Long before dispensaries and regulations, cannabis was simply part of everyday life: grown, shared, cooked with and prayed with. That spirit is exactly what Veda Warrior is reviving. We sat down with founder and Central Jersey native Smrita Choubey to talk about how her journey from healthcare banking to bringing centuries of ayurvedic and cannabis wisdom back into the kitchen.
“Cooking with cannabis is one of the most ancient and authentic ways to consume the plant,” Smrita says. “We consider ourselves a wellness company, an Ayurveda company—not just a cannabis company. I source nearly 40 different herbs from around the world. However, Cannabis takes up 99% of my mind share!”
Meet Jersey Girl Smrita
After years in healthcare investment banking, Smrita Choubey started asking questions that the industry wasn’t concerned with, like, why cannabis was ever banned in the first place? “It [the ban on cannabis] had nothing to do with public health. It’s not a public health hazard. It was because it had so many benefits that it was a competitor to many different industries.” Fueled by curiosity, she spent over a decade returning to her Ayurvedic roots and that’s where Veda Warrior was born.
Fun fact: Smrita’s the first woman to inherit her family’s sixth-generation farm in Bihar, India, where cannabis still grows wild.
A proud Central Jersey native (and known for hosting some pretty iconic edible parties in college), Smrita built Veda Warrior as an Ayurvedic wellness and food brand. “Veda means science,” she says. “We see ourselves as science warriors—standing up for ancient wisdom that was erased for private gain.”
The brand first launched with CBD products focused on mental health. Many customers were seeking alternatives to prescriptions like Xanax or Lexapro, and her research pointed her back to what Ayurveda had always known: cannabis can support sleep, pain, emotional balance and women’s health.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda (eye-oor-vay-duh), meaning the study of life, often called “the sister science of yoga,” is an ancient, holistic system of healing that dates back over 5000 years. “Imagine yoga with a comprehensive wellness approach that includes herbs, daily routines, lifestyle guidance and deeper meditation practices. That’s what Ayurveda is,” Smrita explains.
Ayurveda uses four primary tools to create balance and optimal health: medicinal herbs, customized diet, mindful movement and healthy lifestyle practices (meditation and career alignment) Rather than following society’s one-size-fits-all model of success, Ayurveda recognizes each person’s uniqueness while providing a framework to understand individual needs and helping you unlock your best self by being more mindful.
To learn more about an Ayurvedic lifestyle or have more questions, ask their AI-powered wellness coach, Drona.
Smrita’s Pantry
Here’s the thing about THC: it loves fat! Oils and butters aren’t just great for cooking; they actually help your body absorb THC better. When THC binds to fat molecules, it’s easier for your body to process, meaning you feel the effects more fully, more evenly, and for a longer time. That’s why edibles made with infused oils and butters are great for both taste and functionality.
For Veda Warrior, “We’re most excited to allow people to make their own edibles easily. If none of the current options really float your boat (gummies, strips and tinctures) or you’re looking for a sugar-free option, making your own edibles lets you customize it your way.”
All of Veda Warrior’s kitchen essentials are designed to take the mess, guesswork and hassle out of making edibles at home. They’re:
- Shelf-stable (no refrigeration needed)
- 100% organic
- Made with just two ingredients: a premium oil (or butter) and cannabis extract
- Precisely dosed
Infused Olive Oil
Veda Warrior’s infused olive oil starts with a single-source, estate-grown olive variety from a family-owned farm in Greece. Unlike most olive oils, which mix multiple olive strains, this one uses only Koroneiki olives, known for being naturally high in heart-healthy polyphenols.
According to Smrita, this olive oil is a no-brainer: “It’s the easiest for beginners — you can drizzle it on any food you already have. Not everybody cooks, but everybody eats, right?”
Interested in how to use their products? Check out own recipe cards below and customers not have to do the math on their own. Smrita jokes, “If you can read, you can follow this recipe. It’s that easy. It requires no witchcraft or wizardry, and it was just easy to make.”
Smrita’s fave recipe: Balsamic vinaigrette. Get recipe here
Infused Coconut Oil
Veda Warrior’s coconut oil is about as clean as it gets. It’s organic, extra virgin, cold-pressed and doubles as both an edible and a topical. “If you wouldn’t eat it, you shouldn’t really put it on your skin, because it’s still getting absorbed into your body, even though you’re not ingesting it,” Smrita advises. With no chemicals or preservatives, it’s great to use for muscle pain.
Smrita’s fave recipe: Veda’s Head Baker Adriana’s Coconut Oil Pot Brownies. Get recipe here
Infused Ghee Butter
If you haven’t tried ghee yet, you’re in for a treat. Veda Warrior’s infused ghee butter is locally made by a fifth-generation Indian American ghee maker, using organic milk from Pennsylvania.
By slowly boiling butter, removing the water and milk solids, you’re left with pure ghee — a shelf-stable ingredient that Ayurveda praises for reducing inflammation, improving digestion and even enhancing cannabis absorption.
Pro tip: An easy starting point for beginners is to spread it on toast or drizzle it over popcorn.
Smrita’s fave recipe: Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies. Get recipe here
Stay tuned for Veda Warrior functional gummies and topicals to help with menstrual cramps, joint pain, sleep, focus, inspiration, etc.
Community Shoutout 💚
“I’d like to shout out Tauhid Chappell, who works with the New Jersey Business Action Center, a business advocacy team within the Department of State. His group focuses on helping cannabis businesses and providing resources where they’re needed most.
They recently talked with me about the hardships I faced trying to launch my brand. They’re here to hear from business owners and dispensaries about what’s working and what’s not. I love that Tauhid is even doing that. He’s an advocate for cannabis businesses and a voice asking the right questions. I don’t know if anything’s happening yet, but he’s funneling feedback to the CRC and New Jersey leaders to make sure they know why business owners are struggling.
I also had a great conversation with him about some of the policy work I’m doing. I really do think of myself as an activist for health freedom that people should have full access to knowledge about what cannabis can do for their health, freedom, and human rights. Tauhid has been supporting me in figuring out how to get more farmers involved in Jersey cannabis, not just to grow weed, but to help regenerate American agriculture and organic farms here in New Jersey.” says Smrita.
Visit Pure Blossom for Cannabis and Other Essentials
Explore Pure Blossom’s curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands and essential accessories. Whether you’re doing the old Google thing, searching for a dispensary near me or nearby dispensaries in New Jersey, Pure Blossom is a short, scenic, calming drive away, and our friendly guide-connoisseurs are excited to take you through our curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands (and other essentials). We’ll see you there!