Parisa Mansouri-Rad, Co-Founder of Blunt Brunch – Interview Series

One of the most prestigious gatherings for notable attendees of major industry conventions like MJBizCon and NECANN is Blunt Brunch. Far more than just another networking mixer, Blunt Brunch proudly and elegantly celebrates the impactful women making waves across all sectors of the cannabis industry—all while guests are dressed to the nines. Of course, these high-profile events don’t just come together overnight; the annual planning and logistical process for each one is extensive.

For a closer look at the significance of Blunt Brunch and the realities of cannabis industry event planning, mycannabis.com had the pleasure of speaking with Parisa Rad, Co-Founder of Blunt Brunch.

How did studying Agricultural Economics and Business at New Mexico State University give you a better understanding of the cannabis industry and the needs of canna-business owners and professionals?

My degree gave me a strong foundation in understanding how businesses operate, scale, and navigate challenges within highly regulated industries. Agriculture Economics taught me that even the best products don’t succeed without strong operations, financial planning, and market strategy behind them.

Looking back, it actually prepared me really well for cannabis because this industry sits at the intersection of agriculture, business, regulation, and entrepreneurship. Today when I work with operators, I can appreciate not only the plant side of the business but also the realities of managing risk, controlling costs, building teams, and creating sustainable growth.

While working in the insurance industry prior to joining the cannabis industry, what were the most valuable skills in teamwork and team management that you learned during those roles?

One of the biggest lessons I learned was the importance of communication and relationship building. Insurance is ultimately a people business. You have to learn how to listen, understand someone’s goals, and work collaboratively to solve problems.
I also learned how important it is to stay organized and communicate across multiple departments because success rarely happens in a silo. Those skills have carried over into cannabis, where collaboration between operators, regulators, vendors, and service providers is critical. Building trust and maintaining strong relationships has been a common thread throughout my career

What were your first experiences with cannabis, and when did you first see the possibilities of the plant?

My relationship with cannabis became deeply personal through my daughter, Yasmine. After undergoing major scoliosis surgery, she faced significant chronic pain and ongoing health challenges. Traditional treatment options weren’t providing the relief we hoped for, and we found ourselves searching for alternatives that could improve her quality of life.

As a pediatric medical cannabis patient, cannabis became a tool that helped manage symptoms and gave her greater comfort and functionality. Watching that transformation firsthand completely changed my perspective. It wasn’t about recreation or trends—it was about helping my child. That’s when I truly realized the potential of this plant and the impact it can have on families navigating difficult medical situations.

That experience is what sparked my passion for cannabis advocacy and ultimately helped shape the path I’ve taken in this industry.

When did you first enter the cannabis industry, and what professionally interested you about working with cannabis companies?

I entered the cannabis industry about nine years ago, but my motivation was rooted in something much more personal than business alone.
After witnessing the positive impact cannabis had on my daughter, I became passionate about education, access, and helping remove the stigma surrounding the plant. I wanted to be part of an industry that was improving lives while also helping build a responsible and sustainable marketplace.

Professionally, I was drawn to the entrepreneurial nature of cannabis. It was an opportunity to combine my background in business with a mission I genuinely believed in. What started as a personal journey quickly evolved into a career focused on connecting people, supporting operators, building communities, and helping move the industry forward

How did serving with cannabis-centered organizations such as Women Grow and MJMomma Consulting provide you with a better understanding of the intricacies and unique issues of both the Arizona cannabis industry and the greater American cannabis industry as a whole?

Those experiences gave me a front-row seat to the evolution of the industry. Through Women Grow, I was able to connect with leaders across the country and see how different markets were developing. Through MJMomma Consulting, I worked directly with brands and operators facing real-world challenges around marketing, growth, compliance, and market expansion.

It taught me that while every state has unique regulations, many of the core challenges are the same. Operators are constantly balancing growth, compliance, profitability, and people. Having exposure to both local and national conversations helped me develop a much broader perspective on the industry.

What in particular inspired you and Adelia to co-found Blunt Brunch? What gaps in the cannabis industry did you hope that Blunt Brunch events would fill, and how did you first envision the events helping cannabis professionals?

Adelia and I kept hearing the same thing from women in the industry: they wanted authentic relationships, not just another networking event where everyone was collecting business cards.

We saw a need for a space where professionals could build meaningful connections, have real conversations, and support one another’s growth. What started as a simple networking concept has grown into a national community.

Our vision was always bigger than events. We wanted to create a platform that helped people find opportunities, partnerships, mentors, clients, and lifelong friendships. Seeing those connections happen every day has been incredibly rewarding.

How have the Blunt Brunch events expanded in size and scope since the first few events? What have been some of the most important events that Blunt Brunch has hosted?

When we started, we were focused on creating intimate experiences where people could genuinely connect. As the community grew, so did the demand for larger events, additional markets, and more opportunities to engage.

Today, Blunt Brunch hosts events across multiple states, works alongside some of the industry’s most recognizable brands, and has become a destination for executives, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders alike.

Some of the milestones I’m most proud of are our national events during MJBizCon, our Women’s Lounges at major conferences, and our continued expansion into new markets while maintaining the community-focused experience that made people fall in love with Blunt Brunch in the first place.

In your role of Executive Consultant with IMA, what are some common insurance-related issues that your cannabis clients regularly face? And how does your years of previous experience in insurance give you a special understanding of those cannabis business-related issues?

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that insurance is just another box to check. In reality, it’s a critical part of protecting the business you’ve worked so hard to build.

Common challenges include property exposures, product liability concerns, workers’ compensation, executive liability, and making sure coverage evolves as a company grows.

My years in cannabis give me a unique advantage because I understand the operational side of the business. I’ve worked with cultivators, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and brands. That allows me to have more meaningful conversations about risk because I understand the realities operators face every day. I’m not just selling insurance—I understand the business behind the policy.

As someone who’s very familiar with the state industry, what advantages does the Arizona industry have over other neighboring state markets such as Nevada or New Mexico?

Arizona has built a very mature and competitive marketplace in a relatively short period of time. The state has strong operators, a large consumer base, and a business community that is highly collaborative.

One thing I really appreciate about Arizona is the willingness of industry leaders to work together and share knowledge. While every market has its strengths, Arizona has developed a reputation for innovation, operational excellence, and strong leadership. It continues to be one of the most influential markets in the Southwest.

What are some exciting upcoming plans for Blunt Brunch? Where are some notable locations that Blunt Brunch plans on hosting events in the near future?

We have a lot of exciting things on the horizon. We’re continuing to expand our national footprint through conferences, Women’s Lounges, educational programming, and our signature networking experiences.

You’ll continue seeing us in major markets and industry events across the country, including our annual MJBizCon activations in Las Vegas. We’re also focused on growing Blunt Brunch Connect, our membership community, to create year-round opportunities for collaboration and support beyond the events themselves.

The goal is simple: create more opportunities for people to connect, grow, and succeed together.

With a possible federal rescheduling of cannabis on the horizon, what are some worthwhile industry predictions that you have? If cannabis were to be rescheduled to Schedule III, how would such a huge change impact the insurance needs of the cannabis businesses you work with?

If rescheduling ultimately happens, I think we’ll see increased investment, greater institutional participation, and more traditional business services entering the cannabis space.

From an insurance perspective, that could mean increased carrier participation, more competitive coverage options, and broader access to risk management resources. As the industry continues to mature, businesses will also face new challenges around growth, mergers and acquisitions, executive liability, cybersecurity, and workforce management.

For operators, the opportunity will be tremendous, but so will the need for sophisticated business planning and risk management. The companies that prepare now will be best positioned to take advantage of those opportunities when they arrive.

Thank you for joining us, Parisa! For more information on Blunt Brunch events, please visit its website.