Laurel Friesen graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in environmental chemistry, and her plan was to go to medical school. However, she realized cannabis had healing properties that scientists had not explored, and that working with traditional medicine was not going to allow her to explore them either, so she charted her own path.
She went to work for a cannabis-extraction equipment manufacturer, and then she founded her own extraction company, Heylo Cannabis. It is best known for producing flavorful, high-quality, all-natural vape cartridges. In light of the coronavirus crisis, we talked about uncertainty in the industry, what the near future looks like, and the product she creates that she’s using herself day-to-day right now.
You are an environmental chemist who created Heylo in the spirit of health and wellness. In terms of health and wellness, is this an okay time for people to be consuming cannabis?
I think it’s a very good time for people to be consuming cannabis. I think our mental health is at risk, and it’s important to maintain your mental health in order to keep your immunity strong. But, that said, listen to the advice of your physician.