SHOW NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
SHOP NOW
Header photo credit Mistress Fae
Before Anna Delvey, before the Tinder Swindler, there was Kari Ferrell. Adopted at a young age by a Mormon family in Utah, Kari struggled with questions of self-worth and identity as one of the few Asian Americans in her insulated community, leading her to run with the “bad crowd” in an effort to fit in. Fast forward to petty theft and eventually Utah’s most wanted list. She was crowned: the Hipster Grifter.
Kari's memoir sets the record straight on the facts versus fabrication. YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE ME: A Life of Lies, Second Tries, and Other Things I Should Only Tell My Therapist tells the story of a bad girl gone good. Now the Korean-American multi-hypenate’s work is centered around incarceration, the justice system, mental health, transracial / transnational adoption, human rights, and other issues she feels passionately about.
Kari’s production company, Without Wax, is dedicated to uplifting and telling other WOC’s stories, across a variety of mediums. Every project that she works on is done with the mission of moving the needle toward a more compassionate society. She enjoys the work she does with Second Chance Studios, Books Through Bars, Black & Pink, and other advocacy/mutual aid groups.
Cafe con Libros in Crown Heights as a part of our SASS Summer Popsicle Popup series. RSVP + Buy Her Book.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
This is a full transcript from our Keep Pride Alive campaign interviews. It has been edited and condensed for clarity by Solonje Burnett, Weed Auntie. Watch a part of our interview.
WA = Weed Auntie
KF = Kari Ferrell
WA: Tell us your name, preferred pronouns, and what you do for work/passion.
KF: My name is Kari Ferrell, pronouns are she/her/hers, and I am a writer, producer, and activist.
WA: What did your family say about weed?
KF: I grew up in a very oppressive religious environment and so cannabis was seen as more than a gateway drug. It was seen as just straight up a drug so I didn’t have a lot of experience with it until my young adult years. I was honestly frankly a bit scared of it, the stigma that was attached to it, and all of the propaganda, it definitely stuck with me. So I am beyond grateful that I saw the light, the actual light. The skies, the heavens parted but it wasn’t Jesus that was coming down (laughs).
WA: Has anyone ever judged you or labeled you for consuming weed whether in your family or professionally?
KF: Definitely but I’m lucky because now all of my friends and my chosen family, if they don’t partake, which is rare, they’re very accepting of it. I’m a big believer in using cannabis to cultivate and promote creativity and so I love subverting a lot of things, but especially the lazy stoner myth. I consume every single day and I would not be able to have the creative output that I do without it. And that’s not considering the physical benefits. I’m getting old, and I’m Asian (cracks up) so I could be 19 or 100 [years old], you wouldn’t know! But I have a lot of joint issues and aches and pains. Without my daily regimen, I wouldn’t be able to exist the way that I do and how I want to or need to.
WA: Does consuming cannabis affect or aid in your creative process? If so, how do you integrate it into your hyper busy multi-hyphante professional life?
KF: Absolutely enhances my creative process, and there are countless reasons for that–some of which include: getting the juices flowing (mentally…and physically), allowing exploration of topics through a different lens, and recovery, because thinking takes A LOT out of you. I do have to be mindful of the strains that I’m consuming to make sure they align with what I’m trying to accomplish.
I’m lucky, because I can basically consume whenever I want, which is one of the only perks of being an adult.
.png)
WA: You are extremely vocal about a number of social justice and human rights issues, where does cannabis land within your activism today?
KF: Cannabis and my work around prison abolition are directly tied. Black people are 3.6x more likely to be arrested for cannabis than white people. Black people make up 41% of the prison/jail population, yet only 14% of U.S. residents. There’s something very amiss here (always has been), and you better believe that a select few are making a grip of cash off of every single prisoner.
WA: What is your favorite way to consume cannabis?
KF: My favorite way to consume honestly is taking a big fat joint to the dome but recently I have found myself imbibing in more edibles because they are now produced in a way where it’s reliable. For so long, I avoided them because the production wasn't reliable but now I love them.
.png)
WA: Let’s dig in a little bit there, thinking about dosage and inconsistency… With regulations, what are the products that you tend to go towards? Do you prefer low or a high dose? Why and how are you consuming edibles?
KF: I love that there’s a variety of products. Sometimes I want a brain banger to take me off of this planet, I’m getting NASA. But there are other times where I just want something that helps me to relax and calm down and I find myself very fortunate to live in a world, in a city, in an area where there is that selection.
WA: Awesome! Do you feel like there’s a lack of authentic representation in the way cannabis users are depicted in media and in the brands that are really popular or in pop culture?
KF: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, as a queer individual, as a woman of color, as someone who identifies with a lot of marginalized and minority groups, though I have an issue with that term because we are NOT the minority, we are very much the greater majority, but yeah I think that in media [cannabis] is not portrayed as a tool or as plant medicine. It’s very much this person just wants to disassociate, forget the world, etc.
.jpg)
WA: Who would you like to deliberately dose? Who out there are you like “they need some edibles, they need to get in the cypher” and you want to just help them because they are in desperate need of becoming balanced.
KF: Yes! There are so many people, we do not have time for me to name all of them both personally and just figuratively but I think what’s really important is to know that there are a lot of different products out there and there’s the right one for each person and so it’s amazing that we have people who are there educating the masses on what will be best for that particular person. So there are a lot of people who need to get on board for sure.
WA: Who would be in your dream sweet sesh? Queer icons, people who are living, deceased, whoever.
KF: My dream sweet sesh would include Margaret Cho, George Takei, and Marsha P. Johnson. I think that’s a long list so I’ll stop there. I’m so lucky because I feel like my dream cyphers have come true. There are a lot of people that are just my friends, my family. They’re the people I want to be consuming with and I’m so lucky that I get to do that everyday.
WA: As a bad girl gone (kinda) good, your book ‘You’ll Never Believe Me’ is both funny and fearless in your account of your own personal journey. Sharing a version of an Asian American transracial adoptee just trying to fit into American culture. Now secure in yourself and your values, what next in the liberation of Kari?
KF: What an incredible question, and thank you so much for your kind words. I’m truly so honored that anyone would spend time with something I created.
Liberation to me is forward momentum; it’s being fulfilled, it’s building a better world with the people you love.
Today marks the beginning of Latine Heritage Month which runs from September 15 to October 15. As a brand whose founder has roots in Mexico and Puerto Rico, we’re proud to highlight the culture and contributions of others throughout the diaspora.
Whether in the Bay, Brooklyn or beyond, they’re bringing the sabor to the people. From restauranteurs, healers and comedians, to plant medicine providers, activists, artists, and editors, they’re proudly celebrating by centering the culture and community.
Give them a follow and support their work!
SASS is a Brooklyn-based functional adaptogenic and low dose hemp confectionery and wellness brand creating premium infused chocolates, gummies, drinks, and sensory activations rooted in pleasure and community. Our expertly dosed fine products are vegan, gluten-free, made exclusively with the freshest ingredients and locally sourced botanicals. Founded, led and staffed by queer folx, women, and the global majority. We started SASS to celebrate the unique allure of plant medicine by handcrafting treats that work with their flavors and effects instead of against them.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
@cultivate.sass | sassbk.com
Yabisi Centro is a modern botanica and school rooted in ancestral plant medicine, ritual and the healing traditions of the African and Caribbean diaspora. Our apothecary offers handcrafted herbal medicines and ritual tools—from Smoke or Steep blends and flower essences to tinctures, ritual oils, microdoses and altar goods—created to support protection, embodiment, remembrance and connection. Through our medicines, classes and School of Remembrance, Yabisi bridges ancestral wisdom with practices for tending the body, spirit and everyday life.
Location: Bronx, NY
@yabisi_centr0 | yabisi.co
Riobamba is an Ecuadorian-Lithuanian sound artist, death doula, and cultural activist. Her interdisciplinary practice is grounded in ancestral veneration, bone-deep listening, and presence with seen and unseen worlds. As a DJ, Riobamba’s rowdy, bass-heavy live sets reflect back queer diasporic nightlife’s power as a site of joy and resistance, amplifying connective tissues between YouTube clips, bodega soundtracks, and noise hyperreality.
Location: Austin, Aquí, Allá
@riobambaaa | riobamba-dj.net
Hot Girls Organize (formerly known as Hot Girls for Zohran) is a women-led nonprofit empowering young people to participate in political organizing both locally and nationally. HGO leads with community, meeting young people where they are most comfortable and cultivating a safe space that allows them to develop as both individuals and organizers. Through engaging events, accessible content, and meaningful partnerships, HGO seeks not to bring culture into politics but to shift culture itself towards action + inclusivity.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
@hotgirlsorganize | hotgirlsorganize.com
The Other Magazine is New York's leading lifestyle & culture publication covering cannabis culture, psychedelics, wellness, music, art, and travel across NYC, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. Launched to be a definitive voice for the regional cannabis community, it is distributed across licensed dispensaries throughout the area and publishes seasonal print issues alongside daily digital commentary.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
@theothermagazines | theothermagazines.com
HAAM Caribbean Plant Cuisine (Healthy As A Motha) is a Brooklyn based restaurant founded by Dominican-American Chef Yesenia Ramdass, born and raised in Washington Heights. Rooted in her Dominican heritage and influenced by the Trinidadian culture she has embraced through her husband and children. HAAM reimagines Caribbean dishes, spices, and nostalgia through a modern culinary lens. HAAM is a celebration of culture, flavor, and the stories passed down through food. Created for us, by us.
Location: 234 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
@healthyasamotha | healthyasamotha.com
Power Plus Wellness is building a bold, body-affirming wellness space where bodies are celebrated, not fixed. We are a Latina-owned boutique event company that curates life-enhancing movement and immersive wellness experiences for the plus size community to jiggle freely, fly with silks, unlearn diet culture, and joyfully exist together. Our offerings free minds, bodies, and hearts from perceived limitations.
Location: NYC
@powerpluswellness | powerpluswellness.com
Ranchera Familia is a Latina-owned, USDA-licensed industrial hemp farm rooted in California’s Central Valley, founded by cultivator, breeder, and educator Sue “Ranchera Mami” Carlton. With more than a decade of cultivation experience, Sue combines regenerative farming, genetics, education, and community-focused agriculture to create a farm that goes beyond the field. Ranchera Familia is dedicated to preserving agricultural knowledge, creating hands-on educational opportunities, and increasing representation for women and Latinas in cultivation.
Location: Fresno County, CA
@rancheramami | rancherafamilia.com
The Weedcyclers is a recycling waste removal and upcycle service. They provide cannabis businesses with donation box receptacles to collect and provide correct disposal of cannabis waste. They then turn more than 50% of our waste into Up-Cycled sustainable items such as belts, wallets, tote bags, hand bags, backpacks and more! Started in the South Bronx in 2025 and have been featured on the New York Times and more. Our Co-Founders consist of Ari Serrano - Puerto Rican Fashion Designer/Manufacturer living in the BX. and Jonathan Cooling. Found in dispos like Flynnstoned, Misha’s, Astoria Bud Boutique, A&P Dispensary, Flower Power Dispensers, CONBUD Bronx Yankee Stadium, and Devils Lettuce.
Location: Bronx, NY
@weedcyclers
Favianna Art Studios creates original works, limited-edition prints, and large-scale commissions. Her colorful and poignant pieces are available in her online shop. Her art examines the most urgent issues of our time through unapologetically feral femme self-expression. Founded and led by Latina interdisciplinary artist Favianna Rodriguez, the studio produces fine art, mixed-media pieces, and public art projects rooted in joy and healing. Favianna’s art has been commissioned by Google, the City of San Francisco, and Presidio National Park. Deeply engaged in social movements around the world, her art is both a reflection of and a catalyst for those movements.
Location: Oakland, CA
@Favianna1 | shop.favianna.com
Maria Margolies is the founder of The Holixtic Method, a movement devoted to reclaiming women's bodies, pleasure, and power. For over 25 years as a yoga teacher, dancer and certified holistic coach, she has made it her mission to normalize the conversations around pelvic health, sex, and the female body that shame has kept silent, guiding women back to the truth of their bodies. Healing pelvic floor dysfunctions, postpartum wounds, and buried desire along the way. Through women's retreats, in-person events, and online programs, she teaches women to remember their power and feel whole, at home in their bodies and unstoppable in their own skin. Through Holixtic, an online community of 970K+ Maria is building a generation of women who talk about their bodies out loud, take up space and lead with them instead of apologizing for them.
Location: Asia/Colombia
@holixtic | holixtic.com
Black Rose brings bold energy, authentic storytelling, and culture-driven entertainment to every platform. Born and raised in Harlem with Dominican roots, Black Rose has performed at top comedy venues including Comedy In Harlem, Broadway Comedy Club, Caroline’s, and the New York Comedy Festival. Her acting credits include West Side Story (Steven Spielberg), In the Heights (Jon M. Chu), Chained, and Human Graffiti. With over 100K social media followers, Black Rose continues to expand her influence, including co-hosting Hot 97 Mornings with Mero, while producing “Say Sumptin Comedy” Ana impactful comedy show and lets not forget her creative content.
Location: Washington Heights, NY
@iamblackrosenyc |
Cris Sosa's viral comedy and electric stage presence took him all the way to the Top 3 Quarterfinals of Season 21 of America’s Got Talent. His AGT run introduced Cris to millions of viewers, more than doubled his social media following, and earned high praise from the judges. Before AGT, Cris had already built a loyal audience through stand-up and viral sketches, earning the attention of Issa Rae, Mike Epps, and Steve Harvey and millions of views through his work with All Def. He has shared stages with Epps, Harvey, and KevOnStage and produced comedy shows featuring some of today’s most exciting comedic talent. With a rapidly growing audience and a voice shaped by his Houston upbringing, Latino culture, and life in New York City, Cris Sosa is bringing that momentum to stages across the country — and he’s just getting started.
Location: NYC
@cristinososa | crissosa.com
Yara Travieso is a Brooklyn-based Cuban-Venezuelan artist and director working across performance, theater, film, and ritual, whose practice treats the body as both archive and ecosystem. Drawing on the absurd, the matrilineal, and deeply felt experience, she creates hybrid spectacles that explore survival within violent systems. She is the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Doris Duke Award, a United States Artists Fellowship, a Creative Capital Award, the inaugural Jacki Apple Award, Open Interval Fellowship, among many others; she is also on faculty at The Juilliard School where she received the John Erskine Faculty Prize. Her productions and films have been presented at Park Avenue Armory, Lincoln Center, Performance Space New York, The Chelsea Factory, The Knockdown Center, Opéra National de Lorraine in France, New World Symphony Center, EMPAC, El Museo del Barrio, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, SXSW, PBS, and the Museum of the Moving Image, among many others.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
@yaratravieso | yaratravieso.com
Viva Ruiz (shethey) is a community/family/nightlife/sex work educated artist, progeny of factory working Ecuadorian migrants born and raised in Jamaica Queens. Proud to also be the “daughter” of beloved Chloe Dzubilo, punk rock trans femme activist. Ruiz has been building power and birthing pro-abortion aesthetics since 2015 with the #thankgodforabortion experiment, not an organization but a wild and worldwide organism. Viva is a 2022 Creative Capital grantee and 2022 Art Matters fellow. They are intentional about time bending, intentional about ecstasy and rage, intentional about calling more beautiful worlds into being with and in service to the spirits that walk with them.
Location: Brooklyn, NY | Portoviejo, Ecuador
@thankgodforabortion @viva_lalaruiz | www.thankgodforabortion.com
Yara Herrera is the chef/partner at Mexican-American restaurant Hellbender in Ridgewood, Queens. Born and raised in Los Angeles as a first-generation Mexican-American, Yara launched her culinary journey at 20 years old. Yara moved to New York in 2019 and continued to work through some of New York’s best restaurants including Momofuku Ko and Sobre Masa. Yara’s first solo project, Hellbender, was quickly established as a standout dining destination. The restaurant was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants for 2024 and granted a two-star review in The New York Times. Hellbender was also named in The New York Times’ list of 100 Best Restaurants in New York City for the second consecutive year in 2026. Yara was also named one of StarChefs Rising Stars in 2025 and has appeared as a guest judge on Beat Bobby Flay.
Location: 68-22 Forest Ave, Ridgewood, NY 11385
@hellbendernyc | hellbendernyc.com
Javier Hasse and Natalia Kesselman co-founded El Planteo, an independent publication covering cannabis, psychedelics, music, gender, ecology, economics and more. Javier has spent over a decade covering cannabis and psychedelics in both languages and wrote two books on the subject. He's a senior contributor at Forbes, a co-founder of IgniteIt, and has been named Journalist of the Year by both the Business of Cannabis Awards and the Emjays. Natalia is El Planteo's COO and Deputy Editor at High Times.
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina | Florida, USA
@el.planteo | @hightimesmagazine | elplanteo.com
Sharisse Francisco (she/her) is a Queer, Puerto Rican Afro-Latina Vocal Artist, Sound Healer, Breathwork Facilitator, and Ceremonial Cacao Guide. Blending her theater background and years as a professional singer with her studies in holistic healing modalities and intuitive wisdom, she creates transformative experiences that nurture healing, self-discovery, authentic expression and foster meaningful connection.
Location: Westchester, NY | Brooklyn, NY
@iamsharissefrancisco | www.thevoiceembodied.life
