Meet Melissa Story

We are delighted to partner with Melissa Story, co-founder of Mechayeh, on our second edition of What’s In My Lucky You Bag?

Melissa has spent the majority of her career working in wellness and public health—specifically focusing on addiction recovery. Her passion lies in stigma reduction efforts, and helping others quit or reduce their substance use. She proudly serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Johnson Health Center—a low-barrier treatment practice that assists patients with the love, dignity, and respect they deserve.

Melissa herself is in recovery and recently celebrated her 14 year anniversary being liberated from alcohol. Cannabis has been a powerful plant ally on her recovery journey. Her personal success story with cannabis led her to a career in the regulated industry; first as a licensed budtender at a local dispensary, then as a certified ganjier, and now as the co-founder of Mechayeh.

Mechayeh, A Mission-Driven Vermont Cannabis Brand

Mechayeh is a Vermont cannabis brand that partners with cultivators across the State to bring their craft together in one pack. Each pack weaves a collective story of presence, pleasure, and possibility. Their mission is to connect Vermont’s cannabis community, expand consumers’ palates, and elevate the conversation around conscious consumption. Melissa co-founded the brand with David Mickenberg, a Burlington-based attorney who has been actively involved in drug policy reform efforts at a local, state and national level for the last 25 years.

In Yiddish, Mechayeh (Muh*HIGH*yuh) means “coming back to life!” It’s the spark of presence—a sudden awakening to aliveness, followed by a deepening sense of beauty, connection, and unexpected delight. This sentiment resonates with our approach at Lucky You. We are here to connect you to products, people and resources to assist you in achieving your personal goals. We 💛 witnessing the products that end up in people’s bags. They tell a personal story of self-exploration. When shared, these stories help others to seek out products for themselves, and in the case of cannabis, help to remove the stigma surrounding its use.

Read on to Learn What’s in Melissa’s Bag and Why She Likes These Products So Much

Ghia Berry Apèritif; Bold, juicy, and tantalizingly tart, Ghia’s second signature apèritif is less bitter than the original, a touch fruitier, and a little smoky.

“I was sold on the bottle alone—its vintage vibes and sexy shape immediately elevated my kitchen. As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, I love finding new alternatives that taste good but aren’t full of sugar. The slightly dry, smoky, berry-forward flavor profile had me sipping over and over again with curiosity and amusement. I’ll undoubtedly be bringing this to my next event.”

Kavahol Alcohol-Free Kava Spirit; A high-grade extract of the legendary kava root combined with the fiery kick of organic ginger and an exotic blend of organic flavors and spices.

“This one truly floored me, as I was expecting something that is known for it’s relaxing qualities to be on the mild side, but this one comes in HOT! It was like a delicious, peppery, sweet, ginger shot. It wasn’t 10 minutes before I felt a simultaneous brightening and relaxing mood shift–perfect for chatting with friends after a busy day. The best part of this healthy tonic is the infamous tongue tingle–it kept us laughing and lifted all night.”

All The Bitter Travel Pack; Three 1oz bottles of small-batch, 0% ABV cocktail bitters—perfect for making better drinks at home, on a plane, at the office, or anywhere you want a bitters & soda.

“I can’t believe that I haven’t gotten on the bitters train until now. Since I’m in recovery from alcohol, I have steered clear of bitters, so it was a great surprise that these are alcohol-free! This travel pack was so fun to sample, and I liked the New Orleans Spiced Cherry the best. It tasted excellent on it’s own in seltzer, but I decided to get a little creative, and added a splash of pomegranate juice, a squeeze of lime, and a sprig of rosemary. I’m excited to have these around to uplevel my beverage at home or on the go.”

Wolfpeach Wildcat; Wolfpeach’s brain power powder made with heirloom raw cocoa, lion’s mane & cordyceps mushrooms, dandelion root and Vermont maple sugar.

“As a busy entrepreneur who struggles with attention and focus, I’m always looking for healthy hacks to keep me engaged. Enter Wildcat! I could absolutely feel the lion’s mane working it’s magic as I sat down to do paperwork–it really helped to keep my clarity and focus during such a dull task. A warm, chocolatey, uplifting beverage that supports my progress at work? Yes please!”

Barbari Car Sex Spliffs, 5 Pack; Made with organically grown CBD-rich hemp flower and blended with Barbari’s Car Sex herbal smoking blend, these herbal spliffs offer a bold and musky, nicotine-free smoke with a balanced and uplifting effect.

“Let’s be honest, with a name like that who wouldn’t be intrigued. It had a smooth, almost cooling smoke with a sweet, woody exhale. It paired perfectly with my chai rooibos oatmilk latte. Did it transport me back to my high schools days? Not exactly. Different era, different venue.”

Three Buds Apothecary Cosmic Vagina; Cosmic Vagina is a hydrating intimacy oil crafted with USDA Certified Organic Full-Spectrum Vermont Hemp Extract and plant-based ingredients. Designed to support comfort, circulation, and daily hydration.

“The name alone makes you curious—but the experience is what sold me. Smooth yet powerful, this is less “novelty” and more ritual. It supports sensation in a way that feels intentional and excitiing. I’ve been using this product for years for a reason…”

Mechayeh Vermont Variety Pack; A curated selection of seven half gram pre-rolls made with premium Vermont cannabis flower. Comes in the cutest box ever that changes with each batch.

“Our signature variety pack is a rotating showcase of Vermont’s finest flower—grown by trusted small-batch farmers who share our commitment to quality, craft, and collaboration. Every few weeks, we refresh our lineup to highlight new strains and cultivators, so you’re always meeting something fresh, delicious, and full of character. I don’t leave home without it.”