Sam Epstein first got into cannabis at 15, starting with dry herb vaping and quickly geeking out on how heat and chemistry shaped the high. These days, he’s all about flavorful, terp-heavy flower and swears by a good glass bong for the perfect session. Whether he’s kicking back with music or sparking up at the West Hartford reservoir, Sam uses cannabis to slow things down and enjoy the moment.

Meet Jose Lucero, a laid-back local with a love for blunts, martial arts, and scenic smoke spots like Kincaid Park. As our first feature in Local Smoke, Jose shares his mellow approach to herb and how staying grounded in nature shapes his everyday high — the perfect start to Cowboy Kush’s new series highlighting real smokers in real places.

In this episode of the High Functioning Podcast, Cowboy Kush founder Avery Leveston joins Jason Reposa to share how Cowboy Kush partners with local farms, reduces COGs through strategic support, and invests directly in dispensary staff — all while using key market data to build a smarter, more connected distribution model.