Deadheads Rejoice! Cannabis Interview with Josh Genderson, CEO of Holistic Industries
Perhaps it was only a matter of time before we saw the Jerry Garcia name on a cannabis company. After all, the Grateful Dead was a staple of the marijuana scene for many years in the 60s and 70s. Well, now the time has come. Holistic Industries is working with the Jerry Garcia Family to launch a signature cannabis collection.
We were fortunate enough to catch up with the CEO of Holistic Industries, Josh Genderson, recently. The new venture is exciting and sure to bring out the Deadheads in droves! Check out the interview below and be sure to add your thoughts in the comments.
CM: What is the Jerry Garcia cannabis collection?
Genderson: Holistic Industries partnered with The Jerry Garcia Family to carry on Jerry’s legacy with the launch of the Jerry Garcia signature cannabis collection, including cannabis products, accessories and merchandise, along with other major initiatives. As for our role, we are responsible for developing all aspects of the new brand in creative partnership with The Jerry Garcia Family.
CM: Why did Holistic Industries choose to work with the Jerry Garcia Family to create a new brand?
Genderson: Personally, I’ve always been a huge fan of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, so I saw this as an opportunity to really carry on Jerry’s legacy in a fun and authentic way. We also have several ‘Deadheads’ on our executive team, so it seemed appropriate. Aside from that, we’ve had a number of celebrities approach us about building a brand together, but this partnership just felt right. We’re seeing more and more collaborations with musicians, celebrities and other influencers who are fans of the plant and embracing cannabis. I expect this trend to continue which may help cannabis brands appeal to new and different audiences.
CM: When and where will Jerry Garcia cannabis be available?
Genderson: The Jerry Garcia cannabis collection will be available in the states where Holistic operates (California, Maryland, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Michigan, to start). We will be launching in summer 2020.
CM: What else can you tell me about Holistic Industries?
Genderson: I started Holistic Industries based on the expertise I gained serving as President of Schneider’s of Capitol Hill, my family’s fourth-generation liquor retailer and distribution company that is a staple in Washington, D.C. Since launching Holistic in 2011, we’ve grown into a national medical and consumer goods company, a cultivation and extraction network, and a retail dispensary chain.
Today, Holistic Industries is one of the largest private multi-state operators in the U.S. and runs fully vertical operations in California, Maryland, D.C., Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Michigan. We develop and sell the most innovative, highest quality cannabis medicine in various form factors and we are fiercely dedicated to customer service and individualized patient care.
We have seen great success with our brands like Liberty and Strane. We’re so thrilled to add the Jerry Garcia cannabis collection to Holistic Industries’ greenhouse of brands in an effort to truly honor Jerry Garcia’s legacy.
CM: When will more information be available about the brand?
Genderson: Fans can sign up for email updates on our website, www.jerrygarcia2020.com, and we’ll send additional news and updates leading up to launch. I can’t say much more than that right now, other than that we’re looking forward to sharing key milestones and exciting announcements as we prepare for launch this summer.
