Just be careful who you believe.

I never thought I’d be writing this, but here I am — raw, honest, and still trying to process the weight of another professional letdown in an industry I’ve given so much to.

Working in cannabis, I’ve seen my fair share of hypocrisy, chaos, and unprofessionalism across multiple companies. But this most recent experience was the one that pushed me over the edge — not because it was new, but because it was familiar. A pattern I’ve seen too many times before.

I’ve shown up early, stayed late, worked events, and missed out on family milestones — like my mother’s 60th birthday — all in the name of loyalty to teams I believed in. I took roles that asked for passion and creativity and gave everything I had, only to be met with mixed signals, dishonesty, and eventually, silence followed by sudden termination.

In this last role, I was told I “displayed intoxication” — because I laid on the ground to take a video and look at the sky after an exhausting event shift, while clocked out and completely sober. I was told my performance was lacking, even when I was following directions and had been reassured by coworkers that my actions were fine. And I was accused of speaking negatively about my position, when in reality, I expressed a desire for more challenge, more responsibility — more growth.

None of this was ever addressed with me directly. No coaching. No clarity. Just stored grievances, saved and recycled later to justify a decision already made.

Meanwhile, I watched as actual unprofessional behavior was shrugged off or celebrated — department leads posting videos of themselves and employees shaking ass on social media, leaving some dispensary partners confused about who was even in charge. I've seen companies lie to retailers about flavors, make excuses for out-of-stock products, and withhold commission from their sales teams. And somehow I'm the one labeled unprofessional?

This isn't just one company. It’s a recurring theme: performative leadership, lack of accountability, and poor communication wrapped in the guise of "company culture."

So here’s what I’ll say to anyone trying to grow in this industry — or any industry that claims to value passion and hard work: Be careful who you work for. Pay attention to the red flags. Ask the hard questions. And never give so much of yourself to a company that wouldn’t even offer you the courtesy of a conversation.

You deserve transparency. You deserve respect. And you deserve better than being punished for caring too much.