Conversations with the Inspiring Karli Adams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karli Adams.

Karli, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story starts in Santa Cruz, California. I grew up in the Bay Area but moved there shortly after I graduated from high school. My initial “life plan” was to work in healthcare and I always assumed nursing would be a good fit for me. Little did I know, my roommates at the time would have a much bigger impact on me than any class I’ve ever taken. I really found myself through the use of cannabis and psychedelic medicine living in Santa Cruz, and while I was also in the midst of battling depression and anxiety, I had never felt so in tune with what it meant to be human… it was liberating!

The pressure I was feeling to go to college and find my path was really intense, and I moved to Portland, Oregon in hopes of getting back on track. I enrolled in a nursing program but never found passion there in the time that I attended. Over and over again, I was drawn to cannabis, psychedelics, art, music, and documentaries. I had a deep craving for knowledge and exploring all the parts of life that society has desperately tried to cover up. This was also when I experienced the lowest depression and most debilitating anxiety of my life. What made it worse was not even fully being able to identify those feelings! I knew I was struggling to even exist, in fact, I didn’t want to anymore, but the stigma behind mental health prevented me from seeking help.

Within this time I met my husband, Aaron. He was a clean-cut military guy and my total opposite, which was exactly what I needed. He balanced me, he made me feel safe and important, but mainly he just loved me unconditionally. We met in Oakland, California, but when he was transferred to rural upstate New York for work, I couldn’t bare the thought of not being with him every day. My three years spent in New York were eye-opening, to say the least. We lived in an incredibly small and conservative town, so my liberal beliefs and tattoos made me stick out like a sore thumb. And acquiring cannabis became an undercover skill for me, hoarding and hiding weed from myself to make it last. The silver lining was that my passion for art and truth only deepened, and I continued to practice these. I look back on that time in total disbelief as a now-Coloradan, and will never take for granted the accessibility and acceptance I’ve felt here.

When my husband’s contract with the military was up, we moved to Colorado on a hope and a prayer! We didn’t
know a soul here and had no plan. All we knew was that there was an opportunity here, a chance to just be ourselves. I got a job budtending at a recreational dispensary in Boulder on my first official day in the state, and I’ve been in the cannabis industry ever since! I worked my way up the ranks there, finding myself in management and marketing roles eventually. As silly as it sounds, I felt like I had come home to my family, my PEOPLE. I was finally free to express my passion for cannabis and how much it’s helped me in my depression, anxiety, insomnia, and slew of other traumas. Instead of the judgment and annoying stereotype I was usually given, I found immediate acceptance in that dispensary.

Social media soon became a big part of my job there, and I found myself utterly inspired by the online cannabis community. I had this vision for marketing cannabis-use is not only something that unites us all but also as an artistic expression. I fell in love with normalizing cannabis through photography and showing an audience that all the stereotypes surrounding it were just plain inaccurate! It’s the ability to heal mentally, physically, and spiritually could be expressed through beautiful, timeless imagery. I bought my first DSLR camera and the rest was history! I slowly started taking on clients in the cannabis industry: brands, influencers, grow houses, etc. and found myself as a full-time photographer in 2019. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and the amazing humans I’ve met in this space. I’m honored to be a female voice within the cannabis industry, and I’m constantly striving to elevate it through my photography.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road! I’ve faced many struggles along the way. As a young woman in a male-dominated industry, I’ve struggled to stand up for myself in the past. At times it felt like a constant battle to be taken seriously and heard in a room full of middle-aged men. I’ve questioned my own intelligence, witnessed others credit my ideas as their own, and have hidden my emotions in fear of appearing weak. I have let employers/co-workers take advantage of my niceness and walk all over me. My advice to other women who are just starting their journey is to stay true to yourself. Stay rooted in your beliefs and don’t waver. Also, it’s okay to say “no!” or speak what’s on your mind. Your thoughts and opinions are totally valid and need to be heard… you never know who’s listening.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I’m a freelance photographer!

I specialize in cannabis photography: products, portraits, and lifestyle. I work with brands, dispensaries, grows, influencers, etc. within the cannabis industry. I think I’m known for my uniquely feminine approach to cannabis photography and total dedication to originality. I love using female cannabis users as my models, and showcasing products in a sophisticated aesthetic. The project I’m most proud of was a collaborative effort with my good friend, Kim Nanney, called “Female Icons: Modern Women in Weed Recreate History” featured in High Times Magazine (https://hightimes.com/women/female-icons-modern-women-weed-recreate-history/). We sought out to portray 24 women involved in the cannabis industry as female icons throughout history (Audrey Hepburn, Queen Elizabeth, Marie Curie, Mother Teresa, Frida Kahlo, etc.). We wanted to draw a correlation between these icons and the female “pioneers” of the cannabis industry today. This project really seemed to resonate with women everywhere and we’re so proud of what we accomplished.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
My Mom! As a single parent, she showed me the real strength it takes to be a woman in this world. She set an example for me that I’m really grateful for: to always be kind and try to identify with another human’s experience.

Karen, my best friend of 25 years. We’ve grown up together, sharing failures and accomplishments alike. She has always inspired me to embrace what makes me “weird,” and to travel off the beaten path. Watching each other grow through life has been one of the biggest blessings.

My dear friend, Kristen (a.k.a. @cannabananaaa on Instagram)! Kristen was one of the first “cannabis influencers” I worked with and I really hit the jackpot. Not only does she inspire me to be a better photographer and add depth to my work, but she also offers me a safe space to grow. In a world full of online personas, Kristen stays true to herself and that is truly admirable.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karli_canna/

Image Credit:
Models: Juliet Payne, Kristen Johnson, Sabina Palermo, and Zoe Rose

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