About this event
The State of Craft is a bi-weekly live conversation discussing the state of the legal craft cannabis industry presented by CertiCraft
Since legalization, packaging and distribution have been two of the biggest challenges facing craft cannabis producers. That's why we are so excited to be joined by a group of cannabis processors who have made it their business to support Canada's exceptional legacy producers.
In Episode 15, CertiCraft is joined by cannabis industry veterans Kyp Rowe and Abyan Schupp of Shelter Cannabis. and Ben Williams of Joint Venture Craft Cannabis.
The members of this panel have been working to provide a channel for craft producers to bring what many consider the best cannabis products to market and generate sustainable revenues. In this episode of the State of Craft, they will be discussing how they are getting product to market, the hurdles they've overcome, and what you can do to avoid the many obstacles in the legal cannabis market.
Shelter Cannabis is a cannabis processor that grew out of the Saskatchewan Compassion Clubs and maintains a commitment to serve medical cannabis patients. Their Shelter Craft program is bringing together craft cultivators from across the country under the Shelter brand. By processing, packaging, and distributing products, they are providing an essential access point for small producers to enter the legal market.
Joint Venture Craft Cannabis is a processing and co-packing facility with a pledge to support craft cannabis over corporate cannabis. With distribution from Ontario to the BC coast, consultation services, and a transparent co-packing process, JVCC is bringing some of the best BC has to offer into the legal market.
These two processors have created a path to market for dozens of craft producers. In that process, they've accumulated tips, tricks, and a lot of great stories. This one promises to be a special treat.
For Episode 15, CertiCraft presents:
Ben Williams, CEO, Joint Venture Craft Cannabis
Born and raised in the Shuswap region of BC, Ben has 20 years experience in all facets of the Legacy cannabis industry. With impending legalization, he chose a role where he could help small growers get into the supply chain by processing and distributing their product. Ben is passionate about seeing the British Columbia's Legacy cannabis pioneers inherit the government sanctioned market, despite the mountain of challenges.
Kyp Rowe, Director of Cannabis, Shelter Cannabis
With over 20 years of international cannabis and mixed agriculture experience, Kyp brings a unique set of skills from seed to sale. Having been involved in late stage applicants to the Cannabis Act to Operations Director at a large Canadian retail cannabis company, Kyp Currently works as Director of Cannabis, assisting new Craft Growers on getting their product to market as well as procuring quality cannabis for all of Shelter's brands. A graduate of UBC, he also spent 8 years as Vineyard Manager and Cellar Master at a winery in the Okanagan, where he oversaw the implementation of a fully certified organic vineyard, producing wines which won multiple national and international wine competitions. He has managed a European breeding facility that produced cannabis seeds for worldwide distribution, as well as overseeing a large-scale award-winning cannabis production farm.
Abyan Schupp, National Sales Director, Shelter Cannabis
Abyan grew up in a very small community on the sunshine coast. His mother had immigrated from Uganda in the early 70's and his father had come from Germany in the late 80's. They had acquired property in the bush, so Abyan's father could grow cannabis worry free. Having only been in the legal industry for 4 years, Abyan spent the last 20 years as a consumer, and providing access to cannabis. Working in sales since he was 16, Abyan never considered a career in Cannabis, even though it was a part of his daily life. After spending years overseas, Abyan came back in 2016 to find the Grey market had exploded. At that time he started working in a warehouse for a MOM company, and the rest is history. For Abyan, the transition from warehouses on Vancouver Island to National legal recreational sales seemed to happen in the blink of an eye.
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What is The State of Craft?
The State of Craft is a webinar series focused on the legal craft cannabis industry.
The rollout of cannabis legalization in Canada has been full of ups and downs. The craft cannabis industry in particular has been immensely affected by a myriad of challenges and missteps in the years following the Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations.
In The State of Craft, Sami Majadla, CEO of CertiCraft, facilitates conversations with leaders in the legal craft cannabis industry to explore what is going well and what is going not-so-well. We'll discuss what can realistically be changed at different levels of government and industry alike to address major issues the craft cannabis sector is facing, and hopefully inspire stimulating ideas of all sorts. Every episode will end with a 15 min live Q&A with our audience.
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What is CertiCraft?
CertiCraft is a compliance software system that helps small-to-medium licensed cannabis producers stay on top of their regulatory requirements. The platform has a focus on ease of use, minimal training time (<15 mins), and incredible time savings. Find out more at certicraft.com.
CertiCraft
They made it hard. We make it easy.CertiCraft is on a mission to help craft cannabis producers transition into and thrive within the new regulated market. Our flagship product is a simple compliance platform.
