From Law Books to Cannabis: A Lawyer’s Transition to Coaching

Meet Kate Johnson, a former attorney who reinvented her career as a Certified Cannabis Educator and Coach. In this episode she shares her path from law to plant-based work, discusses cannabis as a tool for wellness, and demonstrates how intentional use can support a full, vibrant life.

Features

• Release Date: Monday, October 16, 2023
• Episode Number: Season 1, Episode 58
• Special Guest: Kate Johnson, founder of Your Kush Coach

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Why You Will Love This Episode

Kate Johnson’s story demonstrates that responsible cannabis use can coexist with a successful career, a loving family, and strong friendships. She shows how the plant supported her through challenges and inspired a career shift toward helping others.

After a long legal career, Kate left law to become a Certified Cannabis Educator and Health Coach, a Professional Interpener (Cannabis Sommelier), and the founder of the Cannabis Industry Association of Wisconsin. Her work focuses on helping people find balance and reach their potential through intentional, informed cannabis use.

In this episode Kate offers practical insight, actionable tips, and a personal account of moving from law books to plants—helpful listening for anyone curious about cannabis, career change, or coaching.

Full Transcript

Kate: I feel like I work for the plant. I feel like I’m the hype man for cannabis. That’s my role in the world. If I can get more people excited about it and help them understand that you can live a really beautiful and full life with it, that’s my mission.

Announcer: Welcome to the Well With Cannabis Podcast, a show sharing life-changing stories of people who live well with cannabis while teaching listeners how to do the same. Meet your host, Emily Kyle, a registered dietitian nutritionist turned certified holistic cannabis practitioner. Emily changed her life with the help of the cannabis plant and now helps others explore its benefits.

Tune in weekly for heartfelt stories and practical knowledge to support your cannabis journey. Whether you’re new to cannabis or a longtime user, these conversations offer inspiration and guidance for living well with cannabis.

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for adult audiences. Episodes may include sensitive topics such as suicide, abuse, mental illness, sex, drugs, alcohol, psychedelics, and use of plant medicine. Explicit language may occasionally be used. The show provides informational and educational content and does not constitute medical advice. If the material raises concerns, please reach out to a trusted professional.

Emily: Hello and welcome back to the Well With Cannabis podcast. Today I’m joined by Kate Johnson. We’ve interacted online, but meeting in person is a treat. Kate is a certified cannabis coach and educator at YourKushCoach.com. She’ll share her path to becoming a cannabis coach. Welcome, Kate.

Kate: Thank you, Emily. I’m honored to be here. I’ve followed your work for a long time and admire how you’ve built your platform. It’s inspiring for cannabis educators everywhere.

Emily: Many people who enter the cannabis field begin in other professional careers and feel a strong pull to transition. That leap can feel terrifying. Tell us how you moved from law to cannabis coaching.

Kate: I used cannabis for more than 25 years, starting in high school. It always worked for me. I was pre-med and majored in biology, then went to law school and practiced as an attorney for 15 years. Although I valued my employers, I felt disconnected from the work. I often found myself mentally checked out in meetings, wondering how I ended up there and what truly lit me up.

Kate: Around the time the cannabis industry was growing, I started exploring opportunities in fits and starts. A friend suggested I’d be a great life coach for cannabis. I googled “cannabis coach” and found the Cannabis Coaching Institute, where I trained as a cannabis coach and educator while keeping my day job. I saved and planned, and eventually I made the leap to full-time cannabis work.

Emily: That transition mirrors many stories I’ve heard: culture shifting, stigma easing, and more people talking openly about cannabis. For listeners wondering what a cannabis coach does, can you describe a typical day and who benefits?

Kate: Cannabis coaching is a personalized, one-on-one service. I offer consultations that explore why someone is considering cannabis, their past experiences, goals, and what has or hasn’t worked. From there I recommend products, dosing, and timing and create a tailored plan. Cannabis can include CBD-only approaches or THC, depending on the individual’s needs.

Kate: As a Certified Cannabis Educator, the role is broader—sharing information widely about the plant. Both sides are rewarding: coaching focuses on individualized plans while education spreads knowledge to more people. My cohort from the Cannabis Coaching Institute stays connected and pursues a variety of specialties, from making tinctures to integrative life coaching and nutrition-based cannabis experiences.

Kate: One important point: you don’t need to own a grow or extraction business to work in cannabis. Education and coaching are powerful ways to be in the space. I’m passionate about helping people see that cannabis can enhance life when used intentionally. My mission is to help others feel confident and supported in their cannabis choices.

Emily: Coaching offers personalized care that contrasts with the impersonal medical system—an approach many people need. For listeners who dream of starting a cannabis business but feel intimidated, what advice would you give to overcome that first hurdle?

Kate: Imposter syndrome and fear are normal. We still have much to learn about cannabis, and that can be freeing: it’s okay not to know everything. Take time to examine where fear or lack of confidence come from. Do the inner work to unlearn limiting beliefs. Plan, save, and take consistent small steps. Start quietly if you need to and build momentum before sharing widely. You may be surprised by how supportive people in your life can be.

Kate: I once had to disclose my cannabis advocacy at a legal job and had an honest conversation with counsel. Reactions vary, but attitudes are shifting—medical and adult-use laws are changing nationwide. Still, stigma exists. My message is that you can be conventionally successful and use cannabis responsibly. For many parents, cannabis can provide patience and presence in ways alcohol often cannot.

Emily: That aligns with the podcast’s message: cannabis can help people connect with their best selves. It’s more than symptom relief; it can enrich life quality. If someone wants to try cannabis but fears a bad experience, what practical help can a coach offer?

Kate: My Dispensary Decoder is a quick consult to explain product labels, terms like indica and hybrid, and dosing guidance so people feel confident at the dispensary. A longer Personal Cannabis Consultation creates a full plan with dosing, timing, and product recommendations. Workshops and reliable blog content are other ways I help people learn and avoid negative experiences.

Emily: Tell us about YourKushCoach.com and how listeners can work with you.

Kate: I offer 30-minute Dispensary Decoder sessions, deeper Personal Cannabis Consultations, workshops like “How to Love Cannabis and Have It Love You Back,” and blog resources for trustworthy information. I also provide a free Discovery Call to help people choose the best service for them.

Emily: Are you on social media?

Kate: Yes. On Instagram I’m @yourkushcoach_ and on Facebook I’m Your Kush Coach. I try to be active but balance my time carefully so the business doesn’t consume me.

Kate: My advice to aspiring cannabis coaches is to listen to your heart, carve out time to reflect, and break your big vision into small steps. Trust that the pull you feel is meaningful and take practical actions to follow it.

Emily: Before you go, I ask every guest four quick questions. Ready?

Kate: I am.

Emily: What are you most proud of?

Kate: I’m proud I had the courage to change direction and pursue a career that brings me joy and alignment. I realized staying on a path that didn’t fit would only lead to more of the same unhappiness, and I’m glad I made that leap.

Emily: What would your life look like without cannabis?

Kate: I think I might lean more on alcohol to unwind, which I wanted to avoid given my upbringing. Cannabis offers me connection, patience, and a way to check in with myself and others—tools I can’t imagine being without.

Emily: If you could whisper one cannabis-related piece of advice to your past self, what would it be?

Kate: Remember your inherent worth and gifts. Don’t search outside yourself for validation. Look inward and have the courage to follow what lights you up.

Emily: If you could be remembered for one thing in the cannabis space, what would it be?

Kate: I want to uplift people and get them excited about cannabis. I aim to help others feel supported and empowered—people may forget words, but they remember how you made them feel.

Emily: Thank you, Kate. Your enthusiasm and wisdom are inspiring. I’m grateful for this conversation and look forward to staying connected.

Kate: Thank you. This has been wonderful.

Announcer: Congratulations—you’ve finished another episode of the Well With Cannabis Podcast. We hope this episode helped you understand how intentional cannabis use can support wellness and connection. Visit emilykylenutrition.com for show notes, resources, and recipes.

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