Founder and CEO of Budzy Box, Shatoia Robinson, on Why She Started One of the Best Women’s CBD Subscription Boxes Out There

Budzy is a monthly subscription box that elevates the CBD experience with its ever-changing curation of premium products from food to fashion to lifestyle. Budzy also dispenses knowledge with each box, empowering women through cannabidiol education to break down stereotypes and embrace a life infused with CBD.Their boxes feature world-class CBD-infused products: calming wearable patches, chocolates that fight anxiety, nourishing facial masks, feel-good teas, healthful treats, soothing balms, must-have novelties, and much more. All conveniently delivered to your door! We interviewed Shatoia to find out more about her company and mission.

High Herstory: When and how did you first discover cannabis and/or CBD?

Shatoia Robinson: I discovered the benefits of CBD while working as a Medical Device Rep in an Endocrinologist’s office. I noticed that patients that included CBD in their treatment regimen were doing so much better than patients on traditional Diabetic therapy. I was amazed by the results and intrigued on the topic of CBD from that moment on.

High Herstory: How do you think women can benefit from your monthly CBD box specifically?

Shatoia Robinson: There’s been stereotypes and stigmas attached to cannabis and CBD use for far too long, particularly when it comes to women and BIPOC. At Budzy, we’re trying to strip away all the negativity and noise. With so many options on the market, it’s hard to know who to trust…so we’re doing all the work. Our squad of healers and educators want to empower women through education to own the CBD lifestyle. Whether these women are CBD and cannabis enthusiasts or new to the world of CBD, we’re helping to “elevate their indulgence”. Each box is carefully curated to include premium, tested, natural products as well as some valuable educational material so women can pursue the CBD lifestyle with style and confidence. We also do our best to highlight brands from women and BIPOC.

High Herstory: Being a black woman-owned business, did you notice any barriers to entry in this industry? How did you overcome them?

Shatoia Robinson: The biggest obstacle has always been access to capital. It’s hard to gain the loans and or grants that are being offered during the pandemic from traditional banking institutions and I can not apply for Federal Grants since Budzy is a cannabis business.

High Herstory: Do you see value in isolates and broad-spectrum products as well as full-spectrum? How do you generally use each?

Shatoia Robinson: I absolutely see the value in all forms of CBD. While I personally prefer full-spectrum products for the “entourage” of their therapeutic components and optimal healing benefits, I think broad-spectrum and CBD isolates can suit different personal needs and concerns.This is again where Budzy comes in to educate women about the difference. Broad-spectrum products and isolates can offer value for those that don’t want to consume THC. While isolates in particular are not nearly as healing and therapeutic, they can be a great introductory tool to someone new to CBD or offered where full-spectrum products are not yet available. CBD and its benefits should be approachable and accessible to everyone and if isolates are a baby step into this wonderful world, then I’m all for them!

High Herstory: Do your pups take CBD? How do you administer it?

Shatoia Robinson: Both Lola and Coco Chanel love CBD! Lola gets extremely anxious in the car. No matter how comfortable I make her bed in the back seat, she insists on trying to climb up front with me which is not only distracting but really annoying while driving. I’ll give them calming CBD treats before long drives and it chills them out enough that they usually just curl up together and watch the cars go by. They are both really energetic and athletic little pups, constantly running and leaping everywhere. I make sure their treats have full-spectrum CBD to fight inflammation and promote hip, joint and back health.

High Herstory: What’s your all-time favorite way to consume THC and CBD and how did you find your perfect dose?

Shatoia Robinson: My favorite way to consume CBD is either sublingually or edibles. I love tinctures from Canni Hemp Co., Chocolate from Grön, and Potli Hemp Infused Chili Oil is an all time favorite! With help from my GoldLeaf CBD jotter plus using my Budzy Guide to Microdosing I’ve been able to figure out what doses and methods work best for me and my body.

High Herstory: Who are your cannabis industry heroes? How about non-cannabis industry heroes?

Shatoia Robinson: Wanda James is my industry hero. She is the first Black Woman owner of a Cannabis Dispensary in Colorado, and my non industry hero is my Mom—Sandra Robinson(a multi hyphenate entrepreneur).

High Herstory: How can you and your business be best supported? Anything you want to promote?

Shatoia Robinson: Sign up to be part of the Budzy squad and spread the word!! Each box focuses on and has premium products from our four foundational categories: Beauty & Wellness, Lifestyle, Education & Science, and Food & Beverage. We feel empowered knowing we’re helping women navigate the world of CBD while exuding style and self-love. With Budzy we bring everything you need to begin or continue your CBD journey right to your doorstep…and embrace a life infused with CBD.

Learn more about Budzy.

Female Comedians: Monique Moses

Monique Moses is a Canadian born, Brooklyn based, actor, improvisor, writer & comedian. Monique has starred in and created content for Funny or Die, College Humor, Mashable, Refinery29, Bustle, BrickTV, IFC Comedy Cribs, UCB and more. She also plays Stagecoach Mary in High Herstory Season One.  

High Herstory: Tell us about yourself, what are your passions? 

Monique Moses: You know, six months ago I would’ve said my greatest passion was collecting matching hoodie and sweatpant combinations, and now that I think about it…not much has changed. Lol! I have been actively trying to force myself to do things that I don’t generally do – like, I don’t like to cook but my husband and I started Blue Apron a couple months back and so I’ve been *begrudgingly* making those. And I also hate exercising, but I’ve been forcing myself to walk my dog for a couple of hours a day. So. I guess my new passion is growing the f*** up? I dunno! I’m also learning Korean, so there’s that? 

High Herstory: You play Stagecoach Mary in Season one of High Herstory. What was it like to play her?  

Monique Moses: It was dope! Who wouldn’t love playing a boss like the Notorious SCM.  I thoroughly enjoyed pretending to shoot mail thieves and parcel bandits, and just generally repping the fine folks at the USPS as best as I could.

High Herstory: Do you have a favorite moment from being on set with High Herstory? What was the funniest moment?

Monique Moses: When we recreated traveling through the elements with a fan and leaves and other random stuff the art department had for us. Truly, I live for sight gags. It was my most favoritest thing.

High Herstory: As an actress and storyteller, what made you want to be a part of a project that is pro-cannabis? 

Monique Moses: To be honest, I was more attracted to the story element and the focus on badass women than it being pro-Cannabis…but if being involved in something like this can help break down any of the old school, unwarranted stigmas that surround it, I see it as a plus! 

Weed Diary: Quarantine Edition

Every wonder about the habits of people who consume cannabis? How often do people smoke weed? When do they use cannabis and how much? What are they consuming? We asked cannabis consumers to write about a day in their lives to see how, why and when they use weed.

Alex Lento, 20s, Los Angeles, CA.

Cannabis connoisseur Seth Rogan was quoted in a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter saying that during his quarantine he has smoked a “truly ungodly amount of weed.” That’s honestly the best answer for when someone asks what I’ve been up to as well. There have been some great hikes, a few road trips, and some new recipes but the majority of my time has been spent watching ridiculous TV in the same sweats as yesterday with my bong in my lap.

If I’m honest, outside of all this I smoke pretty much through the day, every day. The daily routine used to be wake and bake with my coffee for the perfect slow jolt of energy the mix of caffeine and sativa gave me, while getting ready for my day of taking orders, making small talk, and overall being way more of a social butterfly than I actually am. Followed by coming home to shower and decompressing by smoking once again, making dinner and making plans for doing whatever else we used to do pre-quarantine. Finally, smoking again before bed to ensure a goodnights sleep and not to mention a few unscheduled tokes here and there; depending on the day. I do really enjoy being in the service industry and helping others, but at times it can be very draining, especially with difficult customers. I smoke to keep a positive outlook on life and to keep it pushing when times get tough. 

This quarantine, stay at home order, lockdown or whatever you choose to call it has forced us all to make some sort of changes in the daily routine. For myself this means not currently working and finding new things to do each day to try to keep some sort of sanity and schedule. The routine I once thought to be monotonous I now find myself missing just a little bit. Each day seemed to have some purpose and now it can be hard to find that purpose, or to find a new one. 

Not going to lie, at first, I was sort of excited for the quarantine. Some time to just chill and do nothing mandated by our crazy government? We all complain about our jobs and our routines and how there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Now we have all the time we need to reorganize the closet, go through the fridge for the first time in 15 years, learn a new skill, or spend the quality time with our families. It took me about a month and half to realize I organized everything more than once and started to go a little stir crazy. Finally, some things out here in California are starting to open but most people including myself are a little cautious to get right back out there and are still adhering to social distance measures, staying in if possible and wearing masks. My daily routine, if we can call it that, is now something like; wake up at who knows what time, make some coffee and get ready for my day of finding new shows to watch on Hulu and Netflix, trying again at one of the million hobbies or crafts I decided to start and never finish, or if I’m up for it going a for a walk around the block. Meanwhile, smoking my bong. All day long. Lucky for me in Southern California, getting my buds or whatever else a quarantined stoner girl could need is still super easy. Edibles, waxes, oils, bath bombs, lotions, and tinctures are all great at a time like this when you want to experiment with how they affect you personally. Keep in mind the infused goodies have a longer lasting and different high that often take a little longer to kick in, so as with any form of marijuana, handle with care. 

The original plan was to stock up pre-lockdown so I could avoid going out as much as possible, but who could be prepared for 3 months? I managed to stock enough for about the first month, however that was also my birthday month so treat yourself? My local shops are doing a good job and are still open and have amped-up the sanitation asking everyone to wear masks while the budtenders wear masks and gloves to handle your goods. They are also limiting the number of customers inside to adapt to social distancing measures. My favorite nearby dispensary gives the cutest pink containers for your flowers and is mostly female run so I always feel comfortable running in when I have to, plus it’s nice to see a familiar friendly face at a time like this. They also just started mobile ordering so you can order from an online menu to make pick up a lot quicker. A ton of west coast dispensaries have turned to delivery for the customers that don’t feel safe or motivated to leave the house just yet. 

Here are a few tips I’ve given myself to try to slow the burn: 

1. Try not to smoke until at least noon. This is easy for me most days because I sleep until about 10 a.m. anyway. Just give yourself a little bit of time to wake up naturally.

2. Find activities or something to do to make some sort of new routine and keep yourself busy. Painting, journaling, or doing puzzles are great indoor activities to try. Another benefit of being in southern California is the weather, so luckily, I am able to go for hikes and walks most days.

3. Put it away. I have the bad habit of packing my bong over and over again if I leave it on the table. Out of mind, out of sight.

4. Pack your grinder with what you think you’ll smoke that day and try not to go over that amount. This will also help you ration your goods.

5. Smoke with friends over zoom or skype. Smoking is most fun when it’s social so call up your stoner pals and pass to the left.

  Just remember times are tough right now, go easy on yourself. You are not alone if you are feeling scared, worried, unmotivated, or just indifferent. I’ve had mostly good days in which I really enjoy the time off and can find joy in the small things. Some days I feel super motivated and productive, ready for this next chapter in my life.  There are also bad days I don’t get out of pajamas. If I’m honest, the current state of things has me on a mental roller coaster of self-awareness and self-worth.  It helps to think of this as the universe giving us time to reset and refresh. Try to use this time to your advantage and focus on the positive things. Weed for me, is a stress reliever so don’t feel bad if you end up smoking way more than anticipated or if the dispensary is the only place you’ve left your house to go. We will get through this and we will get back to some sort of new normal.  Relax, roll a blunt, get some sun, take advantage of this time to be the ultimate stoner you always were deep down. 

Follow Alexandra @Alex_Lento