Ville Magazine l Insider Access for City Lifestyle Mar/Apr 2016 / People Issue | Page 24

first removal of anything cannabis related out of
CSA. It released these types of products to the
mainstream marketplace allowing them to be sold
in spas, health food stores, and other locations
within the state.
The Cannabis Basics federal trademark is significant,
because it was the first Federal TM awarded by the
USPTO for a company logo with the word cannabis
and the cannabis leaf, protecting a product with
actual cannabis in it, not a service or educational
institute. It is important to note that the USPTO did
not award us this trademark based on our cannabis
weed line [only available in WA]. Rather, it was
awarded based on our worldwide cannabis hemp
line. These two distinct lines have a very similar
branding, which will by default also protect the
intellectual property of the weed line.
Have you struggled selling your product within a society
with the majority still having a stigma towards cannabis?

Photo: Daniel Hager

What made you interested in this industry?

THE

CRUSADER

THIS PAST YEAR, AH WARNER WAS GRANTED
A FEDERAL TRADEMARK FOR CANNABIS
BASICS MAKING IT THE FIRST BY THE USPTO
THAT PROTECTS A COMPANY LOGO WITH THE
WORD CANNABIS AND THE CANNABIS LEAF.
Ah Warner has been surrounded by
cannabis her entire life. Her family was
involved in smuggling, trading, and selling
the drug. Even though it was illegal, she
didn’t consider it wrong. Instead, she felt
like she was providing a valuable product
to those who were in need. In 1995, she
took that passion and launched Cannabis
Creations, later renamed Cannabis Basics,
producing quality health and beauty aids
with premium organic hempseed oil and
cannabis flowers.
24 l VILLE l PEOPLE ISSUE

You could say it’s in my genes. My
grandfather smuggled weed under the
brim of his helmet crossing the Mexican
border. My brothers were all involved to
one degree or another in the weed trade
back in the 70’s and 80’s. I had a triple beam
set up in my best friend’s father’s office
back in high school, selling ounces while he
vacationed in Florida for the winters. I had
always been the “hook up.” I have never
grown weed myself, but have helped many
friends grow and have spent countless
hours manicuring weed for distribution
which was really where my talents lay.
Cannabis Health and Beauty Aids are newly
defined by Washington law here, can you tell
us about the process and how that related to
you getting your trademark granted?

In 2015, I co-authored The Cannabis Health
and Beauty Aids Act with political analyst
and patient activist, Kari Boiter. The act
would define CHABA as topical cannabis
products that are not meant for human
or animal consumption, less than .3%
THC, non-intoxicating, and not marijuana,
removing them from the Washington
Controlled Substances act (CSA). It was the

I am no longer experiencing the pushback of the
90’s; however, I am completely aware that we live in
the Great Green State of Washington. I am finding
that the older generations are embracing these
types of products. Pain is a common denominator,
especially in aging folks. Since these types of
products can help with pain and inflammation while
remaining non-intoxicating, many people now think
it’s cool to be connected to a healthy cannabis
product. One of my favorite accounts is a yarn store
in Bellingham where my products sell like hot cakes
to mostly older women who just want to be able to
crochet and knit without pain.
What is one misconception that you would like people to
understand when it comes to cannabis?

There are two types of cannabis. First, there’s
industrial hemp which has less than .3% THC and
used in a multitude of industries including skin care.
Then there’s weed which we’ve used for medicine,
celebrations, and rituals pretty much forever.
Hempseed oil from the pressed seeds of hemp is
the foundational element in my formulas. Hemp oil,
which is rich in Omega’s 6 and 3 in the perfect ratio
that human’s need for optimal cellular performance,
promotes elasticity and collagen production.
Now that you are trademarked, what are the next steps
you are planning for your brand?

As I mentioned, our hemp line can be sold
anywhere. We can pick up accounts all over the
U.S. knowing that our branding is fully protected
by federal law. Our focus, though, for the next few
years will be building the Cannabis Basics Education
Wellness and Research Center. We will manufacture
Cannabis Basics CHABA for the state while growing
and researching industrial hemp, as well as be
providing an educational destination complete with
a museum, event space, and a wellness center. Our
ultimate goal is to get CHABA back in the hands
of all health-conscious consumers and to make
Washington State known worldwide as the modern
day birthplace of Cannabis Health and Beauty Aids.