Sara Payan

Educator - Writer - Policy Advocate - Industry Consultant Creating educational and training opportunities for brands, healthcare institutions, policymakers and the public through consulting, curriculum and media. Sara Payan is a nationally recognized and award-winning educator, public speaker, policy advocate, writer and the host of the “Planted with Sara Payan” podcast. An industry veteran with over 18,000 hours of experience guiding and educating the public, Payan has her finger on the pulse of the industry regarding consumer trends and product development and trained cannabis professionals on consumer relationship building and the art of the sale. She has consulted with numerous brands on product development, public outreach, marketing and engagement for businesses. She is an appointee and Subcommittee Chair of the California Cannabis Advisory Committee and the San Francisco Cannabis Oversight Committee. She was Co-Chair of the San Francisco State Cannabis Legalization Taskforce. She was named among the 100+ Most Important Women in Cannabis for 2019 and 2020. For over a decade, Sara worked for the Apothecarium as their Director of Education and Public Education Officer. She has created educational and training opportunities for healthcare and higher learning institutions, policymakers and the public through lectures, tours, curriculum and media. As a Stage III cancer survivor and former civil rights professional, she believes that educating consumers and policymakers makes for safe access, sound policy and equitable industry opportunities. Sara has taught and lectured at large healthcare organizations, higher learning institutions and public foundations such as Kaiser, UCSF and UC Berkeley Haas Business School. She has led nationwide large-scale industry training and lectures, including continuing education credit classes at accredited schools for healthcare practitioners through her private practice. Sara created some first-to-market cannabis curricula — the first cannabis education workshop series for City College of San Francisco.