I have worked in Seattle's Marijuana Industry for over 5 years, I have done everything from open new stores, sell product at the counter, buy products, test products, market cannabis related businesses & most anything else you would ever have to do involved in most cannabis businesses. #AskMeAnything!
I wrote a post today titled "Behind the scenes of Washington's State-run Legalized Pot Industry from the perspective of the marketing guy." and sort of went into a word vomit of posts as I soon realized there was far too much content for one post and attempting to cover it all was a naive move. So instead I was hoping to do sort of an AMA of sorts, I have worked in the marijuana industry in Washington for a little over 5 years and have done most everything there is to do in regards to operating cannabis businesses.
I started out being a pot advocate many years ago and have spent much of my life learning about cannabis, the benefits of cannabis, how to grow marijuana and so on and so forth. I eventually transitioned from being a regular old web designer to a more cannabis focused one back in 2011 after deciding I wanted to try to enter the cannabis industry while it was young, and boy am I glad I did that...
Ever since I have had the chance to work with quite a few businesses on both the medical side and the recreational side of things and have learned quite alot in the process, I would love to share that knowledge with everyone! The newest business I am working with is www.kush21.com which will open in next few weeks, and will be picking up anyone from the Airport for free! So if you are in Seattle next month and want to see a premium cannabis experience, checkout www.kush21.com and let me know you are coming I'll come along to make sure it's a wonderful visit!
So go on folks, Ask Me Anything! What would you like to know about cannabis, legalization, Seattle or anything else! Let see what we come up with!
Among some of my projects include: www.kush21.com / www.grasswa.com / www.IMarriedMary.com
I will be online for the next few hours working on a new website design for www.rainiercannabis.com and would love to multi-task and answer questions while I'm working! Thanks! Excited to do this!
#SeattleCannabis #CannabisAMA
edit: So far the mockup I'm workin on looks like this:
What are the benefits of marijuana sans thc? I know some people prefer to not have the feeling of being high but still want the benefit of this medicinal plant. And what would be your best argument to swing people to support legalizing marijuana? And finally is there any sort of test that can be done similar to a sobriety test that can help people know what their thc content is so that people could be prosecuted from irresponsibly operating vehicles under the influence? I'm pro marijuana but feel a few checks and balances need to be in place before it will be possible to legalize it in my home state of NY.
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Marijuana has far more cannabinoids in it than just THC, take CBD for example, arguably the second most popular cannabinoid; CBD is a pain relief at its finest, i would even go so far as to say CBD is more healthy and useful for you than aspirin, without the downsides. I have used CBD oil infused lotions many times on my torn MCL and during recovering it made most of the pain not bother me usually without taking a single pill. Here is some further literature on it: http://www.leafscience.com/2014/02/23/5-must-know-facts-cannabidiol-cbd/
Don't even get me started out how horrible all these pills are for people, I have had MANY patients/customers who quite literally sell their pills from the doctor and turn around and purchase cannabis and/or cannabis oils with the money.
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If it didn't rain so much in Washington State I would move there in and start growing weed!
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I hear that alot lol and while I agree the rain does suck sometimes, how else would we support the massive forest we live in? These trees are to die for! ;]
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The redwoods and sequoia's are nice, at least the ones that haven't been burned the last few years!
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I don't think I could live anywhere without trees after spending 15 years in Washington.... i'd go into a mad depression.
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Exactly HOW much tax money has been generated so far? I live in Arizona, and the recreational movement is pushing hard. I believe a lot of residents want to see a lot of the taxes go towards education and boost us from the bottom of the barrel.
Also, what's your favorite strain? And why?
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There is actually a very nice website with all of the data publicly available at http://www.502data.com/ which states that we have currently made around $250,076,113 in Total Marijuana Excise Tax To Date and sold $946,276,822 worth of marijuana to consumers to date.
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You can't deny the numbers.
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We have a 37% tax on every cannabis product btw. Along with taxes on production and harvesting as well. The money is amazing for the local states.
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If you can't tell us your favorite strain, I can understand and appreciate that. Haha, thank you so much responding and showing your support here!
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Oh bro but I have so many! I absolutely love https://www.leafly.com/hybrid/peppermint-cookies by goldleafgardens.com but its quite spendy usually. Anything from http://www.royaltreegardens.com/ is absolute FIRE!
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Just for you: https://steemit.com/cannabis/@thedashguy/the-weekly-legalmarijuanreview-from-seattle-wa-this-weeks-write-up-goldleafgardens-and-their-artisanal-cannabis
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What does it take for me to come there and test everything out?:D
Living in a country where weed is illegal makes it such a hassle to enjoy properly. I've been planning on going to the states when I have saved up, to hit up California where it doesn't seem to matter if its legal or not. :D
Great post btw, we need more herb lovers here. :)
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Just an ID/passport and a planet ticket into the state :D Anyone who is 21+ with proper ID (passport or equivalent) can purchase recreational cannabis as long as they don't leave the state with it. Most of the customers are usually out of staters- to be honest. Until recently that is, they finally killed off most medical shops in Seattle via laws and monetary bullying.
And thanks man! I noticed there wasn't too many folks into this stuff just yet, hoping we get all of our heady instagram loving friends on here! haha! Speaking of which, BRB posting Steemit to my 600+ follower Instagram account!!
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Awesome! Yeah you do that! The community here will be blooming soon. ;)
I posted about Steem on IG a week ago too: www.instagram.com/crypt0trader
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I also did my first product/company review for you guys just now! Many more to come: https://steemit.com/cannabis/@thedashguy/the-weekly-legalmarijuanreview-from-seattle-wa-this-weeks-write-up-goldleafgardens-and-their-artisanal-cannabis
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What is the entry cost/difficulty of starting your own shop? Thanks!
Also, what do you think the next big innovation in the marijuana industry will be?
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Honestly, the state and the paperwork. It's very easy to start a store, find the products, get quality staffers, find a location and all that. But when it comes to getting approved via the state you are looking at anywhere from 3 months -1 year of dealing with them to complete all the steps in the process to get a license. Not to mention the wait list is nuts, but yet we have many new shops opening all the time, new growers and most of all new producers such as nwcs425.com who are making a killing doing everything from edibles to oils. I hope that answer your question.
As far as innovative products, I believe they will eventually become cigarette style and be sold in gas stations and/or liquor stores. Oh and powdered marijuana is now a thing... its wonderful lol heres a PR release: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prohibition-gold-announces-potshotz-the-worlds-first-powdered-marijuana-mixer-300294251.html
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Crypto just seems like it's tailor made for the legal pot industry. I remember there were a handful of coins out there that were targeting the legal MJ side. Any idea whatever became of them? Like what was the reaction of actual businesses to them?
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It most definitely is in my eyes. I just wish the laws and regulations would be more lenient and maybe some shops would make the change... but alas taxes become more complicated with crypto hence the big issue.
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It will be one of the greatest decentralized commodity market. but that actually already exists. These guys do it https://www.amercanex.com/
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I'm not so sure we can't just use a system like Steem for these type of things, why is everyone and thier mother have a new blockchain project out every week? lol not to say these guys aren't legit but damn i can't keep up anymore!
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3)Can you think of any support services that are lacking or simply absent?
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Why is hash/hashoil not a product of choice in the medical business
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Where is the profits? There is more money in having someone sign up for a lifetime regiment of pills than smoking a little pot. Making Hemp illegal opened up 5 new industries including paper and wood. You can literally make steel strength materials with Hemp. The same idea applies to medical cannabis, there is more money if you provide crapper solutions at higher price points; such as Oxycodone. This plays into insurance companies after a while as well and I could go on and on about how there are very powerful people in this country would have ALOT to lose on the legalization movement, it won't come easily.
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What form of cannabis flower has the largest profit margin per 100kg bale, Indoor or Outdoor? What does it trade as on commodity market kg? lb? how big per unit?
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Whoa whoa whoa there bud! LOL Honestly you get the most money for BHO these days, the stuff is worth more than Gold, literally! See: http://www.mjcharts.com/charts/all-cities/shatter/ Obviously outdoor is cheaper, but not in our state, you will get mold before you get profits in this wet place. Not to mention as its legal, goodluck running an illegal grow op, you are the #1 target of the police outdoor. But in california for example, outdoor would be the way to go. I know people up here at wholesale levels paid roughl 1800-2400 per lb on the medical side, now its all packaged into smaller units for the new stores though. Usually the stuff costs $2-8 per gram and sells for 3.5x-5x of that amount.
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CBD is AWESOME!
Easily test the cannabis you're using for CBD content, with this...
8-Minute DIY Home Test!! Clear and Accurate results!.
Best results from CBD usage kick in at about 3 weeks of daily usage!
Can Also Be Used on Vegging Plants! Accurately!!!
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Why do we have to renew our certifications every year? Why can't the law be every five years or a longer time frame than one year.
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I am located in Southern Oregon and have been growing medically for around 6 years now. I am getting set up and ready to do a recreational grow. My one and only concerned is the supply and demand. Of all the states where rec is currently legal, Oregon has the best climate for growing and thus I imagine there will be so much more supply than the other currently legal states and also less demand since the population here isn't as huge and tourism isn't as big either.
My concern is that mostly only the big dogs are going to survive as growers and perhaps some smaller guys that also have their own dispensary and are selling their own goods. Also, the market is likely to get super competitive so very quickly and I would think that indoors and light dep are going to prevail and there isn't going to be much room for outdoors. However where there may be room for outdoors it's going to be super competitive and the price will be pretty low.
I imagine that a lot of the growers in Oregon aren't going to survive the first 2 years or will be forced to sell their entire harvest straight to extractors.
What are you thoughts on this having been involved in the scene in Washington? Also what do extractors pay per pound. And do they also purchase the leaf? And does it have to be fresh?
Thanks for your insight!
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Test for CBD, grow the high CBD strains! :D
CBD is AWESOME!
Easily test the cannabis you're using for CBD content, with this...
8-Minute DIY Home Test!! Clear and Accurate results!.
Best results from CBD usage kick in at about 3 weeks of daily usage!
Can Also Be Used on Vegging Plants! Accurately!!!
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What is the best way to store seeds for future use?
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A fridge is a great spot, heat is bad, too cold is bad.: http://www.cannaversity.com/cannaversity/article.php?id=105
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Do you know exactly what thai-stick consisted of? If you are to re-introduce to the market, would it be a hit?
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Hahaha the age old question! Yes of course I know what a "tied stick" is LOL.
And I don't see much of a market for it quite honestly, it was the earlier version of BHO laced joints with an added cool factor. There might be some folks doing high-end thai sticks but for the most part your average consumer is going to spend anywhere from $45 to $65 dollars and that type of product would easily break the budget. It might work at the more high end shops though if the branding and messaging is on point and the product is straight fire..
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Is it true that Big Pharma is looking to own all rights on concentrates, so they can use it as a base in their generics?
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Technically you might say they are well on thier way to doing this, but currently no you cannot copyright this stuff. You can do something similar and create your own strain and copyright the "lineage" in the sense you keep it secret and dont tell anyone how you made this strain, but someone could technically figure it out and there would be very little do to about it. These are plants after all, how can someone copyright plants?
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Sounds kinda like open-source stuff like the bitcoin whitepaper and if anyone wans to know how it exactly works and what it is they can, and if they want to clone it and remake it they can do that too.
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Yea that idea falls in line with how it works, with some tweaks. I for one hope copyright NEVER puts its dirty hands on cannabis. Marlboro and the rest can go eff themselves we don't want those con artists in this indsutry...
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