What’s the biggest challenge facing the cannabis industry right now, and how are you and/or your company addressing it?
The biggest challenge in the cannabis industry is creating a whole new fleet of automation equipment for a flower that is very unique. At the onset of cannabis’ legalization, there were tons of automation companies trying to retrofit their current solutions to work with the flower, and the industry quickly realized that the physical properties of this flower are unlike anything else. So as these retrofitted solutions crumbled, it was up to a few inspired companies to start thinking differently about how to handle such a unique product. At RollPros, we innovated in the pre-roll industry, as the big guys just thought it was as easy as just filling a paper tube, we realized it would have to take a lot more thought and invention to create a truly quality joint experience. Over the past 4 years we’ve seen companies built around our equipment and exceeding their customer’s expectations through quality joints. Nothing brings me more joy than watching those companies succeed.
Where do you see the most exciting opportunity for growth and innovation in cannabis?
The most exciting opportunity for businesses is around making flower more convenient to consume. It’s an overlooked market that has a lot of potential inputs. As a cannabis connoisseur and consumer, I always come back to flower, and can’t wait to see the next generation of blunts, hash holes, joints (obviously), and anything else we can think up!
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to break into the cannabis industry?
Focus on the end product or experience you are trying to provide and see it all the way through. If you build a beautiful brand but deliver a poor customer experience, it will fall flat. It’s still a small industry and your reputation is extremely valuable.
What is the most important thing you have learned from your experiences in the cannabis industry?
What do you want your legacy to be as it relates to the cannabis industry?
I want to be known for helping craft cannabis companies create really magnificent products and make a living doing so.
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