Keep It Clean: Part 3 with Katie Pringle & Autumn Shelton | Episode 35

What happens behind the scenes in cannabis operations? Is your weed really clean? This in-depth discussion with industry powerhouses Katie Pringle of Tether and Marigold PR, and Autumn Shelton, CFO and partner at Autumn Brands, looks at these topics head-on.

Episode 35: Keep It Clean, Part 3 brings insight into misleading practices, the importance of NO pesticide cultivation, and how savvy industry experts are pushing back against outdated frameworks.

Let’s dig into their stories that reshape the ongoing conversation around clean, sustainable cannabis practices.

Katie Pringle: Breaking Barriers in Cannabis PR & Events

Katie Pringle has done something many companies haven’t quite nailed: She fosters relationships based on authenticity and passion for community in the cannabis sector.

As the co-founder of Tether, Katie is a champion for responsible cannabis PR and community-focused events. She isn’t just talking about getting your product in front of people, she’s talking about cultivating authentic connections with budtenders (cannabis store staff), brands, and customers.

Katie and her team have honed in on the importance of understanding a brand well before walking into an event. Before any Tether event, Katie ensures her partners are heavily promoted—helping the budtenders, brand reps, and potential customers get familiar with those who’ll be featured. That’s a level of planning and care that can resonate far beyond the event itself.

What Sets Tether Apart?

Her event series, Tether, caters to Canadian markets that often don’t get the same attention as the larger metro areas. We're not talking massively scaled conferences; these are highly curated local meetups with a focus on driving relationships and deepening industry understanding.

You’d be forgiven for asking, well, aren’t we ever going to see something like this in the U.S.? Katie assures us that there's room for both North and South of the border: intimate, impactful events that focus on connection, without overshadowing the larger players like GrowUP and Lift.

It’s clear that Katie believes each event should reflect a clear ROI for brand partners, though she always puts her community front and centre.

If you knew one thing about Katie going into these events, you’ll know a whole lot more by the time they're over. That’s a woman who knows how to build champions in the cannabis space—especially in an industry full of regulations, crackdowns, and constant shifts. If your company is struggling with creating real connections in cannabis, skip the big blowout events—maybe it's time to go Tether.

Autumn Shelton: An Unsprayed Future for The Cannabis Industry?

From idyllic-sounding Santa Barbara comes Autumn Brands, a cannabis farm that took a serious leap of faith back in 2015—and it paid off.

Autumn Brands doesn’t just talk clean; they live it. In an industry where the term often falls flat, this family-owned operation has been pesticide-free for years, experiencing—and overcoming—massive hurdles along the way.

When Autumn and her team decided to go pesticide-free, they faced crop failures and nearly lost it all. But they didn’t quit. So how did they manage it? Beneficial insects and letting nature have the upper hand. Sounds simple, but the bravery behind this method (while explaining it to investors or a board of directors!) is anything but.

Building a Resilient Clean Process with Beneficial Bugs

On top of releasing zero chemicals into their grows, the farm encountered a happy accident when native local ladybugs began showing up. Eventually, the farm’s ecosystem turned into an integrated pest management system that worked in harmony with nature.

Autumn points out that going pesticide-free does take adjustment. Not all growers have made the pivot. She’s open about the fact that some might still see strong pesticide use as the easy way out—but with current customers seeking cleaner and safer cannabis, it doesn’t seem like a choice growers can ignore for long.

Autumn gets it—she's a financial realist as well as a dreamer. She’s noticed how misinformation about costing escapes many growers and competition rumours dominate many farm owners' minds. Can we really afford to lose so many plants when bugs come in and no pesticides are used? Yes. They’ve been saving money by dialing in timing, ecosystem control, and bugs that were free.

The products? Pure. Safe. Something you can feel good smoking, ingesting, or using as topicals. They created a bit of magic, and the plants speak for themselves.

Hemp, Legislation, and Navigating U.S. Regulations

California is often credited with being progressive. However, even they’ve faced shakeups with legislation—especially in regard to hemp. Many of us are familiar with the THC loophole surrounding hemp products, and it's wreaking havoc on regulated cannabis.

As Autumn put it bluntly, “The Farm Bill was made for rope, not dope.” She’s not wrong.

Legislation wasn’t designed for THC consumption, and unregulated products are showing up everywhere—even gas stations. But when legislation can't average out this loophole, we get disaster. Cheap synthetic THC products are undercutting the work cannabis companies pour into regulated alternatives.

Until recently, hemp growers operated with relatively free rein, uncapped and unrestricted even on gummy concentrations. But Governor Gavin Newsom attempted to convert that freedom—and the hemp industry fought back. Autumn supported tightening these laws and finding a middle ground that both protects proper cannabis businesses and normalizes THC purchases for everyday consumers.

The jury’s still out on how federal legalization might address these growing pains, but one thing is clear: laws are changing, and failure to adapt could leave some key players behind.

Conclusion: The Future Is Clean, Green, and Beyond Pesticides

Katie and Autumn bring so much value to the discussion about how we can clean up practices in the cannabis industry, push back against outdated ideas, and work towards a healthier future.

Successful cannabis businesses already tackle complex challenges, but it won’t be long before consumers expect the products they’re consuming to be as clean and flaw-free as the best organic veggies. Cutting corners won’t fly with major airlines buzz and public image hanging in the balance.

At the pace things are evolving, it’s clear: Clean cannabis isn’t a pipe dream—it’s the future.

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