During this time of reflection, a counselor asked me a question that changed everything: What do you want to do? At first, it seemed simple enough, but as I thought about it more deeply, I realized that at 47, after everything I’d been through, all I truly wanted was to spend more time with my new daughter, enjoy life’s simple pleasures, and focus on the things that truly mattered: good friends, great meals, quality cocktails and cannabis. That thought sparked something inside me. Why not build a life around those simple joys? Why not do exactly that?

So, I shut down my consulting company and began exploring what I could do to bring that vision to life. A few years earlier, medical cannabis became legal in Arkansas, and I was able to obtain my medical license. Due to the breadth of new products available I quickly discovered its transformative power—not just for relaxation, but for mental wellness and anxiety relief. However, there was a problem. The way I was storing and enjoying cannabis didn’t align with the level of sophistication I had come to expect in my life. I was using a large, unattractive tray that not only looked bad but did nothing to control odor.

So, I went to a local head shop, thinking I could find something better. Unfortunately, what I discovered were products that screamed “college dorm”—tacky, unrefined, and frankly, embarrassing. I remember thinking, I’m almost 50. I want something that fits my lifestyle, my taste—a product that reflects my sophistication and my age. That’s when an idea hit me.

I remembered the vintage travel bar cases—the elegant leather cases that open to reveal a beautiful bottle of scotch, crystal glasses, and everything you need for a perfect drink. I thought, Why can’t we do that for cannabis? And just like that, Dexter was born.

As someone who has been a serial entrepreneur for most of my life, I felt a spark of excitement when the idea came to me. I called up a longtime friend to pitch the concept, and to my delight, he didn’t ask to see a business plan. He trusted me, believed in the idea, and without hesitation, he said, “Let’s go.” From that moment, we were off and running.

As I explored the luxury cannabis accessory market, I found many beautiful products, but something was missing: hospitality. There was nothing that allowed cannabis to be presented with the same elegance and sophistication as food or alcohol when entertaining guests. The products were gorgeous, but they lacked the essence of hospitality—the ability to connect, share, and make others feel welcome.

Raised in Texas and now living in Arkansas, hospitality runs deep in my blood. As Southerners, we take hospitality to a level that is hard to match. Every detail matters. We take pride in always bringing out the best for our guests. Dexter was built with that same ethos in mind. Our products are not just for individual use—they are meant for sharing, for creating memorable experiences, for bringing people together.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an alert about the health risks of loneliness, warning that it’s now as harmful as smoking a pack and a half of cigarettes a day. This isolation, largely a byproduct of the pandemic and the increasing divide brought on by technology, hit me hard. While we are more connected than ever through social media, we are increasingly disconnected when it comes to meaningful, face-to-face interactions.

This, in many ways, is the heart of Dexter’s mission. We want to help normalize cannabis use as part of bringing people together. It’s about being intentional—putting down our phones and connecting with the people in front of us. I don’t care if you use Dexter products or not. What matters to me is that we, as a society, start being more intentional about how we connect with one another. Share a meal, break bread, have a great conversation, and use cannabis as a way to enhance that connection. Done right, cannabis can be a healthy alternative, and it fosters empathy and connection—something the world could use more of these days.

Our slogan is simple: Let’s get together. Whether you’re enjoying a meal with family or hosting a gathering with friends, let Dexter be part of your experience. Let it help you share in the joy of connection, conversation, and community.

The story of Dexter Co is about more than just creating a product; it’s about building a company born out of a desire to live more intentionally, to connect with others, and to reimagine how cannabis can be enjoyed with the same sophistication and care as any fine spirit or culinary delight.

The journey began with one clear mission: to create the most luxurious, most elegant cannabis accessories on the market. Luckily, I live in an area filled with artisans and creators who I believe are second to none. I worked directly with these talented individuals for over a year, debating and collaborating on every aspect of every product we released. Should this corner be more rounded? Should it not? How does that feel? What does it look like? What’s the tone? We never accepted the easy answer.

I was often asked to choose between options, and my answer was always the same: “What is the most elegant? What is the most luxurious? What is the best? Whatever that is, then that is what I want.” We spared no expense and cut no corners. When you free creatives to truly be creative and remove restrictions, it’s amazing what can happen.

Dexter Co is not an organization of engineers and corporate people churning out mundane products based on profit margins. We are a “design-first, design-driven” company. We talk about our products as works of art first and functionality second. Our vision isn’t just to make a product; it’s to make an impact—changing the way people connect and experience cannabis. 

Let's Dex!