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Ellis Soodak owns Verdi, Chelsea’s first licensed dispensary. He answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insider’s “People to know” series.
What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?
I am the owner of Verdi, the first licensed dispensary in Chelsea, and New York’s first father-son owned store.
How long have you worked in the cannabis space?
Professionally since August 2022.
What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?
I worked in quantitative finance for two years, and briefly founded (and then left) an AI company that recently raised some money.
What led you to the cannabis industry?
My family has been in the liquor industry as liquor store owners in NYC for three generations/over 60 years. As a child, I always wanted to follow in my father/grandfather’s footsteps. Cannabis felt like a natural next-step to alcohol, and I am honored to help lead my family into this newly legal frontier. Plus, it feels wonderful to sell a product that makes people’s day better.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?
Apply for a license! They decide it by a lottery system, and the odds are quite favorable.
What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?
I think our legal market is going to bloom into a vibrant ecosystem. I hope that it is full of small businesses, homegrown NY brands, and passionate folks. As long as we have those three things, and some fantastic social equity, then it will be a success in my eyes. I do believe enforcement is coming in a meaningful way.
Something I really hope to see is more crossover between the cannabis and alcohol markets. Right now, regulations make it difficult to combine the two in a legal way, and I think that is a disservice to consumers. If people want to get crossfaded, we should let them!
Do you use cannabis? If so, what’s your favorite method and why?
I prefer vape pens or pre rolls as the convenience works great with my busy schedule.
Who should contact you, and what’s the best method?
Email: Info@verdicannabis.com
Website: Verdicannabis.com