Mexican American founder Daniel Torres dreams up weed drinks to chill you out.
Daniel Torres has work in thecannabisbusiness since he was 16 years former , amounting to over two decades of experience in cultivation , retail , wholesale , and all other aspects of the business . But throughout his lengthy calling , he had never seen a intersection that reflected who he is and where he ’s fall from . As a first - contemporaries Mexican American , in a marketplace saturate with standard chocolate and gummies , Torres wanted to be different , which is how he dream up his hemp companyMari y Juanain 2016 .
“ What propelled me to make the sword from the beginning is I see very niggling mental representation of culture and Mexican Americans , or even Latinos in worldwide , ” Torres says . “ In this [ cannabi ] space , they ’re always the workers , the laborers — in the restaurant industry they ’re the dishwashing machine or Captain James Cook . ”
Torres accept it upon himself to change the story by being the CEO and founder . Initially , Mari y Juana was go to be an pabulum brand specialize inspicy Mexican candies , but he wanted to stand out from the already crowded cannabis confection market . He wanted to do something different .
Mari y Juana’s cannabis-infused soft drink|Photo courtesy of Mari y Juana
“ There ’s a food market right now for potable that ’s come out , ” Torres explain . “ A couplet of years ago , citizenry would n’t really look twice at a beverage , but because of the advancements in science , seasoning , and stigmatization , there ’s a large variety of products that more closely resemble your liquor computer storage or toilet facility shop . ” As an Angeleno and a Mexican American , what better booze to infuse with cannabis than amichelada ?
Themichelada — a Mexicanbeer cocktailthat typically consists of a marriage of clam juice , tomato juice , red-hot sauce , unslaked lime , and a light beer — is the complete vehicle to cover up the often acrid savor find in other marijuana - enlace edibles . For Mari y Juana , the michelada powdered admixture boasts a dose of 10 milligrams and can be discover in classic michelada froth cup or in single dose packets . “ We ’re using salt and chili gunpowder , and these tone really overpower the mother wit , ” Torres enjoin . “ And then on top of that , you ’re immix in your beverage — whether it ’s beer , seltzer , or orangeness succus . Those flavors just discount the cannabis taste sensation . ”
Torres launched his potent michelada commixture on Cinco de Mayo of 2021 . It ’s been a full point of superbia for him to create a product that related to his identity . But it ’s not just himself he wants to impress — it ’s his syndicate , too .
“ My mom has flushed my weed down the throne more metre than I can count , ” Torres express mirth . There is a tautness between being a first - generation immigrant and working in a controversial byplay that has often been viewed as prejudicious . While Torres recognizes this strife intimately , he also wanted to win over his parents and have their backing in his business sector . “ There ’s a convergence of both worlds — Mexican and American , my parent and myself — that I ’m trying to fetch in the stigmatisation . ”
The product is so strong , yet sippable , that it in reality snagged Mari y Juana first place in the potable category ofThe High Times’2022 Cannabis Cupfor hoi polloi ’s choice .
The steel is about so much more than the effects ofmarijuana . Yes , getting high is part of it . But for Torres , it ’s about finish and destigmatizing marijuana for fellow Mexican Americans who may be misinformed or hesitating about experimenting with sens .
Mari y Juana michelada|Photo courtesy of Mari y Juana
“ I desire to normalize this matter for our parents , for existing masses who have forever demonized it , ” Torres says . “ I finger a sense of pride that I could attain that with my mom . It ’s something I have to continue to reflect on , like , ‘ Wow , that really happened . ’ ”
Photo courtesy of Mari y Juana
