“Live Happy” Isn’t a Slogan—It’s a Practice
For Corey Coleman and Taylor Fairman, cannabis was never about chasing a market or riding a trend. It entered their lives quietly, painfully, and with purpose: through caregiving, loss, and a search for something gentler in a world that often offers none.
As co-founders of Sky High Brands, Coleman and Fairman have helped shape a new category of hemp-derived THC beverages and edibles that prioritize balance over excess and intention over hype. Known for award-winning drinks and thoughtfully dosed products, Sky High has grown into a nationally recognized brand. But its foundation remains deeply personal.
In conversation with Honeysuckle, the couple reflects on how grief reshaped their understanding of wellness, why responsibility and joy can coexist in cannabis, and what it means to build a thoughtful, standards-driven brand focused on safety, clarity, and real-life impact.
Honeysuckle: Cannabis often finds people when they’re not looking for it. How did it first enter your lives?
Corey Coleman:
Cannabis came into my life in two very different, very real ways. Long before Sky High, I was living with Crohn’s disease—a condition that forces you into a daily relationship with your own body. Managing chronic illness teaches you quickly that relief isn’t always linear, and that conventional medicine doesn’t always offer complete answers.
Cannabis became part of how I managed inflammation, pain, and quality of life. Not in a recreational sense, and not as a cure, but as a tool. One that helped me function, work, and stay present. That experience shaped how I think about cannabis to this day: as something deeply personal, highly individual, and deserving of respect.
After losing our daughter Evie, cannabis took on an entirely different meaning. Grief changes your nervous system. It changes how you sleep, how you move through the world, how your body holds stress. In that period, cannabis wasn’t just about managing symptoms. It was about survival, about finding moments of calm in the middle of chaos.
Those two experiences—chronic illness and loss—are inseparable in how I understand this plant. They’re also why responsibility, dosing, and consistency matter so much to me. When cannabis works, it’s because it’s being used thoughtfully.
Taylor Fairman:
My introduction to cannabis really came through my daughter Evie’s illness and the day-to-day realities of her care. When you’re walking through something like that as a parent, you’re constantly searching for anything that might bring your child more comfort, more ease, or even just a small moment of relief.
I watched firsthand how families—us included—were looking for safe, supportive options that could help improve quality of life. That experience changed everything for me. It shifted cannabis from being something abstract into something deeply personal and human.
That’s when education became everything to me. People deserve accurate information, not hype. They deserve products that are safe, measured, and rooted in care. For me, this work has always been about helping people feel supported and giving them trustworthy options they can feel good about.
Sky High launched in 2020, before hemp-derived THC was widely understood. What was the spark behind starting the brand?
Coleman:
Sky High came together at a very specific moment. We were closely examining federal hemp law and realized that there was a narrow but legitimate path to creating THC products that were both compliant and genuinely high quality.
At the time, we were involved in another CBD-focused venture, but as we studied the regulations and worked with attorneys, it became clear that we could build something better. Something that actually aligned with our values.
There was a gap in the market. Adult consumers wanted products that felt clean, predictable, and thoughtfully made. We weren’t seeing that, so we decided to build it ourselves.
The transition wasn’t fast. It took nearly a year of legal work, product development, and operational restructuring before we released our first Sky High products. But we were intentional from the start.
Fairman:
We were early; probably too early by most standards. But we believed that if we focused on integrity and the consumer experience, the culture would catch up. Sky High wasn’t about maximizing potency; it was about making cannabis feel approachable, social, and human.
“Live Happy” is central to Sky High’s identity. What does that actually mean to you?
Fairman:
“Live Happy” isn’t about being upbeat all the time. It’s about creating space for people to feel more like themselves. More present, more relaxed, more connected.
We think a lot about how our products fit into real life. A drink with friends. A quiet evening at home. A moment to decompress without feeling out of control. Happiness doesn’t have to be loud.
Coleman:
For us, happiness is tied to responsibility. That’s why dosing, sourcing, and education matter so much. When people trust a product, they can actually enjoy it. That trust is earned.
Sky High is often praised for its emphasis on compliance and transparency—topics that don’t always feel “cool.” Why are they so central to your mission?
Coleman:
Because trust is everything in cannabis. We’ve always taken the high road, even when it made things harder. Full chain-of-custody tracking, rigorous testing, conservative formulations...those things aren’t flashy, but they’re essential.
We want people to know exactly what they’re consuming and where it came from. That level of transparency creates safety, and safety creates longevity. And that’s vital not just for our brand, but for the industry as a whole.
Fairman:
It also creates confidence for consumers who may be newer to cannabis. If someone is trying THC for the first time through a beverage or edible, they deserve clarity, not confusion.
Corey, your background spans real estate, logistics, and hemp distribution. How did those experiences shape Sky High?
Coleman:
Those industries taught me how to build systems, manage risk, and think long-term. Cannabis is unpredictable by nature. Regulations shift, markets change, and narratives evolve. Without strong operational foundations, it’s very easy to collapse.
Founding Hemp’dIn also gave me a deep respect for farmers and supply chains. Sky High’s model is built around supporting legitimate partners and doing things right from the ground up.
Taylor, your work often centers empathy and education. How does that influence your leadership?
Fairman:
Before cannabis, my work was always rooted in education; helping people of all ages understand their options, ask better questions, and feel confident making decisions about their health and wellness. I learned early on that when something feels complicated or unfamiliar, people don’t need pressure — they need clarity and trust. That mindset has shaped how I lead.
If you truly listen first, you build better products, better teams, and better experiences. I try to lead by removing confusion, creating alignment, and giving both our customers and our team the knowledge they need to feel empowered.
At Sky High, that shows up in everything we do. We don’t just talk about ingredients or milligrams; we focus on how someone wants to feel. Relaxed. Clear. Social. Supported. Education is part of the product, not an afterthought.
Leadership, to me, means setting a vision, but also serving the people you’re building for. When you combine empathy with high standards and clear direction, you create a company people trust — and that’s what allows us to grow with purpose, not just scale.
What moments have reaffirmed that you’re on the right path?
Coleman:
The messages we get from people. When someone tells us a product helped them reconnect with joy, sleep better, or simply feel more at ease—that’s everything.
Fairman:
Those moments remind us that cannabis can be gentle. It doesn’t have to be extreme to be meaningful.
The cannabis landscape is shifting quickly. What excites you about where things are headed?
Coleman:
Research. Innovation. We’re just beginning to understand the full spectrum of cannabinoids and how they interact with the human body. With increased access to legitimate research, we’re going to see smarter products and better outcomes.
Fairman:
I’m excited by the cultural shift. More people are choosing intentional alternatives to alcohol. They’re asking better questions about wellness, balance, and mental health. Cannabis can be part of that conversation in a beautiful way.
If you could change one thing about cannabis culture or policy, what would it be?
Coleman:
I’d remove the artificial divide between hemp and marijuana. It’s one plant, and the separation creates confusion and inequity. A unified approach would allow the industry, and the culture around it, to mature responsibly.
Finally, what’s next for Sky High?
Fairman:
Thoughtful growth. Deeper relationships. Continued focus on quality and education.
Coleman:
We have new products in development, but we’re patient. When they launch, they’ll reflect the same care Sky High was built on—because this isn’t about speed. It’s about sustainability, trust, and helping people live a little happier along the way.
