Jeremy Laine: Meet. Smoke. Chill.
Jeremy Laine: PassinGrass.com
You’ll certainly be hard-pressed to find another personality like his in the industry, he is undoubtedly one-of-a-kind and proves that when there is a will, there is a way, it’s all up to you. Jeremy Laine, Founder and CEO of PassinGrass.com, found himself in a situation many could relate to; he was working two jobs and taking college classes at the same time. But what Jeremy did after numerous years and countless hours was what set him apart from the rest. He quit it all. He ditched the current many people fall prey to in this society and he committed to teaching himself what he needed to start his own business. He is a self-taught entrepreneur fueled on the goal to build a business that helps everyone in the community through the means of cannabis. He is ever-expanding and pushing himself to new limits every day and he is a prime example of how doing what you love has inevitable success.
What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?
Well, I’ve been using cannabis since high school but I never was aware of the benefits of it until I started growing it myself. Ever since I began doing that, it opened up a whole new world to me and I fell in love with it. By growing, you really have the opportunity to see that it is a plant exactly like the rest. It is not harmful at all. I never really thought twice about why it was illegal, nor did I bother myself with it. But once you realize the medicinal and industrial uses for this, you know exactly why the government made it illegal; it is the most powerful plant on this planet. It can cure cancer, 3rd degree burns, and lupus.; it can prevent seizures and heal just about everything else. You don’t have to be a doctor to administer it.
What were you doing before?
Before this I was working two jobs and going to college. I worked at a granite and marble warehouse and also as a chef at an environmental camp. Working at those two places for 5 years, at almost 70 hours a week, plus school, kind of took a toll on me. So, I dropped out of college and quit both of my jobs all in the same month. I was done working for people and so this is how I became an entrepreneur. At that time I didn’t even know what the word ‘entrepreneur’ even meant, but now that I know, I really encourage people to quit their jobs and offer to teach them how to get started.
I first started a company called Curb Lots to get me by while I focused on what I really wanted to do, web development. I still own the company and work it as a side job painting curb numbers, traffic curbs, and parking lots. It was a challenge to get the license for it, but in the end, I found that all I had to do was donate to the environmental camp that I used to work at which is great since I still love visiting everyone there.
Being a chef for a time definitely gave me a skill set that I utilize today in my business. I established a product line for PassinGrass.com which offers THC capsules, CBD oil, and a powerful healing cream. And we also have a secret edible en route that we will be releasing to dispensaries soon.
Tell me about the point in the time you realized the coming of the green rush?
I knew it would come as soon as legalization became more of a present topic in the media. More laws were taking effect and people are now starting to realize they’ve been ridiculously lied to about the plant so far. The medical benefits of cannabis are shocking. There are even people moving from their home states to seek treatment where it is legalized. Where we are at now is only the dawning of the industry. Most of the media only covers the medical benefits but standby and wait until everyone hears about the industrial benefits.
Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?
Right now, everything I do is for PassinGrass. One of my dreams is to own a huge cannabis company that helps people in every way possible. People will find love on our site because they already have a deep love in common. But it’s a different kind of love, a high love; one that is positive and doesn’t create problems.
Describe your work ethic in one word.
Love
Tell me about a time in your career when things didn’t go as planned and what did you do about that? How did you handle it?
If things don’t go as planned, I innovate. But before that, you’ll find me at the beach meditating.
What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?
The latest book I’ve read was really inspiring. Stuart Wilde calls it The Little Money Bible: Ten Laws of Abundance. It is about the psychological aspects of money and how we can take this metaphysical approach. The book will completely change how you think about money. Another great short read is The One Minute Salesperson by Spencer Johnson. After you read that, you’ll feel like you can sell anything.
Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.
When I got my first check from a client for designing their new website. I taught myself how to do web design and some minor programming by watching YouTube videos and reading. After I got good enough to start a company, I started TreeLife Web Design. I love programming and now I’m really getting into it with JavaScript and Objective C.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Do what you love and do whatever the hell you want.
What is the most important thing for us to know now about the legal marijuana industry?
You must educate yourselves. Learn about it and grow it. You will be amazed. It doesn’t matter if it’s legal or illegal, it can kill your cancer and build you a new house.
If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the green rush be going?
We would probably be smoking a joint talking about how California needs to legalize already like all the other states.
