Community Based Cannabis Culture with Alex DeGroot and Chris Vining

This is a very special podcast that we recorded LIVE at The Goods Dispensary in Davis Square in Somerville, Massachusetts. The Goods in Davis Square is a one of its kind recreational dispensary – Joyce’s local dispensary – and Joyce is speaking with the co-founders, a budtender and each other about  what it’s like to work at their dispensary, how it feels to be a customer and why this place is so special.

Alex DeGroot and Chris Vining are cofounders of The Goods dispensary in Somerville, Massachusetts. Alex came to cannabis after a career in real estate where he helped to build the Redfin brand and northeast operations. Chris previously had a career in bio medical devices and software. 

Alex oversees the goods arts and community initiatives and can often be found re-arranging demo products or dreaming up a better pre-roll display. He is the father of two and feels extremely lucky to have a wife who has put up with him through the roller coaster ride of opening a new dispensary.  

And Chris is the  resident regulatory and paperwork whiz, overseeing all of the complex financial management and planning that goes into building a successful business and dispensary. 

Topics Discussed

(1:10) Show Intro

(1:50) Boston Marathon

(4:20) Dave’s Boston Marathon Bombing Story

(5:55) Alex Intro

(6:21) Chris Intro

(7:04) Chris Canna Story

(8:35) Alex Canna Story

(10:47) The Goods Dispensary Origin Story

(12:12) Davis Square, Somerville, MA

(16:45) A Great Urban Vibe

(18:08) Audio Intro

(19:30) Somerville Arts!

(20:20) CAAS

(23:25) The Man Trap Design

(24:50) MBTA and MA Mobility Regulations

(26:00) Creating Cannabis Community

(27:00) Dinner-At-Mary’s

(27:32) A Bud Bar

(29:38) Creating Tactile Canna Shopping

(32:30) Customer Choices

(34:29) The Consultee Process

(35:35) Female Created Designs

(39:22) Technology and Customer Experience

(40:13) Natalie

(42:40) The Canna Sit Com

(43:00) The Future – Canna Beverages and Social Consumption

(45:35) De-Schedule or Bust

(46:50) What’s Coming Up

(46:56) Somerville Bike Kitchen

The Canna Mom Show wants to thank:

Josh Lamkin and Bella Jaffe for writing and performing TCMS theme music and Fortuna Design for creating TCMS website.