Pura Vida’s vision is to provide patients with a healthy alternative to medicating by formulating the perfect combination of superfoods and infusing them with the highest quality cannabis. Pura Vida products are made with natural nutrients, antioxidants and organic cannabis that fuel your body in a healthy and delicious way.
Here, we learn more about Heather, one of the co-founders of Pura Vida Health:
What did you do before starting Pura Vida Health?
I attended the Academy of Art in San Francisco for a year, but dropped out to team up with my partner to start the non-cannabis infused granola company “One Planet” which later stemmed to creating Pura Vida Health!
After dropping out I began studying things that actually interested me and got certified as a Yoga Instructor, Holistic Nutritionist, and Meditation Guide.
How has your professional/educational background helped you with Pura Vida?
I pretty much submerged myself in the industry and educated myself as I went along, experiencing first hand. That is the best way in my opinion.
“Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine”
What is the inspiration behind Pura Vida Health?
I suffered from seizures for most of my life, and took prescribed medication and still had seizures- the medication made me an unhappy zombie with little emotion and no appetite.
I tried Cannabis with the instruction of a holistic doctor and haven’t had a seizure in 5 years. My mission is to now educate and provide a product that allows others to heal themselves holistically with cannabis- mind, body and soul.
How did you start/transition to making edibles as a business?
My partner and I started a granola company that is sold in over 400 health markets in California, including Whole Foods. We implemented the same food grade standard into creating our edible line. We made product, lab tested it, packaged it, and took it to dispensaries who sold it and within two years we now sell to over 100 dispensaries across California.
What types of edibles to you specialize in? What is your bestselling product?
We create Cannabis Superfoods. Organic, Vegan, Gluten Free, and Non-GMO Protein Bars, Granolas, Seed Mixes and Trail Mixes.
Do you have any business partners? If so, how have you balanced business responsibilities?
My partner Issa and I started the company, and our CFO Cody joined us about a year ago. Issa is in charge of managing manufacture and back-end responsibilities, I run the marketing, social media, the Los Angeles Sales region, manage employees, create the packaging and marketing materials, and am in charge of product innovation.
Our CFO Cody runs and manages all the numbers and payroll, as well as back-end responsibilities and internal communication.
What makes your product unique from the competition?
We are FIRST in the industry to use ingredients certified by the USDA- organic, vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO. We were also the first organic healthy edibles to launch- adding no refined sugar or other additives to our products. Many others claim to be healthy yet using multiple refined sugars in a product confuses and delays the digestive system in the body- which is the foundation of health. When ingesting cannabis, the ingredients should act as a medical vehicle for proper absorption within the body.
“Focus your energy on creating and healing, and let everything else follow behind.”
Describe the life of an entrepreneur.
I work all hours of the day, 7 days a week. I do not have ‘days off.’ Being an entrepreneur is incredible- yet exhausting. I have transformed my lifestyle into a constant mode of creation. Sometimes I have the urge to retire to an island and teach/practice yoga the rest of my life. But I’m still here!
What is something you wished you known before becoming an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry?
We ARE the industry. We are creating it- so do your research, make connections, and do your best to understand every aspect of this confusingly beautiful industry.
Study the food market, customers, cannabis patients- everyone! Then you will spark your destined creation.
Where do you see your business 5 years from now?
We are currently expanding to other states- I see Pura Vida Health being the international provider of trusted, wholesome, organic healing cannabis superfoods.
How do you see the future of the cannabis industry?
Hopefully in a positive, uplifting place- healing and educating people about the truth behind this holistic healing herb! And of course, making everyone lots of money in a way that is distributed fairly, and taking care of our communities and people- around the world.
Cannabis is the healing of the nation – Pura Vida Baby!!!