The New Wellness Frontier: Interview with HerbaBuena.com
Newly legal CBD-based and some THC cannabis or hemp-derived products are representing a broad new frontier in wellness. As part of our series, THE NEW WELLNESS FRONTIER, we interview Alicia Rose, founder of HerbaBuena.
Alicia founded HerbaBuena in 2015 as a lifestyle company focused on improving the health of people and planet
How did you come up with the company name?
We’re located in Northern California where one of our native, wild herbs is called Hierbabuena.
I loved the play on words for a company that I felt could help create a standard for what is truly defined as “Good Herb”.
How did you decide to focus on CBD and canna?
In 2014 I finally got my medical card. I was so excited to go to dispensaries and purchase products. At that time however, there weren’t testing standards, the cultivation methods were favoring indoor and light dep, neither of which I believe to be the highest expression of the plant, and all the products were being made with sugar and mega-doses of THC. I started HerbaBuena really as a hobby business, to ensure myself and my friends were able to access good, pure, sungrown products, that tested free of chemicals. Because there weren’t enough products that met my standards for purity and quality, we had to start making our own. Within 6 months we had two of the first 56 cultivation permits awarded in CA (in Mendocino County), had won our first Emerald Cup award for Rock & Roll our uplifting tincture, were hosting private consumption events to help familiarize folks about this plant in a comfortable, guided and informational setting, and were running a delivery service serving mostly the North Bay area.
Where do you source your ingredients, are they local to your base?
Yes, all our cannabis is grown in Northern California. We source only Certified Biodynamic flower and full-term sun grown.
Our other herbs are sourced by an organic producer also in the North Bay.
Do you have to describe this to people and how to use it, or do they understand it right when they see it?
We have many products. One of our most popular is our Quiver Sensual Pleasure Oil which won Best Intimate Product from GreenState in 2018.
Can you describe some “proven” benefits for wellness ?
We love it for daily use to add a bounce to your step and to help rejuvenate and tone soft tissue. Its also amazing for sex, easing menstrual cramps, and reducing pelvic floor pain.
We say: Massage in and around your private parts, this lovely oil heightens awareness, lubrication and feel-good sensation. Formulated to enhance arousal, extend orgasm, and ease menstrual cramps, it can also be used daily to tone soft tissue and add a bounce to your step. Great for all types of massage!
Is there a large market for it?
We believe there is a quickly growing market for products like these. There are so many toxic, petrochemical based women’s products in the world, once women try our organic botanical infusion, and realize how effective it is for so many wonderful things, they’re hooked.
Where are you currently available
GetSava.com Delivery, Ona.life Delivery, Barbary Coast, Harvest on Geary, Nice Guys Delivery and a few other NorCal dispensaries
What has been the coolest part of launching?
Seeing how our products benefit people. Its extraordinary to see how this plant works.
What has been the hardest thing you’ve found in supporting this product line?
Licensing
Can people use this in food and recipes?
Certainly, our products are all organic and food grade.
What is the biggest legal issue the industry is facing?
Banking, loans, credit card processing and the issues with getting licensed – not only with the cities, counties and state BCC, but the interaction of these permits with the other regulatory bodies including the CDPH, the FDA and MANY others.
What are your favorite uses? Can you share it with us?
We use Quiver nearly every day.
Find it at HerbaBuena.com
