We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tea Downs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Oh, definitely. When I chose to combine my enthusiasm for cannabis with my skills in art and education, I was prepared for some misunderstandings. One of the most common responses I encounter is, “So, you just talk about weed all day?” This often prompts me to clarify that my work involves far more than mere conversation.

I’m deeply involved in every aspect of my work—researching, creating, and teaching. I hand-draw each diagram, design the layout, and oversee the execution of all my projects. It’s a comprehensive process where I wear many hats.

Early on, it was frustrating to be perceived as just a teacher, when in fact, the majority of my time is spent as a creator. I remember feeling the need to sign every piece of art to assert my role. But over time, I realized that the cohesive and consistent quality of my work speaks for itself. This realization helped me appreciate that misunderstandings are part of the journey and that my art’s inherent clarity would ultimately convey my role and intentions.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an artist and cannabis educator born and raised in Chicago. My love for art began with a gift from my grandfather—my very first art set. He was a working artist and his influence on my creative journey has been profound. Art has always been my way of expressing the world around me, but it wasn’t until I became a medical cannabis patient that I found a way to merge my artistic passion with another growing interest—cannabis.

It all started with a simple observation: the number of containers that come with cannabis products. I saw an opportunity to upcycle, turning those empty glass jars into something beautiful. I’d decorate and resell them, each piece a small expression of creativity sparked by cannabis.

My path took a significant turn when I joined Sparkd. This was where I truly found my stride, blending my three passions—art, cannabis, and teaching—into something powerful. I was given the chance to create training guides and resources for our team and I embraced it fully. The idea of making complex information about cannabis accessible and engaging became my mission.

Every resource I create, whether it’s a guide, a diagram, or a script, is born out of hours of research and preparation. I dive deep into topics that were once unfamiliar to me, ensuring that when I sit down with the team I’m ready to make the learning process not just informative but enjoyable. And it’s not just the team—I’ve extended this to our customers as well, offering interactive art classes that double as educational experiences. For instance, we held a candle-making class where participants learned about terpenes—a perfect blend of creativity and education.

What fills me with pride is knowing that after each session, whether it’s with the team or the public, people walk away feeling like they’ve genuinely learned something. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing that light of understanding in someone’s eyes.

For future clients, I offer more than just training—I offer an experience. My approach is interactive, artistic, and deeply rooted in making cannabis education accessible and engaging. Whether it’s training new staff, retraining existing ones, or educating the public through creative classes, my goal is to use my artistic skills to teach anyone about cannabis in a way that’s memorable and effective.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes, my mission is to de-stigmatize cannabis. I’ve dealt with chronic pain for as long as I can remember, much of it going untreated. But one thing I learned early on was that cannabis could help with the pain. Unfortunately, I was a teenager, and this was long before legalization. It was a difficult place to be—I often felt like a drug addict, like something was wrong with me for using cannabis.

I remember hiding it, feeling the weight of society’s judgment. The fear of being labeled or misunderstood was always there. But as the years passed, things began to change. Society slowly started to open its eyes to the benefits of cannabis. The more I read, the more science emerged, and with it, my anxiety began to lift. I no longer saw cannabis as something to hide, but as a legitimate way to manage my pain.

Still, there was a lingering frustration. As acceptance grew, I encountered people who thought they knew everything about cannabis—people who spread misinformation or treated it carelessly. I realized that this kind of ignorance could be just as harmful as the old stigmas. It became clear to me that someone needed to step up and have real conversations about cannabis. It needed to be explained in a way that everyone could understand, without fear or prejudice.

This realization became my driving force. I committed myself to making cannabis education accessible and approachable. Every day, this mission pushes me to keep learning, creating, and teaching—so that one day, everyone can see cannabis for what it truly is, without the shadows of stigma clouding their view.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Hah, I sure can. Let me tell you about getting fired from my first cannabis job. When I was let go, I was told that my abilities in selling and talking about cannabis were sub-par, that I couldn’t stop making mistakes, and that I didn’t have a future in the industry. It was soul-crushing, and for a split second, I believed them.

At first, I thought about switching careers to something safe, something that wouldn’t leave me feeling so defeated. But then I made a different choice—I decided to give myself a real chance. Instead of retreating, I went out to cannabis events the very next week. I nurtured the connections I had made so far, refusing to let one bad experience define my future.

That’s how I found myself where I am now. If I hadn’t gone through that, if I hadn’t been fired, I might still be stuck, doubting my place in this industry. It was a life-changing moment that taught me the importance of resilience and believing in myself, even when others didn’t.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: toxicsugar.art
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tea-downs-5970b62a1/