August 2026 Update

Hey Inner Circle,

It’s been a full and meaningful few months since my last newsletter in May.

Back then, I was still in the fellowship, working to complete my business plan and pitch deck while also preparing to record a commercial and thinking through what it would really mean to own and operate a dispensary. I was having real conversations with my family about what investment in the cannabis space could look like, figuring out who I could lean on for mentorship and accountability, and trying to build the right circle of people around the vision.

In June, the fellowship came to an end with our graduation. It was an incredible experience. Still a little surreal. After spending nearly a year immersed in the fellowship, it was strange to suddenly arrive at the end of something that had become such an important part of my life.

I was nervous about sharing my words at graduation, but I was also excited because I believed deeply in what I had written. I left the fellowship feeling incredibly grateful. The experience helped me see myself more clearly, what I’m capable of, and what I want to contribute through social entrepreneurship. 

It also helped me recognize my strengths and, just as importantly, the kinds of people I need to partner with to create the impact I want to make.

In July, my family and I took a month-long road trip to Bend, Oregon. I ran a lot, spent time with family, and had the chance to slow down and enjoy being present.

I came home with a lot of energy, but also a greater sense of humility about what lies ahead. This journey continues to feel both exciting and humbling.

And lately, it feels like so many things are beginning to come together.

The relationships I’ve built over the past two or three years in the cannabis space, the consulting work I’ve been doing, the friendships and connections that go back much further, and the work I’ve done supporting organizations with team development, leadership development, strategy, and social impact - all of these pieces are starting to align.

I think part of this season has been about getting to know the different parts of myself and understanding how they fit together.

One opportunity I’m especially excited about is supporting events and gathering for Sidekick for Good. It’s giving me a firsthand look at philanthropy, fundraising, donor engagement, and how organizations communicate their social impact. I’m learning a lot simply by being in the room and observing how this work happens.

I’ve also started working at Really Dope, a dispensary in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. This is giving me the opportunity to experience dispensary operations firsthand before investing significant capital into building one myself. It’s an invaluable learning experience that’s helping me better understand what it will take to build Itz Personal.

I’m also beginning to expand the consulting, facilitation, and strategy work I’ve been doing in the cannabis space. I’m offering workshops focused on team building, leadership development, strategy, and mission-driven strategy. I believe there is a real need for this work.

Many cannabis businesses understandably spend a tremendous amount of energy focused on regulation, compliance, and finances. But there is another side of building a sustainable business: the human side.

How do you attract and retain good people? How do you develop leaders? How do you build a healthy team culture? How do you make sure the people doing the work are treated with the same intentionality that goes into the business itself?

I want to help the cannabis industry answer those questions.

At the heart of all of this is a growing focus on values-driven spending and building a culture of social equity in cannabis.

That’s where I see my work coming together: connecting values, people, strategy, and impact.

There’s a lot on my mind right now, but for the first time in a while, the different pieces feel less like separate projects and more like parts of the same journey.

I’m excited to keep learning, building relationships, experimenting, and figuring out what comes next.

Going forward, I plan to send out a quarterly newsletter (make sure you’re subscribed!), with the next one coming in the fall. In the meantime, keep an eye out for occasional emails and updates along the way. And if you haven’t caught up on my previous newsletters and blog posts, head over to the website and take a look. There’s a lot of the journey there, and I’d love for you to continue following along.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey.

More to come.

In community,

Tyjuan Morrow

Founder, Itz Personal