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Get to know Mae Bereal, a mother of four from Los Angeles who recently launched her own collection of organic and holistic cannabis-infused edibles and products with company, High End Society.
EstroHaze recently caught up with Bereal to discuss High End Society, her experience in the cannabis industry, and how she balances being a full-time mom and running her own budding business.
What inspired High End Society and you getting involved in the cannabis industry?
Bereal: My inspiration for High End society came from my children, my true motivation. Prior to having my kids I wasn’t interested in natural or holistic lifestyles. But, with each child my curiosity grew.
I started studying healthy alternatives other than regularly prescribed medications. As I was researching healthy, natural options everything kept pointing towards cannabis.
Sweet Potatoe Pies (50mg, 10mg micro-dose)
How long have you been baking? What kinds of edibles does High End Society offer?
My sweet potato pie is what started High End Society. I would go to cannabis events and see all these different edibles, but there were no sweet potato pies. I’ve been making sweet potato pie since I was 20, when I started making them for Thanksgiving. I make the pies with only 5 ingredients: organic sweet potatoes, organic sugar, free-range eggs, organic flour and butter. No preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup and I make the canna-butter myself.
High End Society’s Signature Organic Sweet Potatoe Pies
You also make a body scrub. Can you tell us about it?
Once I got involved in the cannabis industry I started learning about the benefits of topicals and started infusing cannabis into the scrub. The scrub increases blood circulation, it exfoliates, and moisturizes.
What has your experience been like as a female entrepreneur of color in the cannabis industry?
I think being a woman in any male-dominated profession is hard in itself, but add that I’m a woman of color, a younger woman of color at that, with a new company. Many people look down on me and think I don’t know anything solely based on these factors. It’s just made me work that much harder to prove that I am capable.
Mae Bereal, CEO of High End Society
Prior to starting your business, you were always saving money and spotting great deals as an “extreme couponer”. Did your experience couponing help prepare you for your current role as CEO of High End Society?
Once you become an extreme couponer you never lose the ability to spot a good deal or the ability to spot a good sale. You know that you may have more information than the person behind the register or who you’re doing business with because you actually did your research. These skills have helped me a few times in my business. Information and knowledge is key.
Philanthropy and community are extremely important to you—how does your business give back?
Everyone knows there is money to be made in the cannabis industry, but many people don’t know that there are so many people out there who need cannabis, and these products, but can’t afford them. So many people are dying from cancer who could use edibles to help them with their appetite, but can’t afford it because it’s so expensive and healthcare doesn’t cover it.
High End Society’s Royale Cookie
How do you balance being a mother of four and CEO of a cannabis business?
I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years, but always had side businesses. Initially, it was difficult to adjust when I first started High End Society because I’d been in complete mommy mode for a while and had to make the transition to business mode and CEO.
When you’re CEO you’re basically in charge of your whole day. It took time, and trial and error, for me to discipline myself, but now, my days are more balanced. I wake up every morning about 6am, open my windows and start listening to gospel. Some days I have to bake, other days I have interviews. After an interview, I may have to drop by a dispensary or go to a meeting, and then I go pick up the kids. Honestly, its hard balancing it all but its worth it.
My motivation is to create a better world for my children. I want to bring back growing your own food, being organic, and getting the proper nutrition. That plays out in my business, too. At High End Society, our edibles and products are made using healthy, organic products.
What advice would you give to women interested in getting involved in the cannabis industry?
The advice I would offer would be to follow your heart. Stay focused and be strong enough that when you experience negativity from people it doesn’t deter you from what you got going on. Brush it off and keep grinding.
Follow High End Society on Instagram for more pictures of Bereal’s delicious edible creations and where to find them in a city near you!In this article:Cannabis Parents, Edibles, High End Society, Interview, Mae Bereal, marijuana and motherhood, medical cannabis, patients, women in cannabis