Flipping the script: Cannabis lawyer turned cannabis entrepreneur

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When Massachusetts voters passed a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016, Blake M. Mensing opened the door to establishing what would become a burgeoning law practice advising clients in the cannabis industry. Open.

Ironically, that seismic shift may also lead to the 40-year-old Holliston attorney deciding to leave the law practice altogether.

“When Question 4 was passed in 2016, my first thought was, ‘I don’t want to be a lawyer.’ Maybe I should go into the cannabis business,” he explains. .

Mensing took a leap toward realizing his dream when his Boston-based company, Mensing Group, closed its doors on October 13, 2023.

For six years, Mr. Mensing has worked tirelessly to become the state’s leading firm representing clients in the rapidly growing cannabis industry. To this end, the company has obtained over 100 licenses from the Cannabis Control Commission on behalf of its customers.

But last year, Mr. Mensing decided to sell his interest in the Mensing Group to another Northampton cannabis law firm, Cable, Fleisher & Thorsby.

Now, Mensing is “all in” on building a new career as a cannabis entrepreneur.

His first foray into the business was Holyoke Cannabis, a retailer in which he was a minority owner for several years before being acquired in January.

Now, Mr. Mensing and his brother George, who has a background in pharmaceutical/drug development/biotechnology, have started their own cultivation and manufacturing operation, Coyote Cannabis Corporation, in Uxbridge.

“We’re looking at opening in May,” Mensing said. “Like many lawyers, I’m not a spreadsheet expert. [George is] Number brain. ”

Coyote Cannabis is Menshin’s answer to what he sees as a fundamental problem in the state’s cannabis market.

“The world’s dominant players are [the Massachusetts cannabis industry] The ones that come from the medical side, people who have a lot of money before adults use it. [became legal]” he says. “I’m not against making money, but if you want to be the Bud Light of cannabis, you’re missing something really important.”

Mensing says he has assembled a strong management team that operates in a completely different field than larger companies.

“We don’t have big companies to report to,” he says. “We’re just looking for quality above all else. We don’t want to put our name on something that’s not good that we won’t consume.”

His plans also include opening two cannabis retail stores, one across the street from Boston’s South Station. This store has the financial support of his owners, his equity and his four people who are actively involved in the management of the business.

What prompted you to change jobs? Ms. Menshin says she realized after 14 years that she didn’t really like being a lawyer.

“I was a rare duck who loved law school, but being a lawyer didn’t really change my image of law school,” Mensing says. His first job as a lawyer was working in real estate transactions for a company. He had a contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mensing was practicing municipal law when voters legalized marijuana. Since he was already familiar with licensing and zoning, it was natural for his practice to include representing cannabis businesses looking to circumvent local regulations when setting up shop.

But even as he was representing cannabis businesses as a city attorney, the idea of ​​opening his own cannabis store was percolating in the back of his mind.

“There were some things that worked really well for me with the cannabis business,” he says. “To tell you the truth, I’ve been a lawyer for almost 14 years, but I’ve been a stalker for 26 years.”

Mensing makes no bones about the fact that he loved marijuana from an early age.

“I’ve always been a very hard worker and only consumed cannabis when I was done working for the day,” Mensing says. “in fact, [in my cannabis legal practice,] I took that fact to local governments who were afraid of hippie hordes invading their areas. I emphasized, “Hey, this That’s the stoner look. Just like people drink a glass of scotch or two at night, cannabis in moderation can help you be hardworking and successful. ”

Mensing says he had been prepared for years to “not become a lawyer” because 1) he didn’t have the bank account to become a lawyer, and 2) he was “completely green business-wise.” I realized that right away.

“I knew nothing about fundraising or the hard work that comes with having to do different jobs in a startup environment,” he admits.

Now, while running his new business, Mr. Mensing is still winding down his law practice, working as an attorney at Cable, Fleischer & Thorsby, handling pending matters for soon-to-be former clients. ing.

On the other hand, I have absolutely no regrets about quitting my job as a lawyer.

“[Running a cannabis business] “It’s quite a lot of work,” he says. “It takes more effort. But at least I’m reaping the benefits of my efforts. Instead of fulfilling someone else’s dreams or having others decide my worth, I decide my worth.” I can do that. It’s very satisfying.”