Steve Berg is a northern California native with roots in the cannabis culture, who later was able to fuse his skills in finance with a career in an entirely new industry.

He had a background in investment banking on Wall Street and in San Francisco for around 20 years, prior to launching the ArcView Investor Network with Troy Dayton in 2010. There he oversaw the financial activities of 73 cannabis-related ventures and $52 million in funding.

In 2014, shortly after starting his own cannabis investment advisory firm, Steve became the CFO of Denver-based O.PenVape, one of the premier CO2 oil manufacturers in the United States.

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

After many years of experience as an investment banker, I was seeking a new entrepreneurial challenge that could leverage my skill sets and background. I began to investigate the legal cannabis space, and did some networking to see if there was a need for someone with my experience. I met with Steve DeAngelo of Harborside Health Center, and he introduced me to his colleague, Troy Dayton. We discussed the large amount of investors interested in putting their money to work within the cannabis industry, but they were stalled by a lack of knowledge. There were also an increasing amounts of entrepreneurs interested in creating business plans with aspirations that needed capital. They weren’t exactly sure how to bring these two groups together, so we collectively figured out that the main we needed to do was to start an investor network.

Our goal was to bring companies into the network and prepare for them to eventually pitch their business plans to the investors. We want to help investors understand the growing cannabis industry. The foundation of ArcView Investor Network really served as the catalyst for me transition me from the world of investment banking to the cannabis industry.

How have you seen the cannabis industry change, and what do you think is next?

The market was much smaller 5 years ago. It was not very well established but the industry had a lot of potential. It seemed like public opinion was shifting in favor of legalization. Certainly the “black market” for cannabis was known to be very large, some estimated market worth at tens of billions of dollars. It seemed that the trend towards legalization and increasing public approval was going to shine a light on an already established industry.

My hope is that California will end up with one initiative in 2016 that will be well thought, and something that the people can really get behind.

Read more: Troy Dayton: Changing the Cannabis Industry

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as an entrepreneur?  

The best advice I ever received was to work as hard as possible for what you believe in and have something of value to bring to the market. These are two basic principles that you need to have a crack at success.

What do you do to keep up your knowledge on the cannabis industry?

I really try to stay in tune to what major policy groups are reporting, what new initiatives are happening, and what we may be looking forward to in terms of new laws and markets opening up. I read as much press as possible to stay abreast on current events and to see how the industry is shaping up. This helps us bring higher levels creativity and analysis to the way the businesses are developing, which allows us to grow our company further and help ensure that this industry will be a long term success.

If you could tell a skeptic one thing about the cannabis industry to help them change their mind, what would it be?

I would ask them to try for a moment suspend their stereotypes and preconceived notions about the cannabis industry. They should be open to what is happening in this market and throughout the industry. I think one of the most surprising things to people who haven’t taken the time to see what is going on is the level of professionalism and strong beliefs of businesses and operators. The high level of professionalism is remarkable, comparable to the tech boom of the early 1990’s, where businesses thrived on professionalism and proper management.

What do you think is the most important factor affecting the legal cannabis industry?

I would have to say public opinion. Recent polls show overwhelming support for legalization of medical cannabis as well adult-use. According to Gallup Polls, support for medical cannabis legalization is over 80%, and recreational support is up towards 58 percent. Long term change and support is grounded in the court of public opinion, and more and more people are beginning to realize the importance of the plant, the benefit cannabis can bring, and the futility and harm of prohibition. Considering all of this, there is much more favorable view towards cannabis legalization.

Read more: Sean Parker Backs 2nd California Cannabis Legalization Initiative

Did you expect the cannabis movement to pick up as quickly as it has?

I’ve been in this industry for almost six years. In addition to advancements there have been plenty of challenges and setbacks. I think it’s terrific how much the industry has accelerated in recent times, but the momentum we are seeing now really is a culmination of all the previous obstacles the industry has, and continues to experience. I’m glad advancement seems to be building speed.

How do you think our conversation would go about the “green rush” one year from now?

We will be talking about the likely success of adult-use legalization in more states throughout the country. We have a good sense as to how the political winds are blowing, and there’s a lot of discussion and excitement around it. We will see more movement and action in legalization outside of the United States. It’s easy to miss, but there is a lot happening in South America, the Caribbean, and even Europe. In a year from now, we will be talking about progression and markets opening up throughout the entire world.

What’s something you wish you had known prior to becoming a cannabis entrepreneur?

Understanding the various state and international laws, as well as future initiatives, is absolutely critical to position your product or service, particularly when a business has ambitions to move beyond one locality. Having a strong sense of where we were, where we are at now, and where the industry is going is crucial to improving one’s positioning as a cannabis entrepreneur.

Any additional inspiration you’d like to share with our readers?

Our company motto – “It’s what’s inside that counts.”

This is the perfect description of O.PenVape because it speaks to the high quality of our product. Not only that, it also it speaks to the quality of what is inside of our business as we try to build the industry and bring the benefits of cannabis to as many people as possible. We are working very diligently on our new line of products that we will be introducing in the near future.

We also just closed a few big deals to set up an industrial-scale hemp oil processing facility in Pueblo, Colorado. We have received a very substantial amount of support from the city and county of Pueblo, who granted us $8 million in funds to help develop the business. This unprecedented funding will help stimulate the local economy and will create new jobs within the community. We have some exciting things to come.

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Born in the United States, raised in France, and now a California resident, Kim Geraghty has been fortunate enough to travel all over the world, soaking up culture at every turn. Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) at a young age, Kim was prescribed ineffective pharmaceuticals that decreased her appetite and caused a lack of sleep. Kim first experimented with cannabis while in high school, and she immediately noticed a change for the better. From that moment on, she was hooked. She continued to smoke cannabis as she graduated in the top 5% of her high school, earned her Master’s degree in finance, and worked at top-tier financial institutions across the globe.

However, Kim felt her life was not complete. She was compelled to give back to the cannabis plant that had given her so much. So she gave up her generous salary and lavish apartment in the Upper East Side of New York, and relocated to California where she founded Madame Munchie, a San Francisco-based edible collective which combines a gourmet French feel with natural, California sun grown cannabis. Madame Munchie launched in early 2014 and was quickly awarded the 2014 San Francisco High Times Cannabis Cup ‘Best Edible’ award. Kim’s story is amazing, as she truly represents the newest breed of cannabis professionals.

Why did you decide to get involved with the cannabis industry?

I have been using cannabis on a daily basis since the age of 16. Whether it is for medical reasons or not, I believe that is a philosophical question. Do I suffer from ADD and depression or am I simply a human being prone to moments of difficulty? The truth doesn’t really matter to me. What matters is that cannabis has helped me enjoy life for more than ten years.

I was born in the United States, but I grew up in France. I came back once a year, however, to see my American doctor. My teachers in France couldn’t know that I was taking ADD medication because it wasn’t legal there. Once in high school, I started questioning my need for this medication and was feeling some of the secondary side effects: small appetite and lack of sleep. During school, my pharmaceutical medication often made me feel withdrawn. Around the same time, I started smoking cannabis with friends at parties. I always felt great when smoking, very relaxed and able to connect more easily with people. When I saw my doctor the next year, I told him that I wasn’t enjoying the ADD medication, or the other anti-anxiety pill he had given me briefly, but that I was very much enjoying smoking cannabis. To my surprise, he replied that many people chose to self-medicate with cannabis, and if I found that it brought me peace of mind, he didn’t have any objections to it, as long as it didn’t negatively impact my studies or my social life.

When it comes to the product itself, we don’t cut any corners.

I never looked back and have consumed cannabis on a daily basis since then. I also graduated in the top 5% of my high school, received a Master’s degree in finance, and worked at top-tier financial institutions in Paris, New York, and San Francisco. I found it much easier to make friends, often by enjoying some cannabis together. For me, the case for cannabis had been made: it was obviously helping me, or at least not preventing me from doing anything. On top of that, it stimulates my appetite and allows me to sleep great. I used it as my motivation throughout college: get this essay done, and then you can smoke a joint. It worked wonders, and it felt healthier than a pharmaceutical drug. The fact that cannabis had been endorsed by a professional healthcare person also helped me not be afraid of it.

Fast forward a few years and I’m sitting on the floor of my beautiful Upper East Side apartment, paid for by my generous investment banking salary, wondering what my life would be if I pursued the career path I had set myself on. I still smoked every day, though very few at work would have ever guessed it. I felt like I was living two lives, one during the day where I was valued enough to be paid a fantastic salary, and another at night where the act of smoking, by itself, could be enough to get me fired from my job. It was only by doing the job that was most unlike me that I was able to realize the importance of accepting my true passions. The thing I wanted to do most was to change the stigma around cannabis, and help others have access to a product that brought me so much. I was afraid of being judged by my peers and my mentors for actually being interested in cannabis as a career. But when I started talking about it at work with my very serious face and my very serious suit, I realized I could help cannabis become a very serious product. From there on, all I wanted to do was to create a gourmet cannabis brand and thus the idea for Madame Munchie was born.

How has your professional history helped you with Madame Munchie?

I worked in finance for over four years, in asset management, investment banking, and venture capital. These experiences were incredibly helpful in shaping my financial skills, ethics, discipline, and other business skills, which I continue to rely heavily on today. Equally as helpful were all the hours I spent studying art, photography, literature, and other more creative topics when I was younger. I’ve always had a passion for drawing and used to kill time in high school and at work (downtime only!) by entertaining my friends with comics. The Madame Munchie logo comes from a drawing I originally made by hand and then perfected on the computer. I always used to dream of finding a career path that would combine my financial skills with my artistic skills. In the end, I created this job for myself by starting Madame Munchie.

Even if our process takes longer or is more complex, I believe it is worth it as the end product we are building requires that extra time, care and complexity.

This multidimensional background also gave me another skill: it helped me realize how important presentation is when dealing with anything. At work in finance, I was respected and entrusted with responsibilities, because I played the part of a highly educated person dressed in a suit. But if the same people had encountered me sporting my previous dreadlocks and baggy jeans with a joint in my hand, they might have assumed I was an uneducated street kid. I realized cannabis suffered from the same problem: people were used to seeing it assimilated with ghetto back alley trades, and thus considered it as such. But if it were presented to them in the most beautiful, delicate and delicious form, people might begin to see if differently. That’s why macarons were the ultimate product choice: having grown up in France, I knew what high regards this pastry brought to mind and that it could help change the image of cannabis for good.

Where is your passion channeled right now?

My energies are going towards the growth of Madame Munchie, building a strong cannabis community, setting high standards and reaching them. I want to inspire others and I feel inspired by the incredible amount of talent in this young budding industry. I’m grateful for the pioneers from the past and want to be able to do for the next generation what they have done for us: pave the way for a better, free-er future.

Describe your work ethic in one word.

Limitless.

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

As an entrepreneur, I find it incredibly difficult to take a step back and gain some perspective. There are a million little things going on, which all need attention. But in the end, they are all part of one big vision, which also needs attention. I used to work all the time, 24/7, thinking that if I didn’t, I was letting the business down. But now I’ve realized that sometimes I’m better off taking a break, in the evenings and on weekends, so that when I return to business it’s with a fresh mind and a new pair of eyes.

Our team is a top-notch crew of passionate cannabis users, willing to put all their energy into Madame Munchie.

The upside of working on something that you are so deeply in love with is a mix of commitment and energy that I’ve rarely experienced before. I like to think that nothing is impossible, and it’s better to try and fail than to not try at all. This is the philosophy that guides me, knowing that the biggest factor of success is persistence.

How are you differentiating Madame Munchie from the competition?

Madame Munchie offers a naturally high-end product and we are geared towards the gourmet segment of the edibles market. I grew up in France and am fluent in both French and Spanish. I use these languages for web searches because they give me access to more information than if I were to only use English.

When it comes to the product itself, we don’t cut any corners. Even if our process takes longer or is more complex, I believe it is worth it as the end product we are building requires that extra time, care and complexity. We constantly choose quality first, and we hope the patients can taste the difference. Our team is a top-notch crew of passionate cannabis users, willing to put all their energy into Madame Munchie. Everyone here is very experienced, but also constantly improving themselves and willing to learn on the go.

What fuels your personal inspiration to operate in this difficult industry?

While working in finance, I read a lot of articles from other finance professionals who had left their finance careers to pursue their actual passion. These articles were one of my biggest inspirations to travel down that same path. Additionally, I’ve always received great support from my family, my friends, my team, and especially from my partner Ashley. She inspires me every day to be a better person, build a better industry, and live unafraid. Her unwavering compassion helps me grow.

Inside the cannabis industry, I’ve taken inspiration from dispensaries like Harborside Health Center and Berkeley Patients Group, as they have set and continue to set the standards for the industry. I’m equally inspired by other entrepreneurs who, like me, are risking their lives to help patients have access to natural and reliable medicine. I know I’m only one person, of many, who are trying to build this industry in a responsible way. I see the cannabis space as more than just an industry, I see it as a community providing a service to patients. Every single person working in this community has their own cannabis story, the story as to when and why they chose to come out of the dark because cannabis has had such a great impact on them.

These people are all experiencing incredible amounts of stress from working in an environment that is barely legal, just so they can provide better medicine for patients in need. I feel extremely inspired by this, knowing the struggle that everyone is putting up with so that we can build this community together.

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

Don’t worry be happy.

Where do your great ideas come from?

My ideas come from all the different things I expose myself to, be it Art, museums, Lands End in San Francisco, music, cannabis, or the world. I’m extremely lucky to have traveled to more than 35 countries, and the differences in lifestyles I’ve seen all over the world have shown me that there is no right or wrong way to live life. Rules are relative.

While working in finance, I read a lot of articles from other finance professionals who had left their finance careers to pursue their actual passion. These articles were one of my biggest inspirations to travel down that same path.

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

Core values are extremely important. I think they are the pillars of any foundation. The mission is the path you’re walking down, so the clearer the better. And I think the vision is always with you but always changing too, and that’s ok.

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

Our plan is to continue to create more gourmet products and delicious flavors while at the same time continuing to maintain an unwavering commitment to high quality.

What scares you most about this industry?

The fact that national cannabis legalization is still dependent on the federal government worries me. The next presidential election could have a huge impact on the industry, especially if the elected person is not industry-friendly. I came into this industry to build a transparent and ethical cannabis business, but I constantly find myself having to hide from exposure. It’s hard to grow an industry when your rights as a business owner can still be challenged. And we are not just any kind of business, we are an established non-profit corporation. We are not doing this to get rich. As a community, we still face a lot of prosecution if our cases fall into the wrong hands.

I’m extremely lucky to have traveled to more than 35 countries, and the differences in lifestyles I’ve seen all over the world have shown me that there is no right or wrong way to live life. Rules are relative.

If you could tell a skeptic one thing about this industry to make them change their mind, what would it be?

If you’ve never tried cannabis, you can’t actually know what it is. And even if you tried it just once and didn’t like it, that’s not enough. It’s like eating a bad apple and saying that all apples are bad. There have been a lot of lies and propaganda that have wrongfully given cannabis a bad name. So before judging it negatively, try to have an open mind. It’s just a plant that actually happens to be very helpful for more people than you could imagine. Think of something about yourself that other people didn’t understand at first, but then once you explained it to them, they were able to accept.

What do you wish you had known before becoming a cannabis entrepreneur.

I wish I had known that there would be a permanent, underlying stress in your life because your business is basically like your baby.

I wish I had known that there would be a permanent, underlying stress in your life because your business is basically like your baby. I don’t have children, so I didn’t know how stressful that could be. On top of that, cannabis entrepreneurs face a unique legal gray area stress. I’m very sympathetic to all those in the community who are holding themselves up to the highest standards of the law despite this dichotomy.

Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Don’t let anything stop you from pursuing your dreams. Work hard and seek advice from people you respect. Nothing is impossible, it simply hasn’t been done yet. And, if you’re still in the green closet, it’s time to come out. If you’re afraid of how people might judge you, like I was, then just put on that very serious face, that very serious suit, and tell them about Madame Munchie.

What do you think about Kim’s story? What do you look for in a good edible? Join the conversation and comment below!

The post Kim Geraghty: Creating Colorful & Classy Cannabis Edibles appeared first on .

Gary Johnson – President of Cannabis Sativa Inc., Former 2-Term Governor of New Mexico and 2012 United States Presidential Candidate

Gary Johnson, in addition to being a former 2-Term Governor of New Mexico and a 2012 United States Presidential candidate, is also one of the cannabis industry’s biggest political advocates. Recently, he made a transition that is rarely seen in America today, and that is the shift from high level politics to cannabis. While Gary may or may not be a candidate for President again in 2016, he is already the President of Cannabis Sativa Inc., a company poised to innovate the future of casual cannabis by branding and marketing the highest-quality consumer products available. Gary’s accomplishments span a much wider range than just politics; He has climbed the highest mountain on each of the 7 continents including Mt. Everest and he is likely in better shape, at the age of 62, than anyone you know. Now, if you are anything like us, then you have a million questions you would want to ask a guy like him. Fortunately, we caught up with Gary at the break of dawn before he had a chance to get off and running for the day!

You ran for President of the United States back in 2012 as the Libertarian candidate. Where is your 2016 campaign at currently?

I am not yet a declared candidate. It is something that I hope to do, but for me to be a declared a candidate, all sorts of rules apply that I just really don’t want to be a part of. But like I said, it is my hope to be able to run as a Libertarian party nominee.

I’ve come front and center with just how rigged it is and really part of that is the presidential debates that exclude everyone but Democrats and Republicans from participating.

You completed the most successful third-party campaign in the history of America back in 2012. Over 1.2 million votes had your back. How did that make you feel?

I was disappointed. I should like to clarify that that campaign would be the most successful, most votes captured by a Libertarian candidate, but there have been third-party runs that have been much more successful than my own. If you look at John Anderson, if you look at Ross Perot, or Ralph Nader; They garnered more of the percentage vote than I did.

Even though it was the best run by a Libertarian candidate, it was still disappointing. I thought there would have been more votes, but there wasn’t. I’m not delusional about this process and in that context we are suing the presidential debate commission. Basically it’s a rigged game. I’ve come front and center with just how rigged it is and part of that is really the presidential debates that exclude everyone but Democrats and Republicans from participating.

Would you say that’s a bigger micro-chasm of the political system overall?

The debates are set up by Republicans and Democrats. They have no desire whatsoever to see anyone but a Republican or a Democrat on that stage. 80% of Americans right now say that they would like to sees a third-party candidate and 42% of Americans right now are registered as independent. That’s the largest political affiliation in the country, and yet no one really has any idea as to why that’s the case. Well, the presidential debates are a big part of that.

80% of Americans right now say that they would like to sees a third-party candidate and 42% of Americans right now are registered as independent.

In your mind what do you think is holding back the federal legalization of cannabis in America?

Right now, I believe that it’s a five-year time frame for when cannabis becomes legal in all the states. I think that California will vote ‘yes’ to legalize cannabis at the ballot box in 2016 and that will provide an immediate trickle-down effect. Overnight, you will see twenty or more state legislatures send it to their governors and they will sign off on it. Up until now, legalization of cannabis has, for the most part, with the exception of just a few, been a ballot box initiative. In 2016, I think that will change.

What could the federal government be doing? There’s no excuse for Obama to not de-schedule cannabis as a Schedule 1 narcotic, which would go a long way towards getting this right, if you will, nationwide. That power to reclassify cannabis as something other than a Schedule 1 narcotic lies with the surgeon general and of course, the surgeon general has a job because of Obama.

Let’s say that you ran successful presidential campaign. You’re elected. What would you do to impact the cannabis industry?

Well, apart from legislating cannabis of course, I’m dotting I’s and crossing T’s to make cannabis completely non-criminal from a federal standpoint. Apart from that, as President of the United States, I would immediately deschedule cannabis as a Schedule 1 narcotic and start a process of pardoning and releasing those who have been convicted for nonviolent drug crimes. For the most part, federal prison is made up of individuals who have been caught selling small amounts of drugs on numerous occasions, leading to mandatory sentencing.

Up until now, legalization of cannabis has, for the most part, with the exception of just a few, been a ballot box initiative. In 2016, I think that will change.

That same phenomenon occurred after the prohibition of alcohol was appealed. It’s kind of an untold story really, about the pardoning of those that had been convicted and the releasing of those that were currently in prison. Currently, it is my understanding that there are fifty people in federal prison or in prison nationwide on life sentences for selling cannabis. Now, I understand that in a lot of cases, they might be large quantities of cannabis, but in the prohibition that we’re currently living through and have lived through, somebody’s got to sell those large quantities.

What do you think the benefits are to American in terms of full legalization?

I genuinely believe, and this is one of the reasons I began working with Cannabis Sativa Inc., that cannabis makes the world a better place. When you look at medical cannabis, our product directly competes with legal prescription drugs, from the standpoint of painkillers, anti-depressants and of course, the list goes on and on and on. But our products are as effective, if not more effective. Our products don’t kill people. Statistically, legal prescription drugs kill 100,000 people a year. On the recreational side, I have always maintained that legalizing cannabis will lead to less overall substance abuse because people will find it to be a safer alternative than other substances out there.

Our products don’t kill people. Statistically, legal prescription drugs kill 100,000 people a year.

When you see other countries with a more progressive cannabis policy, how does that make you feel about the state of America?

Actually, there are only five places in the world where cannabis is truly legal. Don’t get me wrong, other countries have said that they’re going to put legalization in place, but they really haven’t yet. Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. are the only places in America. Uruguay, I guess, has said all the right things. Portugal has effectively decriminalized all drug use and Holland has the same drug laws on the books that we do; It’s just that they’ve chosen to ignore those laws. Really, the United States is leading this charge and it doesn’t make me feel good about this country because this country should have never prohibited this in the first place. The incarceration of tens of thousands of individuals combined with the fact that we’ve got millions of Americans with felonies that, were it not for our drug laws, would otherwise be tax-paying law-abiding citizens.

You have spent a good amount of time around other politicians. How many politicians would you say are openly pro-cannabis?

There are really none, which is amazing to me considering that 58% of Americans support legalizing cannabis. Among politicians at the federal level; congressmen, senators,  governors; there are none. They might be mouthing a few nice words, but really the number is zero. On the local level, yes, it’s happening more and more, but relative to 58% of Americans supporting it, politicians are being left in the dust by this.

Right now, you have a situation where the majority is the 58% of Americans supporting the legalization of cannabis and the minority says, ‘Not only can you not use cannabis, but you belong in jail if you do’. That’s the definition of tyranny.

I’d like to point something out that people should be outraged over. I think the US Constitution exists to protect the minority against the will of the majority. The Bill of Rights. That’s what the US Constitution is all about. Right now, you have a situation where the majority is the 58% of Americans supporting the legalization of cannabis and the minority says, ‘Not only can you not use cannabis, but you belong in jail if you do’. That’s the definition of tyranny. That’s the definition of the minority ruling over the majority and putting the majority in jail for something. That’s the classical definition of fascist. It represents the rise of power of a minority that holds grip over a majority by putting them in jail.

Gary were you always a pro-cannabis advocate or did you have to kind of come out of the cannabis closet?

In 1999, I was introduced at an event in Colorado leading up the vote on the legalization of cannabis. The gentleman who introduced me said, “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. The good news is I’m going to introduce Governor Gary Johnson, the highest ranking public official to ever advocate on the part of legalizing cannabis. The bad news is, Gary Johnson is still the highest ranking elected official ever to advocate on the part of cannabis.”

For me, starting my second term as governor, this was something that I took a really hard look at. Based on the evidence that I saw, there was no other course than legalizing cannabis and I really began to advocate for legalization at that time. Basically, my last four years in office, I probably debated and talked about this issue more than anything else, simply because people were genuinely interested in what I had to say. People were recognizing that what we were doing was not working. It was and still is very, very costly. We were locking up our friends, family, and coworkers. They might not be making the smartest choices, but do they belong in jail for it? Well, they’re not harming anyone other than arguably themselves.

Have you dealt with any politicians who wanted to know more about it? Have any closet advocates come to you in secret and said ‘I want to know more, but I just don’t have that option?’

Yeah. Many, many, many. During my last term in office, my last four years, I found that phenomenon growing. As it went along, more and more politicians, some from the the highest levels of government, came to me. I was associating with these people and they genuinely wanted to know what was going on. Privately, those were the conversations we were having.

When do you think the cannabis industry is going to have a real say in politics? How soon will a presidential candidate have to be in touch with the cannabis community to win an election? Do you think it will be in the year 2020? 2024?

Well, I hope that’s the case in 2016. This ought to be a millennial issue amongst millennials and it should be an issue for everybody, given the resources that go into it. I really believe that the idea of cannabis prohibition has passed and it could well be 2016 that this is the case.

If I were to offer prediction today, it would be Hillary against Jeb. Is that really where we are at in this country, where we only have two families that can govern? I guess so.

What do you think of the crop of 2016 presidential candidates so far? If you couldn’t vote for yourself, who do you think would be the right fit for this country?

Based on what I’m seeing right now, I would vote the libertarian nominee, whoever that will be. If I were to offer prediction today, it would be Hillary against Jeb. Is that really where we are at in this country, where we only have two families that can govern? I guess so.

Who do you think would be the worst option for the country to the cannabis industry?

Well, certainly there are a bunch in that category. The first terrible choice that comes to mind is Chris Christie. That guy’s horrible.

You were a two-term governor of New Mexico. How would you describe the legacy that you left in New Mexico now that you’ve had a good time to kind of reflect on it?

I think my legacy is the fact that I genuinely was an effective governor. In my heart of hearts, we took on all the issues. It wasn’t just cannabis. That’s the one that gets a lot of attention, but it was A through Z, and these were issues that needed to be addressed and we did just that. I was fiscally conservative, as fiscally conservative as any governor in the country. From a civil liberties standpoint, I think I did better than any other governor in the entire country. For the most part, that’s who people are. With a broad brush stroke, I think people are fiscally conservative and socially liberal.

While in office, you earned the nickname Veto Johnson or Governor Veto, because you used your veto powers more than most other governors. Why do you think you had to use it so much and should the public see that as a good thing or a bad thing?

In fact, I may have vetoed more legislation as governor than the other 49 governors in the country combined. That’s how much I used that veto pen. New Mexico is a state that’s 2 to 1 Democrat. I got elected as a Republican. I vetoed that many bills and for the most part, they were spending bills. Wouldn’t you think that I would’ve just got ridden out on a rail as opposed to getting re-elected by a bigger margin the second time than the first time? All of what I just said speaks to the fact that people liked the veto.

I have always maintained that legalizing cannabis will lead to less overall substance abuse because people will find it to be a safer alternative than other substances out there.

What is the goal of Cannabis Sativa, Inc.?

The goal is to brand the best cannabis products in the world. The same brand recognition that comes with Coca Cola; That’s what we hope to be. We hope to cultivate a business that becomes so big that we need a thousand bottlers to bottle our product. That is our long-term goal and we are working towards it. That would be under the overarching trademark brand name ‘hi’. We believe that, at some point, we can bring in a billion dollars worth of swag sales because it’s a great logo that people will want to wear. People will put it on their car because of what it says, ‘hi’. In my opinion, ‘hi’ sends the message that we’d like the cannabis industry to have. There’s nothing threatening about this.

In my opinion, ‘hi’ sends the message that we’d like the cannabis industry to have. There’s nothing threatening about this.

You joined the company as the president a short while back. Given that you want to take it to being a billion dollar company, where are you guys at right now?

For the moment, we still label it as a start-up. We’ve really been trying to grab for the brass ring and we keep grinding it out. Although it is a start-up, everyone is knocking on the door to work with us, so I truly believe that the model that I described earlier will actually prevail at some point, but it’s not magic. It’s grinding it out. We’re grinding it out.

One of the big impediments to the industry right now is that, in the 24 states where it’s legal medicinally and 4+ states that have adult recreational use, everything that gets sold in those states has to be grown, processed, and packaged in those states by, for the most part, residents of those states. Ultimately, that is no good for the consumer. Pretty soon, that is going to change, but right now it is a tough model to operate in. That’s the barrier that we really have to overcome. Our company, Cannabis Sativa Inc., can’t go in and start manufacturing in Colorado. It’s against the law. We can’t go into any state directly and manufacture. That is something that needs to change, and it will.

Being a former governor and presidential candidate, how do you think your presence impacts the image of the industry as a whole? What does that do for Cannabis Sativa Inc. to have a leader like yourself who’s so reputable?

I think my professional and political background opens doors more than anything. Of course, opening doors is one thing. Once you get in the door, you have to actually offer something of value. Believe me, we’re working really, really hard to have a great offering to go along with knock, knock, ‘Come talk with us’. Everybody opens the door, now I’m focused on what happens next. To date we’re still a start-up, kind of posers in this whole thing. I think my experience and reputation could help propel Cannabis Sativa Inc. to the next level.

I think my professional and political background opens doors more than anything. Of course, opening doors is one thing. Once you get in the door, you have to actually offer something of value.

What does Gary Johnson do in his free time?

I built my dream home up here in Taos, New Mexico. One of my passions is snow skiing, so I ski a hundred days a season at Taos. Taos is as good of skiing as anywhere on the planet. Off-season, I mountain bike, road bike, run and swim. I’m about as fit a 62 year-old as you’re going to find.

Have you done a marathon or a triathlete event recently, or is that in your past?

Competing from a mountain bike standpoint is not in the past, no. I still compete. I competed in skiing events this winter and I do still compete in cycling events. I train as much as ever and I do well for being a 62 year-old. I’m finding myself middle of the pack now when it comes to the overall race, which is not a bad thing. There’s nothing wrong with that.

I’m about as fit a 62 year-old as you’re going to find.

Are you still dominating your age group ? That’s the question.

Yeah, you could say that. I’m doing very well for my age group!

I want to talk about your climbing Mt. Everest. Now to my knowledge, no US president has ever done that, by the way. Was that the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

I don’t think so, but it kind of epitomizes my life, I think. My goal was to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. In December, I went and climbed Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, which for me was the seventh of the seven.

My goal was to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. In December, I went and climbed Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, which for me was the seventh of the seven.

It took 21 years to accomplish. It wasn’t a do or die kind of thing, but I did work at it. People ask me, “Hey, what kind of training do you do to do these things?” Well, just my ordinary life. I believe I could go and climb Mt. Everest tomorrow. That’s the fitness level that I have.

If you had to advise someone to enter the cannabis industry or politics, which would you tell them to go into and why?

I don’t know if I’d advise anyone to go into politics, but I think there’s some really big opportunities in the cannabis industry and I think it is way more fun. It’s just fun to be involved in something so irreverent and something so cutting-edge. In that regard, I would advise anybody that wanted to know to, yeah, give the cannabis industry a shot. See what happens. I think that if you are an absolute small operator, if you have goals to be in your state running a dispensary, cultivation system or the whole chain, that that opportunity is still wide open for anybody who wishes to pursue it. That person, at some point, is going to need a partner to be able to have the manufacturing equipment needed to produce the best product. That’s where we come in. We really want to go out and make partners with a thousand of those pot entrepreneurs that are small time. By small time, we’re just going to give them a ‘Coca Cola’ product, or a ‘Coca Cola’ line that they can fulfil just like a bottler would fill Coke cans. That goes back to my analogy of what we hope our business will end up being.

For me, money has always represented freedom, not possessions, and it doesn’t take that much money to have freedom.

Who has been the biggest influence to you in your life?

I take bits and pieces from a lot of people. My main influences seem to come from people who have made mistakes or have not lived their life to the fullest potential, as opposed to those who have. I look at people that aren’t successful, those who aren’t living their lives to the fullest, and that gives me great energy. Certainly more than looking at people who have achieved success.

What is success? For me, money has always represented freedom, not possessions, and it doesn’t take that much money to have freedom. I’ve had the good fortune to have achieved that. I can do what I want to do when I want to do it. It’s not a first-class ticket anywhere. I’m very, very frugal, but that’s success for me. That’s what I’ve always deemed success to be and on that basis, I’ve achieved it. It’s something I’m really proud of.

Can you suggest a book that you’ve read lately that maybe our entrepreneurs can check out?

One of my recent favorites is the survival epic, “In the Kingdom of Ice” by Hampton Sides.

From an entrepreneurial standpoint, anybody that believes themselves to be an entrepreneur should read, “Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand. That’s kind of an entrepreneur’s bible, if you will.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

It’s the advice that I give out, and it wasn’t advice that I got, but my advice to anybody, and it’s worth exactly what you’re paying for it, which is nothing. My advice to anyone is take whatever skill you have, whatever it is, and apply it entrepreneurially. It’ll never, ever be easier to do that then tomorrow, and it’ll be unbelievably difficult to do it tomorrow, but never, ever will it be easier than doing it tomorrow. So, take what you do best, do it as an entrepreneur and the rewards will be a hundred fold over just having a job.

How do you think the migration of Greg Johnson from politics to cannabis impacts the overall landscape of the cannabis industry? How about public perception? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Ross Rebagliati, CEO of Ross’ Gold

Cannabis’ gold medalist, Ross Rebagliati, became a professional snowboarder in 1991 and the first to win an Olympic gold medal in Men’s Snowboarding at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. While his athletic prowess allowed him to win titles and notoriety, Ross, a cannabis user, found that the stigma associated with the cannabis industry was not only affecting his professional life, but also the lives of countless others who needed cannabis. So Ross set out on a mission to inspire change throughout the world as best he could. His first venture, Ross’ Gold, aims to provide the cannabis industry with top notch products while spreading the message of health and excellence. Ross, a former professional athlete, is a great of example of how people can maintain top physical fitness while still consuming cannabis. We took the time to meddle in Ross’ day to put together this golden interview. Enjoy.

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

There were many factors that led me to pursue Ross’ Gold. One example being my belief that the cannabis plant is able to help millions worldwide. I feel I have a responsibility to bring it to the masses from a standpoint of health and excellence. Perhaps the most important factor in joining the industry was the opportunity I have to help people live a healthier, more productive life.

What skills from your previous experiences help you and what you are doing now?

Living outside my comfort zone is something I am no stranger to and has served me well over the years. As an athlete, I learned to face failure and find a way to persevere. To be able to go back to the drawing board, rework everything and come at it  time and again builds character and success. Understanding how to set goals by breaking them down into smaller, attainable goals which, when combined, lead to your main objective can be helpful.

As an athlete, I learned to face failure and find a way to persevere.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Focused.

What do you consider your weakness as an entrepreneur, and what is your strength as an entrepreneur?

I can be a personable guy and that’s not something I want to change about myself.  No-one  is going to be the best at everything and so you have to spread out the talent appropriately. Being that I’m the face of the company, it’s crucial for me to be a good at PR which I enjoy. I really have the best job I could imagine.

How are you differentiating yourself from the competition?

With the great importance of branding in today’s marketplace, we feel like by creating the premium Ross’ Gold brand in itself is differentiating.

Another thing that sets Ross’ Gold apart is that we come from a standpoint of health and excellence. As an athlete I can be an example of how one can improve upon and maintain physical abilities while using cannabis as part of a healthy lifestyle. Associating an Olympic goal medal with cannabis is very unique as well, especially pertaining to public perception. It is a major departure from the negative stereotypes that have been propagated by prohibition.

As an athlete I can be an example of how one can improve upon and maintain physical abilities while using cannabis as part of a healthy lifestyle.

How do you find inspiration in this industry? What have you found that has inspired you the most, and what keeps you motivated?

Inspiration comes to me by the boatload. With the constant stream of research being done something mind boggling is being discovered everyday. It might have to do with brain cells, cancer, seizures or even finding smaller elements within larger elements of cannabis compounds. These are the types of things that really inspire me. Seeing kids who suffer from seizures get instant relief after they take cannabis extract is pretty much all the inspiration we need at Ross’ Gold. We know we are helping people.

What is the best advice you have received?

Do what you love.

Where do your great ideas come from?

“Your mind is like a parachute. It only works when it’s open.” – Frank Zappa

I would never have been able to have these ideas or go on this adventure without first having an open mind.

What will we be seeing from you and Ross’ Gold in the coming future?

Our cannabis distribution is the biggest endeavor in the immediate future. In addition to that, we just launched our line of premium glass water pipes and other glassware. All of which have been very well received here in Canada. (rossgoldglass.com) Outside of Canada, we have a hemp division in Michigan, where we’ve licensed our brand to various companies (hemp products, hemp seeds, roasted hemp seeds, CBD infused teas, CBD vape pens etc). We plan to have a hand in all aspects of the cannabis and hemp product industry. Europe is on our horizon as well.

What scares you the most about this industry?

In the past it would have been getting arrested. Present day, I think the biggest fear is having ideological opinions interfering with the progression of the industry. Having said that government officials around the world are beginning to embrace the cannabis industry. In fact, we are actually following the lead of countries all over the world. As our Canadian and American governments come on board, I just hope they join the industry fluidly and refrain from stunting industry growth by becoming overly involved.

I would never have been able to have these ideas or go on this adventure without first having an open mind.

If you could tell a skeptic one thing about this industry to make them change their mind, what would it be?

It boils down to the science. I encourage people to research cannabis for themselves at Rossgold.com.

Tell us something that you wish you had known before becoming a cannabis entrepreneur.

After Nagano (17 years ago), I was hesitant to enter the space and announce my affiliation with cannabis, especially after experiencing  corporate pushback at the time. It was a scary time to pursue Ross’ Gold. Even when we finally launched, we had to adapt and evolve. I only wish we would have known that we were going to get such a positive response.

Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

The cannabis community doesn’t exclude anybody or any group. It’s one of the things that both sows the seeds of our society while also bringing people together in a healthy and productive manner. Peace

What’s the one piece of information you wish you had known before starting your professional career? Join the conversation by commenting below!

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Susan Chicovsky, Owner of Green Mountain Harvest

Susan Chicovsky, owner of Green Mountain Harvest, has been an entrepreneur since 1973. Her professional experience spans 5 restaurants, a private international alternative healing practice, a health and wellness center and a natural insecticide company. In addition to those ventures, Susan is also a minister who performs weddings, christenings, memorials and other sacred ceremonies. To find her picture, all you have to do is look up ‘jack of all trades’ in the dictionary. In fact, many people have done just that, as Susan has delivered speeches over the radio as well as at national seminars and workshops. She is committed to helping people heal in a way that works for them, as well as helping business owners be successful. Her latest endeavor, Green Mountain Harvest, is the oldest, first cleared and compliant cannabis harvest and trim company in Denver, Colorado. Susan opened the doors to GMH back in 2010 and now operates on a national scale. An expert on harvesting and trimming, she recently trimmed some time out of her day to harvest a conversation with us.

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

I entered the cannabis industry for a couple of different reasons. As an alternative healer since the early 1970’s, I had firsthand experience with clients who have shared how much cannabis has helped them with pain, nausea, anxiety, spasms etc.  So for me, the decision to become a cannabis advocate and join the industry was easy. In addition to patient stories, I have long been an organic gardener and I have worked with a good deal of bonsai plants, so I think it is important that patients have access to clean, natural medicine. I have been an entrepreneur since 1973 and this is my best entrepreneurial adventure yet.

Focus on gratitude rather than stress, and your world can open up to unknown paths.

What were you doing before?

I was and still am a minister. I perform wedding ceremonies, christenings, memorials, home blessings, house clearings and sacred ceremonies. I have a company called Marriage Makers that I am thrilled to own and will continue to run outside of Green Mountain Harvest because it is a passion of mine. I have also had an international healing practice since 1980, where I still deal with emergency clients. As the Green Mountain Harvest has grown, it has become a full time endeavor for me so I have had to cut back my healing practice and Marriage Makers business.

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

In 2010, one of my friends in Hawaii told me she wanted to give me money to open a dispensary. After doing my due diligence, I choose not to pursue that vertical within the industry. However, one of my friends who has a dispensary brought up the idea of a harvest and trim company. It fit my agenda in terms of providing patients with compliant, healthy medicine as well as my entrepreneurial vision for the next great adventure. I spent one month investigating the industry to see if I actually wanted to do a business and was engrossed with the Green Rush here in Colorado.

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

I am guiding my energy and passion towards clean rooms for trimmers and product. Furthermore, I want to take GMH national. I have also been thrust into a bit of politics, where I hope to positively affect compliant better business practices in Colorado as well as other states.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Integrity

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?

My mother was my mentor and role model before she died. She was diagnosed with Syringomyelia when I was 1 year old.  This is a disease where a cyst develops in the spinal cord. Her doctors said she would be in a wheelchair within 5 years and die soon after that. My mom was bedridden for years and fought with everything she had. In the early 1950’s, she was at John Hopkins for treatments like radiation and back surgery. She never gave up and literally willed herself to function, all the while bearing enormous pain. She lived till she was 84. She taught me about will power, strength, fortitude and the power of prayer. She actually bore another child seven years after I was born.

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

I love any of Reshad Fields work. The Last Barrier is exceptional.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

I have had three miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies. I died after surgery with the 2nd ectopic pregnancy. I saw the light and my Dad at the entrance, he said “go back, it’s not your time”, then he placed a small little girl (around 5 years old) in my arms with exotic beauty and long brown hair. He said “Here is your daughter” I was upset because she wasn’t a baby. Funny how we put our own spins on things. I dreamt of my first adopted daughter and found the birth mother. Cayla was born December 9, 1991 which is six months opposite my birthday, June 9, 1951. This put us into perfect astrological alignment. I was able to breastfeed her and we are extremely close. She still lives with me now even though she is in college. It’s a blessing. When Cayla was 4 years old she asked me to find her older sister. Suddenly the vision of my Dad holding that little girl came back to me. I was a foster Mom at the time and felt like this child was in my foster agencies placement. I called the head of the foster agency, who knew about my strong intuition and she said indeed she had a 5 year old little girl and we could meet her. When she opened the door she was the little girl in my vision. So we fostered her for one year then adopted her.

So the achievement is that I found my daughters. I am so blessed.

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

Too blessed to be stressed.

A good friend of mine once told me that he is “too blessed to be stressed”. I live by that code. Focus on gratitude rather than stress, and your world can open up to unknown paths.

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

It’s all about compliance and honesty if you want to maintain a business that will set the standard for years to come.

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

I think there will still be challenges to face. Hopefully we will say at that time that we have a legal banking system in place and the Federal government has loosened its grip on what goes on in the industry. Better yet, hopefully they have legalized it altogether.

What scares you most about this industry?

What scares me the most is that I see more lack of integrity than any industry I have ever worked in.

It’s all about compliance and honesty if you want to maintain a business that will set the standard for years to come.

If you could tell a skeptic one thing about this industry to make them change their mind, what would it be?

What I would tell that skeptic is to look at all the patients that are healing because of cannabis.  When a child has 30 -50 seizures a day and cannabis reduces this to under 10, we should be extremely grateful that a natural medicine like cannabis even exists.

Tell us something that you wish you had known before becoming a cannabis entrepreneur.

I really can’t think of something I wish I knew before doing this cannabis business.   All my entrepreneurial business adventures have come into play with this industry. Everything I have ever done has taught me and is useful now.

Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Find what you are passionate about and do what you love. Keep the gratitude right in front of you at all times.

What do you think of Susan’s amazing story? Join the conversation and comment below!

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David H. Seber: President of Hemp Shield LLC

David Seber, President of the Hemp Shield Company LLC, wants to have a positive impact on the world. Years ago, while working in the redwood lumber business, he noticed that the amount of materials being extracted from mother nature was becoming more and more unsustainable over time. Fortunately, for a longtime businessman like David, every problem has a solution and, in this case, that solution is hemp. Realizing that he could make the same building materials at a fraction of the environmental cost, David co-founded Hemp Shield with hopes of giving back to mother nature. One of their first products, the Hemp Shield Wood Finish and Deck Sealer is unlocking the properties of hemp oil to offer significant improvements in finishes for exterior wood. This natural seed oil is much more readily accepted into wood fiber than other plant or petroleum sourced oils. Recently, Hemp Shield made an initial shipment of Hemp Shield Wood finish & Deck Sealer; to be used on the wood in the Giraffe section of a zoo in Denver, Colorado. Fortunately for us, David lowered his shield in time to sit down with us and share his mission.

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

I first became interested in the application of industrial hemp for building materials back in 1990. I was inspired by the book, ‘The Emperor Wears No Clothes’, and I wanted to repay the forest for giving me the chance to have a career that I loved.

What were you doing before?

I was in the redwood lumber business. I noticed that companies were taking massive amounts of fiber, lumber and biomass out of the forest and I wanted to see what I could do to lower that amount. I came across a thorough study, which revealed the only plant that could replace the amount of material we were taking from the forest, specifically in temperate climates, is hemp. My partner, William Conde, has been a long time cannabis activist, dating back to when I first met him in 1976. We formed C&S Specialty Builder’s supply in 1991 to develop hemp composites and building materials to replace wood. To us, wood was going to become a precious and rare commodity that should only be used where it could be seen or touched. It shouldn’t be concealed as structural members or behind a wall.

I think it is important to remember that the cannabis industry is still in the formative stage. Years from now it will look nothing like it does today.

We also realized that sustainability was a big factor in the future of building materials. It doesn’t make sense to take a tree, which can take anywhere from 200-3,000 years to mature, to make a product if that product might only last 50-75 years (like a house). Instead we could mature hemp over a 120-day span and build that same structure, which could last an equivalent amount of time (50-75Yrs). The latter process of the two is obviously more sustainable.

Once we realized this is the path we wanted to pursue, Mr. Conde and I hired W.S.U. Wood Materials Engineering Lab to produce the first modern composite panels; made with hemp fiber in order to demonstrate to the building materials industry, and the world, that hemp was as good or better than wood fiber in all construction composite applications. We succeeded in producing World Class MDF (medium density fiberboard – the “flagship product” of the composite industry). It was evident to everyone in the industry that if one could make MDF out of hemp, then all the other major applications (like particleboard, oriented strand board, etc) could also be made from hemp. The composite industry was the only world wide installed fiber manufacturing base that could use hemp fiber because the factories were already configured to use hemp as they are; requiring minimal changes.

The problem was and is one of scale in that the average composite plant uses 400-1400 DRY TONS of Fiber A DAY! All the current hemp being grown in North America, Europe and Russia combined wouldn’t be enough to run a composite mill for a few months. Since we are far away from the scale of production I was/am looking for hemp composite production, I am currently focused on Hemp Shield Wood Finish & Deck Seale and Hemp Shield Log Home Treatment. These products are revolutionary in their own area of stains and coatings while being the only modern building material, which contains hemp, commercially viable on the market.

All aspects of Hemp Shield products are both “state of the art” and revolutionary.

All aspects of Hemp Shield products are both “state of the art” and revolutionary. The hemp seed oil used in Hemp Shield has molecules that are smaller than all other oils. We use it in coatings so it penetrates the wood better than any comparable product while at the same time it generates a strong synergy amongst all the other components in Hemp Shield’s proprietary formulations. Simply put, Hemp Shield outperforms all other competing products in durability and anti-UV properties. Additionally, all of its components are the ”greenest”, the highest quality, and the highest concentration possible.

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

The great focus of my energy is to take national market share of the wood finish & deck sealing market. Hemp Shield was consciously designed to be the first hemp-containing, “cross over” product to the general public. We want people to know that there is more to this plant than the medicinal and recreational aspects (although there is nothing wrong with those uses).

David Seber at the Seattle Hempfest

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Creativity

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?

I have had many mentors in my life; including William Conde, Alan Kapuler and others. However, two people stand out among the rest. First would be Tom Maloney, of WSU Wood Materials Engineering Lab, who taught me a great deal about composites science. Secondly, I would say that Steve Nisewander has had a big impact on me. Steve is a world-class paint chemist who co-created Hemp Shield with me.

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

“The Emperor Wears No Clothes” – Jack Herer & “Particleboard and Dry Process Manufacturing” – Tom Maloney

Tell us about an esteemed achievement of yours.

A while back I was asked, by Oregon State University, to participate in the creation of the world’s first university level course on industrial hemp. The ‘Course on Industrial Hemp WSE266’ is part of the eCampus for OSU’s College of Wood Engineering. That is an achievement that gives me great pride.

We want people to know that there is more to this plant than the medicinal and recreational aspects.

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

“It’s not going to happen as fast as you think.” – Tom Maloney

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

I think it is important to remember that the cannabis industry is still in the formative stage. Years from now it will look nothing like it does today. As the true power of American agriculture takes over the cannabis crop, not only will there be a major change in pricing, but recreational and medicinal uses will become side products of industrial hemp; which is “the true 800lb Gorilla” in the back of the room.

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

“I’d rather smoke a “Bay Gold’ than a Camel anyway. Even if the cost is double that of tobacco.”

What do you think about hemp as a sustainable replacement for wood? Do you think it will ever be widely adopted? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Chris Connors – COO of Americas First Brands

Chris Connors, COO of Americas First Brands, is youthful, exuberant and has always been a serial entrepreneur on the lookout for the next big business opportunity. When he was younger, Chris’s father taught him how to trade stocks and by the time he was just a sophomore in college he was hooked, day trading when he wasn’t playing lacrosse. After the tech boom, Chris turned his attention to the cannabis industry, an industry in which he saw great potential. His grandfather inspired him to research and study the big time CEO’s in the industry. He even spent a summer interning with industry expert Tripp Keber. All this experience led Chris to where he is today, COO of Americas First Brands, a marketing, packaging and distribution company for all of the Americas First Cannabis Cigarette lines. Check out how we roll with Chris, as he shares his journey and discusses the path ahead of Americas First Brands.

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

My father probably inspired and propelled me to enter this industry more than anyone else. He showed me the ropes when it came to trading stocks and it became a big time hobby of mine. Eventually I got bored of investing in the same old industries and I really wanted to find that next big business opportunity. Technology was done, so I started doing heavy due diligence into medical cannabis stocks. At that time there weren’t many to choose from, but I had found ones like MJNA, CBIS and HEMP.

I have always been a serial entrepreneur, on a quest to find the next big thing.

My grandfather, in addition to being one of my biggest long-term mentors, was one of the four presidents at Bristol Myers Squibb. He recommended that I do my due diligence before entering the industry. Find out who the big players are and what they are doing that is making them successful. That’s when I found Tripp Keber, who was working with Dixie Elixirs. I was so interested in working with the cannabis industry that I turned down a paid sports marketing internship in New York City so I could instead intern at Dixie Elixirs. I packed my bags and moved out to Colorado where I spent and entire summer interning for Tripp. It was one of my best experiences ever. I learned an incredible amount from him as well as his entire team of great people. It was a big step for me professionally and directly led to where I am now. To this day, Tripp remains one of my biggest mentors.

What skills from your previous experiences helped you in what you are doing now at Americas First Brands?

I have always been a serial entrepreneur, on a quest to find the next big thing. From starting a college course blogging site with my buddies in college to creating America’s First Cannabis Cigarette, I’ve learned so many different skills and trades. Perhaps the most important thing I have learned is that when you are an entrepreneur, on the ground floor of your own company, you have to be willing to do everything. From marketing and sales to distribution, the more you can handle yourself the faster you can grow your business.

However, if I were forced to pinpoint one skill, it would be sacrifice. You really have to be willing to make sacrifices to make your company work. That being said, you never want to sacrifice your core values to obtain that success. The most successful entrepreneurs I know do a great job balancing both of those aspects.

Where are you guiding your passion and energy towards at Americas First?

Right now my energy and passion is with our company, Americas First Brands; which represents all of the Americas First Cannabis Cigarette lines. Highlands Cannabis Cigarettes is our first product, a connoisseur blend of cannabis cigarettes. I’m excited about this product because the cigarettes consist of all natural, organic, unbleached cigarette paper and a biodegradable filter that will disappear within weeks of disposing of your Highlands Cannabis Cigarette. The ‘Green Rush’ isn’t only about cannabis. It is about living a greener, healthier global lifestyle. It is important to me that our products are not only great for the consumer, but also the environment. Seriously, how often do you see old cigarette butts littering the ground as you walk down the street? For us, it happens way to often. That is one of the things that inspired us to be as green as possible.

Our brands are all machine rolled and consist of the highest quality of cannabis. Our “tins”, or our cannabis cigarette cases, come in a 5-pack or a ten-pack and are very sleek and stylish (check out the pictures!). In addition to fitting perfectly in your back or front pocket, the tin closes tight so that it will not open in your pocket. The tin won’t open until you want it to open. We have had such great feedback on the look and functionality of our tins that we actually started to sell them by themselves. People love showing them off to their friends or using them to hold their business cards and money. It’s just a great novelty item in itself. When you combine the tin with the Highlands Cannabis Cigarettes, that final product is something special. That is where all of my passion is going right now.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Aggressive.

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

My strength in this industry is getting tasks done quickly and professionally. My weakness as an entrepreneur is this industry is not being okay with tasks getting done slowly. When I have something to do, or when I delegate a task, I get so excited to complete it and take that step forward that I can be too eager at times. I continue to work on finding that perfect balance for myself that will enable me to be the best entrepreneur I can. By constantly reflecting and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses as an entrepreneur, you can continually teach and re-invent yourself, both professionally and personally.

The ‘Green Rush’ isn’t only about cannabis. It is about living a greener, healthier global lifestyle.

How are you differentiating yourself from your competition?

At Americas First Brands, we’re differentiating ourselves from the competition by being all-natural. Our biodegradable filter is a major selling point for us. As I mentioned earlier, we wanted to do more than create ‘just another piece of trash’ that’s thrown on the ground. We fixed that process through our ‘green friendly’ practices and we are proud to be contributing to a healthier global environment. In addition, while ‘Highlands’ is our connoisseur blend, Americas First Brands will soon offer several different lines of cannabis cigarettes, each of which will offer a unique aspect its own brand. We intend to offer a variety of SKUs in hopes of satisfying every type of cannabis consumer in the market.

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

The consumers! I get inspired to keep pushing forward when I hear back from our consumers about how much they love the cigarettes and the tin. Consumers been waiting for somebody to do this and we took the reigns and made it happen. This wasn’t an idea that we just came up with out of the blue. This idea, this chance to fill the void in the industry, has been around for a while and we couldn’t be happier to have executed on it. We have worked very hard and it’s extremely rewarding to know we are putting smiles on so many people’s faces. When you build something from the ground floor as a team, it means everything to you and you will learn to find inspiration.

What’s the best advice you have ever received?

It may sound simple, but the best advice I’ve received is to treat people the way you would like to be treated, especially in business. Also, things will happen if you keep your eye on the prize and avoid stringing yourself out in to many different directions. I’ve learned that is a recipe for failure. I always remind myself that I need to just keep working hard, and keep having that vision. Don’t let anyone put you down. Just keep working for your goals. Each day is a new day. That’s what people have to remember in this industry.

I’m ready to do whatever it takes to meet my goals but I want to look back and say that I accomplished everything professionally.

Where do your great ideas come from?

Mostly our great ideas come from diligence. We do so much market and online research before we make our decisions that, by the time we act on an initiative, we have considered it from all angles and vetted its potential to impact our goals. Just by studying what is out there, where is there oversaturation, where are there voids, we can develop ideas that we think will work. Sometimes, you will find opportunities just by looking at how another product has limited itself. For one reason or another they have hit a barrier that didn’t allow them to see a whole new opportunity. By opening those barriers in your own mind you can come up with a ton of great ideas. Barriers that one entrepreneur would call crazy, another entrepreneurial mind might see differently, so they run with it. It will end up working out if you truly believe in your idea and you work incredibly hard for it.

What is important to you? Mission? Vision? Or core values?

Core values. Not just for me but for Americas First Brands as well. Personally, it is imperative that you go that extra step to show people that yes, you want run a successful business, but you also want to keep great core values at the same time. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to meet my goals but I want to look back and say that I accomplished everything professionally.

We have worked very hard and it’s extremely rewarding to know we are putting smiles on so many people’s faces.

While core values are the number one for me, I think success also requires a long-term vision, especially given the budding state of the cannabis industry. We really are in uncharted territory and the entrepreneurs who can see the forest through the trees are the ones who will have the most long-term success. You have to recognize that things may not always go as planned, but if you can harness that long-term vision and stay faithfully on your path then it will work out. We have many generations of growth in this industry that lie ahead of us and I couldn’t be more excited to be along for the ride.

What will we be seeing from you and Americas First Brands in the coming future?

In the immediate future we are most excited about showing the market what we have to offer! We only recently gave people a sneak peak of our all-natural, biodegradable and unbleached cannabis cigarette. We received immensely positive feedback and can’t wait to release several additional brands we will be coming out with over the next year. Each one of them will be designed to serve a key niche in the cannabis community. We also have some major projects upcoming I can’t yet talk about it, some of which will be released within the next six months. I’m so excited for everyone to see where we are headed because we have worked so hard. My team and I have put so much sweat equity into these products that now we are working to be sure we launch them all in the right way. We can’t wait to see how the market reacts to our upcoming releases because it is going to be the culmination of so much hard work.

Do you find mission, vision or core values most important in business? What do you think of the packaging for Highlands Cannabis Cigarettes? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Michael O’Malley – Curved Papers, Inc.

Michael O’Malley of Curved Papers, Inc. has been around the Cannabis industry dating back to his college days at MIT. After working many years in the tech, software development and business arena’s Michael saw an opportunity to blend his professional experience for his love of the Cannabis industry and he created Curved Papers, Inc. Not only has his product revolutionized the paper rolling industry, but it is also a true innovation in the space. The patent-pending easy to roll curved edge is transforming Cannabis and tobacco smoking all over the world. The simple act of rolling your own cigarette has been around for hundreds of years, but never before has it been this easy. In fact, experienced consumers, some of whom have rolled almost their entire adult life, love Curved Papers because it truly simplifies the process. It’s like power steering for rolling up cannabis!

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

The specific deciding factor was actually a combination of timing and innovation. The invention of this new rolling paper paired with the opportunity in the Cannabis industry made entering the market almost a no brainer for me. Much of my career has been spent in software development, tech, design and business consulting. When the opportunity came up for me to combine all my professional experience to launch a new product within an industry I love I jumped all over it. However, we didn’t just launch a product to launch a product. We believe we have something that truly improves the smoking experience. Be it Cannabis or tobacco consumers have always, and will always, use papers to roll their cigarettes.  Our product makes that experience easier and more accessible across the board so I felt it was my responsibility to make it available to the public.  Simply put, we offer a more natural, simple and efficient product.

Luckily, I have a seasoned team surrounding me and we have had a ton of fun in the process.

What skills from your previous experiences helped you in what you are doing now?

In the broadest sense, being CEO of Curved Papers, Inc. has forced me to use every skill in my repertoire. In order to establish the intellectual property behind the business I have had to do everything from engineering and design to legal work and marketing, just to name a few examples. One of the most specific skills I have applied is through Computer-Aided Design(CAD). That program has played a huge roll in my career, and it has been a big part of Curved Papers. It is amazing how much goes into bringing a product to market, from inception to actualization. Luckily, I have a seasoned team surrounding me and we have had a ton of fun in the process.

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

Spreading the word of Curved Papers. We have laid the foundation for the business, designed the product and successfully tested it repeatedly. Now it is all about getting out there and letting people know that there is an easier, more efficient way to roll your cigarettes.

Describe your work ethic in one word.

MIT

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

My biggest weakness as an entrepreneur is that I care about people more than money. However, I might argue that has actually made me more successful.  I really do enjoy the relationships I have formed with the people I work with. My strength would have to be my wide-ranging skillset and professional history. My diverse background in production and management has enabled me to maintain a big picture overview of Curved Papers. Every strength, in its own way, has contributed to the process of turning a product into a company.

How are you differentiating yourself from the competition?

In short, Curved Papers is the most innovative and unique product on the market. It is revolutionizing the use of rolling papers and has made the process easier than ever before. I’ve reached out to companies with hundreds of years of experience in the industry and they all agree. The product stands alone, all we have to do is show it to people and they’re hooked.

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

Most of my inspiration comes from the people who have worked so hard over the years to lay the foundation for this industry, enabling it to have the opportunities we see today. A product like Curved Papers has the chance to thrive because of the market created from their hard work. More specifically, my earliest inspiration stems from the 1970’s and my time at MIT, where my friend Leonard Epstein and I were part of the Class of ’79. We were recreational Cannabis users. However, once we graduated, Leonard quit smoking and dedicated himself to the legalization movement. For over 35 years Leonard has worked on the political issues surrounding legalization. He has done everything from running for local offices to writing and recording music on the subject. Last year he got to reap the benefit of his work as he went to Denver and got high for the first time since college.

People and stories like this are what inspire me. Trailblazers like Leonard Epstein, Keith Stroup(NORML) and Tommy Chong, just to name a few, laid the foundation that this movement is built on. It is our job to maintain that momentum and build on the opportunity the industry has been afforded. I think modern day champions; like Bill Levin and Cheryl Shuman are doing a phenomenal job living up to this legacy and they continue to inspire me everyday. I have a deep love for this country and I couldn’t be more proud of where it is headed.

Curved Papers is the most innovative and unique product on the market.

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

When I was a student in Boston I was really impacted by people like Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, both of who taught me to read and interpret media. Their impact enabled me to more confidently form my own opinions, recognizing the bias and ownership of media and government. By learning about bias and communication strategies I have been much more aware of our own company’s message and how I can more genuinely spread the word about our product.

Where do your great ideas come from?

My family and my support system are outstanding. I received a phenomenal education and grew up in a very innovative culture as the eighth of fourteen kids. Personally, I love discovering and developing my own ideas, but coming from such a large group of friends and family I get to constantly learn and contribute to their ideas as well. Surrounding myself with innovative friends and family really contributes to the creative process and I work hard to act upon all the great ideas I come across, not just my own.

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

When I come up with an idea I think is great, I stay confident in it.

Core values. I believe one of the most important things you can do is stay honest with yourself. I try to practice this everyday, as it is a constant goal of mine. When I come up with an idea I think is great, I stay confident in it. I see it through and make it become real. Keeping your core values is the only constant in an ever-changing world. Your mission or your vision may change or become cloudy at times. But, if you hold on to your core values, those things will all reveal themselves to you. Not only that, but you will be ready to capitalize on them because you stayed honest with who you are.

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

You will see a ton of action out of Curved Papers Inc. in the coming future. Not only do we intend to extend our brand and product line, but we anticipate utilizing our patent-pending technology to acquire licensing deals. It is important to us that we improve the experience of every consumer, including the ones who have yet to use our brand. We can do that by licensing our technology to any company that involves a rolled curved edge, as this technology can be applied to any shape or size paper. In addition, we will continue to come out with new, beautiful rolling papers that remain lighter yet more dependable that traditional competitors.

What’s the hardest part of using rolling papers for you? Have you tried Curved Papers? Comment below to join conversation!!

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Derek Silverio: Lifted Industry

In a way that is unique only to him, he’s a gentleman who can not only captivate you in conversation, but can entrance the oh-so darting human eye with his gorgeously engineered vape products. His work ethic is engrained in his DNA and his vision emanates something that is simple, cool, and bold and embodies the essence of a household favorite, Bruce Lee. Have we piqued your curiosity yet? Derek Silverio is the founder of Lifted Industry and the story of how the brand became and has evolved into the beauty it is today, unravels below for you to explore!

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

I had the great fortune of being able to choose my path between 2 clear options: One would be to further advance my trajectory within the corporate world of consumer electronics, while the other would be to build upon my current successes and dive head first into something self-created. I believe every industrial designer sees themselves as a brand or business owner at some point in their career. It is part of our DNA as we are involved in the creation of mass produced objects. The moment that I and 40 others were part of a “workforce reduction”, I immediately devised plans to fuse my two passions, industrial design and cannabis, into what we now call Lifted Industry. Both industrial design and cannabis have the ability to enhance peoples’ lives in tremendous ways. The intersection of personal health and technology is fascinating to me. I believe there isn’t a single person in the entire world better equipped than me to combine these two things and that’s where my passion and drive comes from.

Both industrial design and cannabis have the ability to enhance peoples’ lives in tremendous ways. The intersection of personal health and technology is fascinating to me.

What were you doing before engaging in Lifted Industry?

For 5 years prior to Lifted Industry I had the great honor of managing a talented team of 9 graphic, industrial, and soft case designers across 3 business units with over 6 different brands some of which included designed video game controllers and accessories for Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. We also designed toys and mobile products for brands like Skylanders, Star Wars, Star Trek and Pokémon. Moreover, we also created our own line of Bluetooth mobile gaming controllers and premium headphones for gaming and music. We did this all soup-to-nuts – from sketches to prototypes to production in China. Thinking back, I am always amazed about how much great work we pulled off in such short periods of times!

Previous to that, I worked within numerous multidisciplinary design and engineering teams that created automatic external defibrillators, medical ultrasounds, digital multi-meters, and tradeshow booths to name just a few.

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

I think just being from Seattle I was always immersed in the culture, but the tipping point really came after Washington legalized. Cannabis became an even larger part of the nationwide vernacular and I saw more and more people in the professional world opening up and communicating about it good, bad, or otherwise. I know I am just one of many professionals from the consumer product world who is “crossing over” so I am excited to see the emerging talent and awesome ideas around the corner!

Cannabis became an even larger part of the nationwide vernacular and I saw more and more people in the professional world opening up and communicating about it good, bad, or otherwise.

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

Right now, I am focusing all of my energy and passion into our crowdfunding campaign to launch our first product, the RIZE personal vaporizer, a completely customizable, versatile, and rugged vaporizer for all of your vaping needs. We have a unique perspective in implementing user-centered research and design into the product development process, a first with these types of products. We are looking at the entire experience and putting people at the forefront of it all. We are on a mission to humanize the form and function of consumer products in the cannabis industry and vaporizers are only the beginning… We designed the RIZE to be a lasting and quality solution that lives within an open architecture for e-liquid, oil, wax, other extracts and dry herb.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

IMPROVING.

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?

Aside from my parents who have fully shaped my atoms from day 1 and have served as shining examples of the American dream, I would say Bruce Lee, or actually the embodiment and spirit that is Bruce Lee. He is the reason I began training in martial arts at a very young age. I tried to apply as much of his perspective and style into all of my work. We at Lifted Industry want our products to embody this essence of cool, simplistic, and bold confidence.

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

To be honest, I haven’t read a book in ages! I swear though I have enough life stories to write my own book every year

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

I think just getting Lifted Industry off the ground and doing it the way I always envisioned is a great achievement of mine. I keep a laminated card with “starting a company, or brand” as one of my professional goals in my wallet. It’s been one of my dreams for a while now and it just so happens it coincides with this “green rush”

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

The best advice that I have consistently used is to have my own genuine, point-of-view and to stand by it. I apply this to design when it comes to shaping the way objects look and feel. I am in an always evolving process of defining what “cool” is, or what cool is supposed to be in the near future as it relates to the products I am designing. I want to design things that capture a certain emotion or feeling in a physical form. And because of the very permanent nature and short lifespan process of manufactured goods, you need to have a lasting and unique design perspective to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack. The design ethos, engineering, marketing, and everything else within a company is always more compelling when delivered with a unique personality and perspective. I always try to answer the question: “What does this product say and how do I want someone to feel using it?”

I am in an always evolving process of defining what “cool” is, or what cool is supposed to be in the near future as it relates to the products I am designing. I want to design things that capture a certain emotion or feeling in a physical form.

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

I believe that there is still a huge education and awareness gap from all parts of the ecosystem. From our point of view we meet people all over who have a lot of confusion about how to consume cannabis and the varied delivery methods. Safety and transparency of information are key to any product, but especially in one that can alter your mood and physical well-being. People in legal states have little clue to the vast amount of good that this plant can provide medically, recreationally, and otherwise.

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

I think a year from now there will only be more of everything; Any product or service will have a cannabis counterpart with many leading brands whereas, there might only be a couple or few today. We live in a fast paced business environment where everything becomes rushed and sometimes rushing can lead to unfortunate results. There is something to be said about slowing the design and development process down, researching and testing, learning from users and taking the time to continuously improve. I think the same goes for the cannabis industry in terms of its momentum. I am confident that there will be more innovation, education and a respectful caution for the journey that brought the industry to this point today.

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Hans Enriquez: LazyDaze Co.

Hans Enriquez is quite the personality. He’s witty, driven, and personable. He’s committed to his vision, enraptured by his clientele, and has succeeded in creating a new type of experience for the cannabis consumer community. For years, the cannabis community has found themselves wandering into dingy storefronts being sold only low-quality products and vessels in the stereotypical dark and sketchy atmosphere, but with the changing tide of cannabis in mainstream culture, they’ve been looking for something more. That is where Hans sought to explore the opportunity to create a new smoke shop experience, one that empowers its customers rather than shaming them, and that is the niche in which him and his team at LazyDaze Co. are seeking to bring worldwide.

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

I was majoring in Biology and prepping to become a doctor and I got bored with the redundancy of Microbiology and cellular mumbo jumbo. I dropped all my classes that semester and changed my major to Business.  I was introduced to the counterculture industry by getting a job at the local smoke shop during college for my weekend beer money. After I graduated, I was working at the mall in a management training program that was going nowhere. Some buddies encouraged me to open my own smoke shop, and basically said to me, “Hey, you can work at the mall or you can start your own business.” You can have all the weed in the world, but you still need a pipe to smoke it… Thus, the Lazydaze Counterculture was born.

What were you doing before?

I have been preparing for where I am now. I haven’t had a job since I started Lazydaze Counterculture, which was about 10 years ago now.  All my previous jobs were in retail stores like NIKE, Banana Republic, and the Buckle, which all gave me the perspective I needed to fine-tune the skill set I needed to start my own business. In the past years, I have been refining those skills and learning from the ground floor up.

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

After I graduated college, I focused on starting my career path as an entrepreneur. I could not yet venture into the legal grow and recreational retail space quite yet, though I knew it was only a matter of time, so I had to move on from that idea. What piqued my interest was the ancillary sector, the ‘everything else’ category. Until marijuana became legal, I could sell everything else that the cannabis culture needed. I knew the counterculture lifestyle was alive and well and continuing to evolve and “grow up.” The fragmented smoke shop industry would soon need a strong dose of corporate structure at some point to evolve with our target market, as to grow with the market and be what they’d desire in the future. I knew that the typical ‘smoke shop concept’ would need a complete revamp from its dark and dingy storefront and I knew I was capable of bringing that kind of value to the market. I realized that we needed to fill that gap as marijuana became more and more acceptable in mainstream culture. If we created a smoke shop with the look of Urban Outfitters, with the customer service of Nordstroms, while offering the quality of products and convenience of Macy’s, we would surpass the dingy image of the typical smoke shop and become something more… We would be COUNTERCULTURE!

I knew that the typical ‘smoke shop concept’ would need a complete revamp from its dark and dingy storefront and I knew I was capable of bringing that kind of value to the market. I realized that we needed to fill that gap as marijuana became more and more acceptable in mainstream culture.

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

I just want to focus and do what we do best, which is offer a retail experience that completely differentiates us from every other smoke shop in existence. I strive to create true value by creating a company that is truly scalable with multiple streams of revenue. And in order to do that, I must continue to build a team of steamrollers and strategic partners who are eady to execute, assist in franchise and corporate expansion, Round 1 capital raise, add value to the company, transform this company into a brand name, and complete the mission at hand. We have created a store for ladies and gentlemen who live the counterculture lifestyle and enjoy living free of stereotypes and plan on continuing to pursue on becoming the #1 Premier Counterculture Retailer in the World, through a combination of corporate and franchised brick and mortar stores and an E-commerce site. Our Franchise Disclosure Documents are complete and we have some pending international license agreements, so the time is now and we are ready to work!

Describe your work ethic to us in one word.

ONWARD!!

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?

My dad. He delivered babies when he was a mere 23 years old. He’s been a psychiatrist for about 30 years now, listening and helping people with their struggles. He took care of his family! And last, but not least, he was an Army Reserve Captain. He’s done so much in his life, so it’s very hard for me to make excuses not to succeed when I’ve seen everything he’s been capable of accomplishing. He has supported me since day 1, even though we did not agree on Business 101 matters for a very long time, we now love talking business together.

He’s done so much in his life, so it’s very hard for me to make excuses not to succeed when I’ve seen everything he’s been capable of accomplishing. He has supported me since day 1, even though we did not agree on Business 101 matters for a very long time, we now love talking business together.

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

I’ll give you my list, which I believe is a good collection that is crucial for all entrepreneurs: Rich Dad Poor Dad, Good to Great, Trust me I’m Lying, Breakthrough Branding, The Nordstrom Way, Why She Buys, Eat People, and the Beatles Biography.

Tell us about an esteemed achievement of yours.

My most esteemed achievement is my daughter. I am 34 years old and I have a 17 year old daughter who is getting ready for college, and hopefully be taking over this company in the future to stomp all over the competition.

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

Cliché advice : Look both ways before you cross the street and don’t eat yellow snow.

Actual Advice:  Don’t be like stagnant water; you’re just stinkin’ up the place.

My Advice: Evolve or Die.

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

The industry is still in its infancy. It is rolling, moving fast, and changing quickly! Be ready to adapt, because the big players are here, and many more ready to move in.

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

More states will have legalized medical and recreational consumption. I hope that either Congress, our current President, or the incumbent will finally flip the switch and re-schedule marijuana so that vets, sick, and disabled patients will have access to their medicine. Recreational will follow as the states figure out the tax issues and so forth.  I will probably say…. Damn!! Someone made a lot of money last year!? I am confident we will be leading the way in counterculture retail. We are definitely just getting started.

Looking for more information on LazyDaze? Visit them online, inquire about franchise opportunities, or call them directly at 512.947.6425

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Garyn Angel: Magical Butter

He’s the founder and CEO of Magical Butter and through his company’s line of products and excellent customer service, he’s seeking to do his part in creating a healthier future for the world. As intimidating of a goal that is, it’s sincerely at the core of his business. He’s not concerned with drama or negativity, but rather with his goal to remain positively infectious to everyone around him. If you’re looking for a little inspiration today, look no further than our interview with Garyn Angel.

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

I had a friend who had Crohn’s disease who needed an easy way to make medicated edibles. Magical Butter’s early concept worked great for him! It was seeing his improvement that inspired me to change careers and pursue the further development of the Magical Butter brand.

What skills from your previous experiences helped you in what you are doing now?

Prior to Magical Butter, I was named one of the top 100 financial planners in the United States. Through the years in that position, I advised inventors and other entrepreneurs, helping them build grants and negotiating with media and advertisers. I was born to work in this industry and do what I do.

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

The passion and energy at the office is electric. Our team at Magical Butter is focused on expanding international distribution and creating more products. We recently launched in Australia, South Africa, and Portugal – and I have to say, it’s exciting to watch the brand grow. Beyond that, we have several new products that are in their final rounds of testing. I am very proud of what my team is doing. It’s very energizing!

We recently launched in Australia, South Africa, and Portugal – and I have to say, it’s exciting to watch the brand grow.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Passionate.

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

My weakness as an entrepreneur is also my strength. I have a great family that I enjoy more than words and if it weren’t for them, I’d likely never leave the office. My strength is my attitude – I believe in the power of positive thinking. It’s rare that I get upset, I focus on finding solutions, and I avoid drama. I’m happy and it’s infectious at work and at home.

How are you differentiating yourself from the competition?

Magical Butter is building a family of customers and employees. We treat everyone well and provide real customer service. We have a great social network following on YouTube, on Facebook (where we have 175K+ fans), and on our Facebook forum. Then our Magical Butter Users United where we have another 7K+ members. It’s there that our customers can interact and answer each other’s questions. And of course, our advertising is visual, fun, and happy which is very unique to Magical Butter.

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

In the cannabis industry, inspiring stories surround you! The most inspiring of them are those children and adults who are diagnosed terminally ill and seeing them get a second chance at a happier and healthier life with cannabis. Working closely with pediatric cannabis therapy has given me insight into the behind-the-scenes struggles these parents and children face. Their stories are amazing and inspire my activism.

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

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to work on the company, not for it. And the only way to do that is to keep an open mind and good people around you. You have learn how to get rid of your stress in order to be happy; And you have to focus on establishing goals to be successful.

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to work on the company, not for it.

Where do your great ideas come from?

I listen to people and I search for happier, healthier solutions to their problems. They get written on a whiteboard that I look at daily. Some get erased, while others stay. Ideas and concepts come to life late at night when I’m in a creative mindset and I get so deep in thought that I make the design real.

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

Well, mine is more different. What’s important to me is happiness and health and I think they go hand-in-hand. I want to help others at home, at work, and at play. That’s really what my mission comes down to is ensuring that people are happy and healthy.

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

Magical Butter will release several new products in the coming months. In May, the Magical Butter paragliders will begin flying daily in California, Florida, and Australia along the coastline. Last year was the first annual CannaBall run where we traveled from Seattle to D.C. introducing customers to our brand. This year’s CannaBall run will be bigger, better, and even more fun, so keep a close look out for that! Continued growth and happiness is Magical Butter’s long-term future and I believe that in order to do that, we all have to help each other out.

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Brian Westphal: Lotus Boards

If you’re walking into this knowing little about industrial hemp, you’re in luck because you’re about to meet an entrepreneur who is diving into the industry headfirst. We are surrounded by manufactured products: Our appliances, our clothing, our kitchen utensils, our furniture, but do you know what material it’s made from? Do you know what environmental impact was made in the processing of that product? The revolution of cannabis is coming in increasingly larger waves, but it’s not just changing our health regimes, it’s changing everything around us. It’s reintroducing us to industrial hemp. And Brian Wetphal, founder and CEO of Lotus Boards, is putting that to the test right under our feet.

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

There’s an extraordinary amount of untapped potential in the industrial hemp industry. Remember, back in the 1930’s this was the next ‘Billion Dollar Crop’ and it vanished out of thin air. Translate that to today with inflation and the ever-growing market size for ‘green’ products… and we’re talking big time!

Not only is there the opportunity to make big bucks, but also to make an impact on the environment. Hemp reduces the need for fertilizers, water, and GMO farming, which is a bigger problem than most people realize. With just this first grade of hemp plastic we’re using in the Lotus Boards, we’re effectively replacing over 30% of the plastic needed while reducing energy input and carbon emission up to 70% when compared to similar manufacturing processes such as using glass fiber reinforcement. Imagine if that was applied to a large scale!

With just this first grade of hemp plastic we’re using in the Lotus Boards, we’re effectively replacing over 30% of the plastic needed while reducing energy input and carbon emission up to 70% when compared to similar manufacturing processes such as using glass fiber reinforcement. Imagine if that was applied to a large scale!

What skills from your previous experiences helped you in what you are doing now?

My background is in Mechanical Engineering. I’m a recent graduate of Cal Poly Pomona University. It was there that I learned the technical tools to calculate factors that went into design to handle the number of stresses our skateboard can experience. The design of the board was like an open canvas where I was able to harness my creative side to develop the most aesthetic cruiser board on the market. There’s nothing like it anywhere else.

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

I don’t think there was any one point – Every single day is a constant reminder! Seeing all of the development in the industry and getting that amazing support from people everywhere is what makes me realize it daily. There’s a huge need for us to change our ways of manufacturing. Just look around you. Realize how many of the items in your everyday life were made using harmful methods and how we can each play a part in improving that.

What are you doing to impact the industry?

My vision with Lotus is to bring industrial hemp to the general public, namely the younger skater demographic. The best way to show people its potential is to put it right in their hands, or in this case under their feet, as they shred.

The Lotus Board is one of the first products in the United States made from hemp plastic. Most products made from plastic injection molding can be made using this material as an alternative. The quickest way to have cultivation become legal in the United States again is to demonstrate the crop’s money-making ability with different applications. Then, there’s no denying it.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Consistent. Most people tend to fluctuate with their work ethic and motivation, but I stay on top of it all day, every day.

What does a typical work day look like for you in your business?

From the time I wake up to when I go to bed, which is usually 11am to 4am (since I’m a total night owl), I’m working behind the scenes. I am the sole operator of Lotus, so I wear all the hats of the business. This really allows me to focus the company towards my vision. I work out of my home office for now, but soon we’re gonna need a step up once we get inventory.

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

I get inspired by visionaries like Elon Musk and Steve Jobs. They are not afraid to push the boundaries of what people thought was possible or even reasonable and they always end up surprising us. I want to do the same thing for industrial hemp. I envision a society that acquires all of its manufacturing materials from bio-based sources. If you think about it, we’re surrounded all day by toxic materials and pollution. Hemp is one of the best crops to bring us closer to that vision. We can already make textiles, food, houses, and now plastics from hemp and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

The turning point for Lotus Boards was when I won the Cal Poly Pomona Bronco Startup Challenge. I always had the support of my friends, the Polyfounders, but when my vision was supported by a panel of investors, I realized that I had to pursue it to completion.

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

Get creative, test the boundaries, be innovative. Think farther than just smoking related materials because you can really apply hemp to make almost anything now. Find something that you use every day that is harmful for the environment. It’s not too different from any other business, all it takes is a commitment. There’s no ‘secret’! I started from having absolutely no knowledge and am still learning.

Get creative, test the boundaries, be innovative.

What’s your newest knowledge about the hemp industry?

There’s a lot of cool hemp development I can’t talk about, but most of the scope of these applications is replacing our current methods of manufacturing in ways that are much better for the environment. We’re gonna see some very cool hemp products roll out in the next few years.

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

At this rate, the spread of cannabis is happening at an exponential level, so it’s tough to gauge. I expect us to be wearing Lotus Boards hemp shirts, talking about how more and more states are considering legalizing hemp cultivation. The number of people experimenting with hemp applications is going to increase by a factor of 10. Once a market opportunity presents itself, entrepreneurs will jump all over it. Most are focused on the marijuana side right now as that’s where the buzz is at.

If you talked to me a year ago, Lotus was just an idea. I was coming up with board concepts and experimenting with the material. Not many people were talking about hemp. Fast forward to just a week ago, and Lotus was featured in High Times. A lot can happen in the span of a year.

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