People to know about cannabis in NYC: Nicholas Agrippino

Nicholas Agrippino is Vice President of Finance at Cirona Labs. He answered eight simple questions for the NY Cannabis Insider’s People to know series.

What is your position and what do you/your company do in the field of cannabis?

I am the VP of Finance at Cirona Labs, a licensed cannabis processor in Rochester. We work with several licensed cultivators with their processing needs and our team has over 100 years of experience in the food and beverage industry.

We produce a wide range of products, but we have a unique experience in the field of water-dispersible powders, which sets us apart from others. I am also a member of the political committee of the New York Cannabis Association.

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How long have you been in the cannabis business?

I originally entered the field in 2018 with my previous employer, Bowers & Company, CPAs PLLC, which is a public accounting firm. At Bowers, I was the director of the cannabis service. Back in 2020, with adult use legislation looming, Bowers became an early patron of the New York Cannabis Association and I became more involved in the field. I had the pleasure of preparing a financial assessment of the New York State Tax Reform Measure 280E advocated by CANY.

What were you doing before you got into the cannabis industry?

I have been an accountant for over nine years and have primarily served cannabis, construction and manufacturing clients for my previous employer. Prior to that, I was Assistant Food Service Manager at a local Nice n’ Easy store.

What brought you to the cannabis industry?

Eventually, my passion for the plant led me into the industry as I have been advocating for legalization for a long time. When adult use legislation was looming, I loudly declared to a group of partners at my previous firm that I wanted to officially launch our cannabis niche and expand our existing experience in the industry with their full support.

I spoke to the New York Cannabis Association and immediately felt at home culturally. I also started meeting as many people in the industry as possible and expanding my professional network. Since then, I have spoken at several educational webinars, events, and local town and village council meetings.

Moreover, the industry representatives I work with further promote my passion. Every day I see like-minded people striving not only for success, but also for the success of the cannabis industry in New York.

Playing a small part in this is incredibly rewarding.

Do you have any advice for those who want to get into the weed industry in New York? Think about everything you have learned so far.

The best advice I can give is that if you want to work professionally in this industry, you need to dedicate yourself fully to this business. I don’t think a day goes by when I don’t learn something new. The cannabis industry is extremely complex but rewarding.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in accounting, law, insurance, etc. The industry is extremely specialized and you shouldn’t just dabble in it. New York City in particular has an incredibly complex regulatory environment, and cannabis is certainly no exception. to the one, that.

What do you think New York’s cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?

I don’t have a crystal ball and I’m a glass half full person, so I’m going to tell you what I want the industry to be like in five years.

I hope New York succeeds in its goals of shaping a cannabis industry focused on small and medium businesses. I want to see a stable market that includes social justice, sustainability, and the opportunity for creative entrepreneurs to succeed.

Unfortunately, many other states have tried and failed to achieve these goals. Even though New York City has had to wait so long for legalization, now we have a chance to learn from these mistakes.

Do you use cannabis? If yes, what is your favorite method (flowers, brush strokes, foods, tinctures, etc.) and why?

I have been using cannabis for a long time, so I like it to stay traditional, mostly with a flower. However, I wouldn’t mind an occasional edible or tincture.

Who should contact you and what is the best method to use (e.g. email, phone number, LinkedIn handle, etc.)

If you are a cultivator looking for help, a dispensary looking for a product, or just want to get involved, please feel free to contact me at: Email – [email protected]. I’m also on LinkedIn.

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