Chris Ray: Navigating Change In Alaska’s Cannabis Industry

Alaska was one of many very first U.S. states to legalize hashish after voters there embraced the reforms in 2014; the market was additionally the very first to get state-wide laws for social hashish use, though some cities have handed stricter native laws than others. However whereas Alaska’s hashish market is among the oldest within the nation, its immense measurement and inherent isolation make doing hashish enterprise extra difficult than many different state-legal markets.

Within the newest episode of the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast, Chris joins our host TG Branfalt to debate the early days of Alaska’s hashish market, Chris’ transition from working in cultivation to the retail facet of the business, and methods he applied at The Tree House for enhancing foot visitors and the general hashish retail expertise. The interview additionally covers distinctive Alaskan hashish business experiences, like flying on business airways whereas carrying tens of 1000’s of {dollars} price of hashish merchandise — as a result of generally that’s the one choice — and the advantages of attending to know your buyer base on a extra private stage.

You may hearken to the interview via the media participant under or via your favourite podcasts app, or preserve scrolling all the way down to discover a full transcript.

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Learn the transcript:

Business: This episode of the Ganjapreneur podcast is made doable by AROYA, a complete hashish manufacturing platform for business growers. If you’re a business hashish grower, you need to use AROYA to stage your manufacturing workflow. That includes a mixture of precision devices and highly effective software program that show you how to intelligently domesticate, dry and course of hashish, the AROYA hashish manufacturing platform is your ticket to larger yields and constant high quality. Request a quote immediately on-line at aroya.io, that’s A-R-O-Y-A.io.

Cara Wietstock: Hello. I’m Cara Wietstock, tradition editor at Ganjapreneur and host of our YouTube present, Contemporary Lower. One of the simplest ways to grasp hashish enterprise is to talk on to those that work inside it and Contemporary Lower was created to shine recognition on the individuals who fill these roles. On this interview sequence, we give attention to these with their arms and the dust, each actually and figuratively, from cultivators to bud tenders, educators to advocates, activists to lobbyists, we goal to light up the employees who preserve this business thriving. Get pleasure from one on one conversations with me and company by watching alongside on the Ganjapreneur YouTube channel and observe our social channels to maintain up with the newest episodes. Have a fantastic day.

TG Branfalt: Hey there, I’m your host TG Branfalt and thanks for listening to the ganjapreneur.com podcast, the place we attempt to deliver new, actionable info and normalize hashish via the tales of ganjapreneurs, activists, and business stakeholders. At present, I’ve lastly accomplished my close to five-year mission to get any person from Alaska on this present. I’m delighted to be joined by Chris Ray. He’s the final supervisor of Anchorage, Alaska’s Tree Home. Chris has labored within the state’s hashish business since August of 2016. The way you doing man?

Chris Ray: Good. How are you?

TG Branfalt: I’m very, very effectively. Like I stated, it’s nice to have any person representing Alaska lastly on the present. I’ve a number of questions that I believe lots of people have been kind of asking me about so I lastly get to have solutions for them. However earlier than we get into that, man, inform me about out your self, your background, and the way you ended up within the hashish house.

Chris Ray: Yeah, earlier than we hopped on right here, like I used to be telling you, I began doing the retail factor after I went to school. I went to College of Idaho for a 12 months, tried to determine what I wished to do with life. Realized a 4 12 months college wasn’t actually for me so I sort of bounced round between Washington, Hawaii after which I ended up in Missouri. Simply began working retail down there for just a few years then I received a name from considered one of my outdated basketball coaches from again in my highschool days and he stated that he was beginning a hashish retail in Fairbanks and he wished my assist. And so August of 2016 rolled round, I moved up there, helped him out within the cultivation after which helped him out within the retail. Obtained that going October, 2016 after which I used to be with them till about April of 2017.

After which I went over and joined Grass Station 49 in Fairbanks. They began off with only one location. We expanded to 2 extra in Fairbanks, so three complete inside the first two and a half years. After which we opened a retailer in Nome shortly after that. After which as soon as we opened up that retailer in Nome, I received a name from a buddy of mine right here in Anchorage who was beginning up a retail and he had already had a cultivation going. He’s massive within the native hiphop scene, which actually sort of gained my curiosity and my consideration. After which that’s once I got here down right here and began working for the Tree Home. And so we simply opened up in July of final 12 months, so 2020. Haven’t been open for a 12 months but. Simply been type working via the kinks and making an attempt to get every thing going. That’s type and the place we’re standing now.

TG Branfalt: You say that you simply began in kind of the cultivation, retail and now you’re serving to kind of construct a retailer as a normal supervisor. What had been a few of the challenges for you whenever you had been making that transition?

Chris Ray: I believe the largest problem is it’s by no means been carried out earlier than, the hashish retail. Basically every thing that you simply’re doing and studying, it comes with taking some L’s right here and there. Some studying classes. I believe the toughest half although for me, is looking for like the best folks to slot in. As a result of I believe everybody who smokes and who’s a stoner needs to be within the business however you’ll discover that everybody that smokes and a stoner often doesn’t have the work ethic or the know-how’s to point out up on time or to do issues like that. The little easy issues. That was a giant eye opener realizing that everybody isn’t going to actually match that mould. However when you get round the entire staffing as a result of we’re in Alaska so there’s not very many individuals.

There are folks however there’s not an entire lot such as you would say in New York or in California to choose from. Getting round that, when you get round that, simply looking for the product too as a result of we’re a giant state, not an entire lot of individuals. There’s a number of cultivations however you’re speaking about anyplace from once I was in Fairbanks, for example, having to get stuff from Valdez, that’s an entire day and a half journey, a drive down six to eight hours and you then’re speaking about getting the product there. Nicely now you’re not going to drive again since you’ve been driving all day. Now you’re ready for tomorrow again. If there’s any development, which in the summertime in Alaska, they name it development season, stopping on a regular basis. Wintertimes you’ve received the snow, snow storms the place you possibly can’t journey via. It makes it actually tough in terms of the entire transportation and I’d say the hiring elements of issues.

TG Branfalt: Nicely, I had learn as soon as this very distinctive story about any person, it was when the Alaska market was first kind of coming on-line and I assume a number of locations in Alaska, you possibly can solely get to by plane.

Chris Ray: Yeah. Quite a lot of these different locations like Juneau or Ketchikan. My buddy Jason, he runs Frog Mountain CO2 Extraction. I’ve been working with him for just a few years now and he’s received a fly to Anchorage twice, thrice a month simply to get product to folks. At that time, now you’re making an attempt to get on schedule with all these retails to see when you possibly can ship, when you possibly can’t ship. And if you already know something about ordering and stuff like that, generally you bought cash. Generally you don’t. Somebody’s like, “Hey, I’m developing on the thirtieth,” however you simply put in two enormous orders for the twenty fifth. It’s like, all proper, now I received to sort of juggle these round as a result of he’s solely developing this one time. The following time you’re going to see him is on the fifteenth or on the twentieth. Flying by air is loopy.

TG Branfalt: Has anybody come into any points with kind of regulatory our bodies or something as a result of hashish stays federally outlawed and it’s a must to get on a airplane with it? Or is there something like that?

Chris Ray: From my expertise and doing the transports and what I’ve run to with the airways, so long as you’re straight and up entrance with them and you’ve got all of your paperwork and it’s all manifested and you’ve got it in your individuals, they’ll undergo, they’ll take you to a room, they’ll verify you out, ensure that every thing’s good to go. So long as your paperwork is appropriate, they ship you thru. At that time, once I undergo TSA, I really feel like they’re in search of explosives. All of the necessaries that they need to be in search of once I’m making an attempt to do my job and run a enterprise and I’ve paperwork from the state that claims I’m legally allowed to fly via or transport this, there’s nothing they will actually do about it. Now in fact they will cease us and be like, “Hey, we don’t really feel that is secure for you flying immediately.”

However I haven’t seen that occur with anybody. I popped on one of many native airliners with 20, $30,000 price of concentrates and, “Oh yep. All good.” And I’ve received households on the airplane sitting in entrance of me and behind me and I’m simply loading up all these things on the plane and it’s what it’s.

TG Branfalt: That’s in contrast to any, nobody else, no different operator in another state has to cope with one thing like that. Are you able to inform the viewers a bit extra about Alaska’s hashish regulation and what if something units it aside from a few of the ones within the continental United States?

Chris Ray: I believe the factor the place we’re very totally different is in California, for example, when you will have medical, you will have outlets which might be accessible to go get your medication and to do what it’s essential to do. In Alaska medical handed years, years in the past, I wish to say 96, I might be incorrect nevertheless it handed years in the past and we now have no medical setup to the place anybody can go and purchase their very own stuff. Every part’s like, all proper, you’re medically arrange. Right here’s a card. You may develop. However within the state of Alaska, it’s already authorized so that you can develop so the one factor it’s actually doing is when you’re a minor and also you want it, then you possibly can have somebody develop for you. However you continue to can’t be like, hey, I must go to the store. Right here’s my med card. Do I get a proportion off? Or is there a sure choice that I can go to? We don’t have any of that.

In Alaska, when you’re 21, you will have a authorized ID, you possibly can come store. Your medical card means nothing. And even if in case you have a medical card, you possibly can develop however guess what? Me and my buddy, we’re legally 21, we’re allowed to develop in the home. It’s very totally different in that side, you’ll assume there’d be one thing set as much as the place folks might truly use that medical card to go use it and do one thing optimistic with it. However all they will actually do is what they’re already allowed to do. However apart from that, the regulations, we’re allowed to purchase as much as seven grams of focus per buy per day. I do know in Washington, you’re not allowed to do this. We’re allowed to get these cool little baller jars with seven grams of focus, in Washington they solely get these little itty bitty ones.

TG Branfalt: Yeah. In Massachusetts, it’s the identical method you possibly can’t get greater than a gram.

Chris Ray: Yeah. Which, if in case you have somebody who smokes loads, you’re going to be carried out with that gram by the point lunch is over.

TG Branfalt: Principally. Now you say that you simply develop your individual and it’s a must to develop indoors. Is there an outside rising season for hashish in Alaska?

Chris Ray: Yeah. We have now authorized outside grows. There’s one in Fairbanks. What’s it referred to as? Fox Creek Farms or one thing like that. Rosie Creek Farms. They’re outside. They solely harvest as soon as on the finish of the summer time. That’s all they do. Complete wintertime they only clear up, course of, make six packs, make joints. Me personally, I don’t assume it’s very profitable however then once more, I don’t have an outside develop, so what do I do know? However I simply know in Alaska, as soon as that permafrost units come finish of summer time and it begins getting chilly, when you don’t have that stuff planted in time proper now the place it’s nonetheless getting chilly out within the springtime, you’re not going to have the ability to harvest in time. However some folks do have the greenhouses which might be enclosed, that get the daylight after which it’s fixated with the AC inside so if it will get too sizzling, it will probably calm down just a little bit. There are some assisted grows like that. A number of folks which might be simply locals develop outside if they’ve a giant yard or autoflower vegetation on the again deck are very fashionable. I do know tons of people that try this.

TG Branfalt: Are you allowed? In some states you possibly can’t promote clones? Is that one thing you’re allowed to do in Alaska?

Chris Ray: Yeah. Yep. When you’re a retailer and you’ve got a cultivation, you’re allowed to promote your clones. I do know some locations do it on the common. Some locations don’t do it in any respect as a result of they don’t need that threat of you taking a clone and going residence and be like, oh man, you gave me spider mites or oh man, I received PM. And I didn’t get PM until I introduced residence this clone. After which they blame it on the retail or the cultivation for that matter.

TG Branfalt: Obtained you. We’ve talked about a few of the challenges that you simply face, once I requested you earlier in regards to the flying and that kind of stuff, what are a few of the distinctive advantages to you assume working a hashish store in Alaska?

Chris Ray: I really feel such as you get much more personable with the shoppers as a result of you will have your choose fan base, not fan base, however buyer base that like your retailer. In California, I’d think about you’d most likely have someplace nearer to 500 to a 1,000 transactions a day at a busy store on the town. You’re most likely like 200 to 400, possibly. These folks which might be coming in, you’re seeing the identical faces day-after-day. You’re in a position to stand up shut and private with these folks, study them, actually discover out what they’re like and what they’re in search of and actually cater to their wants versus simply on an enormous, company scale, shopping for every thing on the map that you may as a result of it sells or as a result of the pc tells you that it’s doing good. I’d say that’s one of many principal, massive advantages about being in Alaska.

TG Branfalt: Nicely, and also you speak in regards to the pc and also you do use data on the Tree Home and will you inform me a bit about how you utilize that information and the way that information interprets to reinforce the client expertise?

Chris Ray: Yeah, so proper now we use GrowFlow for a degree of sale. I began utilizing it again in, I wish to say 2018 is after we converted at Grass Station once I was there. My greatest factor for a bud tender to return in and to make use of the system is I would like it to be easy and I would like it to be like their iPhone for example or their Android. They’ll get on it, they will discover their textual content messages, kind it out. It sends, it’s carried out. Once we use GrowFlow to seek out out these analytics and that info that we’d like for the retail, utilizing their insights software that they should faucet in to see all proper, when are our most transactions going via? Is opening up at 8:00 AM on Saturday, Sunday price it?

We came upon that it wasn’t on the weekends for us however Monday via Friday we now have a bunch of early risers which might be there proper at 8:00 AM as quickly as we open up the doorways, virtually like getting their morning espresso. From that side that basically helped us faucet in with that and get that opened up as a result of we had been losing a bunch of payroll hours on sure shifts and sure days the place we had three folks scheduled to the place we have a look at GrowFlow and say, “Hey, from midday to 1:00 you’re solely doing this a lot. Possibly you solely want two folks as a substitute of three.” It’s been actually good in that side.

TG Branfalt: Was it shocking to you that you simply had a bunch of individuals kind of ready outdoors at 8:00 AM through the week?

Chris Ray: For me, no, as a result of once I was in Fairbanks, that was one of many first massive adjustments that I did was I used to be like, “Hey, it’s cool to open up at 10:00. I get that however there’s individuals who get up at 6:00 AM that run out of weed the night time earlier than, get up at 6:00 AM and solely have a bowl they usually received to be at work at 9:00 so after we open up at 8:00 they only received their espresso. Now they’re right here. Let me get a few pre-rolls actual fast.” Or some of us solely have a 30 minute lunch so after they get on a lunch at 12:00, they don’t wish to spend 10 minutes driving to the store, ready in line for 5 to 10 minutes after which making an attempt to whizz again to work. If they will are available in at 8:00 AM and get what they want, now they will take pleasure in that lunch that they’ve at 12:00, smoke that pre-roll. All proper, I received 10, quarter-hour to eat my meals now and to recuperate and to return inside.

That was considered one of my massive eye-openers proper there and sort of why I knew it might work. It was simply on the weekends. Folks exit Friday night time, get hammered or no matter they may do, smoke an entire lot after which they don’t get up until 9:00, 10:00 AM the subsequent morning, particularly if it’s their time off.

TG Branfalt: Yeah, nowhere in New York, we simply went authorized we don’t have outlets but and so we go to Massachusetts however they don’t open in Massachusetts till not less than 9:00, most of them 10:00, 11:00. I’m wondering how a lot they is perhaps doing the identical factor you are attempting to determine when the most effective time for them to be open. Is there another method that utilizing the info has modified your operations?

Chris Ray: Yeah. With the highest sellers and the highest suppliers, once I first began utilizing it, it was high manufacturers. After which I do know I talked, I can’t keep in mind who I talked to inside the firm, however I used to be like, “Hey, like we actually and use the manufacturers portion. However when you might make it high suppliers, that will be 10 occasions useful.” As a result of every thing that pulls in via Metrc goes to drag the provider title and the cultivation. Off the rip, if you are able to do one thing with suppliers which might be doing the most effective, that’ll inform me which of them I would like to actually order from. After which that basically helps out along with your entire ordering on a giant scale. You realize who it’s essential to spend what cash with or who’s getting the massive orders and who’s getting the smaller orders as a result of a cultivation might need eight strains however solely considered one of them is promoting very well in your store, which there’s nothing incorrect with that. I simply know that I would like to purchase numerous that one and have that one so it’s by no means working out as a result of that’s one of many high 5 sellers.

Identical factor with the merchandise, whether or not it’s a vape cartridge or shatter stay resin, no matter it is perhaps. I actually would possibly like refined and stay resin but when it’s solely promoting 2,000 to $3,000 price of stuff within the store per two weeks, however Frog Mountain or another person is promoting 5 to 6 and that’s not my favourite and that also tells me that I must go together with Frog Mountain just a little bit extra versus what I like, which on the retail facet, that’ll kill anybody faster than one thing else was simply ordering what you want. It’s like going to a restaurant. There’s 20 issues on the menu for a cause. You realize what I imply? You may not like pasta however another person would possibly are available in and that’s what they’re wanting ahead to.

TG Branfalt: You’ve been within the business since, for principally for what? Seven years now or six years.

Chris Ray: Yeah, I used to be Pakalolo’s first worker.

TG Branfalt: What do you assume is or what have you ever observed is, via the info, is the most well-liked kind of kind possibly not model, however is it flowers? Is it concentrates? As a result of state by state it differs.

Chris Ray: Pre-rolls.

TG Branfalt: Pre-rolls.

Chris Ray: Yeah, I might’ve thought, me personally, I really like shopping for flower and rolling it up myself however there are such a lot of folks on go in Alaska, whether or not they’re going fishing, tenting, whether or not they’re driving on a six hour journey to go someplace up north or occurring a street journey. As a result of all over the place in Alaska, you bought to drive to get there. You’re a minimum of an hour drive someplace. I really feel like folks simply touring loads and being on the go, these six packs and people 4 packs that we promote and simply pre-rolls and all simply take over the market. There’s numerous good flower on the market and there’s numerous good concentrates, however folks from concentrates there’s solely a choose few that use them.

TG Branfalt: Yeah. You talked about folks having to journey and as we mentioned earlier than we went on right here, Alaska’s a kind of locations that I actually would love to go to. Very a lot thought of transferring there at one level. What portion of your prospects are vacationers? And what function does tourism play in your backside line finally?

Chris Ray: Once I was in Fairbanks, tourism performed I’d say through the summertime a few good 30 to 40% of your prospects are vacationers.

TG Branfalt: That a lot.

Chris Ray: Since you received folks developing. They’re making an attempt to simply see what it’s like within the summertime, making an attempt to take pleasure in themselves. Within the wintertime, I’d say it dies down just a little bit as a result of not many individuals wish to come cope with the chilly however they wish to see the lights, particularly in Fairbanks. Now, once I received to Anchorage, we sort of opened up proper earlier than the pandemic so the entire tourism factor, it actually hasn’t kicked into full gear or I don’t even know if it should this summer time. I do know Alaska’s providing the vaccine to anybody that involves Alaska that wishes to get it. Which may deliver some tourism up. However on the Tree Home, I actually haven’t seen that in full scale but however from Fairbanks in that summertime, I’d say 30 to 40% within the summertime. After which most likely about 20, possibly 25% within the wintertime. However loads it’s simply your diehard locals that wish to come via and help native companies.

TG Branfalt: Do you guys have that company tradition up there which have kind of permeated in different states?

Chris Ray: We have now a few outlets up right here which have sort of taken that greater, all proper, we’re going to take a bigger footprint. We wish three cultivations. We wish 4 retails. There’s a pair like that. Not an entire lot. I’d say for essentially the most half with us being in Alaska, every thing nonetheless appears small craft for essentially the most half. However I hope it doesn’t are available in right here like that.

TG Branfalt: No, you’re tremendous lucky as a result of the thought of a complete market being a craft market is it’s actually remarkable down right here.

Chris Ray: Now, there are a number of cultivations to the place I really feel like there’s much more midgrade weed that it outweighs the nice weed that’s on the market for positive. And a few of these guys which have two, three cultivations, that they’re placing out a number of mid grade stuff. These smaller guys that solely have the one cultivation, generally they get neglected.

TG Branfalt: And you discover them via information, proper?

Chris Ray: Oh, it’s a must to, it’s a must to, yeah.

TG Branfalt: You talked about that the Tree Home simply opened across the time that COVID hit. The pandemic clearly didn’t change your operations that a lot on the Tree Home. However when that did hit, what did it’s a must to do? What did the business should do in Alaska to cope with that?

Chris Ray: The business truly opened up curbside pickups. They didn’t open up for delivery however they did enable us to do some curbside pickups. Us on the Tree Home the place we’re at, we didn’t really feel snug doing the strolling outdoors with product and dropping it off to folks. We sort of simply went with the entire social distancing, cleansing on the hour, each hour, wiping down every thing. Fortunately with our store, we solely have about 10 to 12 workers so conserving everybody secure and wholesome for essentially the most half, we had been good. We didn’t have anybody escape with any circumstances or something like that.

However the business as an entire, with them doing the curbside pickup, I really feel prefer it helped out a number of outlets as a result of a number of outlets don’t have the ground house that we do to the place folks can are available in and be distanced. For them to stroll out actual fast and all proper, right here you go, growth, growth, growth. You already paid for it. All proper. Thanks. Make it actual fast for them. I really feel prefer it made a few of the prospects and the shoppers really feel safer about coming to get their product however as soon as it sort of laxed up just a little bit, I really feel like folks they’re wanting ahead for issues to opening again up and with the ability to come again in and see the massive jars of weed and odor them and have a extra arms on expertise. As a result of I really feel like that’s why most individuals come to the store is to have that arms on expertise.

TG Branfalt: Yeah. It undoubtedly needed to kind of change the way in which that folks had been shopping for hashish. Did you discover any kind of?

Chris Ray: Yeah, we thought gross sales would possibly decelerate just a little bit as a result of folks not wanting to go away the home or no matter it could have been however with us being a vital employee within the state of Alaska, business stayed the identical if not received higher. Lots of people got here out, they had been keen to spend extra money as a result of they solely wished to return a few times every week versus the 4 occasions they had been coming. You had some individuals who had been simply at residence extra so that they weren’t going out as a lot so that they had been smoking extra. I’m positive anybody who’s a smoker is aware of how that goes. When you don’t have to go away the home or go verify in or meet with anybody, you’re simply smoking up as a result of it’s there. No, enterprise stayed fairly regular. Fairly good. It was time. It undoubtedly had some studying classes so far as learn how to pivot when a pandemic hits. That was undoubtedly my first time working via one thing like that. Simply following the rules of the state of Alaska and stuff like that.

TG Branfalt: And as normal supervisor, you had been the one which principally needed to implement all these things.

Chris Ray: Yeah. And it’s robust, when some locations are going overboard with it to the place they’re solely permitting 5 folks in retailer at a time to the place some outlets had been like, all proper. folks can are available in so long as we’re distanced. Type of placing it on the bud tenders just a little bit like, “Hey, when you see it getting packed in right here, ask some folks to attend outdoors within the hallway.” However fortunately our bud tenders are fairly good. They’re fairly fast. Holding the fixed circulation inside the store and we now have an entrance a technique and an exit the opposite method. Simply sort of conserving that visitors streamlined and never having an entire lot of individuals move by one another was factor.

TG Branfalt: Has the pandemic affected kind of your skill to maintain, get or retain the staff as a result of down right here it’s, all people is hiring on a regular basis now as a result of the unemployment verify is nice. Has that been one thing that you simply confronted as effectively?

Chris Ray: No. The one factor that we actually face is a few workers they may get a job supply from a job that gives them medical advantages or one thing like that, to the place it’s like, “Hey, I’m going to go take this job as a result of I would like the advantages,” or, “Hey, I’m going to go take this job as a result of I solely should cope with 5 folks now as a substitute of 200.” However by no means did I’ve anybody be like, “Hey, I don’t really feel secure working due to the pandemic or COVID or something like that.” Like I stated, we now have a number of house in our store so even the bud tenders, from register to register, there’s 4 to 6 toes. After which from the client to the worker, it’s already 4 toes. Simply add one other two toes to that, I really feel prefer it made everybody really feel fairly secure.

TG Branfalt: It’s good to listen to that you simply guys did significantly effectively, simply with well being and with the ability to handle the pandemic. One of many issues that I at all times discovered fascinating about kind of Alaska’s hashish regulation was that they had been early adopters of permitting or ultimately permitting social use. And a number of states have since then both enacted their very own regulation or included it in their very own reforms. How do you assume lounges will have an effect on the business?

Chris Ray: I’m very curious to see the way it’s going to go. One of many first ones simply opened up in Fairbanks however I don’t know if you already know nevertheless it sort of varies from metropolis to metropolis with the foundations on which you’ll be able to eat. In Anchorage, they put it out to the place, all proper when you get an endorsement for the onsite, you’re solely allowed to eat edibles. Nicely, in Alaska, the max for edibles is 50 milligrams per bundle. Precisely. I don’t see very many individuals be like, “Oh yeah, I’m going to go over right here immediately and go purchase some cookies and go sit down and eat these cookies.” I simply don’t see that being profitable to anybody. However in Fairbanks, they’ve it to the place you should purchase as much as a gram of flower from that place and you’ll smoke it there.

The place in Fairbanks that’s open, they’ve, you possibly can stroll in there, there’s a restaurant, TVs, it’s an outdated Chili’s constructing so sort of think about a Chili’s. Stroll in there, you get you your espresso or your smoothie or no matter, you purchase a pre-roll, one gram pre-roll or purchase one gram factor of flower and you’ll roll it up your self. Smoke that after which depart. I’m simply sort of curious although, if cops are going to take a seat across the nook, like they do at new bars when new bars open up or one thing like that and sort of camp out. I believe it’ll be cool however I’m very curious to see the way it’ll all pan out in the long run.

TG Branfalt: I really like the thought of an outdated Chili’s with the ability to smoke weed at an outdated Chili’s.

Chris Ray: Yeah. It’s received to develop in there. It’s received just a little cafe after which they received the retail on the opposite facet. It’s fairly massive.

TG Branfalt: That’s nice use of house, man. There’s an outdated Pizza Hut right here. I hope they do the identical factor right here. Are you guys planning? You stated you will have a giant house, are you guys planning to attempt to get that endorsement?

Chris Ray: I believe if Anchorage had been to ever change it to the place you could possibly smoke flower or eat concentrates, then I believe it might be well worth the dialog however simply the way it proper now with simply the edibles I don’t assume it is sensible as a result of it’s a must to have a cutting-edge air flow however I don’t know why you’d should have a cutting-edge air flow if there’s solely edibles allowed. It simply doesn’t make sense proper now.

TG Branfalt: Is the beverage recreation robust up there?

Chris Ray: Compared to Washington, it’s fairly weak or like California it’s fairly weak. There are a few good beverage firms up right here, like Hearth Eater, they make just a few totally different sodas. Pink Run makes a lemonade that lots of people have a tendency to love however apart from that, there’s actually not very many drinks. And once more, that counts as an edible so your entire soda can solely be 50 milligrams. I do know most individuals are in search of a 100, 250 milligram drink as a result of they wish to drink half of it and retailer the remainder of it for later or one thing.

TG Branfalt: Yeah. In Michigan once I was in Michigan, the max was truly 10 milligrams.

Chris Ray: Wow.

TG Branfalt: Yep. On a beverage. And that was truly medical too. However then you could possibly get on the identical time, you could possibly additionally get principally syrup that was 500 milligrams a bottle and that was time.

Chris Ray: Yeah. We have now the syrup however once more, the syrup it counts an edible so it will probably solely be 50 milligrams. There’s a public remark out proper now to lift that from 50 to a 100 to see how that goes. I’m hoping they do. Sufficient folks have voiced their opinions about it. I believe that’s on the subsequent assembly or the subsequent agenda to see in the event that they’re going to push that via. And if that does, I believe that’ll open up the edible recreation just a little bit to the place extra folks wish to are available in and experiment with edibles and check out them. As a result of I do know proper now, 50 milligrams to a 200 pound man, it’s actually, it’s not going to do a lot.

TG Branfalt: Yeah. On the flip facet although, when you’re nervous about police additionally sitting round outdoors, you get somebody who’s not used to it in any respect and 50 a tough.

Chris Ray: It’s quantity.

TG Branfalt: It’s a tough journey.

Chris Ray: For positive. For positive.

TG Branfalt: You’re a younger dude on this business, you’ve been in your place now for just a little beneath a 12 months however you’ve been within the house since 2016, actually originally in Alaska. What’s some recommendation that you’d have for somebody trying to get into the business, man?

Chris Ray: Be keen to return in and get your foot within the door any method that you may. Once I first got here up, I got here as much as assist run the retail so I used to be the assistant retailer supervisor. Once I left there, I needed to go to a brand new firm and simply to get my foot within the door there, I simply got here in as a packager. When you’re good at your job and you’ll voice your opinion right here and there and the best individuals are keen to hear, they’ll. However that will be my greatest factor is simply be keen to get your foot within the door a way. Lots of people don’t wish to are available in and bud have a tendency or package however a number of the those that I do know immediately which might be of their high positions at sure firms inside the state of Alaska, all of them got here in they usually bud tended for a 12 months, a 12 months and a half, they packaged or they watered and trimmed for a 12 months.

They did the little issues to sort of research the folks round them transferring and making the larger choices so when the time got here to the place they wanted another person to make these choices, they sort of already been watching and it’s loads simpler to show. I really feel like lots of people are available in on their excessive horse and wish to be a supervisor or a key holder, somebody of significance immediately as a substitute of coming in and simply taking it simple and studying just a little bit. It’s a model new business and a number of locations there’s a number of room to develop and corporations are simply going to maintain popping up proper and left. When you’re doing all of your job on the one place, they usually received nothing however good issues to say about you, a number of these different locations are going to return to you, knocking at your door, trying to construct with you rather than simply having you be somebody are available in, making 15 an hour, exhibiting up for 30 hours every week and clocking in and clocking out.

TG Branfalt: And possibly have confirmed up on time, proper?

Chris Ray: And also you hope so. Man, you’d be stunned, dude. You’d actually be stunned.

TG Branfalt: I labored within the bong business for a really very long time, you possibly can’t be stunned.

Chris Ray: Man, it’s identical to, folks need extra they usually wish to elevate or one thing however you possibly can’t present up on time six out of the six days out of the week, seven days out of the week. It’s actually not arduous to point out up 5 minutes earlier than your shift. When you’ve received it to the place you’re versatile and you’ll present up each time, then by all means try this. However often whenever you’re a bud tender or a packager, it’s like, hey, your shift begins up 4:00 so be able to work at 4:00, not present up at 3:59, take your hat off, take your jacket off, go use the lavatory after which by the point you come out in entrance to depend your drawer, it’s 4:10. It’s like, dude, the place you been?

TG Branfalt: That won’t get you far within the hashish business in Alaska or anyplace else I don’t assume. The place Chris Ray can folks discover out extra about you and extra about The Tree Home?

Chris Ray: All of my social medias are @shawnhemp_, that’s Shawn, S-H-A-W-N-H-E-M P_. That’s my weed moniker. I’ve been rolling with it for just a little bit now however that’s just about the place I submit something that I like, native hashish, numerous buddies of mine that develop numerous rec stuff that I strive for the primary time, stuff like that. I’m fairly lively on there. However the Tree Home, all of our social medias are TheTreeHouseAK. After which we now have our web site, thetreehouseak.com. That just about has our offers, our menu, what we’ve received occurring. We attempt to preserve that updated. After which simply story on Instagram for the Tree Home is fairly lively and at all times exhibits what’s occurring within the retailer and stuff like that.

TG Branfalt: Nicely, if I ever make my technique to Alaska, I’ll know the place to land the airplane.

Chris Ray: Yeah. If anybody is coming to Alaska they usually wish to see some outlets or smoke some good weed, come hit me up, shoot me a message on Instagram, attain out. Everybody in Alaska is tremendous pleasant, man. That’s the one factor I really like about it right here. It’s not like going to Vegas or California, there are some sheisty folks in Alaska, don’t get me incorrect. However for essentially the most half, everybody who’s concerned with the weed recreation, they’re fairly good folks.

TG Branfalt: Nicely, I actually thanks for taking the day trip and approaching the present and giving me this kind of perspective and perception as a result of it’s been a very long time that I’ve been making an attempt.

Chris Ray: I’m stunned it took you 5 years. That’s loopy to me, man. There’s two or three podcasts up right here that speak about marijuana on the native scene. There’s 30 outlets. I’m simply, I’m stunned nobody’s reached out.

TG Branfalt: You guys are sketchy of us mainlanders.

Chris Ray: Oh, see man, I discovered all my expertise down there on the mainland. I used to be proper down between Kansas Metropolis and St. Louis for about three, 4 years down there in Columbia.

TG Branfalt: Columbia. I’ve by no means been, man. I’ve by no means been.

Chris Ray: Yeah. It’s an fascinating place, man. It’s like a tunnel between Chicago, Memphis, Kansas Metropolis and St. Louis.

TG Branfalt: Chicago’s a fantastic metropolis.

Chris Ray: It’s proper the place the College of Mizzou’s at. Lots of people come via there, an entire lot of various walks of life.

TG Branfalt: That’s Chris Ray. Thanks a lot once more. Hopefully you possibly can preserve me posted on whether or not or not that push works to get the extent of THC in edibles raised. And hopefully we’ll speak once more quickly, man. I actually admire it.

Chris Ray: Yeah. Yeah. Attain out each time.

TG Branfalt: You’ll find extra episodes of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast within the podcast part of ganjapreneur.com, on Spotify and within the Apple iTunes Retailer. On the Ganjapreneur.com web site, you’ll discover the newest hashish information and hashish jobs up to date day by day together with transcripts of this podcast. You too can obtain the Ganjapreneur.com app in iTunes and Google Play. This episode was engineered by Trim Media Home. I’ve been your host, TG Branfalt.