What's going on? Everybody. Welcome to a new episode of My Cannon Cast.
I'm Canda Dave. I'm grooving. On today's episode, we have special
guys, Brittany Store, director of Harden out in Las Vegas. Thank you
for joining us today, Brittany, and thank you for letting us use your
studio. So we're at PWM Studios and I'm just so excited to be here
because I feel like you're hosting us. So this is very unique to me
to be like not pushing buttons. So I feel like I'm really here,
Brittany. So this is awesome. I'm really excited about this because now we
all get the chance to talk about one of my favorite subjects, which is
cannabis. Absolutely. Yeah. So it is our little background. If you
didn't catch our last mjbiscon, we came out to hardeen last year one of
the most kick ass bud tenders. We had actually the most kicked ass butud
tender. We had the most knowledgeable talking to us about turpenes. We even
got ourselves at Donut last year's That was hard to find too last year.
Yeah, Like for us in Rosin, it was so hard to find Rosen
last year. So when we came here, it was like, oh,
so yeah, super super excited. I wish we could shout her out.
But so many great things to speak So all of our people back home Michigan,
check out Harden when you come out here. Yeah, so appreciate what
you're saying. They're groovy. But let's get little background about you, Brittany,
and what led you to Hardeen and how long you've been using cannabis for?
Oh, I you know, I was a late bloomer, to be
honest, I was a walking Dare sign all the way up until the day
my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. Yeah, so that's kind of a backstory
on what led me to Harden. I was a walking Dare sign. And
by the time, you know, by the by the end of the month,
the doctor had him consuming over ninety different pills, right, oh my
god, really exactly, but at the end of the day it wasn't making
him any better. And so you know, it was crazy because the doctor
actually told him you should try this plant, right, you should try marijuana.
It's actually going to help you with your appetite, et cetera. But
my entire family was like, absolutely not, because I was like tying the
red ribbon on the gate, et cetera. Right, I mean when was
this, I'm sure it was still very years ago. Yeah, I'm sure
now. Yeah, I still had that bad stigma. Yeah, so bad,
that's what I'm saying. Like back then, to find out more about
this plant, what I did was I went to the library and I maybe
brought home three or four books whatever I could find. And you know,
most of those books you would have been tired of after the first page because
of how hard it was to read. I read the entire you know,
the entire thing in a month, and then after that I was like,
wow, this is actually really really good for you. We brought that information
back to my grandfather and when we told him, unfortunately, he was like,
I don't want to do this because I don't want to die at criminal.
And that's the first time I felt the true justice of this system.
Yeah, you know, because telling you it's wrong, so you know,
and good, good citizens they want to do right right, like you know,
you know, so that negative stigma from all that like reefer madness stuff
just really stuck and it's just such a shame. Yeah, I was terrifying.
And after that, you know, it led into advocacy. My sister
became the campaign field director for Proposition nineteen, which would have made cannabis medically
legal in California. I was the girl that ran around Santa Ana, California,
getting a thousand signatures to put it on the ballot. Oh wow,
right there in the streets. Yeah, there you go. That's true.
I mean that's where it starts, right. So I started an advocacy and
then from there I had a chance to work with this plant from seed to
sell, which leads me to my journey here at Hardy. Yeah. Oh
wow, Well, school, you have that very person not cool that you
went through, but that personal experience you know, Oh my god, I
wouldn't wish sat on my worst enemy, you know, because I was very
like you too. I was like, I was a late bloomer, I
didn't like cannabis and then just had I mean I didn't have a traumatic experience.
I just started, you know, helped me starting with my mental health
at that age. So it's just like very cool to hear that. It
really means something to you. You know, You're not just like some random
MS I was just trying to make some money. You guys really care here,
and I've noticed that. I mean, you know, shout out to
Ivy behind the screens, you know, so like, you know, because
like everyone seems here seems very family orientated and it seems like that. I
really enjoy that. I appreciate you saying that because that's literally how it feels
like the culture here. This is what I feel like kind of separates us
from the pack is you know, there is that teamwork, there is that
camaraderie, there is that understanding that you know, like I've been working with
this plant for a very long time and one thing I realized, I can
help grow some of the best weed, but where does it end up on
the retail floor? Right, So one thing we recognize is that here on
the retail floor, when we do write by our people, when we take
care of our community, when we take care of our customers. Right,
that's one more yes vote to legalizing this plant. Right, so people understanding
it, more education, more knowledge out there, and now you have this
you know, band of people that are advocating for this plant now and this
is this is where we are. So that's pretty cool. You need people
to advocate for the plant. That's how we're getting it legal throughout the entire
US. I mean, we just had the twenty fourth state legalized, which
is Ohio, in November of twenty three. You have a shout out,
which is great because that happens, we'll be able to have people, will
be able to fly with cannabis. Maybe we'll be able to break down these
boundaries that have been around the negative stigma. So year by year, day
by day, by everyone putting their foot forward and talking about it and bring
the positive aspect to it, we're able to change the negative which has been
played killed it in America. It's been like dead here for years. Now
it's finally coming up, becoming a powerful plant, becoming a powerful industry as
well. So it's great to see that. So thank you and I love
you all of your story. Brat. I appreciate that and thank you both
because this is what we're doing right This podcast room kind of like our retail
floor. We might not have the largest facility yet, but we do have
the largest variety of products and SKUs, and that's something that you know we're
going to continue to do. How do we provide safe access to quality products
so that everyone can enjoy? Right? Yeah, absolutely, and a big
thing. Like I like you said, the bud tender was so great,
Like having that like customer service is huge because I feel like out here especially,
I mean we're getting that a little bit more out in Detroit, but
like you know, you got twenty four hour drive throughs, Like, do
you think they really care about what you're smoking? No? You know,
like when you're here you can ask questions and like, I think that goes
a long way. No, it definitely does. I mean that's what brought
us back here to even reach out and sit up those interviews because of the
great experience we had. I mean we've went to we checked out many dispos
when we were here because it's part of what we do. We like the
review product review dispos and when we're treated nice and people treat us like family,
I mean, that's just what we like. We come from Michigan,
and I think that's what we like best. So I was honestly shout out
to your team and your manager's training your bud tenders here, you know,
because without that training, I don't think you'd have it. Some dispos you're
literally just a number in and out. And when you're talking quality and terpenes
and educating people and making sure you get the right product. You're going to
continue to come back to that brand or that company because you feel respected.
I love that you just summed it all up. What I like to say,
especially when we bring on new teammates, is you know you we want
to create this like wow experience, especially when you come from Vegas. Right,
every humor experiences. And the thing is is you can be wowed when
you go on to our receptionist floor. You can be wowed when you get
into the retail floor and you meet with that bud tender. But one of
the most important things is when you go home and you tried that product,
are you wowed and did it work for you? Right? So education is
integral to all of this. It's one of the pillars that we stand on,
and so our team is very well versed. We create an environment where
education is not only seamless and you can not only do it from your phone,
your tablet, et cetera. But we even have a university that's attached
to Hardine, which is right next door. Yeah, can you elaborate a
little bit more here? And the studio is over here taking over at the
university right over here, we have to. Like, February twenty twenty we
had fifty employees. February twenty twenty one, we grew to over two hundred
employees. So when you have that type of scalability, how do you get
everyone on the same page so that the standard is right at the top and
the quality continues through education. Yeah, absolutely right. That's how you can
truly scale it. Otherwise you're just expanding too fast and then everyone just doesn't
really know. Yeah, exactly how long has Ben Hardin been operating? You
know what? I love you that you're asking this. We actually just celebrated
our seventh year November eleventh. Congratulations, that's what we like to say.
So cool. Yeah, winning numbers right there. Seven. Yeah, it's
pretty cool. We're gonna you guys got to come because we have our company
party coming up on Thursday, So you guys got to come through to that.
Yeah, that's what that will that bracelets Yeah, yea, yeah,
we're excited. We're excited. It's it's at spearmit right now, Astrake,
he knows, Oh hell yeah, there we go, There we go.
Does you Hardin have a mission statement? I guess the best way to say
that to sum it up. It's high quality products accessible to all Right.
We really the point we really pride ourselves on exactly that. Like one thing
that I've learned and one thing that I continue to just focus on, is
how do we continue to provide these products because I when I walk into a
grocery store, I never wonder if my favorite bottle of ketchup is going to
be there, right, So when you come into it's an analogy. I
see what you're saying God with this. I like that you should be able
to get your favorite Rosin brand at the end of the day because it works
for you right here this company, And that's what I'm saying, Like,
this is why this is so important, because like you have Somalia's right me,
I'm a American oak so I like that punch. Right. You go
talk to my wife. She likes French because she likes that subtle hit in
cannabis. You know you have Gangia's where maybe uh you know, I hear
this all the time where it's like, oh, I tried smoking once,
it's not for me. I'm like, that's like eating one burger and saying
they're all the same. You gotta try never know what's gonna work for most
of those people have drinken to the point of black amp throwing up another one.
You know, I don't drinkvod anymore, but that would and that one
strain they probably tried, it could have been not grown right, just couldn't
been not the right strain for them. They're not right turfs. It could
have been just a high tac that had a bad taste to it. Like
there's so many there's so many different factors that play into it. Like and
we do reviews back in Michigan, and when we review a brand or a
product, goal ers review a product twice because that first batch could just be
wrong. You know, it could just been growing bad, it could not
been proper. So giving it another second giance is an opportunity to have a
quality product for someone to try. And I think it's I love what you
guys about high quality and pushing that out to the consumers and having those brands
where people come back repeated a cup, repeated customers. Sorry, No,
I love that because honestly, the way we see every customer is as someone
that wants to get educated. Because if you're walking through our doors, we
want to take care of you. I actually have. It's so crazy.
There was a lady that my neighbor and then she found out that I worked
at Hardine and she's telling me her backstory of how she worked with the FBI
for her thirty years and for the last thirty plus years she hasn't had a
decent night of sleep until she came to our store. No, and and
and all she gets CBD. Yeah. No, it's got to see people
open their mind as well as especially in those type of positions. Yeah.
Yeah. And you say she just went what product did you get? She
got the Enjoy CBD gummies? Right, so, and that's just CBD and
that's going to you know, probably expand to something even more. But the
point is is that she was able to get something here that has helped her
sleep for the first time in over thirty years. Like ye think about sleep
is that's how you actually regenerate your body, et cetera. And I think
they're improving her entire life. Yeah, you know what I mean in something
that in something that maybe wouldn't have been open minded to and then they come
here and now now now you don't know where their mind will be open to.
Now she might be completely into cannabis now, and it's like what I've
learned about this stuff is it's really like such a domino effect with like this
passion and love for the plant, because it's like as he loves it,
and then we kind of just tell people, then someone else tries it,
you know, it just kind of expands. So I just I think that
negis stigma goes away when this normalization sort of happens naturally from people who weren't
into a plant. And that's what I'm saying. I think that with cannabis,
one reason why it survived for so long is like it's really the best
gorilla marketing I've ever seen. Because you try it, you know it works
for you. You're gonna tell the next person you know, oh my gosh,
I had I slept for the first time. You've got to check this
out. Yeah. Or it helps you eat, or it helps with ailments.
There's so many things that cannabis can do, and that's why it's a
wonderful plant. I want to go back real quick because you were talking about
university real quick. We always have right like next door, can you elaborate,
like do you guys do specific training in there? Because when we were
here, you guys talked a lot of training and a lot of not a
lot of training, a lot of terpenes and a lot of knowledge within the
plant. I don't know if that comes directly from the university or is that
just the buttenders doing the training. I'm just very curious on what you guys
are training on there. Well, I love that you're asking. So just
for reference, last year we ran over one hundred and sixty different trainings,
right, Yeah, And the cool thing about these trainings is we not only
partner with vendors, but we create our own curriculum that caters to our market.
Right. So, for example, we have something called a bud Tender
Certification Course, where not only do we create the educational material for you to
study, but we teach on things from methods to consumption, introduction to terpens
and cannabinoids, proper dosing out here in Nevada. Because you don't want someone
to have a bad experience, that's how you experience turned off. Yeah,
get that paranoid feeling that everyone That's what I hate. Everyone's like, I
got too paranoid, damn the wrong one, too much pining that get's a
mercy. So we teach on all these different things, but not just that.
We we actually bring experts from all over the world to come and speak.
Like so, for example, we brought in doctor Annabel Manalo. She
is a Forbes author and writer, and she wrote a book on how CBD
saved her son and it's a very powerful story. He was basically when he
was born, he was having over two hundred seizures. So within a few
months of him being born, they actually cut out forty percent of his brain.
So his his mom is not only a molecular biologist, but she has
two different PhDs. And what she would do is she'd work her regular shift
and then once midnight hit and all those cameras turned off, boom, here's
her set and shift trying to save her son. And now you know,
now he's this fully functioning kid and he was able to regenerate, you know,
his brain sells et cetera through CBD. And so she came down and
educated our entire team, and so like just stuff like that. We've had
senators come in, we've had judges, we've had molecular biologists. Our team
is I mean, there's so much education out there. Right once you understand
terpenes and cannabinoids. Everyone's saying, like, what's the next step? What
else can I learn? What else they had? That entourage effect that makes
of all these cannabinoids is like so huge, and I love that you guys
are ahead of that because like in Michigan, it's not even required to put
turpenes on the packaging, you know, I mean, and then like most
don't even talk about terpenes. I'll be honest. When you're even in the
disc bo, it's pretty much you want high T what do you want highest
THC percentage? And that's for the cheapest. That's what a lot of it
is. And that's why education is so key and you're holding one hundred and
fifty courses. We're hoping some dispods just have a couple reaching for a solid
too. And that's the thing you got to think about how new this market
is to where like I have team members that are so passionate about this plant,
but they don't come from a legal state, So how do you onboard
them and ensure that they still have that same standard and quality. And that's
kind of what I look for when we're looking for people, is like people
that have the passion and the commitment and the willingness to learn, because everything
else can be taught, especially if you come here, especially when you have
your own SOPs and things that you guys do here. So it's like,
no matter where you go, you just got to take that like eagerness and
then go with it. Right, Yeah, that's facts, that's rightly cool.
So I guess we should start with this too, because I'd even ask
this, what type of licenses does Hardine hold? Right now? We have
a retail license and we do plan on becoming vertically integrated at some point.
But one thing I really appreciate about Hardeen is we we never want to put
the cart before the horse, and we and we're in here for the long
play, and it's like, how do we create a legacy, how do
we create longevity? Our CEO Adam Cohen, will always say this, it's
like, how do we build something that lasts even when we're not here?
And so that's always kind of been our focus. So retail is something that
we've dialed in. You got to think when you you know, when you
go to business school, for example, one thing they teach you is that
your business is still new until you pass that ten year mark. Right,
it's almost like mastering something takes ten thousand hours. And so you know,
this first five years we're really focused on fundamentals, making sure that we got
down our SOPs, dialing everything in. And you know now that we're in
our seventh year and we're moving forward. Now it's all about scalability and we
know that this works. So how do we now expand this garden? You're
talking about expanding? Do you guys only have one retail? Are you guys
only one store here in Las Vegas? We have one store that's known worldwide.
Yeah, that's phenomenal, that's what you're saying for having so many employees
and like that family veal. Still, I just I just like really that
that university blew my mind and the education and thank you and thank you shut
out harding for the hookup on this luxury canabis flower. So we're trying this,
Yes, so pretty sweet treat. The strain is Biscotti, Bax say,
there you go, Scotti. That's a good that's a good strain.
So I guess I should ask when you have those one hundred and FIFTYIX of
course I just got to ask, so like, how long are these courses,
Like is it like a couple months of training or is it like a
couple It actually depends, Okay. Uh So we'll have like vendors that will
come in and they'll do training courses that can last anywhere from like an hour
to an hour and a half. We try to maximize the time that you
have. But then, like I said, we have these courses that are
online, so that it makes it a lot easier because here we're open three
hundred and sixty five days, right, so at what point in time?
And I think that's where it's almost it's really fun being an operator because you're
trying to figure out how to pack in not only education and training, but
ensure that this floor is running and that you're you're you know, you're well
it's such a representation of your brand. You know, you have one bad
apple, you know. I mean I say that all the time, Like
the butt tenders are such a representation of your brand because you go in,
you have one bad experience. Sometimes that turns people off from going back there
completely, you know. So like I just want to as because like it
seems like you have such deep training that it's like it reflects on the floor
and like it seems like and everyone seems happy when you walk in, everyone's
smiling, greeting you like it's a very No one's like, oh I'm at
a job today. It's another job. Like everyone's enthused to be working here.
And I think that plays a factor as well too. Yeah, well
i'd hope. So, I mean we're selling weed here, right, yeah,
yeah, I mean sometimes you've got we've got I've gone into shops where
people just look like, oh, hey, what do you want, and
that's it, And it's like they're not even excitement selling you the canvas because
like, if you look at your right, ten years ago, you I
don't think Vegas was legal, so you probably weren't selling legal bud ten years
ago, right, You're probably going in the black market, So being able
to go to the store and buy it, you would expect everyone to have
a little bit of like positivity and happiness. And honestly, one of the
most I want to say, horrible, probably one of the worst Dispo experiences.
I came out here to Dispo and they a right telling us, don't
worry about what's on things, just tell us what bad I want to We
didn't want to say I'm sorry, but no, no, But like they
tell you, it's like no, you can go in the back of the
line, or you can have me get it for you. Now we're like,
we just want to look at the product. Oh, you can go
back in the line. Then we're like okay, Like there was one other
person there. I was like, okay, customer service just so key because
it's like, you know, there are tons of dispensaries and like that's what
I feel like really made us. You know, we went to a bunch
of other ones, and like this is the one that stood out. This
is the one that I want to come back to, like you know,
and we don't go in there. Hey we do a podcast, this and
this. We just go in there's a normal consumer drying about, trying to
buy the product and checking it out. And that's why I said, you
guys traduced like families. So we're like, wow, this is very nice,
Like you guys are family to us now are Yeah. I really do
appreciate that. And and I know I'm speaking on behalf of my team and
the butt Tenders. I'll tell you this, I've never worked at a company
where people say I love you so much, right, and it's so genuine
and that's the truth. My thing is is like, if you're going to
join this team, you have to have a really big why, because you've
got to understand the purpose and what we're doing here and how what you do
today makes a significant difference in this industry and the history of this plan what's
going on right, you know where what I love about Nevada is the market
is very mature, but all of that has to do with education, and
like the butt tenders here are so incredible because we have a saying, right,
it's brains, beauty, and booty. We like to work on all
three, right, and the brain's part. It's just like so integral to
everything and just like really understanding and taking pride in what you're doing and what
you're representing here sobolutely. You know, I love that you had a great
experience here. It's definitely fun to hear all the different customers you know,
come back, but not just that have an experience, because it's not just
about customers experience. It's also like this is some people's first time ever coming
into this space and they need to feel comfortable in order to ask the questions
that need to be asked, so that when they go home and they can't
ask you, they're excited or at least they feel comfortable. Right, no
pct. And thing that goes great with your education because you talked about how
you guys talk about consumption. Many people don't talk about how you're going to
consume the product. And I bet your bud tenders are talking to that to
those individuals that come in for their first time, so they understand when they
go home how to consume this properly, so they don't maybe take a twenty
milligram at of ble, maybe it's a five milligram. So like that that
helps people understand and then get accustomed to the product and then be an advocate
to push it for And like cannabis is really great. You just got to
find what works for you. What does works for you. There's like so
many different products that it's hard to find it until you test a lot.
I mean we've tested for you well here too. Like big thing is like
drinking, right, like in Vegas, So like drinking, THD, I
shouldn't they drink alcoholic drinking is big in Vegas? But no, we've been
seeing a lot of drinks and like that's just us just getting into Michigan.
It's new, like they have a couple here and there, but like it
is still very new. Like so it's really cool. So you guys are
kind of ahead in certain things. Yeah, well, I mean it's just
so much business. Think about this. We have these little sip bottles that
are like literally this big. So the average person would probably think it's just
a shot and to take it. But this one little sip comes with a
hundred milligrams. Yeah, we got know, we literally got there here.
Some guy was right next to us at the end bought like bought like thirty
Yeah, it was Oh my god, that was That was one of the
favorite products you. Oh. Absolutely, that's what FA split one one day
and really, whoa, we really underestimated that. That's what zips. Yeah,
and that's the great thing about it, Like, yeah, it's it's
pretty big when it comes to millogrounds, but good because you have more more
bang for your buck, right, And this is fun for us because we
know at the end of the day, we can get as high as we
want and we're gonna be fine. But if you're brand new to this,
you chug them. Oh my gosh, I'm enjoy your mushroom trip trip.
Remember the first time you got like high off at edibles. I don't know
if you've ever reached that point where it's like, am I gonna die?
Because I am a hard That's why I start feeling I'm okay, yeah exactly.
We're here from m J Biscon, and like that's how we were out
here. Do you do you guys see like an effect on your business?
Does it like increase the sales or is it just random people like you guys
don any biscount discounts? We definitely do you do, because we're really big
on that. Like some don't. I love it, some don't, Like
you might as well because you're here and you give them incentivize them to come
here. You know, well we want to meet our people, right,
Like it's not just about that, Like it's also like you never know who
you're going to meet here. So like as I walk down to grabs some
you know, as I went to go pick up some some of the stuff
that you needed to consume right now, right, I'm down there and within
you know, five minutes of being in the store, I meet ten people
that are here for Mjbiscon. I'm getting cards and I'm getting oh, this
is my new CBD product, et cetera. I want to know these things.
Like I'm a data and I'm a research person just like you guys are,
and I want to know what's out there so that not only can we
support, but we have we have a vehicle that can get us there.
Right, Like I said, there's we might not be the largest facility,
but we definitely have the largest variety of products and SKUs. We want to
get it out there to our quality over quantity, like in the biggest does
not mean anything. Yeah, being the being like your education and how much
Like I know we've said that like three billion times already, but like how
important and how much that stands out to me? And like we could tell
we didn't even know, Like we were like there's something like everyone just kind
of knows what they're talking about. There's something behind it, and that we
had no idea last year, right And like honestly, like we try to
go to as many disposed as we can, right, so people when they
come out here, we can shout them out. But like this is the
one that we were like we're going to go back here. The other ones
were like, eh, like you know what I mean, because yeah,
and your team responded promptly to our email and everything, like everyone set it
up very smoothly, like shout out to everyone. I was like, very
impressed. I was like, Wow, I'm surpryed you guys responding fast to
an email. We've called businesses, We've left messages, sent emails and some
don't get a response. So even get a response and you guys treat us
like this, it feels great for us over here. So we greatly appreciate.
That's the dedication to you and your staff and how you guys do it
here. Well, I appreciate that because you guys don't don't don't be too
shy to say that you guys are the VIPs here and that's the honestly guy.
I know our logos buyers, Well, think about this. We have
a chance to be a part of history. Right twenty years from now,
cannabis is going to be ubiquitous to alcohol. And at the end of the
day, you guys have a timestamp, and you guys are doing something that's
going to make a difference. You're talking about advocacy, you're talking about education,
You're really trying to inspire a plant that had so much negative stigma and
this like negative connotation behind it, it only makes sense for us to help
along that journey and be a part of it. And this is dope.
I mean, this is well it's sparked here. I mean we started this
kind of like in like twenty eighteen nineteen, I can't remember, and we
were just just doing the education point. But like, but really what sparked
this was COVID and wanting to go video and stuff. But like, I'm
sorry, should rewind a little bit. Really what made us the catalysts to
start this podcast was in twenty fifteen when he went through this rate. I
know we talked about it briefly off camera, but like we just realized how
much the media was portraying it as like how much money's being made, but
no one's talking about the advocacy side and how much like it helps people and
all this stuff. And you know, now we're fortunate like where it's legal
and dig you said, having but like it's almost like what you went through,
it's like you just your mind's blown by how much good it can do.
You know, because I was taught it gets you high. It gets
you high. It's the gateway drag. It leads you to your life's ruined
if you touch it, like there you failed, you know. But that's
why I feel like people like us exist to steal to tell these stories at
the end of the day, but not only that, lead by example,
right and show people what productive stoners look like. Putting on a podcast is
not easy, Like you're taking your time out of your day to come out
here to put all of this together, to sit down have a conversation,
and then you still have to chop it up and get it out there to
the to to your viewers. It's not an easy task, you know.
So, And honestly, like I think it's been an uphill battle, you
know, learning too, because at first, like it really was just a
passion project. It wasn't really for years that we even figured out how to
make it a business. Like for we were just like sick of hearing people
talk shit, sick of the whole only THC thing. We like, we
used to just smoke in front of his mom's house and talk about weed and
we're like, oh, this tastes like this, This tastes like this.
I'm like, bro, why don't we just hit record, you know what
I mean? Like this podcast existed in his mom's driveway. Wait, can
mom shadow the strain you were smoking when you guys realized, oh my gosh,
we need to do this. Oh the podcast. Fuck, that's a
good question. Strain were you well, you know what it was. I'm
not sure if he was growing at the moment, so I think a lot
of it was there. So there's a specific meeting. We had shoutout Canadad
too, So that's why any of his family members I just throw can on
it. So because he's cand so it just so no. So we went
over to Canadad's house. We had this meeting. Smoke a cigar. He's
a big wine guy. He's not a smoking we guy. So we had
some wine. You had a cigar, and we're like, you know,
you're losing your passion. You know this is something you want to help people
and like you want to like you know, put into it. But what
was the fear holding you back? This? Like what you went through you
know in the seven Rates. I'm like still get PTSD and weird stuff from
it because like PC, Yeah, cops coming in the discbo drawing guns on
you while you're hoping while it was technically legal medically, so it's like you
know, and then like while he was going through his charge, like in
that time, it like went legal. So it's like now people are making
money of why some people are still in jail, right, We always talk
about That's why I advocation is important because people getting out of jail, businesses
getting it decriminalized so they can have safe bankings, you know, things you
guys can't even, like I know in Michigan, like you can't bank,
you can't write stuff off. It's it's not fair, but the but there's
such a high tax on it. The state's making so much money, but
you guys can't. It's just it doesn't make any sense. And you know,
that's why more power to you. The fact that you're growing at all
is and it shows that you have something here at Hardy because you're given an
uphill battle, you know, and sure you could go for like you said,
the mass the biggest and like maybe have these you know, crazy investors.
But I love the feel here, so it's like really cool, groovy.
I see you're still there, So okay, so let's talk a little
real quick. I got it because we're in this badass studio PWM Studios.
Do you have your own podcasts, because like, this equipment is making me
jelly well, shout out to Bonyx because he has some of my favorite podcasts
and he'll do that do this year. But similar to our retail store where
we you know, we we want to bring quality products out to everyone here
at Hardan, the podcast studio is a place where we can get some quality
knowledge and you know, talks going around to everyone. So although we do
have our own podcast that Bonix will put on, we also will take other
people that want to come out and represent and want to speak, like,
let's do it whatever we have to do to get the word out. Yeah,
this is an awesome studio, nice little setup. It's perfect for podcasting
and streaming. It's it's beautiful. I can't I can't talk much like I
don't know if p w M is like for rent, but like check out,
check out IV the chatter. So I had to ask because like,
so, okay, so what's the best way to find Harden Because we found
you on I G I believe your cup last year and that's how we found
you. But is there a way that like you have your own website and
we can check out your menu. Hardean Law Vegas for sure. If you
if you just even google Hardan Las Vegas, you'll see all of our social
media pull up Instagram. Is you know, really fun for us, Harding
Las Vegas again. But but honestly, all I got to say is,
if you're in Vegas, come through, right, Happy to connect with you,
happy to give you a tour, whatever, but come through because there's
one thing to see it, there's another thing to be a part of it,
right yeah. And honestly that's like coming from the Michigan market, Like
I was so excited about your boy tenders, I can't I'm just gonna keep
saying that it was badass, like I mean, because it's well because sometimes
at least for us in Michigan, and I'm sure it's exactly the same out
here, especially with like the amount of flow of like tourism, you know,
is sometimes a lot some disposed are just like it feels like it's a
pos like what would you like, I don't know, this one's more strong,
you know, And then that's like so it's just like it's that's why
I'll never stop because we're just so we want that Michigan because that standardization is
kind of like, what can make this you know, I don't know.
It's helpful, yeah, more key for everyone, the you know, the
education part behind that. I love it. Yeah, it's true. And
it makes it more fun because when you know what you're talking about right now,
you're just having a conversation with the customer. A lot of times,
like the seniors, for example, they treat our retail store as like a
Starbucks. They're coming in here, they're asking questions. They're like, oh
my gosh, this work for me, now I want to try it for
this what do you suggest as like a pre workout? What do you suggest
to like sleep my And then and then there's some more grueling and harder questions
like my husband has stage four cancer and how do I go about it with
this? I have lime disease? What would you suggest for this when I
have chronic pain? Et cetera. And so, you know, we as
we're having fun because there's the recreational side of it, and I don't know
about you, I'd rather talk to someone who's smoked a lot then drink a
lot, right absolutely. But then there's also this like really important medicinal side
of this plant where it really does help people have a normal day in life
that they want and the quality of life, I mean mental health. Right,
we see such a struggle with mental health, all these things going on
in society. So sometimes just be able to smoke and relax that you're in
day is so nice because especially with industries where like, oh we're still testing
for weed, Like I can't just smoke we at the end of my day.
You're like, I don't know. Mental health is so key nowadays,
it really is. We were just talking about that off camera, me and
Ivy shut out to Ivy get shouted out. Yeah, and it's just like
life is grind and it really really is, right, and it's challenging,
but especial if you have passions outside of your job too. I mean what
most people do, like whether it be family, their dog or just music
or whatever. Right, Like there's so much passion. So life is NonStop,
yeah, and so sometimes it's good to just you know, put five
on it. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, like you even told us
this is like this is starting every day. You got to do walk throughs
with exacs and dude, like you were all hustling right, don stop.
It's like Day thirteen for me. But I love it. I'm telling you
right now. I love what I do. I love Harden, I love
what we stand for. And to be honest, like I have two resumes.
I have my trap resume, which we all have, which, by
the way, yours is very very nice. That's true though, that is
especially in this industry. Yeah, true, I got my trap and then
I have my tech resume, right. And at the time, I was
in the crossroads of picking between like tech companies like Google or like Salesforce out
in San Francisco, and then there was like Hardene, right, and I
was like, ooh, do I want to stick with you know, tech
or do I want to go into something I'm like really passionate about and I
even do for fun and on the side. And I remember when normal meetings
were at a Shaky's Pizza, Like you know what, I'm take a chance
and I'm gonna, you know, I know, the higher the risks to
hire, the reward. I'm gonna stick with my passions and I'm gonna go
this route. He saw the long you saw the long picture. You know,
you saw that where it was going. I mean you even talked about
it earlier. He's like, where it's gonna go, You've already seen the
future. So like, I love it, and that belief really shows that,
like it really changed that perspective in you and you just love it.
So I do. I do. I love this plant so much. I'm
telling you right now, I can smoke it right now. Get that contact
high. That's pretty good. Shout out to Luxury Luxury l LP Exotics.
It's one of my favorite brands, Exotics. Okay, so like Harding,
Oh do you go ahead? I would say, you're just talking about LP
Exacs. What are someone like your favorite brands that you guys have in shop
here that like you recommend for tours to come out to try or or even
people in Vegas. I love this, Okay, so quick, quick,
caveat. I have to be up like all the time, right, and
so for me, being couchlocked isn't something I want. And so I look
for strains that not only like get me up, but like will keep me
going and that are like a pre workout. And so what I've found is
my go to strain is a strain called Blackjack. And so when I get
my ounces, I get them from Firestar. But my pre roll of Blackjack
I actually get from LP Exotics. We'll shout out okay, and so do
you know the I got to look up the cross on that sound because I've
never had Blackjacks. That's what I like, is that daytime stuff like get
you going. I don't want to be couch locked all day. No,
no, I have to. We have such a big mission and movement right
now that like we have to combine our efforts because this is not this is
this is a marathon, and we're nowhere near the end of the race.
Like this is just the beginning. And we're at the forefront of this really
big wave and we're piggybacking off of our ancestors. But like this is just
the beginning. We got to keep going. Oh, I mean absolutely,
we have any hits, say banking, decriminalization, legalization, There's still so
much to go. But like, actually, as you bring that up,
does Hardy like, is there anything you like have as an obstacle in the
Nevada market or have you see coming up or see like you know, is
there anything like that? Because I don't know much about the Nevada market specifically
as far as I would say, just like any market, it's the regulatory
the regulatory hurdles that we go through, right, Like you said, Safe
Backing Act, et cetera. Like all we're able to write off is our
basic cogs. That's it. But here we're really big on taking care of
our people. We offer medical, dental, health insurance. That's like really
not really love Yeah really, and I'm so blown away by Yeah, like
what that's really good? Really you have benefits at your dispensary. We sure
do. And if I've ever heard that, well, but we should.
We have to take care of our people in our community. I like to
say, you know, a lot of times we focus on what's going on
in the White House, but we got to focus on what's going on in
our house and in our backyard and take care of our people. And that's
how, you know, you create this huge macro leap to success. It's
not the macro things that we do, it's the micro things we do leap
into that. So, you know, take care of your people, because
if you won't take care of them, now, you're not going to take
care of them. Then yeah, in front of applause under here, that's
straight apause. Let's preach. I literally appreciate you guys. Are you guys
hiring? Do you guys just hire? Going to quit the podcast? He
moved out to Vegas. I'll tell you right now. We are always looking
for talented people that want to be in this space. Like we're never not
hiring, and so like, if you do want to work here, and
and and please all power to you. Just to let you guys know,
Hardine is one of the most award winning dispensaries in Nevada. It's another one
I just a lot of Just this year, we've won sixteen awards, right,
So like for like the Nevada Cannabis Awards Music Festival, we were nominated
in like thirteen categories everything from best bud Tender to best Cannabis Activists, your
Girl one, best Manager, best Photographer and videoographer ivy Ov see why.
But we placed in all of those and we won every single category. And
we're one of the top ten dispensaries to work for in the nation. Right
And so having that understanding and like really understanding what we're doing here to join
the team, you know, first thing is passion, right, be passionate
about this because you're going to go through so many valleys and hills to get
to the top. And so make sure this is an industry that you want
to be in, because that's what's how to propel you and keep you going
as you go through different struggles, et cetera. Because we're going to continue
to go through it, right This is this is a challenge, This is
a fight until we fully legalize this plant. This is what we're going to
deal with. And it's fun. I don't love it that passion will give
you that that push to go over those hurdles, because I think when you
don't, they don't have those passions, it shows through your company and you
don't really make it. How many companies do you see coming and they have
flashy marketing and then they don't have good products and they last for a few
months and then they're like the customers are like they're gone, and then they're
gone. You know. So that's that passion. With the awards, that's
that's not a fan here. Yeah, and I would definitely vote for you
on Best bud Tender and all that, but no, but I I I
see, I see why you win them. You know. I appreciate that
passion. Team I think and that's my point. I think that like,
in my opinion, being in sales for so long, you're not most of
the time. In my opinion, it's you're not buying the product your you're
buying the person that's selling it to you. Do you trust them right?
And are they making the right decisions? So, you know, being a
team member on here, like we really really focus on that, like are
you going to do right by our customers? Like are you going to make
sure that you are educating them and you're giving them something that's going to actually
work for them? Because not everyone you know, like you should be able
to come here and not have to test everything out to know that this is
for you. Does that make sense? So the more knowledgeable you are,
the quicker we can kind of dial in on what's going to work for you,
because there's no strains out there that like give you superpowers in my opinion,
you know that just synergize with you. They're like, oh my god,
I agree, like super silver Hayze. There we got a little bit.
I don't know why, and I was never even a big haze person,
but I had that. I'll never forget I got a half ounce of
it, you know, I sha'll never forget, Like I just like there's
certain strains. I'll never forget the day I smoked a green crack for the
first anymore. I like that that is the up one that you want to
go up. That is very paranoid on that too. It's like, actually
a green crack, you know the name is correct. That's awesome. So
since we're talking about your team, and is there anyone specifically that we want
to shout out right now? You want to shout out just for the whole
team or because like we just you know, it sounds like there's a lot
of pivotal people in your team. You know, we're going to be here
for another thirty minutes. Well, first and foremost, I have a thousand
percent have to shout out all of our all of our staff. In our
employees, they really are the pulse and the heartbeat of this place. And
you know it's through their hard work and through their I mean they're really serious.
Like when you walk around, you're going to realize that everyone here is
very professional and they really do want to get the job done. So shout
out to the bud tenders, Shout out to our delivery, shout out to
curve side or virtual support. I mean even like our IT and our HR
department, like our ADMIN department, Like they all make such a significant difference
for us to really move because this is a body and you need all parts
to be running. If that's department, that's awesome. Again, Yeah,
that's how we have this room, even our facilities, Like they put this
whole thing together. But if I were to take it back even further,
I would I would say definitely my older sister Priscilla, she really spearheaded this
industry in my opinion, and like she's out here right now. They did
the movie American Pot Story and so it's being premiered out in New York this
week and they're nominated for like an MJ's. But it's not just set.
It's like all the activism that's been done and just really her leading by example
and being that force with me because it's not easy. Like when I was
getting signatures to just get this plant on the ballot, like people would spit
at me. Why that stigma is so negative and all. I mean,
that's crazy because you're just like trying to be like, hey, you could
just say no, come, that's so rude. But a big, big,
big, big shout out to our CEO, Adam Cohen, because at
the end of the day, like none of this would exist if he didn't
have this like vision and this standard of like high quality. But most importantly,
like he really truly allows us to be the best versions of ourselves and
and and do what we need to do. The energy here you're also like
happy, it's crazy, you know it was. It really is a really
positive energy and that type of stuff does come from your you know, your
leaders, So like that's awesome. Shadow Adam shadowt Priscilla Shaw, Shadow Ivy
for him. Yeah, I know you want to make me do some stuff.
And to you guys, I really appreciate you putting this on, you
know, I really do. It's just huge and like really fighting for something
more than just like really just like the clicks, right, we really want
to fight for education advocation because right now, like through like legal stuff,
we're seeing it kind of a shift, you know with a lot of people
just like trying to sell their product where like in the medical days, I'm
spoiled to where it was every bud tender really cared, every you know,
every product was really came from someone usually who like cared more about the product.
They were passionate, right, it was a gray area. We were
all kind of you know, it's nervous, so like so it just that
passion bleeds through. Well, hopefully pretty soon we'll have a Hardean in Michigan.
I mean, that's that's the that's that's the name of the game right
now. Is like market expansion, right, Is that like future for you
guys? Oh for sure. Like think about it this way. Hardine stands
for garden in several languages, And what we like to say is are people
are flowers. We want to see them grow, and we want to grow.
You know, we want our garden to be everywhere so that everyone can
enjoy it. You know. I hope you guys get on a love that
I love that I would love. I would love to be on in Michigan.
It's a great place. It's it's a it's a great market chili right
now. But it's so great. It's snowed the day we were well right
to make it. I'm not ready for that yet. But before we write,
but we have one more question. Yeah, yeah, we're right.
I do you want to go into that one? I was going to say,
any like future plans we want to talk about for twenty twenty four,
but like just the state. Yeah, okay, let's going to have any
other plans, have it? We do? I will mention what I can.
That's what I was saying. I don't want to. How dare you?
I want you guys excited because if you're excited about the retail, right,
wait till you guys go to our consumption lounge. Oh okay, like
out here in Vegas, let me tell you something. Okay, Vegas has
ninety percent more cannabis users than any other state due to tourism. And one
thing about Vegas is like they're really big on experiences and so like one thing
we're known for his weddings, right, speaking with the local government, which
we work very well with and heavily with. You know, our commissioner will
tell you he wants the Las Vegas to be known for the number one state
to like consume. Right, So we have all these cannabis lounges that are
going to be opening up soon. And you know, if you know about
Harden, right, yeah, of course we run great retail space, et
cetera. So imagine our parties, right, imagine that Hardeen was one of
the first and one of the few places where you can meet your favorite celebrity.
We have celebrity, but tenders that will come into here, not just
that, like you just never know who you're gonna meet. Just standing on
the floor, I met Khalip like the other day, a month ago.
Like you would have seen me mill here right there, you would have seen
two chains in line, you would have seen walk of Faka, you would
have seen a kid. I just there's so many people that come to this
space because you got to think Vegas is like you can drive everywhere in twenty
minutes. Oh yeah, so if you're going to spoke, most likely you're
going to come to Hardy. Yeah. I love it and y'all gotta check
it out. Everyone in Michgan everyone. So now let's do the final question
because I love this question. We've asked this every single time since our first
podcast. Yeah, anytime we have a guest, we always ask your favorite
way. What's your favorite we consume again? You said, oh no,
it's definitely joints. Joints. Okay, Flower, So I magine you're grinding
up the weed, you break it up and a Ganja Genie pops out and
grants you one wish that you can change in the cannabis industry. Oh man,
that is such a great question, and I'd see why you ask it
in an instant because there's so this is what we always why because there's so
many things that need to be changed. Everyone thinks that they see the revenue
and don't understand the uphill battle of these companies face and how much work and
care goes into some of these passions the companies exactly. I mean, gosh,
I could what I choose. There's you know, changing the regulations,
there's financial accessibility, there's getting rid of the you know, negative stigma and
the barriers. But if I could honestly choose one thing, it would be
social justice and the ability to just like really create some social equity when it
comes to this plant, because I really think that this is very important.
As much fun as we're having and as we're moving things, we can't forget
the people that are still locked up for like non criminal crimes, and they
it's terrifying that they're still there. We need to do right by our people.
We need social equity, we need to be responsible, and we really
need to bring justice to the people that you know don't even deserve to be
in there in the first place. And the kind of paved the way because
a lot of those people were grown I mean again, non violent charges,
Like I feel like there's a lot of those people were probably just growing.
You get caught with a joiner too, Like your whole life was screwed over
these little things back then. That's what I'm saying. I know a girl,
for example, she was just walking and had a nug in her pocket
and it's just a nugged. It wasn't even smoke. Yet they gave her
ten years my w at eighteen and she had to serve all ten years.
Like that is a sure think about how crazy that is over a nug That's
right, that you didn't even get to smoke, right, And so like,
we really need to do right by people. There's plenty of stories out
there, and I think it's important to speak for the unsung heroes and just
like, let's take care of our people, right, Let's just do right.
So I love it. That was a great response, Brnning. I
appreciate it, and I appreciate you coming on. I appreciate Ivy in the
back over there and Harden in general. You guys for treating us like family
here when us come in PM, p W and studio and studios for this
record up here. If you have anything else, I was gonna wrap it
up, if you know, if you had anything else you want to mention
before we head off. No, I didn't realize it's been an hour.
You were about there. Yeah, no, just come come see us,
like you got to check it out. It's one thing to you know,
like I said, we're talking about it, but when you actually come out
here, you're going to fill the vibes and you're going to realize, like
how realistic it is to really have cannabis just be part of the daily lives
and and you'll know that it's not as scary as it seems. You know,
a lot of people think, oh man, you just grow this in
your backyard, Like no, there's just so much more to it. And
uh, there's nothing wrong with you, right, no, no, no,
it's all power to you. But but if you can't right and you
don't have that green thumb, because it's not easy to grow this point right,
then comes through who we got you? Yeah, I'm not a girl.
I do like text stuff. No, but like, thank you so
much, Pretty and the whole Hardinge team. We're gonna go check out the
floor now and do that thing. We're so excited. Okay, listen is
a blast and as always groovy. We're here to advocate, educate and inspire
it to next emel p