Author Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey’s Favorite Cannabis Products

In 2005, Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey started growing cannabis in California. Since then, it has touched every part of his life. It has been a source of income, medicine, practice, art and research. Aggrey is the author of “The Art of Weed Butter” and the co-founder of hemp and herb brand Xula.

In 2016, she moved to Mexico City, where she studied the links between cannabis, food and the Mexican African diaspora.

“All of these topics are topics that I’ve done indirect or direct research on for the past few years,” Aggrey told me. in a very conceptual way, my research has helped me endure, understand and appreciate my life here in Mexico as a black woman.”

She also founded Cenas Sin Fronteras“a charity dinner project for blacks and browns on the border” in Mexico City. “I created Cenas out of desperation to do something in response to the xenophobic and racist policies of the United States. Through food, art, music and gathering, Cenas Sin Fronteras was designed to be a series continues to dinners examining the invisible and visible lines that connect us.”

The story behind Xula

Xula is a colloquial Mexican term. “For us, Xula is defined as cool, smart, cute, balanced — to feel good about yourself. This is what we aim to create in the lives of those who use our products,” said Aggrey.

Early on, Aggrey and his co-founder Karina Primelles grew hemp on a family farm in the Latgawa, Upland Takelma, and Cow Creek Umpqua territories in southern Oregon.

Primelles and Aggrey founded Xula “out of respect and understanding… for the plant and herbal medicine. We recognized the devastating lack of products specifically intended to nourish our bodies – bodies with wombs, vaginas, bodies that menstruate. The severe lack of representation for Black and Latino individuals like us has also galvanized us to build something not just for ourselves, but for our communities.”

Here are the five weed products Aggrey can’t live without.

Organic cannabis grown on site

“My personal cultivation and stash of any cannabis strain – whether THC or CBD dominant – is my number one cannabis staple. There’s nothing simpler and more powerful than growing your own organically, whether it’s cannabis or any herb or plant.”

phew! (moon + womb) tincture of Xula

the Xula phew! dyeing contains 500 milligrams of CBD and 100 milligrams of CBG, as well as passionflower, mugwort, and other herbs. “We’ve specifically designed the herbs to relieve menstrual cramps, menstruation-related back pain, and to alleviate pain from other conditions associated with issues such as endometriosis or fibromyalgia.”

Broccoli Magazine

Broccoli Magazine is run by an all-female team, and Aggrey hosts her podcast with her friend and fellow editor Lauren Yoshiko. “It’s the best way as a cannabis creator and professional to stay informed and updated on the art, trends, colleagues, and developments in the cannabis space.”

Barbari Airplane Mode Smoking Blend

“[Airplane Mode] is the most delicious and fragrant addition I add to my homemade weed in a joint. I’m the type of person who sometimes gets turned on by weed, so incorporating other herbs to induce more calmness is my jam.”

Barbari was founded by Meryl Montgomery and Valarie Sakota in 2016. It all started with an herbal joint – marrying cannabis with things like jasmine, sage and raspberry.

Joining the Floret Coalition

“The Foil Coalition is an anti-racism collective of over 130 cannabis and cannabis-adjacent brands that raise funds and awareness for approved organizations that prioritize the needs of Black, Latina and Indigenous communities. »

During its first year, members of the Coalition Floret donated more than $120,000 to numerous organizations, including my sister’s housewhich helps provide safe and secure housing for the LGBTQ community in Memphis, TN.

In addition to Aggrey, the Floret Coalition’s board of directors includes Kassia Graham, director of community and strategy for Cannaclusive, which hosts the cannabis business resource database. InclusiveBaseand Maya Shaw, a cannabis advocate in Richmond, Virginia.

Photo courtesy of Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey