EXHALE Pro Stories: The Humans Behind the Businesses & Events You Love.
Welcome to EXHALE Pro Stories, in this exclusive series, we dive into the lives of business owners, operators, and the everyday sheroes who are shaping the culture, paving the way, and creating positive change in the world of cannabis. In this exclusive interview, we dive into the story behind travel-trendsetter Lisa Liberman, the inspiration behind Lifted Lodging, and what the future holds for bud-friendly travel.
If you prefer to listen to or watch the interview press play on YouTube and Spotify.
Cannabis Hospitality: A Former Oxymoron
Cannabis hospitality? Some of us thought we’d never see the day. The very phrase: an oxymoron when compared to previous attitudes towards public cannabis use, which were often rooted in stigma and criminalization. For decades, cannabis was associated with secrecy and illicit behavior. The idea of offering a public, social space where people could openly consume cannabis, much like they might enjoy a glass of wine at a bar or a meal at a restaurant, seems almost paradoxical when viewed against that historical backdrop. On one hand, you have a modern push for inclusivity and relaxation around cannabis use, and on the other, the legacy of its demonization as a dangerous or morally questionable substance. Yet, as legalization and cultural attitudes evolve, cannabis hospitality represents a shift in how society views the plant, challenging the very ideas that once made its public consumption unimaginable. No more booking non-smoking rooms only to spend your smoke session in the bathroom with the shower on.
Setting the Bar in Cannabis Tourism.
In the rapidly intertwining world of hospitality and cannabis, one company is setting a new standard for cannabis-friendly travel. Lisa Liberman (left) is the founder and CEO of Lifted Lodging, the first nationwide brand dedicated to providing upscale, experiential overnight accommodations for cannabis and hemp consumers. With a background in banking, data management, and artificial intelligence, Lisa’s journey from “secretly medicating with cannabis” to setting the bar high in hospitality is both inspiring and transformative. They don’t call her “Lifted Lisa” for nothing—just kidding no one calls her that—but they totally should.
“secretly medicating with cannabis while successfully climbing the ranks in corporate America.”
With the rise of 420-friendly accommodations, Lisa shares with us how Lifted Lodging stands out by offering high-end, experience-driven stays rather than just a place to consume. The model itself lends to a community and culture-driven philosophy. Under the Founding Members Program, memberships are prioritized over single bookings and allow for early investors to enjoy members-only benefits including free overnight stays. What’s the investment? You guessed it: $420.
Crafting Luxury Experiences.
Lifted Lodging is built on the philosophy of providing elevated, welcoming spaces for cannabis users. The brand focuses on curated stays, ensuring luxury, safety, and inclusivity while catering to a diverse range of consumers. From consumption-friendly rooms to wellness-focused amenities, every detail is designed with the evolving needs of cannabis travelers in mind. The company intends to blend thoughtful experiences with luxury cannabis products to create a tailored getaway for plant lovers.
Exclusive Interview: Lisa Liberman
EXHALE SOCIAL: Lifted Lodging is set to launch in several states. Tell us more about the concept.
LIBERMAN: “When I think about cannabis I don’t think about alcohol-fueled raging vacations like we see on TV. I think about a place where I can use cannabis freely, openly without judgement and a place I can go to relax. Now that’s not to say that you can’t have fun with cannabis but I think there’s a stigma with cannabis consumers. They think that cannabis consumers are going to come to their town and if they’re coming for a vacation experience we’re going to tear it up—and it could not be more opposite than that.”
EXHALE SOCIAL: On LinkedIn you described yourself as “secretly medicating with cannabis while successfully climbing the ranks in corporate America.” I want you to go back to that place when you were secretly meditating.” What was that like?
LIBERMAN: “I’m a Gen X-er. So I’m from the illegal days. I have a different perspective—maybe from younger people—in that back then everything was illegal. So if you were to get cannabis you had to go about it in this underground way. That to me was the difficult part of it, being somebody who graduated from college. I grew up in poverty in West Virginia and I worked my way up to this place and I didn’t want my mom to think that I’m some pothead. Right? …But fast forward a few years later to California 1966, they made medical cannabis legal there and the attitude started to change a little bit. I started to view myself as somebody who used cannabis as medicine. Because I suffer from anxiety and depression. That goes back a long way and I started to realize that this cannabis helps me relax. It helps me gather my thoughts before I spiral down its some anxiety spiral. Cannabis actually was a net good for me. And as I became a mother I had guilt around that. Should I be using cannabis as a mother and I came to the conclusion of: I’m actually a better mother because of cannabis use. Whew! Kids are a lot!”
[Both laugh]
LIBERMAN: “It gave me more patience. It opened up my mind a lot more. I’m not alone in saying this.”
“…I would always find those people at work. They were smart. They were accomplished and they used cannabis too.” lisa liberman
LIBERMAN continues: “In terms of climbing the corporate ladder—it’s kinda funny. Even in the corporate world—for a long time I worked in the banking world. I’m a trainer by nature. I teach people the technology of their jobs. But if people suspected I had ever used cannabis I would have gotten fired because they’re a publicly traded company…even today you can’t do cannabis banking in a lot of places. But I would always find those people at work. They were smart. They were accomplished and they used cannabis too.”
EXHALE SOCIAL: So when did you officially come out the cannabis closet in your inner circle?
LIBERMAN: “Eventually, I came out of the cannabis closet after I made edibles for my best friend. She passed away at 39. This is her house that I’m staying in right now with her mom. She had cancer but she was somebody who learned how to use the dry vape leftover material and asked me to learn how to cook with it. So I said alright! And so that was my first foray into like real medicinal use of cannabis. Then a few year later my mom, same thing, she had cancer. My mom was a prohibitionist until I gave her my caramels when she had cancer and so that helped her through the end of that. After that I felt like such a fraud in the corporate world. I knew that I wasn’t being true to myself so I quit. I gave it all up because cannabis is that important to me and I just can’t imagine my life without it. So i decided I was going to try and make a career around this.”
EXHALE SOCIAL: Lisa, You have a background in banking, data management, and artificial intelligence—and now you’re in cannabis tourism. What was the catalyst for your career pivot?
LIBERMAN: “I’ll give you the short journey. Before I did this when I quit my job, I actually was running a company called Edibles where we went into people’s homes and to large events and taught people how to make cannabis edibles from scratch— using things like the magical butter machine, Nova decarboxilator—and then we would sell them at the end. Have a big tupperware party. And it was awesome I went everywhere. It was really fun thing until 2020 and all those travels were done. That was right after I quit my job. And so my husband and I, we talked for a long time about what our future was going to look like after that. We realized throughout this entire process that the “thing” in all the travels was that we didn’t have anywhere to stay. So that took the concept to a whole other level. We got some land. We had some shipping container drawings made for us…That was going to take three years and so I have a small advisory board that said: why don’t we just sell the land and buy an operating resort that fits our vibe. It’s an an amazing destination that people already go to. It’s got outdoor activities. It’s got real experiences that people can have there…People can connect with other people and enjoy cannabis in a way that allows [them] to feel like I am who I am.”
The Lifted Lodging Founding Members Program.
LIBERMAN: “Now that we’re in 2025 I know we’re finally going to have a place open. We’ve identified several resorts—one for sure its gonna be the first one that my husband and I are actually going to be the general managers and really run the business day to day. And then the other hat I will wear is CEO is we have identified a number of other locations in cannabis friendly states that fit our vibe and we want to help other people do the same thing. They live their dream, they’re kind of in-keepers for the property. Then we use our Lifted Lodging processes and support to help them get off the ground and to have this really cool network of cannabis friendly resorts.”
EXHALE: So, you haven’t opened your doors yet? Tell us about the Founding Member’s Program and it’s benefits.
LIBERMAN: “As Im sure you’re aware as a woman its almost impossible to get funding and in the cannabis space its even more impossible. And that’s been part of my journey as well the last three years, is trying to get funding that was beyond my own. Trying to get investors, I have been able to find lending but you still have to come up with down payments for a property that you acquire right? Just like a regular mortgage on a house. And so we’ve been able to come up with part of that with some friends and family funding but we still have a little ways to go. I talk to people about this concept all over the country and they say “we love this idea, when are you gonna open?” Well, when I have the funding. So I learned about this concept of membership hotels. It occured to me that we have our own little cannabis community here. We have specific needs of what we would want in our type of lodging. I really think that our community would be willing to pay a membership fee to be able to go around to a cool network of overnight, experiential, vacation lodging like this. So we came up with the Lifted OG’s Founding Member’s program.”
The Lifted OG’s Founding Member’s program has two membership levels starting at $420 a year and includes free and discounted stays across the network, and a Lifted OG Robe set to complete your luxury stay. As an incentive to join early, Lifted Lodging is offering two years for the price of one. If you’re looking to plant the perfect seed for the weedhead in your life during the 420 Holiday: this is it.
This is more than just a new way to travel—it’s about creating intentional space for a cannabis community that’s often underserved in hospitality. Whether you’re exploring new cities, heading out for a nature-filled retreat, or just want a spot where you don’t have to hide who you are—Lifted Lodging is building it with you in mind.
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