BUDTENDER Q&A

“I FOUND MY NICHE IN LIFE. I’VE BEEN GROWING THINGS SINCE I WAS 14 YEARS OLD."Bryce Hoxeng ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

COLDSMOKE

840 KALIFORNSKY BEACH RD SUITE B SOLDOTNA, ALASKA 8AM-10PM SUN-THURS 8AM-12AM FRI & SAT FB.COM/COLDSMOKEAK (907) 262-9333

HE LOVES losing himself behind a drum set and letting it rip! In addition, Bryce is into old school Japanese style car builds called Bozozoku, and has put a good amount of time into his own 1988 Mazda MX-6. In the outdoors, he’ll always take a pause for a moment to realize the vastness of life and how we get to experience its wonderment. Follow him on IG @BRYCETHEBOTANYGUY

HOW ARE YOU FEELING THESE DAYS, MAN? I’m doing all right, a little tired to be honest, but lovin’ life. I have severe Tourette Syndrome and it often keeps me up at night. I also have Autism Spectrum Disorder, and on top of that I’m red/green colorblind. This is a big reason why I got into the plants, because they really help me medically.

WHAT BENEFITS DOES CANNABIS PROVIDE FOR THESE CHALLENGES? Well, I’m clearing my throat consistently and when I get nervous, like I am now, I roll my eyes. Generally, when I take an edible, smoke or dab – however I choose to use it – it brings those down. It takes the stress levels down and makes the muscles in my body and face relax, and it reduces pain in my body. Especially topicals, mostly the wrists and face for me. Without them I’d be in pain more consistently.

WHEN DELIVERING EDUCATION TO YOUR CLIENTELE, HOW DO YOU PHRASE THE BENEFITS? I help guide them in the right direction with specific terpenes. For me, limonene is very helpful because it allows me to be very social, which is huge because of my ASD and getting nervous in big crowds. Without it, my Tourettes would be off the charts.

HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY VIEW YOUR CANNABIS USE? My grandparents helped raise me with my single mother, and they were very anti. My grandpa has since passed away and I believe that if he’s looking down upon me now, he is proud of the direction I’ve taken. Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of people who have gotten into the industry for money, and I understand it if that is your goal. For me, however, I really care about the product for myself and the people who use it. I’ve got a limited grow and it’s a giant blessing in my life. When you have a passion for something the money comes. That’s what my grandpa always taught me. I found my niche in life. I’ve been growing things since I was 14 years old.