The Cannabis Talk Part III –
Communicating to others you are now in the marijuana business & the cannabis talk
“This is one of the most enriching factors of being in the cannabis industry – having deep conversations, developing relationships and educating others on the benefits of cannabis.” -Jeff Anderson
The easy part was my wife and kids. The hard part was my dad. Everyone who is in my shoes has had to deal with the same situation; how to come out of the closet that you are now working in the cannabis industry. Since the inception of my involvement with I-502 in Washington, talking to friends and family has been interesting, to say the least. I would like to share my experiences with the hopes it might help out a person or two with their discussion.
First of all, I have probably told hundreds of people that I am in the cannabis business. Most of the reactions are favorable – at least to my face. I estimate 95% of the people I talk to seem favorable to interested in what I am doing. The other 5% redirect the conversation to something safer or simply walk away.
As I reflect on the process for telling people, I break it down into 3 steps:
- Size them up
- Deliver the message
- Take it from there
When sizing people up on whether to tell them, there are a couple of factors that influence me.
- Is it pertinent to them? Why will they need to know what I do?
- Is there a connection between us that can be strengthened by deeper sharing?
- Do I think there is something about cannabis that can enrich their lives or help loved-ones?
“It is not only a plant that heals people’s emotional or physical pain, but also something that can enhance life experiences beyond one’s current belief.”
After I have decided to tell them, it is time to deliver the message. There are 2 ways I do so; slow and deliberate or shock and awe. If time and conversation allows, I prefer to have a deep conversation. This allows for people to voice their opinion and provides the space for me to listen and respond to their feelings around cannabis. Often, I am able to share my experiences with the individual, which inevitably helps advance their thoughts. If time is short, conversation is flowing, or I just want to have fun with people, I bring out the big guns and surprise them.
After delivering the message, the next part is the fun…their reaction. You never know how excited a person will be, what stories they have, their personal experiences with cannabis or how shut down they may become. Regardless of the outcome, I am always ready to engage and see where the conversations go. This is one of the most enriching factors of being in the cannabis industry – having deep conversations, developing relationships and educating others on the benefits of cannabis. It is not only a plant that heals people’s emotional or physical pain, but also something that can enhance life experiences beyond one’s current belief.
I hope that there is a nugget or two in this article that can help you have peace with talking to others about cannabis.
Written By: Jeff Anderson, Founder
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