The Hemponair is not your typical New York City based entrepreneur, far from really. Jason Lazar is his name and he is certainly a real New Yorker, born and raised. So he knows a bit more than most about the who’s, what’s and why’s of NYC. He works with a substance known as Cannabis. Jason, through his online publication aptly named The Hemponair, offers splashes of up to the minute information in the online Cannabis space. He offers alternatives to the typical media blasts and gets directly to the point of what is the very best way to help spend your hard earned bitcoins and dollars. In a city as massive and as ‘taxing’ as New York City, doesn’t it make sense for the well-heeled gentleman to have an ultra-lux guide all to themselves?
The Hemponair has been there before you did. And they will share their stuff with you. Maybe even out of a vaporizer. Hopefully this modern publication will add a burst of enlightenment to your media overwhelmed day.
Keep this in mind, you are like most of the self-made entrepreneurs. There isn’t time in the day to chase all their favorite trends, there’s just too much to do chasing the future.
The Hemponair makes it easy for you. All you need to do is click. And become enlightened!
1. Forbes: Where are you from? A native New Yorker? What did you do before Cannabis?
JL: I was born in Queens and spent most of my childhood growing up in Long Island. Now I live in the city. Before cannabis I worked in advertising, which I pretty much still do, for the most part, except now it’s The Hemponair and vaporizers rather than ad agencies and crackers.
2. Forbes: Do you cook? Do you like to eat? What are your favorite restaurants? Style of food? If you cook, who taught you? Mother? Father? TV Cooking shows?
JL: That all depends on your definition of “cooking.” When it comes to the kitchen, I’m more of the “do one thing and do it well” school of thought. And skill set. In my case, that’s eggs. I can make a mean scramble and an even meaner omelette, of which I can thank my dad for showing me how over countless Sunday morning breakfasts with classic 80s rock hits blasting in the backdrop. I also do my own unique spin on deviled eggs and egg salad, which I’ve got my mom to credit for. Oh, and I can mix up a terrific old fashioned. And that’s from my local bartender.
3. Forbes: Is there anything you eat/drink/smoke that brings a tear to your eye when you eat/drink/smoke it? Why?
JL: I don’t know about a tear, but I do certainly have a strong appreciation for tasteful food and drink pairings. I’m not a big wine drinker, but when I’ve got a good cab paired with a good slab of meat or nice white with a perfectly cooked plate of fish or bountiful bowl of pasta, I really appreciate the combination of flavors and how they play off and complement one another. I’m often amazed at how certain drinks can really elevate a particular cuisine. And even other drinks! As I’ve gotten more into tequila over the years, I’ve come to really enjoy it with a side of sangrita. It can sometimes be hard to find, but there are a few proper Mexican spots here in the city that offer it up. A full-flavored tequila like an El Tesoro Blanco or Fortaleza Reposado, when paired with a perfectly spiced and textured sangrita, will really change the way you experience tequila. And yes, I mean sangrita with a “t,” and not that over-sweetened, fruity mess of a wine mix served over brunch.
As for smoke, very few strains do it for me like true, old-school NY Sour Diesel. Preferably in good ‘old fashioned flower format. And while I unfortunately don’t really come across the original variety that much anymore, when I do it always brings me back to some of the first true dank (flowers) I’ve ever experienced. Just that super-skunky, pleasantly pungent diesel smell alone can get me all fired up. Of course hitting it (burning the fine flowers) works magic too.
4. Forbes: If you could be anywhere is the world right now where would that be, doing what?
JL: Nothing puts my mind at ease quite like a perfect island beach getaway with the sun on my face, umbrella drink in my hand, and the proper island beats in my ears. As to where that beach may be, I’ve always been partial to the Caribbean. A bit cliched, I know, but it is so for a reason—the endless blue skies and sun, the sand, the calm, warm ocean waters—they all make for the perfect paradise escape, no matter which island you’re on. Add that laid-back Caribbean vibe and attitude and it’s easy to understand why so many enjoy getting lost there.
5. Forbes: Tell Forbes about your hunger for the entrepreneurial sciences. The Hemponair is not your typical publication and it’s unique in the fact that it’s ultra high-end. What is your inspiration? Why the Hemponair?
JL: I’ve always been into clothes and fashion. Growing up, I used to sit for hours reading the pages of GQ and Esquire, checking out the ‘Styles’ section of the Times—looking at all the latest styles and trends and reading up on the people both behind them and in them—they always seemed to intrigue me. I’m also a huge product nerd and really geek out on not just clothes, but grooming products, cool gear, innovative tech and gadgets—all that fun stuff that guys love to fool around with with. I can spend hours reading up on them, whether it be a new face wash, a stylish briefcase, or the latest vape to hit the market. Knowing this, a lot of my friends would always approach me for advice on clothes and gear—what I thought of a certain pair of kicks, where to pick up a cool blazer, which pair of headphones they should get—things like that. It got me thinking that maybe I should get involved in the space, and the easiest way for me to do so was to use my knowledge, skills, and experience to create a fashion-themed platform where I could help them and all the other guys out there—both educate and inform guys on all the latest styles, trends, gear, tech, and all around cool goods that come to market. Problem was, there were so many fashion and gear blogs already doing a great job of that and the last thing needed was another one preaching the ins and outs of menswear. So I began to think of how I could put a different spin on it. And that’s where the highest grade and goods surrounding Cannabis came in.
I had a friend at the time who had just received a sizeable amount of funding for his line of high-end cannabis packaging. Reading up on him and others in the industry, I realized that there was a really big opportunity here. This was a huge market that was about to explode, and I saw a big void in the space, because no one was talking to today’s modern, sophisticated, and style-conscious cannabis consumers. I thought it would be great if there was a place that celebrated these individuals and truly spoke to them as not your stereotypical basement dwelling “stoners,” but rather the everyday working professionals and taste-makers they were. Guys who read the likes of GQ and Esquire, made their rounds on sites like Mr. Porter and Hypebeast—the ones who truly appreciate good style and many of the finer things in life, whether those things be fashion, beauty, the arts, or just everyday tech and gadgets—but also have a strong love and appreciation for cannabis. And that’s how The Hemponair was born. A play on “Debonair,” the aim is to serve as a Gentleman’s guide to style, culture, and cannabis. And so far, it’s been a blast. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some great people and work with some truly innovative and fashion-forward brands, not to mention really help change the conversation around cannabis and elevate people’s perception about both the plant and the culture around it. And to me, that’s one of the most important and rewarding things about it.
Thank you Jason, we will be looking for you around the ‘Big City’.
This article originally appeared in Forbes by
