We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charles Newsome. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charles below.

Charles, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I took a risk in pursuing a path where I could work for myself. I built a career in retail operations and sales management across a diverse set of industries – from a national telecommunications company to DC’s first modern-era manufacturing brewery to DC’s first and largest medical cannabis dispensary. Becoming the General Manager of that dispensary within a year and a half of working there was a culmination of my years of work experience and cannabis expertise, and it was a secure job with good pay. And even though selling cannabis medicine is a unique space and a space I was happy to work in, it was still a job with regular retail hours and rigid scheduling, and I found myself wanting more time, more freedom. Maybe I was also just getting older and my outlook on life and time was also changing with me – my son had graduated and embarked on his own career path, I had become engaged, my cousins tease me now because at this time I was also growing my hair out – which was receiving mixed reviews in the family. So it was a mix of many different life changes and feelings, but most of all, I just felt there might be more for me. So I took a risk, left my job, and started taking classes towards my real estate license and a completely new career and my own business working for myself.

Charles, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

MetroLeaf was built on the belief that cannabis should be accessible, understood, and celebrated as part of everyday DC life.

We provide a wide variety of locally-manufactured cannabis products to heal and uplift people, and we take pride in the curation of our diverse menu and in having the highest quality patient care and cannabis knowledge. Whether someone is a long-time consumer or new to the plant, whether someone enjoys smoking or prefers a smokeless method – the MetroLeaf team will listen to their needs and connect them with the right product. Because we believe cannabis should be accessible and affordable, we also offer regular discounts, specials, free tasting events, a rewards program, a referral program, and a daily happy hour menu with special pricing that is updated weekly.

We host experiences that connect neighbors and strengthen communities, from our donation drives to our Meet and Greets with neighborhood leaders to our Meet the Block initiative to highlight the local businesses in our corridor.

We fight to break barriers and stigma, and we advocate for legal reform and justice in alliance with activists and organizations that support expungement, release of cannabis prisoners, and reentry programs.

We’re not just here to sell; we’re here to grow, thrive, and support the city we love.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Our most effective strategy is listening to our clients. We prioritize training and cannabis knowledge for our team, but clients don’t want to be preached to, and they don’t want to hear a pre-made sales pitch. They want information relevant to them and their needs. This is especially important in cannabis because everyone uses cannabis for their own reasons. Some people may be looking for a specific type of high or a particular feeling. Some people will have plans that day to watch a movie, go to a football game, or write a paper. There are all types of strains for all types of feelings and circumstances, and if you don’t listen to the client, you can easily sell them something that will ruin their day. When we listen to our clients and meet their needs well, we build trust – they know they can come to us and be heard, and we will give recommendations and advice that will be relevant to them. There are always business factors that impact sales and growth, such as competitive pricing and convenience of location. But people will go out of their way to go somewhere they feel comfortable and feel heard – and that’s what we are building at MetroLeaf.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In the last week of studying for my real estate exam, I got a call from a buddy of mine, and he and some friends were going to open a cannabis business in DC. He knew I had experience in managing a dispensary, and they wanted to bring me on as a consultant. We worked together well, and they ended up offering me equity in the business instead of just consulting work and I accepted the equity offer. At this point, I had passed my real estate exam, had joined a real estate firm, and was just starting this new career after having left a 20-year career in retail and sales management. For a time, I was trying to do both – real estate and the new cannabis business but it just was not possible. I wasn’t just trying to open a cannabis business – I was doing it within a specific timeline and regulatory period in relation to DC’s Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2022. So I suspended my real estate licenses in DC, Maryland, and Virginia and threw myself into the opening of the dispensary all day everyday. I had already taken a risk in leaving my General Manager job and had invested my time and finances into the real estate path, so I had some doubts about whether I was risking or pivoting too much. But the opportunity to have ownership in a cannabis business and to become a Chief Operating Officer was one I could not pass up. I love helping people with cannabis, I love what I do, I love this industry. And although I keep even longer hours and an even busier schedule, I am proud and fortunate to be doing that for myself and my business. There are a lot of cannabis businesses in DC now, but I know that MetroLeaf is building something special in our neighborhood and our community, and we can contribute meaningfully to cannabis culture, industry, and reform.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.metroleafdc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metroleafdc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090542072819