Expanding the Cannabis Social Network

The Future of the Cannabis Social Network

New Apps Are Making It Easier to Connect Over Cannabis By Ian Pedersen

As new tech social platforms seem to arise often in our era, often pointless in their existence, it’s exciting when a new app fills a needed niche. Buddy Jane, a social networking app, was built to connect the cannabis community. The app allows users to share their passion for cannabis without the risk of being flagged or deleted for being cannabis related.

The Buddy Jane app offers a fully immersive, no judgement community where cannabis is not only welcome, it is the major focus.

Unlike other popular social apps like Facebook, this concept spans beyond social, offering unique and completely new targets with value ads and emerging technologies directed at a youthful, cannabis-friendly, tech-savvy community.

As the first social platform to integrate blockchain and partner with a cannabis-inspired cryptocurrency, Buddy Jane has a program to offer specific crypto benefits and discounts. The app partnered with Potcoin Rewards, a program developed to increase customer retention and offer “Social Token” rewards for engagement. People can access exclusive content, earn discounts with retailers, send friends points, and reward influencers with points for content and livestreams.

This creates a fully inclusive ecosystem within the Buddy Jane platform and a sustainable space for the community and industry to grow together. Potcoin is a stable coin being launched on the Ethereum blockchain. Ethereum is a massive vehicle, not just for crypto, but also as an NFT driver breeding ground.

Buddy Jane’s NFT Marketplace and subsequent launches will create new opportunities for future NFT trading. The app is rolling out its first NFT launch with emerging brands, like Duke’s Highgrade, offering an NFT strain release for Grape Illusion by Dallas D. of Duke’s Highgrade. This is a brand-new and very special strain cultivated at Natura Life + Sciences, most notable for their work in creating the internationally known “Grape Ape.”

This first of its kind NFT launch specifically entails the ownership of the actual “DNA” as attributed by COA and full blockchain of custody ownership of the strain genetics that will be traced through a DNA certificate of authenticity.

NFT’s may be the most simple and authentic way to hold ownership. Buddy Jane reports that they will also have a schedule of collectible NFT releases hosted on the platform. It will be exciting to see what other types of cannabis I.P. are monetized through these technologies.

Features like secure video chat messaging are also being used in a whole new and thoughtful way, offering direct consumer/patient communication and consultations. This could help with remote diagnosis of patients, as well as offer livestream video for a variety of channel content, and group videos for exclusive viewerdirected content.

The Bud Finder feature offers a cannabusiness directory with more than 16,000 locations. The Bud Finder also allows business owners in the space to list for free. It’s a one-stop social experience for cannabis businesses and enthusiasts alike. ❖

Paul “Pic” Ferrie, founder, president and Loni McClure, founder CEO

Pioneering With Pride

Celebrating the Intersection Between Cannabis and LGBTQIA+ Innovators

By Taylor McLamb

The cannabis industry owes a lot to the LGBTQIA+ community. Not only have they continuously fought to be seen authentically, they’ve led the uphill battle for the cannabis plant to be seen as well.

Noteworthy LGBTQIA+ advocates for cannabis came at a time when the streets were alive with gay liberation protests, anti-war movements, and the fight for racial equality. During the AIDs epidemic of the 1980s and early 90s, gay activists like Dennis Peron and Kiyoshi Kuromiya recognized the healing properties of cannabis and what it could do to help in the treatment of suffering patients. LGBTQIA+ activists were beyond their time, seeing potential in the plant that we’re reaping the benefits from now. Let’s take a look at a few influential, modern-day LGBTQIA+ pioneers who have made a name for themselves within the cannabis industry and are creating a more prosperous environment for others.

JJ McKay

Founder and Publisher of The Fresh Toast

JJ McKay is the founder and publisher of The Fresh Toast, one of the largest consumer-facing cannabis media companies in North America. By delivering reputable medical cannabis news through their partnership with Skipta, The Fresh Toast attracts 1.7 million health care professionals each month. Their reliable reputation awarded them press credentials during the 2020 presidential election.

McKay quickly took note of the cannabis industry’s straight, male-dominated demeanor.

“I think there’s more work to be done,” McKay said. “When you go to meetings, 80% of the industry is still white, straight males of a variety of ages and a variety of backgrounds.”

That being said, McKay has noticed the industry evolving in other ways.

“When we launched at the end of 2016, 50% of the meetings would be your classic grower that’s moving into legalization — people who are fighting [for their] dream and fighting the man,” he said. “Then it evolved into more people who see it as a legitimate industry and a way to establish themselves in an industry that’s going to be very profitable.

“I’m usually hosting the conference or doing things like that — and we have such a big voice, a million people see our content every day, so people are nice. But, it’s definitely still a cliquey, old boys thing. I think the easier pathway is getting more women involved in the industry, because then that opens up a certain level of tolerance that also opens up a certain level of inclusiveness,” said McKay.

Attendees cool off from the summer heat and celebrate at Proud Mary’s highly anticipated 2021 Bushwick Beach Bash in New York City.

Brie Brewer

Founder of Proud Mary

The Proud Mary Network was created to support queer voices within the cannabis industry through cannabis education by LGBTQIA+ writers, hosting networking events, and advocacy work. Brewer, who founded the organization in 2019, said the idea came together when noticing the lack of queer representation at an MJBizCon event.

“I can’t tell you how disappointing it is to see all of these conventions and all of these keynote speakers and there’s such a lack of representation, specifically for trans individuals,” Brewer said. “I want to change that. I want to put us all in the limelight. I want to give everyone a chance to speak their truth and speak their voices and have a platform to do so.”

While Brewer is the mastermind behind Proud Mary, she has a lot of support from those within the industry. Proud Mary is heavily involved with popular drag queens Ducky and Patsy. The network has collaborated with LGBTQIA+ filmmaker and founder of cannabis consulting firm Synergy, Johann Balbuena. Brewer has future plans to make Proud Mary into a nonprofit, as well as to create a job board that filters for queer-friendly companies.

“People reach out to me specifically to tell me how important this is and how much of an impact I am making. And you don’t know unless people check in, right? It’s so heartwarming and it feels like I’m doing something good,” Brewer said.

Danielle Gray and Brande Elise

Founders of Unoia

Driven by their passion to inspire and educate people about mental health awareness and CBD wellness products, entrepreneurs Danielle Gray and Brande Elise founded their Atlanta-based CBD lifestyle and product company, Unoia.

The couple started out originally just selling CBD honey, but their business has since expanded to also selling CBD agave, fruit gummies, CBD topicals, CBD peanut butter pet treats, and CBD pet tinctures.

There are many aspects within the company that mirror their own life. Both Gray and Elise were former college athletes, so they know firsthand how tinctures can provide relief from physical pain. Their CBD oil drips were also flavored after Georgia peaches to reflect the state in which they reside. Gray emphasizes how important representation is for them to be an honest brand.

“We’re representing a Black voice, a female voice, a queer voice, and also a voice from the South, which is a very different voice as well, coming from a place that’s very conservative and anti-cannabis and all those things,” Gray said. “It’s interesting in itself. There’s a lot of fun perspectives we have on cannabis.”

Gray and Elise value transparency within their company, as well as in their own lives. When viewing their website, customers can view an organized and detailed display of the Certificate of Analysis for each product they offer.

“That [transparency] was a big deal for us, and there’s a couple of reasons why. One is just being — and this is our experience as not necessarily LGBT, it could be too — but just being Black, people don’t always think that you have everything together. So with that, you have to make sure it’s just super together,” Gray said. “We want to make sure we’re giving the people that we support and that buy from us, that they know exactly what everything looks like, where everything comes from, that you’ll be safe, and you’re okay. You’re okay in the world of Unoia.” ❖

Gray and Elise created Unoia with the mission to help people reach beautiful thinking. Their products have been featured in Out Magazine, Essence, Healthline, and more.