Talking Plant is your guide through the journey into the basics of cannabis, the cannabis industry, and where we try to answer all your questions about our favorite plant.

On this episode my guests are cannabis entrepreneurs from Southern California, Zahur Lalji and Sergio Burga. The partners own and operate several cannabis businesses including multiple dispensaries in the Los Angeles and Ventura County areas.

I wanted to give people an insight into what it takes to be in the cannabis industry. Most people think that it’s a gold rush of an opportunity but you will learn that is nothing of the sort. Zahur and Sergio share with us their previous working lives as banker and automotive dealership owner respectively.

After opening his first storefront in San Diego, which he was eventually forced to close, Sergio then partnered up with Zahur to focus on new ventures in the cannabis industry. 

After opening their first couple of dispensaries together, the pair worked on expanding their portfolio to include cultivation, distribution, and brand creation. They continue to face many of the challenges that plague the cannabis industry like over regulation, multiple taxes being slapped on their businesses and the application processes in new cities they are looking to expand in.

With such unique backgrounds in their respective fields, they explain what skill sets have helped them in their cannabis businesses. 

For those who are looking to invest in a cannabis business, they give some honest advice on how to look for the right business and how the city the business is in, may make the difference in start-up costs and eventual success.

Giving back to the community has always been a big part of how Zahur and Sergio operated in their previous professional businesses. As many cities mandate community giveback programs for cannabis retailers, the pair share how they reach out into the communities to give back to the most needy causes. 

As they prepare to hear the results of their most recent application in Ventura, CA, the two entrepreneurs also discuss their attitude to the competitive nature of the cannabis industry, especially in the retail sector.

If you’re interested in investing in a cannabis industry business, this program will give you a good insight of what business operators should look like to you as you take that leap into jungle of this business.

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