2024 Cannabis Industry Power Players

Co-founder David Nicponski is a software engineer. He has had a lifelong interest in industry disrupting startup companies. David has closely followed legalization efforts in each state since California’s success in 1996. With New York’s cannabis legalization, he realized he could build another startup from the ground-up and help the community to grow economically.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
Mass proliferation of illegal shops, combined with the mismanagement of funding intended to support the opening of CAURD retail stores.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
It takes FAR more time, effort, and capital to successfully open your business than you might expect. Take whatever you were initially thinking and triple it. Find and join the industry communities, and take an active role in them. There are lots of opportunities to unearth, but they require an incredible amount of dedication and effort to seize. If you’re willing to put in that effort, the prize is there waiting for you!

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I hope that it continues to grow over time, with additional licensing and capacity introduced by the state steadily over time, in lockstep with the market’s ability to absorb additional entrants. The result of this will be pro-market and pro-consumer, with superior products and unbeatable prices while supporting the local licensed businesses who follow the rules.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
We’ve slowly started to see changing opinions of low-frequency users or non-users. People are beginning to mentally disassociate cannabis from the illegal smoke shops that were previously the only source for the products, and with all of the negative impacts to local communities that go along with the unregulated market.

Pamela Nicponski comes from a CPA background. With the 2021 legalization of cannabis in New York, she researched and dove into understanding the regulatory and licensing aspects, gaining insights into the business potential of retail dispensaries. She is looking forward to applying her accounting knowledge to enhance profitability and efficiency as Freshly Baked NYC helps to transform the New York cannabis industry.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The biggest problem is with illegal shops: they are not helping to improve the culture and perception around cannabis. They exacerbate the negative perceptions, because they don’t follow regulations or pay taxes, and the community sees this and assumes that licensed businesses will be the same. This fuels the stigma and prevents what licensed businesses are actually trying to do: improve perception and culture, and show cannabis to be the beneficial industry it can be.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
This is a new industry in the state… gathering information is not easy, so join the industry groups and associations. Networking is a powerful thing. You’ll find a lot of people eager to help and guide you or send you in the right direction. Learn the basics about cannabis; consuming cannabis is not the same as actually knowing the product.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I’m a dreamer… and I would like people to educate themselves about cannabis and its culture before judging consumers. I’d also like people to understand the benefits this industry can bring to the city and state are huge! If people support legal shops instead of treating us like we are illicit and malicious, it can be beneficial for everyone, especially the local community. You don’t have to be a consumer to be 4/20 friendly.

Michael Gertelman is the driving force behind NugHubNY, a trailblazing cannabis retail venture in Staten Island, NY. With a keen eye for customer needs and efficiency, NughubNY prioritizes seamless delivery options, ensuring customers receive top-quality cannabis products with ease. His dedication to providing exceptional service and convenient ordering reflects his commitment to meet the evolving demands of the cannabis market.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The illicit market poses the most pressing challenge to the New York cannabis industry. Authorities need the tools to dismantle illicit operations, allowing the legal market to flourish. This support is crucial for retailers, manufacturers, and farmers who have endured years of hardship. Addressing the illicit market’s dominance will ensure a level playing field, promoting growth and sustainability in the legal cannabis sector.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
For aspiring individuals entering the cannabis industry, thorough research, networking, and compliance understanding are paramount. Stay informed about evolving regulations, build strong industry connections, and prioritize compliance to navigate this rapidly changing landscape successfully.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
My hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York are centered on a thriving, equitable, and inclusive market. I envision a landscape where legal businesses flourish, providing safe and regulated products to consumers. Additionally, I hope to see opportunities for small businesses and marginalized communities to participate meaningfully, fostering economic growth and social justice.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
The legalization of cannabis in New York has sparked widespread excitement and support among residents, benefiting every aspect of the supply chain. Consumers appreciate access to safe, lab-tested products, fostering trust and confidence in the industry. Additionally, legalization has created economic opportunities for entrepreneurs, job seekers, and communities, stimulating growth and innovation.

On November 2, 2021, Vanessa L. Gibson was elected the 14th Bronx Borough President to serve the over 1.4 million residents and families that call the Bronx home. A native New Yorker, Ms. Gibson successfully navigated her political career to become the first woman and African American to serve in her role. With experience in the NYS Assembly and NYC Council, Ms. Gibson has kept the needs of her constituents central in her policy work.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The rapid growth of unlicensed cannabis shops is a significant issue that is undermining the success of licensed cannabis dispensaries. I am grateful New York City and New York State are taking immediate action to shut down these illegal smoke shops that pose a threat to the success of licensed cannabis shops and the health and safety of our communities.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
I would encourage potential cannabis applicants to connect to resources like the Bronx Community Foundation to ensure they have the support to apply for a cannabis license successfully. There are many opportunities for training and development programs available right here in The Bronx specifically tailored to the cannabis industry.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I hope that residents who were discriminated against by the Rockefeller Drug Laws are able to turn that experience into opportunities to invest in themselves and our communities. I hope that New York State will continue to make improvements in the laws, regulations, and management affecting the cannabis industry to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to opportunities within this growing marketplace.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
As a borough that bore much of the brunt of the War on Drugs, it is encouraging to see the state’s efforts to make equity and restorative justice a key part of our new cannabis industry. The licensed cannabis shops that have opened in The Bronx have shown that justice-involved individuals can be among our best entrepreneurs. These trailblazers are examples of turning their pain into purpose, and I look forward to more opening.

Arana Hankin-Biggers has over two decades of experience working in economic development policy, urban planning, and real estate development. In 2021 Arana teamed up with former real estate colleagues and a cannabis executive to start a purpose driven cannabis venture. The Travel Agency partnered with The Doe Fund and secured one of New York’s first dispensary licenses and has since partnered with two additional CAURD license holders to open two more dispensary locations in NYC.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
Most people agree the most urgent issue facing our industry is the continued proliferation of illegal smoke shops. This is singlehandedly preventing the success of the legal cannabis market and preventing the collection of millions of dollars in tax revenue. Illegal smoke shops are contributing to the stigmatization of cannabis consumption, by rewarding retailers that work in the shadows, and flooding our city with unsafe and toxic products.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
The cannabis industry is one of the most complex in the nation and demands a team with a diverse skill set, from business operations, to marketing, real estate, design, accounting, fundraising, government and community relations, and an army of lawyers and accountants. The most helpful advice we received is to invest in talent, to attract the most qualified team members, and the top performers in the industry.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I am hopeful that this amazing grassroots cannabis community that we have in New York will continue to make a meaningful impact on the culture of cannabis in this state and hold folks accountable for their commitments to supporting social equity measures and their commitments to giving back to the community in a meaningful way.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
The legalization of cannabis has amplified creative approaches that can build wealth for communities of color. Even with the missteps New York State has made, the government attempted to make a difference in reducing the racial wealth gap in this country. And, I am hopeful this experience will make folks realize that there is much more work that needs to be done to solve for this systemic problem.

Amy Chin is a native New Yorker, mom and mental health advocate. As an anxiety and postpartum depression sufferer, CBD was monumental in helping Amy manage her mental health. That transformation led her to become a cannabis coach, guiding people who are new to plant medicine on how to consume effectively and providing customized treatment plans based on their lifestyle needs. Amy is also a cannabis dispensary license applicant in the queue.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
Ensuring that the cannabis industry is inclusive and equitable is a core goal of New York’s legalization framework. However, the slow rollout has hampered efforts to provide opportunities to small businesses and social equity entrepreneurs on all levels of the supply chain. We need to set up programs to support these small businesses to win and provide access to funding.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Stay resilient and adaptable. The cannabis industry is subject to rapid changes in regulation and market dynamics. Be prepared to adapt your business strategies accordingly. Do it only if you are passionate about the plant because this industry is highly volatile.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?

1. An inclusive market where small and medium-sized enterprises can thrive alongside larger corporations, fostering innovation and diversity within the industry. 
2. Encouragement of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices within the industry, promoting a green economy. 
3. Greater societal acceptance of cannabis use, reducing stigma and integrating cannabis culture positively into mainstream society. 
4. Recognition and respect for the cultural significance of cannabis in various communities, ensuring that the industry respects and uplifts these traditions.

Annette Fernandez is from Washington Heights, NYC. After a 19 year career in specialty retail and six years in capital markets operations, she embarked on a journey in NY cannabis legalization and social equity activism. She is a managing partner at High Exposure Agency, a business development agency and founder of La Casa Lola, a community focussed, cannabis dispensary license applicant in the queue.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
We need more progressive capital introduction into the NY market social equity outcomes. The culture and the craft of this plant in NY is leverage that needs to be connected with open minded investors who can see the vision of a healthy equitable, innovative market. There’s plenty of talent and innovation that could soar (drive revenue) with the support funding provides. It is possible to do well and do good.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Understand that this is a high stakes game where the risks outweigh the rewards for most. It is brutal and chaotic and this is only the beginning. New York is trying to do what hasn’t been done before: that is create an equitable, representative market that repairs the harm caused by prohibition. It’s a North Star and it needs advocacy and activism. Know that it’s a marathon and it’s not for the faint of heart.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
That we can create the market that so many of us envision. One as diverse as NY itself, complete with a robust and thriving ecosystem of small businesses that showcases our love for this plant and for local business. All of this, in service to driving tax revenue that can transform communities that have been the most harmed by prohibition.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
We can now see some models of what’s possible. Shoutout to Terp Bros, Astoria and Silk Road NYC, Jamaica Queens. Our first two dispensary clients at High Exposure Agency. These are local, community oriented dispensaries that show what’s possible when you are committed to being stewards of the plant, equity and the culture!

Kassia Graham, a Clio Cannabis award-winner, joined High Exposure Agency in 2023. The agency focuses on development services in cannabis and the small business landscape. In 2022 Kassia produced the short documentary “Cannabis + Creativity”. As a two-time cancer survivor they are passionate about cannabis and its potential for healing which is why they sit on the Oregon Cannabis Commission Health Equity subcommittee. Independently, Kassia consults on research and development and branding with domestic and international clients.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The licensing process has been daunting for many applicants. Those who are applying or in the queue require more transparency, access to capital, and guidance. Also, the equity provisions in the MRTA must remain intact and unchallenged to ensure New York is the most diverse and equitable market in the USA – if not the world.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Stick to what you’re already great at doing! Some people believe owning a dispensary or farm is the only way to be seen as “legitimate” in the industry; however, professionals who are talented in ancillary areas should use their skill set to the best of their abilities to enter the space. The cannabis industry requires skilled marketers, artists, accountants, lawyers, and general suppliers to name a few important ancillary jobs.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
Those who are not from New York may not realize just how much of a diverse state it is across the board; from the regions to the people. Besides the obvious – leading the country in growth and sales – I hope each region finds a way to make cannabis its own by combining history and innovation.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
At High Exposure Agency we’ve had the pleasure of seeing clients transition from legacy to legal while maintaining their integrity as dispensary owners. They are creating jobs and hiring from within New York. While the industry is a work in progress, consumers have more options to purchase quality goods from people who pride themselves on delivering the best there is to offer, including clients such as Silk Road NYC.

Since being sworn into office in 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul has led by establishing a bold vision for New York’s future. Governor Hochul has spearheaded comprehensive policies and initiatives to help New Yorkers and their families, while building an economy that is stronger and more inclusive than before. Governor Hochul is making historic investments in the people, places, and things to make that happen – from healthcare workers, small businesses, and working families to infrastructure, education, and workforce development. Governor Hochul was born and raised in Western New York.