I had the opportunity to sit down with JJ McKay, the founder and publisher of The Fresh Toast and his president, Eric Snow this week. The two, along with New York-based Editor Kelly Barbieri, have launched a new lifestyle website targeting the “canna curious” — the 85% of America who consume cannabis, but don’t who don’t identify with High Times or Dope.
[Our audience] “are people who read the Huffington Post, USA Today, eat at Cheesecake Factory and drink artisanal liquors, ” JJ McKay explained. “These are the people who read BuzzFeed and Bustle,” Eric Snow added.
As legalization attracts new consumers back into the marijuana marketplace, advertisers and investors are paying attention. The company has raised $2 million, mostly from friends and family, and is seeking to raise another $600k-$800k.
In a wide-ranging conversation at The Fresh Toast offices in downtown Seattle, we talked about the launch of the site, the upcoming “marijuana elections”, and how legalization is changing the culture, and creating a demand for a mainstream cannabis lifestyle media play.
Listen to the entire interview, available exclusively here on Marijuana Channel One:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYiMpVGrQPM&w=560&h=315]