Editors’ Note: This is the transcript version of the podcast. Please note that due to time and audio constraints, transcription may not be perfect. We encourage you to listen to the podcast, embedded below if you need any clarification. We hope you enjoy!
This week we are joined by Ashley Reynolds President and Co-Founder Elmore Mountain Therapeutics to discuss
- TED TALKS
- Pioneering change for Women
- Vermont’s Cannabis Market
- And so much more
Ashley is a dedicated cannabis advocate, a proud Vermonter, & the CEO of EMT
Ashley and her husband Colin established EMT in May of 2017 after Ashley’s personal struggle with postpartum anxiety. Finding relief through the use of CBD, Ashley saw a need for cannabis advocation to all. By providing science-backed education and high-quality, lab-tested CBD products, Ashley and the EMT Team have created a loyal following of canna experts.
Tedtalk: Cannabis a future without Stigma
This show is presented to by 8th Revolution:
At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev) we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in regard to the hemp & cannabis industry. Our forward-thinking team can diagnose, analyze & optimize every detailed nuance of your company to keep your business safe, smart, and profitable. Our flexibility and experience combined with ongoing research create unique insights into how to best grow your market share. Contact us directly at [email protected]
Bryan Fields: @bryanfields24
Kellan Finney: @Kellan_Finney
Ashley reynolds
[00:00:00]Bryan Fields: What’s up guys. And welcome back to another episode of the dime I’m Brian Fields. And with me as always is Kellen Finney. And this week we’ve got a very special guest Ashley Reynolds of E M T CBD. Ashley, thanks for taking the time. How are you doing today?
[00:00:15]Ashley Reynolds: I am so good. And I’m so excited. This is like a six months booked in the making.
[00:00:20] So this is a hot show to have to get on. So I hope it’s, I think it’s worth
[00:00:24]Bryan Fields: the wait. I think we’ll make it worth the time. Kaelin. How
[00:00:27]Kellan Finney: are you? I’m doing well, you know, out here in the west coast, just going to hold it down. Um, enjoying life. Uh, how are you, Brian? I’m doing
[00:00:35]Bryan Fields: well. And so I guess for the record, Ashley, you’re located.
[00:00:40]Ashley Reynolds: I am in balmy, Morrisville Vermont. Right now
[00:00:43]Bryan Fields: that’s another east coaster.
[00:00:45]Kellan Finney: I was wondering if you’re going to bring that. I tried to gloss over it. And then I was like, I shouldn’t have said Colorado west coast
[00:00:50]Bryan Fields: Lackey. I thought you were prompting that I thought
[00:00:54]Kellan Finney: about it. And I was like, Ooh, maybe I shouldn’t walk myself into this
[00:00:56]Bryan Fields: one.
[00:00:57] We’ll have to get an Italian update. But I think, I think the [00:01:00] coast is now taking the lead, but it’s close. We’ll check. So Ashley, for our listeners that are unfamiliar with you, can you share a little bit about your.
[00:01:08]Ashley Reynolds: Yeah. So my name’s Ashley Reynolds, president co-founder of Elmer mountain therapeutics. We founded our business five years ago, which in the cannabis space feels like 50 years ago.
[00:01:18] Um, I came to the industry as a desperate postpartum mom looking for. Wellness in a natural plant-based way. And, um, one of my patients back when I was practicing dental hygiene suggested CBD, he was splitting his time between the east coast west coast. And so he had already heard all about CBD back in 2016 and even being from Vermont.
[00:01:41] Cannabis is readily available. Um, you know, I’d never, I never knew what CBD was like a lot of us, you know, and, uh, so fast forward here we are five years from now and, you know, I found relief. I needed to see a woman, a mother, a professional that was advocating for the use of [00:02:00] cannabis on a regular basis for postpartum anxiety and depression.
[00:02:03] And since I didn’t find one, I created one and I’ve inspired many, many. Um, to really turn to plant-based medicine, um, for postpartum anxiety, depression, insomnia, you name it. Um, here we are. So I’ve been able to do a Ted talk, which is insane. I don’t even know, like what is my life? I’m all about my journey into cannabis.
[00:02:27] I got to be on this show, which is also a dream come true. You guys are definitely pioneers to getting a window into what it’s like being in this industry. So thank you so much for being that light. Um, but yeah, here we are. That’s me. So
[00:02:39]Bryan Fields: I’d love to start with just, you know, diving into the space, obviously as a mom and kind of moving into cannabis.
[00:02:45] And even from the east coast standpoint, there are a little more stigmas attached. So any hesitations on that and what were some of those conversations early on when, you know, you let people know you’re moving into this.
[00:02:55]Ashley Reynolds: Yeah. I mean, here I am living in a tiny little town. I’ve practicing dental hygiene and Stowe [00:03:00] Vermont, which is like this big and you know, was really nervous obviously.
[00:03:06] Cause I didn’t want to give up my license. I didn’t want people to think I was going to hurt them or their children. Um, since I pretty much saw every family that lives in stow as a patient. And so, um, it was super nerve wracking, but because I. Found such relief in the plant. And because I was seeing so many struggling women and mothers, um, I just, I guess just felt like if, if I’m not going to do it, who’s going to do it.
[00:03:34] And simultaneously. Hashtag me too was happening and this huge embracement embracing of female run businesses here in Vermont and in the Northeast, like all of that sort of coalesced at the moment of me wanting to start this business. Um, and I tell this story a lot, but one of the very few. Influential entrepreneurs that I met that was like, fucking go for it was Donna Carpenter because it’s Vermont and she lives in [00:04:00] borough.
[00:04:00] And if you don’t know who Donna Carpenter is, she is the wife of the late Jake Burton of Burton snowboards. And so. It was really just like the universe being like, there’s no fear here, just go for it. Um, and I think also like for those of you that are women out there, when you get an idea in your head, like you really just like need to see it through to fruition.
[00:04:21] I definitely one of those women. And so, um, I felt like it was, I was unstoppable for a lot of reasons, but then. People like Jane West AC Bradick, who were simultaneously starting women grow and like hosting these incredible conferences, putting on YouTube, these incredible inspirational, um, chats just about how they’re getting into the space and what they’re seeing for women, and actually lack there of representation of women in the industry.
[00:04:46] And so, you know, I guess it was just right place, right time, you know, I just found all of these ways to be strong. And then, you know, the industry just took off. Like I started my business in may of 2017 and I quit my job. Um, nine months [00:05:00] later and like, I have two kids, I have a mortgage, like I’ve been practicing dental hygiene for 15 years.
[00:05:05] And like, friends were like, you’re insane. Like, what are you doing? And I was like, it’s now, or never like, I just, I need to do this. And luckily it’s worked out.
[00:05:20] I
[00:05:21]Kellan Finney: have a question. So like when you first got into the, into CBD and using it, were you worried that it might my, uh, affect your, your cognition and kind of get high? If you will, from
[00:05:31]Ashley Reynolds: the, oh gosh, before CBD somebody from urban Gwenna, one of my friends was working out with them out in California. Gave me like a one-to-one and was like, here, take this for your anxiety.
[00:05:42] And it helped a lot, like one dose helped a lot. And then I, I was at work and I was really feeling super anxious. And so I took three doses and then I was like high at work, which obviously like, what? I mean, thank God I can do my job. Autopilot after [00:06:00] practicing for so many years, but like that was obviously not a desired effect.
[00:06:03] And therefore I was like, well, this is not going to be an option for the type of plant based wellness that I’m going to go for. But, um, but yeah, I was definitely worried about it and I was only taking it at night too. Cause I was worried about taking CBD during the day for that very reason. Um, but yeah, for sure, that was a definite concern of mine and continued.
[00:06:23] Concern of many of my customers still to this day, despite having all the education and everything on our website saying that that’s not going to happen. You know, initially you just never know how you’re going to react. Have you
[00:06:35]Kellan Finney: noticed that, like the questions about that, have they kind of fallen off or have they gotten less from like a volume perspective four years ago when you guys first started.
[00:06:43]Ashley Reynolds: No, it’s, it’s more and it’s more targeted now. It’s all moms, all postpartum moms or healthcare professionals finally, who are like, you know, what do I need to know? You know, my state is going legal. What do I need to tell my patients? And [00:07:00] so having that nerdy, dental hygiene background that I do, like it’s provided such a beautiful window in.
[00:07:06] The language that they want to understand and the type of processes that our body has, that we need to know about to understand how to be better practitioners when our cust, our clients are using cannabis. So I feel like that’s a really sort of awesome little like secret weapon that I have about helping to continue to spell it.
[00:07:23] All these stigmas and just wrongful education around cannabis, but no, it’s the same exact questions because there’s the level of consumers that are just getting started and just barely dipping their toe toes into Canada. Curiosity, like even despite being a long time user myself, like I’m still like surprised by the plant.
[00:07:42] Like sometimes. Eat an edible. And I’m like, wow, that was really strong. That was no, that mother cannabis could do that to me anymore. She surprises me and I, I hope that she continues to surprise everybody. You know, it’s stay curious with the planet, you know,
[00:07:58]Bryan Fields: so want to lead into the [00:08:00] dead talk, you know, how did that come about?
[00:08:02] And then. Take us through like what that story’s bad. Cause I’ve got a couple of questions about that. Cause I really enjoyed your presentation. I don’t want to
[00:08:08]Ashley Reynolds: spoil any. Oh, thank you. Yeah, that was insane. That was like, um, the people of Ted read a tiny article about me representing women in the cannabis space, um, and trying to bring as many women businesses into the industry as possible, which I was very successful at doing here.
[00:08:24] And um, when they called, I thought it was a. And then I was like, no. And then I also was like, no, because I’m not ready to be that vulnerable. Like obviously like many of us, like I really respect head and I really respect the speakers that are on there and the subject matter. And the ability to basically have this piece of work live forever.
[00:08:45] I mean, um, and like, that’s a lot of pressure when I had just started my. I was also simultaneously getting, um, well, it didn’t happen, but purely for us trying to acquire us. Um, and [00:09:00] so it was this like crazy whirlwind of like we’re flying to Chicago and like this opportunity is coming up and like, they want me to be this person if they buy me and I want to be this person, if they don’t buy me.
[00:09:11] And, um, so it was this very weird time and people were like, well, you’re crazy. If you don’t do it, like you just, just come every day that like Ted calls and wants to. Have you do a talk and so you get assigned a coach. So like spoiler alert to those that think it’s just like all these amazing speakers, like the process from when you say yes to when you actually give the talk is like six months.
[00:09:33] Um, I wrote six different Ted talks because, um, the nature of the material, I really wanted to name the Ted talk, um, cannabis, cannabis, cannabis, but you don’t get to name your Ted talking to her. Um, but it’s just called cannabis a future without stigma. And I felt like the best thing I could do, uh, without getting myself in trouble without getting the FDA to like put a target on my back.
[00:09:58] I did like a one woman [00:10:00] show of, of creating a fictitious world of what it would be like as me playing myself, going to my doctor and asking about CBD as a first wave medicine for my symptoms of endocannabinoid deficiency, I E postpartum anxiety. And so. The iteration that was finally accepted by Ted. Um, also, um, I spoke to an audience of 420 people, which like, I know it sounds super lucky to have lucky shocker, but like, it really is like, it’s, it comes up in my life a lot.
[00:10:31] And so I spoke to 420 people, which as you can imagine, it was like the largest crowd I’d ever spoken to and took a shit load of CBD. I put my feet on the floor and like walk myself out into that spotlight. And then the disappointing part is that all of the other people who gave Ted talks that night, um, their Ted talks were up on YouTube, like instantly.
[00:10:56] And so like the momentum of what we had built for [00:11:00] people to get to view it, like was drastically muted because it, our, my particular Ted talk, as you can imagine, it was like one of 12 Ted talks about cannabis and the entire country, entire world at the time. Went through this like four months long review process.
[00:11:16] So like all my other colleagues Ted’s come out and then mine doesn’t come out for like many, many months after to the point where like I thought maybe it wasn’t going to come out and it wasn’t going to get published. Um, and I had kind of like started the process of like, um, at least I got to say it to 420 people, you know, it was like, really like, shit.
[00:11:36] Like it was too controversial. Like they, it definitely. Don’t support what I’m talking about. Luckily, if you guys read underneath the video, there’s this beautiful paragraph. Disclaimer, that’s that Ted does not support. I talked to them. Um, but that, you know, seek a doctor’s attention if you want to, you know, cross reference what I write or what I said, but, um, yeah, [00:12:00] that process is really wild because I felt like, you know, really like pulled back the veil of like what Ted was trying to do of like being.
[00:12:09] Innovative and groundbreaking, like there’s still even around cannabis at that time. It was still a lot of constraints about making sure it was like appropriate to put to the masses. And that was disappointing.
[00:12:22]Bryan Fields: I really thought that was lawyers too. We appreciate you being vulnerable there because that’s gotta be such a hard thing.
[00:12:29] Right. You’re so you’re so hyped up for this speak. You absolutely crush it. And then you’re wondering. Is this something I did? Is it something Ted did? Is he cannabis? Is it even more of like the niche based back that like, you’re kind of shedding light on the topic that a lot of people are kind of uncomfortable to discuss.
[00:12:43] And I think that was the most important part is like, when I started watching your talk, I kind of thought one thing. And as you took us through the journey of like speaking to your doctor, Wow. I was like, Ashley’s, doctor’s like really forward. I was like, I’m sure that’s like the approach. And I was like, that’s [00:13:00] amazing.
[00:13:00] I was like, I wonder where her doctor is. Cause like, I don’t feel like, because I know my wife wasn’t offered those same conversations with them. And when you said this doesn’t happen, I was like, ah, she got me. Right. Like she got me, but I thought that was such an important part of it. Yeah. I was hopeful in that moment.
[00:13:17] And then almost disappointed that we are so far behind and there are so many challenges there. Ashley and I want to kind of go back to you is like from a doctor standpoint, that’s one that’s hard to accomplish, right? Not all doctors are comfortable prescribing that. And then from a female standpoint, that’s kind of a ledge where if you’re not consuming cannabis, now that’s even another step forward to say, Hey, like this is something I’m not sure of, especially if it’s your first time.
[00:13:40] So what’s your feeling?
[00:13:43]Ashley Reynolds: Oh man. I mean, that’s just like the whole precipice of wanting to start this business. And as a whole, you know, I never really cared if I like sold CBD. Like that. Wasn’t what I was particularly sold on. Just the, I guess, empowerment that you can be in the driver’s seat [00:14:00] about your healthcare decisions and that going to your doctor when you’re in the most vulnerable state.
[00:14:06] For me experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression. When you were a shell of yourself and you’re not sleeping and your whole metabolic system is out of whack because anonymized is not getting produced or to AIG is just like, non-existent because you’re in a stressful environment after having a baby.
[00:14:24] The last thing I want to do is go to a doctor. Who’s like, well, like you’re a criminal for trying this. And like, how dare you? Like I’m calling DCF for like, thank God. That was not my. Experience, but the more women I talked to, the more horrific of a story, people were fed about cannabis. And so, I mean, it doesn’t end the advocacy doesn’t end.
[00:14:48] I don’t see it ever ending. But as a first-time user, you know, it’s still so daunting. Unfortunately, we have all these shitty brands, um, from [00:15:00] all the spectrums of cannabis that have entered the space and it makes it so hard to discern and all you want is to feel better, um, or a little bit more like your old self.
[00:15:10] And it’s really just unfair how. Just unregulated and all over the place. It is. So, um, I just hope that there continues to be many lights. Um, like the show, like the women that I get to hang out with all the time, like what Rosie Matteo’s doing, what Bianca cider’s doing with high society, mamas, um, you know, Mary Pryor’s doing for social equity.
[00:15:35] Like these are people that. I don’t really see as looking at it as like a paycheck for them. It’s just like a sense of duty to continue being that voice. Um, because you guys see, like, everyone was so excited last week, like federal legalization is happening again. And look at this. This is amazing. It’s all coming up.
[00:15:51] We’re all gonna get to be legit here. And then like the next day it’s like, well, no, actually it’s not. And it’s like, oh man, when is this gonna [00:16:00] end? But I don’t know if I answered your question. I kind of went a little tie right there. I mean, I think you’re
[00:16:05]Bryan Fields: perfectly well sad and all those people are absolute trailblazers, right?
[00:16:08] Because the challenges that they face are maybe even more than some of the others, especially with some of the stigmas in there. And, and for first time, that for me recently, one thing I learned about was kind of mom shame that I had no idea about and, and the challenges of that. I can only imagine that if you are bringing that to your group, like your, your friendship group, and you’re saying, Hey, like the doctor offered me pharmaceuticals, cause I’m not sleeping.
[00:16:30] And instead I’m going with CBD. I can imagine if other people, I still have that stigma or on shore now you’ve got like that social, but social dynamic pressure that probably plays an extra layer of challenge in the conversation.
[00:16:42]Ashley Reynolds: Oh, for sure. Like, I still won’t smoke on camera. Like, you know, and people can hate if they want to hate, but like I.
[00:16:50] Just don’t feel comfortable. I haven’t figured out a way I barely do in front of my children. Like I feel like I just haven’t found that spot for myself where like, [00:17:00] that is like one of my favorite modalities to enjoy. There’s so much stigma just around smoke it, like
[00:17:06]Bryan Fields: just that no problem. Right. Like nobody, no
[00:17:08]Ashley Reynolds: problems.
[00:17:10] Right, right. And like I’ve been playing around, so I’m almost 40. And I think like a lot of people do when they get to middle age is they start to like really be evaluate just like all things. And I think the pandemic really highlighted this because I definitely became an alcoholic for probably like a good 14 months.
[00:17:24] Um, and so. Like now I’m like really dialing it back. And I’m heavily using cannabis to help with that, you know, with curbing that, um, and I’ve been able to go like four or 5, 6, 7 days without drinking any alcohol and then I’ll have like a beer or out all glass of wine. And I just get like so much effective at now.
[00:17:43] And it makes me so much more tired than. I’m just sticking with cannabis. So I think we’re going to see this like big wave of people that really just for like no other thing that just straight up, like, it’s better for you. You know what I mean? No, one’s exercising [00:18:00] enough. No, one’s eating the right foods all the time.
[00:18:02] Like if there’s one thing that you could like try to minimize, at least that’s what my thought process has been lately is like, try cannabis, try to like drink. And like, see what happens and I feel amazing. I mean, you can
[00:18:13]Kellan Finney: go for a walk on cannabis. You can eat a bunch of healthy food on cannabis.
[00:18:17] Typically when you drink, you’re not like I should go for a nice walk
[00:18:24]Bryan Fields: unless it’s to the next
[00:18:24]Ashley Reynolds: bar. So, no. So back to your point brand just about like the new user and just like women in general, like, I think that women are ready for this. And I think that, you know, whether we as a society give them permission to, or people like me just give a woman permission to every customer that places an order I’m giving them.
[00:18:46] You know, good for you for taking control of your wellness and your decisions to provide wellness for yourself. Like, yeah. I mean, I just hope it never ends. I hope that, you know, the shaming that you mentioned, like these people that are [00:19:00] getting into the Vermont rec market, there’s a lot of awesome women.
[00:19:02] And the biggest question I get from them is like, how do you like build your skin up? Like, how do you deal with like being labeled like a, a mom? And for me, I wear that proudly, but for some. They don’t live in places like Vermont that embrace it. Like, you know, I lived in a state where like, I became like, quote unquote, like locally famous within like a couple moments of saying that I’m starting a cannabis company.
[00:19:26] Like I was on the news and like everybody watches the news in the state. And so like, there was no hiding from it. Like, I don’t even know that I even got the choice to be like, whoa, I want to be more private about this. Like, it just kind of like chose me. And I think that that is what I’m seeing as the turn of the wheel is now.
[00:19:43] Women are like using Instagram D not even associate, but just to like, talk about being Kana moms, like that is brand new. That is only new as of like, really like the last six months that I’ve really seen. Like they’re not just like influencer Canada personas. They’re like [00:20:00] just straight up. I’m here to support and educate and that’s fucking awesome.
[00:20:03] Like that shows me the power of the plant can like supersede that like Capitol.
[00:20:10]Bryan Fields: Yeah, absolutely. And I think Mo more importantly, I think that shows incremental progress, right? Because it takes individuals like yourself and Rosie to continue to trail blaze forward so that others who may be a little more hesitant can lean on you guys and say, Hey.
[00:20:24] They’ve done it. Maybe I can try it because not everyone’s comfortable with being the first, but what more people are comfortable doing is recognizing that there are solutions outside of the norm that can help people. Because as, as a parent, if you’re not taking care of yourself, you for sure can’t do a good job of taking care of your child.
[00:20:43]Ashley Reynolds: I hear that. Oh, I hear that. And I feel like it’s helped me like play Legos for 45 minutes with my five-year-old when, like, I don’t want to do that. You know, for me, like motherhood has been such a road Rocky road because I had the career. Then I had children and it was like, [00:21:00] really just insanity of like grieving my former self, but also falling in love with these two beings and to see it now is like, thank God I have my kids to ground me and keep me from becoming a workaholic because in this budding industry and becoming an entrepreneur, like if you’ve ever been bit by the bug, as you guys have was starting this podcast, It is more fulfilling at times than the like mundane laundry packaged snacks go into the bus stop.
[00:21:29] Like for me, I felt so much shame, not about my cannabis use, but I felt so much shame around like wanting to like have something outside of my home. That was. And I think that, that goes hand in hand with wellness. Women are so used to negotiating themselves out of self care because we have to go to the bus stop and get the lunches and do this and do that and do this and do that.
[00:21:49] And like, it’s not in our nature to like stop and be like, Hmm, what is good for me today? Like, that’s just like, not in our vocabulary. And so I felt shame of [00:22:00] like, wanting to like, or becoming more. And I think Rosie really highlights it in her own way, um, with how much travel she does and like the compromise that comes with like being a mom, but like also being really ambitious.
[00:22:13] And then also being this like, quote unquote, like figure head for women in cannabis. It’s like no pressure, but I think it’s this amazing, delicate balance that I don’t know that I could do without. Like, I just like, if we can just spend a moment praising whether cannabis for at second. Um, but like, I don’t think I could do it without her.
[00:22:35]Bryan Fields: So final take home message on this specific topic for women out there who are struggling with the idea of kind of moving forward, where, where should they start? What, what products, what concepts, what information should they start looking into in order to help them make a better decision?
[00:22:50]Ashley Reynolds: Gosh. What feels good, you know, is organic important to you is supporting a woman business important to you is, you [00:23:00] know, cheapest affordable, important to you.
[00:23:02] You know, at this point, the industry is so established. Really, whatever wishlist you have, you can find that brand. Um, I would say smaller is always better. I don’t care what anybody says. I don’t care what these big nationals say. Like I know it in skincare. I know it in going to my farmer’s market. I know in my cannabis, like smallish better.
[00:23:22] Hmm. These little producers, it’s going to take everybody trying to, um, support them to fight the biggies. So if you can, um, and CBD is an awesome place. I fucking love full spectrum CBD because you can take, you know, more than 25 milligrams, that’s our suggested dose. And like, if you don’t want a psychoactive effect, great.
[00:23:43] But like, if you want to get a little more lifted and sort of like practice what a one-to-one with. Yeah, it’s more expensive than smoking a joint, but you can definitely play around with a more rec side to using a full spectrum product. So I love people finding out that they can like [00:24:00] get a little elevated, you know, um, in the right scenario.
[00:24:05] And then. You know, go, if you can, like, don’t go to doctor, sorry guys. I know I come from the medical world, but like, until we get caught up, like start talking to your friends about it, bring it up, bring it up to your massage therapist, bring it up to people like, you know, you guys all listened to the Ted talk hopefully, but it really puts the focus on us as a society and as a consumer.
[00:24:27] And like, are we willing to be honest with ourselves? Are we willing to be honest with the people that we let you know, be healers in our world? Start the dialogue, um, because it’s definitely not, it’s not, as, it’s not as talked about as we think, unless you are the conversation starter. So get talking. What do you think
[00:24:46]Kellan Finney: the best form factor to start with this?
[00:24:49] If you like a tincture or a pill or what, what, what would you suggest?
[00:24:53]Ashley Reynolds: Gosh, you know, I think honestly, like if you’re never tried cannabis before, go [00:25:00] with. Like who doesn’t have a sore muscle who doesn’t have a headache who hasn’t, you know, slept funny, like try a really nice high quality bomb. And like seeing is believing.
[00:25:13] Like, I just love it when people are like, you know, I know that people say CBD is great or cannabis is good, but I rolled it on and like immediately my muscles felt better. And that’s when I’m like, If it does that on the outside. And what do you think it can do on the inside? So, you know, everyone was like, try joy, tried sinks, try this, try a pill.
[00:25:30] But like, no dude start topicals and let the plant speak for itself.
[00:25:34]Bryan Fields: I love that you shared that because I’ve given that to a lot of people who are very hesitant and their response to me goes, it worked. And I was like, well, what’d you think was gonna happen? Like, you know, like I’m kinda like perplexed back.
[00:25:46] Like I’m trying to continue. Were you anticipating a different result? Like this was a solution for your problem. Like, that’s, that’s kind of how those work and they’re like, actually I don’t really know what I thought. Like I heard bad things about this, so I wasn’t sure. And I think that goes into the problem, but I think [00:26:00] starting with a form factor that they’re, they’re comfortable with and, and I think that’s an easy start.
[00:26:03] Cause I think the animals have their own issues where everyone associates, the brownie concept from college, the tinctures are kind of weird because we haven’t consumed them. And then when it gets into like the pill form, I think people. So stating maybe pharmaceutical baseline. I think starting with the bomb is a really good one.
[00:26:18] So I want to continue on this topic. Let’s talk about testing. That’s really important to you. And I know with your website, you’ve got all the CFA’s online. So is that something that was an important feature when, when starting with.
[00:26:29]Ashley Reynolds: Oh, for sure. I mean, the first friend that I ever discovered as a kind of curious, you know, desperate mom was Bluebird and they, at the time were some of the only people that had CBD selling online that actually had lab results.
[00:26:44] And although it was like super primitive and it was really just coming down to like, is it compliant or is it not. You know, definitely sparked my interest and then growing up in Vermont, like the commitment to quality and like made in Vermont is just like a gold standard and an arbiter of quality in and of itself.
[00:26:59] We know what that [00:27:00] means when we say it’s made in Vermont, goes above and beyond what organic can certify and. You know, Vermont has its own certifications for what organic is in our own state, because we’re just so, um, forward-thinking about what we think is right and good to consume and put in our bodies and on our bodies.
[00:27:16] So it’s bringing all of that to it. And I also felt like if this is something that I’m going to be adjusting on the regular, like I am the customer, like the whole time I was starting the company, like I was making products for me and like then replicating them and understanding that there’s millions of women just like me.
[00:27:31] And so I wanted a product that I felt was going to be safe. And also like wasn’t going to be full of mold or contaminants or heavy metals. Like I want it to be able to prove that. And at the time, you know, yes, that was on some other brands, minds that were coming out in Vermont and in the Northeast. Not with as much of a fine tooth comb as I felt like I was being, because I also, again, I’ll keep coming back to like being from this dental world.
[00:27:56] Like you have to have your shit together, like reading journals [00:28:00] and like having a non-biased, uh, article that’s published, that’s like changing the science around dentistry and how we treat patients like. That’s like how I grew up in like, learned how to be in dentistry. And so I brought that idea of like, how can I, if people are going to try to poke so many holes in my theories about this plant, like don’t give them any places to, to see your weaknesses.
[00:28:21] And if we can show the quality, if we can back up our extraction method, it’s like being another arbiter of quality that is then, um, reinforced by our labs. And then if we have nothing to hide. Why aren’t we just posting them and like that, wasn’t a like, oh my God, we’re going to beat the competition by posting.
[00:28:38] I just thought it was the right thing to do. And then like, I referenced it all the time when I gave talks about like, this is what this means, like, this is the number that you want to pay attention to. This has the number that you want to pay attention to. Like, you know, just so people knew what they were looking at and then becoming just a more conscious consumer because for me, It has to come down to safety, like recreation.[00:29:00]
[00:29:00] I know, you know, I look at G from Papa and Barkley a lot. Like he doesn’t like that where I agree. Like it’s all cannabis, you know, it’s all, it’s all wellness. It’s all. Um, I don’t think it’s like recreational or medical. I think it’s all. Um, and if we’re really touting it as something that is for all things, it should be of the highest quality and you shouldn’t be hiding it.
[00:29:20] And then like I started seeing larger companies that like, you couldn’t find their seats. Are they buried them in their website. And then that just became fuel of like, well, this is what we’re doing differently. Like, yeah. Like we don’t, we aren’t required to do any of this. It’s more expensive. It’s a pain in the ass.
[00:29:33] It’s more time consuming. I have to break the locks. I have to send things out of state. Like all of it, it sucks, but it’s so important.
[00:29:41]Kellan Finney: Yeah. Especially if people are using it as like a medicine, I think that holding it to kind of the similar standards as like a pharmaceutical is so, so important to like establishing that trust with the, with the consumers, you know,
[00:29:53]Ashley Reynolds: Yeah.
[00:29:54] And even on the smaller producers, like, I don’t want to get like unwoke and like on, you know, bespoke about my products, [00:30:00] but like there needs to be some, some level of standards. Like there really does. I so sad to see what’s happening in Maine, where it’s. The wreck is now fighting the, you know, putting up these like horrible, like slander per campaigns to the medical, um, the medical market in may because the testing protocols are not as stringent.
[00:30:22] Like that is bullshit. Like the products and the quality have to speak for themselves, whether your medical or will your rec like do the right thing and test your products and make sure they’re clean.
[00:30:31]Bryan Fields: Like who do you think’s at fault in that kind of like battle between the two different.
[00:30:36]Ashley Reynolds: I’m still at a point right now in the cannabis space where like, there’s plenty of times I could have just like, you know, canceled somebody, you know, particularly a white man in this industry.
[00:30:46] Uh, plenty of times already. Um, unfortunately, but like, I don’t think we’re in an industry we’re in a place with our industry where. Diplomacy is not dead. Like we can’t be throwing stones in glass houses. Like we need to help each other to legitimize this industry as a whole, [00:31:00] because everybody’s looking for reasons to not make it legitimate.
[00:31:02] And so if we’re just like becoming this like dirty, messy, dramatic, like he said, she said like, it’s going to take us down.
[00:31:12]Kellan Finney: Correct. And it’s also, that’s also common in a lot of states, honestly, that they have like established medical program that doesn’t have as stringent of testing. And then all of a sudden they go to the recreational market.
[00:31:22] And I think a lot of it has to do with like psychologically speaking. Right. And again, going back to like trying to prevent any. W showing
[00:31:30]Bryan Fields: any weakness, if you
[00:31:31]Kellan Finney: will like having a recreational market, meaning like it’s available to everyone and there’s no, um, kind of like gate into it, right? Like if you want to go buy something out of the medical dispensary, you’d have to go talk to a doctor, get a medical card for a specific reason.
[00:31:44] Right. So it’s kind of regulated in terms of the entry point with the, with the recreational market. It’s like anyone can go in there. So they have to kind of try to at least from a public persona perspective. Create this idea that, Hey, we’re doing everything we can to protect the general public, [00:32:00] just because there is that stigma still.
[00:32:01] And, and so that’s really common, honestly, in like Colorado, the same kind of it’s still existing in Colorado, right? Like the, the products in medical dispensary’s do not have the same testing that products in the recreational dispensary goes.
[00:32:14]Ashley Reynolds: It’s by design. Don’t you think it’s by designed to make us be divisive?
[00:32:19] Like it’s gross,
[00:32:20]Bryan Fields: but we shouldn’t be arguing over what is safe. Right? Like I think both sides of the market can be pretty clear. Like this is safe, this is not safe. Like that’s not a gray area in my opinion. So it’s disappointing to know that, but sure. Obviously there’s different rules in different sections.
[00:32:34]Ashley Reynolds: And again, I just tried to be the light, like fuck the standards and like, fuck the organic stamp. If you notice, like, my bottle does not have that on it. Cause I don’t believe. I believe that we go above and beyond what our standard standard protocols are. And if people eventually want to change the policy to be like EMT great.
[00:32:52] But like, we’re not changing.
[00:32:54]Bryan Fields: I love it. I love it. So talk to us about when you started your brand and the delicate balance between funding and maybe looking for [00:33:00] outside funding. And one of the challenges of cannabis is the limited ability for access to capital. So can you kind of expand.
[00:33:06]Ashley Reynolds: Yeah. So my husband and we’re supposed to go on a honeymoon and instead I was like, I want to start a cannabis company.
[00:33:16] Um, so, uh, yeah, so we didn’t go on that honeymoon, but, um, that was like the first startup and I knew that I needed a really beautiful logo and label. Um, I knew that. It to appeal to as many women as possible who would put it on their kitchen counter, and then have it be a conversation starter to the girlfriends when they were over for wine or play group.
[00:33:37] And, um, I knew that I wanted to have a T uh, internal and external, so I knew I needed to have money for product development. And so, um, yeah, we partnered with a Colorado based company and who had great standards, um, and was willing to send. [00:34:00] All different shapes and size bottles from Colorado to Vermont, for us to get up and running.
[00:34:05] So when we started in 2017, the hemp program had only been in existence for like nine months. And there was really only one other company that I know of that was like growing and like getting it up off the ground from the farming standpoint, no products, just agriculture. So we skipped that step because we were able to have a partner that would send us product that we were essentially Whitely.
[00:34:27] So that helped instantly generate revenue, which again, I’d never started a business before come from a dental background. Had no idea like that brand is the king of the supply chain. Um, And so 2017, we like became the women thing, like right off the bat, we had this fancy label. I was doing all this, these, um, these talks in restaurants after hours here in, in Stowe.
[00:34:52] And so I was like gaining this like local energy and celebrity, but nobody could buy my product anywhere. Cause it wasn’t on shelves [00:35:00] at whole foods or anything like that. So they had to come physically come to the. That I was like by word of mouth promoting that I was going to be at. I would have a little bit of product.
[00:35:09] I would talk to like a half an hour and then sell all the products. And so like, we did that for like many months until I was like, this is stupid. We need to sell it. Like someone else needs to be selling it. And I was too afraid to have a website because I heard horror stories of people’s assets, getting frozen and websites getting taken down.
[00:35:24] And I was like, fuck that. I’m just going to focus on retail and brick and. And so all of this was funded through cashflow. So all of that was bootstrapped. Um, and then I won a pitch competition in Vermont that was like, um, some of the like best and brightest, uh, businesses pooled all their money. So, um, like seventh generation and magic hat and folks that started these companies that are legacy businesses in Vermont.
[00:35:52] Pull the little bit of money together. And it was just money. There was no strings attached. And so I won that and put that [00:36:00] into transitioning our products from Colorado to Vermont based product, because what was happening simultaneously in Vermont is like all of these amazing legacy growers for growing hemp.
[00:36:10] They didn’t know how to process it. They definitely didn’t know how to sell it, have a brand. And they were like, you’re doing your part. You seem really good at that. We’ll do our part that we’re really good at. And so we built this network of really small farms. Built this network of teeny tiny extraction facilities, which there was like two in the state at the time and made that transition with that money.
[00:36:30] So again, didn’t have any investors. And then, um, we do have one angel investor that owns 5% of the company that we used, uh, right in 2018 when things were just going nuts. And that was just all to help scale. Like we had this incredible demand. Pretty much no competition. And they helped us really capitalize on that.
[00:36:51] But these are people who luckily have become very wealthy and understand, um, what it’s like to be a young entrepreneur and not want to give up a [00:37:00] lot of your company. But I did sit at a lot of tables, um, and you know, people didn’t get. When I pitched them that this is a brand, that’s a woman forward cannabis brand.
[00:37:11] And like, you know, they just looked at me like I had 10 heads. Why are you alienating? 50% of the population did don’t you know, that men are the leading consumers of cannabis. And I was like, yes, I do all those things. But I think that women are sort of this untapped resource that we need to advocate for and then provide these amazing products for it.
[00:37:28] And so, yeah, this one particular gentleman, um, he, you know, is like a godfather here of business in Vermont and. I remember when I brought my kids to the meeting because I couldn’t find childcare and I accidentally bumped into him with the stroller and he turns around and of course I knew who he was. He had no idea who I was.
[00:37:47] And he was like, you brought your kids to the meeting. And I was like, well, yeah, they’re like part of the brand. And he was like, you’re joking. I was like, oh, the first 30 seconds of meeting, I was like, this is not going to go laugh. [00:38:00] He still wanted to invest in the company, but he wanted 40% of the company.
[00:38:02] I was like, that’s not going to happen. And so now here we are like, you know, Bruce and bloody over the last two years, it’s a pandemic. And, you know, thankfully gosh, you know, SBA and FDA and the, um, the, all of the like federal bailout, like we’re recognized, you know, cannabis was recognized. And thank God because we went from like pretty much all brick and mortar or retail, a little bit of e-com, um, To like, you know, 90% e-com.
[00:38:33] And so that was like a crazy transition of like, learning how to like, have a digital footprint, again, being like this teeny, teeny, tiny company and like trying to scale all of that. And so, you know, luckily the SBA recognized us and we were able to kind of fund through that, but we paired way down, you know, I got rid of my sales staff, I got rid of.
[00:38:54] All my demo workers and like we’ve really stripped way down to being really lean and really [00:39:00] mean. And I got to say like, of course I didn’t want a pandemic. The ability to go through that whirlwind, which like boom and bust cannabis. Like there’s no time to be still. There’s no time to say no, there’s no time to like really reflect on like what your crazy life is.
[00:39:16] Thank God we’ve had this time to just like, stop and like really look at what we’ve built. Now we have data that we analyze. Now we have, you know, trends that we analyze and now we’re looking at this like, wow, Open market of like, where did we really want to specialize? And like, it’s amazing that we are having those types of conversations that like, we have something to jump off of.
[00:39:40] Um, and I know there’s a lot of unfortunate brands that didn’t, weren’t able to weather that storm. Um, but that was never going to be, there was never going to be a market that was going to be thousands of brands, big enough, you know, to hold, hold them all. So I feel really lucky, but I think what the real secret sauce is is that we haven’t changed who we want to be and who.[00:40:00]
[00:40:00] And like, I could have easily sold my morals on many occasions. I could have sold it securely and then they just would’ve killed the brand. And then that wouldn’t exist in AB you know, Ashley Reynolds, the brand wouldn’t even exist. The Ted talks certainly wouldn’t have existed, you know? And now we see this like big change in the industry of like, yeah, these big players are in.
[00:40:20] They’re not going away and they are going to be successful, but it’s almost like the rebel forest is like all of these boutique producers and, um, micro producers that are really creating a name for themselves and really telling the consumer, like, don’t support those guys. Like they’re going to be successful in their own.
[00:40:38] Right. But like, we don’t have to, we don’t have to support them just like we buy locally for farms or for our vegetables in our fruit. Like the same beautiful thing is happening in cannabis. And I think. I think you’re really going to see the brand sugar off now. Like whoever is really going to be strong and.
[00:40:55] Be able to stand the test of time. Like we’re going to see those breakout brands happen. [00:41:00]
[00:41:00]Kellan Finney: I agree. I think it’s, uh, it’s cool because like the, I compare it to kind of like the, the microbrew industry, right? Like you had for the longest time, these like mainstay beer companies that just dominated it. And then all of a sudden, there’s this slow turn where people realized that they could go buy hops and kind of home brew.
[00:41:18] And then that led to like microbrews being formed. Right. And all of that kind of. More locally produced, uh, consumables, if you will. And it’s cool. Cause cannabis kind of just skip that whole phase with, uh, major companies dominating the whole market. So it’s going to be really, really interesting to see how the whole pie is divided amongst all the players
[00:41:38]Ashley Reynolds: right now.
[00:41:38] Oh, I agree. And like, until like things get sorted out nationally from a recreational standpoint, like I also feel so blessed that I had access to national market and like. Everybody thinks that sales are going to like drop off the wayside for CVD and like reckless, just going to take over. But like my customers, my consumers are like really happy at the wellness that they’ve achieved with the use of CBD and the rest [00:42:00] of their healthy lifestyle.
[00:42:00] That like, I hope they smoke a joint on four 20, and I hope that they smoke a joint, you know, on their birthday and like, you know, on the weekends when they’re home, but like a majority of my customers, like they’re really happy with where they’re at. I feel like we’re just going to like operate under the radar.
[00:42:15] Like there’s going to be so much noise for the wreck and so much commotion and drama and all the expense and just like, who’s going out of business and she was merging and who’s this and who’s that. And like, at least for here in Vermont, like so much more propaganda is being put out to the cannabis space.
[00:42:31] That’s like, here are all the companies that this one company owns, just so you know. Yes, these are all different brand names, but yeah. Here’s who who’s behind it. And I think that that’s such a, like, talk about stigma, like there’s stigma,
[00:42:48]Bryan Fields: uh, Ashley, since you’ve been in the cannabinoid industry, what has been the biggest missing?
[00:42:55]Ashley Reynolds: Uh, that it’s easy that everyone’s just like making [00:43:00] insane amounts of money. Um, when we see these deals, like all stock and like, you know, potential. So like, yeah. Like this industry is like gangbusters and thriving, but it’s crazy expensive at every step of the way, uh, right down to like putting your money into the bank, even cost more.
[00:43:20] Um, but yeah, it’s, uh, that’s like the biggest that it’s easy and that you make lots of money. Yeah.
[00:43:27]Bryan Fields: If all of us were before we do predictions, we ask all of our guests, if you could sum up your experience in a main takeaway or lesson learned to pass onto the next generation, what would.
[00:43:41]Ashley Reynolds: Ooh, don’t plant your feet.
[00:43:43] Fuck business plans. Um, and don’t hire smart people and tell them what to do.
[00:43:55]Bryan Fields: All right. Prediction time. Ashley, what year do [00:44:00] you think we will see cannabis use on an intake form for medical forms?
[00:44:07]Ashley Reynolds: God, it takes forever. Probably 10 years at minimum 10 years. And probably you’ll only see him, like on like a maybe dental form, maybe,
[00:44:21]Bryan Fields: maybe. So 20 30, 2. Yeah, I’m going to say maybe
[00:44:28]Kellan Finney: even longer, right?
[00:44:29] Like you’re talking, like there has to be like a fundamental change within the medical educational process in the Western world. Right? Like we’ve, we’ve mentioned this a lot on our show and, uh, it’s funny. It just keeps coming up. But like the endocannabinoid system is not taught in medical school. Right.
[00:44:44] So like we have to have a fundamental change within how we. Make doctors, right. From a society perspective. And I mean, those that takes time, right? So I think a generation probably. So like 20,
[00:44:56]Bryan Fields: 25 years, you see gen Z right
[00:44:59]Kellan Finney: now, [00:45:00] kids are just nailing in college and just starting medical school. When they’re like 40, 50 after they’ve had their careers.
[00:45:07] I think then that’s when, and they have like the political acumen and political power, if you will, to actually facilitate those kinds of changes. Because right now all those teachers are coming from people, um, who. Much older than us. And they are used to kind of, um, the pot kill you and it’s the devil’s lettuce and all those kinds of things.
[00:45:29] So that’s my, my prediction. So
[00:45:32]Bryan Fields: 2045, I was looking for a year. I was just rambling. Like we’re going to need a year for the records. What do you think, Brian? You know, that’s a, that’s a, probably a good guess, which is really unfortunate. And then like, as you were saying, like governor Rick gates, who said, if you legalize cannabis, it will kill your kid.
[00:45:50] Let’s say they do put it on the form. Everyone’s going to feel uncomfortable, filling it out, especially if there’s the stigmas on it. So, I mean, to get to that point, we’ve got so much work to do from a stigma standpoint. [00:46:00] And then I think even if you put it on a form, you’re going to upset so many older people that need to like move on because they’re going to be like, are you kidding me?
[00:46:07] Like this is accepted now. Right? Some people have some of the older generation has some challenges still with some of the new way thinkings. Uh, they still are used to maybe the past. I think something like this would be a very big slap in their face, just because I think it’s it’s too in front of them.
[00:46:22] So I mean, 20, 45 is just so far away, but, but maybe that could be a good guess. And I think maybe I’ll split the difference 20, 38, and just hope that I play the prices. Right. You know,
[00:46:35]Ashley Reynolds: correctly and you’re forgetting. First, we have to acknowledge that this plant even exists. So there’s that. And then there already is a underground network of healers and physicians and PAs that I get to have privilege and work with.
[00:46:52] And even they feel comfortable telling me that they write medical cards, but they’re not telling their colleagues. They write that in the cards no fucking way. No. [00:47:00] Nope.
[00:47:00]Bryan Fields: I’m still kind of like a little hesitant to even tell my back there or to ask him. Cause like, I just don’t want to have to have that conversation.
[00:47:06] And then ultimately be disappointed, right? Because he’s not aware of these things. How was he able to make good recommendations for him? Especially when I tell him, Hey, like, you know, the Xanax you’ve been prescribing me for my anxiety. I don’t really take that anymore. I take this other thing instead and it makes me feel better and I don’t feel cloudy and he’d be like, well, what like, oh, or
[00:47:23]Ashley Reynolds: you accidentally, or you accidentally over prescribed.
[00:47:26] This is my biggest thing is you accidentally can overprescribe someone because we know that cannabis slows down the metabolism of any compound in. ’cause that’s what it does. It slows down that P four 50 liver enzyme. So if you prescribe someone Xanax, 10 milligrams, they think they’re getting 10 milligrams, that’s staying in their system longer.
[00:47:44] And it’s the effect is amplified. If they’re using cannabis, they don’t know that the doctor doesn’t know that everybody’s in the dark about this. And then ultimately the patient is getting over prescribed or. And potentially put it in a dangerous state all because we didn’t have a simple conversation.
[00:47:58] Is do you use weed? Do [00:48:00] you smoke weed? The devil’s lettuce? Do you use that? No. Okay. All right. Take less of this,
[00:48:07]Bryan Fields: ask you how many drinks do you have? Like a day.
[00:48:11]Ashley Reynolds: Exactly. And you’ve been smoking. How many cigarettes a day are you smoking? Like we’re getting real detailed on those, but no, I mean, we’re, we’re just a really, really long way off and at least right now, There’s more comfort and acceptance in just the small, small practitioner talking to their.
[00:48:31] And like, there’s going to be more of those, but like, I would love to see a world where I go to a dental conference where we’re talking about what, you know, if you see, you know, certain manifestations in the mouth, then maybe it is going to mean that they’re smoking out of a vape and a bong, and then suggest that they use a tincture or a capsule or an edible, like let’s have that conversation, not shaming them.
[00:48:52] Actually helped them through the use of their use of cannabis, but like, yeah, I mean, I’ve tried to speak at dental conferences [00:49:00] and, you know, I think I’m pretty like, you know, accredited to be able to speak in front of people, but it’s all about abuse, any sort of cannabis, like conversations that are happening at conferences right now.
[00:49:10] It’s all about how do you spot abuse? And if that’s where we’re at right now in 2022, we got a long fucking way to go.
[00:49:16]Bryan Fields: Perfectly said, perfectly said, so Ashley, for those who want to get a touch, they want to learn more and they want to see some of your products work in their.
[00:49:23]Ashley Reynolds: EMT CBD that’s me across all, all the platforms.
[00:49:27] So yeah, easy to find and check out the Ted talk. I got the Ted
[00:49:31]Bryan Fields: talk. It’s awesome. I’m sorry. I gave it away for everyone. up. So, thanks so much for your time, Ashley.
[00:49:39]Ashley Reynolds: Thank you so much. You guys.
