Meet Cali Premium Produce CEO Priscilla Vilchis, the only minority woman among LA County’s Final 13 marijuana applicants

The City of Angels just got wings to grow legal cannabis. Lynwood City Council gave preliminary approval for 13 applicants to secure their position in Los Angeles County’s new legal cannabis industry at a special board meeting July 18.

Among Los Angeles County’s first legal growers is Cali Premium Produce, Inc. CEO Priscilla Vilchis. She’s being recommended to receive two of LA’s first-ever cannabis business licenses for cultivation and production. Lynwood received over 100 applications.

Vilchis – the only minority woman on the list of 13 pre-approved applicants — helped grow several different businesses to multi million-dollar companies prior to entering the medical cannabis space.

“We are excited to be among the most reputable leaders in this emerging recreational cannabis industry that the majority of California voters supported last November,” Vilchis said.

These adult use licenses will enable our company to accomplish our goal of cultivating and harvesting the highest-quality cannabis flower available for wholesale to the California market, while maintaining our intent focus on education, public safety and job creation.”

The Los Angeles-based entrepreneur began her first cannabis operation in Las Vegas in 2014, when her company Premium Produce, LLC was awarded two licenses from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.

Vilchis’ brand, ‘Queen of the Desert,’ earned her the moniker that is sure to become an American cannabis legend. Lynwood is located in Los Angeles County, the most populous in the U.S., and is among the first cities within the county to issue such permits since the passage of California’s Proposition 64 on Nov. 8. According to the latest industry forecasts, California will soon account for 40 percent of the US cannabis market

When the council started talks on growing in city limits in December, Lynwood spokesman Robert Alaniz said in a statement, “As a responsible city government, it is incumbent on us to issue strict controls, regulations and license the growing and manufacturing of cannabis . . . and that we set the standard for local municipal regulation of California’s newest and voter approved industry.”

Under 2016 Adult Use of Marijuana Act, Cali Premium Produce was given a preliminary California cultivation license for indoor cultivation of recreational marijuana. The company was also awarded a preliminary Type 6 Manufacturer 1 license for manufacturing sites that produce recreational cannabis products.

Cali Premium Produce plans to operate from a new 11,000-square-foot, leased facility in Lynwood.

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Through this 4-part series, “Cannabis Dispensary Security Hiring Best Practices”, we’re going to cover a myriad of issues you need to consider for your dispensary (or, grow operation). It should come as no surprise that security should be of paramount concern to medical marijuana dispensary owners. Storerooms, with an abundance of high-value cannabis and cash registers brimming with cash, are vulnerable to robberies, which sometimes turn violent.

Hiring the right security company is not a task you should take lightly. Find and hire a professional security company experienced in the cannabis industry to protect not only your employees, patients and your investment, but to legitimize the perception of your dispensary or grow operation in the eyes of the public and law enforcement.

What exactly do you risk by hiring the wrong security company?

• Higher chances of getting robbed: With the chances of a dispensary getting robbed eclipsing that of even banks or liquor stores, getting robbed could cost not only a significant amount of money — $250,000 when taking into account theft, property damage, legal fees and downtime — but lives as well.
• Attracting the attention of the Feds: Neglecting proper security protocol, including having a robust security plan in place that includes a reputable and experienced security firm significantly increases chances of attracting the attention of federal law enforcement.
• Temporary closure or loss of operating license: One of the leading reasons regulators or law enforcement shut down dispensaries or grow facilities is due to lousy records and inadequate security measures.
• Your operation: Avis Bulbulyan, founder and CEO of Bulbulyan Consulting Group spent years in the legal, financial and insurance industries dealing with investigations, loss prevention and identity theft. Bulbulyan cautions, “Hiring the wrong security company could spell disaster for your business. You’re putting your entire operation at risk.”

Having worked in and advised numerous companies in the private security industry, when it comes to experience and professionalism, I’ve seen firsthand the delta that exists between the vast majority of security companies, and the very few, that I’d consider to be genuinely “high-integrity” respectable firms. It’s sad to say, but there aren’t many security firms I’d feel comfortable advising a dispensary or grow facility to hire. Heck, I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending many security firms to provide security for a high-school prom!

Recently, I sat down with Joel Logan, the COO of Las Vegas-based security firm, Reliance Security. Reliance Security has been in business for over two decades protecting “A-List” celebrities, providing security to Hollywood film shoots, conducting investigations on high-profile, high net-worth individuals, and providing security to legal cannabis dispensaries and grow facilities in Nevada, Colorado and California.

Joel is a nationally recognized security and compliance expert in the legal cannabis industry. It helps that Joel also just happens to be a former narcotics officer, and that Joel with his business partner, Stephen Rybar, together have decades of military and law enforcement experience, with extensive expertise in threat assessment and counter-measures.

During our three hour conversation overlooking the “beautiful” Las Vegas Strip, Joel shared his wealth of knowledge on issues many — if not most — owners of dispensaries and grow operations should consider when it comes to security and what measures they should have in place.

When designating a security company, ignore these best practices at your peril.

After our conversation, I felt I could fill a book with everything that I learned from Joel. So for the sake of brevity, in this article, I’ve identified some of the key highlights of our conversation focused primarily on best practices when it comes to hiring a security company to protect your facility.

Hire on experience, not cost.

As the adage goes, “you get what you pay for”, and when it comes to security, this statement couldn’t ring more true. It’s no secret that security companies operate on narrow margins, and more often than not, don’t pay their guards much more than minimum wage. While this may be okay if the guards are simply doing routine security patrols around an apartment building in a low crime area — although even then, I’d err on the side of safety not cost — when it comes to legal cannabis dispensaries or grow facilities, the risks of hiring the wrong security company are simply too great.

“Don’t hire a security company simply because they’re the ‘low price leader’. Seek out a company based on their experience, reputation, knowledge and adherence to best practices and compliance issues. And, without a doubt, avoid companies that compete on price only,” Joel says. “They hire inexperienced guards who lack the knowledge and experience to protect your investment. In this industry, the risks and consequences of hiring the wrong company are simply too great!”

Avis Bulbulyan couldn’t agree more: “Absolutely! The cost factor, when it’s all said and done, is insignificant compared to what you’re putting at risk. It’s like the saying ‘tripping over a dollar to pick up a dime’. You’re protecting millions, why would you even consider saving an extra 10-20k a year on a company that’s not capable of protecting millions?”

Joel makes the point that given the potential consequences of not hiring the right security company — theft, loss of license, legal issues, loss of income — when it comes to security, you don’t have the luxury of erring when it comes to hiring security:  “Do you want to hire a security company who hires young, inexperienced security guards who finished the minimal guard training requirements, often just an 8 – 16 hour security guard crash course, and just got their guard card, only to get paid $7 or $8 per hour? And, they have little — if, any — real-world experience.”

Logan continues, “Or, would it make a heck of a lot more sense to hire a security firm who are not only versed in medical marijuana security and compliance issues, but employ guards with extensive law enforcement and/or military experience?”

The value of hiring a security firm that employs former military and law enforcement should not be discounted. Beyond the simple fact that security companies who provide opportunities to veterans are honoring the men and women who served our country, the practical reasons are significant:

Veterans received comprehensive training to deal with terrorism and many have battle-tested skills in highly tense, stressful, life-threatening situations. Unlike most individuals who lack military (or law enforcement) training, they generally possess extensive experience in security, threat assessment, they may have been shot at, and most important, in the event of a high-stress situation, it’s unlikely they’re going “freeze up” or forget how to address the situation calmly and professionally.

Logan says, “Bottom line: imagine if the unthinkable happens. If you’ve got inexperienced or under-trained security guards protecting your facilities, what are the chances he or she will be able to remain calm and manage the situation?

• To learn more about Reliance Security and cannabis security specialist, Joel Logan, visit Reliance Security.
• To learn more about Bulbulyan Consulting Group and Avis Bulbulyan, visit  Bulbulyan Consulting Group.

Are you involved in the Cannabis Industry — in a business context or as a patient/consumer? If so, do you have a story idea or want to be interviewed for a future column? Email Jeremy Kossen at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @jeremykossen.

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Hana Gabrielová, CEO of Hempoint, studied agriculture in the Czech Republic where she learned about the historical importance of hemp farming in her country. After working for several environmental NGOs, she decided to shift her focus to creating a company utilizing a once traditional Czech crop in new and exciting ways. Thus, in 2010 Hempoint was born.

Hempoint’s product range boasts around 30 wonderfully tasty hemp based products which they currently sell throughout Europe. It includes a selection of hemp teas, hemp seed cookies, hemp oil and even hemp seed paste (like peanut butter only hempier!).

They also advise farmers on growing hemp as well as importing and exporting hemp seeds for sowing. If that’s not already enough they also undertake research and development on hemp growing and processing. As you can imagine, she’s a very busy woman and is a regular speaker at cannabis and hemp related events in Europe.

Hana is a positive hemp and cannabis crusader and I first met her in Basque country in the north of Spain at an event hosted by a local Cannabis Social Club. It was a pleasure to catch up with her again to find out about Hempoint and the many healthy and environmentally sound food items they produce.

What’s it like to work in the Czech Republic hemp industry? Are there any obstacles or are the authorities supportive?

We don’t get support from our government. The Ministry of Agriculture supports hemp growers with a small subsidy for seeds and also for processing the fiber, but there are few other chances to get support beyond that.

The Ministry of Agriculture supports hemp growers with a small subsidy for seeds and also for processing the fiber, but there are few other chances to get support beyond that.

For the most part, the Czech hemp industry is working independently from one another. There are meeting and networking events occasionally, and some of them are associated under the Hemp and Flax association. This was made from the Flax association, so there are two interests coming together which can sometimes make it difficult for members to vote on priorities under one unified landscape.

Tell us what Hempoint is all about.

Hempoint is a business which grows hemp in cooperation with other farmers and produces food products made from hemp seeds, fiber, and flowers. Currently, we have a collection of around 30 of our own edible products. We also do consulting and distribution of hemp seeds to local farmers.

How has Hempoint evolved over time, do you plan to export?

We started to grow on one hectare (10000 m2) and now we are growing on ten’s of hectares so we have been busy growing and hopefully will continue to do so.

Last year we started to create all our packaging in English and Spanish so we are looking to expand beyond the Czech Republic.

How do you select and develop your products?

Some of Hempoint’s products are developed in cooperation with other companies which have specialized equipment and already making nice products. We bring them a recipe or we create it together and then they make it for us. Once produced we put our label on it and distribute. Our lines of teas and salts were made in cooperation with a friend who is a big fan of natural herbal products.

For health, hemp is an ideal source of Omega-6 & 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in a perfectly balanced ratio of 3:1.

Hemp chips were created on our demand working with a specialist company. The gentlemen who makes them has his own collection of similar products but didn’t have anything with hemp. Usually, we develop new products with people or companies who are open for new tests and challenges.

You seem closely involved with the farming as well as the processing, is this an important aspect of the business?

I studied at the faculty of agriculture at the University of South Bohemia, in České Budějovice, so field and processing is something that we are trying to develop in affiliation with Biofarma Sasov, with whom we have a very close cooperation. Without good agrotechnology care and processing standards, you can’t control the quality, which is vital so that we can add value to our products.

What’s Biofarma Sasov?

Biofarma Sasov has 500 Hectares of bio farmland and are focused on raising livestock (mostly pigs and cows). They have their own slaughterhouse and meat processing facility. Also, they use hemp to feed their livestock in addition to selling it themselves. In 2015, they dedicated 60 hectares to growing hemp.

What are the advantages of using hemp in food?

For the environment, hemp naturally improves soil quality, so crops grown after hemp, in the same soil, will produce better products themselves. The quick involvement of the hemp plant on the beginning of their grow reduces weed growth. Hemp also protects soil against erosion and excessive drying. It is a good crop for ecological agriculture because it can grow without pesticides or herbicides. To fertilize, one can simply use manure from cows or other animals. On our farm, we use Digestat, which is a side product made by our biogas power station.

For health, hemp is an ideal source of Omega-6 & 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in a perfectly balanced ratio of 3:1. Hemp seed oil is a great source of vitamin E, a vitamin which is lacking in a lot of other common table oils. Among its numerous health benefits, hemp protein is highly digestible and in a form that is easily recognized by the human body. Hemp also contains an interesting array of vitamins and minerals.

On a European level, what changes do you think could be implemented to encourage hemp production across member states and what improvements could Europe gain from this?

We are still missing the THC limits for food production. Many states in EU still have zero tolerance for THC in food products which is very difficult to make because THC will be always part of the hemp plant even in if it is a small percentage. This creates difficulties to the whole market and our efforts to distribute across Europe. There are other issues regarding quality, as there are no independently provided, unifying standards or certifications in place.

Among its numerous health benefits, hemp protein is highly digestible and in a form that is easily recognized by the human body.

In the EU, there are a lot of companies doing extractions and producing CBD but there is no quality control from field to product. This is something we as an industry should improve soon.

On a personal level, how did you find your way into this sector? What are your motivations for working in this space?

I studied at the agricultural university where, during my thesis, I learned about hemp use. Later on, I became a member of the NGO Konopa, who focuses on popularizing industrial hemp use in the Czech Republic.

I worked a long time for them as a volunteer, part of this time I was also leading the NGO, but still had other jobs. Five years ago, I decided to open my own company because I was working for an environmental NGO on projects focusing on uranium mining or nuclear waste storage issues. Both these issues are so difficult to campaign and educate the public that I decided that it would be much easier for me to make a positive impact on the environment by spending my time working with hemp.

Are there any other projects you are working on beyond Hempoint that you would like to discuss?

2 years ago, my colleagues from Prague and I started a patient organization called KOPAC where we try to bring information to patients. Our information is provided by ASA (Americans for Safe Access), an organization based in the US.

In the last few weeks, I have been interested in their Patient Focused Certification program.

With Mendel Museum in Brno, we are preparing an international exhibition about cannabis which should be open for visitors in March 2016. I also cooperate as a consultant with some universities and research institutes who are interesting in hemp.

What are your thoughts on how Hemp is perceived overseas? How do you think the lack of certifications and safety standards impacts the process of overseas production? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Staffan Hillberg, CEO of Heliospectra, is a seasoned, Swedish-based entrepreneur whose in-depth, practical experience is specialized towards international companies who are financed via venture capital. Staffan cut his entrepreneurial teeth raising, setting up and managing venture capital funds while also working through the processes of buy-outs, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions. With the help of Staffan’s experience with high technology companies, like Apple, Heliospectra, a company that has been around since 2006, has become one of the leading developers and suppliers of energy-efficient LED grow lights for greenhouses, indoor cultivators, and researchers. However, as many in the cannabis industry already know, success isn’t a given and Staffan has had to overcome hurdles to get to where he is today. What were those hurdles and how can you learn from his journey? Staffan recently took some time to tell us all about it.

Let’s start at the beginning. Why did you join the cannabis industry?

Heliospectra is not really a new company. We started in 2006, performing extensive research on plants and the effect of light. Eventually, we started selling our first grow light to the high-end research industry, where you have universities, space agencies, AgTech companies as well as the traditional greenhouse industry companies that grow herbs, vegetables, and or flowers. Coming from Sweden, cannabis has always been a very taboo subject as everybody considers it a drug.

Since we started Heliospectra, the passion has always been about how to grow plants more efficiently while creating a much higher quality product regardless of the type of plant.

It was not until we started understanding the medical benefits of cannabis while seeing such companies as GW Pharma selling prescription based cannabis-derived drugs in Europe, that we started to approach growers in North America. As legalization was starting to happen, we saw great potential. For me personally, it was when Steve Deangelo showed us his Harborside dispensary, which is state-of-the-art and professionally organized, and I actually met people who were sick and vouched for the positive effects.

Has any of your professional history carried over to what you are doing now?

I have had the fortunate experience of working for several international high technology companies such as Apple. Plus, running a few startups from writing the first business plans to raising the capital in several stages, as well as recruiting and managing staff in several countries. This eventually led to working as a venture capitalist where I ended up sitting on the other side of the table and exiting companies both in trade sales and IPOs. Plus, I have a deep technical understanding in education and practice, and I am still a geek at heart. The combination of all of this allows me to have both short-term and long-term perspective and an understanding of the details involved in the different roles in a company so that I can communicate with all parties involved.

You’ve worked with a number of start-ups, can you share with us an instance in which a project failed or hit a roadblock? What did you do to overcome it? Move on or fix the problem?

My philosophy is that you have to give it your best and sometimes you fail, which is ok. This can be a fault of your own or issues that are out of your control. The most common issue I have experienced is not trusting my gut feeling and recruiting the wrong people. In one company that I was the CEO and founder of, we recruited a new CEO who turned out to be a total disaster. The problem here is that we relied on other people’s judgment and didn’t trust our own.

My philosophy is that you have to give it your best and sometimes you fail, which is ok.

The solution was easy, get rid of the person and put in a new one. I’ve also been involved as a board member in two companies that we had to put in bankruptcy and move on. One had to do with the shareholders not being able to agree on the strategy and the other was an entrepreneur who was running too fast with little administration and we as a board were not strong enough to enforce our views.

What is your main focus with Heliospectra right now?

Since we started Heliospectra, the passion has always been about how to grow plants more efficiently while creating a much higher quality product regardless of the type of plant. This still remains, but the focus of my energy will vary depending on what task is at hand. For instance, a year ago the focus was on the IPO, now the focus is very much on sales and marketing and building up an organization that can scale.

How do you view your work ethic?

I have always worked hard and long hours as a typical entrepreneur. Over the years, I have learned to delegate and hire individuals that can stand on their own feet and take the initiative. I really enjoy mentoring people so that they can grow.

You’ve called yourself a ‘typical entrepreneur’ who works long, hard hours. But you follow that up with a comment on delegation and impactful hiring. What have you learned about the need to delegate and successfully hire over your career as an entrepreneur?

I believe that, in any company, you have to try to delegate as much as possible. This is provided that you have hired the right people and you can trust their judgment. It’s a terrible situation having to go back and double-check other people’s work. So, it boils down to finding the best people and not being afraid to hire people who are smarter than yourself!

What do you consider your weakness as an entrepreneur? Your strength?

A trait that can be both a strength and a weakness is being an optimist. Most entrepreneurs are very optimistic, if they weren’t they would never go down the path the do. However, sometimes you need to be more realistic. Over the years, you learn how to deal with this and use it to your advantage.

You talked about optimism vs being realistic. Could you give us an example that you’ve dealt with?

One typical example is the company composed of engineers who believe they have the best product in the world. They are so optimistic about it that they don’t see the problems involved in penetrating the market. This is an atypical situation where there might be barriers of entry in the sales channels or that your product needs a lot of supporting technology and services around it that you cannot provide. Another example that I’ve been guilty of myself is being so optimistic about a company or product and believing that it’s enough to work hard and not being realistic about needing help and actually asking for that help.

How has working in the cannabis industry impacted your professional life? Have you faced any hardships because of it?

My view on the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession has changed. I am much more critical of the traditional medical industry as I see how, in some instances, it is being driven by money rather than helping the patients. About 10 years ago, I started being heavily involved in Ashtanga Yoga and this started to open up my mind to alternative medicines as well as eating more vegetarian, I believe this has helped me be much more open towards cannabis and allowed me to listen and understand rather than criticize.

Most entrepreneurs are very optimistic, if they weren’t they would never go down the path the do. However, sometimes you need to be more realistic.

I haven’t had any personal hardships, more people being curious. However, we have had many discussions within the company on all levels and we have to respect people with differing views. I find it truly encouraging being involved in this evolution.

How are you differentiating yourself from the competition?

Heliospectra has a unique product offering as we are selling a systems-based solution. This starts with an adjustable Internet-of-Things grow light where we can change the spectrum on the fly in order to control how the plants are growing while saving vast amounts of energy. Then, the customer can add software and sensors to the system to make it more intelligent and create better plants and further savings.

Together we have created a positive atmosphere where everybody can contribute and see their ideas come to life.

It’s very easy to get started with the system and then the customer can grow and expand the system over time. We even have a patent on a complete biofeedback system where we can sense how the plants are using the spectrum and use that information to control the lights.

How do you find inspiration in this industry? What have you found that has inspired you?

Being able to make a difference inspires me. The whole science around the medical effects from Cannabis is wonderful. We have been working closely with Dr. Sue Sisley over the last year and following her work and enthusiasm for helping war veterans and others have been a life changing experience.  There are so many others like her that put all their heart and soul into this business.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Treat all people with respect and don’t give up.

Where do your great ideas come from?

The ideas and inspiration we have at Heliospectra does not come from one individual. It is the work of a dedicated team of people. Together we have created a positive atmosphere where everybody can contribute and see their ideas come to life.

What will we be seeing from you and Heliospectra in the coming future?

Adoption of our technology from more and more customers.  But don’t be surprised if we come out with some very new innovative technology over the next few years that ties into our system based approach.

What stigmas have you faced in dealing with the cannabis industry? How did you react and handle the situation? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Joshua Mezher, Founder of Hydrogarden Industry Innovations (Hii Inc.), has always had an interest in cannabis cultivation. However, when he finished college and began working as a bookkeeper, that’s when the proverbial light bulb went on over his head. Joshua realized that the majority of his growing time was dedicated to trimming plants, so he set out to create a product that could help people all over the world spend less time trimming and more time enjoying the fruits of their labor.

The result of Joshua’s efforts is Hii Inc., a company that invents and markets technologically advanced equipment for precision horticulture. The company’s first invention, Turbo Trimmerz, is a power tool that improves upon the functionality of hand-activated scissors by allowing the user to cut at a faster rate and reduced physical stress: while still allowing for the same dexterity and control as traditional scissors. Joshua’s patent-pending technology is one of the first inventions directly out of the cannabis industry to provide this many direct horticultural applications.

What was the deciding factor for you to join the cannabis industry?

When I moved from the UK to California in order attend college at UC Santa Cruz, I immediately became aware of the very friendly cannabis laws – so friendly that, in Santa Cruz, recreational cannabis offenses committed by adults are given the lowest priority by local law enforcement, and the city clerk sends annual letters to federal and state legislators petitioning for cannabis law reform.

For me, the decision stemmed from being a lover of the plant and the need to make some money in order to help pay for college. Like a lot of other people who were getting into growing at the time, I quickly went from a hobbyist grower to a full-time professional. Seven years ago the industry was very different; I have had the privilege of growing with the industry and watching it mature.

Holy smokes! The people in this room are literally laying the foundations of the cannabis industry by building their empires.

I realized the green rush was truly upon us a few years ago, when I was fortunate enough to attend an ArcView Group meeting in New York as a presenting company. This experience was unbelievable on so many levels. First, it was somewhat surreal to attend a meeting about capitalizing on a Schedule 1 banned substance. Secondly, the room was filled with press from all four corners of the earth and those in attendance believed that the best way to legalization was to build a legitimate cannabis economy. At the after party I remember looking up at the Empire State Building and thinking, “Holy smokes! The people in this room are literally laying the foundations of the cannabis industry by building their empires.”

Did you have any previous career experiences helped you in your endeavor?

Being a grower has provided me with a unique perspective on the cannabis industry. If you have not been hands-on with the plant, it is very hard to fully appreciate the amount of work and attention to detail that goes into producing high quality medicinal cannabis.

I knew that if I could come up with a product that would make the trimming process more efficient and easier for the worker, I could help a lot of people.

As far as my job history, after school I worked as a bookkeeper, which really allowed me to track my numbers and run an efficient operation. I eventually found that over half my labor costs were attributed to trimming. That opened my eyes as to prospect of optimizing the harvesting and trimming process. I knew that if I could come up with a product that would make the trimming process more efficient and easier for the worker, I could help a lot of people. We tested out all the available solutions, and what stood out to us was that no one had really invented a product that mimics the functionality of handheld scissors, not even in the textile industry.

Explain what you are doing to impact the cannabis industry.

I can’t wait to make a painfully slow job more fun for the entire cannabis community. That’s the idea behind our flagship product – to maintain the culture and practice of applying hand trimmers to cannabis cultivation.

It would be a big hit to local cannabis economies if thousands of laborers were laid off and replaced by the ‘drum-style’ trimming machines. We aim to provide the industry with another option what will make laborious lives easier, while at the same time saving cultivators money and preserving the quality of their harvests.

From where did you draw inspiration to create your product?

Truthfully, Turbo Trimmerz is not a novel dream. It was spawned simply by spending way too many hours with a pair of scissors in my hands, and like everyone else who has undergone this arcane cannabis ritual, we have all dreamed of ways to make our lives easier. The concept itself is pretty simple: We wanted to design a power tool that worked like a pair of scissors. While others may have thought up  similar ideas, I was stubborn enough to keep pushing that envelope in hopes to find a viable solution. We did just that when we put a touchpad on top of the device what controls the blades action just like traditional scissors. Ironically, that idea came to me while being elevated at the trimming table while using my iPhone.

Turbo Trimmerz Alpha Prototype

What kind of company achievements are you excited about right now?

We recently completed the development of our latest prototype and we’re coming to the end of our alpha testing on that version of the product. It has long been a dream of mine to see Turbo Trimmerz come to fruition. The reality that this was once just an idea in my head gives me an awesome sense of accomplishment, especially since developing a piece of hardware is such a complex challenge. Like many other entrepreneurs, when I first embarked on this journey, I had no realistic idea of all the facets necessary to make something like this happen, from what needs to be considered when developing a custom PCB (printed circuit board), to creating a product that is a joy to use and something that can be manufactured in the tens of thousands.

A lot of people think they missed the boat on the ‘green rush,’ but that’s not true at all. The boat is still being built.

A few weeks ago, we came out of the closet and started our social media accounts. The feedback we have had on the different platforms has been overwhelming positive. Seeing our customers’ excitement puts a huge smile on my face.  

Who do you consider your entrepreneurial role model?

There have been so many people I have drawn inspiration from over the years, but if I had to dial it down to one person, it would have to be Richard Branson. I was lucky enough to meet him when I was younger on one of his early Virgin flights. Branson’s autobiography, “Losing My Virginity,” has left a lasting impression on me. His philosophy has a good balance of capitalism, environmentalism and innovation, while also promoting social mobility.  

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this industry?

A lot of people think they missed the boat on the ‘green rush,’ but that’s not true at all. The boat is still being built. If you want to be a part of it, the sooner you jump onboard, the better. All you need to do is work hard at it and have a quality product or service to offer the industry. There is plenty of room in the cannabis industry for more competition and new ideas. So what are you waiting for? Go get after it before the boat departs.

What’s most important to you as a cannabis industry professional?

I firmly believe that this should be a space built for the people, by the people. We aim to actively contribute towards cannabis legalization that favors the many, not just the few. I am saddened when I see how some states have erected huge barriers of entry to the roots of this industry. Special interest groups are literally pulling the rug out from under the feet of people who built the industry.

For example, in California AB 266 was recently passed. In my opinion, this is a bill which favors only those who have deep pockets coming into the industry, leaving the roots of the industry out to dry. I personally know far too many “small time” farmers whose livelihoods now hang in the balance.

How will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ will be going this time next year?

One thing’s for sure, the green rush will still be going on, although I doubt we are going to see any cultivators producing over 5% of the total US production. The industry will continue to mature and refine itself as new services and technologies come online.

However, until federal legalization and regulation comes into effect the industry is going to hit a “green ceiling.” The government has a habit of dragging its feet and they have spent too much money fighting cannabis legalization to give it up easily. The cannabis industry can be a model for social capitalism, and if we want to maintain a strong market for the cannabis community, we need to band together and contribute. Otherwise, 10 years from now we are going to be kicking ourselves.

What do you think we will be talking about a year from now in regards to the ‘Green Rush’? Do you think the lack of federal legalization will cap the cannabis industry’s growth? Join the conversation by commenting below!

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Ron Tchorzewski – CFO of Med-X, Inc.

Ron Tchorzewski, the CFO of Med-X, Inc. is a veteran financial mind that cut his entrepreneurial teeth in both the startup and globally recognized business worlds. For Ron, the decision the enter the cannabis space came from the successful application of cannabis to the medical world, in addition to his love for developing startup companies. He watched documentaries and read articles about the variety of uses for the cannabis plant. After researching the industry and conversing with his colleague and COO of Med-X, Matthew Mills, Ron decided this was his chance to give back to his community through this next great venture. Med-X, with the help of Ron, recently became the first medical, research, cultivation or product company in the cannabis industry to have a Reg A filing accepted by the SEC. What does this mean and how is Ron making sure Med-X is staying at the forefront of the cannabis industry? We finally tracked Ron down so that we could start up a conversation to figure out these answers.

What was the deciding factor that led you to enter the cannabis industry?

I decided to enter the cannabis industry because I saw that there was real merit to the medical side of the industry. Be it documentaries that are shining a light on the medicinal use of cannabis, or the heartwarming stories of young children or elderly citizens who are being treated successfully with this alternative medicine, it is amazing to see the impact cannabis is having. Being able to provide an insight and service to people that is as beneficial as this industry can be is amazing. The medical cannabis industry helps people and I feel like it is my personal way to give back to society.

What were you doing before you got involved in the cannabis business?

Before the founding of Med-X, I was with Pacific Shore as well as my own CFO consulting operation where I worked quite extensively with several startup companies, helping them build their infrastructure to get them out of the startup stage and on to the next level. I got the bulk of my experience with a startup company in Silicon Valley.

The medical cannabis industry helps people and I feel like it is my personal way to give back to society.

When I first joined them, they were a high-tech company that made $15Mil in revenue and had 120 employees. When I left 7 years later as Vice President, we were a global company who made over half a billion dollars a year and employed 2,500 people. Seeing the company evolve from the ground up is really exciting for me.

That’s another reason for getting into the cannabis industry. It’s a new venue for me, but also it’s somewhere I can get in on the ground level and potentially help to structure what happens in the industry. For example, banking is a big issue in the cannabis industry. It is a subject that I keep on top of so as to make sure that Med-X is following every necessary protocol, allowing us to become leaders in the space.  

Have you dealt with any banking difficulties at Med-X?

No, the biggest issue or challenge regarding the cannabis industry and banking industry is for those individuals that touch the plant. That’s where it becomes tricky as far as the banking side. With cannabis being a Schedule 1 illegal product, the banks don’t want to associate themselves with cannabis businesses because of their federal regulations.

We are at the ground floor of a billion, maybe even trillion, dollar industry.

Banks are concerned that the government is going to come down on them because of the illegality on the federal level. Med-X is more of an ancillary products company right now with our Nature-Cide product and online media platform, MarijuanaTimes.org. Of course, with our research and development facilities being as advanced as they are, we might develop new products down the line that will change our current status. But as of right now, we aren’t dealing with any banking challenges for the reasons I just laid out.

Could you walk me through the point where you realized that the cannabis industry was going to be the next big boom?

I realized the potential of the industry in a discussion that took place between our CEO Dr. David Toomey, COO Matthew Mills and myself. Matthew originally came up with the idea for Med-X and he turned me on to the medicinal side of the industry. From there, I read countless articles and watch a very influential documentary by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, in which he talks about the medical benefits of the cannabis plant, especially on the CBD side. In the film, he shares how CBD had basically saved the life of a young girl, as well as the amazing impact CBD was having on seizures and pain management.

This information really broke down the door for me. It made me pay attention, and I realized there was an amazing side to this story I needed to know more about. Also, I took a step back and thought about the irony of allowing alcohol to be legal. People get a buzz from alcohol much like people get a high from using cannabis, yet one has been shown to have this potentially remarkable impact on medical treatments. After learning all of this, I decided I wanted to help push that narrative into a positive direction as best I could and Med-X is giving me that ability.

Can you share with us what it is you do at Med-X?

At Med-X, my main role is Chief Financial Officer. I work very closely with our COO, Matthew Mills, as well as the whole team. Med-X is definitely a team effort. The main role as the CFO lies in handling the financial aspect of the business, working with the outside attorneys and putting together our Regulation A filing for the SEC, just to name a few examples. I’m also managing the audit that we are going through, making sure everything is done according to GAAP and in line with what the government’s going to be looking for from a cannabis industry company.

I love that I can help in all aspects of the business, so that if someone has a non-financial question, I can still give an answer that will solve the problem.

My passion for this project stems from the fact that this is still a startup style company, so you’re in on the ground floor and you’re involved with all aspects of the business. Yes, I handle the financial side of the company, but I also get to talk a lot with Dr. Toomey and Matthew about our testing facility protocols. We look at the different types of machinery that we have and what we might need going forward. Often times we also get together to problem solve as a group. Getting involved in all aspects of the business really gives me a rush.

You’ve spent some time working in the startup space and now you’re part of a bigger company. What is your favorite part of working in a startup?

I’d say my favorite part is really being able to get my hands around all aspects of the business. I don’t feel that I’m an expert in every area of business, but I’ve been around long enough to have acquired some very useful experience in these arenas. I’m very well rounded, whether it is from the test facilities that we have to working with the team on the digital magazine, and so on. I love that I can help in all aspects of the business, so that if someone has a non-financial question, I can still give an answer that will solve the problem.

What is your least favorite part of being in a startup?

I don’t know if there is anything that doesn’t excite me about a startup. Obviously, there have been startups that I’ve been with that have not made it to the next level, so obviously that’s a little disappointing and frustrating.  I think if you talk to any venture capitalists you’re going to see that their investments, don’t always work out. No one is 100% successful and I would say the majority of most ventures are not successful. The ideas that make it all the way are really the home runs. That’s what I think we have here at Med-X, a home run.

Don’t be afraid to give your opinion. However, when you give your opinion, be ready to offer a solution as well. An opinion without a solution is just a complaint.

We are on the ground floor of the industry and we will be well set up before the adult-use side of the industry come into play in California in the next year or two. People have already begun to realize the medical benefits to this plant and the legislation is pushing further down the line to get cannabis re-scheduled as a level 2 or 3 substance. When that happens, we will be ready to evolve with the new marketplace without skipping a beat because we’re already putting that framework in place.

As an entrepreneur, when did you really realize that Med-X was going to be able to take that next step? What do you think set it apart from some of your previous ventures?

The one key thing that has set Med-X apart from others, even the one’s that have been successful, is the team. Everyone on our management team has had a great deal of success in the past and the present and has a “can do” attitude. Nobody is afraid to get his or her hands dirty and put in long hours. That’s pretty rare for a startup and I think that is a key aspect and a definite ingredient for success here at Med-X.

Med-X is the first company in the medical/research/cultivation/product cannabis space to have a Reg A filing accepted by the SEC. What do you think that filing and potential acceptance means to the cannabis industry as a whole?  

I think it recognizes the fact that we are a viable business and investment opportunity for people. We’re in an industry that is, to some people, a little concerning. However, with the SEC approval and the transparency of our business model, people will realize that we’re more than just a cultivator. We’re a broad range organization that has a digital magazine platform as well as a number of products that the industry needs.

People have already begun to realize the medical benefits to this plant and the legislation is pushing further down the line to get cannabis re-scheduled as a level 2 or 3 substance.

I think being the first cannabis related company to get Reg A approval by the SEC could make us as a leader in the industry. Furthermore, I believe there was a total of 10 companies that have been accepted with their Reg A filings, most of them financial, investment or tech companies. I think that being the first medicinal products company in the cannabis industry to have this filing is definitely a feather in our cap.

Do you have any personal role models or someone who has been a mentor to you through your entrepreneurial life?

The one person that comes to my mind is the CFO of Cadence Designs Systems, which was the company I mentioned earlier that went from $15Mil when I got there $500Mil by the time I left. He was the CFO and he taught me a lot about being able to deal, not only with the private setups of a startup company, but also how to handle and deal with analysts and market setting expectations once we became a publicly traded company. He was the mentor that really helped me stay on track to get to the CFO level in my career.

If you could go back before you entered into the cannabis space and give yourself a piece of advice, what would you tell yourself?

I wish I had known more about the medicinal benefits to cannabis and how large a market that really was. Obviously, growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, cannabis’ medicinal side was never even covered, let alone thought about. People were only talking about the recreational side of things. I think if we talked more about the benefits early on, this industry would be further along than it is.

What do you do in your free time?

I enjoy spending my free time with my family. I like the outdoors, playing golf, going to the beach and watching football and baseball. I relocated to San Diego a while ago and loved my time down there. Now I’m in the Los Angeles area, but still have access to the beach and everything. My wife and I enjoy visiting wineries.

Are you really good at golf? What’s your best round?

My best round is 79. When I played consistently I was single digit handicap. Right now I’m probably mid-teens because I haven’t been playing that much, but I definitely still enjoy it.

Are you a big reader? Could you share with us maybe a book that’s helped you as an entrepreneur or you’ve been inspired by?

There are two books that I can think of, both by Jack Welch, the former head of General Electric (GE).

One is ‘Straight from the Gut’ and the other is ‘The Four E’s of Leadership’.

What intrigued me and stays with me to this day is his philosophy of, “To be the best you have to surround yourself with the best people.” I think that is exactly what we have here at Med-X. Matthew Mills, our COO, surrounds himself with the best people in their areas of expertise. I do the same with the people we have here working on my side. It really makes for a solid organization. Having the energy and ability to energize people gives you the extra edge that allows you to take your company to the next level.

Tell us about a personal achievement you are very proud of.

I’m very proud of what I was able to accomplish with the company I worked with after I left the startup company in Silicon Valley I mentioned previously. I became CFO of a private company and took the company through the IPO process. I wound up developing them from, sort of a startup stage, into becoming a publicly traded company who was listed on the Nasdaq.

What’s the best advice that you have received?

The best advice that I’ve received was from my mentor, the previous CFO that I had mentioned. He told me to always be honest above everything else. Don’t be afraid to give your opinion. However, when you give your opinion, be ready to offer a solution as well. An opinion without a solution is just a complaint. If you offer a solution to fix the problem, then you are moving the ball forward.

I think being the first cannabis related company to get Reg A approval by the SEC could make us as a leader in the industry.

As far as advice I give to people, be honest and transparent when you’re talking to people. Don’t sugar coat things. The last thing you want to do is set expectations that aren’t really accurate. It’s like I used to tell my kids when they were growing up, “if you do something wrong, admit it.” Don’t lie about it, ’cause the punishment’s going to be worse than it would have been because you lied about it.’

What is on the horizon for Med-X?

Progress. We want to progress the company on to the next level. Part of that is getting through the Reg A filing situation with the SEC, but also, the ability to start doing some of the extraction and development of CBD oils. We want to start looking at the medicinal impact that Med-X could have in that space. We are working to get all that structured and in place, conducting the proper testing and developing the strain or strains that we will use.

Having the energy and ability to energize people gives you the extra edge that allows you to take your company to the next level.

It will be an organic product, of course, as we don’t treat the plant with toxic insecticides or pesticides. We use our all-natural Nature-Cide product to control insect infestation, as well as other associated issues.

We are also excited about our patent-pending insecticidal soil that we have developed. We want cultivators to be able to grow their plants in an environment that’s going to be safe, right from the start. We are very excited about this new project because we see it as an enormous market in the industry. Everyone needs soil to cultivate their crop; we want to make sure that soil is as natural as can be.

Let’s say we’re sitting across from each other a year from now. What do you think we’re going to be talking about as it pertains to the cannabis industry?

A year from now I am hopeful that we get more clarification as to the Schedule 1 versus Schedule 2 or 3 status of cannabis. Additionally, I hope that the banking problem is a little bit more feasible. For Med-X, we will be talking about our next big project, which could mean getting into cultivation while continuing our work on the extraction process of CBD oils. Our goal is to develop different strains that are geared towards the high CBD, low THC levels.

Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

We are at the ground floor of a billion, maybe even trillion, dollar industry. As we grow, we can have a positive impact on not only the environment but also the individual consumer and their use of cannabis. These are definitely exciting times and we are looking forward to the positive developments that lay ahead of us.

What do you think about Med-X’s accepted filing with the SEC? How do you think that helps to legitimize the cannabis industry? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Dr. David Toomey – CEO of Med-X, Inc.

Dr. David Toomey’s professional life has been spent helping others. He has been a family physician for over 23 years and a Hospice Medical Director for the last 10 years. Working directly with the elderly and focusing on their complex medical issues and pain relief has provided Dr. Toomey a firsthand look into the impact that medical cannabis can have on quality of life. In addition to his work at Med-X, Inc., David helped to develop and test, in clinical trials, the all-natural Thermal-Aid product line that is made, marketed, and sold throughout the U.S. by their sister company, Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc. Dr. Toomey and Med-X, Inc. are focused on CBD oils, application of these oils in various mediums, and their abilities to relieve pain, anxiety, PTSD, and seizures. With top-of-the-line research and development facilities, Med-X and Dr. Toomey are on the forefront of the green rush movement with an overall goal to help patients and the environment at the same time. David, who used to only be able to help 20 patients per day in his practice, now has hopes to impact millions across the world. How you ask? Let’s find out.

Why did you decide to enter the cannabis industry?

I decided to enter the cannabis industry because of the work I was doing with hospice. I’ve been a hospice medical director for over ten years, dealing directly with elderly patients and all the pain they have to manage on a daily basis. I knew that addictive prescription pharmaceuticals couldn’t be the only option available to these suffering patients. There had to be another treatment that would be able to help them, and that’s why I got into the industry.

Our society has a great alternative medicine option that can help treat these patients and it’s available right now.

It really is that simple for me.  Our society has a great alternative medicine option that can help treat these patients and it’s available right now. Cannabis isn’t new to the world. They have had it in Europe since the 1970’s. Israel is doing a phenomenal job leading the medical advancement charge as well. We’re just slow here in the United States, like we are for a lot of different things, unfortunately.

What were you doing before you got involved with Med-X and the cannabis space? How has that helped you in what you are doing now?

I’ve been a family physician for 23 years, primarily working with the elderly. Additionally, I’ve been a medical director in assisted care facilities and extended care facilities, like nursing homes for example, so I’ve taken care of a lot of very complex people throughout my professional experience. In medical school, they teach you about diseases but you never really see them in person until you see them in the real world. I’ve probably seen just about every disease that is out there.

When you help patients who are at the ending stages of their lives, you see all kinds of different ailments and you take care of a lot of complex people, often with multiple medical problems. It’s not uncommon for a patient to have 20 different diagnoses that I take care of, including all types of cancer and pain. What I try to do is improve the quality of those patients’ lives, so I gravitated towards Med-X and cannabis as a viable treatment option.

Our 100% all-natural pesticide has been third party tested, confirming both the research and claims behind the product.

Right now with Med-X, where are you guiding your daily passion and energies? What projects are you excited about?

Currently, we are working on our CBD oil production. We have roughly seven different strains of cannabis in growth right now in an effort to bring our CBD percentages up, while lowering the THC content. We’re working with some Charlotte’s Web and Harlequin plant derivatives. The Harlequin is a 5:2 CBD to THC ratio. We’re trying to refine that number and get it down even lower as far as the THC and bring the CBD levels up higher. In our facility, we are picking off the clones of these different strains to figure out what is altering the percentages and how we can improve the product. We are excited to be heading in this direction.

How important is the growing process to the final product?

Keeping the growing process clean is extremely important. After all, the endgame of cannabis is consumption, so to have a great product you need to make sure it is as clean and natural as possible. Med-X, as well as our sister company Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc. have one of the only EPA registered, 100% all-natural pesticides on the market. We grow our plants completely pesticide free, while at the same time maintaining the ability to control the insect and mold problem that can come with cannabis cultivation. Our 100% all-natural pesticide has been third party tested, confirming both the research and claims behind the product. We use it in our cultivations, and hope that more people use it in theirs, because in the end we simply want everyone to be consuming a product clean from toxic chemicals or harmful molds.

Being a physician who wants to help people, while working for a company that wants to help people, provides me with great satisfaction.

One thing about cannabis delivery methods is that ‘old-school’ users mainly consume cannabis by smoking it. Often times they don’t know if they’re smoking a product with pesticides or if there is mold on it. Recently in Denver, cultivators had tens of thousands of plants quarantined due to pesticides. In our growing facility, as well as in our research and development labs, we are 100% pesticide free.

How would you describe your personal work ethic in one word?

Driven.

What would you consider your strength as an entrepreneur?

I think I’m best at the research and development side of the business as well as speaking to people in small groups. We have a great management team in place and they are fantastic at presenting our materials in a large venue format with a big audience.

One of the things that I like most about Med-X is our digital media platform (MarijuanaTimes.org). In a typical day of treating patients I might get to as many as 20 people because of the complexity of the people I see. That’s about all the lives I can touch in one day.

Each one of our experts has 20 to 30 years of experience in their field. It’s basically like playing on the Michael Jordan era dream team.

Through the multiple product development protocols I’ve been through, my continued education and the work I’ve done with multiple insurance companies and pharmaceutical studies, I’ve touched things that span across the nation and across the world. On a daily basis, instead of only touching 20 lives, I can touch millions of people’s lives. Being a physician who wants to help people, while working for a company that wants to help people, provides me with great satisfaction. It’s a great feeling to be able to have this level of impact. It makes it easy to get up every day to do your job.

How do you think Med-X is separating themselves from competitors in the space? How are you staying ahead of the game?

The number one thing is probably just the management team we have in place. Not just me as the CEO, but Matthew Mills, the COO and Ron Tchozewski our CFO as well. We also have top financial experts in place and a Board of Directors with a gamut of experience, a Research and Development facility and a digital media platform that I feel are unmatched. Success and positive growth really comes down to having an awesome team consisting of experts with long track records in their respective fields. Each one of our experts has 20 to 30 years of experience in their field. It’s basically like playing on the Michael Jordan era dream team. I feel like, with this team, there is no challenge we can’t take on and beat. That’s how we’ve gotten as far as we have in such a short time.

You helped develop, test and run clinical trials of the Thermal-Aid product you mentioned in our pre-interview. Can you talk about the Thermal-Aid product line and what goes behind development and testing something like that?

The Thermal-Aid product line is a hot and cold pack system that was developed as an all-natural product. The development of this product consistent of countless studies, just like our products do now at Med-X. We made sure that it wouldn’t grow mold, as well as a myriad of other things. Then we developed the Thermal-Aid Zoo, a hot and cold pack for kids, disguised as a stuffed animal. It’s for kids and adults alike. Currently, we have it all across the nation in physical therapy departments as well as in pharmacies.

We don’t cut corners. We don’t skip steps. We’re not shipping our products overseas for any reason. It’s all done here.

Prior to launching that product, I tested all aspects of it in our lab. I tested the efficacy against other products and then tested it again in a clinical trial with patients. With patients, we tested Thermal-Aid against conventional medications like Tylenol, NSAIDs and narcotics. I was able to show, in a controlled environment and a double-blind study, that Thermal-Aid was a comparable treatment that was 100% natural, unlike the competitors we tested against it. These were substantial studies consisting of legitimate patients and published findings.

How does that Thermal-Aid product experience help you with your Med-X projects?

It helps a great deal as far as having excellent control. You always have to have excellent control. Once you’ve established control, then you have to figure out how you want to formulate the study. How do you figure out who are legitimate patients you can try different things on? How about the quality control of the product that you’re assembling or growing? Who is the manufacture of the product? All these questions are extremely important and my background, having been through all of these decisions multiple times, allows me to make sure that what we are doing at Med-X is truly the best practice. We don’t cut corners. We don’t skip steps. We’re not shipping our products overseas for any reason. It’s all done here.

Anyone can say that their product has this effect or is natural to this extent. However, if you really want to be taken seriously, you have to back that up.

In addition to our testing, you have to get a third party tester as well if you want your product to be truly legitimized. Anyone can say that their product has this effect or is natural to this extent. However, if you really want to be taken seriously, you have to back that up. That’s why we take our products, like our 100% all-natural pesticide for example, and send it off to a third party, EPA accredited lab so that they can tear it apart and tell us we are 100% right about it being 100% natural. We can then take that information and share it with the public, maintaining as much transparency as possible.

How have you incorporated third party testing to truly validate your product claims?

In this industry you will often hear someone say, “Hey, we have the best 100% natural product.” Often times someone will respond, “Show us the proof.” We want to make sure that every product we put out, we are 100% accurate in our claims as to its applications and results. When we say something is 100% natural, it’s not our company saying that, it’s the legitimate and accredited agency. For instance, in Colorado our pesticide is on their short list of approved products for cultivators to use in their grows. This is what happens, when you do things the right way.

Colorado approval can be found here on page 11.

Qualifications for pesticide use in CO can be found here.

How do you find inspiration in the industry? What inspires you day in and day out?

I like to find creative ways to innovate and solve problems. That is what keeps me going. I love to take an unconventional approach or look at a problem from a different angle in an attempt to find that unique answer. What I love about this industry is that there is so much that still needs to be discovered. There is an infinite amount of space for innovation and creativity. It’s inspiring in and of itself.

What is the best piece of advice you like to give out?

You have to be a great listener and have an open mind. Listen to what people say. Not just one person, but many different people. By doing this, you can ascertain bits of knowledge along the way from each person you speak with. Then you can take that information, assemble it in a way that makes sense for you and decide how you can best apply it. That is the best advice I’ve come across and it is the advice I tend to give out.

I like to find creative ways to innovate and solve problems. That is what keeps me going.

Where do you think your great ideas come from? Where do you find that creative ability?

I think great ideas come from life experience and the people you meet along the way.

Practicing family medicine, as long as I have, has provided me with a unique chance to develop and create some interesting ideas over the years. I’ve met all types of different people throughout my career. I can talk to someone who is a plumber as easily as I can talk to someone who is a teacher as I can talk to someone who’s medical professional like a dentist or a surgeon. I can go across that whole venue and relate to all those different people because of my history.

My father was a carpenter, so I know how a great deal about carpentry. I also trained myself in car mechanics. I call myself a house, people and car doctor. These are just things I’ve always done my whole life. The combination of all of these experiences really gives you an open mind. Sometimes you are simply working with a patient or on a house project and a great idea just pops into your head. That idea might not have ever happened had you not initially opened your mind to learn something new or work with someone you previously haven’t.

In California, we anticipate legalization of recreational use in 2016 or 2017, so regardless of when, we are going to be there when it happens.

What is on the horizon for Med-X? What can we expect to see?

Our sights are set to be a major player in the cannabis industry. In the cannabis space, you can be in business to touch the product or to not touch the product. We want to cover and become a leader in both sides. In terms of not touching the product, we are developing and improving on our new and existing all-natural pesticide and soil line of products. As for touching the plant, we want to be at the forefront of developing our own strains with a high CBD content and lower THC percentage. Then once we’re ready, we want to spread them throughout the entire cannabis market, especially as further legalization takes place. In California, we anticipate legalization of recreational use in 2016 or 2017, so regardless of when, we are going to be there when it happens.

Tell us something that you wish you had known before entering the cannabis industry as an entrepreneur?

I didn’t realize how many people had already tried cannabis in their life. I wish I would’ve known how widespread medical use may have been and how many people were using it for pain relief. I didn’t know that before entering the space.

As a physician, we all ask questions, “Hey, how many cigarettes do you smoke?” or, “How much alcohol do you consume? Do you do any drugs?”

I don’t ask, “Do you do any drugs?” anymore. Instead I ask, “How much cannabis do you smoke?” I am very specific with that question now, and then we ask, “Are there any other drugs that you use?”

I didn’t realize how many people had already tried cannabis in their life.

Until I entered the industry, I really never asked that question. However, now I think it’s a really, really important distinction to make.

People would be scared when they answer the question as a whole, “No, I don’t do any drugs,” but when you ask them specifically, “Hey, do you do any cannabis for your nerves or to help you sleep or you have for some pain?” I was really surprised at how many people answered ‘yes’ to that question.

How often do you get interests from other doctors who don’t know about cannabis, those who may want to find out more?

Presently, I would say it’s a very low percentage yet. Most of the doctors I deal with are more interested in making money in the industry, on the investment side. There isn’t a lot of, and certainly not enough, interest from a medical standpoint yet. Most physicians are and will continue to be afraid of cannabis until the federal government makes a move to schedule 2.

There has been a great loss of autonomy in medicine over the last 10 years.

Although, I think that’s just physicians in general, most of them tend to be conservative. In the climate we live in now as physicians, with the insurance companies looking over your shoulder, the government’s looking over your back, everyone’s telling you what to do. There has been a great loss of autonomy in medicine over the last 10 years.

You’re almost forced to be conservative, right?

Certainly. Especially from the legal aspect as it pertains to malpractice suits. By the way, I have been in practice 23 years and have yet to be hit with a malpractice suit. I’ve been told that, by now, I’m supposed to have already have had one and a half. That is what they tell me the average is at for how long I’ve been practicing. The fact that there are people who have already calculated how many suits you are supposed to have says everything about how doctors are forced to be conservative these days.

How would you advise someone who wants to enter the space, whether it’s on the doctor’s side or as an entrepreneur?

If you are looking to enter the space, you better read a lot. I would take your time to go over all the digital media that’s available. On our side, we have our MarijuanaTimes.org platform where people can read up on the industry. Just read and read and read. Educate yourself before you take the leap to join the space. Then once you do that, then try to talk with someone who is already in business.

You really have to have some passion, because you have to do the research and the footwork to enter the industry if you want to be successful.

You have to be passionate as well. The strategy of, “I’m going to get in this to make a little bit of money,” isn’t going to work. You really have to have some passion, because you have to do the research and the footwork to enter the industry if you want to be successful. You have to meet people, network with them, and grow as a professional. Luckily for those who might want to enter the industry, there is still plenty room for growth and there are plenty of great entrepreneurs out there who have no trouble sharing their experience to help others. In that specific arena, I think our industry is leading most other industries in the world.

Do you have a book that you would recommend or something that you’ve been inspired by?

My favorite reading is probably pretty unique to me. It consists a lot of medical journals and things from overseas, a lot of publications from Israel. I’m not Jewish, I’m just incredibly interested in their application of medicine. Their elderly people are allowed to smoke cannabis in their nursing home for pain relief and other associated treatments. Israel is 30 or 40 years ahead of America on the research of cannabis for pain, anxiety and stress. I read a lot of overseas medical journals, not usually available to the mainstream public.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Med-X wants to be at the forefront of cannabis research, development and products. We want to be a company that makes a difference, and like I said, affect the lives of millions of people versus the 20 a day I could previously reach. That means a lot to me and it means a lot to everyone that works at the company as well. They allowed and entrusted me to be their CEO, so I have a responsibility to get us to that point. The excellent team behind me is going to allow me to accomplish that. Our company’s going to be able to touch millions of people’s lives every day. I think that’s the number one thing that drives our ship.

How do you think independent, third party testing can help validate the cannabis industry? What do you think it will take for physicians to take the leap into cannabis recommendations? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Wayne Zallen: CEO Grow Condos, Inc. (OTCQB:GRWC)

Wayne Zallen, CEO of Grow Condos, has spent over 40 years of his life as a self-employed entrepreneur and businessman before starting Grow Condos. His first publically traded company; Grow Condos specializes in the development of warehouse condominiums for cannabis related business ventures. No matter if you are a grower, extractor, baker or anything else along those lines, Grow Condos can find you a property and tailor it to your needs. But they don’t stop there! Grow Condos also boasts one of the industries only ‘lease to buy’ options, affording entrepreneurs the chance to own their entire business operation over time. Wayne has loved the cannabis industry for years and is fueled by his interactions with other professionals in the space as well as his drive to reward investors and shareholders with profits. He recently took time out of his hectic schedule to share his passion for the industry and what makes his entrepreneurial mind tick.

What is the story behind your involvement with the cannabis industry?

I first got involved with the cannabis industry during the latest recession back in 2007-2009. My business partner and I owned a commercial warehouse building that was being rented out by smaller companies in the building industry, companies that did roofing, gutters and cabinets for example. As the economy worsened, these businesses began fleeing out because they were unable to keep up on their rent. Eventually we were completely empty, which was, of course, a problem for us because we had a pretty hefty mortgage on the building.

Everything changed when we were approached by a handful of medical cannabis cultivators that were looking for an indoor space. My partner and I quickly realized that, since the supply of workable cultivation facilities was scarce, these growers would gladly pay a higher rent than previous businesses. Not only that, but they were quality people and reliable tenants. We quickly had our entire 12,000Sq/Ft warehouse rented out and, when the chance came to buy another location to develop, we realized we had a great business opportunity in front of us and haven’t looked back.

My goal isn’t to reinvent the wheel, but rather to figure out what works and apply it to Grow Condos in order to make it the most successful public venture possible.

What were you doing before?

I have been involved in many different industries over my professional career. I’ve dabbled in advertising, restaurant ownership, rafting companies and online business, just to name a few. In fact, Grow Condos is the first publically traded company I’ve been involved with. I find that the diversity of my experience throughout my career has really benefitted me in the operations of Grow Condos.

What other industry might you compare the ‘green rush’ to and why?

I think the cannabis industry is directly mirrored by the plight of the alcohol industry circa the 1920’s. They had people in the industry, making and selling alcohol (bootleggers), despite it not being federally legal. Obviously cannabis isn’t entirely legal yet, but it looks like we are heading in that direction as a country.

Right now, in what direction are you guiding your passion and energy?

For me, the bottom line is building shareholder value for our company. We are able to do that by getting projects off the ground so tenants can have a functional facility to operate both their medicinal and recreational cannabis ventures. Fortunately for me, I also take pride in helping small businesses get started, so this process ends up being both personally and professionally satisfying.

Who is a person that you consider as a role model? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

Being involved in many different industries over the years, I would say I have had many role models and mentors along the way in my career as a businessman. Some were even old sailing buddies, who were also very experienced businessmen. Throughout our friendship they have helped to shed light on the different problems I have encountered in my professional ventures. I’m fortunate to have been influenced by such great people, especially since my career hasn’t been a lateral one like many people who stay in the same industry their entire career. I have had to negotiate many different obstacles each time I entered into a new industry and these mentors have propelled me along the way.

More specifically with Grow Condos, my mentors and influences come from partnering and learning from experts in the industry. I work hard to discover what is making them successful. My goal isn’t to reinvent the wheel, but rather to figure out what works and apply it to Grow Condos in order to make it the most successful public venture possible.

I am especially proud when I return money and profit to the investors and shareholders.

What inspires you the most about this space?

I take great inspiration from the endless opportunities available in the cannabis space. Every single day something new and exciting is coming across my desk and I am just so happy to be apart of it. From new businesses to established companies, people in this industry are always looking to add value to their team, form partnerships or pursue investments. The cannabis space is wide open and the buzz around it is so exciting. I’m excited to come to work everyday and witness the variety of ancillary businesses sprouting up. I believe they will prove to be very important to the industry as time goes on.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

Personally my two daughters would have to be my greatest achievement (although I can only take half the credit).

Professionally I am proud of everything I have accomplished over the years. However, in terms of Grow Condos, I am especially proud when I return money and profit to the investors and shareholders. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I say I’m going to do something and I execute on it.

I’ve been very fortunate to be influenced by many great people.

Where do your great ideas come from?

I think it is interesting that sometimes, great ideas can just evolve by themselves over the course of time. We didn’t sit down and think up Grow Condos with the idea to form a publically traded company down the line. It actually started rather serendipitously due to the fact that, even during the recession, we owned an industrial warehouse that was completely full thanks to the cannabis industry. We realized the industry was as recession proof as anything else out there. Because of this, we said ‘let’s try and grow this idea, make it bigger and bigger’. We bought a second location, filled it up and the real meat behind Grow Condos was born.

I’ve been very fortunate to be influenced by many great people. Over the years, they have provided me with a sounding board to bounce my ideas off of; keeping me on track, focused, and guiding me away from things that won’t work out the way I might perceive them to.

Many of the industry professionals I have spoken with, as well as myself, believe that once California goes the way of legalization, the rest of the country will follow.

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader in this space?

I try to attend as many industry conferences as possible and I read up new developments in the cannabis space, especially in the states we intend to expand and develop in. Furthermore, I pay attention to how the movers and shakers in the cannabis world are shaping the industry. The combination of all this self-education keeps me as well versed in the space as I can be and, hopefully, will serve to keep Grow Condos as a leader in the cannabis industry.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

I think we will be talking about all the changes in the industry throughout America. In Oregon, commercial and processor licenses will be released, allowing them to take the next step in the growing of the dispensary industry. Perhaps more importantly, California will be closing in on their 2016 recreational legalization ba lot initiatives. Many of the industry professionals I have spoken with, as well as myself, believe that once California goes the way of legalization, the rest of the country will follow.

How do you envision the cannabis industry changing over the next year? What do you think will make the biggest impact? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Matthew Mills: Med-X, Inc.

Mr. Mills and his company are focused on bringing innovation to a space that demands immediate innovative thinking, by developing safe and effective products for a new industry and its patients, as well as resolving the problems that occur in cultivation. Needless to say, they are aiming far and wide at accomplishing major goals in the cannabis industry. How are they doing it? What are the steps they are taking to develop their team and execute on their milestones? We have brought on Matthew Mills, President and COO of Med-X, Inc., to talk to us about the cannabis industry and what Med-X, Inc. can bring to the table.

What is the story behind your involvement with the cannabis industry?

My core competency is capital raising; crowd-funding. I’ve raised capital for a number of companies since I started in the dot-com arena as the new millennium came into place. I raised about $20 million for a dot-com project during my tenure. Not only did I get the opportunity raise and manage capital, but I was given the chance to climb the corporate ladder of the company, with multiple promotions from Executive to VP to Senior VP and Investor Relations Director and Spokesperson, but finally Chief Operating Officer of the company. It all evolved when our company went public and the investors I was involved with made a great deal of capital. During the growth of the project, I had begun several relationships with physicians, biochemists, mathematics and financial professionals into mutual investors in the project. We started a kinship and after I became semi-retired, I was convinced by my partners (who are now physicians and biochemists that sit on my Board of Directors) convinced me that I should undertake a new venture.

The focus on product development and capital raising continued to support efforts to mature a number of green scene products. As the cannabis industry began to evolve, we gathered as a team comprised of these professionals – physicians, biochemists, operational, mathematics, and financial gurus that have a great deal of net worth and knowledge. We recognized back in 2013 that this industry was going to continue to evolve, so we started to educate ourselves. My CEO is a physician and his last 2 years of continuing education that was required to keep his medical practice, has had a great deal of focus in the medical marijuana industry. At the same time, my CFO has been constantly educating himself on the financial side of the industry. Simultaneously, I have been focusing my attention on cultivation, agricultural engineering, and pest management.

As the cannabis industry began to evolve, we gathered as a team comprised of these professionals – physicians, biochemists, operational, mathematics, and financial gurus that have a great deal of net worth and knowledge.

I am a California licensed pest control applicator for agriculture, commercial, and the residential arenas. I don’t usually go out into the field as a pest control technician. I became licensed for the education side of things. When we started building our laboratory and scaling our product development, we were positioned to be able to jump right in. We decided back in 2013 that we were going to get into this industry due to the number of road blocks and problems that were evolving in the industry, such as the use of pesticides and the inbred problems with mold and fungus. I was in the process of developing a natural pesticide product while this industry was in its infancy.

Lo and behold, we now have a pesticide product that’s approved by the Agriculture Department of Colorado for the cultivation of cannabis, as well as being registered with the EPA on a national basis. That same product is also moving into hospitality, pest control, home & garden while negotiating with forestry services and the military. Professionals came together, saw an opportunity, gathered, became educated, and now we’re moving on the combination of it all.

Professionals came together, saw an opportunity, gathered, became educated, and now we’re moving on the combination of it all.

What were you doing before?

Prior to starting Med-X, I was in the crowd-funding world for about 15 years and raised a number of projects through the crowd-funding world. I was also was involved with a lot of product development, operations, and Internet e-commerce media. That’s what’s brought us to where we are today.

What other industry might you compare the ‘green rush’ to and why?

That’s a tough question. I can’t really say I compare it to any other industry. I compare it to a growth factor: The industrial revolution and the dot-com explosion are very similar in regards to the business growth.

Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?

Until the Federal Government removes Cannabis from a Schedule 1 status to a Schedule 2, our company is going to focus on the ancillary side of our business model – like our “Nature-Cide” product line and our media company “Marijuana Times,” which is focused on bringing comprehensive information to the masses who are seeking it. Our energy is guided towards becoming profitable in those realms, while also taking the company to the public markets through the recently announced Regulation A+. Securing capital in the open markets will ensure that we’ll be in place to pursue cultivation as Congress moves to schedule changes.

Who is a person that you consider as a role model? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

Well, I think that I had a lot of mentorship from the people I’ve worked for in the past. I’m a very enthusiastic to learn and always follow success. It might not have been so much the people that have mentored me, but it’s been the people that I’ve read about that do things other than just make money. They’re philanthropists; They’re focused on community and of course, making money but making that money works for the community itself and helps people. Our team has had a lot of success and we’re all very different people. You look at people like Warren Buffet and Richard Branson who are guys that have done one hell of a job in their careers and you greatly admire them. I admire them and intend to follow in their footsteps in the ways that they have led their careers in a positive direction while staying focused on community.

What inspires you the most about this space?

I’m inspired by our ability to come in and help; this industry needs a lot of help. There are a lot of issues on the medical side. 95% of medical cannabis found in dispensaries on a national basis is riddled with pesticides and mold. Med-X has a solution for that and it’s going to help a lot of people! We believe that our research and development is cutting edge, and it’s going to be sought after as this business matures.

95% of medical cannabis found in dispensaries on a national basis is riddled with pesticides and mold. Med-X has a solution for that and it’s going to help a lot of people!

Tell us about an esteemed achievement of yours.

I had a major achievement in the dot-com realm. I raised capital for a Dot-Com company that went from $0 to $200 million in revenue and had a market capitalization of $600 million. I’m going to say that professionally, that has been my biggest career achievement. However, the biggest overall achievement is collecting a team of people who make a difference daily to many, my partners are by far my biggest achievement.

 Where do your great ideas come from?

Well, when you surround yourself with great people, it’s easy. We use a ‘think tank’ approach and come together as a group. Our products evolve as the physicians, financial experts, and mathematics professionals on our team recognize a problem and come up with a solution. This certainly isn’t the Matthew Mills show – This is a show of a group of people that think out loud and think together as a group to benefit the community.  That’s our focus, and it’s turned into something really great for us. Our great ideas are a group effort.

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader in this space?

As we become a profitable business and become a publicly traded company in order to gain access to market capital, we believe our management team will be sought after for the collective vision we have. Now that our products are in the process of being approved for agriculture nationally and registered with the EPA, I envision we’ll be able to get to that profitable point and experience continued growth. Our focus long-term is to become a cultivator and feed the supply chain. Now that’s going to be a massive opportunity! I would think that with the knowledge that we have, we’d eventually end up being acquired. The big boys are going to get involved in this when the schedules change and they’re going to want to tap into the knowledgeable people in the industry. We believe we are those people.

Now that our products are in the process of being approved for agriculture nationally and registered with the EPA, I envision we’ll be able to get to that profitable point and experience continued growth. Our focus long-term is to become a cultivator and feed the supply chain. Now, that’s going to be a massive opportunity!

What is important to you – mission, vision, or core values? Why?

Our mission is to innovate an area that needs innovation. Cultivation of marijuana is a difficult task. Obviously, there are a lot of issues in the cultivation area currently according to the Agriculture Department of Colorado and finding solutions for those issues is our focus. We are seeking to provide products and services that benefit patients, especially those that need medicinal products to relieve themselves of pain, stress, and myriad of other ailments. Our focus is on the community itself and fulfilling the need for patient care.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

By next year, Med-X should be recognized as a publicly traded company. At that point, we should be in position to build our first cultivation center here in Southern California and I would also think that we would be profitable by that point solely due to our pesticide products, which are so desperately needed in this industry. Also, we will have acquired a number of different businesses that are related to the industry as we are already planning.

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Brandy Keen: Surna (OTC:SRNA)

She’s driven by a work ethic that was engrained in her as a child and she’s outstandingly intelligent, but she always makes sure that she’s never the smartest one in the room. Brandy Keen is VP of Sales at Surna, which her and her husband became a part of after they sold them their water-cooling technology company. She is the power behind the company’s sales department and has found her place in the cannabis industry, in a niche where she is certainly making a major impact on agricultural technology!

What is the story behind your involvement with the cannabis industry?

I created Hydro Innovations with my husband, Stephen Keen, several years ago when we set out to create technology for indoor grows as a side project. We have always focused on controlled environment agriculture, starting with palm trees nearly 12 years ago. In the winter, we grew the baby palm trees in our garage and it was often over 100 degrees in there as a result of the HID lighting. Stephen has always had a head for mechanical systems and he started tinkering with different ways to efficiently cool controlled environments. He hit some winners and in 2007, we ultimately sold the land where we were growing the palm trees to fund our water-cooling technology company, Hydro Innovations.

I always had a head for sales and business management, so together we built a strong business and developed some really cool technology, which we later sold to Surna. We stayed on and I became Surna’s VP of Sales and Stephen became Surna’s VP of R&D. Our involvement with Surna has allowed us both the opportunity to really excel at our respective skill sets. Company sales are very strong and we are developing some of the coolest, most advanced agricultural cultivation technologies in the world. It’s a really exciting time for us. Aside from our cultivation experience, cannabis in particular is our current focus because of our personal experience in its obvious medicinal uses. Now that the industry is opening up and legalizing across multiple states, I get to support something that I’m passionate about, do something I’m extremely good at, and I get to help our industry reduce its overwhelming energy consumption. There are no downsides in my opinion.

What were you doing before?

My background is in business-to-business semiconductor sales, supporting companies like IBM, Advanced Micro Devices, and Texas Instruments. I’ve also got a strong background in commercial construction, as I grew up on a construction site and handled the business side of a commercial remodeling and construction company for several years. This combination of experiences has provided a strong foundation for what I’m doing now.

What other industry might you compare the ‘green rush’ to and why?

It’s a cliché to a certain extent, but truly the American Gold Rush of the 1800’s is a really strong comparison. You have early entrepreneurs and risk-takers putting everything they have into the possibility of a big payoff, you have legitimate business owners mixed in with schemers, and then you have ancillary businesses like Surna (the pick and shovel providers) with strong opportunities to capitalize. You have the big winners and big losers and an entire economy built around a single industry. The key difference of course, is that it was never federally illegal to mine for gold….

You have early entrepreneurs and risk-takers putting everything they have into the possibility of a big payoff, you have legitimate business owners mixed in with schemers, and then you have ancillary businesses like Surna (the pick and shovel providers) with strong opportunities to capitalize.

Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?

My continued focus is on supporting and delighting my customers and helping Surna succeed in a market full of risk and opportunity. I am volunteering as a mentor to some local start-ups as well because I think it’s really important to share your experience and help guide hard workers with strong ideas whenever possible. In my personal life, I am married, have a 6-year-old son, and a baby on the way, so I try to reserve some passion and energy for my family too.

Who is a person that you consider as a role model? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

Not to be too obvious, but my parents have always been my strongest role models. I’m 38 years old and their influence is still evident in everything that I do. The strength of my father’s work ethic has resonated with me throughout my life—there is literally nothing he wouldn’t do, regardless of the impact it had on him personally, to see a job through to the end. I think it’s a direct result of his influence that led me to get my first job on my 16th birthday. I haven’t been without a job for even a single day since my first day at that pizza parlor when I was 16 years old. The strength of my parents’ relationship and partnership has been an influence on me both in my own relationships and from the perspective that when you commit to something, you see it through. These are two people that ran away together and got married at 16 years old, had a child at 17, and have succeeded against all odds as parents, as a couple, and as a success story in general, all as a result of hard work and commitment. They worked during the day and went to school at night while raising children and managed it all as a team. It’s impossible not to be moved by that.

What inspires you the most about this space?

The risk takers. The hard workers. The incredible wealth of ideas and the entrepreneurial spirits of the people operating in this space. I have never been involved with more people that I respect and admire than since I started working in this industry through Hydro Innovations.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

Professionally, Hydro Innovations and Surna are the things I’m the most proud of. We literally started Hydro Innovations with $30,000 in seed money and worked out of our garage. We built a team that helped to turn it into what it is today: a company with 35 employees that is developing efficient technology that is going to change the way cannabis consumes energy.

Where do your great ideas come from?

Someone once said to me, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you need to find another room.” That has always been my mantra — both from the perspective that I need to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am, and also to make sure that I learn from them and absorb what they have to say. Great ideas feed other great ideas and being surrounded with great people means that the great ideas will come by default.

Someone once said to me, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you need to find another room.” That has always been my mantra — both from the perspective that I need to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am, and also to make sure that I learn from them and absorb what they have to say.

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader in this space?

I talk to incredibly smart people every day and I try to absorb every iota of information that comes my way. I attend every industry event I can make it to and I subscribe to and read every bit of industry news that is available to me. I work with a lot of extremely experienced cultivators on the customer side and some incredibly talented engineers and experienced cultivators internally as well. There is literally no one that I can’t learn something from.

What is important to you – mission, vision, or core values? Why?

Work hard, honor your commitments, and be honest. Help deserving people when it’s in your power to do so. Respect science and respect our planet. Hold everyone in your life, both professionally and personally, to the same standard. These are guiding principles that will always bring their own rewards.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

I anticipate additional legalization measures in other states (of course). I expect more good news about the positive impact legalization measures are having on communities—less crime, more money for communities and schools through tax revenue, lowered teen use of cannabis, etc. I expect more interest from big business (particularly big agriculture and investment groups), but fewer ethically challenged sharks in the water looking to take advantage of the smaller (perhaps underfunded) start-ups. I expect the start-ups that do exist to come into the industry with more education about what the real risks and rewards are and I expect more and more investment into this space.

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David Standard: GrowBuddy

He’s an innovative thinker, he’s a problem-solver, and he’s certainly a model for making the best out of everything. Cannabis came into his life as a necessity and he learned how to grow the best medicine so that he could take care of his ailing family members. What became of that expertise and the piles of notes he brought home that caught his roommate’s attention, became the platform that the industry so desperately needed: a resource, an organization system, and an invaluable tool for marijuana growers… GrowBuddy. David Standard is one of the founders and is here to share with us his story, what he’s learned, and what we can learn from him!

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

To be honest, I feel like the industry chose me. When I growing up, I never thought I was going to get into the cannabis industry. I unfortunately lost my grandfather, my mom, and my aunt to ALS and when they were going through the disease, I was growing the cannabis for them. Seeing their ravaged bodies, especially my mom’s, and how much cannabis actually helped really gave me a passion for growing the best medicine possible!

That was really the deciding factor and then from there, it spawned to something even bigger when I started growing for a dispensary. My roommate at the time, Daniel Starbuck, was a developer and he saw me coming home every day with books and notebooks of all my notes and so he built me a simple program to manage all of it and from there, it turned into what we have today, GrowBuddy. We found an inherent need in the industry for a piece of software to help growers grow better medicine and that’s really why I believe that the industry chose me, in a way.

What were you doing before the green rush?

Before starting GrowBuddy, I was in college studying business and working on getting my pilot’s license; I was on track to become a commercial airlines pilot. That’s honestly what I thought I was going to do with my life, but that’s very different now and I’m glad everything worked out the way it did!

What are you doing to impact the industry?

With GrowBuddy, we essentially created the ultimate ‘grow’ journal. The grow-it-yourself-er’s (or as we like to call them, the GIY’s) are people who want to grow their own medicine at home and when it becomes legal, their own marijuana at home. Our platform gives them the tools they need to grow the best bud in the world. There’s no reason that someone can’t grow the same quality of cannabis at home as you could find at your local top-notch dispensary. We really are giving them the tools they need to do that, while also becoming the largest source of information regarding growing cannabis.

There’s no reason that someone can’t grow the same quality of cannabis at home as you could find at your local top-notch dispensary. We really are giving them the tools they need to do that, while also becoming the largest source of information regarding growing cannabis.

GrowBuddy is designed so that as it moves from the black market to the white market and people become less paranoid about synching their information to the cloud, users can be open to sharing their tips and tricks with others. Hopefully, we’ll get away from where we’re at now which is ‘I don’t want to give away my secret sauce. I don’t want another grower to grow exactly like I do’. As more people start growing and the information becomes available, people are going to be more willing to share their tips and tricks. It’ll be like brewing your own beer at home, except in this case, it’s growing your own bud at home, your own medicine. We will be the largest platform that people can get together and share their nutrition schedules, share their tips and tricks, and actually get problem-specific help through GrowBuddy when problems arise in their gardens.

Describe your work ethic to us in one word.

I have two: relentless and fair. I will do whatever it takes to get what I need to get done, done; But, I’m never going ask a business partner, an employee, to do something that I wouldn’t do. I’ll be done there in the trenches, but it will get done!

Tell us about a time in your career that didn’t go as planned and what you did about that? How did you handle it?

Well, pretty much, the cannabis industry has been my career and anyone who has been in this industry for a good length of time knows that usually nothing goes according to plan; Everything changes every week in this industry. A time that definitely stands out in my mind was back in the early days of developing GrowBuddy; We were just killing it, moving along, and pushing out new features, and we came came to the point in which the application was getting so robust and so big that we became worried about it becoming a little laggy on devices like tablets and iPads, so we had to stop all feature development until we found a solution. Luckily, our all-start developer Daniel, spent 7 months developing a custom data-loading system and now GrowBuddy runs buttery-smooth on any device and will continue doing so no matter how big and robust GrowBuddy gets.

What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?

A book that really helped me was, Crossing the Chasm. It’s a about selling disruptive products to mainstream customers and while it mainly focuses on technology, it’s very helpful in teaching you how to market your product and how to get it out there. I would also recommend anything written by Dale Carnegie, his books really helped me when I was first getting started with the business and finally, a book that I only recently finished, but really learned a lot from was The Virgin Way by Richard Branson. He really reminds you to keep it fun; You only get one chance for creating a company culture and hearing about his form of leadership and how he ran Virgin is really inspiring; I want GrowBuddy to be like Virgin in that it’s fun, laid-back, and everyone cares about everyone.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

I don’t know if it’d be considered advice persay, but a quote I love is, “The journey awakens the soul.” Whenever I hit a rough patch in my life, and I have it tattooed on myself, I have that to look at and remember that life is a journey. Everything you go through, whether it is good or bad, you’re learning from it and it’s going to make you stronger. So, just remember that life is a journey and you’re growing both emotionally and spiritually and it’s important to remember that you just need to keep moving forward with it.

Whenever I hit a rough patch in my life, and I have it tattooed on myself, I have that to look at and remember that life is a journey. Everything you go through, whether it is good or bad, you’re learning from it and it’s going to make you stronger.

How would you advise someone who wants to join the industry?

Three words: Build, measure, learn! I’m going to steal that from the Lean Startup methodology. There’s a ton of people out there with a bunch of great ideas, but there is a lack of financial backing in this industry. So, don’t get caught up with perfecting your idea before you get the idea out there and get some feedback. Get it out into people’s hands and let them tell you what they think about it. You’ll save time and money by doing that and you’ll end up with a much better product because of it.

What is a skill or trait that you think is necessary to make an impact in this industry?

Imagination. This industry is huge, there’s room for almost everyone! You can come up with some crazy idea and chances are that it’s a pretty decent idea. You need to be imaginative, be flexible, and agile enough to steer your way through this industry as it evolves. It changes constantly from one day to the next. Think about MBank in Oregon who just had to shut down and close their accounts that relates to cannabis; one day you have a bank, and the next day, you don’t.

This industry is huge, there’s room for almost everyone!

What are your thoughts on activists who don’t agree with mega-corporations approaching the hemp and cannabis industry?

Well, mega-corporations are going to approach this industry. It’s going to happen! At the end of the day, cash is king. They’re going to come in and so you can either create something that they’re going to want to buy or you need to align yourself with others that think the same way you do because it’s going to be a fight. I think there are plenty of people who don’t want them to come in, but it’s going to happen; however, I don’t think they’re ever going to get that boutique-quality weed like the small businesses can. They’re never going to be able to scale it large enough that you can buy it at a 7Eleven like a cigarette. So, I do believe that you’ll always have those small mom and pop stores in your town where you can go and get the best weed possible.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

A year from now, we’ll be one year closer to de-scheduling cannabis. I imagine we’ll be celebrating that with some weed and beer pairing and then hopefully for the rest of the conversation, we’ll be discussing innovative grow technology and other products entrepreneurs have come up with. Then, I imagine you’ll have to cut me off at some point because with a little bit of weed and beer… I’ll talk your ear off all day!

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Patrick Taylor: Eden Labs

It took him quite a few different careers to finally find one that captivated his attention longer than the span of a couple years, but it was the cannabis industry that finally did the trick. He stood before the opportunity, eyes wide open to the path that didn’t exist, the path that he had control of making. Patrick Taylor dove into what there was to learn and taught himself the rest and now he has found himself as the Technical Advisor of Eden Labs, a manufacturing company for extraction equipment. Don’t listen to what you’ve been told all your life, he says, you can trailblaze your own way. You can make it happen!

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

Well, my roots are in the medical industry back when cannabis was being used as medicine here in Washington. I had started a small company doing extraction for collectives and Saturday markets. What really interested me in the industry was the fact that it was a new frontier, a whole new realm of science that hadn’t been explored in a meaningful way. I saw an opportunity to actually do my own research and be able to actually contribute original work to the emerging world of concentrates as medicine.

It was definitely the research and development portion of it, the product development, the people that were doing things that have never been done before, that piqued my interest. If you’re setting up a new restaurant, there’s a rule book you can follow. You have to get your cooks, servers, hosts – There’s a template to guide you, but with this industry, there was no template! We were able to build the industry the way we wanted to build it and that was super exciting to me. I wanted to be part of it as soon as I realized the possibilities.

We were able to build the industry the way we wanted to build it and that was super exciting to me. I wanted to be part of it as soon as I realized the possibilities.

What were you doing before?

So, I did a little bit of everything. Nothing could ever hold my attention. I was a preschool teacher, a fire fighter, a chef, a waiter, all sorts of different things. I changed jobs simply out of boredom. I felt like I’d get my fill of an industry and then move onto the next. Interestingly enough, this has been the only industry that’s been able to keep my attention longer than a couple of years and that’s certainly due to this idea of constantly discovering new things, R&D. I don’t see myself getting bored with this industry anytime soon. We still have a lot of work to do to figure it all out. It’ll probably be quite a few more years until we’ll be able to iron out all the hiccups, but that is what’s exciting about it! I’m still a young guy, so I haven’t had too much time in the workforce. I studied philosophy in college, switched to chemistry, and got out of college in my early 20s. I joined Eden Labs when I was 26 years old and have been here ever since.

Tell me about the point in the time you realized the coming of the ‘green rush’?

I think when it clicked for me was when venture capitalists started getting into the industry. When Eden Labs first started, our customer base were already largely familiar with the cannabis industry. They were people who’ve been in this space for years upon years. Then, at a certain point, I realizing that at conventions and other industry related events, a lot of our customers came to us from unrelated industries and we started having to implement a lot more education and getting into minutia like what kind of lights to use and the life cycle of the plant, whereas before, we didn’t have to do that ground-up education. But, I don’t mind it in the least; I love that education portion of the industry. It’s a very exciting part of what I do!

Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?

Currently, I’m working on some experimental equipment where we can fractionally separate the constituents of cannabis. Traditionally, the way you would fractionate when you’re doing extractions is by time. You’d take the first hour of extraction, then separate it from the second hour of extraction, and so on. We’ve made some equipment, that we’re still working on, that can separate all the monoterpines from the THC, or all the THC from the CBD, and that’s what I’m doing in an R&D capacity at Eden Labs is trying to lock down that technology and bring it to the public.

Describe your work ethic to us in one word.

Innovational. That’s really the only thing that’s important to me in the workplace. I like discovering new things and doing the research and development portion of that. My mom would say it’s because I’m a Gemini and that’s why it’s difficult to keep my attention for long, but my work here at Eden has been congruent with that part of my personality. I’ll be doing sales one day, then in the R&D lab on the next day, and then the following day, I’m doing some consulting. That’s what I love to do! I don’t think I could just sit down and do the same thing every day for the rest of my life. I gotta switch gears often.

Who is a person that you consider as a role model? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? How did this person impact your life?

That would absolutely be, without a doubt, Fritz Chess, the founder of Eden Labs. A number of years ago, he took me under his wing and he became the person who really got me interested in extractions of all sorts – ethanol, hydrocarbon, critical CO2 – and educated me on a variety of plants, with a focus on cannabis. He’s one of those people that I was talking about earlier, who’s been in this industry for a number of years since 1996. So, I was able to draw on his knowledge, get his opinion on the industry, and infuse that passion of his for medicine and innovation into my own drive. He’s definitely my role model. I look up to him both professionally and personally.

What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?

Well, a big part of the development of my professional life has been a book called Strength Finder. In that book is a way to analyze what strengths you have professionally, how to embrace those strengths, and how to ignore the things that you’re not so good at. My strengths being that I can do multiple things at one time, and my weakness of not being able to simply sit at a desk doing a singular task.

A second resource of mine I’d like to recommend here (and I’m going to bend the rules a little bit here) is a website called Skunk Pharm. It is the #1 resource for anyone interested in extractions. They are exceptionally knowledgeable and have spearheaded a lot of the do-it-yourself research, which is really all we’ve got; there are no scholarly articles, no template, or blueprint. So, if people are interested in concentrates and extractions, that’s the place they should visit and learn.

Tell us about an esteemed achievement of yours.

I think the highlight of my career so far has been using that fractional separator to make 98% pure THCA. It’s the highest concentration I’ve ever heard of coming straight out of an extraction system. There were no waxes, no terpenes, which isn’t particularly good (I moved the terpenes over into another separator, so they were about 90% pure in another portion of the vessel). It had a pumice-like consistency, so I called it Moon Rock. That was really exciting when I did that. I kinda had this idea and what I thought would happen, did happen! I will look back on that day very fondly, for days to come.

I think the highlight of my career so far has been using that fractional separator to make 98% pure THCA. It’s the highest concentration I’ve ever heard of coming straight out of an extraction system.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

So, the best advice I’ve ever gotten actually came from Fritz and it wasn’t a one-liner. It was a philosophy. When I was in my early 20s, or even before that, when I was a teenager, I was told that you had to follow rules to do something that you were passionate about. If you wanted to be an architect, you had to go to school, then be an intern, then you had to do this and that, and eventually, you’d have an architecture firm. It was this linear path that you were told you had to follow in life. Fritz showed me that you could literally do anything you wanted as long as you were willing to put in the hard work. I wanted to be an extraction chemist, so I just started reading chemistry books and educated myself and now, here I am! That was huge for me to realize that you can really just bend the rules and take charge of your own destiny!

What is the most important thing for us to know now about the legal marijuana industry?

The most important thing to know is that it’s growing, exceptionally fast, faster than any industry in history. Know that there’s a lot of room for improvement and that it’s important for those of us in the industry to self-regulate, be ethical in our decisions, and ultimately be a good example for others entering our space. We can show by example that it can be done responsibly and ethically and that we don’t need to cut corners to get to where we need to be. We need to set a good example for states like New York, Michigan, and Florida so that everyone is acting in a way that moves the industry forward.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

Hopefully, we’ll be talking about concentrates a lot more. I think that’s the future of cannabis, but then again, I may be a little bit biased on that. I think that in the East Coast and Midwest, we’re going to see a lot of interesting things happen as well, perhaps a cultural transformation. Because although it’s the lawmakers who make the laws, it’s the culture and the people who have the power to make a change. Take Colorado and Washington for example, it was the people who demanded that cannabis be made legal and the lawmakers had to respond to that. I think that’s what’s going to happen in other states; people are going to start demanding that lawmakers repeal prohibition.

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