How to Name Your Cannabis Business

How to Name Your Cannabis Business

Aug 23, 2014

7 principles to remember when naming your cannabis business. If you’re opening a dispensary or cooking up an edibles brand, make sure to read this first.

How You Can Create a Cannabis Industry We Can All Be Proud Of

How You Can Create a Cannabis Industry We Can All Be Proud Of

Jun 24, 2014

Aaron Smith, co-founder and executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, reminded us that before cannabis was an industry, “we were a social movement, and we still are a social movement.” The legalized states are leading the way for what general use cannabis will look like after prohibition ends. Aaron reminded nearly a thousand attendees how the steps they take now will be the foundation of a Cannabis industry that we can all be proud of. 1. Be A Good Neighbor Reach out to your neighborhood–from local businesses to local citizens. When the federal government shut down Oaksterdamn, the NCIA got neighborhood businesses to hang green flags in solidarity. It’s a lot easier to move forward with neighborhood organizations on your side. 2. Be Professional Everything from answering the phone to paying your bills on time affects your own business and the cannabis industry as a whole. Don’t use marketing that you wouldn’t want your mother to see. Create a professional industry that shows the country what they’ve been missing. 3. Engage Politically Find out who your elected representatives are and get on their email list. Attend their events and give money to their campaigns to support your cause. Be present and make phone calls so that they hear from the Cannabis industry a lot more than they do now. Make it easy for your customers to engage their officials as well. Reward customers that call their elected representatives or send emails. Make it easy for customers to engage while they wait. Harborside Health Center has a robust Patient Activist Center that rewards customers with product for participating. 4. Join a Trade Organization If you...
Why Cannabis Businesses Will Do So Much More Than Just Make Money (Cannabis Business Summit)

Why Cannabis Businesses Will Do So Much More Than Just Make Money (Cannabis Business Summit)

Jun 24, 2014

The Cannabis Business Summit was opened by Troy Dayton, CEO of the Arcview Group, who spoke about the long road to Cannabis legalization. When he started with the Marijuana Policy Project and founded Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the future of Cannabis was not so clear. Today, Cannabis is legal for medical use in 23 states and generally legal here in Colorado. “The hippies were right.” Organic food, renewable energy and cannabis legalization were all kicked off by the “hippie movement” (which I got to be a part of, thanks to my parents). Troy spoke about the difference between an alternative movement and a huge industry was the profitability of the businesses that support it. (Think about the small organic food stores of the 70s versus Whole Food today.) What brought movements that were good for our bodies and good for our planet was the professionalism of those businesses. “The best thing you can do to help legalize Cannabis is to run great businesses.” Businesses that go beyond just being profitable. Troy challenged attendees to run businesses that consider and care for all stakeholders. Not just your customers but non-Cannabis users in your area. Not just the zoning board but your local school board too. Not just the alternative media but the mainstream media. “Professionalism…means you treat people with respect no matter how long their hair is.” Troy spoke to the call for “professionalism” for Cannabis Businesses. But professionalism goes beyond where you went to school or who you know. Professionalism means following through, caring for stakeholders throughout the community, and respecting people no matter how long their hair is. Go beyond making...