A Day at TerrAscend: Part 2 – Interview with CEO Greg Rochlin

After spending the previous day at their Alternative Treatment Center (ATC), which consists of The Apothecarium and their Boonton grow facility. We had the opportunity to speak with Greg Rochlin, CEO of TerrAscend Northeast. Who spoke about his experience in the legal cannabis industry. The company’s entrance into New Jersey, and the future of cannabis in the Garden State.

Meet Greg

Greg Rochlin has an impressive business background as an adventurous serial entrepreneur, having started his first company in his early twenties. Greg has been involved in several industries over the course of his career, including recycling and aluminum trading. And is currently leading several companies in wine, real estate, and now healthcare.After a friend sparked his interest in medical marijuana, an industry where he had no prior experience. Greg invested in a Maryland-based startup and garnered a ton of knowledge during the group’s pursuit of a license. He coupled this with his own private research and study of the plant and its multiple uses.Then, a couple of years later, in 2016, he partnered with some friends, including a group of pharma experts, to set up Pennsylvania-based Ilera Healthcare. Greg’s operational expertise from prior roles equipped and qualified him for the position of CEO.Ilera Healthcare was one of 12 cannabis growers/processors licensed in Pennsylvania in 2017 and one of only five that are vertically integrated, allowing them to cultivate, process as well as operate a dispensary. Quite interestingly, of those five, only Ilera was homegrown in PA, which highlights the enormity of this feat.As a two-time cancer survivor and a philanthropist, Greg is passionate about the healthcare sector and eager to bring the best treatments to people struggling with various health conditions. In his words, “I have a great affinity for the healthcare industry. And I see medical marijuana as a great alternative for many traditional medicines. He is a board member of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. Which is the local hospital where he treated for cancer and the same hospital where he and his kids born. Greg views his years of healthcare experience - both personally and professionally with Sinai - as great background and preparation for his venture into the cannabis industry.

Ilera Healthcare and TerrAscend

Ilera grew to become the largest grower, processor, and supplier in Pennsylvania, with 150,000 square feet of facilities and supplying 100% of the medical dispensaries in the state. And the company has even bigger plans for New Jersey.Led by a team with deep pharma roots, the people behind Ilera Healthcare fully embraced the challenge of providing customer satisfaction in the demanding medical market. While staying open to the idea of getting involved in the adult-use market. Then, in 2019, with a view to expand its operations and serve both the alternative medicine and recreational cannabis markets. Ilera sold to TerrAscend, a global cannabis company licensed in the U.S., Canada, and the European Union. Greg currently heads the Northeast Region of TerrAscend’s operations, which currently encompasses Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

“Thinking Globally and Acting Locally”

TerrAscend’s approach is to do what’s best for each state it operates in. “Each state is its own island as it pertains to cannabis,” Greg says, discussing how TerrAscend will operate in New Jersey.TerrAscend looks to team up with other NJ cannabis outlets to educate patients and potential consumers on the benefits of cannabis. “We want as many good operators in the state as possible because we’re not competing against each other. We’re competing against the illicit market,” Greg said.The company is also highly interested in giving back and positively impacting communities of color that have disproportionately affected by the “War on Drugs” over the years. Donating to and sponsoring initiatives that improve the lives of the children and adults in these communities. Under Greg’s leadership, among others, the company has supported:

• Living Beyond Breast Cancer
• Autism Speaks
• United for Her - Women's Leadership Conference
• The Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival
• Donating over 400lbs of food for the holidays to local food banks in PA and NJ
• Cooks Who Care
• The Pennsylvania Diversity Council
• The Urban Affairs Coalition

We had to literally stop Greg from listing the initiatives, organizations, and projects that the company has funded and supported over the years! We are so excited to see that same energy come to New Jersey! 

The Future of the Cannabis Industry

Greg is highly optimistic about the impact that cannabis can have on healthcare in the next five to ten years.“Cannabis has been used as medicine for over 3,000 years. Cannabis has been around way before aspirin and opioids,” he said.Greg admits that a lot of people genuinely need mainstream painkillers and use them as they should. However, their addictive nature is a major setback.“I see medical marijuana as a great alternative for many medicines because of its anti-inflammatory property and its ability to really work on chronic pain.”Greg also stresses the importance of cannabis for dealing with anxiety, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.“We’re living through a global pandemic, and cannabis has shown us the positive impact that it can have on people from all walks of life.”“There are more and more uses for cannabis. We see a lot of pharmaceutical companies eventually coming into the industry.  Increased access and availability positively impacts the industry and the population.”“We’re an advocate of proper use of all therapeutics, including cannabis. I’m very proud of what we do for a living and the products we put out and expect cannabis to become more mainstream and acceptable.” 

Advice for Cannabis Startups

Greg admits how complicated the cannabis industry currently is to navigate with the regulations in place. Looking back on his journey, he attributes his success to teamwork and the quality of people he surrounds himself with. And he advises the cannabis entrepreneur looking to scale their business to take that to heart.”“My best advice would be to make sure that you have a knowledgeable staff and people that you can really trust,” he said. “Making sure that the team has the passion and knowledge is critical. Passion, knowledge, and hard work are the keys to success.”It's safe to say that TerrAscend is an organization built on principles.  From the CEO to the Wellness Associates, the message simply does not change. They committed to delivering the best products and services with their patient's best interests at heart. We are excited to have them in the Garden State and can’t wait to see what the future has in store.