Meet Amanda Nash | Bridge Builder & 420 Normalizer/Owner of The Bud Card

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Nash and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I feel like I have always had the entrepreneur mindset. Combine that with the feeling of being a medical marijuana patient and feeling disconnected from the product I was using and you have The Bud Card. A VIP Cannabis Club helping consumers connect to new products such as Undoo, Roll A Bong board game, CBD, Cannabis Door Mats (plus many more) AND save on their purchases from them. Our goal is not only to help consumers learn about new companies, products and services, but also to save on their purchases, some of which may be used for medicine, with no insurance to help cover the cost. In addition to our members we also have a community of businesses across the states that work together, collaborate and support one another. I hope The Bud Card can help patients, adult users and small businesses alike find a community they can connect and grow with.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Bud Card officially started in March of 2018, but had been an idea on my mirror for years before that. With the help of some plant medicine I got the nerve to quit my full time job and start my business. I am to have started it but also to have come this far, and know there is no going back! Being in the Cannabis Industry created obstacles I would have never imagined, that most other businesses do not have to deal with, including but not limited to, lack of banks that will work with you, processing, and even advertising on social media. To overcome these I just kept pushing, kept asking questions, kept making calls, and filling out applications. My biggest lesson in this is that a community can help overcome these obstacles much easier and faster together. We can share information and other resources to help eliminate some of the hardships created simply from being in this space. What excites me? The ripple effect of sharing connections, knowledge and resources and tools. I want the world to understand that cannabis is medicine and the stigmas surrounding it need to be eliminated. I want people to know The Bud Card is for anyone who is cannabis friendly. You don’t need to use THC or CBD to benefit from the benefits of being a member of The Bud Card, we work with more than 55 companies across the states and are growing. Some non cannabis companies we partner with are, Renewed Body Massage, HVAC services and artists. I encourage companies that are cannabis consumer friendly and looking to expand to connect with us and become a partnering business. Last, I hope those who are thriving to remember to reach back and help others, because that is how we truly learn and grow.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ohhhhh. I live in AZ so the adventure is endless. The first thing we would do is go kayaking down the Salt River. It doesn’t matter what time a year it is, this is always a beautiful journey. Expect to see cranes, turtles, cows and if you are lucky horses. From there we would have to eat. My nickname is Amanda Munchies, so I love to eat. Our first restaurant stop would be Glai Baan known for Thai food, not found on most menus. From there we would go Mural hunting around Phoenix stopping to eat at Cibo, one of my favorite pizza places and Bud’s Glass Joint, my favorite smoke shop. Next we would head up north to Antelope Canyon and of course Horse Shoe Bend and The Grand Canyon. We would stop at a brewery or two on the way and also at Clear Creek to enjoy nature and the water. (If it were up to me we would also kayak Horse Shoe Bend!) The adventure would not stop there! We would then drive to Cali for a day trip to any place along the beach. Can you tell I love water? We would eat Seafood at all the small local spots. When heading back to AZ we would stop along the route and enjoy all the scenery and a Hot Spring. Want more food back in Phoenix? We would eat at Little Miss BBQ, Clever Koi, Feeney’s and Wild Flower. We would then go to the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. Then you would have to choose between heading south to Tucson or going to Kartchner Caverns. And of course during all this we would be stopping at local cannabis companies to learn, support and shop!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think the biggest shout outs need to go to my Mom, Oma and Husband, family members and close friends all who have supported me through every moment of this journey. I also need to recognize the amazing companies that The Bud Card gets to partner with who have believed in our mission and want to help consumers of cannabis as much as we do. A huge shout out to Support District Radio where we record The Bud Show, a podcast creating space for casual cannabis conversations. Thank you to the companies who allow us to host markets, Hempful Farm being one of the first and longest supporters. Thank you to Chris & Andi Martin for inviting me to be on the board of Zonka Miles, a nonprofit that helps those coming out of foster care or prison. I feel like I could go on and on. Thank you to Colette Florido who creates with me weekly all the way from Florida. Thank you to those I didn’t name, but you know you play an important part. THANK YOU! I can’t say it enough.

Website: www.thebudcard.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebudcard/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-nash-jimenez/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebudcard

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBudShow