This is the third in a series of articles on the Ecology of Cannabis Growers in RI. There are around 60 growers and 7 retail cannabis dispensaries in the Ocean State, which works out to about 7.5 times more growers than retailers. When these numbers are linked with the fact that cannabis growers are not allowed to advertise, we have a situation where it is challenging for a journalist to get inside what’s happening with cannabis growers. As a retired wildlife science professor, I look at the world around me from an ecological perspective. Ecology is simply the study of relationships within and among systems. My objective in this series is to provide some perspectives on the ecology of cannabis growers by asking the growers to provide these perspectives in a straightforward, unvarnished manner.
I expect the current “Growers Grow” series to have 6 to 8 articles. In this article, I interviewed Vic Leonard of Ocean State Curated Cannabis. Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Lenny Brennan (Motif): What is the name of your business?
Vic Leonard: OSCC (Ocean State Curated Cannabis). For marketing purposes & brand recognition, we’ve shortened it to OSCC.
LB: What is your role or job title?
VL: Chief of Operations.
LB: How long has OSCC been growing legal cannabis in RI?
VL: OSCC has been growing cannabis in the legal market for about 2.5 years; however, our cultivation team is managed by third-generation cultivators (Three brothers in their 20s; their grandfather was growing cannabis in Warwick back in the ’70s. He served time for it.).
LB: Did you see an increase in demand for cannabis after it became legal for recreational use? If so, by how much?
VL: The demand for legal cannabis definitely increased as the recreational market (and new dispensary locations) opened up – the ease of accessibility to the community in general (as well as to out-of-state visitors) has been monumental for the market. It’s so easy to safely acquire and consume quality, regulated cannabis products. The stigma around cannabis has been minimized as it has become more accessible. We’re seeing people who previously haven’t been comfortable with the idea of cannabis starting to ask questions and trying it out for the first time!
LB: I have been told that there are plans to eventually have up to 30 dispensaries in RI. The current ratio of 7 dispensaries to about 60 growers makes me wonder if the current cannabis growing capacity can meet this potential increase in demand.
VL: At the moment, it’s super competitive for cultivators in the RI market. With there being only 7 dispensaries, and 5 of them vertically integrated (able to grow and manufacture their own product), there isn’t enough shelf space to sustain all the state’s cultivators. The introduction of even 3-5 more dispensaries would create a lot more opportunities for our community of cultivators to thrive. Beyond that, if dispensaries continue to open at a staggered pace to allow cultivators time to grow with the market and increased demand, I think the potential is there to meet it. Our biggest concern right now is the limited shelf space – we NEED more dispensaries to open soon!
LB: Do you have exclusive relationships with specific dispensaries, or do you sell to any or all 7 dispensaries in the Ocean State?
VL: OSCC does not have any exclusive partnerships – we are available for sale at any dispensary that is willing to purchase our product wholesale. We don’t want to limit ourselves in that regard, and have healthy partnerships with all the dispensaries in the state. Our wholesale menu is always accessible to our dispensary partners. We do, however, offer specials at certain places on specific days, like when we set up our pop-up booth or attend events at dispensaries. If you catch us at a pop-up, there will always be some kind of promotion on our products that day. We’re fortunate to have won several awards in competitions this year, and we want all these products to be as accessible as possible to those who support us.
LB: Do you have any final insights about the RI cannabis industry?
VL: I’ve personally worked in cannabis in three different states over the last seven years, and I can say the overall quality of cannabis in RI is the best I’ve seen. We have the largest percentage of passionate craft cultivators. I love how supportive this community is of each other. Even though it’s competitive out here, we’re friends, and we all smoke each other’s flower. Rhode Island is also a great spot for cannabis consumption events (shout out to High Society!). The community really pulls through in a way I haven’t seen anywhere else. We can only hope outlets for us to sell continue to open up, and that the market balances out without becoming too saturated, so all of us cultivators can thrive without the quality of our product becoming compromised.
LB: Thanks for these excellent insights, Vic. What’s the best way for people to keep up with OSCC?
VL: Our IG handle is @oscc.ri •
To find Growers Grow part 1 and 2 visit motifri. com/growersgrowpart1 & motifri.com/ growersgrowpart2
