Vicente Sederberg Insights

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I [Jennifer Cabrera] had a great conversation with Ivelise Rivera of Nuestra, dba The Boston Garden, a licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary located in Athol, MA, with locations forthcoming in Cambridge, Newton, and Somerville. Ivelise is the majority owner and controls the Boston Garden through her company, Herban Legends, which she shares with her daughter. Throughout our discussion, we talked about our families' experiences immigrating to the United States from the Caribbean (Ivelise's family is from the Dominican Republic, mine is from Cuba) and the challenges faced by Latinos (and many other Americans) looking to enter the cannabis industry.

Typically, the most significant barrier to entering the cannabis industry is the lack of access to the capital required to win a license, build out a location, hire staff, and become operational—all while continuing to pay your household bills. Ivelise built an operational cannabis dispensary over four years while holding a full-time I.T. position. Very impressive! I appreciate her pragmatism and commitment to building a business that she can share with her adult daughters.

For Latinos interested in entering the cannabis industry, it is crucial to consider what type of business is best for you, given your resources and experience. Protecting yourself as you raise capital for your business is also important. I can’t stress enough that you should have your own attorney representing you in negotiations with prospective partners.

For cannabis companies looking to make an impact and be more inclusive, consider going beyond hiring diverse budtenders or grow staff. Think about your vendors. There are a growing number of Latino-owned security, cleaning, HVAC, and other ancillary businesses. With a little bit of research and due diligence, you can make a difference.

Listen to the podcast and/or read the interview transcript below.

• Abbey Borchers, City of Denver Department of Excise & Licensing
• Kim Napoli, Counsel, Director of DEI at VS
• James Nechleba, VS Regulatory Counsel, Licensing & Compliance
• Marc Ross, Counsel, Head of Impact & ESG at VS

Watch this recorded panel discussion exploring the science, legality, and regulation of minor cannabinoids, including Delta-8, featuring the Spock of Cannabis, a hemp processor, an FDA regulatory attorney, and VS hemp regulatory attorney Andrea Golan.

Watch this to learn best practices for onsite cannabis business compliance. During this information-packed 30-minute event, members of VS’s compliance team dive into what you need to know now to best prepare your facility and team for inspection at any given time.

If you’re looking to start a cannabis business or expand coast-to-coast, watch this recorded session. Focusing on three key states, our panel of attorneys and licensing specialists will explore some of the licensing requirements shared by applicants in rival states, as well as some of the key differences for applicants to consider when expanding across state lines and more!

Watch this virtual workshop with VS compliance specialist Sarah Grande to learn about the operational changes in the regulatory updates and receive guidance for getting your business up to speed. Topics covered include advertising and branding, white labeling, testing, agent registration, and more.

Let VS help you comply with these key regulatory changes and make sure you’re on the path to success!

Watch the replay to learn about grant and loan opportunities for hemp farmers and hemp-related businesses.