I was recently meandering along the Maine coastline north of Portland and stopped by a medical and recreational dispensary by the name of Highly. Budtender Samm was there behind the desk and the first thing she said to me was “Nice old hippie van!”
We got to talking and when I noticed the magazines on the counter, I revealed that I write for Northeast Leaf. She smiled with pride as she showed me the collage she’s been making using photos from the publication.
Samm got into Cannabis because of her father. “We moved to Maine when it went legal – the pine tree and sticky tree state. We use the plant medically because we don’t trust Big Pharma,” she said.
A passionate supporter of local farmers, she worked on a farm with a farmer’s market on the property before going into Cannabis – which is where she found her love for agriculture. The whole “grow your own” and “pick your own” way felt better than buying at a local supermarket.
Since joining the team at Highly, Samm has done a little bit of everything – from helping with trimming flowers, processing and making pre-rolls, and even helping make concentrates, to being a budtender helping people in both the recreational and medical arena. She’d like to learn how to clone and grow for the company at some point in the future.
Do a lot of people walk up to the window that shows the Cannabis cultivation on the other side?
Yes, a lot of people like to look at that! Not a lot of dispensaries have a window showing their Cannabis grow.
What kind of strains do you like and how do you like to consume Cannabis?
That is an easy one! Lately I’ve really enjoyed wax and concentrates, and I use a Puffco Peak Pro. I really like Citrus Funk, so anything in the Tangie family like Tropicana Cookies. I also have my ice bong and I like rolling up a joint, too … at least one a day!
Where do you see yourself in the future with Cannabis?
I really want to be on the creative side. I’m really interested in photography and hoping to learn more. I just got a new camera and am hoping to help the company by creating more photos for their Instagram account.
