Two years ago, we opened our doors.

What I didn’t realize was that I had also voluntarily locked myself inside a highly regulated, financially mysterious, relationship-driven escape room… with no posted exit time.

Entrepreneurship is often compared to raising children. As someone who has given birth twice and raised two humans successfully, I would like to formally state: this has been harder. And unlike parenting, there is no bedtime.

Welcome to what I’ve learned while trying to find the key.

Room One: Regulations (Hint: The Clues Are Written in Invisible Ink)

I support a regulated cannabis market. I really do. Consumer safety matters. Accountability matters.

What I didn’t anticipate was that “regulated” would mean solving a daily puzzle where:
– The rules change.
– The instructions reference three other instructions.
– And occasionally, the answer appears to be “because.”

Some regulations make perfect sense.
Some almost make sense.
Some feel like they were created during a competitive round of legislative Mad Libs.

Running a cannabis business often feels like scanning the walls for hidden switches — except the walls move. And sometimes the switch is behind another switch that requires approval.

You adapt. You document. You comply. You triple-check.
And then you hope you pulled the correct lever.

Room Two: Credit, Contracts, and Crossing Your Fingers

In most industries, the puzzle is simple:
You order product.
You pay for product.
Everyone advances to the next level.

In cannabis? It’s more of a trust fall exercise inside the escape room.

Much of the system runs on credit. Retailers often pay when they are able — not necessarily on traditional terms. Contracts are rare. Enforcement options are limited. It’s largely order-to-order and optimism.

This is also why your favorite dispensary doesn’t always have your favorite brand or strain. Sometimes it’s not about demand — it’s about whether the previous invoice made it through the maze.

Craft cannabis isn’t priced the way it is by accident. When payment isn’t guaranteed, sustainability becomes a balancing act on a wobbly platform in the corner of the room.

So here’s my gentle suggestion as a consumer: if you love a brand, tell your dispensary. Tell the manager. Mention it to the inventory team. Your voice helps more than you know. Sometimes you’re not just unlocking product availability — you’re helping unlock payment for the cultivator too.

And in this room, cash flow is often the only key that matters.

Room Three: Relationships (This Door Only Opens If You Know Someone’s Favorite Color)

In most industries, relationships are important.
In cannabis, relationships are the keypad code.

We’re not talking about a quarterly dinner and a business card exchange. We’re talking about real, human connection. Vacation stories. Hobbies. Family names. Shared wins. Shared stress.

Reciprocity matters. This industry runs heavily on trust, memory, and long-term partnership. When relationships are strong, incredible things happen. When they aren’t… well, let’s just say not every room is friendly.

We are fortunate to have strong partnerships and people who genuinely support us. But building that foundation took time, patience, and more than a few moments of standing in the corner thinking, “Is this the clue? Or is this a trap?”

Room Four: People (The Wildcard Puzzle)

The cannabis industry attracts people from every background imaginable. It’s one of the most beautiful aspects of this space. It’s also the most unpredictable.

If your team isn’t aligned, motivated, and committed, you’ll spend all your time managing instead of progressing through the room.

People can make the puzzle solvable.
People can also hide the key.

As a business owner, you must be agile, open, and responsive. In this escape room, emotional intelligence is not optional — it’s equipment.

The Control Panel I Underestimated: HR, Finance & Admin

There was a time in my career when I quietly wondered what HR, finance, and admin really did all day.

Now I know.

They are the control panel. The wiring behind the walls. The reason the lights turn on and the doors open.

When you don’t have those functions, you become those functions. And suddenly you understand that compliance filings, payroll accuracy, reconciliation, documentation, and policies are not “background work.” They are oxygen.

Two Years Later: Are We Out Yet?

You need resilience.
You need grit.
You need humor.
And you absolutely need to believe in what you’re building.

We are surviving. We are on the cusp of thriving. And every step forward has come through persistence, partnership, and a willingness to keep looking for the next clue.

The best part? I love what we produce. I have a deep appreciation for this plant and how it serves as medicine for so many people. And there is something poetically convenient about working in an industry where, after a long day in the escape room, the product itself can help you relax.

Two years down.

We may not have found the final exit yet…
But we’re definitely getting better at solving the puzzles.