Well, well, well.
Welcome back. For the first post of the year, we’ll be reviewing two random things I learned over the last month. One was influenced by psilocybin, and one was influenced by the first two weeks back at work in cannabis tech. I hope it’ll be fun for you.
🍄 Learning 1: There is no right way to do anything
I had the relatively infrequent chance to spend time with one of my best friends over the holidays. He’s a Principal at a school in Guatemala, so we can’t hang every weekend.
He is a deep thinker, a youthful spirit, an excellent writer, a world-traveling force of nature who maintains a relationship with my kids even though he can only visit twice a year. I’ve known him for 25 years.
He has tried psilocybin once or twice, but never in a therapeutic setting. I floated the idea of spending a day strolling around the botanical gardens at the Huntington Library in Pasadena after ingesting a small-to-moderate dose of psilocybin.
We set out early morning, talked about life and some career updates on the way. We set our intentions for the day - mine were to celebrate oneness and to embrace creative solutions for my work at Jane. Parked White Lightning (my Prius) in the parking lot, soaked some mushrooms in lemon juice, downed them, and headed into the grounds.
The Huntington Library has a museum, Japanese garden, and an expansive botanical garden. It’s one of the most beautiful spots in southern California, and it offers some good personal space and sunshine - ideal for a journey.
For me, the effects came on during our ascent into the Japanese Garden portion of the grounds. For a moment, I worried that I was on a super accelerated upswing that may not settle. The lights got funny, I couldn’t pay as much attention to our conversation, and I needed some water. But, after a while, the fungi eased me into the experience and I began to feel serene and happy. The familiar sense of wonderment and gratitude crept into the periphery.
About that time, my friend recognized that he wasn’t feeling the effects as strongly. He asked me about how the process was supposed to go, and how he was supposed to behave or navigate the experience.
And then, it dawned on me: there is no “right” way to do anything. There is no standard experience - psychedelics or otherwise. Our job, as beings with consciousness, is to embrace whatever is happening in front of us. Some of it will be painful. Some of it will be stressful. Some of it will be joyful. All of it will be a privilege. Try your best, be still, and enjoy the ride.
That was Learning #1.
(Also, my friend spoke in a fake German accent to ask a nice older couple to take our photo while I was at the tip top of my trip. When the gentleman asked him if he wanted the picture to be portrait or landscape, he waved his arms wide, and exclaimed “My friend, you’re the artist!” I was laughing so hard I cried and couldn’t speak.)
🌱 Learning 2: Cannabis tech is desperate for stability
Layoffs. Companies at risk of getting de-listed from exchanges. Questionable M&A.
These are the themes in cannabis technology in 2023. Add a struggling retail environment and blast-off inflation, retailers have probably never felt more at risk. Price compression, questionable vendors, stifling taxes. This shit is scary!
The environment is tough, yes. But I see some companies - mostly tech - throwing Hail Mary passes. Hard changes of strategic direction, which leave employees confused and frustrated. Slashing workforce one week, then happily advertising open roles the next (this has happened five times in the last six months, all different companies). Making Band-Aid acquisitions because it’s the only move left.
Tech providers: just…be chill.
How to be chill (for reference)
I’ve had a heavy volume of external calls in the last two weeks - to a person, every retail operator has expressed how important it is that tech vendors prove that they have the retailers’ best interests at heart. The desperation moves are obvious to everyone - and they threaten the stability of the industry overall.
For tech providers: if your brilliant strategic move does not actually add value to your partners’ daily lives - just stop. Regroup. This is a time to think about your next chess move, because you might not have many left.
For retailers: as a proud member of the cannatech community, I’ll happily advise that you pressure the hell out of us. Ask about roadmaps. Ask about the “why”. You deserve straight and honest answers. If the answers fit your operations and philosophy, and if you’re convinced the people behind the answers can actually help you - sign a contract and move on.
(I fully acknowledge the irony of claiming there is no right way to do anything and then sharing my observations about how a lot of cannabis tech vendors are doing things all wrong. Perhaps mushrooms taught me that there is no exact “right” way to do anything, but the sentiment comes with the assumption that you move through the world calmly and with compassion. Who knows, it’s late.)
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📚 tl;dr
Welcome back
Learning 1 (brought to you by magic mushrooms): there is no “right” way to do anything. Try your best and enjoy the experience
Learning 2: retailers are desperate for stability in the cannabis technology space. Tech providers should offer real solutions to benefit their partners; retailers should pressure the heck out of their vendors
It is Friday