Prior to working with Cannaspire, I engaged with another consultant and I was left doing all the work and the ownership team shelled out a ton of the money. Fortunately, for Queen City Wellness we were able to obtain the conditional license in the city of Plainfield, NJ. At which point, that particular consultant blind sighted us with asking for more money and furthermore equity stake in the company.
I knew at that time that we needed to make a change and fortunately for us, we were referred to Ellen, Warren, and the Cannaspire team!
First and foremost, I cannot praise Ellen Bolin enough. The first thing that stood out to me was her strong leadership ability and steadfast demeanor. I loved and always appreciated that whatever she said, she ALWAYS followed through and stayed true to her word. There were NUMEROUS times where we had to put Ellen and the Cannaspire team on hold. We had lost our location and had to pivot. It was evident that she really cared for our success and she would go above and beyond to help in our search. She referred us to several people and ulitmately (and thankfully) Queen City Wellness was able to land a location. And even after SIX MONTHS later Ellen and the team were not only ready to pick up the work they were eager and willing. They knew we were pressed for time as we already filed for an extension. The Cannaspire team worked day and night to make sure that we hit the deadline. To me that is a reflection of Ellen’s “Can do attitude”. She helped us get through the finish line in very tight window. Because of Ellen Queen City Wellness is on the brink of (hopefully next month) of securing the annual license.
The second individual I would like to shout out is Warren Harasz. In our first meeting, it was very apparent to me that Warren has an intelligence level that could rival that of Albert Einstein or John Nash. His knowledge of the industry quite frankly is mind blowing and to call him a subject matter expert would be insult because to me HE IS THE INDUSTRY. Warren has a unique ability to convey complicated messages in a manner that would be palatable to some like me (who does not have his IQ). Warren and his team crafted and drafted the SOP in a matter of weeks, again in a tight timeline and after several changes in locations. He was very organized using Microsoft BOX and was also willing to jump on calls at a drop of dime. One particular example, I can remember was a conversation I had with him that I expressed my future goals in the industry, which was to get a delivery and distribution license. He was the individual that pointed out that Queen City Wellness could still do deliveries if we wrote that into the SOP, which we did! Its these “out of the box thinking” in my opinion that sets him and the Cannaspire team apart overall.
There are individuals like Dr. Courey Averett and others that were also instrumental to our success and I would be remiss if I did not give them a shout out!
Overall, my experience with the Cannaspire team has been nothing short of phenomenal. I would recommend Cannaspire to ANYONE looking for help with getting into the industry. The team is organized, succinct, time conscious, and true to their word. But in my opinion was sets them are apart is they TRULY care for their partners/client’s success. As I said, words are not enough to paint the picture but, I hope this short testimonial conveys my sentiments, my experience, and my utmost admiration for the Cannaspire Team. I hope to model a team as effective once our Dispensary opens!
Thank you
Kelvin Shah
Queen City Wellness
Cannaspire played a vital role in meeting our security needs efficiently and effectively, allowing us to successfully pass security inspections with exceptional results. As we embarked on establishing our first location, Cannaspire proved instrumental in our expansion into the New Jersey market. They facilitated valuable connections with partners, enabling us to address the necessary components of our expansion plans seamlessly.
Cannaspire provided us with a comprehensive package that encompassed all our requirements, from meticulous planning to the implementation of physical security measures, including wiring, cabling, cameras, door access controls, and safes. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, they demonstrated remarkable professionalism by completing the project on budget and on time for Iconic’s inaugural dispensary.
Based on our experience, I wholeheartedly recommend working with Cannaspire for their expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional service.
Richard E.
Iconic Wellness
Cannaspire helped me put together my Class 5 Retail Dispensary License. Everyone went above and beyond. GOOD all across the board warren was very helpful. Above and beyond.
Thomas Marino
Social Leaf
I had the pleasure of meeting Jim at a conference in New Jersey about a year ago. At that time, I only had a vague idea, a mere seed of a concept, and knew very little about the industry. Being new to both business and the cannabis field, I consulted with three or four other industry experts. When I shared a sample of my product with Jim, he immediately saw the potential in my idea.
Jim’s approach was refreshing. He was honest, straightforward, and truly listened to my vision. Despite my lack of experience, he treated me with the same respect and professionalism as he would a larger client. Every person that Jim has recommended me to through his company, Cannaspire, has been the real deal – legitimate and reliable. I have only heard positive things about Cannaspire’s services.
Jim has been instrumental in helping me develop my business plan and get all my ducks in a row. He never rushed me and always allowed me to proceed at my own pace. Thanks to his guidance, my application was one of the fastest to be approved in New Jersey. This meant a great deal to me, and I have continued to work with Cannaspire as I grow my business.
There was a time when I had a call with Jim that reassured me immensely. He connected me with brokers and attorneys who were not only knowledgeable but also exuded confidence. Jim’s expertise in cannabis law and bureaucracy surpasses anyone else I have spoken with. His knowledge has given me the confidence and peace of mind I needed.
Overall, my experience with Jim and Cannaspire has been invaluable. They have provided me with unwavering support, extensive industry knowledge, and a sense of assurance as I navigate the cannabis business landscape.
Alex Hyatt
Freshley Greene
We met Jim White at a Cannabis event last year, we really liked what he had to offer to us. We are new to the business thing so we didn’t want to go with just a lawyer to do our application. Jim and the Cannaspire team offered much more than just an application service, and that’s what we were looking for. For our first meeting we had Jim, Warren and Beck with us, and the level of support and experience we wanted we felt immediately. Jim was able to get us in touch with a great real estate agent and get us into a spot really quickly. This allowed us to skip the conditional license and go straight to the full annual application. Beck has been absolutely wonderful, everything he writes is amazing. He’s been supportive, and imaginative, he’s a wealth of information too. Jim has also been dedicated to making sure that we are making the decisions that are best for us. Cannapsire has been instrumental in starting our journey out right, and I know that we would not be where we are at without them. As we progress into the build out phase we will be more in touch with Warren. Warren has it on lock with compliance. He’s our go to person in making sure that our dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare. Warren also has an extensive growing history, for us that is particularly important because we are growing organic. Having his experience ensures that we are setting up our facility for success. There are a lot of moving parts to this business, having the right people in the right places is crucial, and Cannaspire is that solid base. I know that anything I ask them to do, it’s done right, and I don’t have to worry.
Danielle Ficker
Braided Organics – NJ Cultivation
My team and I have been working with the Cannaspire team on our cultivation project for 1 year at this point. They designed our 150,000 sqft cultivation facility, wrote our business plan, security plan and cultivation application. We were awarded our license and we attribute that win to the work Jim, Warren and Dave did on our project. We have worked with other cannabis consulting firms on other projects and have to say by far we’ve had our best experience with the Cannaspire team. Their business plans and applications were customized and tailored to our team and our mission. They listened to our story during the interview process and translated it into a well thought out story on our application. The facility design work Warren did was incredible! They delivered on time and the revision process they offer was efficient and seamless. We are now in the process of facility buildout and they have been by our side every step of the way. We have contracted them to install our physical security, project manage the buildout and be our regulatory compliance consulting firm. We thank the Cannaspire team for the excellent work and look forward to a long term relationship with our business. This is truly a one stop shop for your cannabis business consulting needs.
Joey Hawkins
Dispensary Applicant
Cannaspire did an excellent job converting our conditional license to an annual license with a fast turnaround time. They also helped us present to the city council, making the process efficient and smooth. This was the second time they assisted us with this process, and their knowledge of the procedures was evident. They helped us understand the state’s requirements, especially regarding policies and procedures, ensuring we were in line with regulations. Their assistance with security plans and layout was thorough, and we appreciate their attention to detail. Thanks to their expertise, we are building a positive reputation with the planning board, who are more receptive to our proposal. We highly recommend their services.
Wilder & John Sampson
Mule Extracts
Working with Jim has been an amazing and smooth process, the project manager he assigned to us, Warren is the most professional impressive individual I’ve had the pleasure of working with. His work is phenomenal, his breadth of knowledge is amazing, and he’s charismatic and engaging with the customer. His service has been perfect thusfar in the process.
Ben Rudolph
Brother X
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with both Tracey Kauffman and Ellen Bolin from Cannaspire (formerly CannaBeSecure), and I feel like I hit the jackpot. They’re both incredibly kind and professional, and extremely knowledgeable! They’re dedicated to helping their clients succeed and are willing to guide me throughout the entire process of opening my retail store—which is no small feat. I’m very confident in their abilities and I have no doubt I’d have a much more difficult time navigating through this process without their expertise. Tracey’s husband, Jim White, also assisted in giving me helpful tips and information, for which I am eternally grateful. I guarantee you won’t regret hiring Cannaspire and I cannot express enough how much I recommend ALL of their many services. Thanks again! I truly appreciate all of your help!!
Jan Feigenbaum
Dispensary Applicant
We found our call with them to be extremely helpful. The knowledge they have of an up and coming market is great and they really are a one stop shop for all your Cannabis Business needs/questions. We had a question that was answered within minutes. They even set up on a video call with the exact person to answer our questions! Highly recommend!
Brian Chapman
Dispensary Applicant
As someone just getting into the industry, working with Ellen from Cannaspire (formerly Cannabesecure) has been nothing but a positive experience.
Raymond Rescildo
Dispensary Applicant
