You’ve probably heard of Fruit of Life or Snowbird carts, but chances are you haven’t met the team behind them. That’s what Behind the Green Curtain is all about — showing love to the people making it happen behind the scenes. Right in the middle of this crew is Steve Gosdis, the guy who built Wasatch Extraction from the ground up and brought his whole heart into Utah’s medical cannabis space. But this isn’t just Steve’s story — it’s a team effort. These are the people making sure Utah patients get clean, consistent, high-quality products every time.
Tell us a little about yourself — how did you first fall in love with cannabis, and what led you to start Wasatch Extraction?
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. Youngest of three children. One brother shares the love of cannabis with me and is my business partner; the other is an Ivy League attorney. I graduated from Granite High School and am the proud father of a 16-year-old daughter who is a state and national drill team champion.
We were in California, working in cultivation and extraction, when we first found out that Utah was starting a medical cannabis program. We wanted to bring our skills and love for cannabis back to our hometown, which led to the start of Wasatch Extraction.
Wasatch Extraction is one of just 17 licensed tier-one processors in Utah, quietly playing a major role behind the scenes. What keeps you motivated to perfect the craft, even when most patients don’t realize who’s behind the products they rely on?
At Wasatch Extraction, our motivation runs deeper than recognition. What drives us each day is the profound responsibility we feel toward patients who rely on our products for relief, comfort, and quality of life. Even though our efforts often remain behind the scenes, knowing that we’re directly improving lives inspires us to continuously refine and perfect our extraction methods. We take pride in mastering our craft, innovating, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cannabis extraction because we understand the trust patients place in us. It’s that quiet yet powerful connection to their wellness journey that keeps us motivated, dedicated, and always striving for excellence.
Utah has a complicated relationship with cannabis, but it also has a strong patient community. What has surprised you the most about working in this market?
What has surprised us most is the incredible resilience and strength of the patient community. Despite navigating a complex and evolving regulatory landscape, patients here have shown remarkable determination, advocacy, and openness. Witnessing their commitment to education and community support has inspired us deeply, reinforcing our dedication to transparency, quality, and compassionate care in every product we create.
Extraction is a mix of art and science. What part of the process do you geek out on the most?
We do multiple extraction processes at Wasatch, including large-scale ethanol extraction, CO₂ extraction, hydrocarbon extraction, and all forms of solventless extraction. With that being said, I learn new things daily about each process. What I enjoy the most is making concentrates and formulation.
What keeps you grounded outside of the lab? Any hobbies or passions that balance out the grind?
A work/life balance is a definite must in this industry. I love spending my free time taking my boat out on the lake with family and friends wakesurfing. I’m a diehard Utah Jazz fan and have been a season ticket holder for 12 years. I have a soft spot for animals and love spending my nights at home with my pets.
What do you hope Utah patients, and even regulators, understand about the importance of extraction and the people behind the products?
We hope that Utah patients and regulators understand the critical role cannabis extraction plays in delivering safe, effective, and precise therapeutic products. Behind every vape cartridge, tincture, or concentrate is a dedicated team of professionals committed to the highest standards of purity, consistency, and innovation. Recognizing and appreciating the craftsmanship and rigorous standards involved in extraction helps foster trust, ensures patient safety, and ultimately supports the growth and sustainability of Utah’s medical cannabis industry.
Are there any Fruit of Life or Snowbird products patients should have on their radar as we head into summer?
Being a master formulator, I’ve learned that the people of Utah have a love for dirty sodas — which is why The Fruit of Life is coming out with a variety of dirty soda-flavored vapes. We also specialize in making crumble, diamonds, and rosin vape carts. With the Snowbird line, we’ve created an HTE vape cart. HTE (High Terpene Extraction) is a process that pulls true cannabis terpenes off the flower and reintroduces them to the oil, giving you a true cannabis terpene cartridge.
