Meet the Expert: Interview with Cannabis Professionals – Interview #2

In this series of interviews, we report the experiences and opinions of those who have made a profession out of cannabis.

Growers, breeders, biologists, marketing experts, budtenders, sales representatives, and other industry professionals explain how they started their careers, the challenges they faced, and how they trained to get where they are.

Let’s find out what they think about the current and future situation of the cannabis sector and finally ask for some useful advice for those who want to become a cannabis professional.

Interview #2: Marco from Lumatek

In this interview, we will get to know better the opinions of a professional who collaborates with one of the leading brands of indoor cultivation lighting: “Lumatek“, which a few days ago won the award for “best cultivation product” with their “Lumatek Zeus 600W PRO” at the “Spannabis” expo (the most important event in the industry).

The protagonist of this second interview of our series is named Marco, and he is a Sales Manager. He is originally from Milan but lives in Granada, Spain (when he is not traveling for work).

We discover how he managed to make a career in the industry, what he thinks about the future of the cannabis industry, and what advice he gives to those who decide to embark on a career in the cannabis world.

When and how did you start working in the industry?

I participated in the first edition of the “Canapamundi” event in 2015 as an exhibitor for Vaponic, and on that occasion, I came into contact with other companies in the industry.

I started collaborating in events and fairs with “Kannabia Seeds,” and then I became part of the “Plantasur” family as a member of the international sales department.

Did you find any difficulties entering the field?

No, entry was almost immediate.

What are the 3 things you like most about your job?

Mainly, the great diversity of profiles I deal with because I go from rather informal/family-like realities to very serious large companies.

Furthermore, the dynamic context is increasingly international; think that I come into contact with the 5 continents every week. Lastly, the continuous changes in the market and the technological advances of my sector, you just can’t get bored!

How did you train to get to this point?

Speaking and working in 4 languages was definitely my strong point, as well as the ability to organize a large volume of information and manage frequent and very numerous communications at the same time.

What does it mean to you to work as a sales manager in the cannabis industry?

Managing a team of professionals requires great problem-solving skills, especially in a smart-working context where respect and cordiality are even more necessary than in the case of an in-person work environment.

In addition, working in a very heterogeneous and international context requires a constant empathic effort to adapt to distinct cultures and commercial policies.

Who do you have to thank?

Certainly the CEO of “Plantasur” who trusted me from the beginning, but also and above all many clients with whom I have had the pleasure of collaborating in recent years, developing excellent personal relationships that in many cases have gone beyond the simple commercial relationship. Cases like these make the job even more enjoyable.

In your opinion, what is currently the biggest challenge in the industry?

Unfortunately, this sector is strongly characterized by a general trend towards lower prices, much more than in other sectors.

The legal framework is often not fully defined contributes to an attitude that still reflects the informal or non-legal commercial logic of the black market, whereby there is often no dignified commercial vision and excessively aggressive pricing policies are applied that threaten the profitability of the sales of many products.

In addition to this, uncertainty regarding possible legislative changes constitutes a major unknown, since the future of many companies in the sector depends on the specific policies of regularization and legalization, both present and future.

How do you see the cannabis industry in Europe in 10 years?

I hope that in 10 years, or even less, the legal status of Cannabis in Europe will be clearer and that this plant will finally be legalized in the main markets of the continent.

It will be interesting to see how the possible legalization in Germany will change the current scenario, which sees Spain as the main European market, with a still very large difference compared to the other main markets (United Kingdom, France, and Germany, not necessarily in this order).

Where do you see yourself professionally in 10 years?

It is difficult to make predictions in a work context that is not dependent on market dynamics, where company turnover is very frequent, and where there are often changes in job positions within the same sector (as in my case).

It will also depend on how the sector develops, especially depending on political directives, which will certainly leave many people dissatisfied, as happened in the case of California a few years ago.

Any advice you would give to someone wanting to enter this industry?

We welcome all professionals who want to contribute to the growth of the sector, promoting mutual respect even in the case of companies directly in competition, as turnover is still very frequent and a possible rival today could be a colleague tomorrow.

Conclusion

We thank you for your availability and for dedicating some of your precious time to let us discover more about those who work every day in the world of cannabis. If you want to follow him or get in touch with him, you can find him on LinkedIn by clicking here.

The series of interviews continues, stay updated not to miss experts advices.

Do you have any questions you would like to ask cannabis professionals? Do you want to suggest someone you would like to hear from? Write a comment below.