Beard Bros Collective
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What’s the biggest challenge facing the cannabis industry right now, and how are you and/or your company addressing it?
I think there are at least 10 top challenges facing the industry as a whole right now, and since I work directly with operators, the number one challenge I am seeing is payment issues. Across the US, other cannabis companies are not paying their bills. It affects not just ancillary businesses who provide products or services but it is chaining down smaller operators and in some cases it is causing business to go under. The number one businesses that are currently getting hammered by non-payment are manufacturer and cultivation businesses. They want to get on the shelf to expand their brand, and get into these situations where the dispensary controls the narrative on payment terms, when it should be the other way around. Some companies are taking advantage of these operators and their desire to build out their brand and get in front of the consumer, especially when they are brand new and competing for shelf space.
How ICS Consulting is helping and contributing to eradicate this challenge, and I might say it is no small feat, I really focus on training our clients to do good business, and to do the right thing and to have common sense. I work with our clients when they are launching their businesses, and from the beginning I help them on day one to build the foundation of being a responsible regulated business.
Where do you see the most exciting opportunity for growth and innovation in cannabis?
Actually I am seeing some incredible products coming out of small to medium size cannabis businesses. I think sometimes the smaller brands are underestimated and I believe they are the future and the disrupters in the industry. They are watching the larger companies, and now in 2025 there is a lot of data and information out there compared to 10 years ago. The newer brands can come in and do it better than the first person that did it or just be super creative and bring a product to the market no one has even thought of yet. I often feel smaller companies have more to lose, especially the ones who are self-funded, and are grinding it out every day. They have more fight in them to succeed and to make sure every penny has a job in their business – meaning nothing is wasted, no time, no money.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to break into the cannabis industry?
I say this often – If you do not like getting out of your comfort zone, or being uncomfortable, or being pushed to the edge of no return, or you loathe uncertainty, or you do not like change, then the cannabis industry might not be for you. It’s full of non-stop curveballs and will continue to be for sometime into the future. It is not for the faint hearted. Most operators I talk with, who have owned lots of businesses or even if this is their first time, all say the same thing – This is the hardest thing they’ve ever done in their life.
What is the most important thing you have learned from your experiences in the cannabis industry?
After 16 years of working in the regulated cannabis part of the industry, actually the three most important things I’ve learned on this wild journey is the being resilient, having a why and having the ability to adapt. Without having these three important pieces, I would have quit a long time ago. They’re 100% my foundation.
What do you want your legacy to be as it relates to the cannabis industry?
My goal is to teach operators the skill-set to navigate the regulatory landscape, the ups and downs, the hurdles, the curveballs of this incredible industry, and show them the roadmap to becoming responsible cannabis business owners.