Who We Are & What This Is
Take A Shot Photo & Distro is an organization founded by Kerrington Peterson. Some may know him as KP. We sat down with him for a quick Q&A to get a general understanding of what Take A Shot is all about.
Q: What is Take A Shot?
A: “I really just wanted to create a culture of fun, freedom, and expression. I’ve changed a lot over the years, but at the core I still just really enjoy the simple things: nature, music, positivity, people. Photography helps me connect with the world, whether its nature, events, people, or some random buildings. And cannabis makes it easier for me to enjoy these experiences, especially in social settings. I also enjoy fashion and snapping “fit pics.” And as a student at North Carolina A&T, getting fly is the culture. I grew up in business [Shout out to Peterson Charters and Tours (Sumter, SC) and my dad Doug] so it was only right to make a business out of the things I love. I’m currently in school for my MBA so I just decided to put these skills to use. School and life in general can get pretty stressful, so cannabis helps me cope with that a lot. I want to also help others cope with life’s stressors in a healthy and legal way. Or party or relax, whatever one’s reason may be. My Bachelor’s degree is in Psychology and Sociology so I have an interest in people and their behaviors. So, the point is to encourage people to live life in a way that’s not destructive. It’s okay to talk to someone. It’s ok to express yourself. It’s ok to go to therapy. It’s ok to slow down. It’s ok to be you. We’re all about that #PlantLife. Planting life. We support growers (in legal states of course) who are physically planting the seeds for this amazing cannabis plant. We support local organic farmers who keep food on our tables. We plant life by consuming healthy and natural foods and drinks and encouraging others to do the same. And most of all, we plant life by being positive and supporting one another, spreading love. We support minority-owned businesses. We support local & small businesses. We support people. Unity over division. One love, one heart like Bob Marley said. So yeah, that’s the Distro (Distributions) part of Take A Shot Photo & Distro. We’re distributing life.”
Q: Why did you name it Take A Shot?
A: “At the moment, I was feeling fearful of the future. I was experiencing “analysis paralysis” aka thinking too much and not acting enough. Anxiety was eating me up. I was thinking nothing but the worst case scenario for everything. Then I decided to just try something, so I bought a camera. I always liked photography and fashion and I had the money so I just jumped on it. Plus, my Mom encouraged me to go for it. No real plan, but just open to wherever it may lead me. I just wanna encourage people to believe in themselves. If the opportunity presents itself, take it. Take a shot. Figure it out along the way. And grab a pack of these drinks for the road.”
Q: So is it a photography business or a store?
A: The camera led me to this place where I found an opportunity to expand business. Take A Shot is really a culture. I love art and creativity. I love nature. I love plants. I love cannabis. I love creating art in nature while on cannabis. What I don't love, though, is alcohol. So I could play off of the whole “Take A Shot” thing whether it was a photo or an actual shot [of a drink.] However, it’s not the type of drink that the typical person would think of. So, surprise! You can feel great all day with no risk of hangovers, alcohol poisoning, or even a stomach ache afterwards (my stomach is very sensitive). And on the other side, there’s no risk of buying something sprayed or laced. You’ll always know what you’re getting consistently. No more deceptive bottom shelf bud that they put into a pretty bag from the vape shop. Yeah, man, sign me up! So here we are. When you enter the website, you choose which type of shot you wanna take. I use these products and I provide these services. And either way, you’ll feel good. Good enough to take that risk or that opportunity without letting fear or anxiety stop you.”
Q: Is this legal?
A: Yes, of course. The products we sell are at or below the 0.3% level that the 2018 Farm Bill designates. Cannabis has many different chemicals in it that work together to give it its effects. THC is the one that is regulated the most. So, we work within the regulations.
Q: Is it safe?
A: Health is wealth and that’s what I’m trying to push. Everything is natural. I know the owners and manufacturers. and all of my partners are legitimate. The corner store edibles and drinks can be sketchy and often have artificial additives to make them more potent. So I totally understand why some people wouldn’t trust this product initially. But, the ingredients are listed and everything is regulated and tested at a government level. COA’s are also available for each product that we sell. We’ll have even more natural products in the future.
Now, when it comes to dosages.. Here’s a benchmark. On average, a joint of the best top shelf cannabis (20%+ THC per mg) will deliver about 100mg if you smoke it alone. If you share it, then you just ingested about 50mg. However, those effects will go away much quicker than if you ingested a 50mg drink. The drink will hit while you’re sipping it (~10minutes), so you can stop when you want to like putting a joint out. But you’ll feel those effects for much longer, depending on how much you drink. You just gotta be 21 or older!
