Sam De La Paz
- Founder of GreenWave Consulting and RizeWize
- Fundraising and Communications Manager for Origins Council
- Board Member of 454 Bags
- Vice President of Hessel Farmers Grange
- President of Big Island Grange #1
I am a long time steward of our beloved Cannabis plant. That stewardship has taken many forms. Today, it is industry navigation assistance and advocacy, with a focus on supporting legacy Cannabis communities that have been most harmed by the drug war.
Get to know SAM
Q: What excites you about cannabis being added to the annual competitions at the California State Fair?
A: It excites me for our communities to have presence at this renowned event. This is imperative for normalization, acceptance and the recognition of our historical existence in the State of California.
Q: What do you think makes the California cannabis landscape/industry unique?
A: The communities that built it, period. These communities from rural to urban are the backbone of an “industry” that is now mainstream and global. But we don’t forget our roots and all the #TrueGrit it took our Cannabis forefathers and brave advocates to normalize the sacred Cannabis plant.
Q: What’s ONE thing you wish more people knew about cannabis?
A: More history, such as the truth about potency, strains and the importance of biodiversity in breeding.
