Feature: Teresa Macchiusi – Minerva Cannabis
Now that the dust has settled and Minerva has opened, did you ever think you would be a partner of a company that is “selling weed?”
I came from a very traditional Italian family and being female, I was raised to be “a good girl”. At that time, cannabis had already been illegal for some time and thought of negatively. That was instilled by my parents and any television shows that were on TV at the time. The idea that I would be involved or a partner in a company that sells weed was NEVER on my radar. This is something totally opposite of how I was raised and believed in when I was younger.
What barriers do women in your generation face when entering the new, legal cannabis market?
I believe women, especially of my generation, have been programmed to believe that Cannabis is nergative. If those of my age group experimented with cannabis, they were though of as ‘wild’ or ‘loose’ type of girls. At the time, we were definitely not exposed to the information that explainsa lot of the benefits and possible health attributes of Cannabis and CBD. I believe a lot of women still feel that any exposure to cannabis is ‘bad’ to consume but I think many want and are beginning to secretly try it. The “stoner” mentality is hard to shake out of our minds and a lot of women in my generation need to be reprogrammed to see the benefits and break the stigma once associated.
Have you tried any wellness products on the market? Do you believe in the “CBD Hype?”
I had never felt comfortable enough to visit a cannabis store at the beginning of legalization so I hadn’t tried any wellness products until I became a partner of Minerva. When I took the Cannsell program, it really opened my eyes and mind to the real history of the cannabis plant and how different THC and CBD is. As someone new to cannabis, I was unaware of the history and benefits and now with experimentation of products, I definitely see and understand what people have been talking about. Having an educated staff at Minerva has allowed me to enter the legal industry in a unique, welcoming and comfortable way.
What are you using right now?
At the moment I am using the Rho Phyto Deep Tissue Gel. I have some arthritis in my hands and the product reduces the pain significantly. I’m also a big fan of the Lavender-Chamomile Tea from Everie. I was sick this winter and the tea calmed down and soothed my throat. I have also tried and enjoyed many of the edibles, like the Chowie Wowie Balanced Chocolate Bar Proper Lemon Lime Sparking Water (with no sugar!)
