HigHER Frequency: Devika Maskey, co-founder TSO Sonoma

Welcome to HigHER Frequency, a series that allows spotlights a womxn founder in the cannabis and wellness industry. We’ll be learning her story and inspirations, and diving into what drives and motivates her to be the visionary she is. For fellow entrepreneurs, this is the opportunity to really learn how an inspiring founder dreams up and builds her empire!

We are honored to introduce Devika Maskey, co-founder of TSO Sonoma, a California cannabis company committed to the highest standard of organically and sun-grown conscious cannabis that supports balance in body, mind, and spirit.

What inspired you to created TSO Sonoma?

In 2010, I started my career in the cannabis industry on the cultivation side. In 2017 TSO Farms became one of the first of 10 pilot farms for Flow Kana. At that time the movement for sun-grown pesticide-free cannabis was finally starting to get acknowledged in the dispensary scene, but there was still a real need in the market for products that spoke to me as a female consumer in terms of packaging design, product formulations, and marketing. It was still a very male-dominated industry in 2017 and most of the products on the shelf reflected that.

In 2017, the brand, TSO Sonoma and the TSO Elevated Event Series was created to redefine the cannabis lifestyle. We merged organic sun-grown flower, artful design, and inviting the community to create a more modern, sophisticated cannabis experience that promotes wellness and balance.

With Sonoma County being the hub for world-class food, wine, and cannabis, we were inspired to create a cannabis brand that reflected just that. By collaborating with the nation’s best chefs, winemakers, and farmers, our Elevated Event Series was created to show people that cannabis can be just as sophisticated as wine with similar educational experiences like tastings and winemaker dinners.

What is the biggest reward you’ve noticed from developing brands to now owning your own?

I love the process of brand creation from logo development to designing packaging and products for other companies (and still do this as my side hustle!), but having your own brand is definitely different because there is a level of authenticity that comes from your own experience and your own voice that the customer can feel. Creating that deeper emotional connection with our customers and seeing firsthand our products and experience are actually helping and healing people is incredibly rewarding.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given about working in the cannabis industry?

The Cannabis Industry is still very young and is constantly changing and evolving. The best advice I’ve received is to be flexible, but clear on your purpose. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to adjust our business plan because of regulation changes, packaging requirements, or other companies we work with going out of business. This industry is not for the faint of heart, but we adapt because our purpose is advocating for women-led conscious cannabis.

What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve received?

When fundraising, every investor has a different idea of what you should be doing with your business. If you follow each piece of advice, you’ll get pulled in a million directions and get off course. It’s important to stay grounded in your why.

What are you most excited to see in the future of cannabis?

I’m constantly inspired by the incredible women in the cannabis space. The level of creativity and community gives me hope for the future. Collectively, we have the power to create the cannabis industry we want by supporting women-led conscious cannabis.

Conscious cannabis is consuming in a way that is balanced for your body as well as the planet.

What does conscious cannabis mean to you?

Conscious cannabis is consuming in a way that is balanced for your body as well as the planet.

Whether you are using cannabis medicinally or recreationally, cannabis is a medicine. When consuming mindfully, cannabis can balance us by regulating our internal systems physically, mentally, and spiritually.

As a conscious consumer, when putting anything into our bodies, I think it’s important to ask, “how was this product produced?”. For us, that means sourcing only sun-grown cannabis, farmed in the most earth–friendly sustainable way, and creating products that deliver a balanced high with ratios of CBD and THC.

Keywords to look for as a conscious cannabis consumer: “whole flower” “full-spectrum” “cannabis-derived terpenes”

Tell us a little bit about what’s to come for TSO Sonoma. We love the scoop!

We’re excited to be expanding our delivery capabilities across California with our Omura whole flower sticks. To celebrate, we’re offering an incredible deal where you can get an Omura Flower Vaporizer for $1 when you buy 2 packs of whole flower. If you’re in the Bay Area, we love supporting our other women-owned delivery partner Sava.

We’re also in the middle of harvest here in Northern California and we are sourcing some incredible flower from a few women-owned farms for the next batch of whole flower sticks that we can’t wait to share with everyone!

Do you have a favorite TSO Sonoma product and how do you integrate it into your routine?

I struggle with anxiety, so my every day go-to is CBD. I love starting my day with the TSO Grounded: ACDC Whole Flower Sticks before a morning meditation to help calm my mind, relieve stress, and get centered. Because it’s a 14:1 CBD: THC ratio, I don’t get a psychoactive effect and can use it any time of the day.

If I’m looking for more of a mood-boosting buzz, I go for the TSO Uplifted: Durban to get me energized and creative.

What does living in high vibration mean to you?

Living in high vibration means being centered and aligned with who you are and your higher purpose. Cannabis is a tool to get you there.