PUSHMAG: The Active Issue

PUSH Mag: What were you like growing up?
Jena Schlosser: I grew up in a small town in Connecticut,
a town where everyone knows one another. Luckily, I have
always been surrounded by family and the greatest friends.
I went to catholic school for nine years, so going to a public
high school sure was a treat! That’s actually when I started
using cannabis. I’ve always tried to be outgoing—connecting
with and meeting new people wherever I went.
P.M: What did you think you were going to be when you
grew up?
J.S: A chef. I actually chased and conquered that dream
for quite a few years. I was in a food service program
all throughout high school before attending Johnson &
Wales University in Providence, RI for their culinary arts
program. I got my Associates Degree in Rhode Island before
transferring to the Denver campus in 2011. So it was actually
my love and passion for cooking and food that brought me
here to Colorado, where I call home now.
P.M: How did you get into photography?
J.S: I had been growing cannabis while simultaneously baking
edibles for a small (no longer existent) dispensary down in
Palmer Lake, CO. I loved the beginning years of my exposure
to cannabis, it was a bit before it became recreationally
legal. I had an infatuation with capturing these amazing, rare
experiences. I had saved up and gotten my first camera to
take photos of the flower I recently harvested, as well as the
incredible sunrises and sunsets I witnessed daily.
P.M: What inspired you to begin working with cannabis?
J.S: Since my early years in high school (sorry mom!) I’ve
always loved the euphoric and relaxing feeling, as well
as the social aspect that cannabis gave me. Once I had
the camera to capture the plant, it was an instant love.
Eventually, I moved back up towards the Denver area and
worked as a budtender for a few years where my cannabis
photography really kicked off. Kind Pain Management
allowed me to bring my camera in with me to work, and
I’d take photos of the products, their harvests, garden
and managed their social media. Since then it’s been only
upward and onward pursuing my passion. I truly love to
capture and share the beauty the cannabis plant holds
within. I feel grateful to be able to call this my career—I
often reflect on how unreal my life feels.
P.M: What is your favorite way to consume cannabis?
J.S: Taking dabs, 100%. I consider myself to be a hash faerie, if
you will. I have a passion for hashin’. All of the different textures
and types from live resin to rosin and all the unique terpene
profiles, ah! I love to dab and dabventure—I often mix my love
for marijuana and mountains, photography-wise and in my
everyday life. I keep my rig and nail clean so I can thoroughly
enjoy each strain and the terpenes they hold within.
P.M: What is your personal philosophy regarding
cannabis use?
J.S: I believe cannabis has amazing medicinal benefits
that can replace countless pharmaceuticals poisoning our
country. Working in a medical-only dispensary for years, I
witnessed miracles day in and day out. Watching patients
try different methods to see what helped them best and
witnessing their progress proved to me just how powerful of
a plant cannabis is. On a recreational perspective, I think it’s
a beautiful replacement for alcohol use if you’re someone
who likes an altered state of mind and some fun. I enjoy
and feel so lucky to be a part of this amazing transition to
the normalization of cannabis use. Ultimately, I believe that
organic and sustainable practices are crucial while growing
and consuming this plant.
37