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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?
In my area of specialty, lab shopping is probably one of the most pervasive issues. Its proliferation has been exacerbated by a lack of understanding of some of the key issues by regulators. This is slowly getting better in some places but not all states are equal in this regard. In California we learned that standardized methods are step but ultimately not the solution as the numbers went down temporarily but came right back up within a few months. You can’t look over everyone’s shoulder all the time but you can set clear and thoughtfully crafted regulations to prevent the bad actors from winning.
This ultimately also feeds into a legitimacy problem. No one believes the numbers they receive or trust a clean COA because so many labs have compromised their scientific integrity to win business. No one wins in this situation except for the fraud perpetrators and consumers and the industry as a whole suffer the consequence. I contribute to a number of standard setting organizations to help address these issues but ultimately standards and harmonized methods alone cannot solve the problem alone.
Barriers to conducting real research are also a huge problem for establishing the legitimacy of cannabis as a medicine. For a long time we had a sole provider of federal cannabis and their products were hardly a representative of what patients were using. The Executive Order to prioritize putting cannabis in Schedule 3 is a step but formidable barriers still exist. Anyone paying attention also knows about USP 6630507 and can see that cannabis should have never been considered a Schedule 1 drug.
Where do you see the most exciting opportunity for growth and innovation in cannabis?
Trace and minor cannabinoids and drug delivery systems to enhance bioavailability and provide targeted therapies. I believe that revisiting varieties of the past to discover what we have lost in breeding for high THC will yield unique insights. I also think it’s important we look at the whole plant and not just focus on cannabinoids. Biology has many locks and cannabis is a plant of many keys and molecular classes. In particular, I believe the cannflavins (flavonoids unique to cannabis) have a lot of untapped potential.
I’m also a big believer in combinatorial therapies by using cannabinoids as synergists with other nutraceuticals and natural products. While I have a propensity for natural therapeutics, I also believe that synthetics and semi-synthetics have a place. But these products should be approached with caution and produced with rigor before launching into the mainstream in stark contrast to the uncontrolled proliferation of hemp conversion products (or in some cases, wholly synthetic and mislabeled as hemp).
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to break into the cannabis industry?
Just one piece of advice can’t address the 4D Chess that is the cannabis industry so here are some general principles.
Be kind. Work hard and stay humble. Keep an open mind about ideas and people. Be collaborative and seek understanding but also be discerning. This is a very challenging industry to operate in and the politics are not for the faint of heart so if you’re looking for an easy ride this space is not for you.
Networking is key and essential for success. The phrase “Your network is your net worth” is a very valid statement. When networking it’s important to know your audience but its equally important to show up as yourself. Everyone just wants to find their way in the world and there is nothing wrong with branching out to others to see what you can learn from them or if there might be synergy.
What is the most important thing you have learned from your experiences in the cannabis industry?
There are too many things I’ve learned over the course of 13 years and there is no one thing that is most important so here is a summary of the things I feel are important.
Have empathy. We are all just human and many of us are trying our best. People are imperfect and make mistakes. Give them the benefit of the doubt and learn to forgive but don’t forget. While it’s important to do your best, make sure to give that best to the people that deserve it. I personally don’t regret giving my all at the times I have over the course of my 13 years in cannabis science but your energy is finite and in hindsight I gave too much of myself to people who didn’t have my best interests in mind or exploited my good nature for their own gain. Nice and well meaning people without boundaries will be chewed up and spit out.
In the sciences in particular, learn to see through BS and especially watch out for those who seek to pull the wool over the eyes of others. There are a lot of people in the space that speak half truths or manipulate things for their own benefit so it’s important to think critically. Learn to dissect people like a scientific study – If their methods are flawed than likely are the results and conclusion. The world is getting more and more complex as are the schemes that people use to mask their agendas.
Get a real paycheck. The offer of equity is nice but many companies simply won’t make it. Always get everything in writing.
Undoubtedly, you will face setbacks but it’s imperative that you never give up. There is always hope even when the challenges seem insurmountable. Be wary of snakes in the grass (pun fully intended) and avoid them when possible. Learn to work around them or if you must work with them find common ground to work together but once again discernment here is paramount.
Find a good natured group to work with who are honest and share your mission. Learn the art of the pivot when necessary. This industry and life in general will always throw you curveballs and learning to stay clear and calm in the face of turbulence will pay dividends in the long run. Be authentic and speak your truth but maintain professionalism. Be gentle but tactful in your messaging and learn the art of nudging gently without rocking the boat.
rience.
What do you want your legacy to be as it relates to the cannabis industry?
I would like to be remembered as someone who helped shape this industry into what it is today and inspired others to pursue science. I feel this is embodied in career pursuits and in my volunteer work at the American Chemical Society with CANN where I’ve helped bridge academia with industry professionals.
My legacy is giving cannabis science a platform at the largest scientific society in the world even when the odds were stacked against us. Helping elevate others through mentorship, collaboration, and providing others with opportunities has given me more fulfillment than enriching myself. I will add that it wasn’t always me doing the mentoring. I had a village of scientists that helped me get to where I am today and I am incredibly grateful for the lessons they’ve taught me along the way even when they haven’t been the easiest lessons to learn.
I never got a doctorate in science because there weren’t doctorates available in the areas I felt passionate about. There were also too many interests to decide on any single one. So I paved my own path largely inspired by others who have done the same for themselves in science even without the letters. I hope my work has inspired others to think outside the box and learn to forge their own way in uncharted territory.