Cannabis Benefits and the Importance of Education

With The Leaf opening for business this month, we sat down with Store Manager Chansce Pittard to talk about what to expect from the Coachella Valley’s new standard in retail cannabis.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about The Leaf. Can you tell us about your background what led you to this burgeoning industry?

Absolutely. I’m originally from New Mexico and have been a cannabis enthusiast for the past 12 years. Cannabis culture has always been prevalent in my hometown of Santa Fe — even before I had chosen this career path, friends, neighbors, and family members spoke highly of its numerous health benefits. Then when I was 5 years old, my older sister Kate was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. As an adult I learned about the benefits of cannabis for cancer patients, and also found that certain strains helped with my own anxiety and focus.

I attended New Mexico Tech with a background in Mechanical Engineering and Management. Shortly after graduation I noticed a Facebook ad for a cannabis dispensary opening in Albuquerque. A year later I was recognized as New Mexico’s Top Budtender and was promoted to a management role. At this point I decided to explore other markets in order to further expand my knowledge.

Less than a year ago I decided to move to California and explore this amazing state. In a serendipitous turn, I found The Leaf in Palm Desert. After being welcomed to the team, I quickly realized that it’s the perfect workplace for me to grow in the industry. The Leaf has gone to great lengths to put the consumer first and raise the standard for cannabis retail. I’m really excited to manage such a professional workplace and I can’t wait to help usher in a new era on El Paseo.

Can you talk about the variety of products The Leaf will carry, and explain the benefits of each?

For the last year, The Leaf has been curating an inventory of the best cannabis products that California has to offer. Our goal is to carefully select a variety of products that appeal to everyone, from the first-time consumer to the seasoned enthusiast.

Flower, or classic cannabis, is designed for those who want to experience the effects directly from Mother Nature. Being that flower is such a diverse plant, you can find a cannabis solution that increases your quality of life. Whether you want to enhance your creative activities or need fast-acting anxiety relief, the staff at The Leaf will help you find the best solution. We have a wide variety of indoor and outdoor grown flower with a wide range of THC potency.

If you want cannabis on the go, pre-roll is right for you. The classic example is ground cannabis packed into a rolling paper. If you want a more potent experience, The Leaf will also carry a variety of pre-rolls infused with high quality cannabis concentrates, which increase the psychoactive effects. Be prepared for a more intense experience.

Other options include vape pens, concentrates, edibles, beverages, topicals and tinctures. And we’re always interested to hear what products have been successful for our clients. As long as they’re a licensed manufacturer and a good fit for the store, we’ll do our best to carry them!

Speaking of products, how do you go about selecting manufacturers to partner with The Leaf?

There are hundreds of great cannabis manufacturers in California, so it takes time to find the brands that align with our vision and culture. Once we’ve confirmed that the business is a fully legal entity, we talk about the products each brand offers and research their reputation.

Our goal is to provide clients with the best products on the market, so when people share their success stories using a specific product, we do our best to accommodate them. Our staff is constantly researching the latest and greatest in the industry — we’ve worked hard to curate a beautiful and helpful inventory of cannabis products that are designed with your needs in mind.

What are the biggest misconceptions about cannabis and how is The Leaf changing that by elevating the experience?

Cannabis has endured many eras of prohibition and stigma, and the vast majority of negative views stem from massive amounts of misinformation. One of the largest misconceptions with the current cannabis industry is that every product is meant to provide a psychoactive or "high" effect.

In the past 20 years, there have been many studies on the fascinating cannabinoid CBD, which is a compound that naturally grows in cannabis, and is a perfect option for those dealing with inflammation, body pain, anxiety, depression, epilepsy or other neurological disorders, and so much more. The Leaf will offer a wide variety of CBD-based products — you’ll be able to find CBD-based topicals, edibles, flower, beverages and more. Our staff will help you find the best solution to fit your lifestyle.

What would you suggest for those who are curious about cannabis but slightly apprehensive?

While the cannabis industry is booming, and many people are finding relief every day, it can still be a nerve-wracking experience to try a product that was illegal just a few years ago. The best tool you can equip yourself with is simply education.

Our team at The Leaf welcomes any questions you may have related to cannabis, and we’re here to assist you in achieving a higher quality of life!