Aria Biswas

A smiling white woman with long, flowing blonde hair wearing a sleeveless gray top.

The Dabbies Awards from The Hood Incubator during the Meadowlands 2021 leadership summit

The Dabbies Awards by The Hood Incubator at Meadowlands 2021

The Dabbies Awards, presented by [The Hood Incubator](https://www.hoodincubator.org/ "The Hood Incubator"), are designed to recognize companies in the cannabis industry who have made sustained effort to support and champion social equity. 

These industry awards will be given out onstage at Camp Navarro on Friday, October 1, 2021, during the [Meadowlands](https://getmeadow.com/meadowlands "Meadowlands") Leadership Summit.

<callout>[View the shortlist and help us select the winners; submit your vote now!](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-vX42OCzVV4oPWnaZ-bwwSgVtYIc6IQbPCOOsXwtk5r1dDg/viewform "Submit your vote now")</callout>

In 2019, The Hood Incubator presented the original Dabbies Award to advertising veteran, Daniel Stein, Founder of Evolution Bureau and CEO of Essential Good. From 2016-2019, Stein provided a free community space in Oakland for women, veterans, seniors and equity groups to gather. 

<figure>
![Daniel Stein The Dabbies Award from Hood Incubator](//images.contentful.com/6kwu1u6s8j23/1Wl94PsExsSV9yu2MH47Hx/e77d87acbec60e3f7be9b5d4fbe59976/Daniel_Stein_The_Dabbies_Award_from_Hood_Incubator.png)
<figcaption>Daniel Stein receives the first ever Dabbies Award from Melodye Montgomery.</figcaption>
</figure>

The 2021 version of The Dabbies Awards have expanded to multiple categories with the aim of celebrating the social impact and advocacy work of the wider cannabis industry. The shortlist is created with data from [The Accountability List from Cannaclusive](https://www.cannaclusive.com/news/2020/6/25/our-open-letter-to-the-cannabis-and-hemp-community "The Accountability List from Cannaclusive") and the cannabis industry is invited to [submit their vote](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-vX42OCzVV4oPWnaZ-bwwSgVtYIc6IQbPCOOsXwtk5r1dDg/viewform "submit their vote") to help choose the winners in each category.

The Dabbies Awards given out by Lanese Martin from The Hood Incubator during the Meadowlands 2021 leadership summit

Hood Incubator Dabbies Awards Meadowlands Leadership Summit

View the shortlist of awards and submit your vote!

The Dabbies Awards, presented by The Hood Incubator

Rusty Wilenkin Old Pal CEO

Rusty Wilenkin is the CEO of [Old Pal](https://oldpal.com/ "Old Pal").  In this Q&A, Rusty shares about his long journey with cannabis, creating a team and company around this plant, and the importance of building an inclusive community within this industry. 

__What brought you to the cannabis industry?__

I had a job with a financial tech company when I moved to California in 2013, but I knew I wanted to be in the cannabis industry. I'd been a consumer for a long time, and was beyond passionate about the product. I spent a number of nights and weekends emailing and messaging cannabis companies, and actually worked as an intern for Meadow in the very early days. In 2014 I had the opportunity to join Kiva Sales and Service as a Los Angeles rep, and jumped at the opportunity.

__How has cannabis served you?__

It’s not an overstatement to say that cannabis has changed my entire life. As a consumer it’s allowed me to find a sense of calm when life gets stressful, and it’s allowed me to think both critically and creatively in a much deeper way. It’s also given me the opportunity of a lifetime to become an entrepreneur, and to help provide quality, accessible cannabis to the many that rely on it. I’m forever grateful to this special plant. 

![Old Pal cannabis flower](//images.contentful.com/6kwu1u6s8j23/4z4fwABW1vBAl6F3R5XYuF/ce301a1e09a3b54a5c77313dbb88ce6d/Old_Pal_cannabis_flower.png)

__In what ways have you served the cannabis plant?__

Getting involved with programs such as [Our Academy](https://thisisourdream.com/our-academy/ "Our Academy") has given me the opportunity to mentor social equity candidates, and to give back, even in a small way, to the industry that’s given me so much. We in this industry all have a very long way to go in terms of working to undo the effects of the War on Drugs, and it’s a goal of mine to continue to find ways to serve the cannabis plant as well as the many communities it touches. 

__What is the reason your company or organization exists? Please brag about what you do:__

Old Pal was inspired by a void that we felt existed in the industry. Many of the early brands in the recreational market often felt intimidating, sterile and out of reach for many consumers. Old Pal set out to be approachable, accessible, and a purveyor of value in everything we make and do –– and to us, value means the highest quality products, at fair price points. 

__What is your philosophy about building companies, teams and partnerships in this new industry?__

I really believe in authenticity, and in working alongside great people who share Old Pal’s values and beliefs. We’re extremely thorough and thoughtful whenever we’re vetting new partners across all facets of the business, and that diligence continues to pay off time and time again.  If you surround yourself with talented people who are enjoyable to work with, you’re off to a great start already. 

__What advice do you have to new or aspiring companies who are just starting out in California cannabis?__

Not to get discouraged; the industry has really exploded in terms of the number of brands and products that are in-market currently, but my advice would be to stay true to what makes your brand, product, etc. unique, and to stick with it. It’s such an exciting space to be in, and there’s room for everyone. 

To add to that, I would say don’t be afraid to reach out to contacts you have that are involved in cannabis. The cannabis industry is truly such a community, and I think you’ll find more often than not that most are always willing to have a conversation, offer advice, and point people in the right direction.

<callout>"Don’t be afraid to reach out to contacts you have that are involved in cannabis. The cannabis industry is truly such a community, and I think you’ll find more often than not that most are always willing to have a conversation, offer advice, and point people in the right direction." - Rusty Wilenkin</callout>

__What do you hope the California cannabis industry looks like in 5 years? 10 years? 20?__

I really hope that over the next few years, the cannabis industry as a whole evolves to operate more like traditional CPG companies. We run into so many hurdles with things like the technology and software we can use, shipping regulations, and licensing. If all of those hurdles could be reduced, and we can operate like other CPG brands, it will do wonders for normalizing cannabis usage and making products more accessible for all. 

__How do you stay energized and keep your team energized?__

Our team really keeps me energized. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by a group that’s as passionate about what we're building as I am, and the variety of different backgrounds, perspectives, and skill sets helps us to continue to innovate and evolve as we grow. In terms of keeping the entire team energized, we very much prioritize a culture of balance. We’re all incredibly dedicated to the work that we’re doing, but at the end of the day, we respect that each of us needs time away from work as well to be able to take care of our own well being. I hope my team would agree that creating this type of culture that puts each of us as a human with a life outside of Old Pal first gives us the space to come to work feeling energized and stoked to be there. 

__What are good examples of poor leadership and great examples of great leadership?__

In my experience, great leadership is shown by those who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and learn the ins and outs of all segments of the business, and by those who are solution-oriented above all else. I think we’ve all been in top-down work environments where leaders are out of touch with the realities of the business, which can result in a lot of finger-pointing when things don’t go as planned. At Old Pal we’re conscious of always using “we” language when we’re talking about the business - we’re all working together and towards the same goal, and I want the entire team to support one another and prioritize solutions versus shifting blame when challenges arise. 

<callout>"Great leadership is shown by those who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and learn the ins and outs of all segments of the business, and by those who are solution-oriented above all else." -Rusty Wilenkin </callout>

__What can the cannabis industry learn from other industries?__

Honestly, I think other industries could benefit from learning how to be more adaptable like the cannabis industry. No matter how big or small a cannabis company is, everyone in the cannabis space has learned to adapt with countless curveballs week after week due to everchanging laws and regulations. We’ve all had to swerve at the drop of a hat and have considered it a norm to keep doing so. It’s no small feat to be a part of this world. 

__What is the highest vision for your cannabis business? What do you hope to achieve and contribute?__

The highest vision is to continue to bring a valuable experience to all of our customers, to continue to foster a sense of community through everything that we make and do and grow that community nationwide (and eventually globally). The ethos of Old Pal is to provide quality products that are accessible to as many as possible, all while prioritizing giving back to the communities that we’re a part of. 

__How do you think about building businesses in a way that is both equitable and profitable?__

It’s important for us to give back to the community that we’re lucky to be a part of. We’re continuing to learn what being equitable means in the cannabis industry and finding ways to make equity a core aspect of our business. What’s important for us is to keep going — intention without any action won’t make anything better. We’re certainly learning as we go, and we’re grateful to be in touch with experts like Cannabis for Black Lives and Our Academy to name a few who we can learn from and partner with in our efforts to create lasting, equitable change.

__We know the rollout of state social equity programs has left a lot to be desired; how do you think about social equity when it comes to your own businesses? Do you have diversity and inclusion statements that shape the way you grow your own operations?__

It's an incredibly important part of what we do at Old Pal. In 2019 we rolled out an initiative called [Legalize Humanity](https://oldpalprovisions.com/pages/legalize-humanity "Legalize Humanity") as a way to continuously be giving back to causes that align with our core values, with profits from our Old Pal Provisions Legalize Humanity collection being donated to organizations such as National Expungement Week, and our current beneficiary, Our Academy. Our goal is for the program to only continue to grow from here. 

Over the past year we’ve also instituted a dedicated team to head up our Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, and now have a mandatory yearly DEI training along with a Diversity and Inclusion statement in our employee handbook. We at Old Pal are committed to continuing to learn and grow, and our entire team is passionate about making this a more equitable industry overall.

![Old Pal joint](//images.contentful.com/6kwu1u6s8j23/7HSUmI58cQOPX0aXJEDaRU/c776098bc20d14bcaf009d2d80721b1c/Old_Pal_joint.png)

__As your business evolves, what is your philosophy about team building? What do you look for when adding team members?__

Old Pal is all about the social and shareable aspect of cannabis, and we bring that same philosophy to our team culture. We encourage everyone’s voices to be heard and think it’s important for people who don’t ordinarily work with each other to interact and mingle. 

Beyond virtual happy hours during Covid, we’ve also started something called “Old Pal University” where team members present and teach the rest of us more about their expertise or a topic they are passionate about. We’ve had sessions on terpenes, product development, marketing, and even building efficient spreadsheets — which ended up being a super fun session. Even when we can safely meet in person again, we’ll probably still keep the Old Pal University sessions going. 

As for adding new team members, it’s important for us to learn about their “why” for wanting to be a part of the cannabis industry. Everyone on the team has their own relationship with this space, and we want to learn more about that as we get to know them.

__When you are faced with a challenge, walk us through how you problem solve and make decisions.__

I’ve always been of the belief that challenges are better faced together versus alone. When challenges arise for Old Pal, I’m lucky that I have my co-founder Jason Osni and a strong leadership team  to turn to. We share the same values and similar ways of thinking, but also bring different strengths and skill sets to the table. This allows us to attack the challenge, and to delegate accordingly. Knowing that I have such a strong team behind me every step of the way gives me the confidence to face whatever challenges may pop up. 

__Where do you see other businesses faltering and how do you avoid missteps?__

Again, I think it comes back to authenticity. The cannabis space has filled up very quickly, and anytime you see that type of rapid growth it can evolve into a mad rush to be releasing the next big thing. Of course innovation is hugely important, but I’m also a big believer in staying true to the vision that you have for what you’re creating. If there’s a unique perspective and passion behind a particular brand or product, that always shines through in the end. 

Again, this brings me back to the enormous emphasis that we put on team, and on a “we” attitude above all else. As a founder it can be easy to forget that, but ultimately, from my perspective, you are only as successful as the team around you. 

<callout>"You are only as successful as the team around you." - Rusty Wilenkin</callout>

__What is the best investment you've made — resources, time or money, you've made in the last year?__

My best investment this past year has definitely been one of time. I keep coming back to the work I’ve been fortunate to do with Our Academy, and time spent with my most recent mentee, Charles. Being able to help him with his cultivation business with my network has been unbelievably fulfilling. There’s no better investment than having the chance to step outside of your own day-to-day to gain a broader perspective of the industry landscape as a whole, and to help elevate other entrepreneurs along the way. 

__What's the most effective habit you've cultivated in the last year?__

I can’t say that it’s an entirely new habit, but shifting to taking several of my calls throughout the day while walking and/or outside has become a really effective habit for me. I’m on the phone the majority of my days and nights, so shifting gears by stepping outside or walking as I talk allows me to think clearer, and to give my eyes (and brain) a break from so much screen time and take in some vitamin D and sights of nature. Not to mention, my daily step counts have gone through the roof!

__What's your morning routine?__

I’d have to say my two morning constants are a walk with my dog, Stubbs, and an espresso. This combo allows me to take a beat first thing before diving into the day’s responsibilities, and gives me the mental clarity and energy needed to jump into whatever the day has in store. 

__What 3 books do you most recommend & why?__

*Ashes to Ashes* by Richard Kluger. While the cannabis industry is uniquely its own and not big tobacco, I find that understanding that industry's history is interesting when looking at how ours may evolve.

Anything by Harlan Coben. For turning off and just reading a thrilling novel.

*Blink* by Malcolm Gladwell. A must-read for all business leaders in my opinion, especially the way he describes "thin-slicing", our ability to use limited info from a very narrow period of experience to come to conclusions. It's a concept I find myself coming back to again and again. 

![Old Pal cannabis](//images.contentful.com/6kwu1u6s8j23/1ltOrboQwuPCtfeAnCEUG7/0ca1cbe234c106efcb086c2c0ff08630/Old_Pal_cannabis.png)

__What are your 3 favorite cannabis products right now?__

1. If I’m on the go I love our newest pre-roll product, [Palitos](https://oldpal.com/flower/palitos "Palitos"). Each pack comes with 10 delicious 0.35 gram mini joints, perfectly sized to keep in your pocket or share with a pal. The ultimate in convenience.  
2. Our [classic 1/8 ounce of whole flower](https://oldpal.com/flower/whole-flower "whole flower") will always hold a special place in my heart and on my rolling tray -- our first Old Pal product!
3. If I’m having more of a sweet tooth, Kiva’s munchie bar is a really unique product. Chocolate with chips, pretzels, and cookies in it, it’s quite the stoner treat. 

__If you had one story you could tell in cannabis, what would it be?__

The thing a lot of folks outside of the industry may not realize or fully appreciate is how much of an authentic, tight-knit community exists within cannabis. Two years ago, when Santa Rosa was experiencing particularly horrific fires, one of my good friends was stuck on his farm, filling generators with gas, unwilling to leave because he didn't want his fresh frozen to thaw. I sent out a group text to a handful of contacts in the space, and within hours we had a refrigerated truck at his property loading up his fresh frozen to get him and his product out of harm’s way. In the end the community stepping up got my friend out of the way of the fire, and kept his livelihood safe. To me, this is so reflective of the cannabis community as a whole. 

Learn more about Rusty and his team at [OldPal.com](https://oldpal.com/ "OldPal.com")

Rusty Wilenkin is the CEO of cannabis brand Old Pal

Old Pal CEO Rusty Wilenkin 

Read more about Rusty's journey building the Old Pal company

Serving Cannabis: Q&A with Old Pal CEO, Rusty Wilenkin

Weldon Angelos uses The Weldon Project and Mission Green to advocate for those nonviolent drug offenders incarcerated for cannabis

Cannabis is Not a Crime Weldon Angelos

President and Co-Founder of Mission Green, Weldon Angelos, is a music producer who has worked with legends like Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur’s recording group, and Tory Lanez.

In 2004, Weldon became the national face of criminal justice reform after he was sentenced to a mandatory 55-year prison term for roughly $9 000 worth of cannabis. His cause was championed by Senators Cory Booker & Mike Lee, celebrities, leading news organizations like the Washington Post & Rolling Stone magazine, and even the Koch brothers, which led to an early release in 2016 after serving 13 years of his 55-year sentence.

Since his release, Weldon has become a leading activist working to end the cannabis prohibition and reform our federal criminal justice system. We asked him some questions to understand what he's working on and how the cannabis industry can help.

![Weldon Angelos of Mission Green and The Weldon Project](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/66c2vvEx1PwTS4c16qwWaC/9d861aeada4369ef0f0d8ddc44302826/Weldon_Angelos_cannabis_incarceration_clemency_initiative_Mission_Green.png)

__Can you tell us about The Weldon Project & Mission Green? What is your mission and how does it come to life to make change?__

The Weldon Project (“TWP”) is a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of currently or formerly incarcerated drug offenders who were sentenced to prison for nonviolent drug offenses. TWP has adopted a multifaceted approach to addressing the injustices and disparities in sentencing for drug offenses and the collateral consequences of drug-related arrests and convictions. TWP redresses these injustices and disparities through policy reform, legislative advocacy, and impactful direct service programs designed both to secure release of nonviolent drug offenders from incarceration and to assist those coming out of incarceration in rebuilding their lives through reentry programs and anti-recidivism efforts.

The Weldon Project works to bring together leaders impacted by the criminal justice system and unlikely allies from both political parties to push for criminal justice solutions. TWP works directly with lawmakers, advocacy groups, incarcerated individuals, and the White House on a broad range of criminal justice issues. Notably, TWP helped pass the historic, bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation called the First Step Act which was signed into law in December 2018.

The Weldon Project launched the MISSION [GREEN] initiative to focus on individuals incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses in the federal criminal justice system. The Mission Green campaign is led by socially conscious people who have been impacted by the justice system and have lived through the issues these advocacy organizations are working to address. The people most harmed by the criminal justice system are uniquely qualified to create and champion the solutions that will begin to transform it. Mission Green assists prisoners with clemency and compassionate release petitions and advocates on their behalf throughout the process. As these offenders are released, Mission Green works to create pathways to expungement or pardons and assists them in finding second chance jobs to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed in the free world.

<callout>"Not everyone in prison has famous friends or political figures fighting for them, so I knew that I needed to be their voice."</callout>

__Can you share some of your personal journey with cannabis and incarceration?__

My first experience with cannabis happened in the early 90s when Dr. Dre’s The Chronic came out followed by Doggystyle, which led me to experiment with the plant for the first time at the age of 13 and opened up my creative side. It led me to my journey in the music industry where I would eventually work with those I grew up listening to. My involvement with hip hop music and cannabis would both lead to my ultimate incarceration. I was eventually targeted by authorities in Salt Lake City, Utah because of my efforts to bring the hip hop culture to my hometown. I was eventually charged with 105 years worth of mandatory minimums for roughly $900 of cannabis and after trial sentenced to a mandatory 55-year sentence. I spent 13 years in prison before I was released thanks to an unprecedented effort to secure my release by Senators Mike Lee and Cory Booker, musicians like Alicia Keys, Bonnie Raitt, and Snoop Dogg, and news agencies like the Washington Post.   

__After being released from prison, why did you make it your mission to help others avoid what you went through?__

I was the lucky one. Not everyone in prison has famous friends or political figures fighting for them, so I knew that I needed to be their voice. I was given a unique platform and network that I couldn’t just waste those resources. So, when I was released I had to make a decision. Did I want to get back in music and try to get my life back, or use my experience and contacts to help make change and bring others home. I chose the latter. 

![Weldon Angelos, Mission Green, The Weldon Project](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/7puIJ3wJj7kdvgLUW4drzP/61a0df4a4f5776b2ccb8fba02fb1667c/Weldon_Angelos.png)

__Can you share some highlights & wins of the good work you’ve been doing?__

Shortly after I was released from prison, I was invited to the White House Prison Reform Summit to push for the First Step Act with Van Jones and the Kochs. I immediately began working with Senators Mike Lee and Cory Booker who both used my story to convince other members of Congress to vote in favor of the First Step Act, which was the first comprehensive federal criminal justice reform since 1970. It was a hard fight but in December 2018, we won. It was passed overwhelmingly in both houses of Congress and signed by the President. After that victory, I shifted my focus of cannabis cases and started working with the White House on clemency. We helped 12 individuals who were serving life sentences for cannabis get presidential clemency in January of this year. I also was instrumental in freeing Michael “Harry O” Harris, the co-founder of Death Row Records who was serving a very draconian prison term for a non-violent drug offense. Last July, we secured the release of former Bad Boy Records rapper Loon. Because of my work on the First Step Act and presidential clemencies, I was granted a full pardon by the President on December 22, 2020. 

Recently, we started working with the White House on a clemency initiative for those incarcerated federally for cannabis-related offenses. We’ve submitted two proposals. If adopted, the White House would issue a proclamation granting a general pardon to anyone with the federal cannabis felony. This type of categorical pardon is not unprecedented. Both Presidents Ford and Carter issued categorical pardons to the draft evaders, and we are hopeful Biden will move forward in a similar fashion. 

<figure>
<video-player url="[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRkqE2_aXxU&feature=youtu.be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRkqE2_aXxU&feature=youtu.be)"></video-player>
<figcaption>Weldon Angelos shares his personal story of being incarcerated for cannabis and how it fuels the work he does today to help free others who are still behind bars for nonviolent cannabis offenses.</figcaption>
</figure>

__How can the cannabis industry support your project?__

For the first two years of Project Mission Green, we were totally self-funded and our results were unprecedented. With the help and support of the cannabis industry, our work can be amplified. Our clemency initiative needs funding so we can expand and help more people in the federal system and expand our initiative to the states where there are people still serving prison time for cannabis. 

<callout>"It’s the duty of anyone profiting from cannabis to not forget about those who paid the ultimate price and moved the needle in favor of reform."</callout>

__Where can people learn more and support your efforts?__

Anyone interested in supporting us with a donation can go directly to our website [theweldonproject.org/donate](https://www.theweldonproject.org/ "The Weldon Project"), sign up for our mailing list, or follow us on Instagram at [@projectmissiongreen](https://www.instagram.com/projectmissiongreen/?hl=en "@projectmissiongreen"). We have a lot of exciting projects and events happening.


Mission Green cannabis activism with Weldon Angelos

The Weldon Project Weldon Angelos Mission Green

Learn about Weldon's efforts to help end cannabis prohibition and reform our federal criminal justice system

Q&A With Weldon Angelos: Highlighting The Weldon Project and Mission Green 

Vincent Ning CEO and Founder Nabis,  a California cannabis distribution company

Vincent Ning CEO and Founder Nabis Distribution California cannabis

Vince Ning is the Founder and CEO of cannabis distribution company, [Nabis](https://www.nabis.com/ "Nabis website"), and a Board Member of the Cannabis Distribution Association. In this Q&A, Vince shares about his leadership philosophy of building a cannabis company and team, and where he hopes to see the industry go in the future. 

__What brought you to the cannabis industry?__

With my background as a technologist, I often think about what new markets would benefit from new, improved technology. Cannabis was a personal passion of mine growing up that I shared with my childhood best friend and co-founder, Jun S. Lee. We always wanted to start a business together, and seeing the rapidly growing cannabis industry, we noticed the need for technology to help scale the industry. With our Tech and Entrepreneurial backgrounds, founding Nabis was the perfect opportunity for us to get into cannabis, technology, and a new market all while working together.

__How has cannabis served you?__

Cannabis has served me in so many ways. First, as a user of the product, I've developed lifelong friendships in social settings. And second, in my work as a cannabis entrepreneur, I've been fortunate enough to have this industry lift the sails of our business as legalization continues to unfold.

__In what ways have you served the cannabis plant?__

I've built a business in the past few years, where our mission is to empower the world to discover cannabis by providing choice, access, and innovation. We work hard each and every day to get the best quality cannabis products into consumers' hands at scale. Nabis now distributes over $350M worth of cannabis products by retail value, and we've built a platform that enables continuous product development and innovation.

![Nabis distribution](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/6VRR1GwupLpuZsM4NyOn9e/f78ce79c9f79a3b45193d0b69ece9472/Nabis_distribution.png)

__What is the reason your company or organization exists? Please brag about what you do:__

Nabis exists because brands need to scalably ship products from their licensed manufacturing and cultivation sites to retail dispensaries and delivery businesses. Nabis distributes over a quarter billion dollars worth of cannabis products per year. We currently work with 85 brands and ship their products out to nearly 100% of retailers across the state of California. Beyond just distribution, we offer a full-suite platform of services that helps a brand not only launch, but also scale. We help them with logistics, but as the brand grows, we provide them financial services, sales and marketing services, and analytics tools to help them scale even faster.

__What is your philosophy about building companies, teams and partnerships in this new industry?__

Nabis’ philosophy about building companies, teams, and partnerships, is to focus on providing the absolute best customer experience. We obsess over the customer and work backwards from what they need to determine what we build next.

__What do you hope the California cannabis industry looks like in 5 years? 10 years? 20?__

I hope that the California cannabis industry can exhibit two main characteristics:
1. Be an open and free market where brands that have the best product and consumer satisfaction wins.
2. Be regulated to ensure consumer safety with low enough taxes to combat the illicit market.

__What advice do you have to new or aspiring companies who are just starting out in California cannabis?__

The best advice I can give to an aspiring company just starting out in California cannabis is to have an open mind and be prepared to learn quickly. Cannabis is entirely a newly legalized market, which means there are no predefined notions or conventions. 

<callout>"The companies that succeed are led by operators who can bring their experience from other industries, and adapt them to the nuances of the cannabis industry and culture."</callout>

__What can the cannabis industry learn from other industries?__ 

Other industries are much better at planning and making more data-driven decisions. The cannabis industry is maturing and certainly getting there, but there is still a lack of enough data transparency to even make objective decisions to that degree. We’ll get there though!

__What is the highest vision for your cannabis business? What do you hope to achieve and contribute?__

Nabis will be the largest cannabis distribution company in the world. We hope to be able to help any entrepreneur be able to create a product from idea to implementation with very low friction, which will translate into providing the most choice and access to retailers. In doing so, this creates a more democratic market of products that will ultimately benefit the consumer.

![Nabis cannabis distribution](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/5p8uQg6K3rPoKoZplpJnk3/455ab3e9374901d3b6d7232fe72a4f01/Nabis_cannabis_distribution.png)

__How do you think about building businesses in a way that is both equitable and profitable?__

Nabis gives a 20% discount on all distribution rates for equity-owned and female-owned brands. Without a distributor in the industry who can offer that, these players will never have a chance of getting to market statewide and stay competitive.

__What do you look for when adding team members?__

When we add team members, we are looking for talented individuals who are really excited about building an entirely new supply chain and technology from scratch, be willing to learn, and be open to adapting to the unique challenges of the cannabis industry.

__What is the best investment you've made — resources, time or money, you've made in the last year?__

The best investment that we’ve made is first and foremost developing talent. There is insatiable demand for our distribution services since we offer the lower rates and the best quality of service. However, in order to continue scaling ourselves, we run an “atoms” business in many ways, not entirely a “bits” business, so we need to be able to continue to develop our staff to take on higher level roles.

__What are good examples of poor leadership and great examples of great leadership?__

I’ve witnessed poor leadership from those who make ego-driven decisions, which leads to a company that doesn’t serve its customers, but themselves.

<callout>"Great leaders are ones who have a really unique vision and principles that guide their actions to achieving their mission."</callout>

__What's the most effective habit you've cultivated in the last year?__

The most effective habit is to give our leadership team and managers more time to think strategically. As an earlier stage startup for the past three years, we have been in a constant mode of “doing things that don’t scale” in order to make that extra dollar and/or please a customer. However, the leaders of our organization are best equipped to plan and make long-term investments for the business that have a longer term payback cycle for us and our customers, rather than focus intensely on the day to day.

__What's your morning routine?__

I go on a two mile run early in the morning along The Embarcadero in San Francisco, where the water is gleaming and the air is crisp. On my way back, I pick up a cup of tea from Philz Coffee before I head home to start reading my emails.

__What are your 3 favorite cannabis products right now?__
1. GanjaGold Red Tarantula (Infused Pre-Roll)
2. Cookies Cereal Milk (Flower)
3. PLUS Sleep Cloudberry (Edible)

Learn more about Vince and his team: [nabis.com](https://www.nabis.com/ "Nabis cannabis distribution website")


Vincent Ning, CEO and Founder Nabis Distribution a California cannabis company

Vincent Ning CEO and Founder of Nabis  

Read more about Vince's journey and insights into starting one of the biggest cannabis distribution companies in California with his childhood best friend

Posts tagged “Cannabis Industry Leadership”

The Dabbies Awards, presented by The Hood Incubator

Serving Cannabis: Q&A with Old Pal CEO, Rusty Wilenkin

Q&A With Weldon Angelos: Highlighting The Weldon Project and Mission Green

Serving Cannabis: Q&A with Nabis CEO, Vincent Ning