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Aaron Riley is the Founder and CEO of Certified Testing & Data (CTND), a third-party testing company. 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 Founder and CEO of Certified Testing & Data (CTND). We’re a third-party testing company, making sure cannabis products are safe and ready for consumption. We’ll soon be opening the doors to our New York lab, CTND NY.
How long have you worked in the cannabis space?
I’ve been in the legal cannabis space since 2016.
What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?
Before cannabis, I was an entrepreneur. I owned several businesses, including a small car dealership and an investment business focused on distressed real estate.
What led you to the cannabis industry?
My interest started when I was 15 and visiting a family friend in Santa Rosa, Calif. That friend had a grow room in their garage that was featured in High Times magazine. This was in 2005; it was high tech, with smell proof insulation, fans, charcoal filters, lights on trellises – the works. What’s standard now, they already had back then. That exposure was so influential. Here was this thing that had great potential with a lot of science and technology behind it. It always felt wrong that cannabis was in such a grey area at the time and it stuck with me as something I wanted to be a part of in the future. Cannabis has such promise both medically and recreationally.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?
My advice would depend on what they’re trying to do. Whether you’re looking for a career or an opportunity as an entrepreneur, my general advice would be to make sure that whatever you bring to this industry aligns with your personal values and is something that you’re passionate about.
What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?
The biggest determining factor in any state falls on federal legalization. That’s going to make a significant difference in terms of how markets develop. I see NY as being a top three state, along with California and Florida. When it all shakes out, NY is a clear candidate for being one of the top retail markets in the country.
Do you use cannabis? If so, what’s your favorite method and why?
Yes. My favorite method is vaping flower. I have a little vape called the DaVinci. You get the terps, you get the flavor, and the smoke isn’t as harsh. I also like pre-rolls and other forms of flower consumption.
Who should contact you, and what’s the best method?
Anyone in the NY cannabis market! We’d love to hear from you.