A Journey into Cannabis Hospitality Elizabeth Becker is the founder and CEO of HiBnB, a booking engine that offers cannabis-friendly accommodations, experiences, and compliant advertising for businesses. She explains to Susan Burns how the concept was inspired by Elizabeth's experience working in the cannabis tourism industry and the lack of support for cannabis consumers. Elizabeth discusses how HiBnB aims to support the shift towards cannabis as a health and wellness product, emphasizing infused products and consistent dosing for a better consumer experience. Produced by PodConX Bodacious Women in Cannabis - https://bodacious-women-in-cannabis.simplecast.com/ Susan Burns - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sburnslegal/ Elizabeth Becker - https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-becker-93b08a2/ HiBnB - https://www.hibnb.us/ Recorded on Squadcast
A Journey into Cannabis Hospitality
Elizabeth Becker is the founder and CEO of HiBnB, a booking engine that offers cannabis-friendly accommodations, experiences, and compliant advertising for businesses. She explains to Susan Burns how the concept was inspired by Elizabeth's experience working in the cannabis tourism industry and the lack of support for cannabis consumers. Elizabeth discusses how HiBnB aims to support the shift towards cannabis as a health and wellness product, emphasizing infused products and consistent dosing for a better consumer experience.
Bodacious Women in Cannabis - https://bodacious-women-in-cannabis.simplecast.com/
Susan Burns - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sburnslegal/
Elizabeth Becker - https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-becker-93b08a2/
HiBnB - https://www.hibnb.us/
[00:00:00] Hello, this is your podcast host, Susan Burns. I'm also a lawyer in the cannabis industry for my day job, and nothing delights me more than showcasing bodacious women in cannabis. Today we are talking with Elizabeth Becker and she is the founder and c e o of high B and B. So if you're looking for your next travel destination, Or are interested in cannabis hospitality.
This one is for you. Welcome, Elizabeth. Hi Susan. Thank you for having me. I was so delighted to have you Tell us. High B Airbnb is a little, sounds like a little bit of a play on Airbnb, but with a cannabis twist perhaps. Yeah, that's exactly what it is. Um, can you tell us about it? We are a book. We are a booking engine, um, that provides, uh, cannabis friendly [00:01:00] accommodations and experiences and compliant advertising for businesses.
So when you come to our site, you can stay high. That's the accommodations. Play high is experiences or get high, is advertising. Nice. So when did you start the business, Elizabeth? It is about four years now since I was struck with the concept and couldn't, uh, couldn't get it out of my head. I, I just kind of overwhelmed me and I had a vision for the, the site and how it would operate and how it could be customized to the cannabis consumer and the cannabis experience.
And I just couldn't, I, you know, I was waking up in the middle of the night starting to build it in my head and, and talking to people about it and, So many people got excited and said, how can I help? How can I help? And we were able to raise funds and, and move forward very quickly. So it's been four years, um, since this gift has come to me and [00:02:00] I've birthed it to the world.
Nice. And so, um, so, so what did inspire you? What, I mean, there was an idea that came to you, but what, what was it at the time that, well, I was working for, uh, cannabis. Uh, entrepreneur who was specifically in the cannabis tourism space. And so, uh, I was getting a lot of exposure to the general public and, and what they were looking for, um, for their kind of day-to-day lifestyle and how to embrace cannabis within that day-to-day lifestyle.
Um, it, it was also, Uh, kind of framed by, um, the legalization, the federal legalization of cannabis in Canada in 2018. So I saw it as a great opportunity, um, to legally build a company that, uh, had an opportunity to grow on a global scale. Um, and [00:03:00] when I was speaking to people, it was very clear that you could purchase cannabis.
Um, but there were no legislation. There was no legislation that, um, had been made to support somebody who wanted to consume it. It's like, oh, great. So it's legal to purchase cannabis. Uh, oh, what am I supposed to do with it when I purchase it? I'm supposed to go into my basement and smoke it with a bong and get so like you, you know, and reinforce all these stereotypes of cannabis stereotypes.
Yeah, like what are we supposed to do with it? How can you legalize cannabis? But yet I can't enjoy it with other people. It's for recreational use. But recreational for me, it's connecting with other people and doing fun things with other people. There's no support of that, and there's no support of just personal consumption.
What if I live in a place where smoking's not allowed in my home? Um, you know, or if I'm traveling and there's no consumption permitted in public spaces, outdoors, that's, you know, that's kinda, so you're talking about, you're [00:04:00] talking, you're. Business is more focused on the Smokeable cannabis, I guess. Um, actually not completely.
There, there are a lot of accommodation hosts and property owners that have a real problem with any kind of smoking inside their properties. Okay. So it, it turns out that, um, high B and b works very well with property managers who wanna support cannabis. Um, Uh, lifestyle with infused products. I mean, ideally what people want is, uh, an opportunity to try different products and, and explore cannabis in different ways than they normally would in their lives.
So when you check into high b and b, there's an infused bath bomb in the bathtub and infused beverages in the fridge and edibles on the countertop, and some topical lotion, you know, and some C B D tabs. Uh, um, Uh, gummy for sleeping, and this is the experience that we want to provide. Uh, there are challenges [00:05:00] because of the, you know, legalities in different places where we can't just have those open in, in, in most places.
Uh, the host is welcome to share cannabis if they own their own cannabis. Um, but what, what we're, what we're working on now is, Uh, making it a little bit easier for hosts so that when the guest books, the Hy MBA accommodation, there's, um, an option for them to also purchase. Uh, welcome what we're calling a welcome basket.
So we're just in the process of building out this feature where there will be a selection of welcome baskets. One would be the infused program, one would be Flower friendly program. Uh, one would be the Health and wellness program, um, and that the, the BA can be purchased in advance and have it waiting there for when the guest checks it.
Nice. And so are you focused in, in Canada or have you, have you gone global? We have currently around [00:06:00] 350 listings over 10 or 12 countries. In some of those countries, it's just one or two listings. We haven't yet gotten that concentrated engagement. I, I live in Canada and we started in Canada. Here in Canada, people are kind of complacent around smoking cannabis.
It's, it's legal. Nobody even cares. And so, you know, a lot of people feel like, well, why do I need a, a place that's a dedicated space to smoke when, um, I can just buy a, uh, you know, get an Airbnb and cheat and smoke inside, or, you know, Hmm. So I, I find that in Canada people are a little complacent. They definitely want that, um, you know, all inclusive where you can check in and have access to so many different products that you wouldn't normally try or buy.
Um, But, uh, right now we've been building out in South Africa, uh, South Africa quite a bit. They're, they're really excited about cannabis there and such great energy. There's been a lot of interest around Mexico. We're looking to start [00:07:00] building out in, in Germany a little bit, but we do need that concentrated engagement that is, Um, what the investors need to see in order to close our seed funding round, which we're waiting for to officially launch.
So it's been four years, and in that time we hit the pandemic and, um, you know, then the repercussions out of the pandemic and, and then the cannabis stock market basically, you know, lost its bottom. And cannabis investors have, you know, really lost a lot. So, um, you know, we, we've. Lived through the pandemic.
We're living through the restructuring of the cannabis industry through the economic losses that so many people have had. And now, um, you know, the recession that we're going through. So we, we have seen some hard times and, uh, hoping that we can turn a corner soon. Yeah, it's not, it's not as though this new, um, newly blossoming [00:08:00] industry is, is immune from, from all of those.
Market forces. Yeah. Yeah. So we never actually launched, we built the technology and put it out there and started growing organically, but our plan has always been to have a really mainstream, um, you know, marketing campaign that's, that's quite widespread and commercial. Mm-hmm. Uh, and that's what we need in order to get the numbers of hosts and selections and, and tr and traffic, you know, to hit the next step.
Mm-hmm. So, so in growing your business and pursuing your vision, Elizabeth, what I'm hearing is that you're, some of the obstacles that you're working through and hopping over and sliding under probably, um, are financial, the pandemic financial, and, um, Well, just changing market forces, I guess, you know, [00:09:00] with legalization in various countries.
And then non legalization. I just read this morning that Thailand, uh, was with a new government, was gonna roll back all their, their cannabis legalization. Roll it back. Yep. Make it illegal. That's what the platform was that they campaigned on. So, I mean, it's a, it's, it's wild. Um, you know, you think something legislation has passed and we're going through that right now with the hemp industry in Minnesota that, um, hemp drive consumables.
Anyway, um, so you're working through all, all of that. What keeps you going? What inspires you to keep moving? Well, I love being a trailblazer. You know, I, I am very passionate about, um, cannabis and the fact that everybody needs to. You know, I, I, I, I wanna eradicate the stigma and assist with that, but also it's been very beneficial to [00:10:00] me on a personal level.
I use it as a creative tool. I use it as a spiritual tool. And, um, you know, there's so many people who have had, you know, their lives have changed. Their lives have been saved by it. And, um, there's just not a lot of education out there in the public, not a lot of research done. So medical doctors can talk about it properly.
Uh, and I'm, I'm very passionate that cannabis needs to be normalized and there's so many people who want it to be, and, and I, I, I, I just wanna push the envelope. To help assist so other people can enjoy, uh, the benefits as I have. I, I find that it helps me to feel closer to my core. Being to my instincts helps me to feel closer to my, my body and helps me to feel closer to other, other people.
So I, I wanna, I really just wanna share that with, with people. And if. That, that's, um, [00:11:00] that's really great is what you just described as that cuz I wanted to follow up with you on, cuz you initially said part of this, part of it's spiritual is, are those three elements that you just described to us, what makes it spiritual for you?
Or is there something else that, that. If you can share, I know it's per spirituality. That's a great question. It's a really great question. Um, what makes it spiritual? And it is very personal. Um, when I say that I connect with my instincts in a stronger way because the cannabis, I find helps, helps quiet those voices in my head that are like, oh, what will they say?
Or What do you need to do? It's like, you know, those very, very conscious. Things about belonging and you know, like, um, how you're supposed to be in the world, how I'm supposed to be. So it's so great when those get a little bit silenced. I can focus on my instincts on my inner voice and that's where the [00:12:00] spirituality comes to.
Cuz I, I find that I can connect with a higher power. And is that higher power coming from myself? Is it coming from a place outside of me? I'm not sure exactly, but it is always there. Um, and it, you know, and I have a stronger connection to it with cannabis. Nice. Yeah. And you have five brothers. Yeah. Well, that's a benevolent thing.
Isn't that a magical, beautiful thing? So I, I do feel very, very strongly that, uh, um, you know, it's, it's time to get rid of the stigma, time to, to educate people and allow opportunities to enjoy cannabis in ways that are different than you normally would. And originally, cannabis is used for partying. You know, and there's so many people comparing it to alcohol, it's a party thing.
Uh, but, uh, what it, you know, it's really coming into more of a health and wellness. Have you tried microdosing with it? [00:13:00] Have you tried C b D? You know, it, it helps with anxiety, depression, uh, sleeplessness, um, you know, it, it helps with, with physical ailments too, but everybody's. System is different and it affects people differently.
So it's really hard to know, to guarantee and say, if you take this, it's going to do this for you. It's, it's really personal and, and, uh, people have to try it in different ways. Yeah, and I, I do think that's nice. I like your vision of supporting that, like being able to go someplace for a weekend and even, you know, whatever you're doing and go hiking or whatever, but being in an environment that supports.
Um, and encourages exploration and just having that freedom, the freedom and support that in my, I, I wouldn't feel that in my everyday normal life. I think the future of cannabis is in the infused products, [00:14:00] frankly. Mm-hmm. Not a lot of people like to smoke. Smoking is kind of out of fashion in myself too.
Uh, sometimes it burns my throat. Um, I, I really love the. The dosing regulations here in Canada because I can rely on them and I know that this gummy, it says it's five milligrams. I can take half a bu, you know, bite half of it off, and I know exactly. The effect that it's going to have on me. Um, so I, I love the legalization here and, and the requirements that have come out with consistent dosing and safe dosing, because there's a lot of products on the black market that are inconsistent and you don't know exactly what you're taking or where on the piece of, you know, chocolate, the, you know, they've dropped up some of the cannabis and, and some of those, um, Dosages are really, really high when it comes to edibles.
Mm-hmm. And when you over ingest and take too much, it's, it's not a nice experience. So, um, oh, it isn't. But I, I, I do think [00:15:00] that the, the future is in beverages and, and. You know, capsules and food. There's some fabulous products that I love, like an infused maple syrup. So you can make a pancake breakfast and put the syrup on top of the whipped cream.
Isn't that a great way to host your own infused brunch and invite some friends over? Um, there's like hot infused, hot sauces. You can put it in chili. Like there's just, you know, these are different ways to consume and enjoy it. That's just, Different than, oh, I'm gonna go stand in the back alley and, and smoke away from everybody and feel shame over it because Yeah, I guess that's kind of a legacy use, right?
Yeah. Well, in college we, we had, um, ample supply and it was very social. It wasn't as strong. As it is now because it's been bred to be so strong. But I mean, it was always a social thing. Somebody would, there were joint rolling [00:16:00] contests who could roll the skinniest one and blah, blah, no seeds and all those kinds of things.
And, and it would, somebody would roll one in and you'd pass it and then you'd wait a while and you'd pass another one. I mean, it was, it wasn't a race to get blooded. It was, it was very social. Um, that's all changed and I think you're, you're, I would agree with you with the infusion. And I also like the limited dosing in Minnesota.
We have, um, currently they're just changing it to my, much, to my chagrin. Not that they're le legalizing adult use recreational, but that they're not honoring the hemp market because we have, right now, we have a five milligram cab on doses, and I'm like you, so if somebody needs more, they can take more, but if you don't, you can.
Take a half or a quarter or whatever. Whereas I was just in Las Vegas and I went to a dispensary and there's so many, like a hundred milligram gummies. Wow. [00:17:00] What I mean, I, there's no market for me for people like me, so if we don't keep that market alive, I'm afraid it all goes that way. Um, I, I'd love to talk a little bit more about our accommodations, because as you hear, I am, I am passionate about it, and so I've created a really, you know, it's, it's not just Airbnb that's four 20 friendly.
I've, I've really created, uh, an interface that is, um, specific to the cannabis consumer's interest. So there's a filter there where you can search for accommodations by growers. Um, there's a, a great opportunity for growers to, um, you know, to host because they can share their product and it's a way that we can travel internationally, support our community, and stay within our lifestyle choice.
So, um, that's a great feature and, um, I find that there's also a real need for event space, uh, for 20 friendly event space for rent. Um, [00:18:00] Just because there's so many regulations against smoking and against consumption and public spaces. So we have to rely on the private sector to provide these spaces.
Mm-hmm. Um, you know, and, and we're listing those accommodations too. And on the experiences side, those have kind of taken off. Those are very popular, especially here in Canada. Uh, all sorts of different events like yoga and, um, Uh, fishing, uh, you know, art, things like this and, and also like consumption events, uh, where, uh, Some of the brands are interested in providing sampling.
It's to the general public. I mean this, you wouldn't know it was open to the general public, but on high B Airbnb it is. So you buy your ticket for $10 and you can go and there's six different brands just giving it out. It's like a tasting and sampling event, and that's a lot of fun. Nice. Very nice. So how are, how are you doing in [00:19:00] the United States?
We're a little slow in United States and there is some competition. There's, um, but breakfast and a couple others. Okay. But because I'm here in Canada, it hasn't been as easy, uh, for me to build out in the United States. Sure. Uh, seems like California's a place that we've been focusing on to, you know, get that, that dense engagement there.
And, uh, we're just gonna need a little bit, you know, more. Support to do it because it's hard for me to do everything. I'm the, the c e o and founder and we first raised some money early on. I had a co-founder. Uh, and with that we were able to assemble a, a nice team, uh, and, and, you know, enter the, enter the market and, and grow a little bit.
Still without having launched. Uh, but as we haven't closed our seed round yet, I, we've had to really whittle down the team and, and right now it's just me. So I'm, I'm carrying the whole business and, and I've got to a point because it's four years into it, [00:20:00] four years into it, and I feel like, you know what?
I can't, I can't keep working 18 hours a day on this. So, um, we're in a little bit of a holding pattern, you know, waiting for, um, some, uh, Some capital to come in so that we can, like more officially put put resources together to, to create that launch. And how are you raising capital? Are you doing a GoFundMe or, that's what we have here.
I don't know what you have in Canada or do you, or do you, are you doing like a, um, private offering or what, what are you doing for funding? Yeah, it's private offering. Um, okay. We, we aren't going the crowdfunding route. I've looked into it. Uh, Because it's a Canadian company. The parent company is Canadian.
We also have an American company. Uh, we can't do crowdfunding campaign in the USA unless we re, you know, reallocate our shareholders, which is gonna be quite complicated with tax. [00:21:00] Um, and, and I feel like the mar, you know, if I do crowdfunding here in Canada, it's just too small of a market. Our market really isn't in Canada.
It, it's in the United States and, and globally. As we grow, there's so much interest and excitement and support coming from other countries, which is great to see. That's awesome. And so if, is it on your website, if someone's interested in, in investing? Or supporting. I know. No, it's not. But if anybody listen, listening here is interested in supporting high b and b and investing with us, please shoot me an email.
Hi. Hi, high bnb.us. Uh, you know, I'd, I'd love to, to, uh, discuss it and, and review our deck together and talk about the opportunity. Yeah. And, and tell me, so we're talking a lot about your, your [00:22:00] struggles as you're going along building this vision. But talk to us a little bit, Elizabeth, if you would, about something that, or things, something or some things that have happened to you along the way that were just so depend us and wonderful that you were totally affirmed and thought, if I had known this, I would've started this 10 years earlier, even though it wasn't legal.
But anyway. Yeah, I, I think we're just a little bit ahead of the curve is, is all. But, um, that's a great question. Uh, it's, you know, it's the affirmation that what I'm doing is needed and, and, um, and, and really hits and resonates with people. So that's such a wonderful feeling. I just spoke to a host today whose event on Eventbrite was um, removed because, It used the word cannabis literally removed and this happens all the time.
So it's so nice to be able to provide, uh, a service where they have nowhere else [00:23:00] to go to for this. Um, so that's great. And, and, um, uh, we've had some great experiences from people in places where cannabis is not legal, who wanna travel and experience cannabis culture. Some Japanese, um, guests, Bridges were blown away.
Right. And, and working together with some dispensaries to provide that welcome basket experience. Um, some pe somebody from, uh, I think it was Brazil, came up and, and, uh, in Eastern Europe as well. So it's amazing to be able to provide this experience for, um, people around the world. Oh, awesome. And, you know, people thanking me.
Thank you, thank you for doing this. Is, is what they come up to say to me. And what a great feeling. So that makes it worthwhile. Oh, that's wonderful. I'm so sorry. Excuse me.
No worries. So I just, [00:24:00] I have to, I'm gonna know at the time, cuz I'm gonna have him cut this out, that part Okay. When they edit the recording. Um, I think that must be a really awesome and in affirming feeling to have people thanking you for providing the access and the experiences. And, um,
I'm wondering, I, I, oh, go ahead. Yeah. I, I, so it is amazing to have that affirmation, uh, from people that, that this is the right thing. You know how we were talking about connecting with a spiritual side, and I really feel like I've been a channel for a higher source in creating high b and b. There were so many elements that just.
Got put together and all of my experiences, all of my personal and professional experiences, I've brought them all together in creating high B and b. And so for me, I, I've known this is my life's destiny. Like, you know, this is my life's [00:25:00] work. Um, and, and it's great to see when that, you know, reverberates with other people too.
That, that knowingness. That is great. Talk to us about your Bodaciousness Elizabeth. What's unique about how you're bodacious? What's your brand of Bodaciousness? How do you define the word bodacious? Like, when I think of Bodacious, I think of Sean, um, that actor, you know, in, in, in California. Sean, oh gosh.
He was like almost married to Madonna for a while. Do you know who I'm talking about? No clue. He played this great character's like hang 10. Yeah, that's bode. She just. So it doesn't mean like really cool, like what exactly is bodacious? You Tell us what does it mean to you? It's great word. How is I b and B in what I'm doing?
Bodacious, because we're, we are taking a step [00:26:00] and le and leading, you know, we're taking a step in in front that's offering something that's really positive experience to a lot of people and that's potatio. Awesome. So if we want a book on high b and b and maybe explore a new country, we weren't thinking about just for the experience of the whole thing.
Where do we find you? How do we book? Oh, high b and b dot We have three sites. Um, the master site is High Bmb Life, and then when you're in the US it defaults to high Bmb us. If you're in Canada, it defaults to high b b ca. We have high Bmb mx, which will be our Spanish language, um, site coming up soon. Uh, just come to the site and take a look.
Another thing that's really unique about it is what people are offering in their listings because there's. It's so many people that are inspired and [00:27:00] excited about cannabis and they wanna host people and show them this cannabis experience. So there's really interesting, um, u unique, uh, uh, um, offerings that people are, are, are putting on.
And, and that's, that's really exciting. So, absolutely. Come to our site, check it out. It's really fun to surf. It's easy to navigate, uh, and book an accommodation or an experience today. There you go. So it just sounds like Hi B and B and we can find you h i, B and B. B and B. Some people think it's h i g H.
Oh. But I, I chose I because it has that double meaning. It's like, hi, hello, hi, hi, B and B. But it's also, it's like, Hey, I'm hi at the same time. So I, I thought that was kinda funny. It's, and um, so what about social? Social media experience, Airbnb at experience? Hi, Airbnb on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn.
Okay. [00:28:00] All right. Well, that sounds great. Thank you so much for joining us today, Elizabeth. It's been a real treat to talk with you. Thank you, Susan. I hope everybody has a fabulous high day. Thanks.