Laura Bell
Laura BellAge: 31
Title: Lead hash maker
Company: Heritage Hash Co.
Laura Bell had the privilege of working as an apprentice to the legendary hash-maker Frenchy Cannoli and is proud to carry on his legacy alongside the “hundreds, if not thousands of people he has taught over the years in person or through various media platforms.”
“Although I am Frenchy Cannoli’s official apprentice, I humbly consider myself one of his many students carrying on the craft of hashish,” she says. “Most importantly, Frenchy’s legacy is also about the love for the cannabis plant, appreciation for the land and protecting craft farmers of the Emerald Triangle.”
Bell is the lead hash maker at the award-winning Heritage Hash Co., an open-to-the-public cannabis hashery located in Ukiah, California.
“The biggest milestone so far was winning first in Ego Clash Invitational 2022 and first and second at the Emerald Cup 2022 with my team [at] Heritage Hash Co.,” she says. “Before opening our facility, our team set out with the intention of winning awards for our concentrates, and we were able to accomplish just that in the first two years after officially opening.”
Bell says the most important lesson she has learned since joining the industry is not only core to carrying on her mentor’s legacy, it’s also a major component of the company’s critical and commercial success: maintaining a love for the plant and what it has to offer.
“The only way to offer a spectacular product is if it is made with love for the plant and passion for the craft; otherwise, it’s just another mediocre product that nobody will remember years down the road,” she says. “Only with love for the plant and passion for the craft can a product have that caliber of respect from the community.”
Q&A
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned since joining the industry?
Do not let the love for cannabis get lost in the bureaucracy and politics. Over the years, I’ve found myself drifting away from the roots of my drive every now and then as I traverse through the – at times – dark and stormy waters of this industry, but my love for this is always the tether. It is so important to remember the root of why we do what we do – it’s for the love of the plant and the appreciation of what the cannabis plant has to offer us. The only way to offer a spectacular product is if it is made with love for the plant and passion for the craft; otherwise, it’s just another mediocre product that nobody will remember years down the road. During the time I was working with Frenchy and now present day at Heritage Hash Co., we have had multiple occasions where a product we released made such a profound impact, to the point the individuals remember it years after. Only with love for the plant and passion for the craft, can a product have that caliber of respect from the community. The community is the final judge of whether we truly have quality and if we are truly a recognized brand, we are not the ones who control that. At the end of the day, people can always tell when products are made with love and passion because it is unforgettable.
What has been your biggest milestone so far?
The biggest milestone so far was winning 1st in Ego Clash Invitational 2022 and 1st & 2nd at the Emerald Cup 2022 with my team Heritage Hash Co. Before opening our facility, our team set out with the intention of winning awards for our concentrates, and we were able to accomplish just that in the first two years after officially opening. At Heritage Hash Co., we are proud to be the World’s First Public Cannabis Hashery offering award winning concentrates made with love from your friendly neighborhood hash makers in Ukiah, CA.
What would you like to change or add to the industry?
The change I would have liked to see would be cannabis decriminalized before it got legalized. The lack of awareness and education around cannabis has made it extremely difficult for the survival of our industry. The groups responsible for writing the laws, have very little knowledge and awareness around the complex facets of the cannabis industry. Due to the laws being written by people who do not understand or participate in the cannabis industry, it has caused so much suffering and unrealistic expectations for the smaller companies. The California cannabis taxes and licenses are a prime example of how the industry went through so much trial and error with too many uneducated groups creating these laws. In order for our industry to survive, we need to continue to focus on the emphasis around cannabis education and awareness.
How do you feel about carrying on Frenchy’s legacy?
Frenchy’s legacy lives on through the hundreds, if not thousands, of people he has taught over the years in person or through various media platforms. Although I am Frenchy Cannoli’s official apprentice, I humbly consider myself one of his many students carrying on the craft of Hashish. Most importantly, Frenchy’s legacy is also about the love for the cannabis plant, appreciation for the land, and protecting craft farmers of the Emerald Triangle. We all are responsible for carrying on that legacy of the love for cannabis, the love for our land, and protecting our craft farmers. Now it is our turn to ensure the information is passed down to future generations.