The cannabis industry is a place where many people from all different walks of life come together, for the cannabis plant. We’d like to take this opportunity to give the people behind the scenes of the cannabis industry a voice so that they can tell us their stories. 

Sue Carlson –

Sue is the founder of The Botanical Joint, a hemp farm located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Sue prides herself on being one of the only Latina craft hemp farmers in Oregon!

Instagram: @thebotanicaljoints

For the longest time, I was always fascinated with cannabis and my dream was to always work with cannabis. My friend from college was one of the first people to introduce me to working with the cannabis plant. She also helped me make connections in the industry in Oregon. Working on the medical side of the cannabis industry also allowed me to pay for four years of schooling in full. I began work with a cannabis chocolate company as a chocolatier and then moved onto another position making another line for a company. After working with edibles for a while, I moved into farming at Oregon Girl Gardens. It wasn’t more than two months into the job when the greenhouse caught on fire, and my whole life suddenly felt like it was in shambles. Here I was apprenticing under arguably one of the best female cannabis growers in Oregon and then in a quick moment, it was gone. 

After this, I decided to start consulting again and was feeding my garden—emotionally and physically—and giving it the nutrients I needed at the time. During this time, I also noticed the lack of quality hemp products on the market and as a medical patient, it was important to me that other patients had worthwhile medicine. This helped me develop the business that I have today cultivating premium hemp CBD products. 

My favorite strain that is currently in cultivation includes Orange Glaze, which to me is the closest resemblance to cannabis in effect. It has a very citrus and diesel aroma and taste, something you don’t see on the hemp CBD market often, if at all.

One thing that I aim to do in my business is to bring attention to minorities in the cannabis industry. I myself am Latina and Native American, so this is a very important component to me. Knowing and seeing people I love like my brother, uncles and aunt go to prison for a plant was devastating. As someone with a public health degree, I make it a priority to support out the efforts of minorities in the cannabis industry, specifically minority females.

Sean Beeman –

Sean Beeman is the proud owner of Genesis Pharms, a local Eugene cannabis producer and processor. Alongside his wife Kassy, Genesis Pharms produces a variety of products from flowers to RSO and tinctures.

My cannabis story begins when I moved to Oregon in 2002 and became a medical patient. Back then I was just using cannabis to treat migraines. I was growing at first just for myself and my wife. Soon after I started growing for other medical cannabis patients in Oregon. Back then the system was more relaxed and it gave me the opportunity to help a lot of people out without all the newer restrictions of the OMMP and the OLCC. After being diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2005, I tried every form of medicine available, pharmaceutical and herbal. It wasn’t until January of 2010 that I called up Rick Simpson and began asking about whole-plant cannabis concentrate. In April of 2010, I took my first dose of RSO and since then began taking it daily. I knew from day one of taking the RSO that this form of cannabis medicine was a game-changer. After 11 months of cannabis treatment, my doctor took a biopsy of my liver and the results showed that it was clear of any signs of Hepatitis C. Once I had seen what this medicine could really do, I continued to provide medicine to medical cannabis patients, including RSO. In addition to providing medicine to those in need, I helped teach patients how to grow their own cannabis and make their own RSO.

In 2016, Genesis Pharms got their recreational cannabis license after Oregon legalized recreational cannabis use. We had already been heavily involved with the medical program so this was an easy choice for us. I knew that regulation would make things more difficult but I knew it was the right direction to go in if I wanted to keep providing quality medicine and education. Since then we have consistently been involved in the Oregon recreational cannabis industry, providing our products to dispensaries across the state. I have numerous testimonials from customers and patients who have used my products to help treat a variety of ailments, including cancers. Their experience, along with my own experience is exactly why I do what I do.

Alejandro –

Originally from Illinois, Alejandro began his journey into glass blowing at an early age and was inspired to move to the epicenter of heady glass. He and his wife are the proud owners of Studio West, a glass blowing studio in the hills of Eugene. Here they not only make decorative glass and smoking devices, but they also teach classes on the art of glass blowing!

Instagram: @obi_handro, @studiowestglass

Growing up in Illinois, I wanted pipes but couldn’t buy them due to the laws so instead, I just started making them. After high school, I decided to join the military and through their financial and educational support, I eventually went to school to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art for glass blowing. I had taken a glass blowing class prior to obtaining a degree and while I was in this class, the instructor said that Eugene was the place to be for glass smoking devices. After finishing the military and my schooling, I knew I wanted to make a career out of glass blowing.

When I decided to finally make the move to Eugene, my wife and I saw a glass studio available for sale so we went for it. This studio was named Studio West and had been focused more on the decorative glass like cups, bowls, orbs, ornaments and other decorative pieces like memorial glass. We continued the production of decorative glass pieces, but to help supplement the business we also make glass pipes, bongs, chillums and other glass smoking devices. In addition to making and selling hand-blown glass, we also teach classes at our studio to help you make your own hand-blown glass.

Having been in the military there are still some things I deal with, and having an art form such as glass blowing really helps support me emotionally and financially. Being able to work in a stress-free environment is very important to me because of the potential triggers of societies. This art form has allowed me to make my own career path and not be confined to a situation outside of my comfort zone.