Although my Facebook feed is a rather dramatic and unreliable source for information about your administration, in the past few weeks it has been clear about at least this much: you’ve had a very busy first month. So, I’ll cut to right to the chase: I think you should consider cannabis. More accurately, I think you should consider the legal cannabis industry as a potential catalyst for the “unbridled economic growth” you’re hoping to deliver to those working-class Americans who supported you, and even those who didn’t.
Public Service Announcement to Cannabis Founders (and the service providers who feast upon them)
There’s nothing wrong with service providers, per se. In fact, good service providers that understand startups and respect the struggle can be valuable allies. But many service providers don’t understand startups at all. They come from a world of bloated corporate bureaucracy, where deadlocked committees with unpoliced budgets and vague success metrics are easily impressed by someone who actually gets things done and sends them a glossy report to prove it.
Your Startup isn't a Charity
As a founder, finding an angel investor to write that first check is almost always a huge challenge. I've been in and around startups as an early employee, founder, advisor and angel for well over a decade now, and raising capital is never easy, and it is always critical.
If you're the founder of a cannabis startup--whether you're looking for mainstream capital or funds from within the legacy industry--that problem is compounded.
A Brave New Cannabis World
I had the honor of taking the stage at this year’s Tech Open Air in Berlin to inform the audience about the potential for our future with a legal and de-stigmatized cannabis industry. You can view the video of the talk here on YouTube, but I thought I would take the time to provide my thoughts in written form. I truly believe that we are entering a brave new cannabis world.