Before legalization, social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook would remove pictures of cannabis products and people consuming marijuana. Now that cannabis is legalized in almost every state, one of the most popular social media platforms has embraced cannabis content.
Instagram is home to thousands of cannabis influencers, from chefs creating cannabis-infused recipes to advocates providing reviews of new strains and education. Some cannabis influencers on Instagram have used their platform to create social change and reduce the stigma associated with cannabis use.
Meet the American cannabis influencers making waves in 2023, and follow them on Instagram for tips, reviews, and a healthy dose of feel-good cannabis culture.
1. Jamie Evans
Jamie Evans is The Herb Somm. If anyone is an expert on cannabis mixology, it is this woman. She has been a contributor to major media outlets like POPSUGAR, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Mary Magazine, The Clever Root, and High Times.
Evans is the co-editor of GoldLeaf’s Cannabis Cooking Journal and the author of two books; “The Ultimate Guide to CBD: Explore the World of Cannabidiol,” and “Cannabis Drinks: Secrets to Crafting CBD and THC Beverages at Home.”
The female entrepreneur and certified sommelier has also won several awards. Jamie Evans was named in the Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers. She was also listed as a Top 40 Under 40 by Marijuana Venture and won a place in the Green Market Report’s “Most Important Women in Weed” in 2020.
The content is full of personal experiences and high-quality cannabis beverage recipes you can try at home. Jamie has a massive following, and her Instagram feed is always interesting.
Follow Jamie Evans on Instagram @theherbsomm.
2. Dr. Michele Ross
From neuroscientist to cannabis advocate? You may have seen Dr. Michele Noonan Ross on Big Brother season 11 as the show’s first scientist contestant. Dr. Ross landed a postdoctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).
Dr. Michele Ross suffered the loss of her younger brother, John when he died from an alcohol and opioid overdose. During that difficult period, she was also divorced and pursued her passion to study the human endocannabinoid system.
Knowing personally how much scientific research is needed regarding cannabis and human health, Dr. Michele Ross advocates and educates while working to improve funding for clinical studies. In 2011, Dr. Ross woke to pain and numbness in her right hand and wrist. She was diagnosed with right ulnar and radial nerve damage, chronic inflammation, and neuropathy. It was then that she became a medical cannabis patient.
Michele Ross, MD, founded the Endocannabinoid Deficiency Foundation (IMPACT Network) to help drive clinical research, advocacy, and patient support. 2018 Dr. Ross wrote “Vitamin Weed: A 4-Step Plan to Prevent and Reverse Endocannabinoid Deficiency.”
Follow Dr. Michele Ross on Instagram @drmicheleross.
3. Sydni Smiley
Education does not have to be boring, and Syndni Smiley combines expert cannabis knowledge with a dose of relatable humor. Syndi is an OG cannabis enthusiast, advocate, model, and entrepreneur who has launched her own product line. She is the CEO and Founder of Medicated Melanin.
What is different about Sydni is that her content segments are cannabis skits meant to both educate and entertain. She has been employed in the cannabis industry for over five years and is fluent in Spanish and American sign language.
Look for the “Different Strains 4 Different Pains” segment that made her Insta-famous. Her insights into strains for patients coping with chronic pain are valuable.
Follow SYD on Instagram @_shadesofsyd.
4. Steve DeAngelo
Steve DeAngelo is sometimes referred to as “The Father of Legal Cannabis” because he has spent his entire life advocating for the healing herb. He is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Haborside Inc., which was one of the first dispensaries licensed in the United States.
DeAngelo is a pioneer and social activist. He is a former Mayor of San Francisco and former Speaker of the California Assembly. He also founded Steep Hill Laboratory, the country’s first dedicated cannabis lab, Arc View (America’s first cannabis investment firm), and the National Cannabis Industry Association.
Impressive, right? The advocacy runs deep in Steve DeAngelo, as he is also the Founder of the “Last Prisoner Project,” a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to release incarcerated victims of America’s “War on Drugs.” Specifically first-time offenders of non-violent cannabis possession crimes.
In 2011, the American cannabis advocate was involved in a Discovery Channel series called “Weed Wars,” he wrote “The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness” in 2015.
Follow Steve DeAngelo on Instagram @steve.deangelo.
5. Allie Beckett
Working in the cannabis industry since the age of 18, Allie Beckett has been called a pioneer of the Pacific Northwest cannabis industry. She started in 2010 and served as the Lead Photographer for DOPE Magazine. Allie has also been featured regularly in High Times and Cannabis Now and worked with WeedMaps and Cookiefam.
Beckett created a photo book called “As The Grass Grows: A Journey Into the WA State Cannabis Industry.” She has collaborated with marketing expert David Paleschuck and Kevin Oliver, the Executive Director for NORML. Allie Beckett is also the co-founder of TKO Oregon and TKO CBD, offering curated hemp products.
Allie Beckett’s photography of cannabis cultivation and products is beautiful, and she remains an influential figure by spreading awareness and providing cannabis education. Her photography makes her one of the renowned artists in the cannabis space.
Follow Allie Beckett on Instagram @Canna.Obscura
6. Alice & Clark (@Thathighcouple)
The couple that smokes together stays together? That’s the underlying message of this fun couple, Alice and Clark, who have turned their passion for cannabis into a popular influencer brand.
Alice Campbell likes to dress loud and somewhat retro, with equally loud sunglasses paired with bright red lipstick. Her husband Clark, on the other hand, has a thing for flannel with a nerdy vibe.
You can find That High Couple videos on YouTube, and they are very entertaining and energetic. Their videos range from “Disneyland with Gummies” to reviews of cannabis products and beverages, as well as fun unboxing videos. They have also visited Jay Z’s deli-inspired dispensary, the Las Vegas Planet 13 location, and more.
For their audience, they are the go-to resource for engaging content about various aspects of cannabis culture. They have built a YouTube community of over 150k subscribers because of their unwavering dedication to educating in the most fun ways. They may be two of the most relatable cannabis influencers because of their comedy and creativity.
Follow Alice and Clark on Instagram @Thathighcouple.
7. Madison T. Ortiz
Madison Ortiz is the creative director for a company called “Limitless Guided Visualizations,” which are audio journeys for people who want to elevate their cannabis (or psychedelic) experience. The content that Madison shares is informative but also more spiritual and focused on happy, positive vibes.
Ortiz launched a brand of hemp products called “HappyTokes,” which includes creams and lip balms with some trippy packaging designs people love. Madison is regularly featured in High Times, MG, and other cannabis industry media for her focus on cannabis and emotional well-being.
Follow Madison T. Ortiz on Instagram @Happytokes.
8. Vic Styles
This cannabis influencer may not need an introduction. Vic Styles is the Founder and CEO of the online community Black Girls Smoke. She also founded a growing cannabis brand called Good Day Flor. The brand just launched in NYC with Good Grades, New York’s first black woman-owned dispensary.
A leader in creating a cannabis community and advocating for and raising awareness for black communities, Vic Styles is also the host of the Kontent Queens podcast on YouTube, where she teaches how creative individuals can build businesses in the creator economy.
Vic Styles also built a club in Brooklyn, New York, specifically for creative cannabis connoisseurs to work and play. Cloud Haus is a studio available for meetings, dinners, podcast recording sessions, photo or video shoots, listening parties, and movie screenings.
Follow Vic Styles on Instagram @thevicstyles.
9. Krishna Andavolu
If you watch VICE, you probably already know Krishna Andavolu. He is of Indian descent and grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, raised by parents who are physicians and in the Hindu faith.
Interestingly, in Hinduism, drinking bhang (cannabis beverage) is a religious right, thought to cleanse sins and reduce your chance of going to Hell in the afterlife. Quite the contrast with American mainstream culture that has demonized cannabis for almost one hundred years.
Krishna Andavolu is the creator, host, and executive producer of “Weediquette,” which is a series on Vice Land. It ran for three seasons starting in 2016, when few states had legalized medical or recreational cannabis. And media had more restrictions regarding cannabis content.
Andavolu not only helped create the iconic series that helped fight the cannabis stigma in America, but he also worked on the development and formats of different shows for VICE. The first time he smoked cannabis (and fell in love with like-minded individuals who used marijuana) was in College. When it comes to bud, you may call Krishna a late bloomer.
Follow Krishna Andavolu on Instagram @this.is.krishna.
10. HaleyAnn
The southern California native has a following because she finds amazing cannabis products to share. Sure, they are likely sponsored brand posts, but her photography, videos, and information about each cannabis product are on point.
From terp fridges to beeswax filter tips and some of the most outrageous bongs you have ever seen, Haley Ann shares some great content with her friends. This influencer is about California dreaming and the cannabis lifestyle on the West Coast.
Follow Haley Ann on Instagram @thehighwoman.
11. Bess Beyers
If you are a marketing professional in the cannabis sector, you may have also heard of Bess Beyers and the agency she founded Blaise Creative. Back in 2017, when marketing cannabis products or services was a risky business, Bess began to create content for cannabis education and awareness.
Bess graduated from Washington State University with a BA in Public Relations and is fluent in Mandarin. When she returned from Beijing, she moved to Los Angeles and began to work in marketing research for clients like Nike, Apple, Grey Goose, and Louis Vuitton.
In 2015, Bess Beyers worked at Western Cultured, a cannabis cultivation and dispensary. It was there that she learned about cultivars and how to process cannabis flower. Nothing like trimming and cloning for forty hours a week to teach you everything you need to know about marijuana.
She moved into content creation and social media management, and in 2018, she founded Blaise Creative. Bess Beyers is an amazing outdoor photographer, and she is also a writer and contributor for Daily Nugget News.
Follow Bess Beyers on Instagram @Iamcannabess.
12. Kitty Kitty Bang Bang
The first self-professed #ganjaGlam model and creative cannabis queen, Kitty’s cannabis photography is almost Warhol-inspired. It is sometimes retro, often colorful, and always interesting.
The best way to describe her content is pinup girl meets cannabis culture. Ergo, some of the content can be a little racy (consider yourself warned) but very entertaining. She also has a penchant for pink rolling papers and is one of the more artsy cannabis influencers.
Follow Kitty Creative on Instagram @bangkittybang.
Aaron Bloom, an experienced healthcare attorney, serves as the CEO of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers, where he has overseen the organizations’ mission and growth since 2016. In addition to his leadership roles, Aaron serves on the Board of Directors for Waterfall Bank, bringing his expertise in healthcare, compliance, and strategic growth to the financial services sector.
Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives stems from more than 20 years of owning, operating, and representing traditional healthcare organizations. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to finding better ways to relieve suffering and expand access to innovative, patient-centered care. As CEO, Aaron works each day to help patients achieve better health and wellness through the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis and other evidence-based alternative medicines.