The Blissful Canna-preneur
By Amy Marie Orozco
About 10 years ago, Annette Russell put into action the proverb “necessity is the mother of invention.” Her son’s severe eczema was winning against the prescribed steroidand-chemical-filled meds and over-the-counter cures, so she created a remedy for him. And her creation, a cream, proved very successful.
The everchanging twists and turns of legal and compliant canna-preneurship make it difficult for micro industries. Legal counsel doesn’t come cheaply, nor do permitting fees and business applications. Annette has kept at it, though. Handcrafting Thanks to a lifetime of dry skin, Annette was well acquainted her products in small batches and moving forward step by with just how important pure ingredients are. She had begun step, inch by inch. She took a year to find the right fit for a reading product labels as a teenager. That knowledge CBD source. coupled with an ailing son, 10-plus years in cosmetics, 20plus years exploring essential oils, a knack for the art, and lots “First, it was only isolates, and that was not effective at all,” of research had given her what she needed to begin. Annette says. She found a West Virginia hemp farm for her flowers, and she does her own extraction. The CBD is lab Next, she created Buddha Balm for pain relief from her own tested and the products only use pure botanical and arthritis and chronic pain. It worked. It worked for family and essential oils. friends, too, who told their friends, who told their friends, and so on. Today her merchandise line includes CBD Buddha Balm, CBD Cannabliss Body Oil, and CBD Lip Balm. Buddha Balm “A friend suggested I sell it at the dispensaries. I had been a is a topical pain reliever that can be used to treat many patient at Santa Barbara Care Center for many years. I left conditions from nerve pain to annoying itching. Cannabliss some samples with the manager one day, and they became Body Oil is a massage oil, bath oil, and/or body moisturizer my first and number one account,” explains Annette, who now that reduces arthritis and PMS symptoms. The Lip Balm is hemp works at Santa Barbara Care Center. and honey infused, keeping things soft and moisturized. For security and sanitary reasons, she had a production room built to health code standards where each order is made to order, without any additives, emulsifiers, preservatives, or toxins. The essential oils are chosen for their healing properties and are of the highest grade (ingestible).
It’s exciting to be part of the growing cannabis industry, Annette notes. Like any entrepreneur in any field, there are frustrations. There is never enough time and always a need for lots of capital. Facing these challenges, no doubt, will necessitate more inventions from her. CS
“Cannabis and hemp not only relieve pain and aid in healing 805 Buddha Bliss products are available at when applied topically but also help with skin elasticity, plus 805buddhabliss.com. Follow 805 Buddha Bliss on wrinkle and scar reduction,” explains Annette. Instagram @805buddhabliss. 12
Cannabis by the Sea Winter 2020
