EP 219| Canna Queens of Strategy | Branding, Burnout, and Breaking Through

In this empowering episode of Conversations with Kush, Molly “The Kush RN” sits down with the founders of Higher States Marketing, Bree McGee and Sara Gawinski, to talk about what it really takes to market cannabis in a world where plant medicine is powerful—but platforms are petty.From SEO secrets to social media bans, product photography to patient education, these two women are helping brands create intuitive, authentic cannabis content that connects. Whether you're building a dispensary, a legacy brand, or just trying to figure out what the hell "owned platform" means — Bree and Sarah break it down with clarity, honesty, and zero filter.This episode is packed with laughs, wisdom, and the occasional “pussy power” rally cry. 💚💻🌱💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:📈 Why SEO and website content matter more than Instagram in cannabis marketing📷 The importance of real imagery, showing scale, and telling the story through photos💬 How to speak to different cannabis consumers—especially women and first-timers🧠 How education can build brand trust and consumer loyalty🚫 Why relying on social media can be risky (and what to do instead)👯‍♀️ The power of women-led collaboration in cannabis business & brandingFind the Right Strain: Episode Chapters1:00 – Meet Bree & Sarah: How Higher States Marketing Was Born5:00 – Trauma Bonding in Business & Pandemic Partnership Energy10:00 – Coming Out of the Cannabis Closet | Family, Fear & F*ck It15:00 – Who They Serve: Cannabis Brands that Center Women & Wellness20:00 – Real Photos, Real People | Trust Through Product Imagery27:00 – Education-First Strategy & Why That Wins33:00 – SEO Breakdown | What is It & Why You NEED It39:00 – Blogs, Keywords & The Long Game of Visibility45:00 – Do’s and Don’ts for DIY Cannabis Product Photos51:00 – Social Media Strategy & Why It's NOT Your Primary Platform55:00 – Cannabis for Anxiety, Menopause, Pets & Everything In Between1:02:00 – From Vertigo to Vapes | Their Personal Cannabis Stories1:12:00 – Advice for New Brands in an Uncertain Market1:20:00 – Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Higher States Marketing1:25:00 – Sign Off & Where to Find EveryoneWhere should cannabis brands invest FIRST—websites, social, or community events?Like, comment, and subscribe if you believe women are shaping the future of weed (because we are). Share your favorite cannabis brand in the comments below!Tag your favorite women-led cannabis company & we’ll shout them out in a future episode!#ConversationsWithKush #CannabisMarketing #WomenInWeed #CannabisSEO #PussyPower #HigherStatesMarketing #CannabisContent #CannabisNurse #MinnesotaCannabis