My relationship with cannabis began with a single puff, a moment that sparked a deep love for this plant. This affection only grew during my college days as a budtender, where I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of cannabis. Yet, despite its potential, the industry was shackled by outdated stigmas—the lazy stoner stereotype, “bro-y” branding, and barriers to accessing quality products. This disconnect ignited a spark in me. I purchased the domain “missgrass.com,” planting a seed that would take a decade to bloom.
In 2018, Miss Grass blossomed as an online magazine and marketplace for hemp-derived products and accessories. We didn’t just sell products—we cultivated a brand that embodied the modern consumer. Our foundation was built on education and community, creating a space where people could explore cannabis without stigma or confusion. When we introduced Miss Grass cannabis products in 2020, we ensured they met the same high standards our community expected, reinforcing our commitment to quality and community.
Today, Miss Grass is available in seven states. But for us, growth has always been about more than market expansion–it’s about access. That’s why we’re entering the hemp space.
The Same Plant, Different Rules
Hemp and cannabis are the same plant. The only difference is a legal one—hemp is defined as cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC. But THC is THC.
The 2018 Farm Bill inadvertently created a nationwide market for hemp-derived cannabinoids, allowing brands to sell across state lines and through traditional retail and e-commerce. A separate hemp-derived market may not make sense, but it has undeniably expanded access for more people to experience quality plant medicine.
For Miss Grass, this is a game-changer. Unlike many cannabis brands that launched products first and built a community later, we did the reverse—we built a nationwide community first. This unique approach has allowed us to serve our community (almost) everywhere, inspiring us to continue our mission of cannabis accessibility.
This shift marks a turning point for the industry. The future of cannabis will be driven by brands that can activate across channels. From the outset, we built Miss Grass for this moment. We are positioned to thrive in an omnichannel landscape, where brands aren’t confined to state regulations or dispensary shelves alone but can reach consumers wherever they are.
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The Hemp-Derived Market Is a Step Toward True Cannabis Accessibility
The state-licensed cannabis industry is riddled with challenges—onerous tax structures, fragmented regulations, restrictive marketing rules, and barriers to entry that disproportionately impact small and minority-owned businesses. Hemp-derived cannabinoids offer a way to cut through much of that, allowing brands to reach more consumers, educate more people, and drive cannabis normalization forward.
Miss Grass isn’t turning its back on the dispensary channel. From our point of view, they are not in conflict but rather a new channel to provide support for the entire industry and, most importantly, provide consumers more access to this plant. Of course, this isn’t a perfect system. The fact that the same plant is both federally legal and a Schedule 1 drug is absurd. However, the hemp-derived market has opened new doors for federal discussions around reform, access, and industry sustainability. We—industry leaders and advocates—must push for smart, comprehensive policies that don’t leave consumers or businesses behind.
At Miss Grass, we don’t view hemp and cannabis as separate. Regulators may treat them differently, but we sure as hell don’t. Our mission has always been to make cannabis accessible to all, and expanding into hemp is the next step in fulfilling that promise.
