DANIEL IBAÑES • EARTHGIFT DISPENSARIES | CAROLINA “BUDTENDER”

Health is of utmost importance in life, because with good health we can achieve anything we set our minds to, and if you add to that a love for service, you've got a clear path ahead. We bring you Daniel Ibañes “El Tuko,” one of the Budtenders at Earthgift dispensaries in Carolina and Trujillo Alto, who tells us how he entered this industry and how his love for service has brought him to where he is today.

How did you get into the cannabis industry?

I came to this industry by chance, although as they say, nothing is by chance. I felt like trying something new professionally and decided to take the plunge and see my growth potential within a growing industry.

Has cannabis helped you in any way?

Cannabis has helped me in countless ways. For example, CBD helps me wake up feeling better after a night of basketball with the guys! It has also helped me with stress and anxiety.

Do you have a favorite strain of cannabis and how do you consume it?

I really enjoy the effects and benefits of Bonfire OG and OGiesel. I consume them in every way possible, since there are different methods of consumption besides vaporizing the flower, such as edibles and wax.

Being a Budtender is a profession of service and helping patients. What reward do you feel when guiding people towards a healthy life?

What better reward is there than knowing you've helped and contributed to a patient's improvement? That with my suggestions, smile, and good service, I'm able to help people suffering from depression. People desperate with physical pain who would do anything for relief. And even people anxious because they can't get enough sleep. I believe I'm helping our country and contributing to a better quality of life for our patients.

What is your opinion on cannabis?

My opinion on cannabis? Wow, thank God for it! It's amazing how a single plant has so much history, so much fame, and so many benefits. For me, there's no doubt it was put on this earth for a special purpose. I think it has benefits for every time of day when used correctly!

In your daily life at Budtender, you treat many patients with different stories. Can you tell us a story that has marked your passion for serving patients?

Although our work demands a great deal of discretion with our patients, there are indeed cases that stand out and demonstrate my love and passion for what I do. A few months ago, I saw a patient who was desperately seeking ways to sleep. She had lost her job due to inefficiency and feared damaging her relationship with her children because of her mood swings and lack of attention. Her marriage was also suffering. To our surprise, a simple Indica tincture, with a formula specifically created for relaxation and rest, helped this patient regain her lost sleep. She went from sleeping two hours a day to six to seven hours straight. She managed to find a new job and is now planning a family cruise. This patient was able to stop taking prescription pills thanks to giving medical cannabis a chance. She returned to thank me for my help, tears in her eyes.

What did you do before becoming a Budtender?

I have dedicated most of my life to service. I was a butler for the hotel industry for several years in different hotels on the island. It was here that service became my forte and where I also learned that true service comes from the heart and goes hand in hand with humility.

What are your thoughts on recreational cannabis?

I know many on the island anticipate this, and I know it's a possibility. Like many other states, they also started with medical cannabis and then legalized recreational cannabis. I think that, for the benefit of medical cannabis patients, they will pay less or no tax at dispensaries and perhaps experience shorter wait times.

Anything you'd like to say, share, or express about the cannabis industry in Puerto Rico?

It fills me with great satisfaction to be part of the cannabis industry in Puerto Rico, as it allows me to help people feel better and have a better quality of life; especially for those patients who need it so much to cope with their illnesses and conditions. Being an essential part of their treatments and helping them improve is what motivates me to be a better Budtender every day and provide them with excellent service.

I hope this industry continues to grow and becomes accessible to everyone who needs it. I also hope that in the not-too-distant future, this industry will be treated with the respect it deserves and become one of the economic pillars of our country and society.

You know, if you want excellent service with quality products and where they guide you correctly for the benefit of your health, stop by Earthgift Dispensaries in Carolina and ask for "Tuko", you will leave more than happy with your medicine.

Remember, consume consciously.

Mr. Sens