Cannabis Coach Haley has advice for you
In 2017, Haley Hansen noticed a cannabis industry demand that was not being fulfilled.
While working at a dispensary in central Illinois, part of Hansen’s job was answering question from patients about the proper use of medical cannabis products. Hansen once had a patient ask if Hansen could call the patient for more information after work. Later that evening, Hansen received a call from the patient’s husband saying he and his wife were “not having much luck” figure out how to use a vape and wanted Hansen’s advice.
After a quick FaceTime session with Hansen, the patient had the vape working properly.
“It was so fun and easy to help people in this way,” Hansen said. “I thought, ‘I should do more of these after-hours calls.’”
So she started a new business under Haley Hansen Cannabis Consulting: Cannabis Coach Haley.
“There’s a big disconnect between doctors and patients,” said Hansen. “Doctors often recommend cannabis and CBD to patients, but they don’t know the first thing about suggesting dosages or certain products. That’s all left up to the consumer to figure out, so I wanted to be the bridge: take the doctor’s recommendation and help the patient figure out how to use cannabis for their specific health and lifestyle goals.”
Hansen has a Bachelors of Science in Clinical Psychology and has counseled hundreds of people with Cancer, PTSD, and Parkinsons. As one of the few females working the dispensary floor, she often communicated with female patience the most. But Hansen wants to help people feel their best by making cannabis simple and easy-to-understand.
“Imagine being 70 years old and being told by a doctor, ‘I’d like you to try cannabis to help with your cancer symptoms,’” Hansen said. “Often those folks come in and have no idea where to start. Their caregivers or nurses would want to come in and ask questions, but there was no meeting space allowed for those kinds of consults. So I wanted to meet patients where they were at and help explain their cannabis regimen to their family, caregiver, or whoever was helping them.”
Hansen started as a budtender and then moved on to working for a cannabis tech company called Cultivera, where she specialized in software for cannabis growers. In 2019, Hansen received the honor of becoming a Leafly Certified Budtender.
She now works for Equilibria Women, a For Women By Women CBD company (@equilibriawomen), as a Dosage Specialist, where she crafts personalized cannabis routines.
For this year, Cannabis Coach Haley has been booming because Covid-19 has forced many vulnerable patients to stay home and avoid risks.
“People don’t want to spend too long in the dispensary, but they might get home and have questions,” she said. “People typically reach out to me by DM on Instagram (@cannabis_coach_haley) or by emailing me cannabis questions to cannabiscoachhaley@gmail.com. Then I either meet with them one-on-one or I answer their questions live on my YouTube channel. There’s never a shortage of people reaching out to me.”
Hansen often describe her role as a combination of a therapist, a friend, and a budtender—all rolled into one.
“Many people are interested in cannabis and CBD but have no idea where to start,” she said. “And many people are seeking a responsible, medically-focused person who can help them find the best products and dosage. That’s where I come in.”
Two of the most common questions Hansen is asked?
What is the perfect strain for dealing with __________?
How do I get started in the cannabis industry?
Hansen has gathers several funny, sad, and wild storied in her careers.
“One patient might come in looking to use weed to help her relax at a family gathering,” Hansen said. “Then the patient right after that might be someone with stage-4 cancer who uses an iPad to communicate because they can’t speak at all. It can go from light-hearted to intense superfast. “
To help build her YouTube channel, every week Hansen answers cannabis questions that have sent to her via email or Instagram.
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