Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Fontein.
Hi Lauren, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a cannabis attorney and founder of The Artist Tree, a cannabis brand with 6 retail stores throughout California and a consumption lounge in West Hollywood. I got into the cannabis industry in 2009 when I started a medical marijuana edible business. I worked with many dispensary owners and partnered with a couple of them – Avi and Mitch Kahan – in 2018 to open new adult-use cannabis stores. We created The Artist Tree brand to highlight the connection between art and cannabis.
Our locations showcase local art exhibits in a fun and creative shopping environment. Each location features artwork from artists who live and work nearby and all artwork is for sale by the artists, meaning we do not take any portion of the sale proceeds. We have three retail stores in LA in West Hollywood, Beverly Grove, Koreatown. We also have stores in Riverside, Fresno and Oxnard with more coming soon.
I serve as our Chief Compliance Officer, handling legal matters, marketing, art and community benefits.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our greatest obstacle in each city is getting through the very confusing, cumbersome, costly and complicated licensing process. Most cities have a lengthy and competitive application process as the first step in being eligible for a license, which typically takes 6-12 months. After completing that, each city typically requires us to obtain a conditional use permit and building plan approval, which is extremely costly and time-consuming. Although The Artist Tree executive team is very experienced and skilled at navigating these processes, we still run into frequent obstacles due to administrative hurdles imposed by cities and counties along with very onerous operating rules that require us to spend over $1 million in start-up costs to open a location.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Artist Tree. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Artist Tree is a one-of-a-kind cannabis brand that celebrates community and creativity. I created The Artist Tree brand in 2018 with the goal of shattering stereotypes surrounding cannabis consumption while promoting local artists.
Each of our retail locations (currently 6 with more on the way) functions as a hybrid between an art gallery and cannabis boutique. We showcase exhibits from local artwork and the sale proceeds of the art go back to the artists. My partners and I put a lot of thought and effort into the design of each location to highlight artwork while providing a welcoming yet elevated shopping experience.
In addition to our retail stores, we opened one of California’s only cannabis consumption lounges in 2022 – The Studio Lounge in West Hollywood, which features table service, a full food menu, and many unique ways to consume cannabis. Like our stores, our lounge promotes local artists, both visual and performing artists, through art exhibits and live performances. We offer a wide variety of programming that pairs perfectly with cannabis, including paint classes, yoga, comedy shows, drag shows, burlesque and more!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
My first stroke of career-related luck occurred in 2009, which I shifted from a corporate attorney to a cannabis professional. I had the good fortune of being approached by my friend, Mitch Kahan, who encouraged me to shift careers and begin a cannabis edible manufacturing business. In 2018, I also was very fortunate to officially partner with Mitch, Avi Kahan, and Aviv Halimi to create The Artist Tree brand. Out of over 120 applicants, our company was selected by the city of West Hollywood to open a cannabis retail store and consumption lounge. Riding the momentum of that accomplishment, we have since opened 5 more retail stores and will be opening more in 2023.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theartisttree.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartisttree/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-artist-tree-marijuana-dispensary-and-weed-delivery-westhollywood-west-hollywood
Image Credits
Justin Allen (photo with me), Wonho Lee (photos of consumption lounge), LA360VR (photos of store with artwork)
