2021 is shaping up to be a transformational year for the cannabis industry. Over 20+ states have proposed either a medical cannabis program or a pivot from medical to an adult use program. After multiple failed bids dating back to 2018, and some initial push back about language in their adult-use bill on underage possession…..New Jersey is finally legal! Now is the time for professionals in the state to be actively pursuing ways to interject themselves into the industry. Network, learn and figure out how to craft the cannabis career you want.
In this edition of our SMART Student Startup Spotlight, we would like to highlight an aspiring NJ dispensary licensee, Earth & Ivy, started by three University of Penn Alumni, David Ryslik, Anthony Lotti, and Sasha Stephens. As the industry continues to grow it is amazing to see young professionals who are passionate and driven in reaching their goals and dreams in the space. We here at SMART salute them for helping to pave the way for the next generation of cannabis entrepreneurs and wish them much success!
Sasha Stephens
University & Class
University of Pennsylvania Class of 2019
Major
Favorite aspect of being a founder?
Most surprising part of the pre-application process?
How many people we have to meet with!
Biggest inspiration for wanting to work in the cannabis industry?
Giving those affected by the unjust laws a chance to thrive in the cannabis industry.
How does advocacy and the legacy of the War on Drugs impact your work in cannabis if at all?
It’s the main reason I’m involved in the cannabis space.
Do you use cannabis in your life? If so, how?
Yes! In every way, shape, and form.
Where do you want yourself/business to be in 5 years?
Providing opportunities for people to thrive in the industry while our business focuses on providing top tier cannabis for consumers.
How has SMART influenced your interests and/or involvement in the cannabis industry?
David Ryslik
University & Class
University of Pennsylvania Class of 2020
Major
Favorite aspect of being a founder?
Most surprising part of the pre-application process?
What advice would you give to anyone having to gain approval / work with local municipalities, towns, and cities?
Make sure you are actively staying up to date with your connections and your network. You never know who is going to know who. As well, just be your self! If you are passionate about Cannabis and really have a mission and purpose, it becomes less like a job to get people to buy in and support and is just fun.
Do you use cannabis in your life? If so, how?
Yes, very regularly. I started as a way to cope with my ADHD instead of taking harmful concerta/adderrall. As I progressed in my athletic career, I utilized cannabis for my sport related injuries as opposed to receiving painful injections or taking opoids.
What’s a challenge you overcame that you’re proud of?
With how I grew up, I could have never imagines going to college or playing a division one sport. Let alone graduating Cum Laude from an Ivy League college where I was a leader and starter on the Football team with possible opportunities to play in the NFL. Now, I am an entrepreneur starting my own company and I couldn’t be happier!
What do you want to contribute to the world or want people to know you for?
I really just want to help people heal and feel more comfortable in their daily lives by using cannabis and throwing away all the harmful opioids and other substances that have been ravaging this country for decades. If my shedding light on the industry helps people to do so, then my goals are accomplished!
How has SMART influenced your interests and/or involvement in the cannabis industry?
A huge thing with SMART is focusing on that next wave of cannabis business starters, employees, researchers, etc. It is great to see SMART shedding light on the industry and its associated processes. It will really help give these young adults the ability to prosper and learn about this industry in the CORRECT way.
Anthony Lotti
University & Class
University of Pennsylvania Class of 2021
Major
Favorite aspect of being a founder?
Do you use cannabis in your life? If so, how?
Absolutely! As somebody with chronic OCD and ADHD, I constantly have high energy, always moving around, can’t sit still, etc. Cannabis use allows me to relax and calm down after a long days work and allows me to get high quality sleep.
Biggest inspiration for wanting work in the cannabis industry?
I truly believe what my partners and I are doing is going to help a lot of people. Not only are we breaking the stigmas of cannabis use, we’re educating the public that there are plenty of uses for cannabis, giving back to the community and creating meaningful opportunities for people.
One thing you wish you knew when you started?
Patience is key. I wanted to just snap my fingers and have an adult-use dispensary at the ready. This process is extremely tedious and slow, but the journey is great!
How does advocacy and the legacy of the War on Drugs impact your work in cannabis if at all?
It all comes down to one factor: education. It was naive and dogmatic for politicians to say “cannabis is bad!” We can’t change the past, but we can positively impact the future by creating an open and transparent environment for cannabis education. One thing I learned since I started in the industry that WAY more people use cannabis than you think. It’s a matter of breaking the stigmas created in the past and laying the foundation for the future.
Where do you want yourself/your business to be in 5 years?
I want Earth & Ivy to be the top cannabis brand in NJ or even the East Coast (depending on changes in federal cannabis laws). I want to have multiple locations as well as our own cultivation sight.
How has SMART influenced your interests and/or involvement in the cannabis industry?
It allowed me to see that we are not the only ones in the academic sphere to utilize our educational backgrounds for cannabis education. Cannabis is starting to become a widely talked about and studied field at universities across the country and were just thrilled that SMART is including Earth & Ivy in the conversation.
