093 California Cannabis Highs and Lows with Skip Motsenbocker of Pacific Stone

“Here's the thing, though. If you're the kind of person who really masters things quick, and you like that challenge, then this [cannabis] space is perfect. If you really like repetitiveness, and you don't like change, then you really don't want to enter the cannabis space at all, period. Because it will change. It perpetually changes.” -  Skip Motsenbocker

In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Skip Motsenbocker of Pacific Stone to paint a clearer picture of the Californian market, taxation, and regulations. Despite the numerous challenges in this landscape, Skip believes that considering customer experience and delivering the best way you can is the most important ingredient for brands to power through.

[00:01 – 10:56] California’s Heavy Taxation and Regulation on Cannabis

[10:57– 22:24] The Push Towards the Industry and Pacific Stone on Navigating the Market

[22:25 – 38:17] What It Takes to Keep Up with the California Cannabis Industry

[38:18 – 44:22] Introducing New Cannabis Products to the Market without Misrepresentation

[44:23 – 01:02:20] The Harsh Implications of High Cultivation Tax and Intense Competition

[01:02:21 – 01:04:29] Food for Thought: What do you observe about this “green dream” of operating in the regulated cannabis market?

Skip Motsenbocker has more than 25 years of professional experience in a variety of industries including asset management and private equity, consumer packaged goods and retailing, as well as real estate development. This wealth of experience has led to his initial entrance into and subsequent success in the regulated cannabis industry. His passion for the plant also stems from personal tragedy, as he became a vocal advocate for cannabis’ therapeutic and medicinal properties after losing his mother to opioids following multiple car accidents and back surgeries.

In early 2021, Motsenbocker was named CEO of Pacific Stone, a market leader in California cannabis, with both large-scale green-house cultivation facilities and more than a million square feet of flower. Pacific Stone is offered in over 600 stores and includes packaged flowers, pre-rolls, and cartridges. Motsenbocker will oversee the brand’s planned new product launches, expansion, among other exciting initiatives.

Connect with Skip

Visit https://pacificstonebrand.com/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @pacificstone__brand

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“Circling back to how do you continue to try to be number one, just think about what that experience is for your customer, you know, and try to always deliver on that.” - Skip Motsenbocker

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