Andrew Samann
CEO and Principal Consultant, Orion GMP Solutions, Rochester, Michigan, USA
Advice?
Take one step at a time. I knew that I wanted to do applied research in cannabis from the time I got out of the Marines in 2006. It was a time where I couldn't be open about my intentions, and I had to moonlight in the industry while going to school, working as an academic researcher, and as a pharmaceutical Quality Control Chemist. It was frustrating and tore me apart because I felt like I wasn't doing what I was meant to do. It turned out that I absolutely needed the experience at the most basic levels to thoroughly understand the philosophy of science, the scientific method, and performing applied research. All good things take time, so make sure you find the right mentors along the way, tell them your long term intentions, and master the skills for the level you're at until you're ready to take the next leap.
If you weren’t working in the cannabis industry, what would you be doing?
I would likely be sailing full time, slowly visiting every interesting port around the world.
