In honor of International Women’s day, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight one of the most influential and uplifting advocates; Unity Marguerite.
Unity is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of BlyssCloud, an independent media platform normalizing consumption with educational experiences on a higher understanding of modern cannabis. We sat down with Unity and dove into her world for a quick minute, enjoy!
Q: Tell us a little about yourself
A: My name is Unity Marguerite Whittaker, I’m the Creative Director and Co-Founder of BlyssCloud, a female focused independent media platform with a focus on legal, safe and respectful consumption friendly events.
I’m a creator of cannabis content and experiences with a niche focus on grown-up women.
In the cannabis space, I’m a trusted resource for the canna curious. My eye for style and 27 years of cannabis consumption is establishing me as a resource for consumers seeking clean, stylish and informed experiences.
I’m one half of Cobb & Unity, a weekly podcast where we discuss the he and she of our local cannabis community and experiences. This podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube.
I’m a contributor to Huffington Post, Her(b) Lifestyle and Georgia Straight.
On my personal social media channels: I discuss legal cultivars on YouTube; I guide how to roll J’s on Facebook; and my Instagram features my beautiful flat lays and my stories are an ongoing documentation of my cannabis journey.
Q: What importance does Cannabis play in your everyday life/routine?
A: Since I was a child, I’ve experienced reoccurring depressive episodes. Cannabis is my medicine of choice. It’s required a significant amount of experimentation to understand my dosage and consumption methods for best results. I view the choice to take cannabis rather than pharma as a whole lifestyle commitment. For instance, popping a pill did serve a purpose but it didn’t heal my depression nor did I feel like I was living my best life. Committing to a cannabis wellness perspective, means I’m also committing to the full spectrum of natural healing; for example, a daily meditation practice; regular yoga; 1-2 hours outdoors every day regardless of the weather; as well as, a nearly vegan diet and nearly alcohol-free lifestyle. This requires discipline and the proof is in the pudding.
I feel happier and healthier than I have at any previous point in my life.
I’m out of the cannabis closet, documenting my journey and smashing stigma so others can experience this as well.
Q: At what point did you decide to become involved in the cannabis industry? Why?
A: In 2016, I was invited to join BlyssCloud by a friend I knew from Europe when I was 18 years old. She’s a very successful business woman and mother of 4. She recognized that women as a demographic were not being targeted by the cannabis industry.
Up until joining BlyssCloud, my career focus had been bouncing around…. I worked in residential development; I’d been a meditation teacher; I was a buyer; and I owned a retail boutique. I was all over the place. Cannabis feels like the glue for me.
I’m able to combine my passion for mental, physical and spiritual wellness with my passion for style and fashion. BlyssCloud is a platform where we’re able to share a POV which wasn’t being represented in cannabis and is now growing exponentially. We do events and blog about our cannabis experiences. Join our email list to be in the know.
I believe in this plant, and I encourage more women to make the shift to working in cannabis. We need you. This is a brand-new industry, and we’re able define how we want it to be. The more voices the stronger we are.
Q: What do you think the social stigma of cannabis will be in 10 years from now?
A: We’re at a unique moment in history where for the first time both the government and big business are supportive of legalizing cannabis. Now with cannabis being federally legal in Canada, we’re able to test the plant which is offering us a greater understanding of the nuances of the cannabinoids, terpenes, dosage control and consumption methods. The science is coming and when it arrives, we’ll witness a shift in the stigma. Right now, the stigma is real.
In 10 years, we’ll have the science, this knowledge will bring cannabis consumption into the mainstream for both medicinal and lifestyle recreational. Baby boomers are the living generation that has been most impacted by the social history and criminalization of this plant as they’ve lived through both Nixon and Reagan; as they age they’ll be the largest demographic of cannabis consumers. In the future, we’ll offer our aging population healthier alternatives to pharma and opioids. Retirement homes will support cannabis consumption and people in their final years will live a higher quality of life than their predecessors.
In 10 years, University degrees and specialized training will be critical for employment in the cannabis industry. We’re at a unique time when anyone can decide to work in cannabis and find a job with no prior experience.
Stratas and condo bylaws will shift from restrictive and dogmatic rules to creatively define respectful consumption so neighbours and communities can come together.
Women will no longer be shamed for their cannabis choices. With the launch of a new industry, comes the opportunity to define our career pathways. Gender bias will shift towards a healthy equilibrium. The greater the diversity of people working in cannabis will ensure the greatest diversity of people consuming cannabis. We must work together in order to smash stigma and normalize consumption.
Q: Any advice of the DOs and DONTs of consuming cannabis for first users?
A: Due to the criminalization of cannabis since 1923 in Canada, we’ve been blind on how to best understand this plant. The mantra is, Start Low Go Slow.
I compare the cannabis journey with the yoga journey. My hardest yoga class ever, was the first yoga class I ever attended…. It took me 6 years to finally walk through the door for the first time. After a couple of years of regular practice, I thought I had yoga nailed down. I was wrong. It’s now 19 years later with a regular and consistent practice, and every single time I’m on the mat, I learn something new.
Cannabis is very similar. This plant is complicated and layered. This is a lifetime journey of education and experimentation. Curiosity is essential.
There are many educational resources. I recommend Strain Print to track your cannabis sessions and to discover who your favorite resources for cannabis education are and follow them. I love SheCann, this is a private Facebook group focused on empowering Canadian women with an ongoing, education focused dialogue about cannabis.
My specialty is documenting my cannabis journey and guiding on how to consume legally, safely and respectfully. On my YouTube channel I discuss legal cultivars within Health Canada regulations, and my Instagram highlights the fun side.
Instagram: @unitymarguerite
Twitter: @unitymarguerite
YouTube: @unitymarguerite
Pinterest: @unitymarguerite