Better Know a Canasmith - Michelle Smyth

Interview by Cristian Gomez

You’ve seen her work everywhere. From bold menus and cheeky campaigns to neon booth setups and the voice behind every Canasmith drop. Michelle Smyth is our Director of Sales and Marketing, but that barely scratches the surface. She’s the creative force shaping how people see, feel, and remember the brand. Michelle doesn’t usually step into the spotlight. She’s more comfortable building the stage and cheering others on. But Canasmith wouldn’t be what it is without her. This interview is long overdue. I sat down with Michelle to talk about cannabis, family, grief, design, and High Femme -- the deeply personal art project that’s turning heads and reclaiming space in the industry. Here’s what she shared.

Cristian Gomez: Do you remember the first time you encountered cannabis?

Michelle Smyth: I grew up with it in the house. My parents were big advocates of the plant, and cannabis sales helped fund our moves across the country. It was always around.

CG: What was the vibe, and how did it shape your early impressions?

MS: The vibe was very working-class hero. It was survival. We used this plant to deal with the soul-crushing nature of poverty and systemic pressure. It wasn’t recreational, it was essential.

CG: What role has cannabis played in your personal life; medicinal, social, creative?

MS: It’s been huge for me. I was an undiagnosed AUDHD kid, and social stuff was always weird. I was the nerdy straight-A student in a wild family. I didn’t always relate to people easily. Cannabis helped me regulate my emotions and connect better with others. It softened things for me.

CG: Your family has a deep history with cannabis. How does that influence your work today?

MS: It was central to our family. My parents sold it. Later on, my brothers grew it. My brother Jeff was a legacy and medical grower. He even owned a shop at one point. He passed away last year, and they were pulling plants out of his house the day he died. That moment fired me up. He loved this plant. He was doing what he loved until the very end. I was always using the plant, but for most of my life I kept that very hush hush… Now I am pretty damn open about it. It’s important that folks know that you can be a stoner and a high achiever.

CG: You wear a lot of hats at Canasmith. What part of the job feels most like you?

MS: Design. I’ve always been high-functioning in sales, but I had to study to get there. Being neurodivergent, it didn’t come naturally. I’m pretty shy in real life. But I’m an artist first. That’s my core.

CG: What’s something people outside the industry don’t understand about your job?

MS: It’s long hours, a ton of driving, and madness. You gotta really love it… you can make so much money doing other things. As for the work, It’s harder and more complex than my former high powered corporate job. I have to learn everyday. Also you become a master of multitasking… I handle direct orders, work with Chewie on pheno hunts, customer outreach, build and maintain our CRM systems, even weigh in on issues involving internal strategy.

CG: This market is tough. What keeps you going?

MS: Cannabis. Honestly. It helps me decompress. This work is intense, and I carry a lot. I’m secretly very tightly wound up, and the plant still helps me stay grounded.

CG: What’s something you’ve built at Canasmith that people don’t see?

MS: Stability and consistency. It’s harder than it looks. When you’re doing it the right way, it takes longer. I’m proud of our whole crew. We see everyone on the farm as part of the band. Watching them grow and take creative risks fills my cup. Especially the owners. They’re good, kind people trying to do things right.

CG: If you could fix one thing about Washington’s cannabis industry, what would it be?

MS: I’d want fewer farms with better product. More diversity in cultivation methods, better testing, more transparency. And taxes. We don’t make much money. Most of it goes to the state. Also I would find a way to lighten the environmental footprint. Not a lot of folks talk about it, but running lights in some of these massive farms is as energy expensive as crypto mining… meaning it takes A LOT of power to run these massive grow operations.

CG: How do you approach storytelling in cannabis with all the limitations?

MS: I tell my own story. I’m a stoner, and that matters. Cannabis isn’t just for babes and bros. It’s also for the shy punk kids, the neurodivergent weirdos, the gays and they/thems. We’re here too. I try to be honest about that experience, even if it means being shadow-banned online. It matters that people know where we stand.

CG: Your voice is funny, honest, and rebellious. Where does that come from?

MS: I had a rough childhood, like a lot of us. I learned early that you’ve got to laugh and keep moving. I also love comedy. I’ve done a few five-minute sets. Humor heals. We all need it.

CG: Favorite Canasmith moment so far?

MS: Launching was amazing. We worked in secret for a year, and finally showing people what we’d built felt electric. But watching Chewie place at the NW Leaf Bowl? That was the best moment. It made all the hard work feel worth it.

CG: What inspired High Femme?

MS: The cannabis world felt really male-centered. That’s cool… it has a place… but I didn’t see anyone like me. I’ve been making portraits since I was 19, so I just started creating what I wanted to see. It started with memes and turned into something real. People kept cheering me on, so I kept going.

CG: If Canasmith had one core value tattooed on its knuckles, what would it say?

MS: Keep Going.

CG: What do you hope people feel when they encounter your work, whether it’s a flyer, a High Femme poster, or meeting you in person?

MS: That I care. That I’m fun, and human, and they matter to me. We’re in this together. Life is hard. Cannabis helps. And I want to help. I’m also Lisa Simpson behind the scenes, making sure we are who we say we are.

CG: What’s your favorite stoner movie?
MS: While it’s not a conventional stoner movie, WALK HARD, THE DEWEY COX STORY. I just laugh when Tim Meadows says, “You don’t want any part of this sheeet!”

CG: Any final thoughts?

MS: Support the small farms. They’re the soul of this industry. Big money can buy success, but small farms are built on grit and love. You can feel it in the flower.
Be kind, and be the change you want to see in the world.