Get to Know Linda Solana, a Latina Business Owner who Left Her Corporate Job and Opened Two Businesses

🎶 Represent, represent, Cuba, Represent, represent, Cuba, Represent, represent, Cuba 🎶

– From the movie Dirty Dancing Havana Nights.

1963 gave us: the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and the birth of Linda Solana. Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, to Cuban parents, and raised between New Jersey and Florida, Linda has always been on a mission to heal a piece of the world.

First through animals and now with plant medicine, Linda’s latest business represents her passions and where she comes from. CannaVibes Dispensary is a business, a beacon of hope, and a place for the community to catch a vibe.

CannaVibes Dispensary is locally owned and operated, takes pride in serving its community, and focuses on education, quality, and inclusivity. Because Linda believes in the power of cannabis to enhance lives and promote well-being, CannaVibes was born and New Jersey is a better place because of it.

Continue reading to learn more about Linda, from Linda herself.

A Sit Down with Linda Solana

I want people to hear from you so, I’d like to start by having you introduce yourself to readers.

“Hello, I’m Linda, owner of K9Nanni, one of the largest dog daycares in the state, and CannaVibes Dispensary. I have been caring for dogs for 23 years and have had a love for cannabis maybe longer than that! I was an HR Manager at a web hosting company and while there, I started walking dogs during my lunch break. That turned into me creating a successful play-date group in Hoboken.

When I saw how the dogs benefited from the “dates”, I decided to follow my dreams. I left the corporate world and opened a full-service pet care center. Since then, I’ve worked with many pet owners and dogs on basic and behavioral training. I have an undying passion for all dogs and hope to help many dogs and owners, so we can keep our pets and not send them to a shelter. I also work with rescues and have fostered over 150 dogs.

I’m also passionate about cannabis and the plant’s healing benefits. Before opening a business in cannabis, I contributed to Score Reentry; a non-profit that assists families of those incarcerated due to the war on drugs. I work with them by allowing them to host these drives at k9nanni so, my clients can contribute.”

Tell me a little about your parents and siblings.

“My parents are both 100% Cuban. My dad left Cuba on a raft and joined the army when he arrived in the States. He sent for my mom and older sister shortly after that. We were poor but happy. My parents owned a deli; that’s where I got the motivation to succeed.”

What did 10-year-old you want to be when you grew up?

“I wanted to be a veterinarian but didn’t like seeing animals so sick. I knew I wanted to be in service to help. I’ve always been a giver.”

If you could be a seasoning/spice- what would it be?

“Hot Chili pepper, baby!”

What’s your favorite quote/statement?

“It’s one by Oprah Winfrey. You define your own life, don’t let other people write your script.”

If this was a stage that you were standing on and had to thank those who helped build this all up, who would they be?

“First and foremost I give thanks to God the almighty. I thank him for everything in my life but more importantly the perseverance he has given me to never give up, when I believe in something.

I am grateful to my family and friends for always being my cheerleaders, and believing in me. They believed in me even though they thought my ideas were crazy at the time.

My parents taught me how to fight for what I want, even if I get knocked down. I watched them struggle to put food on the table and work two jobs to support me and my three sisters.

My dog daycare helped me get to where I am today. I am very passionate about animals and being able to work with them taught me to live in the moment.

Dogs are special and they teach you a lot. If it weren’t for K9Nanni I would’ve never been able to create Cannavibes.

I am a healer and so happy I can do this for a living.”

Let’s end the interview with something not said/covered that readers do know.

“My experiences in life have made me who I am. I have been through some really hard times. Cancer was a big life changer. It made me realize how valuable every moment of life is. I evolved after that experience.”

Veronica “Vee” Castillo is known as the <Traveling Cannabis Writer>. She is a published writer, connector, traveler, and a member of the <Minority Cannabis Business Association> Board of Directors.

Her body of work, which includes over 200 published articles in 15 publications, covers all things and people in cannabis/ hemp/ and overall plant medicines. She can be found in both digital and print where she provides cannabis industry and community insights from her 6 year journey around the country.

She specializes in bringing to light the hidden gems in the plant space and beyond. You can follow her journey on Instagram: @vee_travelingvegcannawriter and/or LinkedIn: @Traveling Cannabis Writer