Lauren Carpenter has over a decade of expertise constructing prolific groups and main profitable technique for a few of the most numerous enterprise coalitions and campaigns in California, together with dozens of Fortune 50 corporations.
Earlier than Carpenter co-founded hashish retailer Embarc, she served as chief technique officer for Candy Flower, and director of presidency affairs for Western states at MedMen. Carpenter introduced her intensive hashish expertise in authorities, regulatory, public and group affairs to Embarc and into her position as CEO. Carpenter has turn into a trusted advisor to elected officers and continues to work with authorities companies all through the state and throughout the nation to implement considerate hashish rules inside communities to create mutually useful operations.
We spoke with Lauren for our Higher Calling collection, the place we chat with leaders within the hashish house.
Lauren, inform us…
The place you grew up, and the place you reside now.
I used to be born in San Francisco and my earliest reminiscences are within the metropolis, however I spent my childhood starting at about 5 years outdated in Sacramento. Like many 18-year-olds, I left for faculty swearing I might by no means return to my hometown. Quick ahead and I am again in Sacramento, as my pre-cannabis profession was in public affairs on legislative points, and residing right here now permits me to journey to any of our shops and be house in time to sleep in my very own mattress that evening.
Your present position within the hashish trade.
I’m a co-founder of Embarc and Embarc Events. Embarc is among the fastest-growing impartial hashish retailers in California, a testomony to our perception in integrating into and enhancing native communities whereas working with integrity and transparency. Embarc Occasions is rooted in our perception that hashish and popular culture can and will co-exist in a protected and accessible method. It has been nearly two years since we have collectively loved dwell occasions and we’re thrilled to be integrating hashish into their return.
Your earliest hashish reminiscence.
Throughout my freshman 12 months of highschool, a lot of my mates acquired caught smoking at college, and a letter was despatched house to all of the dad and mom warning about hashish use. My dad and mom sat me down and stated, “Hey, if you wish to strive hashish so badly, simply inform us.” In that second, my dad and mom desirous to have an sincere dialogue about it made me immediately really feel much less rebellious.
In actuality, I used to be one of many few youngsters rising up who by no means dabbled a lot in hashish. It was solely as an grownup that I used to be launched to the plant in a significant method. My husband (and enterprise companion) urged hashish may assist with my nervousness and sleep points.
Hashish modified my life by bettering my sleep, and since then I’ve integrated it in different methods as effectively. As somebody who does not drink a lot, I like that hashish drinks have gotten more and more socially acceptable, and was grateful to have the ability to substitute a glass of wine with low-dose drinks comparable to Cann through the peak of the pandemic.
A narrative concerning the optimistic impression hashish has had in your life.
I are typically 1,000 p.c dedicated to something I put my thoughts to, and hashish has performed an enormous position in serving to me to tune into myself. Hashish helps me channel this innate ardour and switch it into creativity, and to counterbalance that depth once I want a respite.
A favourite flower, edible, product or model.
I like winding down my day with a canine walker from Pure Beauty. I additionally just lately found Sonder’s Space Crystals—they’re pure nostalgia.
The most important problem hashish entrepreneurs face immediately.
Ha, the place to start out?! There are a myriad of challenges on this trade, however I am going to reframe this query in a optimistic gentle. The most important alternative hashish entrepreneurs face immediately is discovering inventive methods to immediately have interaction with shoppers given the restrictive promoting rules in place immediately. That is one of many causes we began Embarc Occasions—it permits us to immediately have interaction with tens (or tons of) of hundreds of individuals over a day or weekend and assist to destigmatize hashish at scale.
One factor you are enthusiastic about proper now in hashish branding, partnerships or advertising.
I am noticing hashish manufacturers (and branding) beginning to emphasize elements different than simply THC percentages. Manufacturers are actually doubling down on training concerning different cannabinoids like CBN, CBG and THCV in a extra significant method. I’m actually enthusiastic about what which means for the patron’s expertise.
A hashish commerce/social justice group that you just help.
We companion with dozens of social justice and group organizations all through California, and every Embarc retailer donates 1 p.c of gross receipts in perpetuity to native causes in the neighborhood it proudly calls house. This has created significant relationships with current organizations doing the work to higher their communities, and ensures that hashish operations from inside that group are in the end useful.
A latest undertaking you are happy with.
Our workforce was the official concessionaire for Grass Lands at Outside Lands, bringing hashish gross sales and consumption to the plenty. This was solely the second time hashish has been offered at an occasion of this magnitude (and the primary time it has been executed in the midst of a pandemic, and after so many manufacturers needed to lower occasion employees and advertising budgets). I’m happy with the large work our workforce put in and am grateful {that a} pageant of that magnitude understands the significance of permitting accountable hashish gross sales and consumption. I am excited to see how different main occasions will probably be integrating hashish within the coming months.
Another person’s undertaking you admired just lately.
One group that I solely just lately related with however that I very a lot admire is the Equity Trade Certification. California shoppers are aware in so many sides of their lives, from consuming farm-to-fork to procuring native companies. Making a federal fairness normal (and advocating for it to even be adopted on the state degree) is such a important element of training shoppers on the significance of procuring equitably, simply as I consider appellations of origin can function an analogous academic alternative and level of differentiation for cultivators within the Emerald Triangle.
Somebody you admire in hashish who’s doing nice issues.
It is so laborious to select only one. I drastically admire Tina Gordon, founding father of Moon Made Farms. She is a improbable sungrown farmer, a fierce sustainability advocate (for the plant and inside the trade), and top-of-the-line people I do know.
A film, TV present, music or meals you most get pleasure from pairing with hashish.
Heaven = a joint + a few avenue tacos from Taqueria Jalisco in downtown Sacramento.
What you would be doing for those who weren’t within the hashish trade.
Anybody who is aware of me will inform you I like to speak, and I’m happiest once I’m making an attempt to unravel a problem. I might seemingly channel these passions into being a therapist.
