The “Need To Knows” In Order To Succeed In The Cannabis Industry with Marvin Green & Sean Bouldin
By: Charles Wu
Tags: Marijuana, Cannabis, CEO

I had the pleasure of interviewing Marvin Green the Co-founder of Beverages, Media Heist and in the non profit, 7thirty2. He has created the smoothest hemp beverage on the market. The only beverage catered to taste and not milligrams Of CBD. I also had the pleasure to interview Sean Bouldin. Sean is from from East New York Brooklyn and he has transplanted to Los Angeles in his last year of high school. He is a veteran in the music industry; former artist, manager, and record executive at both major and independent labels.

Tell us a little about yourselves, where are you both from, what are your backgrounds?

I’m from Michigan. My background is in marketing and sports. I owned a marketing and advertising agency. We did crowdfunding for independent movies, automotive accessories and some restaurants. That was all after I played semi-pro basketball. But that is another story for another day. (Marvin)

An artist that I managed was being booked at several cannabis festivals so my partner came up with an idea and we created a web series that covered the cannabis industry. (Sean)

How did you get involved with the cannabis industry?

Filming music acts performing at Cannabis festivals. I’m not a smoker so the smoke and contact high was counterproductive. At one of the events I tried a CBD water and it helped with the contact high and it helped ease my headache. I felt like that was a great space to be a part of the cannabis industry. So we created My Beverages. (Marvin)

What exactly do you do in the industry?

We have a CBD enhanced Hemp Beverage.

So many of our readers and viewers are living in states where medical cannabis is not accessible to them and because of that they are really passionate about seeing cannabis legalized or at least made available for medical access…what was it like for you in the beginning?

It was exciting! It is a new frontier. I was curious. I wasn’t really into the fight for legalization. I was excited about the possibility of it but I felt like I would get involved anyway. I love helping people and I had seen the products working first hand.(Marvin)

In the beginning, at the festivals a couple of us non-smokers were intrigued with the many stories we would hear of the benefits so we began advocated the health benefits of cannabis; highlighting companies, people, and their stories. Then through my music consulting business I was solicited by a company to help market and promote cannabis products. My partners with the show became minor share partners in that company, while promoting that company and the show we would face the obvious stigma attached to the negativity surrounding cannabis, so it’s been and continues to be an uphill battle educating the nay sayers. (Sean)

What keeps you in the industry when so many others were dropping out?

I have a show called, “Welcome 2 DoobieLand”. We interview people in the industry and they tell their story. I have heard and experienced so many positive stories around the cannabis plant that I can’t walk away now. My eyes are open. (Marvin)

The testimonies of those that are being comforted, healed, educated or simply benefiting from our products and efforts. (Sean)

What is your mission in your work?

Our mission is to enhance the worlds lifestyle by simply changing their beverages. All water isn’t equal. Why do you do what you do? Hemp and CBD help solve a lot of problems that opioids and other drugs bring without the side effects. Now that I know that I can’t keep it to myself.

Your higher purpose?

A lot of African American men and women have gone to prison over this plant. Based on that, I should take full advantage of this new world and introduce more opportunities to people who look like me. My higher purpose is opening the door to my community.(Marvin)

Simply to help people get healthier and provide other options for their ailments other than the pharmaceutical drugs, chemotherapy, and traditional methods that many say are destroying them. (Sean)

What do you see the benefits of legalization being for the US or global economy?

Its another revenue stream. Legalization can eliminate some of the violence of the underground market. It will eliminate most of the underground market. Those over the top taxes, if spent correctly, can build new communities through playgrounds, parks, school system upgrades and more after school activities.(Marvin)

The financial benefits are obvious, legalization will create new jobs, revenue streams and balance the distribution of revenue. There are studies of countries that legalized cannabis also having less violence that ours. I believe the revenue being made keeping it illegal; that legislators, correctional facilities, pharmaceutical companies, and many others benefiting from the illegal profits worldwide is the major hurdle and when that monetary greed is replaced with moral benefit; worldwide we would be a better place. (Sean)

You are considered to be one of the leaders in our field, can you share three tips that helped you get here?

A. Persistence. This is a new industry… rules can vary

B. Set Goals — Stick to your plan. No matter what.

C. Be open — The opportunity that introduced you to the industry may not be the one that actually works for you. Some opportunities are there to open the door for the real opportunity. (Marvin)

Learn as much as you can to enhance your ability to compete in your industry

Let your compassion lead your quest not just the monetary benefits

Pay attention to all the little signs of progress, so that you never give up when you think that it’s not moving(Sean)

What do you do to stay relevant in the industry when there are so many newbies jumping in?

Marketing. Marketing. More creative marketing. Sponsorships and video. (Marvin)

Stay focused and consistent on the goals while allowing room to be flexible. (Sean)

Tell us about your Product or service…what is unique about it?

We decided to go with taste over a high dosage of CBD. We want you to drink our water because it taste good and you get the added health benefits without the added bad taste. Do you have any testimonial stories to share? There is lady that is giving our water to her dog that has diabetes and he shakes. She says it calms the shaking. There is the story of a family giving it to their child in formula. Formula is not a healthy alternative for babies but it is the alternative presented. Natural food keeps the body the flowing. It keeps the babies bowels clean. The Hemp extracted CBD has been helping the baby have consistent bowel movements.(Marvin)

With our product we focus on taste as well as infusion. We use our marketing abilities to help us stay unique. The testimonies we receive are the driving force behind our success. Word of mouth have been our primary advertisement. When people see our ads many times they think “oh that’s the product I heard about”. (Sean)

Does your product work for everyone or is there someone specific that is created for?

It’s for everyone but the results vary based on each individual. Everyone has an endocannabinoid system, a bridge between body and mind. It is One of the most important parts of our body when it comes to human health. Named after the plant that allowed it’s discovery, cannabis. (Marvin)

Our products benefit different people in different ways therefore we don’t make claims; only share testimonies. (Sean)

Can you share your 5 Top Tips to Start a Successful Cannabis Business. Please give an example for each.

Pick your lane with caution — Find a lane in cannabis that you love and decide if its business worthy. We chose the Hemp beverage lane for health reasons and hemp is in major stores already

Do your homework — Figure out who your competitors are. Are they failing or having success? What are your costs? Will it require funding? What kind of legal loopholes will be required? Our competitors are catering to a different market. They are still looking for people that just like the idea of cannabis products. Our product is catered to creating a healthier lifestyle by enhancing your beverage. Most people drink water everyday. Drink My Beverages.

Find a creative lawyer — The rules of the road change quick. You want to be prepared, protected and progressing. The laws change so much. You need someone to keep you in the gray area so the rule changes don’t affect your bottom line. We are a hemp beverage instead of a cbd water because of laws. Laws say CBD water doesn’t exist and that they are illegal.

Network — Go out to some events, festivals, meet ups, etc…. Festivals are the only reason I know anything about the health benefits of this industry

Test drive your idea — If possible try to do a trial to see if it is a viable business and if it isn’t pivot early and make it one. — We partnered with another company before starting this one. It was a test> It was a test in ego, deceit, family, hope and deception. All beautiful lessons learned that allowed me to see the ups and downs of the cannabis industry.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

You never know what your idea can trigger. :-) — I would love to make a way for homeless people to be found. Give them addresses and ID cards and maybe a geotagging device. An address that they can use. Something. I don’t know yet but it is something I think about often. (Marvin)

My partners and I have already inspired movements by leading with character when involved with hip hop and sports; we are just applying our character, talents and abilities to this industry/business with a more focused understanding of our abilities to be influential. (Sean)

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“All those men have their price” — Sir Robert Walpole. Everyone has their own agenda. People will do whatever benefits them. Make sure your business does that and you will be fine.(Marvin)

“With Faith you have no worries” (Sean)

Where can they find you? (do you have a fan page or social media channels you want them to follow?

iG — my_beverages, Facebook.com/officialmybeverages

www.my-Beverages.com

@my_beverages and Francis Perdue

Our Chief Communications Director to contact us directly for business matters.