1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: Afro Tech twenty nineteen, Oakland, California. News personality and social 2 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: justice activists Angela riots on the mainstage speaking with Jason 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: White and Kareem Webtation is at the time chief marketing 4 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: officer a cure Lee cannabis label, and Kareem is an 5 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: entrepreneurial activists and CEO at Fourth Movement in l a 6 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: based social equity initiative. Angela position is a question to 7 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: the guys about the impact of legislation and the black 8 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: opportunity in the cannabis industry. When you think about the 9 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: other barriers of entry, because there's not policy right that 10 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: would allow this uh space to exist for us in 11 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: a way that I think it makes it one, makes 12 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: it sustainable and to makes people engage. Whether we're talking 13 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: about raising capital, we know there are folks that won't 14 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: fund um these ventures because it's not federally legal. What 15 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: are the other barriers of entry that exists from a 16 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 1: political standpoint? Well, I think to your point about capital, 17 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: even though even when you can raise couple of the 18 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: cost of that capital is it's extraordinary high and and 19 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: and higher. So that's an issue. UH, it's still a 20 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: Schedule one drug, which means there's basically no way to 21 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: research it, no way to to kind of put it 22 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: on the docket as a as a political discussion. And 23 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: in addition to that, I think if you look at, 24 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: for example, the More Act, which was which is the 25 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: most aggressive bill out there, that's when you get to 26 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: real true expungement putting money in my money, aside from 27 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: research and looking at um even surveys and opportunities to 28 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: truly get a measurement of like what is the state 29 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: of the industry in the communities, what are the real 30 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: numbers behind this? And without that legislation, none of that exists. 31 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: This is just companies making money and you need that 32 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: governance to make sure that some of those other steps 33 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: are taken around this industry. Will Lucas and this is 34 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: black tech, green money. I'm gonna interrouce you to some 35 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: of the biggest names, some of the brightest minds and 36 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: brilliant ideas. I feel black and building are simply using 37 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: tech to secure your bag. This podcast is for you. 38 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: Al Harrington and Wilson Chandler are both former NBA players 39 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: term businessmen. John Monopoly is Kanye who has manager. The 40 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: partners have joined forces to work together on expanding the 41 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: current three percent market share of the cannabis industry that 42 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: is currently held by black people. As Al Harrington the 43 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: sixteen season NBA veteran and leading black cannabis entrepreneur about 44 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: business success as a former pro athlete, what's your unique 45 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: about business moves like his and those of other successful 46 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: former pros like Magic Johnson and others that leads them 47 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: to the promised land with so many others have ventured 48 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: into business that have ultimately gone belly up or one. 49 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: I want to say that's a compliment to put you 50 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: in with Matt you it's I got a lot of 51 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: to do, but um, you know, I think the main 52 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: thing was just um being able to you know, create 53 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: a foundation of like of just of educating yourself, educating myself, 54 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. Towards the end of my career, 55 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: when I started to realize that, you know, I wasn't 56 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: jumping as high, I wasn't as fast, you know what 57 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: I'm saying, I wasn't as important to the organizations like 58 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: I used to be, and I had to figure out 59 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 1: what was gonna be next. And you know I always say, 60 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: I give my financial advisor a lot of credit because 61 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: you know, throughout my career and you know Wilson and whoever, like, 62 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: you know, we get so many opportunities throne at as 63 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: business deals all day, right, and they all sound great, right, 64 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: I mean what business deal have you ever heard? It 65 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: didn't sound like a great opportunity. But what he did 66 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: was they made me, you know, do my own research 67 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: and come to them and tell them why was a 68 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: good idea? You know what I'm saying. So because I 69 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: got into that practice, it allowed me, too, I feel like, 70 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 1: you know, become a better entrepreneur that you know, I 71 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: was done playing that I was able to put myself 72 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: in the position that I am and I'm in today. 73 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: And I also want to just say too, I think 74 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: that passion right, being able to do something that you're 75 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: passionate about is you know, you you'll never work another 76 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: day in your life, right, So you think about like 77 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: you know, John Monopoly and like all that he's been 78 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: able to do. You know what I'm saying, these are 79 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: you know, these are professional We're professionals that actually you know, 80 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: love what we do. You know what I'm saying. We 81 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: can't wake up to act, wake up the next day 82 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: to actually get right back to the ground and do 83 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: what we're doing. So you know, um, just trying to 84 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 1: just continue to just you know, build on you know, 85 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: just build, uh, you know, have a solid foundation and 86 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: just build on top of it. And you know, for me, 87 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: I was lucky enough to you know, get into the 88 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: cannabis space, you know, almost eleven years ago now when 89 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: it wasn't as popular as it is today. And you know, 90 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: now we have you know, first mover's advantage, you know 91 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. So it's really um, you know, it's 92 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: I always say I was blessed, you know what I'm 93 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: saying to be in this position, and you know, the 94 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: goal is to obviously be at that Magic Johnson type 95 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: of level. N you know, he mentioned this a few 96 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: times in his comments there about you know, really being 97 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: in the right position to take advantage of these opportunities 98 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: is a large part of finding the continue success having 99 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: it one place. You know, success be get success and 100 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: a lot of uh instances, and I would imagine that 101 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: you get calls to do partnerships like these because you 102 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: have obviously showing a lot of showing a lot of 103 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: depth and expertise at managing incredible talent, and what can 104 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: we learn from journeys like yours to be intentional about 105 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: you know, our journey to finding ourselves in rooms, uh, 106 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: like the ones you find yourself in, so that we 107 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: can you know, have that success that we gets more success. 108 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,799 Speaker 1: Like what can we do intentionally when we're not managing 109 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 1: you know, superstars and etcetera, but in our everyday lives, 110 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 1: what can we do to make sure that we're positioning 111 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: ourselves to take advantage of opportunity. I let's say, you 112 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 1: gotta keep your eyes and ears open at all times 113 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: and always just be in search of the right opportunity. 114 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: You know, Because I've been in music and entertainment for 115 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: you know, almost thirty years now, I have been exposed 116 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 1: to a lot of different opportunities, um just in business 117 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: and in this you know, helping to build artists brands. 118 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: But it's all about finding the right situation. And luckily, uh, 119 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: you know, with with this particular deal you know that 120 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: I've been working with with with Dan and Al. I've 121 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: been knowing these guys for you know, twenty plus years, 122 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: and I've always seen them, um, you know, moving the 123 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: right way. So I was just really honored to join 124 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: the team. Yeah, and I think about you know, the 125 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: black sauce, you know, when when we bring something to 126 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: an industry, the sauce that black people specifically add value 127 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: um to whether it be sports, where there'd be music, 128 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: where they'd be food, and now we're talking about cannabis, 129 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:52,119 Speaker 1: the black perspective on things as a whole other layer 130 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: of value. And Wilson, I'm interested in your perspective on 131 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: because when you're launching this, uh, your new dispensary, you're 132 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: launching it with a shower festival, free festival, and you know, 133 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: how can we leverage more than just having the license 134 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: to sell, but bring our perspective to an industry that 135 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: has so much opportunity to ensure our success. I think, 136 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: you know, piggybacking off what Alice done, you know, as 137 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: being a lifestyle, bringing in space, you know, just bringing 138 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: that aesthetic, you know, that coolness, like you said, like 139 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: our culture you know brains, you know, whether it's music, 140 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: fashion or whatever it is. I think bringing the extra 141 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: push to the space, you know is everything you know, 142 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: um and the culture. You know, we pretty much determined thing, 143 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: you know in every space we've been and I think 144 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: that's the same cannabis, you know, just bringing that style 145 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,559 Speaker 1: and that flavor to the space and they also having 146 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: a good business practices. So do you do you think 147 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: that there is a unique value Wilson on partnering with 148 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 1: artists who have maybe a marijuana stick about them or 149 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: think about them people um who you know obviously in 150 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: the music is already prevalent. What do you think of 151 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: of than just partnering with artists, because when when we 152 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: talk a lot about these things, and I read a 153 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: lot of stories on you guys, you also leveraging the 154 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: part of it it's medical benefit, right, and so it's 155 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: not just about the entertainment value of it, but it 156 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: is also over the recreational use of it, but also 157 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: but additionally the medical benefits. How do you think about 158 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: using entertainment as well as you know the medical benefit 159 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: A branding part of this to make sure that you're 160 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: building a valuable business. Um, I think going forward on 161 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: the basically get more maturity, you know, and people start 162 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: thinking more so about the medical benefits. So I think 163 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: just bringing awareness using everybody's platform and bring awareness to 164 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 1: you know, uh, you know, whether there's artists that's touring 165 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: any you know, certain benefits you know, the condown or 166 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: stress lea, whatever it is, pain management. So I think, um, 167 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: using it, you know, those those different platforms, whether it's athletes, 168 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: artists or you know, um, people in fashion, whether there's 169 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: people that's in uh that's in the art scene. I 170 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: think marijuana kind of bring a lot of those communities, 171 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: communities together. Uh. So I think using those different platforms, 172 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: bringing awareness to the medical benefits of it would be uge. 173 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: And I think a lot of universities are starting to 174 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: get into it, and I think they start doing more 175 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: research on different possibilities. So yeah, and now, and to 176 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: piggyback on that, I was reading you know, up on 177 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 1: you guys and other interviews that you've done, and you 178 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: you talk, you guys talk a lot about wanting VMO 179 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: to really be a model business that communities will appreciate 180 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: that you were doing great work. And how soon or 181 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: what would it take even for communities to see cannabis 182 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: dispensaries and others as businesses that are really contributory to community. 183 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: I think that will already happened. Man. You know, I 184 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: think that during the pandemic, you know the fact that 185 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: cannabis was deemed essential, Um, I think it definitely put 186 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: cannabis in a different light right now when you talk 187 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 1: about our community, you know, there's some work to be 188 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: done there, right, because people don't realize is that our 189 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: people from our community really suffer from PTSD of the 190 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: cannabis prohibition essentially, right. You know, we've seen so many 191 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: people locked up, We've seen so many lives destroyed. You know, 192 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: we've seen uh, you know, people get access to product 193 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: that was not safe and you know, have negative effects 194 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: and different things like that. So our community have seen 195 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: so much negative is really hard for them to wrap 196 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: their head around, like, oh, we're about to sell drugs. 197 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 1: They still call it legally you know in our community, 198 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: and you know, it's bigger than that, right because you 199 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 1: know what what we've seen now is that one uh, 200 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: you know, they use cannabis as a way to lock 201 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: us up. You know what I'm saying, that they use 202 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: it as a tool. Right. But now that we see 203 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: with testing and you know, with legalization and regulation and 204 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: all these things happening, we see that cannabis is actually 205 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: medicine for real, right, it actually can uh, you know, 206 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: help a lot of the issues that we deal with 207 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: in our community. Depression, anxiety, all those different things. You 208 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, PTSD. You know, these are things 209 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: that we suffer from every day. And you know the 210 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: things that we have to turn to is usually prescription 211 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: drugs alcohol, right because once again and people from our community, 212 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: we don't go to doctors like we should, right, you know, 213 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: that whole process is all that stuff. So you know, 214 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: for me, it's about you know, one breaking the ice 215 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 1: with a lot of people in our community. Telling my 216 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: grandmother's story. You know, for a seventy nine year old 217 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: woman that definitely saw all the ill effects of cannabis 218 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: and for her to be open minded enough to try 219 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: it and then it actually worked. And you know now 220 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: you know, she'll be ninety years old, uh next next month, 221 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: on the twenty six, and she still uses cannabis every day, 222 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. And you know, and have 223 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: people from her church that now use cannabis and my 224 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: mom's church, you know what I'm saying, Like my mom, 225 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: my mom used to kick my dad. My mom used 226 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: to kick my dad out of the house for smokes, 227 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,199 Speaker 1: for smelling like weed when he came home. And now 228 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 1: she smoked more weed than you know what I'm saying, 229 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: but it's just because of the education, you know what 230 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: I'm saying, She knows that she can benefit from using 231 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 1: cannabis compared to the things that she had been using 232 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: in the past. So, you know, it's it's a journey 233 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: that we're on and I think that one of the 234 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: ways that will be able to continue to break that 235 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: stigma is for when we go to these meetings with 236 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: the people in our community, for us to show up, 237 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: not the other people that have been showing up, because 238 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: they definitely are trying to take advantage of people in 239 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: our community, you know what I'm saying. So you know, 240 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 1: it's one of those things where you know, we just 241 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 1: got a lot of work ahead of us. And I 242 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 1: think that you know, with Wilson's gesture for his community 243 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: to throw a free festival, and I mean, you see 244 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: those names, don't think for one second those guys moving 245 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 1: around for free. You know what I'm saying, Like, oh, 246 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying, Like this man is putting 247 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: his money out is that that store is not even 248 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: open yet, you know what I'm saying. But he's doing 249 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: it as a gesture for his community to understand that 250 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: what he's doing He's doing it for them, you know 251 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. He's doing it to create opportunities, create jobs, 252 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: you know, with a lot of the money that he'll 253 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: be making. You know, he's gonna rebuild parks and all 254 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: these different things in this community. So he's gonna take 255 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: something that was very negative and turned into something very positive. 256 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: And you know that's something that you know, obviously, I'm 257 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: super excited about being a part of John, our partner's 258 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 1: Viola Village. You know, we're all in with supporting and 259 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: doing whatever it takes to make sure that Wilson is 260 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: successful in his community. I love I love that and John, 261 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: you know, I think about like you, you mentioned you've 262 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 1: been in the music business, entertainment business for thirty plus years, 263 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: and I would imagine you've been pitched everything under the sun. 264 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: Like you, You've probably had more businesses pitch you on. 265 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: You know, I got the next hottest thing, you know, 266 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,199 Speaker 1: I got this thing that you should invest in. I 267 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: would love to partner with you on X, Y and Z. 268 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: When you talk, when you started hearing that cannabis were 269 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: the walls were going to start coming down with regards 270 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: to legalization of cannabis, was this something that you were 271 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: automatically like, yo, I gotta find my way into this, 272 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: or it was like opportunities hard to come in to you, 273 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 1: and it was you chose one versus the hundreds of 274 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: other things that came to you that day. Sure. So 275 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: I personally used cannabis every day, right, and it helps 276 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: me with my anxiety and just dealing with just life pressure. 277 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: So I've been looking for the right opportunity um for 278 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: a couple of years. So when I, uh, finally you know, 279 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: God with Dan and Out, it was it was a 280 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: great thing because they had so much traction in the 281 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: space already. So yeah, I mean I have been been 282 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: approached by many brands, by many companies, but it was 283 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: just never the right fit. Um. And you know me, 284 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: me knowing uh Dan since I was a kid and 285 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: out for the last fifteen plus maybe even twenty years, 286 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: it just made the decision very easy to make for me. 287 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: And you just said a word there. I hear a 288 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: lot of venture capitalists and even angel investors talk about 289 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: and that's attraction when people when people are coming to you, 290 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: um with ideas and you you work around artists a 291 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: lot and a lot of artists ideas don't have traction. 292 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: They are because that's why their artists, because they're improving, 293 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: they're trying to convince the world that their ideas are 294 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: having have merit. When you how do you transition from 295 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: I'm gonna trust that I believe instinctively that this artist 296 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: has something, versus from a business perspective, I want to 297 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: see the moves you've been making before you even got 298 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: to me. Well, it's all about really having the right 299 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: instinct right and making sure that you know whoever you 300 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: want to move around with and build a brand with. 301 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: You guys are are aligned uh in concept and as 302 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: far as you know how you execute um. You know again, 303 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: you know, being that I've been able to manage some 304 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: of the biggest artists in hip hop, you know you're right. 305 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: I mean I get approached all the time with different 306 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: companies and brands and opportunities you know, to to to 307 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: to build brand extensions for artists. But again, you've got 308 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: to really make sure that you're getting in bed with 309 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: the right people and that you uh, that you've done 310 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: your research and that and that it's the right kind 311 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: of partnership, you know. And in case of me starting 312 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: to work with Dan and Allen at Village. You know, 313 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: everything was aligned. You know, I've known them both for 314 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: for many years. They built a very strong brand with Viola, 315 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: and it just all made sense. So I'm really I'm 316 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: really blessed to be involved now. Wilson, I asked out 317 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: this question. I kind of want to ask it to 318 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: you in a different way, however, and we talked a 319 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: lot about how one of OL's missions is to make 320 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: sure that his businesses are seen as a model business 321 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: in community. And I'm interested in you know, when we 322 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: take our families two shows in the park or whatever, 323 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: and this may be sponsored by a beer company or 324 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: you know, a liquor company, we don't think anything of it. 325 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: We got kids there and you know, the whole thing, 326 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: and we have we think nothing of it. Are we 327 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: out of place yet in your perspective that we could 328 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: take our kids to the park and go to this 329 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: free concert like you're putting on and instead of a 330 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: beer company being there, it's it's a cannabis label putting 331 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: this on. Are we there yet in our communities or 332 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: what will it take to get there to destigmatize that? Um? 333 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: I don't think we're there yet, you know, just from 334 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: experience with doing this festival. But I think it's heading 335 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: in that that direction. I think the more education we uh 336 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: we promote you know, to the masses, I think, you know, 337 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 1: the quickly we get there. You know, a lot of 338 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: you guys efforts are to change the statistic that's as 339 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: three percent, only three percent of companies in the cannabis 340 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: space are black owned. And starting with you out with this, 341 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: I would love to get all of you guys input. 342 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: Starting with you out, there may be an opportunity for 343 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: Village specifically to be supportive formally, you know, to be 344 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: like the Amazon for other businesses who want to you know, 345 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: ride on those train tracks. Right, and so, how how 346 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 1: can black owned businesses across the country or how can 347 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,199 Speaker 1: you guys leverage the work that you're doing to be 348 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: formally supportive even and economically involved in other black dispensaries 349 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:55,439 Speaker 1: across the country to where you're not just you know, 350 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: championing championing in as a mission to make sure that 351 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 1: other people are in, but also maybe providing some of 352 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: the back office support, Maybe you assist with branding, maybe 353 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:08,479 Speaker 1: you're integrated in some other way to where you become 354 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 1: integral to black dispensaries and perhaps manufacturers all across the country, 355 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: even though they're not wearing your label on the only outside. Yeah, 356 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I feel like we're doing that already. We 357 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: have you know, definitely put our money where our mouth is. 358 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: We've definitely helped incubate certain businesses people, you know, trying 359 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: to win retail locations here in California. But I think 360 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 1: that you know, with Village moving forward, you know, we 361 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: are a platform. You know, we're a platform that we 362 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: can actually be able to bring in other brands. And 363 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: then when you talk about retailers, you know, with these brands, 364 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: we'll be able to stock their shelves right, be able 365 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: to do strategic partnerships to be able to bring Viola Greenstone, 366 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: you know, with other new designer drugs, with other new 367 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 1: brands that we're gonna start, because you know, that's what 368 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 1: drives traffic into dispensaries. People like variety and they want 369 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: to make sure that they're going to get to you know, 370 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,479 Speaker 1: we have access to the best product on the market, 371 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: and that's something that we feel like we're gonna be 372 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 1: able to accomplish. And I think that that's one of 373 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 1: the one of the ways that we can help some 374 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: of the younger entrepreneurs and some of the younger retail owners. 375 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: And then from an economic side, you know, we have 376 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: to just continue to be successful on what we're doing. 377 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: We gotta sell more products, we gotta make more money. 378 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: You know, that's the only way that we're gonna be 379 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: able to you know, be able to have that effect 380 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 1: and be able to make these strategic investments into the 381 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 1: companies that will need it as well. So so, John, 382 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: when you hear something like that that you know, there's 383 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: an opportunity here, not just for this particular these particular dispensaries, 384 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,719 Speaker 1: but we want to be you know, across the whole 385 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 1: spectrum of black owned cannabis dispensaries and manufacturers. How does 386 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 1: your brain think about, you know, what the real opportunity 387 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: is as far as us being integrated um into these 388 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: other opportunities. Well, you know, I just think it's important 389 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: that as business people in this space were aggressive because 390 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 1: you know, quite honestly, our white counterparts are moving fast. 391 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: You know, I think it's really unfortunate that we only 392 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,479 Speaker 1: make up three percent of the space as far as 393 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: being black owned, you know, in cannabis, and we just 394 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: gotta be you know, uh, aggressive and intelligent around you know, 395 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: how we grow and who we are, who we align 396 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 1: ourselves with. You've got this festival to nobody's home festival 397 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: that is I wanted. Is it it the official launch 398 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: of the dispensary or is it's just uh know, it's 399 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: just uh it's in celebration of the dispensory, but not 400 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,680 Speaker 1: the official launch, okay, because I'm interested because I think 401 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: about how after things like woodstock, that was when cannabis 402 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: in the United States got its stigma. Um, but woodstock 403 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: is something that you know, you walk past a white 404 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: person and grocery store, a white hair, you know, it 405 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: was probably in that era and they were probably handling 406 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: some of those things in that era. Do you believe 407 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: or is it your effort that your festival could be 408 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: you know, one in in alignment with what that meant 409 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: to that culture or is that is that your effort 410 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: at all? You know? Definitely, Um, I think this is 411 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 1: something we want to do every year, you know, and 412 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: make it better every year and just kind of break 413 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 1: that stigma and have everybody there free flowing, having fun, 414 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 1: enjoying uh, different products, enjoying different brands, you know, enjoying 415 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 1: one another and just you know, all about positivity and 416 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 1: the future of this space. John, you came on UM 417 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: to make sure that you know, the entertainment part of this, 418 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: those partnerships were in place, and this this industry is 419 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: the sixty one billion dollar industry today with projections to 420 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: be like seventy plus by UM. And again you came 421 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: on to help the company companies, you know, build these 422 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: entertainment partnerships. You talk about how your involvement here is 423 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: not specifically just to get entertainments involved because you know, 424 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 1: just a market brands, but if at all how to 425 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: ensure equity for communities of color to be able to 426 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: take advantage of these opportunities. I'll let out answer the 427 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,640 Speaker 1: question around equity, but I will tell you, UM, as 428 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: far as you know, making sure that we have the 429 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: right entertainers involved to to build brands with them and 430 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: just to be a part of our initiatives. You know, 431 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 1: I always try to consider myself on the at least 432 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: trying to be on the pulse of what's happening within 433 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: our culture and UM, you know, I just try to 434 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: bring on the right people that that are that are 435 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: like minded and that can help to you know, build 436 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: our brand as a whole. How are you in chiming there? Yeah, 437 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,639 Speaker 1: from from a from any from an equity standpoint, you know, 438 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: that's that's the main thing. At this point. We represent, 439 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 1: like you said, less than three and we were all 440 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: the ones that were locked up for eight five percent 441 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 1: and drug arrest in our communities, all cannabis related. I 442 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:05,640 Speaker 1: think we're uh five times more uh stuff that would 443 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: be arrested for cannabis than our counterparts. So you can't 444 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 1: tell me that now that this space is legal, that 445 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: we were were no good to it. Now there's no 446 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: place for us. So for us and you know, Wilson 447 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: and John and just our team, you know, as much 448 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: as we want to talk about job creation and how 449 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,679 Speaker 1: important that is, but we're really here trying to represent 450 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 1: ownership and that's the only conversation that we want to 451 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: have when we're in when we're at sitting at the table, 452 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: you know, having these conversations. And until we get that, 453 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: we gotta keep fighting for it. I feel like if 454 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 1: we don't do it, it won't happen. So you know, 455 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 1: this is just something that you know, I feel like 456 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: it's you know, gonna be my job for the next 457 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: ten years, right until we get a significant piece of 458 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: this of this pie. And it's gonna be a lot 459 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: of hard work because you know a lot of the 460 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: companies say that there about it. You know, I think 461 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: it's more about checking up box now, especially at the 462 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: Black Lives Matters. It was just like, now everybody loves 463 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,160 Speaker 1: black people. All this funding is now available for black people, 464 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: And I'm like, why you didn't love us before that? Right? 465 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: And it just seems like right now because it's a 466 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: way for them to come once again capitalize. That's why 467 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,159 Speaker 1: they love us, right, And we were just tired of it, 468 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 1: and you know we were gonna have to be the 469 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: ones that stand up against it out Like, what would 470 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: you say are the strategic moves you make because the 471 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 1: largest national conglomerate for black owned cannabis brants today? Was 472 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: that a happy sense of timing or there were specific 473 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: strategic moves you made that helped you find this type 474 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: of success. Now I came down the line, man, like 475 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 1: you know we first started. You know, there wasn't too 476 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: many people that I can go for extual advice, right, 477 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: most people were afraid of it. I bring it up, 478 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: they go the other way and trying to change a subject. 479 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 1: And I didn't know that limited licenses was so relevant 480 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: at the time, and that you know, mostly all the 481 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,959 Speaker 1: big multi state operating companies out of public, they were 482 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: able to go public offer these limited licenses because they 483 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: were only once they were one licensees in Illinois out 484 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: the gate, and next you know, they had a business 485 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 1: doing thirty five million hours just because they were the 486 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 1: only ones there. So we kind of got brought to 487 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,919 Speaker 1: that a little later, you know, Uh, I will be honest, 488 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: you know, even though that I played in the NBA 489 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,879 Speaker 1: and have you know, resources and friends like you know, 490 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: Wilson and whoever, like, it wasn't easy for us to 491 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,919 Speaker 1: raise money, you know, especially in the beginning. You know, 492 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: I couldn't imagine trying to go to somebody eight years 493 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:39,199 Speaker 1: ago saying I need twenty five million hollars to go 494 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: at the three or four states. People have looked at 495 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 1: me like I was crazy. You know. Once again, that's 496 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: once again one of the issues that we have in 497 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: our community. We just don't have access to the resources 498 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: to be able to really take advantage of opportunities in 499 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:55,199 Speaker 1: real time. Right. We started Village two years ago, you know, 500 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 1: and look at the success that we've hassed. So just 501 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: imagine if we would have tried to do this five 502 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: years ago potentially where we would be at today. You know. 503 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: So it's just it's just it's just it's just been 504 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:08,199 Speaker 1: a grind, and you know, I just feel like with 505 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 1: Village now we have established ourselves as being a company 506 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: that people better pay attention to, you know, and if 507 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:19,479 Speaker 1: we continue to win more licenses, I feel like, you know, 508 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: it will be one of those you know, seven to 509 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 1: ten companies that you know, can really dictate what's going 510 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: on in this space. I'm so glad you said that, 511 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: because you know there are still states where licenses are 512 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: not you know, well we is not legal. Marijuana is 513 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: not legal yet. And so for I would love to 514 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 1: get both of your Wilson and our's comments on this. 515 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: Is like I'm from Ohio, and Ohio there's just now 516 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 1: talking again about you know, putting uh marijuana use up 517 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:54,640 Speaker 1: for legal debate, and so for those states that are 518 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: still having the conversation but have not made a move yet, 519 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: knowing what you know, and I'll start with you Wilson, 520 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: then with I want to ask this our as well, 521 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: what would you advise people who um want to be 522 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: in how to position themselves or at this stage is 523 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: it too late. We'll just say start educating and educating themselves, 524 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,640 Speaker 1: you know, just trying to read as much as possible 525 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: about the space, you know, and just be progressive about it, 526 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: you know, and try to build as many relationships as possible. 527 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,440 Speaker 1: What would you say our if if if marijuana is 528 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: not yet legal, how do I get in position? Start reading? 529 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,479 Speaker 1: You know what the legislation is gonna look like in 530 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: your state, your city, depending, you know, every state is different, 531 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: some rules, you know, the state governs it, something like 532 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: the cities government. So just find out, you know what 533 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 1: what do will actually take. Then start putting your team 534 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: together because you know, obviously you're gonna have to raise 535 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: some money. You know, what is that team gonna look like? 536 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:56,919 Speaker 1: What does that business plan look like? And then you know, 537 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: you have to believe in that business plan when you 538 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:01,399 Speaker 1: go out and pitch it, you know, because without the 539 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 1: passion behind it, you know, most people aren't gonna invest. 540 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 1: You're gonna have to really know your business plan inside 541 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,119 Speaker 1: and out. You're to answer all the questions that are 542 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 1: gonna come your weight and just try to figure out 543 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 1: how you're gonna be able to run a cash for 544 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: positive business, How you're gonna actually be able to get there. 545 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 1: And Uh'm not gonna make it seem like it's easy, 546 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: you know, as a challenge is gonna be definitely hard. 547 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 1: But I think that if you can try to put 548 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 1: strategic people together in your organization, I think you'll put 549 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: yourself in position to hopefully be successful. And if people 550 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: is their opportunity to partner with you pre license or 551 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 1: like let's say if I Ohio went on hand and 552 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: passed it and I got a license, what opportunities are 553 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 1: there for those black entrepreneurs to work with Viola. Yeah, definitely, 554 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: you can reach out to us. You know, you can 555 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: reach out to us online. Uh. You know we also 556 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 1: some states require you to have local participation, so you 557 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: know in Missouri and Maryland, we definitely partnered up with 558 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: called entrepreneurs there and you know, because of us winning, 559 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: you know, we've been able to you know, create millionaires 560 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: you know on paper, you know, because of its opportunity. 561 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 1: So yes, as these new states come online, if you 562 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: feel like you have something that's differently the differentiator, Uh, 563 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: if you think that you could be a good partner 564 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: to us. Yeah, I would say definitely reach out. Black 565 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 1: Tag Green Money is the production of Black and the 566 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 1: Afro Tech, Black Effect podcast Network and iHeart Media and 567 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: it's produced by Morgan Dabon and me Well Lucas, with 568 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 1: additional production support by Love Beach and Marissa Lewis. Special 569 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: thank you to Michael Davis and Sakara savon Jan you 570 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: know like the Wine. Yes that's his real name. Learn 571 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: more about my guests and other technists the innovatives afro 572 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: tech dot com. The video first of this episode would 573 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 1: drop the Black Tech Green Money on YouTube next week, 574 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: So I'll tap in you join your Black Tech Green 575 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 1: Money leave. It's a five star rating on iTunes. Go 576 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:28,600 Speaker 1: get your money. Peace in love, h