You may be too young to remember this but alcohol was illegal. Fun fact: we were ALL too young to remember this. The same way people feel strongly against cannabis dispensaries, the government alike, is the same way people felt about alcohol. But guess what? It was legalized because the pioneers of the spirits industry resisted. 21st-Century cannabis pioneers like Andrew Jolley, CEO of The+Source dispensary in Las Vegas, finds themselves in the same narrative only with 256 pages of regulations and seven types of taxes to pay.
“We hold and maintain over a dozen different state and local licenses, pay seven different types of taxes and are subject to 256 pages of regulations. All of these requirements stem from our political and regulatory framework and following these rules is our top priority,” said Jolley.
He doesn’t mind it though because he knows what he signed up for. But damn. Seven types of taxes? 256 pages of regulations to follow? Seems unfair, doesn’t it?
“It’s hard for me to call something unfair knowing that we volunteered to be pioneers in this crazy industry. I consider all of the obstacles we’ve encountered opportunities for growth or an unintended consequence of being on the bleeding edge of the most progressive industry in the country at the moment.”
He added, “What I do consider absolutely unfair is the way our society has approached drug policy over the past fifty years. The drug war is one of the cruelest, most ineffective, and ill-conceived public policy experiments in modern history. It’s been a complete disaster!”
If you’re looking to start your own cannabis dispensary, grab your adaptgen of choice, bookmark this, and read up. This is what it’s really like being a cannabis pioneer in the 21st-Century. Do you have the stomach for it?
Why did you decide to get into the cannabis business?
It was the opportunity to mix something I feel passionate about, the legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis, with a challenging and interesting business opportunity.
How do you decide what products you’re going to carry?
We have an incredibly talented purchasing team that stays on top of all the latest products and offerings. Plus, we have 175 cannabis connoisseurs in our company, so there’s no shortage of strong opinions about what products we should carry!
What were some of the most difficult hurdles you faced when sourcing?
Staying in stock. Nevada is still a nascent market and it can be a challenge keeping our more popular products in stock. Thankfully, our suppliers are ramping up and predicting production levels.
What do you look for in a wholesaler? Define quality marijuana for people who are new to the industry and want to try. Also, please explain what amount one can order. Aside from paper, how else can someone enjoy weed?
Top quality, consistency, and ability to keep us stocked! It also helps if they are cool people and share our passion for cannabis! Medical patients are able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces (or equivalent) every 14 days. Adult-use (21+) customers may purchase up to one ounce (or equivalent) at a time.
When it comes to flower, the most important qualities are cannabinoid content, terpenes, and visual appeal. Everyone geeks out about THC potency, but more and more customers are asking about CBD, CBG, CBN and the dozens of other cannabinoids that all effect the experience. Terpenes are the natural “flavors” found in the plant and these important properties determine smell, flavor, and can significantly impact the experience. Lastly, connoisseurs can tell a lot just by looking at and touching raw cannabis. How the flower is structured, how it was cured, and trimmed can make a huge impact on its overall desirably and appeal – just like buying produce at the grocery store.
One of the cool things about the marijuana revolution taking place is that manufacturers and growers are constantly developing new products and new ways to consume cannabis in a safe and responsible way. From vape products, to oils, to infused drinks, to non-THC capsules, there are literally hundreds of products and dozens of ways to consume to choose from.
What were some of the most difficult hurdles you faced when making your way to Las Vegas and what did that teach you about perseverance?
There’s a misconception that being in the marijuana business is a golden ticket and that every cannabis entrepreneur will instantly become a billionaire. Despite the abundant opportunities, this industry is fraught with pitfalls, legal landmines, and all sorts of unexpected challenges. However, navigating these challenges has also been a source of satisfaction. We are currently on the third iteration of our grow facility and getting that part of the business up to our standard has been incredibly frustrating and expensive. Thankfully, we are now producing products we are very proud of.
How can people help make things easier for you as a business owner if any?
I think our entire society would benefit from learning about the benefits of marijuana legalization – even if you have zero interest in consuming these products. Early adopters like Colorado are showing the massive societal benefits compared with very few negative consequences. At a personal level, the best thing consumers can do is to shop at legal, licensed dispensaries that carry safe, tested and high-quality products.
How important is community and diversity to you?
These are both incredibly important to me as a business owner. Our customers come from all walks of life and our team reflects that. I take pride in the diversity of our team and how our differences actually help us better relate to our amazing customers.
Last holiday season, we collected 156 tons of food for Southern Nevada’s food bank, Three Square, which blew the previous record out of the water. We hold free educational seminars twice a month. We hold community clean-up events with our team quarterly. The best part about these events, and many others that we participate in, is that our team absolutely loves them. We don’t consider this work – we love being a part of and giving back to our community.
How much of your work has inspired your life?
I couldn’t even try to decouple my personal life with my work – there’s so much overlap that it would be impossible. Being a part of the marijuana industry in Nevada has been incredibly rewarding and has definitely added an extra dimension of purpose to my life.
What do you know now that you didn’t know 5 or 10 years ago?
What it means to live in and enjoy the moment
What’s your best advice for anyone wanting to embark in the marijuana business?
Focus. The cannabis industry is filled with shiny objects and chasing everything that looks interesting will make you feel like you’ve eaten a 1000 mg edible.
