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Meet Donicia Barrios of Pink Honey Collective in North Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donicia Barrios.

Donicia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Pink Honey Collective started as a way for me to treat some personal injuries, and eventually my really sick puppy. In 2016, I was in a horrible car accident that left me with tissue damage and pretty severe PTSD. Going through workers’ comp. was a lengthy process for me, and most of the doctors I saw could only evaluate me and not treat my injuries. This is where CBD changed my life for the better! I started researching ways to use Cannabis to help me heal and eventually began experimenting with recipes of my own. When my 6-month-old Labrador went through kidney failure, I started him on CBD too. Not only does it help promote homeostasis, but it also helps regulate his heart (he has a grade 3 heart murmur). It also helped with his training and his separation anxiety! The quality of my life and my dog’s life is the best it can be thanks to CBD, and now, I want to share it with you. Once I realized there was a lack of products available that were geared towards a more feminine customer base, I decided to create a brand that was inviting to women and LGBTQ customers. From that moment on, I knew I found my purpose. Improving the quality of people’s lives is what I was born to do! The most rewarding part is hearing testimonials from my customers-it keeps me going on the hardest of days, and I will only continue to work harder so that these products are available worldwide.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are many ups and downs when it comes to owning a business and building a brand from scratch! Some days make you want to throw in the towel, haha, but most of them are inspiring. Hearing feedback from my customers is what feeds my creativity. I’m constantly trying to think of the next new product to create so that someone, somewhere can feel better. From chronic pain, inflammation, stress, and anxiety, to autoimmune disorders and insomnia-CBD can greatly improve your quality of life!

The most trouble I’ve had thus far is advertising and processing credit cards. Big banks are fighting us every step of the way – and what a shocker… they’re the ones that pushed for anti-cannabis propaganda in the 1930s. Facebook and Instagram have both banned my Ad accounts for mentioning CBD, although I see Ads for similar products almost every day. It has put me at a great disadvantage to widen my audience and provide high-quality self-care options to those that need them. My products are sourced carefully, lab tested, and only infused with 99% pure CBD isolate made from Hemp. None of them are federally illegal, so I find it humorous that I’ve been “banned” for selling “illegal” substances. They really need to get it together if you ask me!

Pink Honey Collective – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Pink Honey Collective is a specialty CBD brand that promotes self-care and promotes social justice and equality for all. Pain, inflammation, stress, anxiety, insomnia, and symptoms of autoimmune disorders don’t discriminate and neither do we! Improving the quality of people’s lives is our passion, and we hope to expand worldwide. Self-care is our top priority and we hope to continue to provide high-quality products you can be confident in using. We also aim to educate and teach the history of cannabis to break down stigmas against this beautiful plant. Fun Fact: Did you know that Cannabis is a vegetable?

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success has been a looming, yet out of reach idea for me most of my life. For the longest time (even through college), I had no idea what I really wanted to do when I “grew up”. I spent a lot of years trying out different roles and immersing myself in a handful of professional industries. It wasn’t until I was personally injured did I have the time and opportunity to use my creative juices to brainstorm a business idea I truly believed in, and that could greatly help others.

I’ve always known that taking care of people was something I was great at, but if you asked me ten years ago I couldn’t have imagined creating a business like Pink Honey Collective. It’s a dream come true and I’m grateful for this calling every single day. Success has now become more of a lifestyle than an end-goal. If I’m able to create products that help people, even just one other person, I consider that a success. If I’m able to continue doing so, it will be the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.

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  • 20% off for their entire first order: VOYAGELA

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Image Credit:
Abel Media Collective (Kate Henrikson)

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