Where have you previously worked in cannabis? How/why did you end up working there?
I started my cannabis journey in Bellingham, Washington, in 2014, back when the medical program and the recreational program had not been merged. Freshly dropped out of college, I was probably 20 years old but allowed to trim flower and pack joints at a medical grow facility since I had my med card (I was paid solely in cannabis). This started a four-year flurry of working at different farms and dispensaries in Bellingham—learning the trade and the ins and outs of the plant. I then moved to Portland, Oregon, and committed to moving my way up at Groundworks Industries, one of Oregon's largest vertically integrated operators. I moved from budtender to General Manager of their Electric Lettuce - Alberta location over the course of the funnest three years I've ever had. When the pandemic hit in 2020, we needed to find an e-commerce solution that could handle delivery and curbside pickup, and that was my first introduction to Dutchie!
What did you like most about working with cannabis? What’s a stand out memory from that time?
The obvious answer is the people. The real answer is the samples. Just kidding! Over my seven years working in plant-facing positions, I got to know the most wonderful patients, customers, coworkers, and mentors. This industry and culture attract the coolest people you could imagine, and I will forever be grateful for the wild stories I got to hear and the 'cry-laughing' sessions I had with my teammates.
My standout memory is definitely being able to serve players of the Portland Trail Blazers at my store (the NBA no longer tests for cannabis, so I think I can say this). We were the closest store to their practice facility, and a few team members would come in five minutes before closing, hoping nobody would see them. A few became regulars, and it was so much fun to talk shop with them. They were immensely curious about cannabis and the industry, and in fact, one of them now has his own flower brand in OR! Shoutout to Stay Me7o.
What have you learned moving from plant-touching work to tech? Did anything about the change surprise you?
I'd say the biggest thing that I've learned from the switch is just how much all of the skills and abilities I learned while working in plant-facing positions can help you in tech. Things like moving fast and staying focused, practicing compassion and patience while dealing with customers and patients all day long, and being a collaborative team player on the sales floor have all helped me become the best me I can be in this new journey of mine.
The biggest surprise for me was realizing the scale of this movement once I was able to zoom out of the PNW cannabis market and take a look at what we are accomplishing on a national scale. Thousands and thousands of individuals all moving fast in the same direction to try to normalize this plant and take it to where it deserves to be. Gives me goosebumps.
What’s your advice for those starting out in cannabis? What is there to look forward to?
Let your passion for cannabis fuel your goals! I was so lost when I started my cannabis journey, and all I knew was that I cared about this. Using that passion for this awesome industry, I was able to form the goals that led me to where I am now, a place where I truly never believed I would be.
There is so much to look forward to for those starting out in cannabis. In fact, you could say there's no better time. This industry is going to normalize and subsequently explode, and there will be so many amazing companies to work at, positions to apply for, and people to meet!
