Welcome to the Salt-Baked Q&A section! We designed this special section to help highlight those working in the Utah medical cannabis industry, but more importantly, to give patients a more transparent view of where their favorite products come from – and how they are made.
If someone is lucky enough to shop for cannabis in California or the Nevada adult-use markets, saying the name ‘Moxie’ might make his or her endocannabinoid system shudder with excitement. Especially if craft-concentrates are what he or she are after when purchasing and consuming exotic out-of-state cannabis.
Even if someone is not a concentrates person, the name Moxie might still ring a bell. That’s because they are the first cannabis company awarded a license to operate business in California when adult-use began.
Cannabis in California has been legal for medical use since 1996, and the illustrious recreational market opened in late 2016. As of June of this year, 38 states including Utah have since legalized the medical use of cannabis, while 18 states and the District of Columbia have taken one step further and legalized the plant for adult use.
Instead of waiting for Federal cannabis laws to fall, opening interstate commerce, or making the painful drive to Wendover or Mesquite, people can head down to the local Utah medical cannabis pharmacy and get the sticky-icky they’ve been dreaming about since their last cannabis vacay. As of July, Moxie is officially in town.
Here to tell more about this legendary brand and what they’ll be doing for Utah medical cannabis patients is Alex Belisle. Not only is he a co-founder of Moxie, he’s also wearing the hat of general manager and lead extractor in Utah.
So, sit back and relax. Get out the favorite consumption tool, and the favorite Utah cannabis product, and join the conversation with Belisle, the High Times Cup winner from Moxie. It’s safe to say he is responsible for the high-standards consumers have learned to love about this pioneer cannabis brand.
How did you first get into the cannabis industry?
I moved to North Hollywood, California from Orlando, Florida. in 2013 and on my very first day there I met Billy who is one of the co-founders of Moxie. He was part owner of a dispensary a couple blocks from my apartment and by chance I chose his shop to be my first. He asked if I needed a job and would be willing to come and help out and gram up some concentrates. I said yes without hesitation and within 24 hours of being in California had landed myself in the cannabis industry at the ground floor.
Why did you leave Nevada’s adult-use market for Utah’s new medical cannabis one?
I left California in September of 2020 in pursuit of bigger mountains, fewer people and more happiness. I ended up in Boulder, Colo. running a small grow for a budding company based out of Colorado Springs. I liked my job and I loved living in Boulder, but when I was offered to return to Moxie in a state that was home to world class trail running, skiing and plenty of other pursuits to chase in the mountains I couldn’t turn it down.
What has been your favorite part about moving to Utah so far?
My favorite part about moving to Utah so far is the access to big, steep, technical mountain running. I run ultra-marathons ranging up to 100 miles with as much as 24,000 feet of vertical gain, Having the Wasatch Front just minutes from my home and work is something of a secret weapon for training. Training I’ll need to complete the three 100-mile races I have between now and September.
What is something that the general public doesn’t understand about cannabis extraction?
The biggest misconception is that the product with the highest THC percentage is the best product on the shelf. This is a false narrative for cannabis extracts and for cannabis flower. Terpenes, and the breakdown of how much of each terpene is present, has much more to do with the quality and effect of any cannabis product.
Can you tell me about some of the Moxie products we’ll see here in Utah?
We are excited to be bringing a full line of concentrates including: Badder, Shatter, Sauce, Diamonds, Live Resin Cartridges, edibles and a few potential items in the future including Rosin and Ice Water Hash.
What is the biggest challenge in cannabis extraction?
The biggest challenge in Utah, specifically, is sourcing good starting material. There are not many growers here and even fewer who are growing to the standards I would expect in states like Colorado or California. Luckily, we are teaming up with some of the best in the state to produce our starting material so we can bring the highest quality to Utah’s patients who may be unfamiliar that such quality hash was even out there.
What makes Moxie different from other concentrate companies?
Moxie brings a level of experience in producing cannabis products that, quite honestly, doesn’t exist currently in Utah. I, myself, have been making cannabis extracts for nearly a decade and in that time have learned valuable lessons that can’t be learned any other way than with time in the industry. From the early “Black Market” days to the current legal system we now have Moxie has always leaned into our experience and the results speak for themselves.
Can you tell me about the Utah Moxie facility and the staff working with you?
Currently we have a very small staff here in Utah, but we are finding the need to grow our numbers already. Our facility is in Provo, which always gets some raised eyebrows.
What’s the best way to experience cannabis in your opinion?
In my opinion the best way to experience cannabis is by dabbing some form of concentrate from a clean glass “rig” with clean water using what is known as an “e-nail.”
We’ve seen you holding some pretty exciting awards. Can you tell us what it was like winning your first High Times Cannabis Cup for extracts? What did you do to win this title?
My very first win at a High Times Cannabis Cup was at the Michigan Cup in 2015. I took first place in the Hybrid Concentrates category with some Strawberry Banana Live Resin Badder I made in collaboration with Greenwolf and Crockett Family Farms. I had entered so many great concentrates into other High Times events before winning my first cup, but this Strawberry Banana was so good I can still taste those terpenes.
Is it safe to assume with your presence in the state, Utah patients can expect the same type of quality Moxie is known for?
I’m more than excited to bring that kind of quality to Utah and I hope the people who take advantage of the state’s medical program are excited to give us a try instead of driving to Nevada for “mids.”
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your years creating cannabis products?
THC percentage is the worst way to guide your decisions when choosing cannabis products to purchase and consume. Did I mention that yet?
