135 From Incarcerated to Qualifying for a New York State Dispensary License with Coss Marte of CONBUD

To Be Blunt

“It's hard when you want to pay attention to what the system is saying or what your lawmakers are saying, or what the regulation is saying, and they're not making it, I guess, accessible or fair or really understanding.” - Coss Marte

In this episode, Coss Marte shares his inspiring journey from being a multimillion-dollar drug ring leader to becoming an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry. He shares his experience in advocating for the cannabis space and applying for dispensary licenses in Massachusetts and New York. Coss also discusses the complexities of cannabis legislation in New York, such as vertical integration restrictions and branding regulations.

[00:00 - 08:07] From Multimillion Dollar Drug Ringleader to Cannabis Entrepreneur

[08:08 - 16:20] Coss Marte’s Transformative Journey

[16:21 - 24:55] From Illicit to Legalized in New York

[24:56 - 32:45] A Look at New York's Unique Licensing System

[32:46 - 40:17] Navigating the Cannabis Legalization System in New York

[40:18 - 47:52] From Solitary Confinement to Founding a Cannabis Coalition

[47:53 - 56:52] ConBud on the Horizon

Coss Marte, once a multi-million dollar drug operation ringleader, transformed his life while in prison by losing 70 pounds through bodyweight exercises. He launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp, hiring 50+ formerly incarcerated individuals as trainers, with over 70,000 clients. Coss won major pitch competitions and founded Second Chance Studios, a non-profit that trains formerly incarcerated individuals in media production. He's now working on CONBUD, hiring those affected by the war on drugs to build a presence in the cannabis market through dispensaries in New York.

Connect with Coss Marte:

Social Media: Instagram

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

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