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bookishadvocate's review against another edition
5.0
Green Man was actually the first dispensary I ever visited on a trip to Colorado last summer. I wasn't impressed with them simply because of whoever was budtending that day. Now that I've read this book, I want to give them another chance.
This book is all about Christian's journey to opening Green Man. As a future ganjapreneur myself, I found his story inspiring. He talks about how he got into the industry and how he dealt with the naysayers. He also offers advice to future industry newcomers. I found this to be a great addition to the cannabis literature making its way through the publishing companies right now. Highly recommended!
This book is all about Christian's journey to opening Green Man. As a future ganjapreneur myself, I found his story inspiring. He talks about how he got into the industry and how he dealt with the naysayers. He also offers advice to future industry newcomers. I found this to be a great addition to the cannabis literature making its way through the publishing companies right now. Highly recommended!
cjenningspenders's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book. Humorous in places. Inspirational for any prospective business owners. A real page turner. Read it to get a first hand look at what it costs to get in on the ground floor of a burgeoning business.
misterfix's review against another edition
4.0
Engaging and informative overview of the incredible changes taking place in the world of marijuana cultivation, sales and legal issues with a particular emphasis on all things business related. Not so much a "how to" more of a "how did I". It's inspiring and entertaining largely because the author shares his personal journey and genuinely seems to have had quite the transformation. If he is to be believed and trusted then the future of craft, quality marijuana is in reasonably good hands as he appears to be strongly positioned to be the big 'green guy'.
There are times where he blows his horn and repeats his journey and achievements to a fault but I forgive him because it's balanced by his awakening, higher calling and connection with the plants themselves. It's a light, fast read - entertaining, thoughtful and and fairly harmless.
There are times where he blows his horn and repeats his journey and achievements to a fault but I forgive him because it's balanced by his awakening, higher calling and connection with the plants themselves. It's a light, fast read - entertaining, thoughtful and and fairly harmless.
socraticgadfly's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, and self-promotional, and either naive or arrogant in one spot.
Hageseth, through his personal tour of his move from failed/overexposed real estate commodities speculator to self-described "ganjapreneur," gives a decent overview of the business of legal marijuana in Colorado.
He gives even more of an overview of himself as an entrepreneur. Read the book and listen to the man sell *his ideas* for marijuana, etc.
I probably could have done without some of the new agey type references, especially in the last few pages.
And, I laughed at what I can only describe as **marijuana snobbery.**
He talks about Ben & Jerry's, and people's loyalty to its particular flavors, not just B&J.
And, makes two huge mistakes, whether more from naivete or from distortion, I don't know.
First, Ben & Jerry's hasn't been some small hometown outfit for decades. It's part of Unilever, for doorknob's sake.
Second, when he wonders if people are loyal to particular roasts of coffee, life French roast, as he wants smokers to be to his marijuana lines? What planet is he from? Many of us focus on particular roasts, often from particular beans in particular areas, very much. And, he conveniently ignores comparing pot to booze at this point, though he's done it often before, when he knows well from his own experience — standard bar drink for him, by his own description, being Dos Equis plus a shot of Patron — that people are loyal to particular wines, beers and spirits. Oh, and tea-philes are loyal to particular leaves, too, Hageseth.
Hageseth, through his personal tour of his move from failed/overexposed real estate commodities speculator to self-described "ganjapreneur," gives a decent overview of the business of legal marijuana in Colorado.
He gives even more of an overview of himself as an entrepreneur. Read the book and listen to the man sell *his ideas* for marijuana, etc.
I probably could have done without some of the new agey type references, especially in the last few pages.
And, I laughed at what I can only describe as **marijuana snobbery.**
He talks about Ben & Jerry's, and people's loyalty to its particular flavors, not just B&J.
And, makes two huge mistakes, whether more from naivete or from distortion, I don't know.
First, Ben & Jerry's hasn't been some small hometown outfit for decades. It's part of Unilever, for doorknob's sake.
Second, when he wonders if people are loyal to particular roasts of coffee, life French roast, as he wants smokers to be to his marijuana lines? What planet is he from? Many of us focus on particular roasts, often from particular beans in particular areas, very much. And, he conveniently ignores comparing pot to booze at this point, though he's done it often before, when he knows well from his own experience — standard bar drink for him, by his own description, being Dos Equis plus a shot of Patron — that people are loyal to particular wines, beers and spirits. Oh, and tea-philes are loyal to particular leaves, too, Hageseth.
thebibliophage's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
This is a fast listen. It's very business-focused, especially on the travails of start-ups. It's also what I'd call a vanity project. Hageseth spends plenty of time telling readers how smart and innovative he is. On the other hand, he's quick to remind us that his last business fell victim to the housing crash of 2008. All of the ins and outs of business building are interesting.
But what fascinated me was the details Hageseth shares about the cannabis industry, including how it's grown, how the strains are developed, and what matters most to medicinal users.
Glad to say that the author's audiobook narration is also quite good, which surprised me. All in all, worth my time but not a book that interests everyone.
But what fascinated me was the details Hageseth shares about the cannabis industry, including how it's grown, how the strains are developed, and what matters most to medicinal users.
Glad to say that the author's audiobook narration is also quite good, which surprised me. All in all, worth my time but not a book that interests everyone.
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
4.0
While there is nothing earth shattering here if you've been following legalization issues, Big Weed is a quick, entertaining read. There are some basic business ideas that could apply in any entrepreneurial enterprise.
I would recommend this more for people who are simply curious and want a peek behind the curtain. For anyone seriously looking for resources to start a grow operation or other marijuana-related business, you'll want to look elsewhere.
I would recommend this more for people who are simply curious and want a peek behind the curtain. For anyone seriously looking for resources to start a grow operation or other marijuana-related business, you'll want to look elsewhere.
theycallmena's review
4.0
I recieved this book as a Goodreads First Read.
Big Weed is an exciting, fast tale of capitalist struggle and success. I was distracted by some tonal shifts--sometimes Hageseth talks business, sometimes he tells personal stories, sometimes he takes an activist tone. For example, did you know that marijuana was first outlawed to limit its usage by Mexican laborers, under the thought that it might cause them to act erratically and violently? Hageseth knows, and the fact is shocking. But several pages after reading that fact, we're back into learning more about his early failures in his fledgling business.
The book tries to be a little bit of everything to everybody: from marijuana neophytes to people who understand entrepreneurship to people who need convincing as to why legalization is important. It's a quick, easy read, and a solid overview of the marijuana industry so far.
Big Weed is an exciting, fast tale of capitalist struggle and success. I was distracted by some tonal shifts--sometimes Hageseth talks business, sometimes he tells personal stories, sometimes he takes an activist tone. For example, did you know that marijuana was first outlawed to limit its usage by Mexican laborers, under the thought that it might cause them to act erratically and violently? Hageseth knows, and the fact is shocking. But several pages after reading that fact, we're back into learning more about his early failures in his fledgling business.
The book tries to be a little bit of everything to everybody: from marijuana neophytes to people who understand entrepreneurship to people who need convincing as to why legalization is important. It's a quick, easy read, and a solid overview of the marijuana industry so far.
katrinahaffner's review
4.0
While browsing the library, I came upon this book, and being a drug policy activist who is unfamiliar with the business side of marijuana (other than, ya know, being the customer at 502 stores in WA), I decided to give this a read.
To be honest, I'm not sure what I was expecting. It was different from what I saw on the cover, and after I read through the book, I think I figured out what was going on. Technically, what's talked about on the cover is explored in the writing. I think what made the cover feel so different from the actual story is that the cover feels very impersonal, while the narrative is not - it's a personal story about Christian Hageseth's passion for his marijuana business, and why he believes that he and other venture capitalists can make the world better by expanding this field.
Looking over some reviews, it seems like some readers are turned off by what they call the author's "self-promotion". To be honest, I'm not sure how such a story could be told without self-promotion. For me, this works well for the book. He's not writing a business primer for the marijuana industry, but rather his own experiences and why he believes such innovation is important for the world. His voice is crystal clear.
And ah! it's so refreshing to read about someone in the industry who doesn't talk about bringing down capitalism in order to end the drug war. As someone who is also simultaneously interested in business and philanthropy, I really liked his perspective on the industry and legalization movements. His passion for positively changing the world shows even more when he writes about the boy in Mexico who walked to the US on foot to sell marijuana to support his family, and other instances of individuals taking initiative, or his seething at governments punishing those for harmless actions.
Personally, I thought the beginning was slow, but it picked up once he started the business. By then, I didn't want to put the book down. I think the book's weak points are its organization and conglomeration of different stories. I think some of it could have instead been written into other books, or perhaps even a blog series. As for what I wish he could have written more about would be capitalism's role in refining the landscape for legal marijuana. He talks about the inevitability of Big Weed (like Bi Pharma or Big Agro), but doesn't expand much on it. With the title of the book, you would think it would go more into that.
I would especially recommend this book for entrepreneurs and investors, no matter what you believe about marijuana. Would the anti-capitalist drug policy activist enjoy this book? I have no idea.
Check out my site to read more of my reviews.
To be honest, I'm not sure what I was expecting. It was different from what I saw on the cover, and after I read through the book, I think I figured out what was going on. Technically, what's talked about on the cover is explored in the writing. I think what made the cover feel so different from the actual story is that the cover feels very impersonal, while the narrative is not - it's a personal story about Christian Hageseth's passion for his marijuana business, and why he believes that he and other venture capitalists can make the world better by expanding this field.
Looking over some reviews, it seems like some readers are turned off by what they call the author's "self-promotion". To be honest, I'm not sure how such a story could be told without self-promotion. For me, this works well for the book. He's not writing a business primer for the marijuana industry, but rather his own experiences and why he believes such innovation is important for the world. His voice is crystal clear.
And ah! it's so refreshing to read about someone in the industry who doesn't talk about bringing down capitalism in order to end the drug war. As someone who is also simultaneously interested in business and philanthropy, I really liked his perspective on the industry and legalization movements. His passion for positively changing the world shows even more when he writes about the boy in Mexico who walked to the US on foot to sell marijuana to support his family, and other instances of individuals taking initiative, or his seething at governments punishing those for harmless actions.
Personally, I thought the beginning was slow, but it picked up once he started the business. By then, I didn't want to put the book down. I think the book's weak points are its organization and conglomeration of different stories. I think some of it could have instead been written into other books, or perhaps even a blog series. As for what I wish he could have written more about would be capitalism's role in refining the landscape for legal marijuana. He talks about the inevitability of Big Weed (like Bi Pharma or Big Agro), but doesn't expand much on it. With the title of the book, you would think it would go more into that.
I would especially recommend this book for entrepreneurs and investors, no matter what you believe about marijuana. Would the anti-capitalist drug policy activist enjoy this book? I have no idea.
Check out my site to read more of my reviews.
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