Sasha Nutgent, VP of Retail at Housing Works Cannabis Co – Interview Series

As the American cannabis industry becomes both more mainstream and, resultingly, more lucrative, cannabis brands of all sizes are either starting charity initiatives themselves or volunteering with various local charities. However, the New York-based cannabis brand and dispensary, Housing Works Cannabis Co., donates all proceeds to the very prominent charity, Housing Works, a non-profit organization dedicated to fair housing and combatting homelessness in NYC since its creation all the way back in 1990. For a better understanding of how the longstanding non-profit combines impactful charity work with retail cannabis sales in one of the newest markets in America, mycannabis.com had the pleasure of speaking with Sasha Nutgent, VP of Retail for Housing Works Cannabis Co.

What subjects did you study at St. John’s University, and how do you feel those subjects prepared you for the various roles you’ve held with Housing Works?

I studied communications and journalism at St. John’s University and Kingsborough Community College. I also briefly studied at CUNY School for Professional Studies. I think that my background in communications and journalism prepared me to engage effectively with people from all walks of life and also gives me an edge when drafting copy for e-blasts, signage and other marketing for the dispensary.

When did Housing Works, Inc. form, and what are the objectives and mission of the non-profit organization? What are the most prevalent issues/social injustices in New York City that the organization is combatting?

Housing Works was founded in 1990 in NYC and was created as a direct response to the HIV/AIDS crisis that ravaged marginalized communities at that time. Our founders Charles King and Keith Cylar believed that in order to fight the AIDS epidemic, stable housing and healthcare should be accessible to those in need. Housing Works and members of ACT UP, a NYC-based activist group, used various methods of advocacy—including passive resistance—to demand better treatment, research and funding for those directly impacted by the dual crisis of HIV/AIDS and homelessness. Their relentless advocacy, outreach and civil disobedience put pressure on government agencies to stop ignoring the countless AIDS related deaths and address the crisis head on.

When did you join the team at Housing Works, and what personally and professionally interested you about working for the organization?

I joined Housing Works in 2015. I have always made it a point to work for companies with integrity that pay it forward. I have a background in retail cosmetics and have worked for brands like MAC Cosmetics who helped raise millions through the MAC AIDS Fund, Bare Minerals that donated a portion of their proceeds to programs that empowered women and girls, and Ulta Beauty (ULTA ) that donated millions towards breast cancer research. I wanted a change from corporate cosmetics and used to frequent Housing Works Thrift Shops. An opportunity arose to join the organization and I decided to go for it. The rest is history!

What retail skills did you learn while working at Housing Works’ thrift store on Crosby Street, and how were those skills transferable to the cannabis industry?

I have a background in retail management, but Housing Works Thrift Shops taught me a lot about culture, history and the arts. I also fine tuned my customer service skills and learned a lot about the importance of CRM and how capturing customer data is crucial to building a successful business. HW Thrift Shops have a membership program that allows us to market to targeted audiences based on their shopping preferences. I used this experience when building out our initial membership rollout at Housing Works Cannabis Co. The management team and I expressed the importance of capturing customer data to our budtenders in order to successfully build our business and ensure brand loyalty.

When did Housing Works Canna Co. open, and how did the store become New York’s first licensed cannabis retailer and delivery service? What was the experience like of being the first in the entire state?

Housing Works Cannabis Co opened on December 29, 2022. We were awarded the first CAURD (Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary) license in the state. CAURD licences were awarded to justice involved individuals who were impacted by the war on drugs, as well as non-profit organizations like us. It was very exciting as well as very challenging to be the first-to-market dispensary in New York. While Housing Works has operated successful retail businesses (our Thrift Shops), cannabis comes with its own nuances, and of course many regulations! We were grateful for all of the support we received from our partners, vendors and community those first few months of operation.

As an established professional in the New York cannabis industry, how would you describe the New York social equity program? Has it truly been impactful in increasing opportunities in the legal cannabis industry for New Yorkers from areas that were previously devastated by the draconian cannabis policies of yesteryear?

While the New York State roll out of the cannabis industry has not been perfect by any means, I do believe it positively impacted many folks, especially those impacted by the war on drugs. New York State made it a point to award the first licenses to social equity applicants—the intent behind that was to give people a fighting chance in an industry that often overlooks smaller brands and retailers.

How are the proceeds of the Housing Works Cannabis Co. used towards the objectives and mission of the Housing Works, Inc. organization?

Our proceeds support healthcare, housing and job training for those affected by HIV/AIDS and homelessness and have helped support thousands of New Yorkers.

Congratulations on opening the NoMad store! Why do you feel that this location is special for the city, and how was the grand opening?

Thank you! NoMad is a great location with a good mix of residents, bars, shopping, restaurants and hotels. It’s also a hop, skip and jump away from 34th street. We thought this was a prime location because of its proximity to the NJ Path, Penn Station, MSG, 34th Street, tourists and New York residents. Many of our customers at the NoMad location stop by on their way home from work or on their lunch breaks. We also have a good mix of tourists that shop with us. The grand opening was great and filled with a lot of energy!

What are some future plans for both the cannabis stores and the greater Housing Works organization?

We plan on continuing to support other CAURD applicants on their journey through the N.Y. cannabis market. We’ll continue to assist them with HR services, budget building and scouting, and securing great retail locations. In the future, we hope to open an additional Housing Works Cannabis Co and continue our work, pouring back into our mission through our dispensaries. We’re currently the only dispensary in New York State where 100% of our proceeds go back into our nonprofit. We also want to continue to advocate for the elimination of 280E, which burdens the entire cannabis industry and prevents us from deducting payroll, rent and utilities from taxable income like our traditional retail counterparts, because cannabis is still considered a Schedule I drug. We are also advocating for the descheduling of cannabis and believe it’s time for the government to make this change.

Thank you for joining us, Sasha! For more information on the Housing Works organization, please visit its website. For information on the Housing Works Cannabis Co, please visit this website.