Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Bernier.
Sandy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My fascination with cannabis started at the age of 11 when my grandfathers both got cancer in the same year and I heard my father educate them on the medicinal benefits of the plant to help with chemo symptoms. By age 13, I had written my first 5-page paper on the hemp plant. I have always been a bit of a rebel, so I enjoyed the reaction I received from adults by being an activist and speaking out about the amazing uses of hemp and cannabis. I really could not understand why we were cutting down trees for paper or having wars over oil when we had a plant available that could replace all the non-renewable resources humankind consumes to survive. It seemed like a no-brainer to me and I have always felt as though this plant deserved to be free to be studied to save the world.
Because cannabis was normalized in my household, I wasn’t that interested in smoking it too much in high school, but, at age 20, in 1999, I spent a semester in Holland which reignited my love affair with the plant. More than that, I was intrigued with a culture that had seemingly figured out how to treat cannabis like the social plant it was and put a positive light on how civil a society can be in regards to recreational drug use and sensible policy.
I later took it to a new level in 2010, when I first went to California and studied the industry at Oaksterdam University and became a medical MMJ patient under the CA program. I started to really use cannabis to treat my own health issues, namely insomnia, anxiety, ADD, and pain. I realized this was my life’s purpose, to educate people and defend this plant and all of its potential for good.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
What could be more challenging than working in an emerging industry before the regulations were even written? Then add the stigma associated with cannabis and prohibition. The biggest initial struggle was educating the potential customer about the medicinal value of hemp and showing the world I wasn’t just trying to get everyone high! The daily struggle comes from trying not to compare me to others. It’s hard not to feel as though I am running a race every day and sometimes social media has a way of making you feel like you are standing still. I’m always wondering if I am doing enough to get my brand out there. But building a brand is so personal, it takes time. My advice is to stay true to your vision – while realizing that you are allowed to change your mind and go in a different direction as your vision grows. What you end up doing, may not be what you at first set out to do, but it also might be a zillion times better than you could have ever imagined! Listen to your gut, trust your instincts, and surround yourself with people that you trust and don’t be scared!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Irie Bliss Wellness – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My brand, Irie Bliss, is a Hemp Wellness Lifestyle Brand. It is the culmination of my life’s work and purpose. Irie is a Jamaican slang word describing a state of harmony, either within oneself or with the world in general. Bliss is a state of spiritual blessedness associated with love, harmony & peace! To be at total peace with your current state of being is what we really all want! I pride myself in helping people find balance and alternatives when they are left disenfranchised by the health care system. I enjoy being the face of my company and giving people hope. My brand mantra, “Manifest, Don’t Stress” is a constant reminder to myself not to sweat the small stuff and to be thankful every day. My brand also sends a message to a woman to harness their inner Goddess and to not be afraid to ask for what they need! With this in mind, I created The Goddess Line which is specifically designed for “sensual healing” by encouraging a loving touch. These products smell good enough to eat and feel amazing when applied during a massage. I believe we can become more connected as the power of touch creates a healing bond between us which is so lacking in mainstream healthcare!
On June 1, after a year and a half building this brand with toddlers under my feet, I launched my brick and mortar hemp wellness shop! My initial dream of having a storefront turned into a whole wellness center overnight. I found a great 3500 sq ft space, which was beautifully renovated, but I couldn’t afford it alone. I thought, who else needs this space? So, I put it out there to the universe and within 2 months, I found practitioners to move in! We now have yoga, Reiki, Occupational Therapy, massage, & organic spray tan. We have a yoga studio, an eco-friendly yoga mat company, and a tea company! Together, we are our sharing knowledge and creating a supportive work environment. We will host workshops to help people deal with pain, anxiety, and more. Everything from how to forage for mushrooms to how to get your medical marijuana card will be explored. Seeing a wellness community come together in just a few short months is something I am most proud of. Knowing that these people were not scared off by my hemp centric practice was a huge affirmation that my brand and ideas are being socially accepted!
I still offer free consults to anyone just starting out using CBD products and really enjoy the satisfaction I get from helping people. I won’t turn anyone away because they don’t have enough money! I have a reputation for teaching people how to make their own herbal medicine in the form of salves, tinctures, and candy as a form of therapy. I formulate with a lot of healing intention. I think people can feel it!
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I say line up ladies and start kicking down some doors! There is nothing but opportunities in this world. If you are working as a cook, in marketing, in banking, in advertising and you are interested in crossing over into the cannabis space, I say DO IT! Take the leap of faith, there is room for everyone here. And if you aren’t satisfied with your job, my advice is CREATE YOUR OWN. Even if it starts off as your side hustle, dedicate 30 min a day to your dream and birth your own opportunity! Be your own boss, and better yet, create opportunities for other younger women just starting out! We are the nurturers, creators, and manifesters! I have never seen being a woman as a disadvantage 🙂
Pricing:
- Tinctures range from $50-$150
- Topicals $35-$40
- Edibles average $20 per bag
Contact Info:
- Address: 140 Union St. Rockland, MA 02370
- Website: www.iriebliss.com
- Phone: 617-794-6134
- Email: irieblisswellness@gmail.com
- Instagram: @irieblisswellness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irieblisswellness/?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/irieblisswellness/
Image Credit:
Aleah Mara Graham, Charles Taggart
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
