Tell us about yourself!

Hi, I’m Monica! I’m a multidisciplinary creative and the creator of Sous Weed®, a blog-turned culinary cannabis resource founded in 2015. I have a formal background in communication design from Pratt Institute, and throughout my career, I’ve honed my skills as a food photographer and stylist while working in the advertising industry in New York City. My work for Sous Weed has been featured on The Today Show, VICE’s Munchies, Healthyish, and in magazines such as Vogue and Kitchen Toke. I am excited to announce the release of my first book, The Weed Gummies Cookbook, late this summer.

Why did you want to write this book?

I wrote The Weed Gummies Cookbook to encourage and empower people to make their own cannabis infusions and edibles at home. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen cannabis edibles, specifically gummies and sweet confections, gain popularity as consumers opt to refrain from inhalable forms of consumption. With more states legalizing, cannabis edibles sales in adult-use and medical markets have seen immense growth as it is easy to introduce into your everyday lifestyle.

But to be quite honest, if you’re living in a legal state, you are probably experiencing sticker shock due to a variety of operating costs and taxes. Legal state requirements for dosages and serving sizes can also be limiting especially for medical patients. When you make-it-yourself, it’s far more affordable and you have the flexibility to dose your own treats to your personal preference.

What was your biggest challenge with writing this book?

My entire cookbook experience was a labor of love! I wanted to challenge myself to write the book, capture the photos, and design it as well. Being my first cookbook, I really poured all of myself onto the pages. The first delivery of the manuscript was a massive package including photography and designs for the interior and cover. I was also pregnant at the time and delivered my son the week after the manuscript!