Today we had the pleasure of chatting with Erica Stolman Dowdy, the founder of fashion/lifestyle brand Fashionkush. Erica has been in the content game for over 10 years and is also the co-founder of blog design company, blog-doo. Read on to learn all about Erica’s ideal Sunday, cannabis innovation and her best advice for those breaking into the cannabis space.

Hey Erica! Could you introduce yourself.

I’ve always been an avid cannabis consumer, and my favorite person to enjoy a joint with is my Mom. About 2 years ago, over a joint (of course), we came up with the idea for our newest baby – Fashionkush. My Mom is my *amazing* business partner, and our goal with the Fashionkush brand is to bring chic to the world of cannabis, do our part in helping to shatter the stigma around cannabis, as well as educate our audience on the racial disparities in marijuana arrests as well as in the industry as a whole.

What’s your earliest memory of cannabis?

My earliest memory is probably pretty similar to a lot of other people – it involved an apple, some really bad weed, my best girlfriends… in the back seat of my 1986 Volvo with an Avril Lavigne CD playing in the background.

Oh yes, that sounds super familiar. What does your perfect Sunday look like?

A yummy brunch (preferably a bagel), a good joint, and either a lazy Netflix binge or a picnic on the beach.

Delicious. If you could share a joint with any person alive or dead, who would it be and why?

This one is always tough for me- but I think Martha Stewart & Snoop Dogg (sorry but they are a package deal these days haha!) would be an epic combo- the weed would be amazing, and I can only imagine what Martha would cook!

Which artist are you excited about right now?

I am gonna be super cliche here and say right now…. Olivia Rodrigo. Mainly because I am just obsessed with all her music…. but I also think she is a smart cookie. There has been some unnecessary *drama* around SOUR, and I just really respect the way she handled things. Also, one more, my girl Chloe Bruderer is an amazing artist. She did all the signage for our wedding and we have some other things planned with her in the near future – her art page is @chloeheartsart.

Good for you. Ha! What gets you excited about the cannabis industry?

The evolution of the industry has been amazing to watch, I love seeing the innovation and sophistication that can now be found when it comes to cannabis products. It’s amazing to see how things have evolved over the years. I’m very excited that people are making more noise in terms of the racial disparities in marijuana arrests. It’s always hard to walk into a dispensary that looks like an Apple store and know people are still serving time for minor marijuana charges (mainly people of color). I highly suggest everyone follow along with the @lastprisonerproject and donate to their amazing efforts. We will be working them on something as well that we are super excited to share with our audience!

If you could give one piece of advice to the entire world, what would it be?

Stay in your lane! In a world where we have access to anyone/everyone’s lives at the touch of our fingertips, it’s so easy to get distracted and to compare your life to someone else’s trajectory (personally and professionally). Put those blinders on and focus on your path. And of course, as we always say at Fashionkush – keep your standards as high as you are 🙂

Thank you Erica! Follow along with Fashionkush on Instagram.

We’re excited to be bringing back Sundays With, kicking things off with Carmen Dicu. We caught up with this Arizona local to chat all things fitness, cannabis and self love.

Hey Carmen! Could you introduce yourself?

Hi! I’m Carmen Dicu aka Beastchickk (my alter ego). I’m a retired IFBB Bikini PRO that enjoys the tech world and believes in the power of cannabis. My current goal is to pave the way for women in the tech/robotics industry and to also empower women to be themselves without needing validation from strangers. I was born in Eastern Europe, but migrated and became a US citizen about 2 years ago. It’s been a trip to say the least!

What does your perfect Sunday look like?

My perfect Sunday usually starts with no alarm so I get to sleep in! Followed by a nice wake and bake moment. Sometimes I meditate right after or go outside and lay in the grass or enjoy a warm bath with some incense and rose petals. Once that special moment passes, my Sunday continues with a lot of gratitude and joy towards being able to romanticize my life.

Do you ever use cannabis when making art?

YES I absolutely do. It opens my mind. It opens a creative door which I can only achieve from cannabis and that brings me a lot of joy. I am a lot more comfortable with expressing myself while smoking.

What’s your preferred consumption method? What activities do you enjoy pairing with your high?

I enjoy joints the most, but also vapes. Usually I will smoke a joint on the way to the gym as a preworkout, while I’m taking a bath or when I need to clear my head or when my anxiety sneaks up on me.

If you could share a joint with any person alive or dead, who would it be and why?

I would LOVE to share a joint with Snoop Dogg. Yes, I know it’s pretty basic but for me it would be incredible to even be in his presence. I think he is amazing and he has always given me confidence to be myself without caring what the world thinks.

If you could give one piece of advice to the entire world, what would it be?

Remember who you are. Everything you need is already within you. Detach from the outside forces and see the truth behind being a multidimensional being having a human experience.

Follow along with Carmen on Instagram!

In celebration of Mother’s Day, we chatted with Jaclyn, a model, creative and new Mom. Read on as we discuss motherhood and cannabis consumption.

Hey Jaclyn! Would you mind introducing yourself?
Hi, my name is Jaclyn. I’m a twenty eight year old mother, model, and creative. Although, I must admit I’ve only recently added “mother” to my list of titles with the recent birth of my daughter this past April. I’ve been an alternative internet model since 2011. I’ve dabbled in a little bit of everything throughout the years including curating local art expos here in Phoenix as well as producing and hosting my own NSFW (not safe for work) stoner food review series, Topless Takeout.

What’s your relationship with cannabis like?
My relationship with cannabis started when I was eighteen through mostly leisure usage. My boyfriend at the time was a pretty stereotypical stoner. He packed a bong for us and turned on Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke. Since then, I have come to use cannabis for my mental and physical health and relief too. There’s nothing quite like unwinding in the evenings after running around all day working and feeling like my body aches and mind can both settle properly before going to bed.

How do you think you’ll talk to your kids about cannabis?
Every year we see cannabis being legalized more and more across the country, so I imagine I’ll talk to my daughter about it as soon as she’s old enough to have an understanding and awareness of it. I don’t want her to fear or demonize cannabis the way I did growing up, and I believe the best way to combat that is by educating her on its benefits, its history, and disclosing my usage with her honestly.

Has your attitude towards cannabis changed since becoming a mother?
Since becoming a mother I wouldn’t say my attitude towards cannabis has changed, although my smoking habits/usage has definitely decreased with having a newborn on my hands.

Do you think there’s stigma around motherhood and cannabis?
I do believe there’s still a big stigma around motherhood and cannabis, that somehow its usage makes a mom selfish or irresponsible. I believe cannabis usage while being a mother is a personal choice. In my case, it’s more of a “me time” activity and with a newborn in the household, my “me time” is pretty scarce to nonexistent these days. I’m perfectly okay with it though. Being a mom is a huge adjustment and requires patience and flexibility. I know my “me time” will turn up again down the line even if it looks different than before.

Stay up to date with Jaclyn on Instagram. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mama’s out there!

Cover photo by Weep Photo

We met with Margaret B (aka @APrettyCoolGirl) a photographer and director originally from the Midwest, now living in California, who’s currently traveling around the US documenting themed “love motels” for her project A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour.

Hey Margaret! Tell us about your earliest memory of cannabis?

I was homeschooled and very sheltered as a kid but a babysitter once played Because I Got High by Afroman while we were driving and I felt like I was listening to something in a foreign language. I downloaded the song off of Limewire, memorized the lyrics, and tried to understand what it was talking about. It was probably another decade before I was in the same room as someone actually using cannabis! 

What does your perfect Sunday look like?

Waking up without an alarm, having breakfast at a diner (or making diner food at home during a pandemic), and sitting by a pool or body of water for a couple of hours.

Do you ever use cannabis when making art?

I actually prefer to use it when I don’t have anything to do but…feel. I have tried painting while using though and that was a really nice experience so I’m sure I’ll be branching out.

What’s your preferred consumption method?

My preference is definitely a joint. I started off with edibles and that was too unpredictable for getting the hang of things. I like the slow consumption but more immediate reaction of smoking. I love sitting out by a campfire and looking up at the stars or during the day taking a swim.

If you could share a joint with any person alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Honestly this quarantine has gone on so long I just want to share a joint with my own friends already!

Which artist are you really excited about right now?

I’m not usually someone who follows fashion closely but lately I’ve been so inspired by people making clothing that speaks to me. I think something about quarantining has taught me about why I wear what I wear, and how much it affects my mood. I’m in love with everything Selkie is making, such a dream! The other company that’s so exciting to see is Neon Cowboys. They just know how to live!

What gets you excited about the cannabis industry?

I avoided cannabis for so long because it felt like such a judgemental space if you didn’t consume. Once I met a few rad women in the industry who were focused on education I felt so welcomed into finding my own path that it really opened that door for me. It’s felt like such a different space now that I’m learning from Roze Volca (she really helped me find my footing), Green Goddess Glow, Nice Paper and other leaders in that space. It excites me to see education at the forefront and I hope to continue to see that get amplified. The war on drugs has been such a racist and tragic tool in this country and I think it’s especially important for folks like me to understand how many people of color are still in jail for something I’m now allowed to do so openly. That has to change.

If you could give one piece of advice to the entire world, what would it be?

Let love be your motivator and don’t give up hope.

This Sunday we chatted with Tammy Pettigrew, AKA The Cannabis Cutie, self proclaimed mom, cannabis entrepreneur, and cannabis educator.

Hey Tammy! Tell us about your earliest memory of cannabis? 

One of my earliest memories of cannabis was when I lived in an apartment complex, and went to the complex’s laundry room to switch my clothes over to the dryer. When I walked into the room, it was super smokey and the smell was oddly familiar! I learned when I was an adult that there were members in my household that consumed cannabis and that’s why the smell was so familiar.

What does your perfect Sunday look like?

The perfect Sunday to me is getting lost in a really good book, taking a walk in nature, and consuming cannabis all in-between!

Do you ever use cannabis when making art?

Always! I had the pleasure of going to a “toke and paint” event and loved that I was able to openly consume cannabis while I created. Even when I write, I always make sure to take a toke. When I consume with intention, It helps open my mind and release any stress that may be in my body.

What’s your preferred consumption method? What activities do you enjoy pairing with your high?

My preferred consumption method is joints! There’s something about the ritual of being able to touch the flower, smell it, and roll it that is soothing. I also love the way cannabis smoke smells (probably nostalgia from my childhood, ha!)

If you could share a joint with any person alive or dead, who would it be and why?

I would love to share a joint with Snoop Dogg. He is a cannabis icon, and grew up listening to his music. I put that on my bucket list when I was introduced to cannabis in college, and I truly believe it will happen one day! I have so many questions for him.

Which artist are you really excited about right now?

I’m always excited about the art Jhene’ Aiko produces. She’s a great writer, poet, and singer. Her 2020 Deluxe Album, Chilombo, has been on repeat since it dropped. Jhene’s song “I’m Tryna Smoke,” has been an anthem of mine lately. And the remix includes the one, the only, Snoop Dogg. It’s an instant smoker classic in my book.

What gets you excited about the cannabis industry?

The idea that others have an opportunity to join a brand new industry and create something of their own, gets me excited about the cannabis industry! This industry is in its infancy, which means the rules are being written right now! Anyone can join this industry and be successful. Whatever skill someone has, whether it’s writing, digital or interior design, research, speaking, marketing, teaching, there is a place for everyone and their skill set.

If you could give one piece of advice to the entire world, what would it be?

My advice would be to go after what fuels that fire within you, even if others don’t understand. I think so often others make decisions that are expected of them, without thinking about how it really makes them feel. Fight for you and for what you want. Chances are, if you’re chasing that thing that you are passionate about, you are on the right path.

Keep up with Tammy on Instagram.