I am a Recreational Marijuana Marketer Working in Seattle's Legal Cannabis Industry since the begining, Ask Me Anything! #AMA
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.
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.
If it didn't rain so much in Washington State I would move there in and start growing weed!
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! ;]
The redwoods and sequoia's are nice, at least the ones that haven't been burned the last few years!
I don't think I could live anywhere without trees after spending 15 years in Washington.... i'd go into a mad depression.
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?
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.
You can't deny the numbers.
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.
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!
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!
Just for you: https://steemit.com/cannabis/@thedashguy/the-weekly-legalmarijuanreview-from-seattle-wa-this-weeks-write-up-goldleafgardens-and-their-artisanal-cannabis
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. :)
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!!
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
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
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?
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
A lot of cannabis dispensaries have had their bank acc closed which means they can only deal with cash. I heard many complain that they are now the target of armed robbers. So the question is why are they not using bitcoin instead of cash?
The states have created this "point system" on state owned stores, if you do "too many" things improperly you get in trouble and eventually can lose your license, essentially losing your whole business to the state. there is quite a bit of incentive not to bend the rules and let the state figure the details out while stores just operate under whatever rules they give out. So implementing Bitcoin would be a mess for these companies, trust me ive asked MANY times lol. If one day there is a 3rd party company that leverages Bitcoin to provide ATM or Debit Card services to these stores, that might work, but it would need to be 3rd party...
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?
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.
It will be one of the greatest decentralized commodity market. but that actually already exists. These guys do it https://www.amercanex.com/
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!
3)Can you think of any support services that are lacking or simply absent?
Why is hash/hashoil not a product of choice in the medical business
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.