Beard Bros Collective
Other
- Site Map Coming Soon
- FAQs Coming Soon
- Reprints & Permissions Coming Soon
Menu
Menu
What’s the biggest challenge facing the cannabis industry right now, and how are you and/or your company addressing it?
Where do I even start? As a retailer on the ground, the biggest challenge is that cannabis is still treated like it doesn’t belong. Back when I was running Magnolia in Oakland, we saw every day how much cannabis helped patients and the community, and it blows my mind that we’re still stuck under Schedule I. Because of that, we don’t get access to normal banking, we get hammered by 280E so we can’t take basic business deductions, and even though we pay a ton in taxes, we’re not treated like legitimate businesses. Then you pile on the state taxes and overregulation, it’s a lot to carry. The high costs push people back to the illicit market, and the layers of rules make it tough for legal shops to keep up.
Where do you see the most exciting opportunity for growth and innovation in cannabis?
Normalizing the shopping experience. When I first started, cannabis retail was small back rooms and word-of-mouth access. Now we have the chance to create an open retail model that feels just like any other retail experience.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to break into the cannabis industry?
Be ready to hustle. This isn’t an industry where things come easy. The rules change constantly, margins are tight, and you’re always solving new problems. But if you really care about the plant and the people, and you build your business with integrity, there’s a lot of opportunity.
What is the most important thing you have learned from your experiences in the cannabis industry?
The importance of surrounding yourself with a strong team. Regulations shift constantly, and the only way to keep up is to have people around you who are dedicated. Question everything, be diligent, and rely on your team, that’s the formula that works.
What do you want your legacy to be as it relates to the cannabis industry?
I came up in the medical days, and I don’t ever want to lose sight of that. My legacy, I hope, is running a cannabis business that still looks out for the patients, while helping normalize cannabis use for everyone. At Perfect Union, that means continuing our compassion program for patients, making sure employees are taken care of, and building a sustainable model that respects where we came from and creates opportunities for the future.