I am Native American, part of the Wailaki tribe that currently resides on the Round Valley reservation in Mendocino County , however my tribe was originally Native to Humboldt. I take an Indigenous approach and use Indigenous farming practices to cultivate on land that was a recreational site for my tribe up until 1860’s, and that belonged to my great great great grandmother after white incursion. Cannabis chose me as an advocate and has allowed me to reclaim a portion of my ancestral land where I now grow using natural inputs and only the pure light of the California sunshine. . .
GET TO KNOW LINDSEY
Q: What excites you about cannabis being added to the annual competitions at the California State Fair?
A: To have cannabis featured in the annual competitions at the California State Fair this year alongside wine, cheese, olive oil and beer means that all of our hard work and advocacy is finally starting to pay off. Farmers in California have been fighting for years to break the stigma and break down the walls to show people that cannabis deserves a seat at the table. It’s exciting to know that cannabis will be featured on such a large stage with an organization that has such a vast reach . As small farmers we are constantly trying to educate California about cannabis, and this stage allows us to reach so many people. The California State Fair is known, recognized, and trusted, so being allowed to participate really solidifies the validity of Cannabis in the California economy.
Q: What do you think makes the California cannabis landscape/industry unique?
A: What makes the California cannabis landscape so interesting is all of the uniques stories and families behind small farms. Although cannabis is newly accepted and recognized in the state of California, cannabis is not at all new to our state. For the last 50 years families have been cultivating this plant. Behind every small farm in California there is a unique story, a family, a history, a legacy. This is what make California cannabis unlike anything else. California has a deep and rich history with cannabis, and this is nothing new to us.
Q: What’s ONE thing you wish more people knew about cannabis?
A: I wish people knew that cannabis doesn’t always have to be psychoactive. You can use the psychoactive cannabinoids such as THC in very small doses to where you won’t even feel any psychoactive effect. Cannabis doesn’t always have to be used in large amounts either. I can take 2.5 mgs of a THC tincture, not feel high, and sleep soundly all night.
