Leaf 411 Supporting Member: Nancy Whiteman, CEO, Wana Brands

Medically reviewed by Katherine Golden, RN
Written by Denise Rustning

At Leaf411, we love sharing our supporting members’ stories. We really do believe that our members are the best in the cannabis industry, and hope that you’ll consider supporting them when choosing where to shop and the brand you would like to try!

Nancy standing smiling in Wana Brands production facility, with trays of cannabis gummies on the table in front of her.
Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands

Wana Brands recently joined Leaf411 as a supporting member. Their mission is to help people enhance their lives physically, creatively and emotionally through the responsible use of cannabis. We recently checked in with Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands, to learn how their mission translates to their products and the work they do in the community.

Q: Let’s start with some general questions about the work you’re doing every day in your organization and your community. You started out in the corporate world, before moving into cannabis 10 years ago. How did your past experience help shape Wana Brands?

Before co-founding Wana Brands, I was a principal with The Whiteman Group, a sales and marketing consultancy, and previously held a range of senior level marketing and business development positions including Vice President, Marketing and New Corporate Ventures for the Paul Revere Insurance Group in Massachusetts. My background in marketing and branding has definitely been very helpful in building Wana Brands. 

I always wanted to start a business, and I dreamed about launching a product-based business where my success wasn’t tied directly to how many hours I could work for a client. In 2010, when an opportunity to get into the cannabis industry presented itself, it was a no-brainer. It was exactly what I was looking for. And while I was initially driven by the business opportunity that the new cannabis industry presented, when I saw the impact that Wana Brands had on patients, that’s when I really felt the power of this industry.

Smiling older African-American man in white t-shirt doing outdoor yoga on a sunny day, representing wellness and health.

Wana is a health and wellness brand–but with a bit of a twist. 

Our tagline is “Enhance Your Life.” When we say “Enhance Your Life,” what we’re really saying is that cannabis doesn’t have to be the center of your universe but it can be one way to enhance your life. We choose “Enhance Your Life” because it speaks to what we try to provide to both medical/wellness and recreational users. 

If you are using cannabis for health and wellness reasons, Wana’s products improve the quality of life through pain relief and other symptom management. If you are an adult-use or recreational consumer, Wana helps enhance the activities you already love doing whether it’s being with friends and family, listening to music, being in nature or having a great meal. Health and wellness is holistic and addresses more than just the physical being. Wana’s brand story is wellness in its broadest definition.

Q: What differentiates Wana from other marijuana infused product manufacturers?

What differentiates Wana is the ability to leverage a decade of tried-and-true cannabinoid expertise along with our premium best-selling edibles recipes. Our greatest investment has been in refining and perfecting the Wana Gummie Recipe. It can be challenging to mask the bitterness of cannabis and hemp oil, but Wana Brands has dedicated extensive resources to perfecting our recipe, which is vegan, gluten free, all natural and kosher certified. 

We are committed to continually learning and evolving the science of product development. We have chosen to align ourselves with best-in-class partners for leading edge products including the industry’s only extended release formula, proprietary terpene blends for flavor and effect, and the most effective quick onset technology that we could find. We also spend a lot of time and energy thinking about where the industry is going and trying to make sure that Wana products are reflecting that. I think that over time, that will become the big differentiator in the industry–brands that are keeping track of the science and incorporating it into what they’re doing versus brands that are just making a product and hoping for the best.

Wood letter dice with “G-M-P” standing for Good Manufacturing Practices, which Wana Brands follows.

We want consumers to be 100% comfortable that they are consuming a product that is safe, professionally made and consistent. Safety is incredibly important to Wana Brands. Even though cannabis is not yet federally regulated, we have implemented the highest standards in food safety and compliance programs and are one of the first edibles companies to produce in line with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and HACCP food safety practices. From our very first batch of products in 2010, every Wana product has been tested for potency even before it was required by regulation. 

Finally, I hope that as we continue to communicate our focus on education, thought leadership and social responsibility, that consumers see will turn to Wana as a trusted brand that is committed to improving their health and the wellness of the world through cannabis.

Q: What are some Wana products you’re especially excited about?

Wana Brands has a long history of advancing technical and scientific innovation in order to perfect its products’ medicinal efficacy and ease of use. It’s also a company that remains true to its original belief that edibles should be a treat as much as a health supplement. And that’s why it has put so much consistent effort into ensuring that the flavors of its edibles come through, instead of the taste of the cannabis. At Wana, we’ve developed new products that have quicker onset times and more bioavailability. This includes: 

  • On the Wana Brands side (THC), Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies featuring new Happy Hour flavors launched in March 2020 and provide a novel edible experience, with an onset of 5-15 mins and Delta-9-THC effects (similar to an inhalation effect rather than an edible effect) lasting up to three hours. Traditional edibles have an onset time of up to two hours, with effects lasting up to six hours.

    The new Wana product line features an all-natural recipe, with no high fructose corn syrup. Each gummie offers 5mg of THC, with 20 gummies per package. Fast, effective and innovative, Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies harness TiME (Thermodynamic Individual Molecular Encapsulation), a new quick onset technology from Azuca. While traditional edibles convert Delta-9-THC in the digestive tract to 11-Hydroxy-THC, Wana Quick gummies feature individually encapsulated Delta-9-THC cannabinoids with greater bioavailability that work at the molecular level to bypass the liver and enter the bloodstream immediately. This means onset in less than 15 minutes for most, and a Delta-9-THC experience that lasts two to four hours.

Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummie candies and product containers shown. The containers include photos of fresh fruits and a label indicating THC.
Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies in Happy Hour Flavors, including the indica-infused Piña Colada with 5 mg THC per piece to help promote stress relief; the 1:1 ratio Strawberry Margarita with 5 mg CBD/5 mg THC per piece promoting relaxation and tranquility; and the sativa-infused Peach Bellini with 5 mg THC per piece, designed to have a motivating, uplifting effect.

  • On the Wana Wellness https://wanawellness.com/ side, we just launched our Wana Wellness Quick Fast-Acting Hemp Tincture, Infused with Colorado-grown broad spectrum hemp oil, Wana Wellness Quick Fast-Acting Tincture acts within 5-15 minutes. Powered by Quicksilver Scientific’s advanced nanoemulsion technology, this product is 5 times more bioavailable than traditional tinctures, making it quick and easy to keep up with your dietary needs. Leveraging functional ingredients, Wana Wellness offers three options:

We have more innovations planned. I can’t go into a lot of detail because we are in R&D but the common denominator is that our new product initiatives are all focused on helping people have more nuanced, effective and enjoyable experiences with our products. There are many variables that we are combining and tweaking including dosage, onset and the addition of terpenes, functional ingredients and rare cannabinoids. Sometimes minor changes or additions can yield very significant improvements in people’s experiences.

Wana Wellness Fast-Acting CBD Hemp Tincture product bottles with green RESTORE label, blue REST label, and purple RELAX label.
Wana Wellness RESTORE, REST, and RELAX Fast-Acting Hemp Tinctures containing broad spectrum CBD hemp and other beneficial plant compounds to support a healthy lifestyle and meet specific needs. You can learn more about these products at this link. https://wanawellness.com/store/#tinctures

Q: In addition to developing new products, you’re also working on several community-based initiatives. Can you tell us more about them?

Wana Brands has made giving back to the community a priority, and last year we implemented a formal CSR program. Knowing that we have the chance to enhance people’s lives in very specific and concrete ways keeps me motivated as well. This year, we are working with the Last Prisoner Project, so stay tuned for more news from that partnership.

Q: You recently made a very generous donation of Wana Wellness CBD hemp gummies to Leaf411. You also are offering CBD hemp gummies to your community, to help with the stress and anxiety that many of us are feeling these days. Thank you! What inspired you to take this action?

As our country grapples with COVID-19, stress levels are at an all-time high due to entire sectors being shut down, quarantines put into effect, consumers being told to shelter in place, concerns over health & wellbeing. Recently, I posted on my local NextDoor (a geographically-based neighborhood app) to see if anyone wanted free CBD gummies. I was overwhelmed with the response. Not only do lots of people want to try the gummies, many shared how anxious they are feeling for medical, financial and other reasons. It really made me realize what an enormous emotional toll this is taking on people at a new level.

Woman in casual yellow shirt views a laptop and writes on a notepad while completing online cannabis education.

Q: Wherever we go, we hear a lot about the need for trustworthy information and education. What are some ways you provide information to your community?

Wana Brands leads the industry in the development of training and education, including self-guided interactive courses, reviewed by health professionals, that cover topics such as how edibles work in the body; and explaining the endocannabinoid system. This knowledge can ensure consumers have the best possible experience when they get home from the dispensary. Wana is the gold standard for cannabis training and education, propelling sales and moving the industry forward. 

Wana also partners with best-in-class leaders such as Leaf411 and Three Wells.

We will also be developing more newsletters, educational webinars and other exciting content about Wana Brands in the near future.

Q: What are some emerging education needs you’re seeing?

With the growth of the infused product industry, education is essential to ensure that consumers have a good experience with edibles, such as Wana products. Consumers need to understand they should Start Low and Go Slow, since traditional edibles can take up to two hours to take effect and consuming too much can lead to an uncomfortable experience. As stigma around cannabis dissipates and consumers are more comfortable discussing use, understanding around cannabis consumption will increase. But first, it can be as basic as educating consumers on the difference between THC vs. CBD. The need for education can’t be stressed enough.

Q: How does your partnership with Leaf411 align with those efforts and/or your organization’s mission?

Given Wana Brands’ national footprint and the fact that Leaf411 is a national cannabis nurse hotline, we felt our missions aligned perfectly. Leaf411’s medical expertise makes it a trusted partner for Wana’s commitment to education.

Wana logo with the message, “Keeping Our Distance. But still enhancing lives with safe, quality products.”

Q: COVID-19 restrictions and precautions have very much become a part of all of our daily routines. What are some steps you’re taking to keep customers and employees safe?

On behalf of Wana Brands, I want to express our deepest concerns for everyone’s safety and wellbeing during this unprecedented time. 

We have been tracking this issue for the past few months. In the beginning of March, we began instituting safety measures that would ensure we can operate safely and still get our safe and reliable products to market for those who rely on Wana products to provide support in daily life. Following guidance and regulations from our state and national government, we have our sales, marketing and administrative staff primarily working from home. Our operations staff is working in staggered shifts and in new configurations that allow for extreme social distancing. They monitor their temperatures daily and if any employee is feeling ill, he or she is directed to stay home under our paid sick leave policy. More of our COVID-19 response is outlined in our COVID-19 alert at this link.

The April 20 Cannabis Holiday Is Over, But the Need for Cannabis Remains

A lot of people stocked up on their favorite cannabis and CBD hemp products over the past month, either in response to COVID-19 restrictions or in anticipation of 420 (April 20). April 20 is a day of celebrating all things cannabis, including the cannabis community which came together virtually this year!

But for many of us, cannabis is not so much a special event as a need to restore balance and relief to our lives. If you’re interested in checking out Wana Brands, you can find their products at our supporting members Lightshade and Smokin Gun Apothecary. Wana also includes a tool on their website to find other legal dispensaries offering their products.

We also encourage you to check out our other member interviews running on our blog throughout the month of April to learn about more great cannabis products.

Whether You’re a New Cannabis Consumer or An Experienced User, Leaf411 Can Help with Your Questions!

Our fully-licensed, cannabis-trained Leaf nurses provide nonjudgmental, medically-sound guidance and balanced information at no cost to you via our anonymous hotline: 844-LEAF411 (844-532-3411) 

We also offer an online chat option, which you’ll find on the bottom of our website homepage during hotline hours. 

Not ready to call or chat? That’s okay! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay caught up on the latest Leaf411 news and events.

The Leaf411 cannabis nurse hotline provides free, anonymous education and directional support to the general public about the safe use of legal cannabis. We partner with select business members who meet our rigorous standards to extend our education and outreach efforts.


Supporting Member: Mike Tudor, CEO of Altus

Medically reviewed by Katherine Golden, RN
Written by Denise Rustning

At Leaf411, we love sharing our supporting members’ stories. We really do believe that our members are the best in the cannabis industry, and hope that you’ll consider supporting them when shopping.

Headshot of Mike Tudor, CEO at Altus, showing him in navy blazer and striped button-down shirt
Mike Tudor, CEO at Altus
Altus Blue Logo

Altus’s mission is to empower consumers to make the most educated and personal choice when selecting cannabis products. Their mission aligns well with Leaf411’s commitment to providing education and directional support tailored to individual needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic was very much on Mike Tudor’s mind when we recently caught up with him. Mike is the CEO of Lucky Edibles  and Altus, which manufacturers precisely-dosed gummies, tablets and topical products in the Colorado and Nevada adult-use cannabis markets. Altus also produces flower sold in legal dispensaries in Nevada.

Stock photo of old fashioned theater billboard that says: 1 - Social Distance; 2 - Wash Hands; 3 - Clean Surfaces

Maintaining Safe Cannabis Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

People are paying attention to how companies respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the same is true in the cannabis community. Is the company taking extra steps to protect employees? How are products being handled to reduce risk of infection spread?

When we talked to Mike, it was clear that he and others at Altus were deeply committed to doing all they could to ensure the safety of their employees and customers.

“We’re all struggling with the great unknown,” Mike said. “You can only hope that people take social distancing as a mantra. You flatten the curve.”

At Altus, that means limiting access to the manufacturing facility. “We’ve taken the approach that this situation is not something that we’re playing with. We’re taking (coronavirus) very, very seriously. We’re minimizing contact between people inside the plant and outside the plant. We’ve actually closed our doors to outside visitors, which is difficult,” Mike said. “Think about it—this is an industry where people are used to coming around (and visiting), and all of a sudden they can’t.”

Altus 5:1 Kiwi Gummies in the 10-count and the new 2-count packaging, which includes photos of kiwi along with product info.
Altus 5:1 Kiwi Gummies (25 mg CBD and 5 mg THC) will soon be available for sale in a two-pack.

Providing Product Information to Cannabis Consumers in the Age of Social Distancing

Most legal marijuana dispensaries have also adopted extreme social distancing practices to comply with state mandates and guidance. This means that manufacturers like Altus face new challenges in providing information about their products to budtenders.

Mike talked about this challenge as Altus prepares to roll out a new two-pack of Kiwi gummies with a 5:1 ratio of CBD to THC, as part of Altus’s Therapeutic product line.

In the past, the Altus product representatives would have visited dispensaries in person to share product benefits with budtenders. Now the reps are working from home, sharing product information when they call or email existing customers.

“We’re servicing our customers,” Mike says. “I’m making sure that we don’t stop providing service. That piece is very critical to me.”

Altus is also providing pizza, snacks and drinks to dispensaries in recognition of the work that budtenders and other frontline staff are doing to maintain consumers’ access to cannabis.

A close-up of a smiling woman standing outdoors with a fresh apple in her hand.

How an Exceptional Experience is Part of the Altus Mission

Mike’s commitment to an exceptional experience spans across not only customer service, but also the product itself. He brings an impressive food and beverage industry background to his role at Altus.

“I got into the (cannabis) industry five years ago. One of the things I found when I got into it was that many things being sold tasted terrible,” he said. “My approach has been that if you’re going to sell food, make sure it’s the best tasting there is. Because that’s what people evaluate when they buy products that they actually have to put in their mouths and taste. That’s my guiding principle.”

Regarding how his work in the cannabis industry compares to his past experiences, Mike said, “It’s been a fun, fun ride. I’ve worked with some really great people. I’ve learned different things from all of them. I’ve also taught others about what the world needs when it comes to good-tasting well-designed products.”

Altus 1:1 Blueberry Acai indica-based gummies with 5 mg CBD, 5 mg THC, and Pineapple sativa-based gummies with 10 mg THC.
Altus gummies are available in different ratios and flavors.

Creating Great-Tasting, Precisely-Dosed Cannabis Infused Products

“I have a really top notch production manager now, and I’ve been fortunate in my career to work with really sharp, smart production managers who’ve made my job a whole lot easier,” Mike said.

“We go to great lengths to make sure products are designed right. That’s been a bedrock for us, that our products are dosed properly and are tasty. If it doesn’t taste good, you’ve wasted your money.”

High fiber fruit puree is the first ingredient in Altus gummy products which are identified by one of three pillars based on their effects: Ritual; Therapeutic; and Enhance.

Altus 20:1 Ritual tablets; 50:1 Therapeutic tablets; and Sativa-based THC tablets.
Altus tablets are available across all three pillars: Ritual, Therapeutic and Enhance.

Altus tablets designed for swallowing and topicals are also available across the three pillars.

You can learn more about the product pillars on Altus’s website at this link.

Altus products are also designed for ease of use, keeping new users in mind.

“We’re coming out with a two pack of our Kiwi ratio gummy for people who want to try something different,” Mike said. This product should be available in dispensaries before the end of April.

Mike also talked about Lucky Edibles’ development of Micros tarts and mints containing two milligrams THC that allow people to easily build their own dose. 

“Some people can do two or three of these and they’re fine. For other people, one is enough. We’ve actually done quite well with the two milligram products. They taste great, and the hashy notes are masked quite well,” Mike said.

Altus 5:1 Kiwi Gummies in the new 2-count packaging, which includes photos of kiwi along with product info.
The new two-pack of 5:1 ratio Kiwi gummies will be available soon in legal dispensaries.

A Personal Perspective on Education

Mike also talked with us about the need for education, especially among older folks.

“I’m a user of CBD/THC because I have bursitis. My doctor said, ‘Yeah, if it helps you go for it,’ but he had no guidance other than offering me a steroid shot, which I refused.”

“Since I’m in the industry, my friends ask me for guidance as well. I tell them they have to understand that in the old days when we smoked, (cannabis) was 6% to 8% THC. It’s now approaching 30%. If you take a hit on somebody’s joint, you’ll be on the couch for a long time.”

Mike pointed out the value of starting low and going slow when finding your best dose, which in part drove the development of the Lucky Edibles Micros products. “You can try them and take one at a time until you feel the comfort you’re looking for.”

(As a reminder, edibles require more time to take effect than inhalation. Our Leaf nurses recommend that you wait at least two hours after ingesting an edible before deciding to use more.)

Mike pointed out the value in having doctors like Leaf411 advisory board member Dr. Dave Gordon providing education on cannabis. “I’ve attended his seminars, and it’s been fascinating listening to him,” said Mike. “He brings the educational piece. Cannabis is not just to get stoned, but is absolutely helpful medication for calming anxiety, helping appetite, and getting good sleep.”

Partnering with Leaf411 to Provide Medically-Sound Education

Finding trustworthy sources of information can be challenging. This is especially true in the cannabis industry, where federal restrictions have limited research on the plant’s potential.

“There’s a lot of bad information that keeps going around. People keep passing it on as gospel but it’s really not,” Mike said.

He noted that, “I’ve listened to Dr. Gordon tell people what they should look for in terms of efficacy and the ratios that can help them. I learned a lot from him. That’s what we need more of. I’ve told people to call Leaf411 or go to the Leaf411 website because they have questions, and I’m not a doctor. I’m not going to answer those questions—that’s not my role.”  

Mike went on to explain how Leaf411 is needed in times like these. “People can have a real fear, wondering, ‘How do I dose? What’s most important?’ It’s important to keep giving people information about what helps and what doesn’t.”

Committed to Providing the Best in Cannabis Products and Education

What makes an incredible consumer experience? In part, it’s top-of-the-line ingredients and a commitment to producing high-quality products. When it comes to cannabis, it’s also about differently-dosed products to meet the needs of different people, along with the education on how to find the best product and CBD:THC ratio for one’s needs. 

At Leaf411 we’re thrilled to have supporting members like Altus who recognize that high-quality products and medically-sound information are both important to the consumer experience.

Wherever You’re At, We’re Here for You

When it comes to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that everyone is reacting differently. A lot of us are facing unique challenges and need different things to help get us through.

Some of us are finding ourselves with extra time, or are intentionally slowing down and rethinking our priorities across all areas of our lives, including our health.

And some of us are at the opposite end of the spectrum, overwhelmed as we juggle work with increased family demands, including school at home for our kids.

Wherever you’re at, the free Leaf411 nurse hotline is here for you. We can answer your questions about how to use CBD hemp and legal cannabis for stress relief, improved sleep, or to manage pain or other conditions. We’re also available to answer your questions about COVID-19.

Call 844-LEAF411 (844-532-3411) at no cost to have your questions answered by one of our fully-licensed RNs. We’re also available via online chat. Look for the chat feature on the bottom of our website home page.

The Leaf411 cannabis nurse hotline provides free, anonymous education and directional support to the general public about the safe use of legal cannabis. We partner with select business members who meet our rigorous standards to extend our education and outreach efforts.


Leaf411 Supporter Spotlight: Mike Lempert, Director of Logistics at Seed & Smith

Medically reviewed by Katherine Golden, RN
Written by Denise Rustning

At Leaf411, we love sharing our supporting members’ stories. We really do believe that our members are the best in the industry, and hope that you’ll consider supporting them when shopping. 

As a founding member, Seed & Smith has supported the Leaf411 mission from Day One. Their commitment to education and transparency elevates the industry and provides a counternarrative against outdated stereotypes about cannabis.

Headshot of Mike Lempert, Director of Logistics at Seed & Smith
Mike Lempert, Director of Logistics at Seed & Smith

We recently checked in with Mike Lempert, Director of Logistics at Seed & Smith, to learn more about the Colorado dispensary’s current work. We also got his thoughts on the emerging consensus in legal states that cannabis is an essential need, following up on his recent interview with Denver 7 News.

Recognizing Cannabis as An Essential Need During the COVID-19 Crisis

The legal marijuana market sits in an interesting spot right now. While marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, states with legal medical and/or adult-use (recreational) marijuana have generally classified dispensaries as essential businesses allowed to remain open during the COVID-19 response. Dispensaries are being acknowledged as similar to pharmacies, providing essential medicine to patients.

Many patients, consumers and industry members are thinking about what this will mean for cannabis once the COVID-19 emergency passes. We asked Mike for his thoughts on this topic.

“My stance has always been that there are very serious medical issues that people use cannabis to treat. People come into our dispensary who need cannabis to live a ‘normal life.’ They may be suffering from MS or Parkinson’s disease or cancer or insomnia. Whatever the case may be, there’s a lot of relief (through cannabis),” he said.

“Absolutely, cannabis should be deemed essential,” Mike said. “If people are relying upon something to live a normal life—we’re not talking about a vice but about actual ailments and problems—then 100% cannabis should be deemed essential. It shouldn’t even be questioned whether we need to stay open during times like this.”

Keep reading to learn more about how Seed & Smith is ensuring employee and customer safety while providing access to high-quality legal cannabis amid the COVID-19 business restrictions.

Seed & Smith’s Commitment to Quality and Transparency

Have you ever been curious about how legal cannabis is cultivated, harvested and extracted? Part of the Seed & Smith experience is their free cannabis grow tour featuring their cultivation, production and packaging areas. While the tours have been temporarily cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, the spirit of transparency continues in every area of Seed & Smith’s work.

Leaf411 CEO Katherine Golden looks through a window at cannabis plants in Seed & Smith’s cultivation facility.
View from inside Seed & Smith’s cultivation facility. A tour group looks through a window at a big container of cannabis flower.
Checking out Seed & Smith product on the cannabis grow tour. Note: Tours are currently suspended in response to COVID-19.

When we asked Mike what makes Seed & Smith different from the competition, transparency was at the top of his list.

“We consider ourselves to be pioneers in the industry,” he said. “Seed & Smith was formed at the tail end of prohibition for recreational use. We wanted to hit the scene hard with transparency and prove that cannabis isn’t this big, scary drug like a lot of people make it out to be. We wanted people to understand exactly how our cannabis is grown, how it’s packaged, how we extract it to make the concentrates, where it’s sold and who sells it—basically every detail about our product.”

Mike explained how their approach is different, saying, “The cannabis industry is notorious for closing doors and keeping things very close to the vest. We wanted to dismantle that. I think we’ve been extremely successful.”

Seed & Smith’s owners looked to craft breweries as a model for doing things differently.

“Breweries were opening up their doors for the public to come see how their beer was made. You could go and talk to the head brewmaster. You could take a tour. You could see the cleanliness of the facility. You could see the beer getting canned.”

Seed & Smith adapted that model for their own operations, “being fully transparent and allowing people to get the freshest product,” said Mike.

A hand holding the Seed & Smith Dart vaporizer, showing how the vape is small and discreet.
Seed & Smith’s Dart vaporizer
Leaf411 supporting member Seed & Smith’s Dart vaporizer and packaging.
Seed & Smith’s Dart vaporizer

The Seed & Smith Dart: Making a Better Vape

We asked Mike what Seed & Smith products he’s most excited about these days.

 “We’re extremely proud of our Dart vaporizer, which is a pod-based system,” he said.

“We worked with CCell, the hardware manufacturer, for over a year to dial this product in. Now  we’re doing a big push for people to try the Dart vape as part of a move to a cleaner product. If you’re concerned about health risks, you should understand what goes into products that you end up ingesting or inhaling into your body.”

“A lot of companies that make cartridges or vaporizers don’t show you how their oils are made,” said Mike, “At Seed & Smith, you can visit and see our entire process. You can see the product that’s used to make it (the pods). You watch how it’s made through videos. You can see into our extraction rooms. Everything is transparent.”

Mike also talked about the recent vaping crisis that was connected to some manufacturers using Vitamin E acetate or other cutting agents which caused serious health issues.

Seed & Smith was ahead of the curve, however, since they do not use any cutting agents in their vape products. “From day one, it’s been 100% cannabis extracts in our cartridges and that’s it,” Mike said.

Partnering with Leaf411 to Provide Factual Cannabis Information

Mike talked about the challenges of providing factual information to customers, given the federal restrictions on cannabis research. “There’s not enough research done on cannabis, and we fully understand why that is,” he said.

He discussed how the lack of research means that people often fall back on anecdotal reports about how a product worked for a specific person, which may not end up being true for everyone. To navigate this tricky terrain, Seed & Smith sticks with providing education on what they know—their product.

“We give the facts in a clear and concise manner, about what we’re doing and how we grow,” he said.

Seed & Smith also relies on their partnership with Leaf411 to provide education on potential medical benefits of cannabis.

“We partner with Leaf411 to help us deliver reliable, factual information,” Mike said. “Focusing on providing factual information is the biggest key for us because there’s so much misinformation out there right now. We don’t want to add any more.”

At Leaf411, we know misconceptions about both the cannabis plant and the cannabis industry are everywhere. Mike shared a very similar perspective when discussing the education needs that he sees in the cannabis space.

“I’ve only been involved in the industry for three years, and in that three years I’ve learned a lot. I came with a lot of preconceived notions, most of which were wrong. So I’m the perfect poster child for the need for reliable information and education,” he said.

“There’s going to be a huge amount of people in this country and probably around the world shifting to cannabis use at some point. Providing reliable information about what they can expect and what’s in these products is extremely important.”

Seed & Smith dispensary door with a posted notice taped to it listing new COVID-19 rules for customers.
Seed & Smith dispensary door showing updated COVID-19 rules in late March 2020.

Maintaining Safe Dispensary Operations During COVID-19

You’ve likely noticed the impact of COVID-19 on businesses you frequent in person or even online as the government rolls out new rules and restrictions.

Cannabis dispensaries are no different. In Colorado, the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) released several rounds of emergency rules for dispensaries that emphasize extreme social distancing and revise retail rules to protect both employees and customers. 

We asked Mike how Seed & Smith’s operations have been impacted by COVID-19.

He answered, “In just about every aspect, our company and the industry itself has been affected.”

“We have 12 cultivation rooms with over 20,000 square feet. We’ve redone the workflow so that growers can work in different rooms at different times. We’re also able to avoid having two employees working together on a specific task,” Mike said.

He went on to describe how the packaging area was expanded and reconfigured to spread out employees and limit interactions. Employees with jobs that can be done from home are required to work remotely.

“It’s extremely tough for me to work remotely. I’m very much in the trenches on a daily basis. But I and my co-directors understand the need to not only reduce our risk of getting sick but to reduce risk to our employees as well. We’re making sacrifices all around but it’s for the greater good—for the company, our employees and our customers,” he said.

Seed & Smith checkout area showing registers spaced far apart and tape on floor to reinforce social distancing rules.
Seed & Smith checkout area with added social distancing measures in late March 2020. These safety measures are regularly updated to comply with state guidance.

How Seed & Smith Is Working to Keep Customers Safe

Mike described precautions that retail employees are taking to regularly disinfect all work areas and practice extreme social distancing while assisting customers. Cash registers have been spaced farther apart and customers have the option to pay by debit card at curbside for online orders. Cash payments must be made inside the store.

As of this writing, customers who order online from Seed & Smith online via Weedmaps will receive a “Thank You” discount code for a future purchase.

As state-issued rules continue to change, you can stay up to date on Seed & Smith’s operations on their blog, Facebook and Instagram.

Red phone on blue table with sticky note that says “Hotline!” as a reminder for the free Leaf411 cannabis nurse hotline.

Answering Your Questions About Cannabis and COVID-19

We know that many of you are worried about the impact of COVID-19 on both your access to cannabis medicine and on other areas of your life, as well. You can trust Leaf411 as a reliable source of information in this challenging time.

We’re here for you, with the clinical knowledge and resources to answer your questions about safely purchasing and using legal marijuana and CBD hemp products. We’re also ready to take your COVID-19 questions at the Leaf411 hotline. 

Call 844-LEAF411 (844-532-3411) at no cost to have your questions answered by one of our fully-licensed RNs.

Don’t like talking on the phone? We can also answer your questions via chat during hotline hours. Look for the chat icon in the lower right corner of the Leaf411 home page. https://leaf411.org/

Also, keep an eye on our Facebook page, where we share updated information, webinars and education resources on COVID-19 and cannabis. 

The Leaf411 cannabis nurse hotline provides free, anonymous education and directional support to the general public about the safe use of legal cannabis. We partner with select business members who meet our rigorous standards to extend our education and outreach efforts.