This post was originally published on this site.
Join NY Cannabis Insider for its next industry meetup in Buffalo on May 14, 2024. Tickets available now.
Danny Murr-Sloat is the owner, founder and lead consultant at AlpinStash Genetics & Consulting. 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, owner and lead consultant at AlpinStash Genetics & Consulting. I provide cultivation consulting and genetic licensing for the cannabis industry.
How long have you worked in the cannabis space?
I’ve been growing cannabis for 15 years, working in the industry for 14 years, breeding for 10 years, and consulting for six years.
What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?
It’s always been cannabis.
What led you to the cannabis industry?
Born in Boulder, I grew up enjoying the great outdoors, but began suffering from chronic stomach pains in my early 20s. Despite several extended hospitalizations, doctors were unable to deliver a correct diagnosis and began treating me with increasingly heavy doses of opiate pain medications. Further complications included thoracic outlet syndrome and a non-cancerous brain tumor, both of which required surgeries to fix and ever-growing doses of medications.
By 2009, I was on 19 different prescription medications, disengaged with life, becoming overweight and falling deeper into depression. Upon the urging of my father, I got my first medical cannabis card in December of that year. Shortly after beginning this plant-based treatment, my life began to change rapidly. Growing cannabis became the reason for me to get out of bed and gave me the drive to improve my health and life.
By mid 2010, I had lost 70 pounds and weaned myself off of pain medications completely. By 2024, I amassed 14 years of experience across the U.S. and Canada, developing my own proprietary genetics and consulting with some of the largest cultivations in the industry. I credit using and growing cannabis with saving my life and seek to give back as much as I can to this amazing plant.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?
Make sure the people you trust with your cultivation know what they are doing and have experience cultivating cannabis in the regulated space at scale. I have seen many companies put their faith in growers with limited experience, or whose experience was strictly in the legacy market which does not often translate well to the regulated market. These companies inevitably face systemic and existential issues which, in some cases, have taken years to come back from, if they come back at all.
The nuances involved in a commercial facility, from cultivating a product which must adhere to strict testing, to leading a team in a supportive way, to interacting with stakeholders, and everything in-between are not for the faint of heart and are skills which come through experience. I have seen a number of well funded companies fail because they put their trust in a “master grower” with a silver tongue who is good at spending other people’s money. Take your time, do your due diligence, seek second opinions, and be wary of anyone who calls themselves a master grower.
Set your facility up correctly from the get go, and spend the money you need to do it right the first time! This includes genetics, SOPs, IPM SOPs, personal, infrastructure, costs, and more. When the wholesale price inevitably drops, the winners will be the businesses who have everything dialed in, those that have the right team working for them, a good culture in place, their cultivation on lock, and a solid understanding of costs.
Businesses that make all the correct moves from the beginning, find success.
What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?
Similar to what we’ve witnessed in other states who have legalized, an eventual oversupply in product will cause many businesses to fold or to be absorbed into bigger ones. Those left will be the ones who have every facet of their business dialed in, and those who have fought hard to stay there.
My hope is that the consumer will be educated enough to support the brands producing a truly quality product. The New York cannabis scene is known for its connoisseurs, and I look forward to seeing this market mature and lead the way when it comes to supporting the brand and companies who are doing it right.
Do you use cannabis? If so, what’s your favorite method and why?
When I partake, my favorite method is smoking flower and old school hash, including bubble hash. Nothing beats the traditional consumption methods for me. Also, topicals rock.
What’s the best method for people to contact you?
Anyone looking to set up a cultivation in the right way from the start, anyone looking to elevate and differentiate their cultivation, anyone looking to license unique genetics bred to perform in a commercial setting, and anyone looking to nerd out on cannabis, drop me a note or give me a call! The best way to get a hold of me is via email – alpinstashconsulting@gmail.com or text – 720-818-1552.