In the episode, Schwass weighs in on this week’s California’s recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom, which failed by 63% to 36% margin, according to the New York Times, and what this means for the cannabis industry.
“The Republicans were riding the wave of the disgruntlement of Gavin Newsom in addition to the COVID response, but also—there’s a lot of disgruntled individuals in the cannabis industry, and they desire Gavin Newsom to take additional action. In my opinion, he has expressed his willingness to make the needed changes [to the regulatory rollout of Proposition 94]. I understand the cannabis industry feels like he’s been moving too slow on it. I would agree … but … I do believe we do have an ally in Gavin Newsom in the state government,” Schwass says.
Schwass also outlines some of the most recent challenges for small growers in the Emerald Triangle, including environmental disasters as well as pricing pressure and exposure to consumers.
“How I see it is that the limited number of retailers, they’re able to gate-keep the product. And I don’t think it’s necessary—I’ve heard people say, ‘Oh, you just make good product and it sells itself.’ I’ve seen fantastic product from these small growers, some of the best I’ve seen in the state, and they’re getting offered like $500 a pound for this amazing outdoor product, just because it’s outdoor. … Right now it’s very difficult for them to get their product in front of a consumer, in addition to the marketing struggles because it’s hard to compete with celebrity,” he says.
Listen to the entire 35-minute conversation, as well as previous episodes of ‘Beyond the Show’ on Spotify, Google Play, iTunes or CannabisBusinessTimes.com.
Cannabis Conference will be returning in-person to Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino from Aug. 23-25, 2022. To subscribe for event updates, including newly added advisory board members, speakers, sessions, sponsors and exhibitors, visit CannabisConference.com.
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