Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Noah.
Hi Matthew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began my love affair with cannabis while experimenting with it in high school, but I didn’t fully recognize its true magnificence until I developed Crohn’s Disease years later and started using it to handle the symptoms. Upon realizing how much it has been able to help me and the potential it has to do the same for others, I decided that I wanted to learn as much as I could about the plant so I could spread the word, educating and advocating.
In my early 20s, I saw the movie The Prestige and it reignited the fascination with the art of magic I had as a child. That was right around the same time I was in a car accident that had me stuck at home and off of work from my sales job for a month. I decided, with nothing better to do, to dust off the textbook-sized magic book I had as a kid to see if I could gain a better understanding of its contents as an adult. Sure enough, I was hooked on soaking up as much magic-related information as I could. I studied and practiced and eventually enrolled myself in the “Master Class” at the Las Vegas “Magic & Mystery School” and studied under masters in magic, such as Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger. I continued my education and became a member of The Magic Castle in Hollywood while pursuing magic professionally. I would later go on to create magic effects published in trade media, star in a documentary about magicians, and write/direct an award-winning Fringe Festival show.
In 2009, I worked with a partner to open a Prop 215 dispensary, called The Herbal Center, and thought it would be fun to perform bits of magic for the patients with the cannabis products that they were purchasing. That was the first time I realized that I could combine my love of cannabis with my love of magic.
In 2017, I was hired as an on-screen cannabis reviewer for Nugg which gave me an excuse to start playing around with cannabis-centric magic again and educate folks about the benefits of cannabis at the same time! Nugg also gave me the opportunity to bring my sales background into the equation when they brought me out to perform magic that incorporated their brand’s core messaging at the High Times Cannabis Cup. This is around the time I decided to combine my background in sales, cannabis and magic, and The Cannabis Conjuror was born. I started to direct my career towards performing magic at cannabis events to help brands stand out and make their product and messaging more memorable.
Since, I have further immersed myself within the cannabis community where I’ve performed magic at countless cannabis events, been invited to judge cannabis competitions, worked as a “tastemaker” (creating short-form content that combined cannabis education, magic and sales), and I am currently the only person to have won the grand prize on Cannabis Capitol’s game show “Are You Smarter Than A Budtender”!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Because what I do is so unique, my biggest hurdle is in educating potential clients on the huge benefit magic can bring to their marketing efforts at trade events. Consumers can be overwhelmed when they encounter so many competing brands at these events that the only way to stand out is by providing a memorable experience that cements a positive association with your brand into their minds. The Cannabis Conjuror does just that!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m currently working to create a full-length cannabis-themed magic show and collaborating with brands to create never before seen magic effects that showcase their products in the most unique and experiential way I know how!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To ignore all of the naysayers and keep moving forward, focusing on your vision. Nobody’s going to understand your vision but you, especially if it hasn’t been done before. Can you imagine telling your friends and family that you want a career in magic? How about a career as a CANNABIS magician? You can only imagine how many eye-rolls I’ve gotten!
Contact Info:
- Website: TheCannabisConjuror.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecannabisconjuror/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewnoahmagic/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@matthewnoah
Image Credits
@TheJoJoSnaps
