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CIM: Could you please share a little bit more about your background prior to joining the cannabis industry?
MCA: Prior to joining the world of cannabis, I spent two decades on Wall Street in roles including institutional sales at UBS, sales and trading at Susquehanna Financial Group, research at Raymond James Financial and private advisory at Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan.
CIM: You have been involved in the cannabis space for a while, what has surprised you the most?
MCA: Every day in the cannabis world brings wonderful surprises. Our industry has a unique combination of people, plant, purpose, profit and passion with an unparalleled growth outlook. People are accommodative when resources are plentiful, and high growth rates in our industry allow for collaborative innovation at its highest degree. This is in welcome contrast to traditional environments where minor moves towards equality make the privileged feel oppressed.
CIM: What is the best way for someone to have a positive impact in the cannabis industry?
MCA: The cannabis plant has been part of human existence for over 10,000 years and we are all well-served to re-acquaint ourselves with its ancient wisdom. This plant has the unique ability to impact food, fuel, fiber, paper, medicine, environment, social justice, civil rights, cognitive liberty and perhaps human existence as we know it – which makes the word ‘industry’ itself incomplete. Listen to the lessons the plant teaches us and run your business with the highest levels of integrity, authenticity, and morality. Support those organizations who fight our arcane laws every day so that the rest of us can be in business. Live your life with passion and purpose for our plants, our people and our planet – profit is an inevitable outcome.
with Sumit Mehta, CEO (MCA)