Enjoy this interview series recorded live on the MJBizCon 2025 show floor. In this episode, Respect My Region catches up with Tyler Mackers, the founder of Kushology, a newly opened cannabis retailer in San Francisco.
Why this episode matters (even if you’re not a retailer)
This is one of those conversations that’s useful for almost anyone in cannabis—brands, distributors, and operators—because it’s a clean look at what retail actually feels like right now:
- Long days, thin teams, and constant problem-solving.
- Local realities like banking friction and operational overhead.
- A clear ask from retail on how vendors can be easier to work with.
Meet Kushology: a new SF shop with a local footprint
Kushology opened recently in San Francisco and is located next to San Francisco City College, near the local landmark Beeps Burgers (as described in the interview). Tyler shares they’ve been open roughly a month at the time of filming.
Tyler is also candid about being 25 years old and putting in 16-hour days to get the store running.
“Kushology”: the name is the positioning
Tyler explains the name choice in plain terms: he wants people to know what they’re walking into.
Kushology is framed as “the study of kush”—a slightly more sophisticated experience where customers can learn something, not just buy something.
For brands, that signals something important: this isn’t only a price-and-promo store. It’s trying to build trust and identity.
Why San Francisco, despite the noise?
The host asks the obvious question: why open a new store in San Francisco when so many people complain about the market?
Tyler’s answer is simple and direct:
- He grew up there.
- He’s been entrepreneurial since school.
- He believes early positioning matters if federal legalization eventually unlocks bigger opportunity.
He also pushes back on the “saturated industry” narrative. To him, saturation signals demand—his job is to outcompete nearby options.
Retail reality check: he’s doing every job
Tyler describes the current operating mode as all-hands-on-deck—because sometimes “hands” means just you.
He lists the roles he covers personally: budtender, security, owner-operator, invoices, and even handling cash logistics.
He also mentions that banking is not straightforward, and that they sometimes drive to Santa Rosa to make deposits.
For vendors, this is the context you should assume when you walk into a newer independent shop. Time is the scarcest resource.
A clear message to vendors: help the daily deal engine
When asked what brands can do to be more respectful and helpful, Tyler doesn’t ask for more meetings or more merch.
He asks for collaboration on daily deals, including credits that make promos possible.
He frames it in a way every sales team should hear:
A strong deal can move multiple units per customer trip—so the “cost” of supporting the promo can turn into faster velocity and repeat demand. pasted
If you sell into California retail, this is a useful reminder:
Retailers aren’t only buying product—they’re buying sell-through support.
What’s selling: Tyler’s standouts and “starting five”
Tyler calls out a few names that are resonating in his store:
- Snowtail, which he describes as a standout flower brand and refers to as “the last grow in San Francisco” in the conversation. pasted
- Cold Fire, which he calls a top-shelf cartridge brand that customers often buy multiple units of at a time. pasted
- Bay Area staples he mentions include Fig Farms and Up North when he’s asked for a “starting five” selection. pasted
Even if you don’t carry those specific brands, the pattern is useful:
- Flower still anchors the identity.
- Cartridges that deliver consistent experience earn repeat baskets.
- Regional trust matters—“staples” win shelf space.
Tyler’s message to the community
Tyler says cannabis feels like it’s been in transition, and he wants Kushology to become that dependable “default spot” in San Francisco—somewhere locals can point to and say, “Let’s go there.”
That’s not a small goal. It’s the difference between being a store and being a neighborhood habit.
Sponsorship note
This blog is part of the Respect My Region interview coverage from MJBizCon 2025. Canna Brand Solutions supported the broader series as a sponsor.
In this specific episode, the host also gives an on-camera shout-out to Deep Roots Partners as a marketing and e-commerce support partner.
