BUDTENDER Q&A

from Feb. 2021 — Alaska Leaf

by Northwest Leaf / Oregon Leaf / Alaska Leaf / Maryland Leaf / California Leaf / Northeast Leaf

STONEY BALONEY

RYLEE WEIS

ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

"MY GRANDPA WAS QUADRIPLEGIC AND USED THE PLANT IN PLACE OF OPIOIDS TO MANAGE HIS PAIN, SO MY FIRST EXPOSURE WAS TOWARD THE MEDICAL ASPECT OF IT."

THE TUFTED PUFFIN

THETUFTEDPUFFIN.COM 216 4TH AVE # 1/2, SEWARD (907) 224-2222

ALASKAN THROUGH AND THROUGH, Rylee is hardwired to breathe in that northern air by keeping active indoors and out. Taking care of the mind, body and spirit is her motto. And budtending is just the beginning for this eternal optimist, as her holistic journey is powered by Cannabis and teaching the good people of Alaska that lighting up or consuming an edible belongs in the self-care category. Follow her on Instagram @rylleee18.

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN CANNABIS WAS LEGALIZED AND WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT? I was just graduating from high school and you’re always thinking about your future and your dreams, so I was excited about the world changing quickly, with the intent of jumping on board as soon as possible. Mostly though, I was happy for my family members who used Cannabis as a pain reliever. My Grandpa was quadriplegic and used the plant in place of opioids to manage his pain, so my first exposure was toward the medical aspect of it.

AT WHAT AGE DID YOU GET INTO THE BIZ? A couple months after my 21st birthday, a friend of mine who was working at a dispensary in downtown Anchorage said they were looking for a budtender and within a week I got my handler’s license and was hired. I surprised myself by the amount of knowledge I already had for the new smoker, or the experienced smoker. Of course, I had to learn things about cultivation and who my favorites are, but I knew the basic terminology to guide people to what they needed.

IS GRANDPA STILL WITH US? Sadly, no.

DO YOU THINK HE WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU?I do. Because we kids were so young then – we were kind of shielded from Cannabis, but growing up in Palmer I definitely knew what weed was and what it smelled like, so they couldn’t hide it completely. I still talk to him every day, think about him every day – he’s why I am where I am now in the business, so I thank him for that.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS? Owning my own Cannabis empire. I am for all sorts of healing – so I like yoga, massage, acupuncture, and lots of body work. I’ve worked for spas before, so I’d like to make some sort of product that people can use in their everyday life, whether that is using it for a topical, body, bath … something along those lines.

DO YOU SNOWBOARD OR SKI? I ski.

DO YOU GO BIG? Not yet.