The Emerald Cast

Weed and wine are still fighting for dominance, but in the words of Jamie Evans—also known as the Herb Somm—they compliment each other beautifully. As a certified wine specialist, and a deeply knowledgeable cannabis expert, her trajectory is now entering author airspace, and we’re so excited to see what’s next. Evans and host, Danielle Guercio, taste products, talk terps and terroir, what to do if you get too stoned, and anything that would come up in the joyous conversation between lovers of both weed and wine.

Austin Stevenson, vice president of product and innovation of Vertosa, was in town for a quick round of questions, and he knocked it out of the park! This super cool man of color in cannabis comes from the Midwest but has lived in Brooklyn and Oakland, so his coastal culture roots spread deep! He and Danielle Guercio went to all the corners of the consumables conversation, in double time, and the Emerald can’t wait until they are back in town. Oakland residents should check out Vertosa’s First Friday happy hour. RSVP on Facebook is a must.

The two Gemini babes steering the Humble Bloom ship, Danniel Swatosh and Solonje Burnett, use cannabis and complementary sensory experiences to push the conversation forward in a completely unique way. Burnett is a people gatherer, bringing others together to dance, sing and herald the world we want to see, while Swatosh is a “manifestor” who bridges the art and commerce. Together, they are creating space in the cannabis industry for womxn, people of color and the LGBTQIA+ communities.  In this episode, which featuring two Dan’s and a Sollie, the team talks about the way that their organization uses brand partnerships and community engagement to destigmatize cannabis and spread social equity past conversation and into reality. 

Stephanie Diaz is a Bronx native of Dominican descent with incredible cannabis knowledge. As the co-founder of Hemp Lab, she brings her previous cultivation experience in California’s medical market and love of design drawn from a jewelry career into a beautiful, approachable, and community-oriented hemp shop in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Diaz and Danielle Guercio, the Emerald’s Editor-at-large, discuss hemp flavor, why other cannabinoids matter, and how important it is for the residents of Bushwick to have access to CBD and hemp flower.

CannaClusive’s Mary Pryor is everywhere in the cannabis industry, so pay attention! Her and Danielle have made lots of product review videos together, so while they talk about the ins and outs of the industry, they sampled various CBD products. The results are sometimes hilarious, sometimes deep, but always educational.