Where have you previously worked in cannabis? How/why did you end up working there?
Cannabis has always been a passion of mine. Growing up in an era where opioid addictions were running rampant, I saw first hand the negative effects of the over prescribed drugs and knew that there was a more holistic way of living. I had a life changing moment that made me realize that life is short and you should be pursuing your passion because tomorrow is never promised.
In 2018 I left my non cannabis corporate job on the east coast and I moved out to Venice Beach CA and started working at a dispensary there which I moved up quickly to a lead position and helped manage a growing team. During this time I was launching my full spectrum CBD business which I ran for about 5 years. As an entrepreneur, I found myself wearing many hats which led me to the discovery of my photography/content creation passion which led me to opportunities working directly with brands in AZ for marketing photos.
After a few years in AZ, I came across the opportunity with Dutchie and noticed how they were really bringing the normalized customer experience to the cannabis industry and I had to be a part of this journey! As I was interviewing, I soon realized how dedicated everyone I interacted with was to helping operators and the cannabis industry as a whole.
What did you like most about working with cannabis? What’s a stand out memory from that time?
One thing that I like the most about the cannabis industry is the misconception that a large portion of people still have around this plant. The miseducation that was forced upon a whole generation to demonize the plant is what gets me excited to have the conversations. One of my memories that always stick out is when I was working in the dispensary in LA. We had over 3,000 people come through the doors daily from ALL over the world being close to LAX. Talking with people from all walks of life of their experience with cannabis… the good, the bad, and the hilarious stories that were shared will always be a memory for me.
What have you learned moving from plant-touching work to tech? Did anything about the change surprise you?
One thing that stuck out to me when I started working with Dutchie was how different every single state is. There is no one size fits all for every market. Since I manage a handful of states, I get to talk with different levels of operators who come from all different backgrounds which has helped me tremendously in understanding the differences between every state.
What’s your advice for those starting out in cannabis? What is there to look forward to?
Just like anything in life, if you want it, go get it! Depending on your state, sometimes online job boards aren't the best way to get noticed. Don't be afraid to show up at the place you'd like to work with a resume in hand! I applied to about 30 different cannabis jobs in California when I was living in DC and didn't get one reply, even though I exceeded most of the qualifications. I knew I wanted to get into cannabis, so I ended up moving to CA and doing what I said above. I leaned into my strengths and people skills and started showing up to talk to GMs, owners, or anyone who would give me the time. The cannabis industry is definitely not for the faint of heart, but knowing that I am advocating for natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals is what keeps me going.
