It all started with plants. When I was kid, I would help out in my mother’s garden, and in the summer the kitchen would be filled with hanging basil and other drying herbs. It smelled so good. One plant that particularly interested me was cannabis. My father was a strong advocate for legalization, and he used it to help him treat the pain from cancer when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. It inspired me to learn more about how plants could help people. My education in plants has lead me from rooftop gardens in Brooklyn NY, to organizing a permaculture project in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2014, I began my journey to create the first legally recognized cannabis infused bitters company. After researching traditional medicine and working with a chemist, Messina Bitters was launched in May 2015. By 2016 demand from bartenders and chefs was incredible, and so we launched “The Virgin”. Our virgin bitters have all the goodness of our original recipe without the cannabis.