Proud To Work In Cannabis

By: Karson Humiston
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  • Summary

  • Join Karson Humiston from Vangst, the cannabis industry's end to end HR technology platform, for conversations with the people behind the cannabis industry. Each week, Karson will interview cannabis industry employees ranging from entry level to executive, to hear their story and learn why they are so #proudtoworkincannabis. Produced by PodConx
    2022 - 2023 | Proud To Work In Cannabis
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Alternative & Complementary Medicine Career Success Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership
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Episodes
  • Empowering Teams and Changing Lives: John Pennington's Vision for Proper Cannabis

    Empowering Teams and Changing Lives: John Pennington's Vision for Proper Cannabis
    Jun 5 2024

    Navigating the Missouri Cannabis Market with John Pennington

    After a brief hiatus, Karson Humiston returns with an engaging conversation with John Pennington, the co-founder and CEO of Proper Cannabis in Missouri. John shared his early entrepreneurial spirit, from shoveling driveways as a kid to running a business in high school and college. His transition into the cannabis industry was influenced by his work in real estate and his involvement in building Missouri's largest non-profit methadone treatment center. This experience opened his eyes to the potential of cannabis as a regulated industry.

    They discuss the importance of having a clear vision and mission, and how John successfully scaled Proper Cannabis from a preliminary idea to a leading company with over 450 employees. He emphasized the significance of writing down goals, empowering teams, and fostering a strong company culture. Proper Cannabis is known for its low turnover rate, which John attributes to the intentional culture they've built, where every team member feels valued and connected.

    John also highlighted the rapid growth of the Missouri cannabis market, which has expanded significantly since the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Proper Cannabis has become a market leader in various product categories, including pre-rolls, concentrates, and edibles.

    One of the most inspiring parts of our conversation was John's commitment to social justice. He teaches a class called "Business, Purpose, and the Bible" in the St. Louis County jail system, helping inmates find hope and purpose. This aligns with his broader mission to advocate for policy changes in Washington, D.C., and support re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.

    Looking ahead, John envisions Proper Cannabis expanding beyond Missouri and becoming a multi-state operator while maintaining its strong ethos and commitment to quality. His dedication to both business success and social impact makes him a standout entrepreneur in the cannabis industry.

    https://www.propercannabis.com/

    Produce By PodConx

    Watch Video - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZI8qZy0lKxLO4OTk6P-tw

    Karson Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karson-humiston-64572b97/

    Vangst - https://vangst.com/

    Recorded on Squadcast

    Sound Design by Jamie Humiston
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    31 mins
  • Green Growth: Unpacking the 2024 Cannabis Jobs Report with Industry Experts

    Green Growth: Unpacking the 2024 Cannabis Jobs Report with Industry Experts
    Apr 10 2024
    State of Cannabis Employment: A Deep Dive into the 2024 Jobs ReportKarson Humiston discuss the release of the Vangst annual cannabis industry 2024 jobs report with Bruce Barcott, a seasoned writer in the cannabis space, and Beau Whitney, the chief economist at Whitney Economics. The trio share insights into the current state of cannabis employment.They begin with a sense of optimism as they reveal that the industry has bounced back from a challenging period, adding almost 23,000 new jobs, bringing the total to 440,145 full-time equivalent positions as of early 2024. This marks a 5% year-over-year increase, driven by a national revenue increase of about 10%. However, they note that not all states have experienced growth, with some leading the way in job opportunities.Michigan, Missouri, and New Jersey are highlighted as the top three states for job additions, with Michigan adding over 11,000 jobs. Karson discusses the factors contributing to Michigan's growth, including lower product prices, increased legal market participation, and cannabis tourism from neighboring states like Ohio.Conversely, the episode also addresses the job losses in established markets such as California, Colorado, and Washington, attributing the decline to various challenges including profitability issues, oversupply, and changes in consumer behavior. The conversation touches on the need for state regulators to adapt their policies to support the health of cannabis businesses, not just focus on public safety.Looking ahead to 2024, the Karson predicts job growth in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland, driven by new licenses and market maturation. They express concern for mature markets like Colorado, where businesses are struggling, and emphasize the importance of federal and state-level reforms to ensure the industry's sustainability.The episode concludes with their predictions for the 2025 jobs report, expressing optimism for continued growth, especially with potential federal reforms and international developments like Germany's move towards legalization. They encourage listeners to download and share the report to raise awareness of the job creation potential of the cannabis industry.Listeners can download the full 2024 jobs report at Vangst.com and use it to advocate for the cannabis industry's job creation potential. We encourage sharing the report with friends, employees, and politicians to support the industry's growth toward the goal of one million U.S. jobs. https://www.vangst.com/2024-jobs-report Timestamps00:00:00 - Introduction and Annual Jobs Report Release00:00:49 - Positive Growth in Cannabis Jobs00:02:20 - Significant Job Increases in Specific States00:04:47 - Michigan's Surprising Job Growth00:05:46 - Factors Contributing to Michigan's Job Increase00:06:41 - Predictions for Job Growth in Ohio00:07:20 - Potential Impact of Ohio's Market on Michigan00:08:28 - States Expected to Add Jobs in 202400:10:43 - Maryland's License Increase and Job Growth00:11:33 - States That Lost Jobs in 202300:12:36 - California's Job Loss and Industry Struggles00:13:47 - Economic Challenges in the Cannabis Industry00:15:54 - Delinquent Payments in the Cannabis Industry00:16:05 - Comparing Bad Debt Ratios00:17:30 - The Decline of Colorado's Cannabis Job Market00:18:28 - Future Predictions for Cannabis Job Growth00:19:44 - The Role of Regulators in Market Maturation00:21:13 - Right-Sizing License Structures00:23:09 - 2025 Job Growth Predictions00:24:40 - Potential Impact of New Markets00:25:16 - International Developments in Cannabis Reform00:26:07 - Global Cannabis Market Influence00:27:27 - Optimism for the Cannabis Industry's Future00:28:38 - Importance of the Annual Jobs Report00:29:10 - Advocacy and Political Engagement Produce By PodConxWatch Video - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZI8qZy0lKxLO4OTk6P-twKarson Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karson-humiston-64572b97/Vangst - https://vangst.com/Recorded on SquadcastSound Design by Jamie Humiston
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    30 mins
  • The King Of Cones - Bryan Gerber, Co-founder & CEO of Hemper

    The King Of Cones - Bryan Gerber, Co-founder & CEO of Hemper
    Apr 3 2024
    Crafting the Perfect Smoke: Inside the World of Cannabis Accessories with Bryan GerberKarson Humiston welcomes Bryan Gerber, co-founder and CEO, of Hemper and Hara Supply, also known as the "King of Cones." The nickname stems from a Forbes article that highlighted Bryan's success in building a $75 million pre-roll empire. Both Karson and Bryan reminisce about their college days and the realization that they are no longer the young entrepreneurs they once were, with Bryan approaching his 33rd birthday.Brian recounts the early days of his business, which started when he was 23 years old, shortly after graduating from George Washington University. He shares the story of how he convinced his roommates to start a subscription box for smoking accessories, despite being called crazy at the time. The business, launched on May 1st, 2015, was inspired by the subscription economy trend, with companies like Birchbox and Dollar Shave Club making waves. Hemper's initial concept was akin to a "Birchbox for stoners."The subscription box took off when they introduced a guest-curated concept, where celebrities would select items for the box, allowing subscribers to "smoke like Snoop Dogg" for a month. This concept rapidly increased their revenue, and within six months, they were processing six figures monthly. From just a couple of hundred subscribers in the first four months, Hemper grew to over 30,000 subscribers.As the business evolved, Hemper faced the challenge of keeping the subscription boxes fresh and interesting. They decided to develop their own products, becoming an authority in enhancing the smoking ritual. Brian mentions the Jolly Pop, a water pipe that resembles a lollipop, as an example of their innovative products.The conversation shifts to Hemper's expansion into retail stores. Brian explains their strategy of leveraging the brand's power to drive traffic to retailers by announcing the availability of Hemper products in specific locations. They positioned themselves as a partner to retailers, not just a supplier, and emphasized their strong online presence, including a significant Instagram following, to support retail partners.Bryan also discusses the company's foray into manufacturing pre-roll cones. Initially, they were approached by Kush Bottles (now KushCo Holdings) to fill a market shortage. Brian's business partner, RJ, went to India to learn the cone-making process, as all cones are handmade due to the fragility of the paper. They now run 15 manufacturing sites in India with about 4,000 employees, producing around 100 million cones a month, primarily for the North American market.Despite the challenges, such as the vape crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryan notes that these events positively impacted their business by driving consumers back to pre-rolls and increasing sales.Looking to the future, Bryan envisions moving into automation for cone production and continuing to innovate with product development. He also plans to expand into Europe, with Germany's recent legalization being a significant opportunity.Bryan concludes by offering advice to his younger self and to aspiring entrepreneurs: avoid shiny object syndrome, stay focused, and be willing to reinvent the business model as needed. He encourages listeners to reach out via email or LinkedIn if they're interested in joining the Hemper team, emphasizing the value of taking initiative.https://www.hemper.co/https://harasupply.com/TIMESTAMP:00:00:00 - Introduction to Brian Gerber00:00:39 - Bryan's Age and Feeling Old00:01:02 - College Graduation Years00:01:18 - Starting Hemper at 2300:01:34 - The Idea Behind Subscription Boxes00:02:38 - Celebrity Curated Boxes and Growth00:03:11 - Transition to Creating Own Products00:03:35 - The Jolly Pop Product Discussion00:04:22 - Moving to Retail and Distribution Strategy00:07:03 - Funding and Financial Growth00:08:10 - Decision to Focus on Profitability00:08:37 - Expanding into Retail Stores00:11:00 - The Shift to Pre-Roll Cones Production00:13:42 - The Handmade Process of Cone Production00:14:44 - Domestic Operations in Las Vegas00:17:03 - Future Plans and Expanding into Europe00:20:20 - Hiring the Right People00:23:35 - Impact of Vape Crisis and COVID on Business00:25:13 - Bryan's Vision for the Next Decade00:26:14 - Advice to Younger Self00:27:30 - The Importance of Reinventing the Business00:28:12 - How to Get in Touch and Join the Team Produce By PodConxWatch Video - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZI8qZy0lKxLO4OTk6P-twKarson Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karson-humiston-64572b97/Vangst - https://vangst.com/Recorded on SquadcastSound Design by Jamie Humiston
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    29 mins

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