Britt Buckner
Britt Buckner
Mike Hassell
Mike Hassell
Britt Buckner (they/them) is a passionate cannabis advocate with a Masters degree in Human Resource Management and extensive hospitality experience having worked over 15 years in the restaurant industry.
Born and raised in Asheville, NC, Britt moved to Queens, NY in 2017 with a dream to work in the legal cannabis industry. Currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, Britt has had the opportunity to participate in the advocacy of decriminalization & legalization as well as work in the medical & adult-use cannabis spaces in the NYC market.
In 2022, Britt played a pivotal role in the successful opening of the first adult-use dispensary in NY state while gaining valuable insight into the operational aspects of this new and emerging market. Seeing a need to help others navigate opening dispensaries in the state, Britt and their co-worker at the time, Mike Hassell, decided to start offering their experience, advice, and connections via consulting services.
Having grown up in the mountains, Britt feels very connected to the outdoors and is always finding ways to maintain that connection while living in the city. When they aren’t in a local dispensary, Britt can be found in Prospect Park birding, walking the trails, or playing softball.
Mike Hassell
(he/him)
Born in Nashville, TN, and raised in Greensboro, NC, Mike initially came to New York to work in IT, providing high-level support to companies including Tradition North America and MYD Market.
Introduced to cannabis when he was in high school, Mike’s interest in--and passion for-- cannabis catapulted into high gear when New York State legalized cannabis for medical use in 2016. Mike’s start in the industry began when he worked for Columbia Care (now the Cannabist Company), one of the first integrated registered organizations in the country. While there, Mike quickly gained mastery of regulations, in particular compliance, issued by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).
With the passage of the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) in 2021, with its emphasis on issuing first-round dispensary licenses to justice-involved individuals who suffered indignities from the war on drugs before legalization and to nonprofit organizations through the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program (CAURD), Mike jumped right in and was recruited to become the first Co-Manager of Housing Works Cannabis Co several weeks before its opening. Mike’s IT, operations, in-depth knowledge of OCM regulations, relationships with Adult-Use Conditional Cultivators (AUCCs) and Adult Use Conditional Processors (AUCPs), and strong interpersonal skills were pivotal in enabling Housing Works Cannabis Co to be the first adult-use retail dispensary to open in the state—on time and within budget. Housing Works Cannabis Co went on to sell over $12 million worth of product in the first six months.
After their success at the store together, Mike partnered with Britt, a passionate cannabis connoisseur and colleague from Housing Works with a strong background in technology, hospitality, and human relations to launch Elevated Strategies, a cannabis consultancy devoted to assisting CAURD and general adult-use dispensary licensees navigate the complicated landscape of New York State. Elevated Strategies educates dispensary owners on cannabis laws and regulations, provides full-service hands-on support in setting up efficient, cost-effective front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house operations, and helps dispensaries create a unique shopping experience that attracts customers and cultivates customer loyalty within their communities.
