For this month’s Cannabis Corner, we spoke with Angela Speakman, Founder and CEO of Elucidation Strategies. She is an educator and advocate who founded her business with the goal of presenting our communities with accurate and reliable information about the cannabis industry.
Thank you, Angela, for speak with us!
South Jersey Local: Can you give us a brief background on yourself, your original career path and the journey that brought you to Elucidation?
Angela Speakman: I’ve always been interested in all things communications, so it’s not a surprise that I became a communications strategist and educator. I like helping people widen and deepen understanding through effective communication. In addition to my work with Elucidation Strategies, I teach at Stockton University in the Hemp and Cannabis Business Management undergraduate program. I specialize in cannabis history and communications research and analysis. I’ve been a believer in the power of plant medicine for a long time. Five years ago, I made the intentional choice to use my professional skills to help people learn about cannabis. I specifically don’t steer anyone towards or away from this ancient plant; I share information that expands knowledge and perspective. I believe in prioritizing facts over fiction, conversation exchange over one-sided lecture, and verifiable history over biased opinion.
SJL: What are the services that you offer your clients?
AS: Elucidation’s mission is to help people and organizations make informed decisions when it comes to cannabis. Our work is driven by practical and balanced education. We rely on history as an essential backdrop for all that we do. We focus on three distinct groups, helping individuals, communities, and cannabis industry businesses. Our Green Shoulder program was launched in response to individual requests for hands-on support. Because of the problematic messaging we’ve been exposed to about this plant throughout our lives, cannabis can be a confusing, even intimidating, topic to examine for many. Green Shoulder is a cannabis consumption guidance service for the cannacurious or cannaconfused…right in their own home. Our trained Sidekicks bring the knowledge, the fun, and the product to small groups interested in an infotaining, social learning session. For communities and the cannabis industry, we offer comprehensive services to meet learning needs and goals. From creating and facilitating community conversation programs to developing strategic community engagement plans, we aim to support learners however we can. By learning about the past and exploring accurate, reliable information, in the present and future, we can sidestep longstanding stigma and rampant misinformation and move the conversation forward in a positive and meaningful way.
SJL: Tell us about your team.
AS: Elucidation Strategies if fortunate to have Tracey Anderson, Director of Operations, and Shelly Rosen, Director of Programming, furthering access to cannaeducation across the Garden State. The three of us founded Elucidation Strategies in response to the lack of reliable public cannabis education options, particularly for those who want to talk with a real person, not a search engine. Both ladies have extensive experience when it comes to helping people navigate the complexities of cannabis, however, the real magic comes from the fact that they bring different perspectives to the table. Whether educating about the patient perspective, consumption best practices, or product selection, they are an absolute powerhouse. Also, the Elucidation team includes a core group of trained Sidekicks that guide and educate individuals in our Green Shoulder program across New Jersey communities. The Sidekicks are incredible. They all have diverse experience in cannabis, which benefits the Green Shoulder clients.
SJL: What are the main goals for Elucidation as a company, especially with the ever-changing federal and local legislation?
AS: Cannabis has SUCH a complicated history and most folks benefit from exploring some historical highlights and plant basics, essentially Cannabis 101. Because of the inaccurate communications around cannabis (or marijuana or pot or weed or reefer or dope – even what we call it is complex!) throughout our lives, being able to talk through some fundamentals can be a gamechanger. In our collective experience, many don’t really understand the still-in-effect federal Category 1 classification and that state legalizations are essentially workarounds. Talking that through makes a huge difference. Another thing that we love introducing people to in our Green Shoulder sessions and community programs is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). All humans have an ECS – think respiratory, skeletal, reproductive – and it was discovered because of the cannabis plant in the 1980s. This complex regulatory system is always trying to maintain balance and impacts mood, sleep, stress, appetite, memory, even how much pain you feel. Our bodies produce endocannabinoids, which are chemical compounds associated with the ECS. The chemical compounds in cannabis, called cannabinoids, activate the ECS receptors, which can nourish the ECS. For thousands of years, anecdotal evidence about alleviating pain, increasing comfort, and finding calm through cannabis was spot on, but we just lacked the science to explain why. Actually, many healthcare and scientific researchers agree that chronic conditions are linked to ECS dysfunction. Everyone deserves to know more about this system that is running the show inside our bodies. Our work supports understanding more about the ECS and how it can be enhanced. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cannabis. Our goal is to help people eliminate incorrect information and replace it with evidence-backed insight. That’s how we can advance important health and wellness conversations.
SJL: Do you have any events coming up or any engagement opportunities that you’d like to share?
AS: We’re Green Shouldering everywhere and while we serve all of New Jersey, we are seeing a lot of interest from South Jerseyans who want all their weed questions answered! Over the last year, we’ve presented fun educational programs at senior centers, coffee shops, council and civic organization meetings, libraries – we get around. In fact, recently, we announced a public cannabis education initiative in partnership with a local dispensary, Camden Apothecary. Camden Apothecary is distinct in the nation; it was launched as a sister business to the historic Bell Pharmacy. Our partnership program features an education campaign “Cannabis Questions? Just Ask,” to help community members access helpful information and resources. This education program aims to help community members, particularly senior citizens, feel safe and supported while exploring plant medicine topics. (https://njbiz.com/camden-apothecary-elucidation-cannabis-events/) We don’t have anything in the pipeline at this exact moment, but we do share public programs on our website, so interested folks can always check there. And! If someone wants to book a public cannabis education program, anyone can reach out and we’ll get something on the books.
SJL: Any final words for our “Cannabis Corner?”
AS: If we only had a short elevator ride to share some cannabis HIGHlights quickly, we would say these important things. Find ways to nourish your ECS; you’ll be glad you did. Selecting product should not be driven by potency of THC, the most well-known cannabinoid. Learning about the last century of cannabis history is guaranteed to impact your views of plant medicine. It’s not just about the strain, the type of product greatly impacts consumption experience. Ask questions and get answers about cannabis from informed and trustworthy sources.
For more information or to contact them, please visit https://www.elucidationstrategies.com/
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