“It shouldn’t be this hard to learn about Cannabis.”
- Elizabeth Childs
Elizabeth Childs | Owner of Starbird Cannabis Co.
Our Story
Starbird was born out of frustration with the way cannabis is too often sold: impersonal, surface-level, and disconnected from the plant’s deep history. Our Founder Elizabeth saw a need for something more—a place where people of all backgrounds could not only buy cannabis, but truly understand it. A place where questions are welcomed, and knowledge is shared freely.
For Elizabeth, cannabis is personal. Her journey was shaped by her grandmother, Grandma Flo, whose resilience, kindness, and love of nature inspired a vision for a dispensary rooted in integrity, education, and care. That family spirit is woven into everything we do—from how we curate products to how we greet you when you walk through the door.
Grandma Flo | Elizabeth’s Grandmother and Inspiration
Our Inspiration
At Starbird, we’re not just a store. We’re a small, passionate team led by Elizabeth—someone whose connection to cannabis is rooted in love, legacy, and healing.
Elizabeth’s biggest inspiration is her grandmother, Grandma Flo. A force of nature with a green thumb and a heart twice the size, Flo taught Elizabeth that wellness doesn’t come from a label—it comes from paying attention to what your body and spirit need. She believed in homegrown remedies, hard work, and helping others feel seen.
Flo was the kind of person who brewed tea from her garden, believed every ailment had a natural answer, and never let someone leave her kitchen without a full belly and a little advice. Her philosophy was simple: share what you know, stay curious, and treat everyone like family. That same energy lives in Starbird today.
When you walk into our shop, you’re stepping into something she helped shape—through her values, her wisdom, and her unshakable belief that everyone deserves to feel good and be cared for.
Our team carries that torch forward. We’re here to listen, to guide, and to make sure that cannabis feels less like a transaction—and more like a conversation.
The Problem We Saw, and What We’re Doing About It
Too many cannabis retailers today feel like you're walking into a fast-food counter with flower on the menu. You're herded toward a touchscreen, rushed through options, and maybe offered a quick “that one’s fire” before you're sent on your way. The experience feels transactional, impersonal, and frankly, intimidating—especially for anyone new to cannabis or using it with purpose.
Behind the scenes, the problem goes deeper. The market is flooded with multi-state operators (MSOs) who prioritize mass production and profit margins. Small, local cultivators—those who pour their heart and soul into growing clean, effective, and carefully crafted cannabis—are being pushed aside. Quality, transparency, and integrity get lost in the race to the bottom.
We also saw a huge gap in education. Cannabis is a plant humans have cultivated and used for over 6,000 years, yet most dispensaries treat it like a mystery product. There’s little effort to explain how it works, how to use it intentionally, or how different products affect different people.
That’s where Starbird steps in.
We believe that cannabis isn’t one-size-fits-all—and neither is your experience. That’s why we’re committed to slowing things down. No screens. No sales script. Just people who will take the time to actually listen to your needs, your curiosities, and your goals.
Whether you're seeking relief, focus, sleep, creativity, or just something that feels good—we're here to walk you through it. We ask questions, we listen to your answers, and we guide you to products that genuinely fit your life. We don’t just want to make a sale. We want to make a difference in how you feel, and how you think about cannabis.
Because your experience deserves more than a touchscreen.
Looking Ahead
We’re proud to serve the North Shore community—but Starbird was never meant to be just a store.
We see cannabis as a bridge. A way to connect people, ideas, and experiences. That’s why we’re building more than just a retail space—we’re cultivating a community.
In the months and years ahead, we’re excited to host events that bring people together: educational workshops, creative pop-ups, wellness classes, local art shows, and more. Whether it’s a conversation about terpenes, a panel on cannabis and mental health, or just a space to vibe and share stories—we want Starbird to be a hub for connection, curiosity, and culture.
We’re also investing in outreach. That means partnering with local nonprofits, supporting small Massachusetts growers and makers, and finding ways to uplift the communities that built this industry long before it was legal.
Our goal? To set the standard for what a dispensary can be—not just in Massachusetts, but across the country. One rooted in transparency, education, and true service. One where people feel welcomed, informed, and inspired.
Because we believe cannabis should bring people together—and it’s our mission to lead by example.