The parallel between wine and cannabis is both an undertone of the education platform but also used directly in education, like with the Aroma Training Program. Al-Naser likens the program to a sommelier training, where budtenders can identify different cannabis aromas in different strains, which allows them to better address Raw Garden’s customers’ needs.
We spoke to Al-Naser to learn more about the likening of wine and cannabis, the goal of Raw Garden Social Club, as well as the company’s future plans. The idea started to come together over the course of about a year. I have spent a good part of the last decade using my experiences with food as a way to help me offer comparisons and talk to others about cannabis aromas. As I became more familiar with wine, the parallels between cannabis and wine started to become obvious and abundant.
Much like aperitifs and digestifs, cannabis has the ability to heighten the consumption experience and also further aid in digestion after the meal is finished. Furthermore, breaking-bread, the sharing of experiences; food, wine, cannabis, gives us a chance to connect with one another more deeply. Bringing cannabis into the fold with food and wine events feels like a natural next step.