We were lucky to catch up with Loely Burgos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Loely, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I would have to say that a defining experience for me making the decision to start a career in the Cannabis Industry was when I was asked to help Sandra. Sandra had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and wanted a more holistic way of dealing with all of the symptoms associated with the end of her life. She was in pain which made it difficult for her to sleep and eat. Seeing first hand the quality of life The Plant was giving her caused me to question everything I had ever been told about Cannabis. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to understand the science behind it. I understood and could definitively attest to Cannabis being medicine and a viable option for so many suffering needlessly. My time with Sandra along with my own first had experience with The Plant offering me a safe alternative to an SSRI that had lead to suicidal ideations, was the point in which I knew the rest of my life would be dedicated to advocacy and education. I wanted to work with brands creating products I thought could be considered “medical grade” cannabis products. It has given me the strength needed to persevere in an industry still under attach and still in its infancy. I knew I wanted to do what I could to establish a company whose primary focus was in proper cannabis consumer education. And so it is that the intention of PlantEDG is simply to “plant seeds of hope one conversation at a time”.

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

I started working in the Cannabis industry in 2018 after enjoying a 15 year career in the music industry as a publicist, and then a stay at home mom for 10 years. It was an intentional decision after having a life altering experience as a cannabis medical patient. I had a strong desire to connect with customers to offer scientific evidence and guidance through the licensed market. There were few ways for me to do this outside of brand ambassador work. I feel strongly that cannabis should not be marketed in the same way beer and wine is. Cannabis in my opinion is plant medicine that requires an education. Over time it started to become clear that the industry needed an agency that would provide individuals with experience and knowledge to not only help sell their products, but to also help educate consumers on scientific information. In an effort to fill that gap PlantEDG provides a network of experienced cannabis certified independent contractors willing to go out for brands on an “as needed” basis. We have partnered with the leading Canna Studies University in the world, Oaksterdam University, in order to recruit from it’s alumni in all parts of the country making it an entry point for many interested in starting to work in the cannabis industry.

We also partner with these brands and dispensaries to bring consumer education “Cannabis 101” workshops to the community. Our intent to create a small army of individuals committed to the advancement of cannabis as a viable medical option for anyone willing to try it.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

As a field marketing consultancy I am managing a network of independent field marketing contractors. Taking the time to get to know my reps and show interest in their personal development and overall wellbeing I feel plays a big part in team retention. We train our reps to show up prepared and with passion for the assignment. I’m proud of the work we do to not only encourage our team to grow in their studies by providing a discount with one of the industries leading Cannabis educational institutions, but we also have been instrumental in securing permanent positions for some of our reps with our clients. We all want to be appreciate, recognized, understood, and encouraged. My approach to managing a team from whom I’m asking to show up prepared to give 100% starts with a simple question, “How would I want to be treated?” I’ve found this to be a key factor in why we have reps excited and happy to go out to sell and educate.

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

By the end of 2019 I had worked up enough courage to step out and start my company with our first consumer education workshop held in February 2020. I was excited to continue the series and we had the second date set when the pandemic hit and I suddenly saw my excitement crumble. Only two years earlier I had spent the entire year of 2017 weening myself off of an SSRI using nothing but cannabis and talk therapy that over time left me agoraphobic and dealing with daily suicidal ideations . With the realization that the world was coming to a halt and that every plan I had would no longer be possible, I could only see myself mentally and emotionally start to spiral. Panic attacks, anxiety and overwhelming depression placed me in a mental state that I was not sure I could survive. Thoughts of living out of my car began to consume me and my desire to just crawl in a whole and disappear was constant. Yet with each passing day I could feel an inner force keeping me calm and guiding me slowly out of the “rabbit hole” I fell into. During moments of mental calm I began to practice mental health tools that enabled me to grow emotionally stronger each day. Learning to be still and accept the present as the gift that it is, while trusting that in time all that is needed will be provided became the gift the pandemic gave me. And as clarity began to set in and stronger mental and emotional foundation began to appear I took the opportunity to further my studies and look for the opportunities where I could be or service. Almost a year to the day that everything fell apart I picked up my first field marketing client and have not looked back since. There were seeds sown during the year of 2020 and I’m happy that on the other side of what seemed like the end I am seeing my garden beginning to blossom.

Contact Info:

• Website: plantedg.com
• Instagram: @theplant_edgchic
• Linkedin: Loely Burgos or PlantEDG