Jesce Horton’s story proves that setbacks can be the setup for something greater. He lost a scholarship and corporate job opportunities because of cannabis. But instead of being defeated, he accepted rejection as redirection and found a career working with the plant. Now, as the founder of LOWD, he’s a leading advocate for Black ownership, representation, and real equity in the cannabis industry.
Jesce shares how quitting his lucrative job to grow weed in his basement led to a thriving career in cannabis. His industrial engineering background gave him the tools to develop smart, sustainable systems, helping him scale LOWD into an award-winning cannabis production company. He also opens up about his partnership with NBA legend Carmelo Anthony to develop Stay Melo and launch Grand National Agency, a platform designed to uplift others in the space.
On this episode of For Good podcast, Joseph "JoJo" Simmons and Jesce dive into:
- The first time he smoked and how it changed his path forever.
- The book that shifted his mindset and set him on the road to success.
- Why it's important for celebs like Carmelo Anthony to form strategic, intentional partnerships when entering the cannabis business.
Links and Resources:
- Follow @jescehorton on Instagram
- Follow @thelowd on Instagram
- Follow @forgoodpodcast on Instagram
Subscribe to the For Good podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Welcome to For Good
- 01:45 Why the Cannabis Industry Needs More Black Leaders
- 02:47 My First Smoke: A Life-Changing Connection
- 03:34 Sneaking Weed: My Parents Found Out
- 06:20 How Cannabis Helped Me Ace School
- 07:44 Failed the Drug Test and Lost It All
- 09:26 Amsterdam Changed Everything
- 11:47 From Engineer to Weed Grower: Taking the Leap
- 14:10 What If I Worked on Something I Loved?
- 16:31 How Engineering Made Me a Better Grower
- 20:26 The Biggest Misconception About The Business
- 19:54 Founding the Minority Cannabis Business Association
- 22:33 The Three Pillars of Equity in Cannabis
- 23:32 Using Cannabis to Create Real Change
- 27:27 Teaming up with Carmelo Anthony
- 31:36 Corporate Cannabis Doesn’t Get the Culture
- 31:54 The Industry’s Biggest Problem Today
- 35:04 Managing Mental Health as a Cannabis Entrepreneur
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.