Brownie Lady | Criminal Podcast

Criminal | A Podcast About Crime

  • Aug 5, 2026
  • 21:17
  • Full Episode

Shortly after Meridy Volz moved from Milwaukee to San Francisco, she received a phone call from a friend asking her to take over a small bakery business. Meridy agreed to run the bakery, but she only wanted to sell one thing: pot brownies. Her brownies were a massive success, and soon she was making enough money to support three families. Meridy is joined by her daughter, Alia Volz, who describes what it’s like when San Francisco’s “original brownie lady” is your mom.

Criminal is a show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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Episode 47 originally published July 15, 2016. https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-47-brownie-lady-7-15-2016

Brief Summary

Mered Volutz shares her journey from a 1969 marijuana arrest to running a successful brownie business in San Francisco.

Key points

  • The Package Incident. In 1969, Mered and her cousin's wife are caught with a package of pot addressed to a baby.
  • Sticky Fingers Business. Mered becomes the original brownie lady, turning her pot knowledge into a successful business.
  • AIDS Impact on Business. The AIDS crisis changes the purpose of brownies from fun to comfort for the sick.

Tension

45/ 100Some tension

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