Cannabis seeds mature into budding plants that sit submersed in 13-gallon buckets of water, nurtured with injections of nutrients, oxygen and artificial sunlight until they bloom, get trimmed, are cured and then packaged for sale.
That is the process that Mammoth Inc., one of Rhode Island’s 70 licensed cannabis cultivators, goes through in delivering its product to the state’s three dispensaries. The company grows plants hydroponically during an expedited 11-week process, producing 24 plants a week on average, yielding up to 24 pounds of product.
From its Warwick-based 7,000-square-foot facility, the company generates about $100,000 to $120,000 in cannabis sales per month.
The operation represents a $1.5 million investment in its facility and equipment, which includes a “veg room” and a “flowering room,” where cannabis is grown and harvested. The strains of cannabis, which have funny names such as Scooby Snacks, Animal Gas, Watermelon Zkittlez and Green Fire OG, are all designed to provide medicinal relief in varying forms.
The business is the brainchild of founder and CEO Spencer Blier, a dedicated and trained technician who feels lucky and blessed to have found a career doing what he loves.
“Every day I think about how lucky I am to be in this position,” he said.
The position is a burgeoning cannabis and media operation that sells medicinal marijuana and merchandise. His company is also entered into the state lottery to obtain one of six dispensary licenses.
Blier, who once was expelled for smoking marijuana in college, pursued multiple career paths before discovering cannabis as a livelihood. A friend suggested they partner on a cultivating business that began as a homegrown operation.
The company’s first patient was Blier’s friend’s mother, who required cannabis to treat Lyme disease. From there, the operation grew to supply a small group of clients. However, the partnership dissolved about a year later, with Blier’s friend departing to pursue a music career.
Blier kept at it, diligently building his business. With the aid of some investors, he established Mammoth Inc.
Blier’s father played a role, purchasing his building. It was not that easy, as it was under contract with another buyer at the time.
“It kept falling through” for various reasons, Blier said.
Then one day when he was driving by, he saw it was available and immediately sought to purchase it.
As for the name, Blier said it was “made up on the spot” when his lawyer was in the process of filing the company’s trade name.
“I hadn’t thought of a name,” he said. “I wanted it to be a one-word or two-word name that creates an image – an adjective or description that could be applied to anything.”
Blier then Googled adjectives, scrolled through the alphabet and when he got to the M, he thought, “That’s it. Originally the name was going to be Mammoth Plants,” he said, before deciding to change it to just Mammoth so it wouldn’t sound like a weed company.
Blier said he did not want the name to box him in a corner. He said he purchased the logo from a website. It was designed for a skateboard apparel company. “So, it all really worked out,” he said.
“I think this whole thing is a blessing,” Blier continued. “I’m religious. I was raised in a Christian household. I very much believe this was a gift from God. I feel very lucky and blessed to work in this space as an artist with a paintbrush to do what I think is cool to do while helping people at the same time.”
OWNER: Spencer Blier
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Cannabis cultivator
LOCATION: 187 Chestnut St., Warwick
EMPLOYEES: 12
YEAR FOUNDED: 2017
ANNUAL REVENUE: $1.3 million
Cassius Shuman is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Shuman@PBN.com.
