We recently connected with Addison Morris and have shared our conversation below.

Addison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Founding a Cannabis Chamber of Commerce in 2011 in Colorado was not an ah-ha moment. It was based on my decades of experience as an entrepreneur, and member. and ambassador for my communities’ chambers. Chambers of commerce are a group of businesses that supports the interests of its members. I felt cannabis businesses would benefit from communicating and working together to find solutions to non-political issues. It turned out to be a hard sell.

What was not a hard sell was the monthly women’s breakfast. The subjects of conversation were consistent and specific to women working in the cannabis industry. It was oblivious that the direction of the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce should be focused on women entrepreneurs and career women transiting into the industry.

Although oblivious, I did not change the name to Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce until 2016. The name change was the result of my naiveté and a conversation over coffee in 2011. I had filed the business documents a few days before meeting with another Evergreen Chamber Ambassador. In my enthusiasm I shared that I was embarking on a new project. Ten minutes later he had bought the domain name cannabischamberofcommerce.com and .org. I suddenly had an old white man as a non-contributing 50/50 partner.

I founded and was and have been building a chamber of commerce for the cannabis industry, changing the name was not an option. Changing the name did not fit into my long term goals or strategies. I was building an organization that would withstand time and the expansion of the cannabis industry.

Addison’s Biz Rule #1 Do Not Trust Anyone.

Six months into 2014 and the legalization of rec smart women who had worked in the medical marijuana market in Colorado started coming to me with stories of how they had verbal agreements and sweat equity in businesses that were not honored, getting their business open but no money or plan on how to market, and loss of their established companies to investors. That was the turning point for the chamber and the birth of the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce.

I could not help each woman individually, but I had a platform that could provide the networking, connections, resources and business education – the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce.

Addison’s Biz Rule #2 Get it on Paper
Addison’s Biz Rule #3 Read Before You Sign.

The Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce continually evolves, like the industry, to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs and business owners in the cannabis space. My vision in 2011 for a chamber of commerce for the cannabis industry was based on traditional chamber templates. It became obsolete immediately. The cannabis space is complex and multifaceted. My vision in 2023 is to shift the business dynamics in favor of women in all aspects of the industry.

For me the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce is not a business, for me it is a passion, an obsession, my swan song, my legacy.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The most asked question is “why did you get into the cannabis industry?” For me the answer is simple; “it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m not stupid.”

I have been a feminist since 1964 and a radical feminist since 1968. I opened my first business in 1969 out of the ignorance and arrogance of youth to pay for college after the scholarships expired. I failed financially and I failed to recognize the potential. Someone else did recognize the potential and had a vision. Their vision has been available in malls since 1980.

In the beginning of adult use in Colorado, no one had experience in the legal market. We came from all industries and backgrounds. The one thing we all had in common is the entrepreneurial spirit and a strong conviction that we were doing the right thing.

My entrepreneurial career expands 54 years. After my hippie shop, I spent the next 23 years in the antique business, retired in my 40’s, became an interior designer, opened a cat toy company, a cleaning company and eventually opened a social media marketing company. I also opened Colorado Rocky Mountain High Tours and launched with a CNN interview on January 20th 2014. I saw a window of three months where a tour company would be relevant.

The most difficult and challenging business I have founded is the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. There are mornings when I sit down at my desk (6:00 am) and I ask myself “why am I doing this at 72, I should be retired”. Then the coffee kicks in and I open my emails, do a Zoom meeting or WCS Conversations Zoom and my spirit soars, my heart is filled with joy, and I am inspired and energized. You cannot get that kind of high from THC. My days are filled with intelligent, innovative, and motivated women who are changing the world. The comradery, genuineness and synchronicity of the women at our networking and special events astonishes me.

Women will tell you what they need, we listen and learn. We, April, Brianna, Thunder and myself, use their insights to create relevant workshops, courses, events, roundtables and to make the decision on what our bigger goal and project is for the year. 2023 we are focusing on social equity and developing a platform to connect members and investors.

I do not think we do anything special. Whenever you bring women together causes are born, commerce is created and change happens. I am proud of the business successes of the women in my life. I am proud of the women who overcame obstacles in their personal lives to achieve well being. I am proud to be a woman in the cannabis industry.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

The Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce had a near death moment due to my death experience in 2017 which caused temporary memory loss.

I had a competent staff and member base that were capable and willing to step-up and carry on with the Chamber. But, I had never written down or shared the passwords to the email, social media accounts, or to the website’s admin. They did not have access to the member lists and contacts. There were no standard operating procedures in place.

We talk about self sabotage in our personal life or career, no one talks about self sabotage as a business owner. My focus had been on building a strong foundation and developing relevant benefits to serve the needs of our members. I had sabotaged the Chamber. For all the vision and planning for the future I had failed to ensure that there would be a future. I had literally lost the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce in a heartbeat.

It was approximately six months before I recovered my memories, that’s two years in the cannabis industry. The Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce was fading away. At this point a wise old lady would have returned to her antiques and roses. I’m not that woman.

The Chamber had a firm foundation and member base. It did take six months to get back to a consistent social media presence and to start doing events again. Changes were made and standard operating procedures are in place.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I read Napoleon Hill’s book Think & Grow Rich, written in 1937, in high school. It motivated me to read all his books and continue to read books on business success approaches including Dale Carnegie and Stephen Covey. I am an avid reader of nonfiction and the list is long. YouTube, Ted Talks, and Masterclass have been a great resource for me.

My main interest has always been marketing. I find it fascinating. Seth Godwin author of The Purple Cow and The Dip, has been an influence. Social media has added a new layer to marketing. The advertising restrictions on cannabis stretches the boundaries of creativity. I’m always searching for new videos and seminars on marketing.

Recently I hosted a Women Cultivating Success Conversations with Women in the Cannabis Industry with guests Ashley Hill and Lisa Pickett, founders of Winning Coaching llc on leadership. That conversations changed how I viewed and approached leadership. I am currently reading and watching videos on leadership.

Of course my personal philosophy influences my approach to management and entrepreneurship and can be summarized as integrity of word and action.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://womenscannabischamberofcommerce.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenscannabischamber/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenincommerce
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women’s-cannabis-chamber-of-commerce/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/women420chamber