Woman-owned and operated Peak Extracts was the first adult-use edibles producer licensed in Oregon and currently holds a position as the #2 cannabis chocolate manufacturer in the state. Originally founded in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program in 2014, Peak Extracts is locally owned and based on principles of quality and integrity. Every Peak cannabis and hemp product is made using a proprietary in-house Terp-Lock extraction process that retains the character and effects of the original material.

Eastern Washington native Katie Stem started her first business at age 22 while in the Americorps VISTA entrepreneurial division. A graduate from Carleton College in 2002, majoring in pre-med and literature, she has extensive business and management experience, as well as more than 10 years of laboratory science background. While working for Washington State University and Oregon Health & Science University, she experimented in the fields of physiology, pharmacology and neurology using natural products and pharmaceutical interventions for human diseases. In 2010, she completed her degree in traditional Chinese medicine and became a nationally-certified licensed herbalist and acupuncturist.

Stem’s skills as both a scientist and herbalist are invaluable to Peak in formulation, R&D, and educational outreach. A medical cannabis patient since 2004, Katie has been heavily involved and connected within the community since the early days. Her battle with Crohn’s disease led her to explore alternatives to dangerous biologic and immunosuppressive drugs. Cannabis has been a powerful tool to manage her disease and she is a passionate educator and advocate within the industry. Stem maintains an acupuncture and herbal medicine practice in Portland that she’s had since 2010.

Full birth name: Katie Stem

Title: Founder and CEO

Company: Peak Extracts

Years at current company: 6

Education profile: B.A. in Pre-Med, English Literature Carleton College 2002, Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MaOM) Oregon College Of Oriental Medicine, 2010.

Most successful professional accomplishment before cannabis:  

• Research on MS at OHSU culminating in a publication in a major scientific journal: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1857227

• Starting and running a private Acupuncture and herbal medicine practice from 2010-present.

Company Mission: Using proprietary extraction techniques, Peak Extracts manufactures high-quality cannabis and hemp products that are uniquely customizable due to our Terp-LockTM process. Each strain-specific product has different medicinal and subjective effects, allowing the consumer to tailor their experience as they see fit.

Company’s most successful achievement:

I believe we’re in the midst of it! We’re maintaining operations with zero layoffs during a global pandemic and nationwide shut down. We’ve changed all of our procedures to uphold better than recommended sanitation and social distancing, and are still expanding our product line in anticipation of increased interest in online sales.

Has the company raised any capital (yes or no): No, we are entirely self-funded thus far.

Any plans on raising capital in the future? Yes, hopefully sometime in 2020.

Most important company 5 year goal: Continued expansion of Peak Extracts’ hemp product line to reach the entire US and many venues abroad.

Peak’s hypoallergenic topical salve Rescue Rub is critically acclaimed and based on an exclusive combination of traditional Chinese herbal medicines used to treat inflammation, pain and blunt-force trauma. Peak Extracts’ vaporizer cartridges feature a focus on CBD, terpenes, and CBG and are the only CO2 cartridges available in the market that retains 95% or more of the original terpenes and flavonoids.

Peak Extracts’ best-in-class creations are found in more than 150 carefully selected retailers across Oregon. Find Your Peak — http://www.peakextracts.com