Nikki Lawley is a cannabis advocate and founder of Nikki and the Plant, LLC. She answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insider’s ‘People to know’ series.
What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?
Founder of Nikki and the Plant, LLC. Cannabis advocate and North American educator on cannabis.
How long have you worked in the cannabis space?
Four-and-a-half years.
What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?
Nurse – pediatrics, casino dealer, business owner (HVAC), indoor air quality expert.
What led you to the cannabis industry?
Cannabis saved my life after sustaining a traumatic brain injury while working as a pediatric nurse. I was on a host of pharmaceutical drugs and plant medicine was never offered as an option. I was forced into the workers compensation system. I am one of the few medical cannabis patients for whom workers compensation covered my medical cannabis.
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I have gone from being a healthcare provider to being a medical patient to now being an outspoken advocate for North America. Over 80,000 people follow my journey across North America. I am helping to remove the stigma of cannabis medicine and sharing my journey to normalize the conversation.
I’m planning on creating the first product line to focus on cannabis and the science behind why it helps support chronic pain, cognitive function, anxiety, and depression.
I’m also on the Patient Advisory Board for NY State Americans for Safe Access and for CannabisBPO.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?
Follow your heart, do what you’re good at. If you love the plant – transfer your skills to what you’re good at in the cannabis industry. Expect adversity, challenges and frustrating days. Trust your gut. Cannabis can be a seedy industry but also a rewarding one. It is critical to know who is legit and who is full of shit.
What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?
Currently, with so many changes and adjustments, it is very difficult to predict. Cookies and some of the underhanded activities and lack of transparency is concerning, and the latest with P. Diddy is also a crazy development.
I believe until NYS brings in experts from other states and other advocates for policy and inclusion it is just going to be lots of talk without a lot of action. Dasheeda Dawson is a great start for people with experience who know the issues. We need more like her involved. People with experience and exposure to other markets.
I would also like to see the Indigenous community be able to have a way to benefit in the NY ecosystem.
Do you use cannabis? If so, what’s your favorite method (flower, dabs, edibles, tinctures, etc.), and why?
I am a medical cannabis patient actively using medical cannabis products from our dispensaries. As a nurse, I understand medical cannabis and help educate the canna-curious who want to learn more and need a relatable person to assist them.
Who should contact you, and what’s the best method (i.e. email, phone number, LinkedIn handle, etc.)
Nikkiandtheplant.org
