STIGMA STAFF SHOWCASE – GRAYSON BEARD

This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with our assistant grower – Grayson Beard — to discuss his love for cannabis and career at Stigma Grow. As one of only a few people trusted to be hands-on with our precious ladies, he offers a unique perspective worthy of attention (plus he’s a pretty rad dude to hang with).

 

Q: First of all, why did you choose a career in cannabis? Where were you working before and what brought you here?

A: Before cannabis I worked for years in the Oilfield but was laid off along with a lot of the province at the same time that cannabis employment was becoming an option. As a strong supporter of the legalization of cannabis, I jumped at the opportunity to get involved and was told about Stigma by a friend who already worked here – the rest is history.

 

Q: What does your day-to-day job have you doing at Stigma Grow?

A: As a grower, my duties revolve around the daily hands-on care of our plants. This includes feeding and caring for the plants, facility cleanup and maintenance to ensure an optimized environment for growth, detailed reports on growth and progress, and working with the rest of the team to ensure harvest yields the very best results. Here’s a more detailed list:

 

• Daily plant maintenance and care.

• Watering and feeding of all plants in their various stages of life.

• Monitoring and adjusting environmental controls in grow rooms.

• Propagation (cloning of new plants, germinating seeds).

• Harvest, trimming, drying and curing of harvested product.

• Transplanting through the different stages of the plant’s life.

• Tracking and confirming plant inventories.

• Training of staff on process and necessary skills.

• Cleanliness and sanitation of grow areas and equipment.

 

 

Q: What do you think Stigma Grow offers that other companies (cannabis or otherwise) cannot match?

A: It’s always cool to get involved in something on the ground floor, and cannabis is unique in that offering these days. As well, I am in a position to contribute to a company that is leaning on its employees to help determine the best direction to take for our culture, product offerings and industry niche. Everyone is on a first-name basis here and we are all trusted to contribute according to their ability.

 

Q: When it comes to legal cannabis products, which do you choose to consume and why?

A: I am a big fan of pre-rolls. I enjoy the convenience and availability of so many unique offerings that I can sample without investing too much. I treat pre-rolls the way I treat a drink at a bar, it’s made for me and can suit whatever mood I’m in for the moment. I like high-THC and unique terpene profiles and the chance to try something new each time I walk into a store.

 

Q: What excites you about the future of legal cannabis?

A: Catching up to and defeating the black market. There’s value in the safety and consistency that comes with a transparent, legal industry. That’s why I am willing to pay a little more for legal cannabis products… BUT – there’s a lot of work to still be done to get the quality up and pricing down across the board. My hope is that those currently taxing the hell out of legal cannabis can adjust to see what’s required to truly compete with the black market, and that policies and pricing will eventually come down to earth.

 

Q: Which stigma surrounding cannabis as a plant or the legal cannabis industry in general irks you the most? What do you believe needs to be done to combat it?

A: We’ve certainly come a long way, but I feel there’s still a long way to go before the country views cannabis the way it should be viewed: as a plant that has the ability to bring joy and healing to countless people, rather than a drug that is consumed by the dregs of society.

It’s a flower that brings a ton of benefits, and should be categorized more as that, than as a drug. Especially when consumed responsibly by adults.

 

Q: Can you share a story about cannabis that showcases its ability to bring joy, relief or connectivity? 

A: I have far too many to single one out. I like the environment and culture that surrounds cannabis. I leave every smoke circle with a friend, which I cannot say about my time spent drinking in bars.

 

Q: Favourite quote or saying about cannabis. 

A: “Is cannabis addictive? Yes, in the sense that most of the really pleasant things in life are worth endlessly repeating.”  – Richard Neville