By Mike Warren
As we get to know Oregon cannabis growers, vendors and entrepreneurs, it is clear that the gold rush comparison in Colorado and Washington does not quite fit here. I have heard the phrase, “I’m not looking to get rich, I just want to be involved” countless times when in conversation about how best to adjust to the fast-approaching recreational market. It is refreshing to hear talented people speak from a place of humility and be willing to adapt in a way that strengthens our industry as a whole rather than dilutes it by vying for a seat at the table.
Many people in our industry view the cannabis marketplace in Oregon as one full of allies, rather than competitors. At our dispensary, we have become a hub of entrepreneurial information and we constantly benefit from the insights we hear. The strongest lesson we have learned is that it is better to look past the desire to be the “Apple store of cannabis” and simply focus on how best to serve one’s neighborhood.
In the same way that Oregon’s exceptional craft beer and restaurant scene was built from the groundswell up — our cannabis industry will soon follow. The Oregon cannabis industry seems to be headed down a trail that more closely resembles the pioneer spirit of manifest destiny rather than the get-rich-quick mentality of the gold rush.
Mike Warren is the owner of 7 Leaf Collective, a state-licensed dispensary in Salem, Oregon. It can be found online at www.7leaforegon.com.