Ones to Watch 2020: Darcey Trescone

The inaugural Greenway Ones to Watch class were nominated by their peers as those will be some of the most responsible for setting the tone of Missouri’s newest industry. From activists to consultants to operators themselves, the following industry influencers are responsible for determining not only how the industry overcomes the obstacles of 2020, but how the industry will be better for it. The same questions were asked of all; submitted answers and related information edited for grammar and clarity.

NAME: Darcey Trescone, RN, BSN

COMPANY: Kintsugi Solutions, LLC

OPERATING FROM: Springfield

TITLE: Co-Founder

BACKGROUND: Darcey has worked in the healthcare industry for over 25 years, with a focus on regulatory compliance, technology, operations, and strategic growth for organizations across the US. She has held senior executive positions within national consulting firms and international technology companies. As Co-Founder of Kintsugi solutions, a cannabis consulting and compliance firm, she continues to work closely with cannabis and healthcare organizations across the US, focusing on regulatory compliance, growth strategies, and safe patient care practices. Darcey has published articles in multiple trade magazines, conducted educational sessions for state and national trade associations, and is presently a student at the University of Maryland’s Master of Science and Cannabis Therapeutics graduate program. Recently she was nominated and elected to MoCannTrade’s Advisory Board and the Healthcare Education and Training Committee.

Why cannabis?

I moved to Missouri two years ago from Las Vegas, so cannabis has been a part of my life for many years now. The science behind this plant and the impact it can have on the different healthcare populations within our communities is fascinating to me. As a nurse, I spent years working in home health, hospice, behavioral health, and substance abuse. I believe that cannabis has a place in healthcare, especially in many of these settings where the medications used have unwanted, sometimes harmful, side effects, are highly addictive and do not enhance the quality of life for our patients. As a business professional, I have always enjoyed working in highly regulated industries that require strong advocacy and process, which is what the cannabis industry is all about.

What is your vision of the industry in Missouri?

The number of medical marijuana cards issued to date in Missouri has exceeded estimates and continues to rise. I would expect that we will see this trend continue as access to medicinal cannabis becomes available with the opening of dispensaries and delivery services.

As a newer industry, we will need to monitor closely existing and proposed regulations to ensure they are in line with positive outcomes for both businesses and patients. Strong advocacy efforts will be an on-going requirement, similar to healthcare.

Healthcare professionals will seek out more education and research to better understand what their patients are utilizing. Still, the involvement of many healthcare professionals will be slow-moving until cannabis is no longer a Schedule 1 drug at the federal level.

Within a couple of years, possibly sooner, we will likely see Missouri enter the recreational cannabis space, which will create more jobs within our communities and additional funding for state programs. Recreational or adult-use cannabis programs will also generate more regulations requiring oversight and compliance.

What opportunity/opportunities does the industry create in Missouri?

The cannabis industry creates multiple positive opportunities in Missouri. The excise tax collected on cannabis sales alone provides significant dollars to state budgets. For example, in Washington state, they received almost $315 million in 2018 from the excise tax, which they used to fund Medicaid programs that secured health insurance for nearly 1.8 million low-income Washington residents. Each state chooses how to utilize the money within their state budget. In Missouri, this influx of funds will go to much-needed programs for our Veterans. These funds will create opportunities for Veterans, as well as the jobs needed to facilitate these programs.

Within the Missouri cannabis industry, we will see thousands of job opportunities over the next few years within the vertical chain of production (cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and dispensaries). We can also expect growth in ancillary businesses that service the Missouri cannabis industry, creating more jobs in areas such as banking, accounting, compliance, consulting services, logistics, marketing, technology, security, and more.

Overall, cannabis in Missouri is positive for our communities and the economy. We are providing alternatives for treatment to our healthcare populations with marijuana, funding programs to help our Veterans, and creating new job markets.

What is one thing you wish all Missourians knew about cannabis?

Cannabis is still a schedule 1 drug at the federal level, and we must follow the rules to possess this substance legally. As the Missouri cannabis industry opens, it is vital to remember this and act accordingly. Awareness of how we introduce this medicine into our community is critical in protecting patients and ensuring much-needed research on the benefits of cannabis occurs.