BUDTENDER Q&A

ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH JOLENA ELLINGER

“I THINK MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT BUDTENDING HAS TO BE THE VARIETY OF WEED THAT I GET TO WORK WITH. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE GETTING TO SAMPLE NEW STRAINS!”

I ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AMAZING TASTE IN SHOES AND KILLER DANCE MOVES, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU GOT INTO THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. (laughs) Thanks! I actually used to work in a coffee shop with a friend who ended up moving to Enlighten. She was loving it and tried to get me a job working with their edibles but unfortunately, it didn’t pan out. So, I ended up getting my start at Uncle Herbs, where I worked as a budtender for six months before I found my home at Hollyweed 907.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT HOLLYWEED 907? I have been there for two years so far, and I absolutely love the team and our customers.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BUDTENDING? I think my favorite part about budtending has to be the variety of weed that I get to work with. I absolutely love getting to sample new strains! Everything from the smell of fresh weed, to experiencing a new type of high is amazing.

WE CAN DEFINITELY RELATE TO THAT FEELING… It’s also always cool to meet the older generation of Cannabis consumers and hear about how far along the industry has come. I hear all the time that they never thought they would see the day when they could openly purchase Cannabis. I find a lot of my customers use weed as medicine – I do, too. It’s amazing what consuming weed can do for your mental health. Like, I have bipolar depression, and sometimes I am all over the place. But Cannabis helps me feel balanced and keeps my mood uplifted – two things you really need when you have a three year old.

I’M SURE! ARE THERE ANY STRAINS THAT STAND OUT IN TERMS OF GIVING YOU SOME RELIEF FROM YOUR DEPRESSION? It’s been a long time since I have seen it, so I don’t know if they still grow it, but Juicy J from Guest Services was amazing! It was such a great munchie strain, too, which was nice.

YOU HEARD IT HERE, GUEST SERVICES – JUICY J NEEDS TO MAKE A COMEBACK! But right now, I am really enjoying God’s Gift from Tanana Herb. It’s hands-down my favorite indica. I know a lot of people think I am crazy for smoking an indica to start my day, but it makes me giggly, happy and even euphoric. And I mean, who wouldn’t want to start their day that way?

Ifirst met the beautiful, talented Jolena Ellinger at our July 2022 Alaska Leaf Bowl. Immediately, I was taken by the 24-year-old’s poise as she handed out trophies to this year’s winners. I met her again on the dance floor at Williwaw Social in August and discovered her fun-loving personality as we danced the night away to some of hip-hop’s best bangers. To say that this budtender has layers is an understatement – so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to get to know more about what makes Ellinger tick.

HOLLYWEED 907

2429 E 88TH AVE ANCHORAGE, AK AKHOLLYWEED907.COM @HIGHFROMAK_HW907 (907) 929-3331 9AM-MIDNIGHT DAILY