Ross Bradshaw shares that his company, New Dia, was one of the first recipients of Massachusetts’s economic empowerment program; they are now licensed and will be opening their doors in Worcester by the end of July this year. Bradshaw shares how he got started in the industry: “One of the things that really was profound to me was the lack of minority representation when it came to business ownership. I experienced it in Massachusetts and then once again in Colorado, in probably the most robust marijuana market in the world.” Since then, Bradshaw has been fighting for equity and minority business ownership, especially for people who have been incarcerated and historically excluded from opportunities in cannabis. He emphasizes the importance of educating people about the opportunities that are available and removing the stigma surrounding cannabis.
Seth Adler:
Ross Bradshaw joins us. Welcome to Cannabis Economy. I'm your host Seth Adler. Download episodes on canneconomy.com that's two N's and the word economy, or wherever you currently get your podcasts. First a word from our supporter and then Ross Bradshaw.
Speaker 2:
I've known the family behind Medicine Man for the past eight years. Pioneers in Colorado, the family business helped set the path for global adult use cannabis. MG Magazine has voted them top 50 cannabis companies to work for, two consecutive years running. Check out their website at medicinemandenver.com or visit one of their locations in Denver, Aurora, Thorton or Longmont, the next time you're in Colorado, to understand how one family has helped chart the course for the next great American industry.
Seth Adler:
All right. It's a new day, it's New Dia, it's Ross Bradshaw. Thanks for given us some time, Ross.
Ross Bradshaw:
No problem. Thank you for having me.
Seth Adler:
Appropriately, you and I were put in touch by Shaleen Title, the Commissioner herself, right?
Ross Bradshaw:
Yes. She's a great woman. Great person.
Seth Adler:
Absolutely. Congratulations. You've got a license as part of the economic empowerment program. Correct?
Ross Bradshaw:
That is correct. We applied in 2018 for the economic empowerment program and then we hit the ground running, securing a host community agreement, and then we applied to the state, and I believe we're one of the first, I would say seven or eight economic empowerment applicants that's been licensed within the state.
Seth Adler:
Okay. That's the quick update on the timeline. Where are you now as far as actually getting into business?
Ross Bradshaw:
Yep. So now that we have that license, we can actually start the building or renovation of our dispensary. So right now, our building's under construction and we're looking to have our doors open by July of this year.
Seth Adler:
July of 2020. And what is the location geographically?
Ross Bradshaw:
Worcester, Massachusetts. So we're about 45 minutes out from Boston. It's the second largest city in New England, and we'll be one of 15 in the city.
Seth Adler:
One of 15 in Worcester.
Ross Bradshaw:
Correct.
Seth Adler:
All right. And how many do they have right now?
Ross Bradshaw:
One.
Seth Adler:
There we go. So we need a few more. Do we need 15? We'll find out. But we need more than one.
Ross Bradshaw:
And Boston has zero. So, just to put it in context.
Seth Adler:
To put it in context. Exactly. Now let's go ahead, now that we understand what the lay of the land is, and what we're looking at as far as the landscape, we want to dive in on details, but I want to make sure to go all the way back. Because you said, you mentioned 2018 as the beginning, but that was not the beginning. Let's step in the way back machine and make sure we understand when you first stepped foot into the cannabis industry, why and how?
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