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Freeman Klopott is a vice president with Marino PR and was the Office of Cannabis Managementās first communications director. Klopott answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insiderās āPeople to knowā series.
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What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?
I am a vice president with Marino, a public relations firm with a nation-leading cannabis practice. I work across teams, from cannabis to public affairs, providing high-level strategy and managing campaigns focused on a wide-range of legislative issues, including those impacting the cannabis industry.
How long have you worked in the cannabis space?
Iāve been working in the cannabis industry directly since the fall of 2021 when I was appointed as the first communications director for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. While there, I built the communications team and program from the ground-up as we elevated the rollout of New Yorkās adult-use rollout into an international story with messaging that has defined the market.
What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?
Iām a former journalist who spent nearly eight years in communications leadership positions in New York State government with my longest stint at the State Division of the Budget. That was my last stop before joining the Office of Cannabis Management.
While serving at the Budget Division, I led communications around the governorās more than $200 billion budget. I was also there throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, leading strategies around New York Stateās successful effort to acquire billions of dollars in federal relief.
What led you to the cannabis industry?
The legalization of cannabis is my longest held political belief, shaped sometime when I was in high school, and I came to the conclusion that it made no sense that the government was throwing people in jail for consuming a plant ā made all the worse that it was very clearly Black and brown people who were being targeted. It was a dream of mine to work in the industry if it ever became legal, and when that happened in my home state while I was in a position to help make it a reality, I jumped at the opportunity.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?
This is an extremely young industry both here in New York and around the nation. If you want to get in, you have to be prepared for the constant flux and be flexible in how you approach opportunities.
What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?
If New York can continue to push its legal market forward without much more disruption in the courts, I see a thriving industry where businesses of all sizes have the opportunity to take part and brands break through with consumers based on their quality. New York has the opportunity to be an international leader in cannabis from the quality of products to the unique tourism experience our state can offer. Itās an exciting prospect, and one Iām working toward every day.
Do you use cannabis? If so, whatās your favorite method?
I like to keep it simple with some nice flower when I get some downtime.
Who should contact you, and whatās the best method?
The best method of contact is by email: FKlopott@marinopr.com. Also, please feel free to send me a message on LinkedIn.