Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Townsend.
Hi Brandi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My life has been an adventure – one I could write a book about! I have always been a wild child. I tested all the limits. Some of it was a blast, and some pretty traumatic. I moved to Austin from Tyler when I was 13 and instantly fell in love with the rave scene. Those people knew how to party, and I fit in perfectly. But eventually, all the glitter and lights turned dark, and I fell into addiction. At 20 years old and after a series of poor decisions, I was in prison for 7 years. My charges were for selling marijuana and LSD. It seems like another lifetime ago, but I know that those tough experiences give me the strength and perseverance I have today. The next phase of my life was a cycle of desperation, healing, and falling on my face, but I never gave up. I knew I wanted more. I knew I wanted to be a mom and had the potential to be successful, but I didn’t know how. I was able to create some stability. I had kids and married a man who was also in recovery. But eventually, that relationship became toxic. I was a stay-at-home mom with 3 kids, and I wanted to leave but didn’t know how I would support my family. While stoned, the download began one night, and Cozy was born! It’s just so crazy to me how the ideas and the visions just came and then manifested so easily. Don’t get me wrong, I have worked my ass off to get where I am today, but I am beyond grateful for the way the community has received me with open arms. I am also so honored to have found a partner who supports me in every way and was able to manifest my vision with his own two hands.
Everything you see in our shops, we built together. What’s remarkable is that many of the pieces were from my great-grandfathers, and we refurbished them. The most surreal and rewarding experience came during the Poppy Fest last year when we opened our second location on the square in Georgetown. A few rave day friends were there with me, smoking a J out front underneath a neon marijuana sign with many cop cars blocking the streets behind us. It all hit me. I have spent time in the williamson county jail for possession of marijuana, and now I am here selling it legally. I have come full circle. I am a part of the revolution.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Trying to balance work and keeping 5 kids alive and happy has been a challenge. When I first started, I worked 10-3 daily to pick my kids up from school and be home with them. As time has passed, we have grown enough that I no longer have to be clocked in at the shop, and I have been blessed with an amazing team of employees, but the back office workload has grown exponentially. Alot of days, I feel so overwhelmed. It is hard for me to turn off work mode for fear that it will all fall apart if I do. My family life and mental health have started to struggle. I am hiring an experienced full-time manager to take some tasks off my plate. I fully recognize that money does not buy happiness. I will buy back some of my time to get back to doing what I enjoy most: creating and merchandising a beautiful space and experience and connecting with customers and my family.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cozy Cannabis?
Cozy is a vibe! I love seeing people’s reactions when they walk into the store. We are cute, classy, and cozy. Our niche normalizes cannabis and other spiritual practices in more conservative communities, so we are not super stoney or druggy. We pride ourselves in carrying fully tested, high-quality products and prefer local vendors. All of our glass is American made! We provide a safe, comfortable space to sell our products and truly connect with our customers. We laugh, we cry, and we hug our customers! Our tribe is filled with moms, so the CannaMom community is huge for us, and we use our voice on social media to fight against the stigma of pot-smoking mamas! Many of us are also in recovery from alcohol, prescription meds, and other drugs, but we have found that we can still be on our healing journey while consuming cannabis. It helps us connect spiritually and heal. We carry more than just girly smoke shop supplies. We are a lifestyle of fun and healing. We have crystals, ritual kits, teas, jewelry, candles, clothing, and more. Most Tuesdays have healing workshops, including sound bowl sessions and cacao ceremonies. We even have a large party coming up! We love that we are in downtown Georgetown and encourage our customers to be bold and to smoke their joints in the open to help us normalize the smell of this healing plant in Texas.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Oh, how I love and miss Austin! I have lived in every area from Westlake to East Riverside, North Lamar to Slaughter Lane. I love the eclectic vibe, all the boutique small businesses, and even the homeless people. I love all the yoga spots, esp: Black Swan, and the healthy food options. My fave spot is the free side of Barton Springs. All of my babies have swam naked there! It is healing water. Sadly, my family of 7 had to move to the outskirts to afford space, so I don’t like the increased property taxes. And the traffic sucks butt. But it is so worth the drive to catch a cheap comedy show at The Creek and the Cave or a good show at Stubbs.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cozycannabisdispensary.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cozycanna
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/cozycanna
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@cozycanna.tx
