Mike “the Highest” (@mikethehighest) is easy to spot in a crowd: He’s tall, usually high, often smiling and always carrying at least one Puffco device. His first job as a kid was in a glass shop, and his last career before this was as an audio engineer in a big-name studio. The throughline has always been weed. You can find him anywhere the headies are, but The Flowery on Veterans Road in Staten Island is where he calls home.
So how did you become Mike the Highest?
It was my production name for making beats. It was supposed to be like, “I smoke weed, and I’m the highest.” But I was also really into the Flower of Life, sacred geometry and that idea of being the most high, the most enlightened, the highest being. You know, all praise to the most high.
When did Cannabis become central to your life?
Probably right after high school. I started to realize how much it was helping me to sleep, to eat, to relieve nausea that I didn’t realize it was helping me with. It was actually a lot of the medical benefits that attracted me to it.
How did you get involved with the industry?
I sold weed since my freshman year of high school. I never liked to sell to strangers, but I would hook up homies. I started working for Moe, who I work for now, at a smoke shop called General Smoke. It was a glass store mostly, and since I was his stoner friend, he hired me.
General Smoke closed, and I said to Moe, “If you ever open a weed store on Staten Island, let me know, I’ll come be your guy.” Years went by, I had left my job in the music industry as an audio engineer and said, “I’ll work at the first dispensary in Staten Island.” They announced the license, and I Googled who owned that business, and what do you know? It was Moe! I was the first employee.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
When I first started going to California, I would go into the medical dispo, and the way they would be able to tell me “This will do this, this will help you do that.” I went in with a headache and was like, “How do I get rid of this?” They said to smoke a sativa, and now I know these different sativas that help relieve headaches. Being able to help everyone else with whatever it is with weed, and that community experience, I want to give that to other people.
What role did you start off in, and what role are you currently in?
I started as a floor supervisor. I thought I was going to be a budtender, but they just turned to me and said, “Alright, Mike, train everybody.” I was interacting with some people who had never smoked weed in their life and teaching them how I sold weed my whole life. And it worked. They sell weed like pros. Now I’m the assistant general manager. I’m there every single day. Everyone knows me. I know all the customers. That’s like home to me now.
Do you have a favorite type of customer?
The ones in their 60s or older. Either they know everything because they’ve been smoking their whole life, and I can surprise them that I know more about weed, or someone knows absolutely nothing, and I’m able to make them feel comfortable in this room they didn’t feel comfortable to come in. I just helped that person get sleep or whatever they needed.
If you didn’t work in weed, what would you be doing?
Probably back in the music industry. I used to work with artists on recording and creating hit records that would be on the radio all the time.
Who are some artists on your sesh soundtrack?
Tyler, The Creator has always been my favorite artist on the planet. I wouldn’t be who I am without that man. He told me to follow my dreams and never care about whatever anybody ever said about me and what they wanted me to do and just do what the fuck I want to do. I’m only doing that because of him. I was only in the music industry because of him.
Teezo Touchdown. I love that man. He’s an alien, I guess you could say. I don’t know how else to explain him. He’s the greatest artist I’ve heard in recent years.
What else are you into outside of Cannabis and music?
Go-karts. I love going fast and imitating Formula 1 drivers. Playing video games, specifically GameCube and Nintendo.
Do you have any advice for anyone else looking to establish a career in Cannabis retail?
If you don’t love helping people, this is not for you. Having a passion for helping people and Cannabis will help you thrive in this industry. Because at the end of the day, that is all it is: helping people find weed that they want.
