Marijuana Business Magazine

102 • Marijuana Business Magazine • November / December 2017 by John Schroyer Industry veteran Steve DeAngelo looks at the opportunities and challenges presented by California’s new cannabis markets C alifornia D reamin' SE¬Z¬NG THE OPPORTUN¬TY M arijuana industry pioneer Steve DeAngelo knows a few things about the can- nabis business. The activist and businessman co- founded a slew of California marijuana ventures, including the famed Harbor- side dispensary, the ArcView Group investment network and the testing firm Steep Hill Labs. Today, DeAngelo is Oakland, California-based Harborside’s executive director. Marijuana Business Magazine asked him about the opportunities and pitfalls presented by California’s new medical and recreational marijuana markets. What types of business opportunities do you plan to take advantage of? (In early 2016) we acquired a 47-acre cultivation facility in the Salinas Valley, and we’re building that out with about 360,000 square feet of greenhouses. We’ve developed a new brand – the Harborside Farms brand – and we’ve already been soft-launching some of the products at our retail shops. But in the (upcoming) months you’ll see us producing a pretty wide range of products, and that’ll include extracts, vape pens, pre-rolls, packaged flower, some edibles. You’ll see that line rolling out statewide.That is our main focus, optimizing the farm. Steve DeAngelo