of the most beloved smoke s…
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Demitri Downing: What can equitable access to professional opportunities look like in Arizona?
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Arizona launched adult-use sales in January shortly after legalizing cannabis in the 2020 election -and business is booming. The state has already collected over $20 million in taxes from the regulated industry, making it one of the top emerging markets being closely watched by brands, operators, and investors alike. At the same time, Arizona’s rap…
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Timeka Drew: Creating a space for impactful mentorship
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Success is often contingent on who you know and the kind of network you’ve built, and that’s especially the case in cannabis. In this episode, we speak to Timeka Drew, the entrepreneur and advocate behind Biko Flower and Our Academy, about her experience applying for a social equity license in California and co-founding one of the most respected me…
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TILT Holdings and Little Beach Harvest: Uplifting Indigenous Communities Through Cannabis Ventures
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For many Indigenous tribes, cannabis has been a sacred part of their culture for hundreds of years. Despite this long-standing relationship with the plant, there is little Indigenous representation in the cannabis industry. In this episode, we talk to Chenae Bullock and Roseann Valencia-Fernandez about the historic partnership between the Shinnecoc…
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Karen O'Keefe: How can states play a better role in making legal cannabis more equitable?
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Legalization is sweeping through the nation as more states consider permitting medical and adult-use cannabis. But many states that want to legalize cannabis are struggling to develop equitable policies that address the lasting social and economic damage inflicted by the War on Drugs. In this episode, we speak to Karen O'Keefe, Director of State Po…
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Cannabis, marijuana, reefer, weed, ganja --there are few products out there that take on so many names and identities. In this episode, we’ll take a deeper look at the complex, and often racially charged history, behind cannabis’ many names with Professor Isaac Campos, Associate Professor of Latin American History at the University of Cincinnati an…
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MacCalvin Romain: How can investors create a more equitable industry?
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Capital markets are booming in the U.S. cannabis industry, but the lion’s share of these funds are still allocated to established companies, many of which already have strong investment relationships. While more states are creating business opportunities for social equity applicants, securing capital remains an enormous barrier to entry, especially…
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Meko Lincoln: The Lasting Cost of Incarceration
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Approximately one-fifth of incarcerated Americans are serving time for a drug-related charge. Even worse, Black Americans are six times more likely to be incarcerated for drug charges despite equal usage rates between Black and white Americans. For the hundreds of thousands of individuals who have served their time and are trying to rebuild their l…
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The War on Drugs officially started in 1971 under the Nixon Administration and its lasting impacts are still being felt throughout the country, especially among communities of color. Despite the fact that cannabis is legal in some capacity in over two-thirds of the country, and policymakers have admitted to the failure of these drug policies over t…
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Who exactly are the women behind High Priority? In this episode, co-hosts Alexis Dionne and Chelsea discuss their experiences working as women of color in the cannabis industry, the role cannabis has played in their lives and what they hope to learn from their forthcoming interviews with industry experts.…
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Hi, I’m Alexis Dionne.And I’m Chelsea.And we’re here to tell you about our new podcast, High Priority.Cannabis may be legal in a lot of places now, but it has a complicated history.We’re two chill women of color who happen to work in the cannabis industry, but we still have a lot of unanswered questions.Each week we’re asking industry leaders tough…
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