Meet Kelly Graffin | CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Graffin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur—my mother owned her own business, and she was a huge inspiration to me. That drive led me to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business with a focus on entrepreneurship. From the beginning, it was important to me that whatever I built was not only something I was passionate about, but also something that could genuinely help people.

I became a medical cannabis patient in 2018 and started sharing educational content online about Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis program to help other patients better understand their options. Then, during the pandemic—and right around my 21st birthday—my mom gifted me an at-home infusion machine. That allowed me to start making my own edibles to manage chronic pain without having to smoke, which was a game-changer for me. From there, Short & Stoned solventless edibles was born as a way to help people connect with plant medicine, starting with CBD.

I eventually moved to Colorado, where I was fortunate enough to study cannabis business at a higher level and officially launch my THC-infused products into licensed dispensaries across Denver, Longmont, and Boulder.

My mission with Short & Stoned has always been rooted in passion—for the plant, for education, and for helping others the way this plant has helped me. As a woman with dwarfism and an amputee, cannabis has given me a more functional, joyful life. I just want to pay that forward.

What should our readers know about your business?
In the last few weeks, I’ve relocated to Los Angeles after making the difficult decision to shut down my commercial cannabis kitchen in Denver. It was a small but mighty operation—with fewer than five employees, we managed to stay profitable, which I’m extremely proud of. That experience taught me resilience, leadership, and the value of building something meaningful, even at a small scale.

Today, Short & Stoned has evolved into a digital marketing agency that helps small businesses in the cannabis space create engaging, educational content across social media and online platforms. This shift has also given me the chance to double down on my own content creation, with both short-form and long-form videos designed to educate, advocate, and inspire. And I’m truly just getting started.

What sets me apart in this male-dominated industry is not just my creativity or work ethic—it’s my lived experience. I’m a disabled, queer woman, and I’ve had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. People have laughed in my face, hung up on calls, refused to tour business locations with me, and even mocked me outright. But that’s what happens when you’re a strong woman who knows the power she holds—and refuses to shrink for anyone.

How I got to where I am today is simple: I never stopped learning. Even after earning my degrees, I’ve continued to pursue certifications and stay up-to-date on research, policy, and innovations in the cannabis space. But more importantly, I’ve never given up. I only take advice from people whose shoes I’d want to be in. That mindset has been everything.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Believe in yourself—because no one will ever care about your vision more than you. Let passion be your guide.

What I want the world to know about me and Short & Stoned is that I’m here to challenge perceptions. I want people to see that individuals with dwarfism are capable of achieving big things. That cannabis is a powerful tool for healing. And that no matter what obstacles you face, you can carve out your own path—and thrive on it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my fiancé and I return to Denver to celebrate my birthday as newlyweds, we’ve already got the perfect itinerary planned—and if my best friend were visiting, I’d take them along for the ride, although my fiancé is an all-in-one deal!

We’d kick things off with a stylish date night at Cirrus Social Club, a sleek and modern cannabis consumption lounge that offers a new, elevated spin on the experience. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the plant in a safe, welcoming, and upscale space.

After that, we’d grab dinner at The Post Chicken & Beer—a must-visit for their crave-worthy fried chicken and chill vibe. From there, if the weather’s on our side, we’d head to either Red Rocks Amphitheatre or Mission Ballroom to dance the night away to live music. Nothing beats a Red Rocks show under the stars or the energy of Mission with a packed crowd.

If we had a full week to explore, I’d include a day trip to Meow Wolf for an immersive art experience, brunch at Rupert’s and a scenic drive through Golden, Rocky Mountain NP in our campervan or up to Telluride for that fresh mountain air. And of course, we’d pop into a few local dispensaries I used to work with—like Yuma or Eclipse—to check out what’s new on the shelves.

Denver and Colorado alike have such a unique mix of art, nature, cannabis culture, and great food—and I’d want my best friend to soak in every part of that magic.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely—there are so many people who’ve played a role in my journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. First and foremost, my mother, Kimberly Graffin, who inspired me to be an entrepreneur to my core. She showed me what it means to build something from the ground up with passion and grit.

My sister, Stephanie Graffin, has been my rock—she’s the one who constantly reminds me to keep going, especially when things get hard. And my fiancé, Steven Lorence, deserves more than a shoutout. He’s been my caretaker when I needed support the most, but more than that, he’s been my loudest cheerleader. When no one else clapped, he applauded so loudly I never noticed the silence.

But beyond my family, I’m also deeply inspired by and committed to advocating for every single person who’s behind bars because of a cannabis-related charge. It’s a privilege to run a legal cannabis business—one that I don’t take lightly. I work hard to honor those who haven’t had the same opportunities by continuing to speak out, educate, and push for equity in this industry.

Website: https://campsite.bio/shortandstoned

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shortandstndofficial

Twitter: https://x.com/short_n_stoned

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopshortandstoned

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shortandstoned

Other: please credit all photos to Graffin Media / Graceful Rose Photograhpy

Image Credits
Stephanie Graffin of Graffin Media LLC dba Graceful Rose Photography