The Canncierge Answers All Your Questions About Cannabis Use

• Christina Forbrich founded The Canncierge to help others appreciate all the benefits of cannabis use that she’s loved for years.  
• Christina’s advice about how to start the conversation around cannabis use. 
• Along with being a cannabis educator, Christina is also a mom. 
• Social media is an integral part of her business and her personal journey with cannabis. 

9-minute read

Chatting with The Canncierge about cannabis use

So, you’re ready to start the conversation about your cannabis use with your friends and family. You’ve got nothing to hide. But you’re worried about how people will react. Not everyone is accepting of the plant. For years, this was how Christina Forbrich felt. Now, she’s open about her cannabis use and how much it helps her.  She started The Canncierge to bring cannabis education and advocacy to everyone else who can benefit from the plant.

What initially prompted you to start being open about your cannabis use/coming out of the cannabis closet?

When I started my company, I initially kept my identity confidential. It was totally anonymous. I was still working in public education. For fear of losing my day job, I wanted to avoid anyone discovering my cannabis use. Eventually, I was laid off and fully devoted myself to The Canncierge. For months, I anonymously posted educational and real-life cannamom content. But, as I watched other women destigmatize cannabis by being totally overt with their cannabis use, a switch flipped inside me. I had to be authentic if I was going to actually do this thing. So I finally showed my face! Honestly, I’ve never looked back. Being myself takes the pressure off and allows me to just focus on creating value and spreading love in the cannabis community.

Who were the first people you told about your cannabis use?

My close friends and my closest brother have always known about my love for the green. But few others around me were in the know. Once I started telling people close to me, my dad became my number one. When I was 25, we got high together for the first time—it was the best! To this day, my pops is one of my favorite sesh buddies! Over the last 5 years I’ve now told 3 generations of my family. Lucky for me, they’re all not only supportive but curious. Now, I’m my family’s weed coach.

How does your cannabis consumption and being a cannabis educator tie into being a mom or influence your parenting?

Frankly, I was a stoner for a long time before I became a mother. So I knew the two would dovetail harmoniously. Being an expert on the plant’s history, applications, and education affords me the vocabulary and knowledge to educate my daughter in a developmentally appropriate way.

How do you teach your daughter about cannabis?

Starting at a very young age, I was showing my child that this plant is medicinal. It’s used for common issues that both humans and animals experience, including her. My now 9-year-old loves hemp balm for her eczema. I also underscore the social context for the villainization of cannabis. It’s important for my child to understand the history of the plant. That includes who’s benefited from it and who hasn’t. Since she’s a California child and I was, too, we live in one of the most open states in the union. But there is such nuance to that. Finally, because I’m raising another white woman, I feel responsible for acknowledging that people are still sitting in jail for something I do as part of my profession. And they’re mainly Black and brown people. That’s racist and wrong. So all of us who benefit from the cannabis industry should work to eradicate that.

Describe The Canncierge in 3 emojis

At The Canncierge, who is the ideal client?

My consulting work is dual pronged. On the individual side, my ideal client is a woman of any age who’s curious about cannabis. She wants an earnest, personalized education and a “weed coach” for her journey. On the brand partnership side, I love working with companies that make products I actually use and value. Ideally, I’m working with a female-helmed brand on research and design, product innovation, or promotional campaigns. I truly adore every aspect of working to normalize cannabis. I also enjoy imparting a sense of educational fun to my work. That can be in confidential consults or a silly-yet-informative reel on Instagram.

When it comes to telling people about cannabis use, family can be the hardest. What tips do you have for talking about cannabis with family members?

Families are so dynamic. There’s really no hard and fast rules. But I’ve found that one way to broach the subject in conservative circles or prohibition states is to start with hemp. Maybe you have an older relative who has arthritis or trouble sleeping. There are hemp-based products that can help with those types of issues. And they’re completely legal to ship across the US. But l also expose new consumers psychologically to the visual of the leaf and the idea of plant medicine in general. Think about that iconic 7-speared leaf! If it’s not part of your life, seeing that leaf can trigger a feeling of criminality. If it IS part of your life, seeing one triggers, well…excitement.

How does psychological exposure make cannabis use a comfortable experience?

Simply giving someone access and exposure to something new facilitates their own experience. I try to shift the context to their own discovery versus simply trying to get them to listen to me tell them about mine. Using the hemp example again, it makes a huge difference if someone is able to soothe their own pain with a topical. I’ve also been pleasantly surprised while speaking to multiple generations of my own family as well as adult clients of all ages. People are more open to cannabis consumption than ever before. Of course, misinformation still runs rampant. So I always recommend that you approach conversations about cannabis armed with facts.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job and what you do?

Clearly, getting checks to smoke weed online is the best. Just kidding! Well, sort of. 😉  Supporting my family by working in the cannabis realm ranks *highly* for me. Moreover, it’s very fulfilling to help others embrace a plant that’s had such an indelibly positive impact on my own life. But, the absolute most rewarding part of my work manifests in my daughter when she talks proudly about my work. When my child shows pride in me, it strengthens me to continue working in a semi-controversial, male-dominated, emerging industry. I’d honestly feel this way regardless of what industry I worked in. What’s most important for me is that my child watches me work hard for my own business and witnesses me being strong and resilient. That’s the example that I want to set.

If you could have an infused dinner with any 3 people, who would you choose and what are you serving?

After the last 2 years, honestly, my 3 best friends. But because ya’ll don’t know them, I’ll go the celebrity route. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chelsea Handler, and Stacy Abrams. We’re eating infused tacos and talking about voting rights in America. We’re also smoking gigantor joints while Chelsea riffs and looking at the stars as NdGT confirms that aliens exist.

How has your personal relationship with cannabis use and your previous experience come together in creating The Canncierge?

My business is the manifestation of decades of me being a complete stonerd! I was a teen when I discovered that cannabis really helped me with excruciating chronic period pain and crippling social anxiety. Cannabis had just been medically legalized in my state, And I was intrigued by it. In every sense of the word, I became a citizen scientist of it. I met cultivators who I’m still friendly with to this day. I also read everything I could get my hands on—from books to microfiche. (Google that ancient tech if you don’t know what it is, ya whippersnapper). But I definitely hid my consumption and research for years. I grew up in the wake of prohibition. So the expectation was that we hid cannabis to avoid the three Js: jail, judgment, and job loss. That’s a big reason why it’s so gratifying to be public with the area of expertise that I’ve been passionate about for the vast majority of my life. Being my total self is very gratifying.

Do you have any advice for people who want to start talking openly about their cannabis use?

Yes, I do! Calculate your risk tolerance and follow your heart as to why you’re doing it. If I worked in a government position with security clearance, I wouldn’t be open about my cannabis use. But if I didn’t feel as though my livelihood would be at stake by divulging my use, I might consider it. Why? Because authentic normalization helps you AND other people. You can do that by sharing your experience online or just telling a friend. Your plant wellness journey can open that door for others as well as expand your own community.

Currently, what’s your favorite way to consume cannabis? Or, what’s a must-have in your stash right now?

Personally, flower and hash are my “daily drivers.” My favorite strains right now are of the fruity variety, like Mimosa and Papaya. As far as the how—my bong, who I call (D)Oprah, is number one in my heart right now. But my Puffco, Dolly Puffton, rivals her daily. Professionally (and I mean that in all seriousness, but I do chuckle), I’m a diligent consumer of retail errrythang. For my clients, I have to know industry offerings, trends, and feedback. And I’m insatiably curious. Lately, the market’s been saturated by cannabis-infused drinks. That’s been incredibly fun market research to do.

Who has helped you the most in your own journey with cannabis?

Definitely other women. For most of my life, I’ve been fortunate enough to buy weed from women who’ve actually grown it themselves. That’s empowered me because representation matters! But it made me feel like I had mentors who were also peers. In the professional realm, the reason I’m passionate about working with women in this industry is because it’s where I feel most comfortable. Through 3 previous careers, I’ve never felt more professionally supported or acknowledged than I do by other women in the cannabis industry.

Has social media played any role in your decision to be more open about your cannabis use? 

Absolutely. It’s played a big role. When I started my Instagram I didn’t show my face out of caution. So I could only achieve a certain level of connection. I remember having a sort of “walk-the-walk” moment. I realized that, if I was brave enough to be my whole, imperfect, stoner self, others might connect with me and form a community. I’m a social scientist. So, for me, it wasn’t just an experiment in the digital arena. I’m an incredibly social person who was searching for a community toehold. Bringing my authentic cannabis love to social media was not only alluring from a kinship standpoint. It also proved to be an organic accelerator toward my dream career. When the veil of anonymity fell, I stepped further into my power. Instantly, my work felt more authentic and successful. I always recognize that I’m privileged to do this work. And, I live in a “legal” state. I also don’t fear retribution from an employer, my spouse, or the police.

How can people keep up with everything The Canncierge is doing?

Follow @TheCanncierge on Instagram. I’ll apologize for the weed puns now!