The Cannabis Lifestyle
Courtesy Photo
Ask a Bud t end er
Amber Rivera grew up in Arroyo Grande, California. After working with her parent’s multimedia company she returned to college and earned two Associates of Art degrees in Legal Studies and Liberal Arts. Amber lived her dream working at a ski resort, China Peak Mountain Resort, and is now living her second dream job at Seaweed Dispensary in Lompoc. Amber makes her home in Arroyo Grande, California with her daughter Shy, their two dogs Gwen (Stefani) and Willie (Nelson), two cats Lil Bowie and Lil Joplin, and a duck named Pooper.
Amber Rivera
Tell us a little about your personal experience with cannabis? Recreationally I’ve been a cannabis user for more than 30 years. As an adult it has become an integral part of my life. I have found that consuming it in forms other than smoking, I have a more long-lasting whole body feeling. I basically feel amazing all the time. Professionally this is my first experience in the industry.
qualified as a budtender is about asking questions and understanding the concerns people have regarding the products. So now every product we receive or before we even purchase it, I research the company and what their product offers. So, basically, I ask a lot of questions and research it all. I’m passionate in wanting people to feel good all the time.
How did you land at SeaWeed on Ocean? I spent the last 10 years In the Sierra National Forest at a ski resort running their Purchasing and Warehouse Departments, on federal property where all forms of cannabis are illegal. Last year I met one of the owners of SeaWeed on the mountain and when the pandemic closed the resort, I moved back to the Coast to be closer to my parents and daughter. The opportunity came for me to join the team to help with the office work, kind of “behind the scenes.” I came to work here last August and now handle the day-to-day operations of the store.
What have you learned about cannabis and its health impacts? I think that one of the most important things for consumers to know that I have learned, is that THC has so many different components that work with the human body. Likewise, every “body” is different. Finding the right combination will vary person to person. For example, CBD is the component for healing. However, you need a percentage of THC to activate the CBD for its healing purposes. So, it is important when looking for what you need to ask a knowledgeable budtender. The CBD to THC Ratio will be different for everyone.
What were your qualifications for becoming a budtender? I have had no previous experience in the cannabis retail industry, let alone bud tending, until SeaWeed. I figured I needed to learn all aspects of the business. Being
What do you think of ongoing perceptions of “reefer madness?” I think that the original ideology of “reefer madness” is very outdated in its nature. We have come so far in the education and research of cannabis and its many uses and healing
16 Cannabis by the Sea Summer 2021
