Grower Stories #88: Jack Robson

Tia Moskalenko
Tia Moskalenko

Tia Moskalenko, author of the AskGrowers blog, brings a unique blend of content to her readers. She is known for conducting insightful interviews with key figures in the cannabis industry, including brand representatives, manufacturers, and experts. In addition to her interview skills, Tia has a keen focus on CBD. She expertly curates product selections and reviews, offering her readers detailed insights into the various effects and benefits of CBD. Tia's ability to combine in-depth interviews with comprehensive CBD analysis makes her a valuable asset to the cannabis community, offering a well-rounded perspective on the industry.

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Grower Stories #88: Jack Robson

An Interview With Jack Robson, CEO and Founder of High-Quality Tincture Brand High Desert Pure 

When it comes to putting the customer first and providing the best quality product, a lot of brands fall short. Thankfully for their loyal customers, that’s where High Desert Pure’s tinctures shine that brightest. AskGrowers sits down with Jack Robson, founder and CEO of the Oregon-based brand, to learn about their origins as a company, their top-notch production methods, and the values that set them apart from their competition. #growerstories


I’m Jack Robson, the CEO and founder of High Desert Pure. I grew up in the Northwest and now live in Bend, Oregon where I ski, ride my bike, and, for the past six years, make topicals and tinctures!


Tia (AskGrowers) : What inspired you to get into the cannabis industry?

Jack Robson : I ruptured a disc in my back waterskiing and ended up on a quest for pain relief. When I went to see the doctor, they prescribed Prednisone and Gabapentin, both of which have some pretty fearsome side effects. So I rekindled my relationship with my old pal cannabis!


Tia : How did you start your brand? Tell us your origin story!

Jack : We decided to launch High Desert Pure after the waterskiing incident. I started talking to folks all over Bend about what was keeping them from getting back to their favorite activities--arthritis, bad knees, migraines. I realized cannabis worked so well for me that I should share what I found.


High Desert Pure products picture
Tia : Can you tell us more about the cannabis-to-table experience?

Jack : We buy cannabis from some of our favorite local growers. Then, in our lab, we use a CO2 extraction machine (along with some trade secrets, courtesy of our in-house chemistry nerds) to get high-quality, full-spectrum extract. We make all our tinctures and topicals from scratch in small batches, so we add the fresh extract along the way!


Tia : On your website, you mention that you’re making tinctures now.

What are the specifics of your tinctures in particular? How do they differ from other similar brands’ products?

Jack : Three things set our tinctures apart: the amount of cannabis, the quality of the cannabis, and the price.

All of our tinctures use our full-spectrum cannabis and hemp extracts, and a lot of it. We try to encourage budtenders and customers to look at how many milligrams of cannabis they get per dollar they spend--they tend to realize that they’re getting way more cannabis with our products.

We’re really proud of our tincture line-up. We have two THC tinctures, two hemp CBD tinctures (not subject to tax, woohoo!), and a CBN sleep tincture.


Tia : You also have CBD products on your website. Why do you think it’s getting more and more popular nowadays?

Jack : The accessibility factor is huge. Being able to order CBD products online, right to your door? That’s a big step forward. I also think we’re living with so much stress, anxiety, and pain these days, and everyone is on the lookout for ways to soothe some of that.


Tia : There are some thoughts on the internet, that when you’re taking too much of the CBD products it impacts your sleep and the nerve system eventually. Do you think it’s true?

Jack : We’re all science nerds at HDP, so our answer for any of these questions is always, “Let’s do more research!” Based on what I’ve seen so far, I’m not personally concerned. We try to only use data from peer-reviewed scientific journals, and I haven’t yet seen any such evidence that’s going to stop me from using CBD.


High Desert Pure interview quote
Tia : Can you tell us more about your production line. What are your top-selling products and why do you think it is so?

Jack : Our two 1000 mg lotions are the bestselling topicals in Oregon--a feat we’re super proud of! Ginger Lime is my personal favorite; Menthol has tingly menthol crystals that some folks love. I think one of the biggest reasons why these lotions sell so well is because even without the cannabis, they’d be lovely lotions. They’re not oily or greasy. They rub into your skin easily and smell great. But then, of course, they do have cannabis in them, and a lot of it! Customers get a great bang for their buck, given the milligrams of cannabis for the price.


Tia : What do you see as the next big tech product in the industry?

Jack : For our part, we’re most excited with the increased ability for researchers to explore and expand our knowledge of the endocannabinoid system, and the intricate relationship that our bodies have with cannabinoids and a raft of terpenes. That said, we’d also be mighty happy if someone could get around to inventing a vape cartridge that doesn’t leak or clog! Dare to dream.


Tia : What’s your personal consumption routine? What are the top three products that you’re using?

Jack : Every few months I find that I switch up my preferred consumption vehicle. I’ll go a few months where I just love the convenience of a good cartridge, then I’ll switch over to flower or edibles for a while. Lately, I’ve been really enjoying our new tincture line. I’ve been using our Hibernate tincture before bed if I need help sleeping, and our Celebrate tincture if I want to feel high with some newly vaccinated friends. And I love our new massage oil for sore muscles! Those are probably my top three right now.


Tia : Your top strains to smoke? Why?

Jack : What a fun question! Blue City Diesel (because of the high THCV content), Golden Goat (because it just tastes awesome), and Super Lemon Haze for a zesty lemony productive high.


Tia : If you could smoke with anyone in this world, who would that be and why?

Jack : Bill Gates! Since he’s a guy who’s had a lot of time to think about a lot of things, I’d love to hear his take on CRISPR, genome engineering, and the bioethics of what I feel is right around the corner if not already here. And then I’d ask him if he remembered when I worked for him as a young Microsoft intern and almost knocked him into a lake while trying to catch a frisbee.


High Desert Pure interview quote
Tia : Are there any cannabis brands in your state you appreciate and follow? Name them.

Jack : Definitely. We love our industry friends! We’re huge Dr. Jolly’s fans. Magic Number beverages are awesome. The folks at Synergy Skin Worx make great transdermal patches. And of course, we love our local dispensaries.


Tia : What do you think will happen with the cannabis industry within time? What are your predictions?

Jack : It seems like it’s just getting bigger and bigger, doesn’t it? I hope cannabis is nationally legalized soon. At the same time, I’m grateful that Oregon’s early legalization has allowed independent brands like us to make a name for ourselves before huge national chains jump on the bandwagon. But that’s coming sometime soon!


You can follow High Desert Pure at:

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Thank you so much, High Desert Pure team, for taking the time to do the interview. To learn more about them, head on over to their website.

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