Women Leading The Cannabis Industry: “Don’t try to know or do it all” With Andrea Meharg of Reveal Cannabis

Don’t try to know or do it all. I like the idea of learning about a topic in the “inch wide, mile deep” fashion. This means you really dig into the one topic you’re interested in instead of skimming the surface of many. If you’re looking to work with cannabis, hone in on what really lights you up. Do you love working with people face-to-face or would you be better off programming a new app to help track cannabis consumption? Are you curious about how it all works in the body or do you love the idea of creating delicious edibles? Whatever it is that makes you happy, focus on only it for a LONG TIME. Resist the urge to dive down all the cannabis rabbit holes, there are too many! Get really good at what you’re doing and feel incredibly confident before you branch out to the next cannabis topic.

As a part of my series about strong women leaders in the cannabis industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrea Meharg.

In 2016, Andrea Meharg, a mom of two young boys, a wife and an elementary school teacher fell into a deep depression that left her in bed for months. She tried everything to get better including medication, meditation, exercise, therapy and more, but nothing worked. For Christmas, she was given a baggie of cannabis by a friend who thought it might help. It did. Cannabis changed everything for Andrea, allowing her to climb out of depression and then to change literally everything about her life. Now, as a certified Cannabis Coach and Educator, she is passionate about teaching you how you can use cannabis to live a happier healthier life. You can find her dishing out awesome cannabis education every week on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. She also offers private consultations, group classes and e-courses. Check it all out and grab your FREE Cannabis Recipe Book over at www.revealcannabis.com

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the “backstory” about what brought you to the cannabis industry?

My story is similar to that of many other 30 and 40-year-old working moms. Back in 2016, I burnt myself into the ground trying to be the best mom, partner, teacher, neighbor, friend etc. while at the same time taking no care of myself. I was juggling too many balls and suddenly it all came crashing down on me. I was taken off work on stress leave and immediately went from being a vibrant, busy, outgoing woman to someone who could barely get out of bed and spent the day crying. However, even in all the darkness, I was determined to get better. After all, I had two little boys to raise, a husband to love and a job to get back to. So, I tried everything you’re supposed to try, medication, meditation, exercise, therapy, self-help books and more. Nothing worked and I worried that I would never get better. For Christmas that year, my mom left a baggie of cannabis on my pillow and said, “I think this might help.” It took me about a month to gather the courage (and learn from YouTube) to roll a joint but the results were instant. As soon as I took the first puff, it was like the clouds parted and I remembered that I was still “ANDREA” inside. Suddenly I had hope that cannabis might be the way to better mental health. However, the path forward was not easy. My family doctor completely disagreed with my decision to use plant medicine and instead offered me more anti-depressants. I went to a cannabis clinic but was so lost after meeting with them. Their “counsellor” basically told me to buy some CBD and THC and see what worked. It took me months to figure out what kinds of cannabis and what doses would leave me feeling good enough to return to my old life, but not so high that I was incapacitated. I could not believe there was not someone there to lead the way for me. That is why I joined the Cannabis Coaching Institute and started Reveal Cannabis. Now I am the one teaching people how to use the plant to feel happier and healthier. I offer private consultations, online classes, retreats, ganja yoga, clubs and more. I have taught thousands of people about cannabis and they have gone on to spread the word to their friends and family. It is truly an unstoppable movement we’ve got going here!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The most interesting thing about working in this space for me is the huge variety of people that I see as clients and at my workshops. I went into this business thinking I would be helping mamas like me who were struggling to ‘do it all’. It turns out that most of my clients are middle-aged or elderly people who are looking to get off of pharmaceuticals and use a plant to feel better. One of my first clients was a local lady in her 80s who said she was sick of arthritis making it so she could not be active. Surprisingly, the very first day she took CBD she felt immediately better. Now she is volunteering, gardening, socializing and more after just one session with me. Over the years, I have been able to see those types of transformations firsthand and being a part of them has been the most interesting and rewarding part of this job.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I am not even sure I can laugh about it yet because it’s still so embarrassing. When I work with clients, I write them a Cannabis Guide that outlines everything they need to get started with the plant. I have a template that I use and then copy it over and personalize it for each client and their specific needs. Six months ago, I happily sent off a Cannabis Guide to a new client. A minute later my inbox dinged, and it was him, wondering if I had meant to send him the document I did. It turns out, I had accidentally sent off the Guide I was creating of one of my dear friends. It was filled with graphic information on how to use cannabis to improve intimacy between her and her husband and it was also riddled with swear words. Luckily for me, my new client took it all in stride and we had a good laugh about it. But I learned to TRIPLE check everything I send off, so I do not end up in that predicament again.

Do you have a funny story about how someone you knew reacted when they first heard you were getting into the cannabis industry?

I have been so incredibly lucky to have support from everyone I know. Not everyone in my life believes in the power of cannabis, but they seem to believe in me (and I’m working on convincing them one by one!)

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

When I joined the Cannabis Coaching Institute, I truly didn’t know what I was getting into. I thought I’d graduate and have a thriving edibles business. I was so wrong, mostly because that’s illegal in Canada LOL! The founder and head coach at CCI is Corinne Tobias. She owns the Wake and Bake website and I’d been following her work for a while. After being on just one group call with her, I knew that I had landed in the right place. With her guidance, coaching and teaching, I was able to really transform my life in almost all facets. I lost a ton of weight, I started a new business, I created a community of women around me and I gained a new sense of confidence I didn’t know I had. Corinne is a cheerleader who also holds your feet to the fire. She believes in you and holds that belief, even when you’re not feeling it. I will be forever grateful for her guidance and support.

Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?

I’m about halfway through creating my newest online class that teaches dog and cat parents how they can safely give their animals cannabis or CBD to help with pain, anxiety, sleep issues and more. I love being able to offer online classes because it means that anyone can learn this incredibly important information from the comfort of their own home. I’ve seen and heard so many wonderful success stories from pet parents who are finally seeing their animals feeling better because they learned a few simple things about cannabis.

Ok. Thank you for all that. Let’s now jump to the main core of our interview. Despite great progress that has been made we still have a lot more work to do to achieve gender parity in this industry. According to this report in Entrepreneur, less than 25 percent of cannabis businesses are run by women. In your opinion or experience, what 3 things can be done by a) individuals b) companies and/or c) society to support greater gender parity moving forward?

I have spent about 17 years as an elementary school teacher. As you know, that’s profession dominated by women. I was shocked when I went to my first cannabis event (CannaCon) and I was among maybe 20 women in a lineup of 400 attendees. Women have so much to offer in this space and for a while I was hopeful that as a new and burgeoning industry, that gender parity (and other forms of equality) may have been more of a core belief. But we have a long way to go. I can’t tell you the number of stories I’ve heard from women in the industry about how it’s very much an “old boy’s club” mentality and women are still being left out of key decision-making positions. On a personal level, I’ve made it my mission to reach out to and work with other women in this space. I find there is a special energy when you get together with other cannabis-loving ladies that I haven’t seen in other industries. My most successful partnerships and some of my greatest friendships have come from actively seeking out other strong canna-women! On a societal level, I think it all comes down to education. Let’s read more books about amazing women, let’s erect statues and put them on postage stamps. Let’s call out inequality when we see it and work hard for change.

You are a “Cannabis Insider”. If you had to advise someone about 5 non intuitive things one should know to succeed in the cannabis industry, what would you say? Can you please give a story or an example for each?

1. Many people who work in this space don’t have any love for the plant. I was shocked when I realized how many cannabis businesses are owned by people who are in it just for the money. Some of them have never even consumed the plant and know very little about it. I believe that knowing and loving the plant gives you a huge advantage in this space, so get learning!
2. Your skills are transferable! I can’t tell you the number of people I meet who are passionate about cannabis and yet don’t see a way to work in the industry. The fact is that we need cannabis-loving lawyers and accountants and social media marketers and bookkeepers and and and. So, if you love cannabis and want to work in the space, there is room for you.
3. This one stills confuses most people I tell about it. You’re not allowed to advertise your cannabis business on most social media platforms. Yes, even though it’s totally legal here in Canada and in many of the US states, you’re still not able to market your wares. That means that many of the traditional ways of informing the general public that you exist aren’t’ available to us. Being creative and flexible is key to surviving.
4. The hardest people to teach about cannabis are sometimes the ones who have been consuming it the longest. I find it fascinating that when I’m talking to a long-time consumer about the benefits of CBD or how terpenes work, they’ll tell me I’m wrong and that they know all about the plant because they’ve been smoking it for years. So much new information about cannabis has come out in the past two decades, it would be impossible to know it all. The fact that many long-time tokers don’t want to hear the new science is always interesting to me.
5. Don’t try to know or do it all. I like the idea of learning about a topic in the “inch wide, mile deep” fashion. This means you really dig into the one topic you’re interested in instead of skimming the surface of many. If you’re looking to work with cannabis, hone in on what really lights you up. Do you love working with people face-to-face or would you be better off programming a new app to help track cannabis consumption? Are you curious about how it all works in the body or do you love the idea of creating delicious edibles? Whatever it is that makes you happy, focus on only it for a LONG TIME. Resist the urge to dive down all the cannabis rabbit holes, there are too many! Get really good at what you’re doing and feel incredibly confident before you branch out to the next cannabis topic.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the cannabis industry?

1. The number of women in it! Earlier we discussed how only twenty-five percent of cannabis CEOs are women, but that number is SO much better than many other industries. It seems every time I blink, I’m hearing about a new, women-run cannabis company that’s doing amazing things to help people feel better.
2. The amount of research that is being done. There are new studies being published daily on all the ways that cannabis might help from PTSD treatments to helping women get through menopause. We are just scratching the surface on cannabis and daydreaming about what we are about to learn about it makes me happy.
3. Federal legalization in the USA. I am curious and excited to see what happens with our neighbors to the south. Having cannabis legalized across the USA would be a game-changer for the whole world. It would mean we would have even more high-quality research plus all the innovation Americans are known for. I have my fingers (and toes) crossed for your November election.

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

1. The issue I’m grappling with most right now is the fact that as a white, cis woman, it’s easy for me to enter the cannabis industry and get going while there are still a disproportionate amount of BIPOC men and women getting arrested and jailed for using the plant all over the world. I suggest all cannabis businesses look deeply at the troubled history of cannabis in North America and ensure you are doing something to actively flip the script. Currently, I am donating 10% of all Reveal Cannabis proceeds to Cannabis Amnesty Canada. They work to get low-level cannabis sentence overturned.
2. I also lose sleep over the thought that maybe the pharmaceutical industry is going to come in and take over. They’ve already isolated THC and CBD and provide them in pill form. I am worried about a future where we break the plant up into its component parts and treat it like a drug. Instead, I love the idea of small, craft cannabis growers providing quality plants and products to consumers who understand the benefits of whole-plant medicine.
3. Finally, although all the new cannabis products out on the market make it a vibrant and exciting place to be, it also means that many new consumers are completely overwhelmed when they walk into a dispensary. I have known so many people who have had one bad experience with cannabis and now they will never try it again. If we lose a new consumer before they even have a chance to buy it because there is too much choice, they will have to continue on with their pain or sleeplessness. My solution for this is more Cannabis Coaches! It is our job to help guide new clients through the muddy waters of the cannabis world so they can feel healthier and happier. I know many dispensaries do excellent training with their staff, but the industry has a lot of work to do in this area so that people are getting the right information and products.

What are your thoughts about federal legalization of cannabis? If you could speak to your Senator, what would be your most persuasive argument regarding why they should or should not pursue federal legalization?

I am not American, so I can only dream of speaking with a senator, but I would definitely play these three cards. First up, money. Legalizing cannabis brings in millions of dollars annually to the states that have done so. That money can be put towards education, infrastructure, health care and more. Secondly, employment. The cannabis industry will bring with it thousands of new jobs from growing to processing to marketing to selling. Finally, harm-reduction. In states that have legalized cannabis, prescription drug use, car crashes and opioid overdoses have all decreased. I cannot see a downside for a senator who will suddenly have more money in her coffers, fewer people on unemployment and less sick people in her state.

Today, cigarettes are legal, but they are heavily regulated, highly taxed, and they are somewhat socially marginalized. Would you like cannabis to have a similar status to cigarettes or different? Can you explain?

We know cigarettes are dangerous. They will kill you. Putting tobacco into the same category as cannabis is the problem. Just because they can be consumed in a similar fashion does not mean that they are alike at all. Cannabis is known to heal and help people and should be treated as a plant medicine. That does not mean I do not think there shouldn’t be regulations. After all, we know that giving growing children cannabis can have deleterious effects and that in the wrong dose, THC can cause someone to have a really bad day. I would love to see more education about the pros and cons of the plant instead of more regulation and taxes. That being said, I think we’re a REALLY far ways away from the general public coming to the conclusion that cannabis is medicine and a well-regulated industry will help to develop necessary trust.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

When I started with the Cannabis Coaching Institute, I was asked to do things that were way outside of my comfort zone. I developed the mantra that “Done is better than perfect.” That quote allowed me to publish my first (extremely embarrassing) YouTube video, to craft my first letter to dispensaries and to work with my first clients. I am a type-A personality and doing things that are not perfect causes me stress. However, looking back on it now, had I not put out my first “Done is better than perfect” video, I would not be where I am today.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I’d love to see a “cannabis-first” policy in doctor’s offices and hospitals. Can you imagine a world in which a CBD-rich tincture is ‘prescribed’ for migraines or someone suffering from insomnia was given a THC chocolate instead of a fistful of pills? I think of all the opioid deaths we could avoid, all the side effects that would be eliminated and all the healing that could happen. Again, this comes down to education so start shouting it from the rooftops with me: “Cannabis Is Medicine!”

Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you only continued success!