Budist Newsletter: Building Trust Brick by Brick
Dear Friends,
In every industry, credibility is earned, not given. It’s built over time through consistent actions, clear standards, and trust that must be proven.
At Budist, we’re building it brick by brick—through tasting sessions that educate, competitions judged with structure, and verified reviews that help people make informed choices.
The wine world offers a valuable lesson. It wasn’t just great wine that built the culture, it was the systems around it: shared language, structured evaluation, trusted guides. These gave people a way to talk about what they were tasting and why it mattered, making appreciation more accessible and helping quality rise to the top.
Because cannabis is still widely misunderstood, it’s even more important that the industry approaches its work with thoughtfulness and honesty. This is the ethos we’re working to model at Budist—one we believe can change hearts and minds, guide the market’s growth, and inspire brands to create better products. Wine took decades to reach that point. We are laying the foundation now so cannabis can get there sooner.
With Gratitude,
Jocelyn Sheltraw
Co-Founder & CEO
Budist in the Community
Over the past month, Budist activated across California and New York to bring cannabis appreciation into public, cultural, and industry spaces. Below we highlight a few of our most memorable community moments.
In Los Angeles, we hosted a Budist Session at The Woods featuring No Till Kings and Smacked Studios, guiding guests through aroma sensory analysis techniques and showing them how to evaluate cannabis with the discernment of a wine sommelier. We also curated a flower tasting bar at the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce Mixer at Sunset Social Club, highlighting Khalifa Kush’s Point Breeze, a Top Rated cultivar on Budist, for more than 150 industry professionals.
In New York, we hosted a media-focused Budist Session to help launch the new PAX FLOW dry herb vaporizer, showcasing how fine-tuning temperature settings can unlock the full flavor and aromatics of fresh flower.
At the State Fair in Sacramento, we returned as the official judging partner for the California Cannabis Awards, and at the Grateful Dead’s 60th Anniversary in Golden Gate Park, we fired up our media crew to capture the festival magic and the Grass Lands cannabis experience—presented by our friends at Embarc!
Brand Spotlight
Building credibility also means highlighting brands that embody quality and transparency. This month, Budist flower critic Lucas Indrikovs reviewed and profiled Happie, a Sonoma-based brand rooted in plant-based wellness and small-batch production.
Originally known for Delta-9 seltzers, Happie has expanded into flower and pre-rolls through partnerships with Moon Valley Farms and Dry Creek Flower Company. Both farms use regenerative agriculture and living soil methods, producing cultivars like Government Oasis and Mendo Crumble that reflect Happie’s commitment to sustainability and consumer education.
Upcoming Events
Every event is a chance to connect people to products through real-world experiences that build trust, education, and shared standards.
- August 14: Hiii Magazine Fall Issue Launch (Downtown LA)
- August 14: Cannabis Chamber of Commerce Bay Area Mixer (Urbana, Oakland)
- August 21: Cannabis Chamber of Commerce LA Mixer (The Artist Tree, Hawthorne)
- August 24: Farmers Cup 710 Awards Ceremony (San Diego)
Visit our Events page for details and registration.
In the News
- GreenState recognized Budist as Best App / Social Platform in the YourGreenState Consumer Choice Awards, highlighting how our verified reviews set new expectations for product discovery.
- High Times featured our New York media event for the PAX FLOW launch, where guests experienced a hands-on demonstration of how the hardware enhances the flavors and aromas.
- Honeysuckle Magazine dove deeper with a review of the PAX FLOW device, emphasizing how guided tastings—like the one Budist hosted—underscore precision, ritual, and sensory awareness.
Read more on our Media page.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Budist helps brands build trust through verified reviews, immersive tastings, and in-store education. If you’re looking to stand out in a crowded market or connect with engaged cannabis consumers, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us to learn more.