Miah Saunders hails from Rappahannock, Virginia, where she says, “There are more cows than there are people.” Moving to Maryland in 2018 and entering the Cannabis industry in 2021, Miah fell in love with the industry while finding her place with a company that suits her. She joined the Curaleaf team in August of 2023 and has never looked back, owning a feeling of genuine excitement for coming to work every day. Stop in Curaleaf in Reisterstown and say hey to Miah the next time you’re passing through!
Are you an animal lover?
Yes. I have two dogs, one is getting ready to turn 10, and the other just turned two. If I could have more if space permitted, I would have a whole farm. We bought our first house over a year ago, so we’re starting small but we’ll get there eventually. I would love to have flightless ducks, and on a bigger scale, I’d like to have a cow. My neighbors on either side have chickens, so I live vicariously through them for now.
Tell me about being a Cannabis parent.
When my stepdaughter was younger, I could get away with stepping away for a few bong rips or to smoke a joint. The older and more observant she gets, I don’t really have the time for that. I keep it away until she’s in bed, and it has definitely made me more careful about where I store my weed. We ended up converting a night table from Goodwill into our storage spot, which she can’t access. Her father is also an avid Cannabis lover, and we often talk about how we will have to have a Cannabis conversation with her eventually. She’s in middle school now, and we know that we will give her the choice once she’s an adult. At the end of the day, I have to be her parent.
Do you grow weed or vegetables?
I’ve always grown fruits and vegetables and attempted to do a homegrow a few times. I can yield a decent amount, but I’m spoiled by dispensary weed and can never get the same flavor on my own. It also takes a ton of time, patience and nurturing to grow Cannabis, which my current lifestyle doesn’t allow. It’s also an investment to get a nice tent setup, air filters and more. Currently, I feel like if I’m dropping $500 on something, I’d rather use that money on family time or home projects.
What makes working in the Cannabis industry so rewarding?
The people — and I know that sounds like a generic answer — but I started in this industry when it was just medical. I feel like the dynamic between patients and budtenders is so different from then to now. Being in the industry for a while and experiencing the passion myself and others have makes it feel like the island of misfit toys. The staff and the people I get to work with every day keep me in this industry.
Do you have a favorite patient or customer?
Ms. Deadre is a ray of light in every way. Every time we see her through the glass as she walks in, she dances and makes funny faces at us. She is so vocal about what products she loves and doesn’t love. Dealing with customer service for the last four years, I sometimes encounter challenging individuals, so to meet someone who is so light and happy is extremely rewarding. She’s an avid lover of the magazine and always makes sure we save her a copy.
If you could choose one weapon in a zombie apocalypse what would it be?
I feel like my short time playing Zombies on Call of Duty makes me choose a flamethrower. Now that I’m thinking about it, that may be a very difficult weapon to refuel and keep it going, but in a hypothetical situation, that has got to be it.
