5 Things You Need To Know In Order To Succeed In The Cannabis Industry, With Ben Temer
The movement has been created out of the inspiration that I felt from the people closest to me. Their lack of awareness about cannabis has led many to a low quality of life and some to death. The avoidance of the topic has had huge detrimental effects on the people that need help the most. By bringing together references from The Torah and medical research, the IJCA lays the foundation for all people from all religions and races to learn about cannabis without the stigma; through a responsible conscious approach.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Ben Temer, a medical industry professional with 15 years of experience in various aspects of business development and patient care. His drive for excellent patient care and the betterment of quality of life for patients has lead him to be a patient advocate. With the legalization of cannabis, Ben has leveraged his wide knowledge of medical business development to enter the cannabis industry as a consultant as well as help his wife, Dr. Anya Temer manage her medical practice: Total Holistic Center. Within his community, Ben saw a huge lack of information and unity on the topic of cannabis and started a non profit organization,The International Jewish Cannabis Association, in 2016.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you share with us the story of what first introduced you into this business or helped you get interested in the business?
I have been interested in the industry for a very long time because I knew of the huge medical benefits on many different levels. Being very involved with the patient care cycle across different medical specialties, I gained a deep knowledge of what actually helped patients. At the same time, I was watching as legalization was spreading and capitalized on the new boom by leveraging my medical experience to open up The Total Holistic Center. I realized very quickly that there are no philanthropic causes focused on education, connection and support of a Jewish voice within the industry. That is why we started The International Jewish Cannabis Association; because we wanted to give back.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?
The funniest stories come from our events and the wide range of people we meet. We always have someone ask for “free samples” and “ is it Kosher” it’s a funny way to start the conversation. It also brings the opportunity to elevate the topic and educate about the depth of the industry as well as the social responsibility.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
People are confused about laws, medical risks and benefits, and effects. People want to connect with entrepreneurs in the cannabis space. People want to know what religious leaders views are on the subject. The International Jewish Cannabis Association is unique because there is no other non profit organization in the sector focused on education, the buildout of outreach / support programs for the community and establishing a unified Jewish voice in the industry.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I am very grateful to Gd first and foremost for the opportunities and blessings. Regarding a particular person: Craig Frank has been an guiding light while and has provided advice in more situations than I can think of. He is a seasoned businessman and has always advised me to approach challenges step by step with focus on being kind to everyone.
Are you working on any exciting projects now?
Yes. I am consulting cannabis companies, developing Total Holistic center daily yet the most exciting part of all of it is what we are doing with The IJCA in order to give back to the community. We are building our our Rabbinical and medical boards, starting chapters in communities, creating outreach programs and events constantly because of the huge demand. We broke ground with our first Boca event which had close to 200 people in attendance at The Chabad of West Boca Raton. It’s very exciting to be at the forefront of the changes.
Do you use any clever and innovative marketing strategies that you think large legacy companies should consider adopting?
It’s simple: kindness and giving always wins at life. Gary Vaynerchuck constantly talks about not thinking about the ROI but doing the right thing for your target audience and that really has been my creed forever. Today, people connect to companies that are socially aware. Gotta ask the right questions : who can you help?…. Not how much money am I gonna make?.
Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the Cannabis industry? Can you share 3 things that most concern you?
Exciting: 1)Industry has just started. 2) new people are connecting to industry every day. 3) research is resulting in positive innovations for our society.
Concerns: 1) accessibility / sustainability of craft industry 2) pesticides/additives/quality control 3) education
Can you share your top “5 things you need to know in order to succeed in the Cannabis industry”? Please share a story or example for each.
There’s only one way to succeed : that’s if you love what you’re doing. If you were not getting paid and the promises of riches were not there… would you still do it? Be ready to put in hard work with little to no returns. Only if you are committed to this particular grind can your truly succeed here.
What advice would you give to other CEOs or founders to help their employees to thrive?
Be kind and supportive while at the same time very focused on outcome. Teach by example to develop confidence in your employees to trust your leadership.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
The movement has been created out of the inspiration that I felt from the people closest to me. Their lack of awareness about cannabis has led many to a low quality of life and some to death. The avoidance of the topic has had huge detrimental effects on the people that need help the most. By bringing together references from The Torah and medical research, the IJCA lays the foundation for all people from all religions and races to learn about cannabis without the stigma; through a responsible conscious approach.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
@theIJCA @BHworks @total.holistic.center
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
