This week’s Best Buds partner spotlight features John Svoboda, Executive Director of the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, an organization that focuses on uniting the cannabis industry by facilitating introductions and fostering relationships for members across the country. John is a big proponent of bringing the industry together through community, collaboration and communication. Discover more about his background, perspective, and expertise below.
What inspired you to enter the cannabis industry, and how has your journey been so far?
I entered the cannabis industry after spending a decade and a half working for various software companies. I was burned out and looking for something ‘fun’ to do next, so I took a job as a budtender at a dispensary in Denver in 2014. What has kept me in the industry for over a decade is my mother and her story. Unfortunately, she lost her battle with cancer in 2016. As a conservative woman in Nebraska, she was terrified of using cannabis to treat the symptoms she was suffering from, which were brought on from her cancer treatments. After using cannabis, she was able to experience a high quality of life at the end of hers, and she told me that if her story helps others to gain access to the medicines they need to treat their suffering, to please spread the word. My goal has always been to support businesses that do things the right way, in order to continue to breaking down stigmas and prohibitions so that people like my mom can properly treat what ails them.
What are some key challenges you’ve faced while operating in the cannabis sector, and how have you overcome them?
Most of the challenges of working in the cannabis industry stem from the fact that much of what we are all trying to accomplish is unprecedented. Developing a compliant, safe, and successful business in an industry that suffered from prohibition for decades is no easy task. The regulatory hurdles every cannabis market faces, along with the unfair tax burdens, the marketing challenges…they are all unique to the cannabis industry. Many of these challenges are not easily solved, so the best way to overcome these hurdles is to be flexible, roll with the punches, and get creative. Thankfully, there is no shortage of creative risk-takers in the cannabis industry.
What has surprised you, in a good way, about the cannabis industry?
The incredible dedication entrepreneurs commit to the growth of this nascent industry, while simultaneously working together to break the stigma that developed around cannabis use and the plant itself. Many of the professionals who have come up in cannabis hold the culture of cannabis near and dear to their hearts. Because of that, when we get together at networking events or conventions, it feels more like a gathering of friends rather than business stiffs.
What sets your cannabis products/services apart from your peers in the industry?
The largest difference between the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce and other national trade organizations is that our focus is on facilitating B2B networking opportunities in an effort to create ROI for our members. We are not focused on policy change or lobbying, so our membership dues are not being used to pay some DC lobbyist’s salary. Instead, we are investing in events and developing tools to connect our members with one another so that they may find ways to work together, share knowledge, and grow their businesses. Rather than being a “Look at us” organization, we strive to be a “Look at our members” organization.
How do you prioritize sustainability and social responsibility in your cannabis business practices?
The Chamber consistently holds educational events, both online and virtually, where industry thought-leaders are able to share best practices with their peers across the country. We feel that emerging markets are able to learn from mature markets, and vice versa, so we strive to facilitate opportunities for both operators and ancillary businesses to learn from one another.
How do you approach building strategic partnerships within the cannabis industry?
Truthfully and honestly. I have found after a decade in this industry that being transparent is the only path to success. I also treat my relationships in this industry with the utmost respect. Hard selling doesn’t work, but relationship-building does. The businesses and professionals who last in cannabis understand the difference and work very diligently on building trust among their peers.
In what ways do you envision the future of the cannabis industry evolving in the coming year? What big changes are you hoping to see?
Beyond rescheduling, which will provide tax relief and potentially open up new investment opportunities and growth, I hope to see more collaboration within the cannabis industry. The Cannabis Chamber of Commerce is working to facilitate this sense of community via our monthly networking mixers being held across the country, our educational webinars, and our various online tools meant to connect our members to one another.
