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Cannabis PR
5 min read

Five Questions: Heather Jackson, Co-Founder and Board President for Realm of Caring (RoC)

Published on
November 17, 2020
Co-Founder and board president for Realm of Caring
Contributors
RICARDO BACA

Ricardo Baca is a 20-year veteran journalist and cannabis futurist, widely respected in both modern media and drug-policy circles. He was appointed The Denver Post’s first-ever cannabis editor in 2013 and founded news vertical The Cannabist, where he extensively covered the advent of the U.S. adult-use cannabis market and related issues around the world, as seen in the feature documentary Rolling Papers

Ricardo launched Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency in 2016 to work directly with business leaders in highly regulated industries, from cannabis and psychedelics to spirits and healthcare. In 2023, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis appointed Ricardo to the state’s first-ever Natural Medicine Advisory Board to contribute to policy development around the state’s eventual psychedelics framework.

Named one of Fortune’s 7 Most Powerful People in America’s Marijuana Industry in 2016 and Marketer of the Year by AdCann in 2019, has received numerous accolades for his trailblazing work. In addition to his previous journalistic coverage of drug policy, cannabis business and culture, Ricardo continues to host panel discussions at events nationwide and contribute columns for a number of top publications including Rolling Stone. He is also a sought-after thought leader in media, cultural events and podcasts, and has spoken on The Colbert Report, NPR’s All Things Considered, TEDxBoulder, TEDxMarin and multiple years at SXSW.

Three media outlets I check every single day: The Denver Post, Vox, The New York Times

Super inspired by: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

My monthly #GrasslandsGives donation: The Marshall Project

When I’m off the clock (in five words): Travel. Design. Writing. Feminist. ENFP.


This month we’re excited to spotlight Heather Jackson, Co-Founder and Board President for Realm of Caring (RoC), a nonprofit focused on cannabinoid research and patient advocacy.

One of the perks of working at a cannabis PR and marketing agency is getting to know our awesome clients—and getting an insider’s look at some of the most innovative brands and companies out there. In this monthly feature series we ask a different client the same five questions, and we share those tasty tidbits with our readers.

This month we’re excited to spotlight Heather Jackson, Co-Founder and Board President for Realm of Caring (RoC), a nonprofit focused on cannabinoid research and patient advocacy.

Five Questions 

What is your favorite part about working at Realm of Caring?

My passion and profession now align. There is nothing better than ending the day with no potential left in it, and truly knowing we have helped to improve people’s lives. 

What was your most interesting job before joining Realm of Caring?

The most interesting job I had before RoC was a nonprofit child development center that provided education for children and their families. Helping to shape young people’s minds is awesome, but if you want to sit at the feet of Yoda, talk to a kid! They say the most interesting things.

Where can we find you after work?

Snuggled up with the family! Reading, playing a game, or sitting in front of the fireplace. 

Tell us your go-to karaoke song:

“Respect” by Aretha Franklin

What advice would you give to other industry professionals?

Just do the next right thing. Lead with your heart. Discover your values and let them guide the way. 

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