What’s the biggest challenge facing the cannabis industry right now, and how are you and/or your company addressing it?
One of the biggest challenges right now is the impact of tariffs and supply-chain delays, especially around packaging. These pressures force us to order materials much earlier and plan further ahead. At URSA, we’ve adapted by tightening our production timelines, improving direct communication with our packaging partners, and fine-tuning our ordering cycles, allowing us to stay consistent without compromising quality.
Where do you see the most exciting opportunity for growth and innovation in cannabis?
The most exciting opportunity is in emerging tech, both in extraction and on the consumer hardware side. We’re seeing major improvements in manufacturing efficiency and more cost-effective equipment, and that opens up huge potential for product evolution. A good example is our own R&D work and data-driven testing for the Live rosin all-in-one one-gram device we are about to soft launch in early December. Innovations like that, especially in hardware upgrades, are what really push the space forward.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to break into the cannabis industry?
Come in with a real thirst for knowledge. This industry is still young on the legal side and constantly changing, so the people who succeed are the ones who stay open to learning every day. The more you absorb from science to regulations to consumer behavior, the better equipped you’ll be.
What is the most important thing you have learned from your experiences in the cannabis industry?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is never to take things at face value. In this industry, if a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. Doing your own research, double-checking claims, and relying on due diligence are essential. It keeps you grounded and helps you make smarter, long-term decisions.
What do you want your legacy to be as it relates to the cannabis industry?
I started at URSA as an extractor, and growing into a leadership role shaped how I think about legacy. For me, it comes down to keeping that same thirst for knowledge that drove me from day one and using it to create products we’re truly proud of. I want my legacy, and URSA’s, to stand for “quality over quantity,” always chasing the best strains, the strongest terp profiles, and the highest manufacturing standards. That’s what I hope endures in the work we do.
