Harry Barash MiCannaPros

Yo, what's going on? Everybody?

Welcome to a new episode of My Canic Cass. I'm Canna Dave. On today's episode, we have a special guest, Harry Bearrish, founder of my Cannon Pros and also the Meet Connect Puff event that is huge in the industry here in Michigan. So thank you for joining us today here.

How are you great to be here?

Guys made it now, you know, I made it in the industry.

That's funny saying we've been you know, we've known you now for like years between me Connect Puff and so this has been kind of bound in long time coming.

My life, right.

So that's the thing though, too, Like it's kind of like it is, that's life though. We're busy and happens.

You know.

I'm glad we're able to do with today or able to have a good conversation. You made it into the studio, so yeah, thank you for coming.

Keep it real, right, Yeah, I mean honestly, he came in prepared or we had him already ready to go, So we're ready already we've been smoking yeah, yeah, so yeah, I know, you know, Harry, I think today just kind of as we always start off our podcast, you know, we want to talk a little bit like about Harry, you know a little bit of kind of what got you into, you know, the camp's industry. You're just kind of into like the loving and the planet in general,

Yeah, you know, keeping busy these days for sure, having a lot of fun and uh, you know, seeing all the sides of this industry.

That you know, we all are very well aware of.

But uh, you know, uh, you know I started actually I never uh I spoke my first joint when I was twenty six years old, So it took a while for me to really you know, know what cannabis is.

And I really enjoyed it quite a bit.

And you knownderstand that I've.

Pretty much been smoking every single day of my life since then, to some varying degree. So but you know, I got into the cannabis industry back in twenty thirteen. I was a caregiver and and you know I had had a bullshit basement grow you know, like and that's a lot of people these yeah, yeah, I mean you know a lot of people you know started there and are still there. And it's actually, you know, if you don't mind going up and down the stairs a little heavy shit.

You know, you know, hey got you know, go for it. You know.

But the older I get, the more that's lame.

Yeah, you know.

Yeah, so I'm just saying, Yeah, I was a pretty bad grower at first, and you know, I didn't really have any relationships in the industry, right other than our new friends, you know that smokes.

I had no idea what I was going to do with the with the weed once.

I grew it, and so I downloaded app called weed Maps, and uh yeah, all these dots started popping up on the on the map, and I'm like, let me go pop into some of these places and you know see if they could you know, use some of my products. So of course that was you know, besides having a couple of patients and and uh dealing with them. You know, I was I was one of those you know, terrible people that uh sold to the to the retailers and I.

Mean the caregivers back in the day were the reasons why the night program and we got so yeah, I mean.

You know, we're not supposed to make a profit, right, I mean, you know, you know so, but obviously at the end of the day, it's you know, it is a business, and you know it was you know, it was something.

That actually you're not allowed to make a profit unless Uncle Sam can make a profit, you know what I mean.

So, you know, I went into my first dispensary with a backpack and walked in and said, hey, you know, would you like to buy some overages? And they sure, and they bought product for me. I went into the second, uh, asked the same question, and then I got the same man.

Mecause I'm sure. I mean even like the ones we talked to you there.

Like Grand River near Telegraph Man.

Yeah, I don't even remember what the name of it was back then, but uh there.

Was a couple there and when I think of over there is jazz club.

Yeah, but they're on Telegraph, the Telegraph. This one was on Grand River.

Yeah, so uh that makes sense.

Okay, Yeah, Actually one of the owners is Antonio, who was part of a Red, White and Bloom.

Now I guess.

So so yeah, you know, and I'm like, wow, you know, this is this is pretty cool, you know, like I can I got I got an outlet, you know, I got similar to sell my ship. And I ended up, you know, if I out more and more people that you know that are growing, right, people that you know you never expected that were growing, that are like.

Hey, you know I grow. I'm like, okay, great, you know, like the what kind of stuff you got?

And started going visiting a lot of facilities, you know, talking to more and more caregivers and there and then I basically asked them if I could uh sell some of the flower, and you know, they ended up.

Letting me give me an opportunity to sell it.

So I was basically adding it to my menu of my product or selling in between harvest.

And you know, so.

You know, I I went from doing you know, having a network of you know, two three caregivers and you know a handful of dispensaries, uh, to you know, dozens of caregivers and you know.

More more than a lot more than a handful of dispensaries.

Because you're out there growing back It was funny, like I.

Think when we first met you, you told us about that, but the backpack story and you just mentioned it. So it's actually cool to hear it like in depth, you know, because you were like I was I here going dis dis bros out the back back and yeah.

You know, obviously a lot of people did that, you know, I mean it was uh, you know, back then they called that drug dealing.

You know today they called that allegedly a broker, right, so.

You know, so yeah, that were Yeah, so I I you know, my background prior to that was commercial rules that I did, you know, retail, and you know, did that for a number of years, probably twenty my twenty fifth year. Now that wow, so I had one foot in, one foot out since twenty thirteen. I you know, I had more of a passion for cannabis and.

So, you know, two thousand and eighteen, I started the.

Facebook group yeah yeah, which was back then called uh Michigan Marijuana Michigan Medical Marijuana Business Network or something. I still have an old logo it's and then we changed to Michigan Can the BIS Professionals and h Now we just kind of.

I think that's when I joined, was that one, Yeah, that's what.

We know it asked. Yeah.

So yeah, it's got to reinvent yourself, right.

You always got a you know, rebrand and you know, just kind of keep it fresh, right, you know.

So you started that in twenty thirteen. When did you see track? I started that in twenty eighteen eighteen excuse me thirteen? Okay? And did the group get like pretty fast traction on that? Like how long did it take to kind of you know.

It didn't really get much traction at first, you know, basically, you know, I'm a nobody. I wasn't nobody at the time, and and you know, who is this guy and why should we follow him?

Right? And so I had to really you know.

Build it, you know, brick by brick, you one by one, you know, very slowly, and until people started to hear about it, and you know, it took a good couple of years. You know, we we had the first couple of years where you know, it was always a hobby. It was never meant to be.

You know, I never said, well, let me open up a Facebook group and you know.

Start a you know event or they started a networking organization or you know, start a website.

It was just kind of like, oh, fuck it, let me just start a Facebook group because there was a.

Lot of shots out there, you know, in different places, and I just put it all on you know, one platform where you know, you can find all that information instead of having to go to multiple sources. So that was really the concept behind it is, you know, just to gather as much data as possible. And I just kind of became a research uh you know, cut and paste expert, you know what I mean, that's what it's all I was doing and adding a little you know spin.

To you know, and.

Uh and then it really started, you know, I needed help, So I brought on a bunch of moderators, Jamie Cooper and you know, Justin Palmeteer and a number of others throughout the years. And you know, so Hanton Harp, of course, you know, you guys don't Hanton.

Yeah.

We had a huge put a huge part in and a lot of this and actually still is involved to this day. And I'll get to that a little bit.

But very cool.

Yeah.

So you know, here we are today, just under ten thousand members and yeah, so you know six years later, you know, you know, and it's very private, you know, we you know, we require people, you know, people that want to join the group to answer questions.

Yeah, because I mean, you want people that are in an industry. You don't want people that are just coming into like bad mouth brands because they had a couple of bad you know, bags of it, and they're there to talk shit.

You know.

That's what's really interesting about your group is when you say cannabis professionals, it's literally is like, hey, you gotta be kind of in the industry. You're like, what do you do sort of?

You know?

Sure, yeah, I mean, you know, everyone's welcome, right, we don't we don't ask if their consumers, you know, are not you know, yeah, but you know, it's good to have a consumer.

It seems like who's in the chat are the people like actually working industry salesman. I guess I'm not not saying about this inclusion. I mean, it's the inclusion is great, but I guess what I'm saying the people who are active in your group are people who are actually like, hey, this is what's going on this I got this, this person short at me, Oh did you hear to get paid from this part?

You know?

And it's all these like just kind of chats and like, hey to hear about this part, you know. So there's a lot of professionals.

Absolutely, you know.

And that's why I really like your group name, because it really is a lot of business professionals. Yeah, I mean, you know, the other thousand a decent amount of mar Yeah.

I mean, you know, it's a lot of our members come from existing members, and you know, uh, we'll get quoted in uh, you know, a newspaper article or on TV.

And then that will generate a lot of new uh new interest. You know.

So it has definitely been on a steady, very consistent path.

You know, for the last you know, four or five years. I'm sorry, you know, three four years and.

You know, uh, you know, and then I began, you know, then I became you know really uh, I became an information junkie. I became a you know, data junkie. I became a you know, statistic junkie.

And statistics about the campus, about the industry.

Yeah.

So you know, you know, because I was sharing all this information with the group, I had to produce relevant information to keep people engaged, right and kind of pretend like I know what, you know, what the fuck I'm talking about? You know.

Things?

Do you make it right?

You know?

So you know, I I I, you know, I always had to kind of like be prepared because you had some pretty smart motherfuckers in this group. You know, well, we'll check you.

Know, what I mean.

And you know, and then for thirty years they're like no, no, no, right, and I appreciate that. You know, it creates real discussion, you know.

Yeah, yeah, as long as you obviously can do it, you know, respectfully.

Yeah, you know.

So, so I wanted to be more than just a Facebook group, you know.

We you know a number of people had suggested, why don't you throw events?

When you throw events, is that this is the Facebook group is kind of what got you into the events world. That's what led you into doing that.

Yeah, because you know, I wanted to be I didn't want it to just be a Facebook group only, right, because.

You saw your network grow and you're like, well, not have this network.

You know what?

Right, Yeah, so a meet in person and such, it's digitally.

Exactly, you know.

I mean, you know, the engagement is there, the numbers are there.

You know, let's figure out what else we can do.

Because we were making anything, you know, it was on Facebook.

Yeah, when you're treating conversation, essentially, it's like owning a Reddit threat, Like you're not necessarily making money, but if you have a Reddit thread that is popping off, like yeah, I'm sure you can find a way to make sure exactly right.

Yeah, so if you get business suns right, so.

Well, that's that's what it is too. You got to have a sure in every way otherwise you know, it's.

Just a hobby continually.

Yeah, so I uh uh. Back in early.

Twenty twenty two, I I had a friend of mine who is who is one of the owners of twercent at the time, No Full Ofkash who in Breeze and decided to build a consumption lounge in Haisle Park. I was going to be the first consumption lounge in the state of Michigan. And it opened up I want to say sometime in like March ish of twenty twenty two, and I was very fascinated by the concept that was very fascinated about the area that they opened. I was

Or meet you know, I have a meeting.

And they're also renting out for private events. So that constantly, you know, turned down a light bulb and I'm like, you know.

Buyer seller, I used the broker. Everyone, you know, like.

You started putting some things together.

Yeah.

So I'm like, so, I'm like, you know, everyone's asking me to throw an event, and prior to you know, everyone keeps asking me, even in the licensed market, Harry, can you help me, you know, sell flower? Hey, can you help me buy flower? You know when the prices were four thousand, and you know, I'm like.

No, I mean, i don't know what I'm gonna get paid.

I'm like, I don't know what, you know, I don't know how nobody could really give me a direct answer as to what that would look like.

So and they still can't.

Right, I mean, because I mean, I think I'm pretty sure we've all heard stories of how, you know, even brokers in that game, you know, get get screwed. And so I decided to basically have a buyer seller event, and I wanted to be the first one to have an event, a large event at high Box Social. And when no Food told me that, I you know, my mind just went instantly into you know, wow, I'm gonna

That's hard. Yeah, a lot of things and there was a lot of things on site where you're gonna.

Be like, oh shah, was this your first event you've ever thrown too?

Yes, yeah, I mean, you know, uh, challenge accepted, you know, like all right, here we go, I mean, how do you go?

It went pretty well.

So Dave was at the first one.

I was there.

That's where I met you in person. I was in your group for a while and then you actually came out and talked to me in personally. I thought that was very cool because like he threw the event, he's actually coming around and you were talking to everybody saying hi, I'm.

Sure there's some logistic things you learned respect that right away.

Events. There was a lot of things.

But you know, when I started.

The Facebook group, I was not a social media guy. I still really I am not a social media expert by any stretch of the imagination or no, no, do I pretend to be. And you know, I just did it by the you know, just flying by the seat of my pants, you know what I mean, Like I had no idea what I was doing, and I just faked it, you know, as best as I could. People know, you know, fortunately, you know I wasn't a newbie. You know people, but.

See, you already knew the industry. You know who needed to network. You knew who need to be there, So you didn't know how to throw this event. You just didn't know the logistics behind Like hey did I need door people? How many hours do I need? Where do I need this? Like city stuff like slouder, Like do I need sound? When do I need it? Run a show?

It was like all that stuff.

But at end the day, like you knew would need to be there, right So I think that was a big part. And having that network of that group, you know, you kind of knew that hey put it out so like you you know very much. Maybe not a social media guy, but you crush the marketing.

Side of it.

I mean, you know we're not marketing experts either, you know, like we we have now we have a bigger marketing presence, you know.

Uh.

And I'll get to that in a little bit. But as far as that event, you know, the first event goes, you know, like you know, no one was doing that type of event right like it was.

You know, it's kind of like first you know, to market in terms of a true buyer seller event, and.

You know there was a void, you know.

That's that's what we discovered after the first event and only having four weeks of planning it. It was me and Leah Stevens and Tatiana Grant. Tatiana handled like a lot of the day of stuff. Leah who's now with Franklin Fields. She's she was awesome, but it was you know something that she ended up going back working with

Fourteen tables vendors that day.

And you know, had about one hundred and fifty people total, and which was.

Actually considered a successful first event.

And you know, all the vendors were happy, all the vendors, you know, a lot of the vendors were ready for another one. So I kind of, you know, once I had that event, I felt like I.

Had to keep doing them, right. It wasn't a one and done, you know.

And I liked the concept of having a buyer seller event. You know, I I I didn't want to step on anybody's toes. I didn't want to try and duplicate anything out there. I'm not the kind of guy that's, you know, I'm gonna throw a concert, you know, I'm not the kind of guy that's gonna.

You know, have you know, you know, a giant expo.

You know, like I just wanted to have a buyer seller focused event, right And then the second one, which was you know, I basically you know, got myself a full time job right away, you know, another full time job right away, you know, and because if I didn't do it, you know, someone else was going to and I had to had to start planning the next one.

You know.

So you know, number two happened and that was also a success, and and it was and they were you know, they were profitable. You know, a lot of a lot of events weren't profitable. And you know, we kept our cost low, you know, we you know, we were fair in our pricing and you know people were willing to pay it, you know.

So yeah, coming coming at us so strong out of the first event, it's kind of nice that you can have some momentum going in the second.

Well, they got results, you know what I mean, there was an instant ROI and you know, yeah, and they they saw sales come out of that event because you know, yeah, there's products at events, there's buyers at events, right, but it's not hyper focused. You know, this event is all about buyers and sellers. The product is this stuff of the show, you know. And I'm trying to help sell their sell their product without being a broker and without being on their payroll and just doing it really in

Yeah, you know, there's different style events. In the absolutely educational events, there's like, I mean, you're a Biscon, Like that's a B two B. There's no smoking at all really in this moment's action. But yeah, but concile and you made your on your exactly. Major is unique because it's exactly kind of new because it is consumption, but

Right, and then you're able to try and send product from the retailer or grower to say, oh this is good stuff.

Oh I'd love to press this. Oh yeah, they make sales and we've heard people you know, selling at these events just.

Like well, just like uh our partner Old School Organics.

And shadow Jason there he was at the last.

One and he's already on the upcoming one.

Yeah.

Yeah, he sold, you know, he sold. He saw, you know, he saw and he he believed.

And he sees the value and you can't can't go past that. There's perceived there's a lot of value and perceived value. And it's not like you know, a lot of customers go there are not like like regular people going in to buy the product, right, It's it's mainly for B to B And I feel like that that's what gives it such a unique feel because a lot of the other events are more like you said, there's concerts and there's vendors there, retail people were able just to go buy that product.

And you you kind of because you are your tickets are meant to be for business people attendees. You do kind of avoid the people just coming in to rush, the crushed the events for free bud and leaving in the first thirty minutes.

Right.

And I think sometimes when you throw social events, that's a really big battle they have to fight. I'm sure even to me connect puff, I'm sure you get some people who somehow get tickets and then they're there and they're like, oh well, and then they leave, right, And that's something they always have to beat in this business. But I feel like a lot of people stick around at me connect Puff. So like I think because it's that B to B vibe and you can try souff, I think there's a little bit of mix.

If I'm not mistaken.

It looks like you made the next one a little bit longer to start earlier.

Actually it's the same amount of time as the last one, which actually the first event was four hours and then the next event was five hours, and then a couple events later it became six hours, and now you're seven hours.

So you know. And our last event we had four undred.

And fifty attendeese, we had almost forty almost forty vendors.

Yeah, and that was at the Brooklyn last time. That was a really cool venue. You remember in the Brooklyn. Child of the Brooklyn.

That was a that was a great, great event.

Yeah, you're doing the Brooklyn again this time.

We are not doing the Brooklyn. No, we are.

By time this airs, we will have announced we haven't then you can edit it.

But but.

We are going to have our next event at a place called Lincoln Factory in Detroit, which if you remember Marble Bar.

Oh my god, I know where that's at, right, Yeah, I know.

Dude, this place. That's my buddy.

Oh my god, we know the guy who un believable.

Oh my god, are you serious?

Yeah, that's got pictures.

We know, we know he's like good friends with him. Shout out homie, we all, you know, saying.

That's awesome.

Really excited.

Bigger and.

You know it gives us, you know, we sold out at the last event, so we uh outgrew the you know, Brooklyn.

It's so crazy Bigger.

Yeah, I mean we outgrew obviously hig about social you know, and then you know, which was sures us, you know great, you know for the time that we were there and really helped you know, kind of like solidify.

And validate this, especially because that was the only consumption launde around here, so it was really cool to do that there. It was really unique take and they really like I think it was like you know, like what they say when you're like paving the road for something, trail blazing sort of, you know, because you're trying to, hey, let's try something new. Let's try it at this place. And honestly, like you know, they had a hard trying

Yeah.

Yeah, so you know, I continue to be you know, great friends with you know, uh, the former order now know full in the existing owners, and you know, the place is still you know, available to us whenever we want, and you know, we may end up having another event.

They are only open for private events.

Oh they're still open. I heard they shut down. So they shut down.

They didn't renew their state license. Okay, so it's kind of like any other private venue where if.

The owner of the building lets you smoke, you know, you can smoke.

Okay, no ship, gotcha? Did I know that. Yeah, it's good to know that they still have bad at least if you want to do a private Yeah.

Yeah, it's a nice place. It's a beautiful space, you know, and it.

Served us well and and uh, you know, we're very you know, thankful and.

Blessed that we were able to.

That they gave us the confidence to give me the keys to a guy who never fucking threw an event host the first event, my first event in their first event there. So you know, I appreciate the opportunity that they that they gave me and the faith that they showed.

Oh and since the events I've gone to, I've had a great time, you know, so they were great there too.

Yeah.

Yeah, I've honestly enjoyed all your events, And I think I've told you that personally on the phone.

I think they're just great because it's you're able to go there.

You've been a mingoed with so many different brands, so many people within the brand. You're talking about product, you're talking about terpenes, and then even the people that come to attend, you're just having great conversations with everyone. Like the whole time, you're just like networking, consistently talking, right yeah, at the same time, Yeah, you're like, oh you want dab,

Yeah, and that's so you got to kind of feel out what your event kind of fills that get to, right, Yeah, I mean it just shows the power and the networking there.

Yeah, I mean, you know, we didn't want to ruin the vibe.

Right, it was five, you know clock, and and I'm like, listen, you know this event ends at eight, you know, like you want to if you still want to do the you know, the panel discussion, we can or you know, because it's gonna you know, it's going to ruin this vibe. And everybody was just you know, the buzz of the room was buzzing and and everyone's having a great time.

So we decided to just you know, not have it.

And uh, you know, so for the next event, you know, we're going to put it in the beginning of the event instead of in the middle, you know, so have a educational component.

Because you know, and you know, that's one of the reasons.

Wezz I was also saying, like, you really it is smart to have it in the beginning, you know, because again people aren't because by the end of it, people are networking and money streaking made you know, yeah, that was a vibe felt.

Yeah, And also I want to say, go away a pivot shout out.

You always have chronic food at these events, like you do such a good job with the food, like there's always different platters.

But honestly, yeah, so good. Yeah, we definitely go too every detail.

And that's what I want to say, like you plan it out to the ta, like shout out to your team. I know it's like you guys everybody else.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Samantha and Hannah and Nick and Nick so yeah, we're so yeah, we've kind of developed the team now, you know, of of X you know of people that are good at what they do and and you know, I've got a number of people that helped me with the events, and you know, I couldn't keep doing it myself growing, so you know, we are still you know, I feel like we're always still behind, you know, like no matter how many people we had on, we're

Oh no, I mean, honestly, we even just because you throw a bunch of money at an event doesn't mean it's going to be successful. We've seen these huge events like and I won't shut them out, but they throw these big events with these big rap you know, big rappers and musicians and bands and and all this art. And don't be wrong, I love that type of stuff. I love music festivals and I love that vibe. But it's very hard to throw a successful event. You got to create a culture, you got to get you know.

Event.

I mean to show up with our busy schedules in this world, like you know, with work and kids and hobbies and gym and food. Right, like they showed up, so now you're at four fifty. It just it keeps growing so that that's important.

And we're not you know, we're not cheap either, you know what I mean, Like our events, our events are you know, you know there are yeah, the values there you know, and then some uh.

But again I said that earlier. I like that though it kind of keeps out your you know, I don't want to say the riff raff, but it's the people just trying to their money grab use. People like to take from you know, and then just leave like you your ticket keeps it where Hey, I'm spending money because it's investment in my birth.

And you know, there were people that I did not know, that didn't hesitate to give me a check, you know, for several thousand dollars, and you know, without without a track record, without proof of concept, you know, so they believe, you know, I mean, so it took a long time right to earn that, you know, to earn that, you know, and you know, people see, you know, people you know think that you know that you're you're throwing successful events and you know it's like, oh, yeah, you know it's

Like you know, Iceberg, the Iceberg, they see, they see

So yeah, and you know, even even before you know.

That's a difference in the events though, you know, yeah, yeah, you.

Know, And you know, a lot of these people came from the caregiver market, right I was still I was still dealing with them in the caregiver market up until you know, two thousand and twenty or whatever, you know, so.

And you know, so it was just again it was the same thing, just in the form of an event and.

Uh, which which made it, you know, gave it more credibility because you know, I feel like that, you know, I was the right guy for for that type of event based on you know, my experience in in my history. So and you know, uh, so you know we're here, we are you know, I mean.

It makes sense with all the connections you made through the years, that's going to help you pave the way for your event that you're now doing.

Now.

I do got a question though, because you feel like you always have some nonprofits at your event that you donate some cash to, uh after the event. Who is like your primary Uh? Do you have a primary nonprofit or do you like rotating because I know, like we're talking, you said Cannabate and I thought them, I'm like, they always have a different one, the rotating sometimes you have know, we we donated to one of them. Yes, yeah, I

Yeah we did we started that at that event and and we you know, because Anton Harbor is very involved with the group, the Facebook group. He doesn't really have much involvement with the event. And Anton and I are pretty good friends, and we have been for quite some time.

You know.

He is somebody who I trust very much and whose opinion I respect very much, and who's very intelligent, articulate.

You know, one of the smartest guys I know.

And he he's obviously a you know, the the you know, the face of the veteran community in the cannabis industry very much. And he's involved in a nonprofit called the Veteran Access Program. And you know, because of his involvement with the Facebook group and the fact that you know, we are looking to really take on a full time nonprofit.

Can talk about here and cool.

They want to live there, and you know, they are you know, Anton is very much you know.

And it's a great thing to get behind, especially because there's this this gap because of the federal legalities with like the PTSD helping and how much veterans could benefit from cannabis. Not everyone has to. I understand, weading for everybody. We on the caroll for everybody, but they should have access to it, and the lack of access to it is what I think is unfad.

So Anton's working on some pretty big, awesome things on a national level. You'd be surprised, you know, how much, how busy Anton is supporting this cause, which you know became near and dear to me because of my friendship with him and just you know, hearing all the stories and and you know, his involvement in the group and you know, you know the loyalty that we have to one another, which is very rare to.

Find in this business.

So you know, so it was it was the right It was the perfect fit, right for us because of all those circumstances, and you know, we want to get behind him on that and uh you know, do our part just you know, to help to help the veteran community.

That's awesome, Yeah, I know, And that's why I said. That's what I was saying, like, if you're going to get a long term partner, like that's a good one behind because especially because to me it directly correlates with cannabis in its own way.

So and people always respect the veterans. So that's good hoping out that can unity.

Absolutely yeah my family.

Yeah, and then you were just talking about a new website. You want to jump into some of your future plans you have coming up here, ye, things you might be having.

You know, we also.

Started a newsletter that we've just kind of been uh, you know that we haven't really gone full throttle on yet. We kind of hit the pause button on it, and then we're getting ready to reincorporate that. So you know, we basically you know, I write our article, Antoni Rymes writes our article, and you know we post a lot of articles, you know, h on a local level in Michigan as well as regionally and nationally so.

And you know it just keeps you know, so we've built the database.

Is this all on michanic pro site?

It is not.

Okay, it is not, So you have to subscribe to it and you do that in our mailing list unless you're already in our database, which you know continues to grow, because that's one thing that we're really trying to build as ours our data. Without data, you know, you don't have much, so so.

You know, we're still so true, you know, so how do I sign up? If I want to sign up?

So we did, you know, we did have a website that we stopped. It was still living, but we paused it and are redesigning it and got a new web developer and host and let's go my Cana pros g O I I Canna Prose and you know, we basically are trying to so you.

Can go there now. It's it's live and it is version of one point zero.

We just haven't formally announced it yet, so uh so we've been kind of working just to kind of get you know, any last minute you know, kinks out so that we can at least introduce it to the market and then kind of, for lack of a better term, you know, kind of take the Facebook group you know, to the website where we can or you know, Zuckerberg is not going to delete us, you know, and you know we can kind of say what we want, you know, to a certain extent, you know, based on you know,

Are just a little different. Yeah, not as many rules, right Yeah, different audiences, Yeah.

Different audiences, more consumer.

And you know, but you know, so you found the website, so yeah.

So you know it's going to be kind of like a community page.

It's going to really you know, like we're getting a lot of people that are looking for jobs. We're getting along, so we'll have we'll have a job board on there, We'll have a calendar of events on there.

You know, we're going to have probably.

You know, like some sort of you know, classified section or some sort where people can sell equipment, you know whatever. You know that that's kind of where we're going with it.

Player in this market.

And you know, I think I think, you know, one of the you know, definitely one of the reasons why we're successful is because of the community that we.

Built that I was thinking, like just to myself, like as I listen to everything you do, you may say that you may like, oh, we don't do events, we don't do marketing. Well, you know what you do? You create networks. Yeah, you know what I mean, you're networking and networks networks.

And and just key So you know, like I have relationships with a.

Lot of relationships, friendships, new we're done.

I've done stuff work for you know, I've done work for something and a lot of these people are giving them advice or you know, they've called me for one thing or another, and and you know, so they you know, that's what these other companies lack, you know what I mean, these other companies where they don't have the community, they don't understand the culture. They just you know, they're not from here. You know, they have national you know, their relationships with the m.

S o s.

But you know, like this is you know, like Syndatory doesn't love corporate cannabis, you know what I mean.

And more you're.

In it and every realize every state is different, you know, it's so different.

Michigan.

Yeah, Michigan's og market right like it is.

So I got some of the best product. I'll say we got some of the best, were not the best.

We do have the best.

We we we we definitely do.

You know, when is your next event? We haven't even got into that.

So for anyone listening and you the listening that wants to go check it out or attend it.

Yeah, yeah, So our next event is scheduled for October third, which is a Thursday.

We always have our events on Thursdays, and uh I like that.

Yeah, so because like worst case Friday, it's like, yeah, that's Friday to work.

It's all right. If it's a longer day, you know, it's not like I'm a Tuesday.

Now that we have events in Detroit, the city of Detroit, you know, people can come, you know, make a weekend out of it or whatever, stay in a hotel, so come in the night before.

That type of thing, especially if you're not from the city.

Yeah, so what.

Times it start? You said?

October third, Thursday, one day, one day eight Okay, yeah.

Cool, So.

Kicking off spooky season.

Yeah yeah, October.

That too, so yeah, I mean, you know and right now, you know, like besides, you know, we threw a seven to ten industry appreciation event that was cool.

Were there that was more of a party, that was a party and we were both shocked because we showed up and actually that's we ran into our homie there too. That's what's kind of fun because he's like right next to the street, right next to Marble, right, so.

We were like I could smell the weed from outside and.

We had no idea that they like, I didn't expect that because after going to meet connect Puff, I'm like, Okay, it's gonna be like some vendors and hang out and walking.

It's right right.

I'm like, oh ship Roovies party.

I didn't have like a party.

Jeremy's a little more professional, but he's boring.

You know.

Yeah, that was really fun time.

It's a good thing I got a young team because I'm obviously, you know, I'm not you know, that cool anymore.

You're pretty cool.

So but are you not saying you're not hip? Just kidding? I know, I don't. I feel like i'm a little well, you know, because I'm in my I'm in my thirties now younger thirties. No, but I mean you go meet a teenage like a high school kid, they're like, what's up, grandpa? Yeah, when you leave your mom's house, are you.

Going to do any more of those appreciation events?

Like?

How did that go?

Yeah?

You know it was an event.

Yeah, you know. Fortunately we have actually gotten the support and.

Uh partnership of Duchy, which is I'll give them a quick shout out, the pos Software Company and they are you know, the you know, the best and the biggest in in their in their respective category, and you know they have a lot of Michigan ties, and you know, we had this was a second time having a presenting partner. Our first event was Trees, which actually happens to be one of their competitors.

It's a pos software company that a lot of these DISCOSUS and that's why I think I've heard a lot about Dutchy like I feel like I've seen it around.

I mean, they'really.

You know, they're the biggest in the industry, and and you know, they're the biggest in every state that they're in and except California which is the home of trees. But you know, they are taking definitely they're getting you know, they're getting uh their share of the market and there you know, and and uh when they go into new markets, you know they're they're they're becoming the main one of the major players in those markets, if not you know.

Number one. So we developed a relationship with them, you know we.

Yeah, and you know, they are getting behind us and they believe in us. Their support and their confidence in us, you know, means a lot. And we couldn't you know, we're able to, you know, because it's a presenting partnership level.

Coming up, so and you know, we want to keep it that way, you know what I mean, we want to keep it.

We don't want the ancillary businesses to take over, but we're you know, but they're the ones that have stepped up and become presenting partners because again, you know, they realize that all the customers are there and you know, there's you know, there's business to be had. So absolutely, you know, we're you know, we they're they're they're great partners for us, and we're working on partnerships with several.

Other well known hey Man, partner is a key to growth, I mean without you know, shout out old school gangs. We shouted Jason earlier, you know kinship, you know, shout out to High nine to give us a chance. Shout out to campus workers, resources, and we got a couple few more people we want to hopefully be shout out to. So it's like, you know, it's funny when we hear that and I hear you've been working at for six years.

Sure, yeah, like overnight like most people think it is, Well.

It appears overnight because they people come out of nowhere, right even like my favorite is like, oh Scrillug, Oh he came out of nowhere, Like, no, he didn't. He was in like a band like high school and we had it for ten to fifteen years before he was scroll. People always have a story, you know. So it's very thank you for coming on telling Yeah, I appreciate it, you know, I'm.

Glad, I happy to share it. And then I appreciate you.

I appreciate you know, the partnership that we've created now and collaborated on and all the less.

Yeah, yeah, no, We've had great time streaming and you know, recording, and then now we've been putting out podcasts now after so people can listen kind of check it out live.

You know, we'd love to be as well.

Yeah, there's.

Yeah, your logo is going up on the graphics.

Boom. I guess, I guess we're there.

I love it well be playing there so it be such a good time.

I've been you know, I'm I'm a fan of your guys. You know, I've been watching you guys, you know for quite some time. And here you know, you know, like you know, podcasts are not easy and ones that last are.

You have to create that community like we had create a community before anyone gave a ship, right, like just kind of what you were saying, like we had to create that community. You have to create that that culture or whatever. Right, it takes time. People want it to be like all right in a year or two, because I have the idea of making money and it's like we saw that too, and we got laughed at my life. But you know, you keep hustling, man, because you either

Like you know, we you know, we're just trying to bring value and make money now right like because I think.

We eventually have to want to full time.

Yeah, we want to make money, you have to do it full time.

You want to wait, Bro, it can't be about it can't. It can't be a out the money only like strictly like greed. But like once you know, like you spend all.

That time, like spend all the time. Like that's the same thing with us, Like we spend so much time. Like we're just spending so much time. Like eventually and.

You want to give more, you know, you want to do bigger events, you want to grow, you can't grow unless you put more time into it. And that's why I think you're doing.

Hot Box Social to Brooklyn now to this other place. Yeah, and that's three grows in the last three events. Like that's that's pretty remarkable. So of course, and and that's valuable and you should be able to I mean, we're trying to too. It is trying to create a business out of it. But I got one question for we

Yeah, time flew didn't realize that.

Yeah, so you brought some joints over, so I assume you're a flower consumer over concentrates you.

Yeah, we did not ask so, but okay, so.

I I don't you know, I appreciate a good confused h joint as well.

So yeah, like that's our ship. So say you're grinding up some bud and you break open the grinder and the weed comes out, and then the gowns of Genie pops out right and he's and he says, I'll grant you one wish anything you can do to change in the cannabis industry.

And you know, it's always funny. Everyone always hits like damn because you want to change it.

Twelve things but one. Yeah, I had a.

Chance to talk to director Hannah when I was at the m I C I A.

And I'm just like, you know, like these guys.

Got so much important things that they are working on all at the same time that you know, not you know, they are, They're all equal, you know what I mean.

And it's like, you know, how do you how do you narrow down to one? There's just so many fucking things.

Yeah, I know, you know what I want sometimes trying to fight out.

Listen, the most important to you the personal balance of of of licensees making money, and that weed to still be cheap enough for the consumers to be for.

It to be affordable. Right, So I don't know how the fun that happens. That's what I want.

Yeah, I was gonna say that's a that's a good one. I like that one because I don't I don't know how you get there.

What I would want right might be like all right, I don't know.

One thing that could change is you know, just enough money for these licenses to make money and not for you know, the high failure rate and all the fucking bullshit that off. Yeah, they're not licensing and fines and then all this bullshit, right.

And you know, give these guys, you know, like, I mean, what the fuck?

You know, like, I know, man, I hear.

That's a good one. We haven't we haven't heard that.

So, you know, like and and you know, weed.

Should be you know, it's a commodity, right, so you know it's should be a commodity, but it's not because there's just so much other weed being grown outside.

Of what is regulated, yeah, that you can't keep track of what the fuck is out there.

You start talking about disty and all this other stuff that's off market. There's a lot of shit that's shady that people don't even realize. And that's screwing over these people, and then also behind them. They're getting screwed from different angles. They can't write things, they're not getting paid, they're not looking as a legal business, but they have to pay the taxes on time.

There's so much debt right now in the industry.

You know, it's such.

A heavy He's pushing one problem off from someone else and just creating a disaster for the industry. Yeah.

Yeah, it's detrimental.

Yeah yeah, it's uh you know, so you know, these guys deserve to make money.

Yeah, and so we should not be that cheap. You know.

It's you know, crazy two dollars pre rolls. Yeah, that's needs to gonos.

For like thirty forty bucks. And you're like, what is the like, I mean, even when we're getting.

Like mediated this that, you know, whatever, you know, and if that's your thing, you know, like God bless you, like yeah, fucking you know.

Through your thing, right, yeah, you know, so you're gonna have a short life.

No, just kidding.

I'm just saying if you just keep cutting corners, so you know, just yeah, it's just like you know, like alcohol, right, they want to treat this indust like alcohol.

You know, like there's you know, it's like drinking five o'clock every day.

Yeah, I mean you know, so it's you know bad. We should not be rewarded good. We should be rewarded you know.

And decriminalization. Man, we need we need these businesses the right things off and be a real business too, Like you need to let them be.

Just go straight to do criminalization.

Yeah, rescheduling is going to allow you to like important export and ship and for the government to make money, but doesn't really do anything for the people to make money. You need to make it easier for us to do business, because they're already making money off the business, so it doesn't make sense.

So you need a well, Harry was guys conversation.

Really, Yeah, I'm glad. I'm glad I made it out to our side.

Yeah, I know, this is nice. This is a nice turn up. We'll bring you back on the future man, We'll bring.

You and talk about.

Going together because I would get him on and hear his story and hear about the veteran program and more about the nonprofit.

And the stuff you guys are doing. That'd be a fun conversation too.

But yeah again, October three is the me Connect Puff event. Stay tuned to our socials.

We'll be there.

We'll be doing some live stream and we had some new stuff for cooking up, So stay tuned and Harry, thank you again. And it's always first on to give a shout out again to our sponsors, Old School Organics, our drink sponsor High nine.

I've been sipping on the Lineman this whole time.

Very good, very good, and then also kin ship so shout out and as always griovy. We're here to advocate, educate, and inspire to next time, y'all

Ye