The Green Pages

Over 16 years ago, I chose to give cannabis a shot as a method of treatment for my CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth). Not only did I find that it greatly improved my quality of life, but I was now wildly curious about how it worked and how it could help others. So, I followed Hunter S. Thompson’s recommendation, and I bought the ticket and took the ride by changing careers to the cannabis industry. Working in this field, I found my passion for educating others about cannabis.

Since I kept getting the same basic questions over and over again, both behind the counter and out in the wild, I decided to write Pot for the People for anyone who wants to learn the basics of cannabis consumption. Now I have taken it a step farther, by writing the Budtenders Blueprint for those in the cannabis retail space looking to up their education and focus on compassionate care.

I am a huge advocate for the importance of proper science-based cannabinoid education & dosages, prescription interactions, whole plant products and terpene profiles. I am also a firm believer that targeted and tailored cannabinoid and terpene medicine is the future of our new industry.

I have crossed paths with thousands of people looking to cannabis for help with physical, mental and/or emotional conditions. I have seen cannabis do wonders for so many of these people and I have seen it do absolutely nothing for others. Cannabis is not for everyone. Cannabis is not a cure all, a magic bullet, or the last medicine you’ll ever take. But what it may have is the potential to help.

Naturally.

I’m a Senior Account Manager who helps cannabis, CBD, wellness, and beverage brands bring standout flavors, terpenes, essential oils, and fragrances to life.

I’ve been in sales for over 30 years, and I still love the challenge of solving problems and finding the right fit. My background spans fine cider, B2B ingredient sales, and flavor trend hunting, so I love partnering with manufacturers, artisans, and makers to create custom formulations and new products.

Outside of work, I’m a fitness fan and roller derby skater, which means I bring plenty of energy and team spirit to everything I do. These days I work with clients through Extract Consultants and The Essential Oil Company, acting as a partner from idea to finished product.

Entrepreneur and mother of three Danielle Wildstein built Blue Oak Dispensary to reflect her own vision of modern cannabis wellness: welcoming, informed, and deeply community-centered. After seeing how powerful cannabis could be as part of a holistic lifestyle, Danielle set out to create a dispensary that feels less like a store and more like a trusted wellness partner.

Under Danielle’s leadership, Blue Oak offers a truly unique dispensary experience. Whether you’re shopping in-store and seeking thoughtful, one-on-one support or looking for a more discreet option with curbside pick-up, Danielle has ensured that Blue Oak provides everything you need, from carefully curated cannabis products to expert sales specialists who embody her commitment to education, empathy, and care.

Dee Mani is a Natural Health Consultant, best-selling author and founder of My Way CBD. Her journey into cannabis and natural health began after her own cancer diagnosis in 2017, when she chose to explore a different approach to her health and discovered the extraordinary potential of cannabis and plant medicine.

That experience changed the direction of her life. Today, Dee is a passionate advocate for cannabis education, natural health and giving people the confidence to ask more questions about their own wellbeing.

She founded My Way CBD in 2020, building the company around education, transparency and high-quality cannabinoid products. Alongside her work in the cannabis industry, Dee writes and speaks about natural health, the endocannabinoid system, plant medicine and the importance of looking beyond symptoms to understand the body as a whole.

Through her writing, consultancy and advocacy, her aim is simple: to help make cannabis and plant medicine part of a more informed, open and honest conversation about health.

At the core of my practice is a commitment to helping businesses navigate the complexities of employment law with clarity and confidence. My background collaborating with employment attorneys has shaped a proactive approach—one that prioritizes risk mitigation while remaining practical for day-to-day operations.

I work closely with business owners, managers, and HR teams to ensure compliance with state regulations while building processes that support long-term success. Supporting small to mid-sized organizations for over 12 years has given me a clear understanding of what matters most: protecting the business, reducing liability, and equipping leaders with the tools to make informed decisions.

I’m a San Jose, California native but a WA state transplant – loving the Pacific Northwest! Creative professional with more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications/public relations, human resources, data analysis, and project management in industries such as semiconductor/technology, medical equipment, food service equipment/hospitality, energy/utilities, and workforce management services. I have a comprehensive background in organizational management, website development and management, marketing analysis, advertising, communications, tradeshow management, and contact and lead generation management. Highly experienced in producing marketing communications materials that support strategic plans and marketing initiatives with strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and collaboration skills across multiple disciplines. I’ve been with WECO since its inception in 2015 serving the cannabis and hemp industry.

I’m an Operations Specialist providing support to conscious businesses and up-and-coming brands, particularly within the healing, plant medicine, and wellness space.

Through Rooted with Jewel, I support founders, agencies, and small teams with the operational and administrative backbone of their business—helping turn ideas into organized, executable systems. My work spans admin, project management, marketing execution support, affiliate outreach, and social media planning, ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly and efficiently.

Joyce Gerber is the founder and original host of The Canna Mom Show, where she spent five years using storytelling to elevate women’s voices and help break the stigma around cannabis and caregiving. While she has stepped away from the podcast, she continues to use her voice in new ways to support and grow the community.

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Joyce is active in local civic and community organizations. When she’s not advocating, she’s managed a rock band, run for local office, and enjoys creating quilts for friends and family. She holds degrees from Northeastern University, Tufts University, and Connecticut College — and as her son Josh puts it, she’s “a force to be reckoned with.”

Denver-based photographer, Kim Sidwell has been working as a professional photographer for over 20 years and began focusing her work on the cannabis industry shortly after she received her bachelor’s degree from the Art Institute of Colorado in 2009.

Read Kim’s full bio to learn more about her story and the history of Cannabis Camera!

Kirsten Velasco, cannabis advocate, author, inventor, and entrepreneur, offers custom 3D design and logo imprints on her inventions: VapeNprop and GripNclip cannabis promotional merchandise, which provide versatile functionality with complementary protection and enhanced experience to deepen brand loyalty and attract attention. She gained front-line experience in the industry by providing public and professional education programs, publishing Cannabis Basics Textbook, executing social events, being a medical and adult-use dispensary agent, and outreach coordinator, etc. These experiences gave her the insights to design her products and business to support and complement the goals and needs of cannabis brands and consumers.

I’ve been local to the Portland, OR area for nearly a decade, with the past 6 years of my career devoted to cannabis HR & payroll. As HR Director at a vertically integrated cannabis edibles producer based in OR, I oversaw all HR initiatives for a quickly growing multi-state operator (MSO) and directed an HR Manager and operation in CA. I’ve felt the pain that so many of my cannabis clients experience regularly and know firsthand how difficult it is to find trustworthy, scalable and modern business services like payroll, HR support, compliance tech, tax solutions, competitive benefits and retirement plans. I’m driven to push the industry forward by providing proactive HR tools, tech and services and leveraging a vetted cannabis committed network of partners to ensure my client’s needs are supported. I am an HR Committee Member on the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), and a Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon (CIAO) member as well. I love all things payroll, and truly find joy in helping my clients optimize their payroll processes. Reach out with any HR questions and/or initiatives!

I’ve spent more than 10 years in payroll, HR and HCM, but I’ve had a relationship with cannabis for much longer – I’ve been a cannabis consumer for roughly 25 years. So when I finally brought my professional world and my cannabis world together, it felt a lot less like entering a new industry and a lot more like finding where I belonged.

Today, I work with cannabis operators across the country, with a particular passion for supporting women in the industry. Women are routinely underserved, underestimated and overlooked – in cannabis and pretty much everywhere else – while simultaneously running everything behind the scenes and keeping the damn world turning. I want to make sure they have the resources, partners, introductions and support they need to build successful businesses and take up the space they’ve earned.

I’m also a connector at heart. I’ve built a fantastic network – if I can’t solve your problem, there’s a pretty good chance I know someone who can.

Beyond the business side, I’m a loud advocate for cannabis education, normalization and reducing stigma around the plant. I have a particularly strong hatred for injustice, and the history of cannabis prohibition, criminalization and the people who continue to pay the price for it activates that part of me pretty quickly. I believe we move this industry forward by educating people, challenging outdated narratives and being willing to use our voices.

I love cannabis. I love the weird, passionate, brilliant people who have built this industry. And I genuinely love helping good people find good people.

If you’re a woman building something in cannabis, need help with payroll or HR, need an introduction, or just need someone in your corner – come find me. 💚

Hi! I’m Veronica. I’m with Green Leaf Business Solutions, where I work with cannabis operators on the people side of running and growing their businesses.

I joined Women Employed in Cannabis and Higher Her Society to meet more women in the industry, learn from each other, and build real relationships. Always happy to connect, compare notes, or make an introduction.