We Fumbled Too: Why Vulnerability At Paragon, Is Our Superpower in the Cannabis Industry

Let’s talk about something you don’t hear vendors say nearly enough in cannabis:
We messed up.
We didn’t get everything right the first time. And we’re not afraid to admit it.

Because in an industry built on trust, resilience, and survival—what really earns respect isn’t perfection. It’s honesty. It’s ownership. It’s having the guts to say, “We could’ve done better—and here’s what we learned.”

That’s the kind of partner we want to be. And if you’ve ever been burned by a provider who vanished the moment things got tough, you know how rare that actually is.

This isn’t a highlight reel. This is the truth, and it’s the reason we’re better today than we were yesterday.

We Thought Being “Helpful” Was Enough—It Wasn’t

In the early days, we focused so much on being responsive that we forgot to be proactive.
We thought answering questions quickly was enough. That solving problems as they arose made us solid. And for a while, it did.

But then cannabis clients started coming to us already in crisis—mid-audit, post-bank closure, stuck in systems that didn’t speak their language. They needed more than polite support—they needed a partner with a plan.

We didn’t always have that ready.
We had knowledge. We had heart. But we didn’t yet have the full infrastructure or cannabis-specific protocols in place to say, “We’ve seen this exact fire before. Here’s how to walk through it.”

That gap? It cost us. And it taught us.

Because good intentions don’t keep you out of court.
Responsiveness doesn’t rebuild trust.
And “we’re learning as we go” isn’t enough when payroll errors mean lost licenses and missed livelihoods.

Today, we lead with preparedness, not just politeness. We build guardrails, not just help desks. And we’ll never wait until something breaks to show up again.

We Underestimated the Weight Cannabis CEOs Carry

We used to send out reports with three-day lags.
We didn’t realize that by the time you see a payroll error on Friday, your staff’s already on edge, your bank might’ve flagged a transfer, and your peace of mind is already shot.

It wasn’t until we sat across from cannabis founders in emergency meetings—exhausted, frustrated, fielding employee complaints—that we understood how heavy this all is.

And how much of that weight you’re often carrying alone.

We saw HR leads crying in their cars because the systems weren’t syncing.
We saw owners begging for help while juggling cash payments and compliance audits at the same time.
We saw entire teams thinking about switching providers, not because they were looking for luxury—but because they were desperate for consistency.

That shook us. And it changed how we show up.

Now, our internal question isn’t just, “Did we do it?”
It’s, “Did we lighten the load?”

Because if you’re still losing sleep, still managing risk solo, still playing defense every week—then we haven’t done our job.

We Thought We Had to Be Perfect to Be Trusted—Turns Out, That Was a Lie

The cannabis space has too many polished pitches and not enough real ones.
We thought that in order to compete with corporate payroll giants, we had to mirror them—perfect decks, airtight presentations, shiny demos.

But in doing that, we hid our real power:
We get this industry. We know the weight. We’ve felt the burnout.
We’ve lost partners to stigma. We’ve watched banks turn on clients without warning. We’ve made mistakes trying to do things “the traditional way.”

And we’re not afraid to say it anymore.

Because what we’ve learned is this:

Vulnerability builds more trust than a pitch deck ever could.
Being honest about what we didn’t know made us smarter.
And holding ourselves accountable made our partnerships stronger.

We’re not here to fake it. We’re here to get it right—even if that means showing you the messy parts of how we got here.

What Being Better Actually Looks Like Now

We rebuilt our systems with cannabis at the center—not as an add-on.
We created compliance workflows that reflect your actual challenges.
We added proactive alerts, redundancy protocols, and state-by-state policy support.

We hold our team accountable not just to response time—but to relevance.
If someone can’t explain 280E, misclassification risks, or what to do when your bank ghosted you mid-week? They’re not on your support line.

We show up.
At MJBiz. At HR Summit. In your inbox. On your worst days and your best.

Because being better doesn’t mean being flashy.
It means being there. With truth. With clarity. With solutions.

And we’ll keep evolving. Because this industry demands it. And so do you.

FAQ: What Cannabis Clients Deserve to Know (That Most Vendors Won’t Admit)

Q: Why do most payroll providers struggle with cannabis compliance?
Most payroll companies were built for conventional businesses—not high-risk, cash-heavy, constantly regulated industries like cannabis. They weren’t built for 280E, for banking turbulence, or for real-time adaptability. And many won’t invest in cannabis-specific infrastructure because they still see the industry as “too risky” or “not worth it.”
→ Want to see who actually supports cannabis? Check out the NCIA's Member Directory.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake vendors make with cannabis clients?
Treating cannabis like it’s any other vertical. That mindset causes everything from pricing inaccuracies to legal exposure. For example, failing to classify your budtenders correctly or not understanding your state-specific wage regs could result in major lawsuits.
→ SHRM explains how non-compliant HR practices are one of the most common cannabis business risks: SHRM Cannabis Workplace Guide.

Q: How do I know if my provider’s being real with me?
Start by asking how many cannabis clients they serve. Ask if they know your state’s employment regs. Ask what happens if your bank account gets shut down. If they freeze, deflect, or can’t answer quickly—that’s your answer.
→ Here's a breakdown of real-world cannabis banking issues via Leafly.

Q: Can vulnerability actually build trust in B2B partnerships?
Yes—and it’s backed by data. A study by Harvard Business Review found that leaders who show appropriate vulnerability “create a culture of psychological safety, strengthen team collaboration, and increase loyalty.” It’s true for vendors too.
→ Harvard Business Review: The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership

You Deserve a Partner Who’s Grown Through the Fire—Not One Who Pretends They’ve Never Been Burned

If you’ve been burned by a vendor before…
If you’ve been ghosted when you needed support…
If you’ve felt like you had to figure everything out alone…

We see you. We’ve been you. And we’re not here to pretend we’re perfect.
We’re here to be present. Consistent. Transparent. Cannabis-committed.

Because trust isn’t built through polish. It’s built through presence.
And we’re proud to say—we’ve earned our way to that place.

Resources to Rebuild, Refocus, and Reclaim Your Time

You’ve made it through the hard truths. Now here are some tools to help make your next steps easier, clearer, and fully in your control.

🧠 NCIA Member Directory
Want to see who’s actually walking the walk in cannabis? Use this directory to find vetted vendors and community-aligned partners.
https://thecannabisindustry.org/membership-directory/

📘 SHRM Cannabis Workplace Guide
Essential reading for HR leaders who want to build protective, progressive workplace policies that hold up in cannabis-specific environments.
https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/topics/marijuana-cannabis-workplace

💸 IRS Worker Classification 101
Don’t let misclassification wreck your business. This IRS breakdown shows you what to look for when classifying contractors vs. employees.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/worker-classification-101-employee-or-independent-contractor

🏦 Leafly on Cannabis Banking Access
A no-fluff explanation of why banking remains hard—and what real support should look like when navigating it.
https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/cannabis-banking-safe-banking-act

🧾 PayNW Cannabis Payroll Best Practices
A practical, operations-focused read to help you align your payroll process with cannabis-specific challenges and compliance goals.
https://www.paynw.com/blog/payroll-best-practices-for-cannabis-businesses

💬 Harvard Business Review: The Power of Vulnerability
This research-backed piece proves that transparency and humility aren’t just good leadership traits—they’re business essentials.
https://hbr.org/2017/09/why-leaders-need-to-show-more-emotion

Tangible Next Steps (No Pressure, Just Power)

✅ Audit Your Current Setup
Take 20 minutes this week to review your provider's cannabis experience, your classification practices, and your HR documentation process.

✅ Bookmark These Links
Keep this resource list handy. Share it with your team. Build from it. It’s here to lighten the load, not add to it.

✅ Book a No-BS Clarity Call
Whether you’re in crisis mode or just curious, we’ll walk you through what’s working, what’s risky, and what’s possible. Zero pressure. All perspective.
Let's Talk! →

✅ Keep Showing Up
You’re already doing the hard part—caring. And in an industry that often tries to rush or exploit, that alone makes you a disruptor.

The fact that you’re still here, still learning, and still choosing growth? That’s heroic.

We’re honored to walk beside you.