Would interstate commerce help or hinder mom-and-pop companies?
Leslie Bocskor
CEO
Freer market benefits agile operations whether they are “mom-and-pop” or larger. The determining factor is the ability to evolve, adapt, and navigate a dynamically changing market effectively until the industry settles into more normal patterns in a decade or two.
Breanna Neff
Chief Food Scientist
Given the current climate, deregulation could harm small businesses. Large corporations would dominate, driving prices down. Small operators can’t match their scale. Billion-dollar companies can sustain losses for market dominance. This strategy, seen with Amazon and Uber, disadvantages mom-and-pop shops. Even now, multi-state operators find ways to monopolize. Without careful planning, reduced regulations risk transforming industries into big-box models.
Drew Harriss
Director of National Accounts
I don’t think that allowance of interstate commerce would help mom and pop companies. If interstate commerce happens, I foresee the cannabis market looking like the beer industry where there will only be a handful of major cultivators rather than a thousand. That type of consolidation would force many small businesses to raise more capital in order to compete and would make the process to start a business in this field even harder than it already is.
Sonia Mangalick
Chief Financial Officer
Allowing interstate commerce would be a boon for mom-and-pop companies like ours. At present, the illicit market circumvents state boundaries, and the prevalence of Delta 8 and Delta 9 products further saturates the market. Meanwhile, the immense financial clout of multi-state operators often leaves smaller businesses at a disadvantage. By legalizing interstate commerce, local dispensaries could substantially increase their supply, leading to reduced prices for consumers. Furthermore, it would grant us access to a more diverse range of craft strains from specialized growers in neighboring states, enriching our product portfolio and enhancing our appeal to connoisseurs.
Matt Gunderson
Chief Financial Officer
Mom-and-pop companies with differentiated brands and products definitely have a unique opportunity to compete in a world with interstate commerce. We’ve seen platforms like Etsy, Shopify and even Instagram provide the infrastructure for local businesses to find, sell and fulfill to customers — across the country and ultimately the globe — providing a path for leveraging local success against a national market that cannabis operators can’t currently access. But it won’t be without its risks and challenges, so it’s critical that we get it right, both to empower broad-based participation in the industry and ensure that the consumer ultimately benefits.
Christopher Peak
Consultant
Currently, state-specific regulations limit the geographic reach of smaller businesses, hindering their ability to scale and compete with larger, multi-state operators. Allowing interstate commerce would enable these local businesses to access a broader customer base, fostering growth and economic viability. Additionally, increased competition and access to diverse markets would encourage innovation and specialization within the industry, allowing mom-and-pop companies to showcase their unique offerings and contribute to the overall diversity of the cannabis market. This shift could empower local entrepreneurs, create jobs, and promote a more inclusive and dynamic cannabis industry.