We were lucky to catch up with J.C. Cirese recently and have shared our conversation below.
J.C., thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Taking risks always produces the greatest rewards in life… Success or failure, we grow, learn, and can vastly improve. Those who have taken the biggest risks have changed the world the most.
I guess you can say my entrepreneurial journey began after my greatest risk. In January 2016 I found myself laying face down in a pool of my own blood after a federal fugitive on the run decided to shoot me in the face while I slept and held my girlfriend hostage as I bled out, dying. By the gift of the gods, my father’s dedication to not letting the surgeons give up on me and the absolutely amazing doctors and nurses at KU med, my life was saved when the odds were 100% stacked against me.
I was told I would never be able to use my hand again due to nerve damage to my spine… not to mention was bound for a life of opioid management to deal with the pain. I was absolutely lost with how my life would look moving forward. My lady is from Iowa and suggested we move there to begin a new journey. I arrived in Des Moines with barely enough money to even put down a deposit on a small apartment. I had no idea what to do and had no leads on a job. I knew working for myself was the only option. I took up side gigs from graphic design to videography. I hustled daily to put money away so I can build my own company. At the time anything Cannabis related was illegal in Iowa, but cannabis had been such a huge part of my life and especially my healing. I was able to get off of the opioids I was prescribed with the help of cannabis. It truly was life changing and I wanted to give that gift back to those around me.
I found a small boutique storefront in downtown Des Moines to rent. Everyone told me it was a bad idea to open a CBD store in Iowa since it was technically still illegal but I didn’t care. I knew that it was worth the risk if I just helped one person that needed the relief cannabis extracts offered.
It started with a few bottles of full spectrum water soluble CBD, dog CBD treats, and a handful of lotions. I was able to formulate the terpene blends and strengths I wanted which was pretty innovative at the time. I sat in my shop everyday for 363 days (Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving) every week more and more people would become customers, just from word of mouth.
The stories of how much relief or benefit they got was my fuel. Iowa kept cracking down on CBD but I pushed harder and kept expanding products. When hemp derived THC hit the market I was the first to offer it in the state… that was the same time the Pandemic started. I kept my doors open not knowing what the future held. Ironically it was when my shop, the DESPENSARY, took off like wild fire.
I hired a whole crew and before I knew it we had lines of people waiting for us to open our doors and until we closed. I had taken a huge risk and was like I caught lighting in a bottle! I knew I had to grow the industry and wanted to get back to my hometown of KC and expand the market there. I found a location right in Westport, on a block where 6 other shops were doing what I was. Once again I was told that was too big of a risk with all the competition surrounding me, but that excites me. I knew I could do it better and bigger than the well established stores. When it comes to business, the secret sauce is service, quality, and taking risks! Offer the best customer service, have the best knowledge of your industry and strive to have the best products available.
In 2 years Dr. Smoke & the DESPENSARY have grown exponentially, and are averaging 100% growth every year, which is beyond humbling! The best part about it all is being able to help others and serve the communities around us… that will always be worth its weight in gold and the fuel to my fire!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Cannabis has been a big part of my life for many years. I really fell in love with the plant when I began growing it while in college. Anytime you grow a plant from seed to flowers or fruits, you really develop a deep bond with it. I never saw Cannabis as a “drug.” It felt way more like a natural medicine than a “Narcotic.” I originally loved how much it dissolved the ego and allowed deep self reflection and way to feel in tune with inner self. Back then I had to operate in the shadows, and many peers considered cannabis a dangerous drug. I felt like cannabis just exposed who you truly are. If you are naturally lazy, it would expose that, but if you were driven, it would add to your drive. I always knew one day I would be involved in a “Legal Cannabis” industry, I just didn’t know when that could become a reality here in Kansas City.
Luckily with many states now seeing the medical and financial benefits of cannabis, I was able to build my dream into reality. The Legal Cannabis industry is one of the most innovative and exciting industries. Every week we are seeing new cannabinoids brought to market and prices rapidly dropping as more consumers enter the market. The best part of our industry is there is no need for a state medical card and we can ship to all 50 states!
This has allowed us to achieve massive growth and exposure. Having your medicine legally shipped to your front door is a game changer! Every day I am humbled by customers reaching out and telling us how much we make their lives better. It’s the fuel to my fire! Having been in the industry since its conception I have developed deep connections with manufacturers and have helped develop and bring many products to market, that’s what sets us apart from others in the industry. We always have the newest products before they even hit the market! What sets us truly apart is our love of the plant and helping others.
I have amazing crews at both my shops. Every single employee I wouldn’t trade for the world. They all are so passionate about helping our customers and watching them all grow and dedicate themselves to service of our customers brings warmth to my heart.
I always get asked what the secret sauce to our success is… it’s a simple answer, offer the best products with the best service in an industry you truly love!
Every entrepreneur will tell you this, but what you put in is what you will get out of it. I eat, sleep, and breathe my business, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!
Helping others comes with a big responsibility and I have never taken that lightly. We help people to heal and lives to change. Everyday I wake up grateful to serve those who need this medicine the most!
For those looking for the absolute best Legal THC for themselves or their family check us out at: DRSMOKE.com
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience is everything in life and in business! In my industry everything changes so quickly, especially laws. One of my shops, The DESPENSARY, is based in Des Moines, Iowa. When I opened my store hemp or cannabis extracts were technically illegal in the state, but I took the risk. After many back and forth with the state we were able to finally secure a legal license… even as other shops were shut down or raided we stayed vigilant and kept our doors open.
Right as we got licensed, the Pandemic hit! I had to pivot ultra fast and offer curbside delivery, contactless purchasing and make our customers feel safe to come in and shop. At that same time THC derivatives began to be developed and having my ear to the ground at all times, was able to bring them into the shop before any other shops in the Midwest. We were the first shop in the entire state of Iowa to bring hemp derived THC to customers! That was like rocket fuel and every day we would get hundreds of new customers. It was what they had dreamed would one day be possible in Iowa. Even through the prohibition of many of our products, we have been able to pivot and bring better quality and more potent products to my shops.
Luckily I thrive in fast paced, high stress situations. Having survived being shot in the face, everyday feels like a bonus day on earth so life stress is a cake walk at this point. Every failure has been an opportunity of learning and growth and every success is a chance to reflect and feel gratitude.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
How you do anything is how you do everything! As a business owner and entrepreneur, I treat my life as the map to success. Being accountable with myself has been the main reason I was able to build my businesses to where they are today. Simple things like waking up when you set your alarm and not hitting snooze even when you don’t want to wake up. By hitting snooze you start the day with a loss. When I tell myself I am going to do something, I always follow through! If you can’t trust yourself, then who can you trust?
Working out intensely in the morning is a game changer! By putting yourself and your body in a state of physical stress makes work stress seem easy. Keeping your mind and body fueled with healthy nourishments and positive media content goes a long way. I haven’t personally used social media for the last 7 years which has given me so much more time to focus on my path and not have to compare myself to everyone else’s “highlight” reels. When I have to post on socials for work related things, I will, but I dip in and out. It’s the best social media hack. If you are a business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, the best advice I can give is find something you truly love and build a business around it. Passion will give you the drive when things get tuff!
Contact Info:
- Website: Drsmoke.com
- Instagram: Doctorsmokedotcom
- Other: DESPENSARY.com