People to know in NY cannabis: Jennifer Tzar

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Jennifer Tzar is the founder, CEO and creative director of Dagmar Cannabis, a CAURD licensee which plans to open a dispensary in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. Tzar answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insider’s “People to know” series.

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What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?

I’m the CEO, founder and creative director of Dagmar Cannabis. I received a CAURD license, and we are (hopefully) opening in SoHo, Manhattan, at the end of October. Dagmar is owned and operated by women. We designed the dispensary with a focus on creative professionals, and people who consume cannabis who are seeking a luxurious or elevated modern lifestyle retail experience in the cannabis realm.

How long have you worked in the cannabis space?

A year and a half. That’s aside from a few-month stint 12 years ago that led to my arrest – which is how I was able to qualify as a CAURD applicant.

What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?

For the last 25 years, I was a professional photographer. I’ve shot fashion, celebrity, travel, music, science, and war photography. I’ve also owned and managed two bars: ÖR Gallery and Tavern in Hudson, N.Y., and Oracle Tavern in Los Angeles.

What led you to the cannabis industry?

More than a decade ago – at the height of my photography career – I bought land on the coast of northern California to invest in, and build an off-the-grid property. It had nothing to do with cannabis, but all of my neighbors were growers and kept asking me if I had any cannabis connections in New York City.

I was flying back and forth at the time, and eventually someone in the fashion industry asked me if I was growing in California. When I told them I wasn’t – but that all my neighbors were – one thing led to another, and I began brokering deals between growers in Mendocino County, Calif., and buyers on the east coast.

I only had a few months in the industry before my building in SoHo caught fire, and the fire department found 10 pounds of weed in my apartment. I was arrested and eventually convicted of a felony. This, of course, is what eventually allowed me to qualify as justice-involved for New York’s CAURD program. And here I am!

Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?

The cannabis industry is not for the faint of heart! It’s packed with uncertainty, piles of compliance, banking issues, etc. You must have the bandwidth to constantly be batting balls of many shapes and sizes, coming at you from every direction. You need to have an enormous amount of perseverance.

What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?

I wish I knew! I have great faith in New York State and New York City. I really appreciate the leg up the Office of Cannabis Management is trying to give people who may not have had a chance to generate wealth in this society. But at the same time, with the general application now open, there will be a lot of sharks out there – and money talks. It’s very unpredictable at this point, but I believe New York will be a thriving marketplace.

Do you use cannabis? If so, what’s your favorite method?

I do use cannabis. I’m not a daily smoker, but I use it as a tool. It’s great for cleaning, being creative, enjoying nature and appreciating beauty. Under the right circumstances it can help me focus. Most importantly, I’ve found cannabis can put me in touch with deeper parts of myself. If I smoke too much, I get brain fog, so I try to keep it in check.

I’ve always been a straight-up flower smoker, but recently I’ve discovered rosin dabs, and wow, love it! It’s so clean. I’m excited to sell rosin in the shop, and introduce other people to it. It feels much healthier than smoking straight flower. But still, nothing beats rolling a good old-fashioned joint.

Who should contact you, and what’s the best method?

I like LinkedIn because it’s the most professional platform. Instagram messenger is always a good place, please follow us: @dagmarcannabis. Our website will be officially launching soon, www.dagmarcannabis.com.