Where have you previously worked in cannabis? What was your role and title? How/why did you end up working there?

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I started out in a retail facility at a full-vertical cannabis company in Arizona as a budtender. I worked my way up quickly into inventory management, and by the time I left, I was co-running the store and heavily involved in compliance. I think my favorite role was inventory management because there was always something to do — zero downtime led to quick days that left me feeling productive when I left.

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I originally started out in tobacco but had a lot of negative feelings about encouraging folks to continue doing something so harmful. I kept with it because it was good money, and justified the work with, “Well, they are going to smoke anyway, so I may as well make my living.”

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The one good thing I took from my time in tobacco was a newfound confidence with people, and a solid friend who would lead me into the cannabis world.
We actually made the switch to Dutchie (at the time LeafLogix) when I was an operator, so I knew I loved this platform before I ever considered coming to work here!

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What did you like most about working with cannabis? What’s a standout memory from that time?

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I can say 100% that my favorite part of working in cannabis is helping people. My favorite customers to help were the ones using cannabis to help combat some pretty heavy diseases — from Tourette’s to cancer. They were some of the strongest, kindest, and most inspiring people I have ever met. To this day, when things feel difficult at work, I think of them and remember why I do what I do.

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I would have to say my favorite memory was a patient of mine telling me they were in remission. We met during their very first visit to a dispensary, which was only a couple of short weeks after receiving their diagnosis. I helped them pick products that would help with the depression of their diagnosis, as well as the effects of chemo. They fought honorably for over a year. We cried together when they shared the news. I am tearing up now just thinking about it.

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These are the reasons I show up every day to help the operators who use Dutchie get this beautiful plant into the hands of the people. It makes a difference.

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What have you learned moving from plant-touching work to tech? Did anything about the change surprise you?

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I learned just how much work, thought, and care goes into the tech side of things. I thought all the love happened on the plant-touching side, but I was so wrong.
I actually moved to the tech side with the hope of bringing some love to this part of the industry, only to find that I was already surrounded by some of the most motivated and caring people I had ever met. The people here are smart, funny, motivated, goofy, warm, and want nothing but the best for the folks on the plant-touching side, and the customers and patients they serve.

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What’s your advice for those starting out in cannabis? What is there to look forward to?

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My advice is to never think what you are doing doesn’t matter. Show up every day with the mindset that you are there to make the world a better place, and that is exactly what you will do.

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Look forward to a great community that always shows up, laughter, learning, inspiration, new ideas, workarounds, connections, fulfillment, and growth. If you have half the experience I have had, you’re in for an unforgettable time.

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Honored to grow with you!

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