Lenny Curtis has worked his way up in the Cannabis industry, setting goals for himself and smashing them year after year. He has experience in the manufacturing side and the retail side of Cannabis, but his passion is with the people. He brings a positive attitude and years of experience to Far & Dotter Timonium every day, taking pride in helping the patients and adult-use customers he serves. From the success story that is his career to the success stories of the people he’s recommended products to, Curtis is a prime example of how great this industry can be.
What first sparked your interest in changing the narrative around Cannabis?
Growing up, I always heard the older generations refer to Cannabis as “reefer” and talking about how it would mess up your brain. They had nothing positive to say about it. Once I was around Cannabis and developed my own opinion on it, I realized how helpful it can actually be for people. I want to show people that this is more than a street drug and help them make decisions about Cannabis for themselves.
Tell me about a memorable interaction with a customer or patient that reinforced your community focus.
Working at Far & Dotter in Timonium, this area caters to elderly patients and a lot of people who are looking to relieve certain ailments. I’ve learned a lot about what people are going through in life, and I’ve made it my goal to have them leave the store with a smile on their face. When I first jumped into my patient care adviser role, there was a customer who was looking for something to help their mother, who was in hospice. They wanted her to feel more calm without using pain medication. I recommended the Achy Eddies, and they said she had a smooth transition without pain. Things like that drive me to keep doing what I’m doing.
What drew you from manufacturing at Curio Wellness to retail?
I wanted to get more involved with face-to-face interactions. During my time in manufacturing, I learned a lot about packaging, filling vapes and making edibles. Something inside me wanted more of a challenge dealing with customers. I want to share my knowledge with the community, and this is the best way to do it.
How has the Cannabis industry shaped your personal life?
I’ve been in the industry for three years now, and every year I have been given the opportunity to grow personally and professionally. I went from manufacturing to inventory at the dispensary to a patient care adviser, and now I’m a patient care adviser lead. This job has taught me a lot about what people don’t see in the retail Cannabis world. It has made me more careful, more responsible, and taught me to slow down sometimes and do things accurately and efficiently.
How has growing up in Baltimore influenced your views on Cannabis stigma?
I feel like whenever people hear anything about Baltimore and Cannabis or other drugs, their brains go straight to “The Wire.” Baltimore is a lot more than boarded-up homes and corrupt police people see on TV. It’s a beautiful city. This city has a lot of heart and a lot of love, and now the public has become a lot more accepting and a lot less critical of Cannabis.
As a lead at Far & Dotter, what part of operations or customer education do you enjoy most?
The interactions with patients, and helping out budtenders following the same path I did. I want to motivate everyone on my team to push through the hard days and interactions. I’m a team player and want to see everyone grow and succeed.
