Until recently, very few people understood what it takes to operate a business in a constricting economy and in a time of hardship.  Running and growing a small family-owned business is challenging enough in good times--but thriving in times of stress and duress takes sacrifice from everyone in the organization. 

The cannabis industry has had its fair share of trying times in general.  But, if you operate in Sonoma County, there have been added layers to what is already a problematic landscape to navigate.  From constraints placed on a policy level on a regulatory standpoint to the devastating years of wildfires in Sonoma County (one of which decimated LEGION's sun-grown farm in 2017), to the vape crisis created by non-regulated black market producers that had negative impacts on the regulated market, we've developed the skills it takes to stay resilient during hard times. Now, we face a world-altering pandemic that we are currently living in on a day-to-day basis. 

 “If you are in the California cannabis industry and have been since before the passing of Prop 64, you have known hardship to get to this point.”     

Photographed: LEGION sun-grown farm in the aftermath of the 2017 Sonoma Fires.

At the Legion of Bloom, we are a family-owned and operated business that has always valued the experience above all else.  We do not invest in flash and glam. We focus on crafting the very best product at the best price for our loyal fans.  We also value our team as much as we value our loyal customer base.  We go out of our way to explain why we do things and what each member's role brings to the organization.  We consider ourselves a family, but we treat our responsibilities like we are all part of a professional sports team.  Your family will let the little things slide by, but if you are not pulling your weight on the court or the field, your fellow players will let you know it and hold you accountable.  This mentality has created a company culture where everyone shows up to bring their A-game every day.  

We run a lean organization that has allowed us to stay steady in the face of adversity and pivot quickly when needed. 

This determination and agility is present in every department at the LEGION.  Still, the last several weeks have tried and tested our production, distribution, and cultivation teams in ways that no one could have foreseen, and like any great athlete, they have all risen to the challenge.   

As we manage both a remote workforce and various teams on-site at our Santa Rosa and Oakland facilities, here are a few things that we have focused on to continue to thrive during these pressing times. 

1) Take Care of our People/Team Members 

• Implementing new policies to keep individuals safe and to ensure proper physical distancing in departments has inspired us to move from an assembly line style of manufacturing to a more individualized step-by-step production line. 

• In distribution, our drivers are the tip of the spear, and in an effort to protect them and their families from COVID-19, we have taken significant steps to keep them safe, purchasing face masks and sanitization supplies for them to use in the field. 

   

2) Get Creative with Problem-Solving

• Team members have gladly volunteered to come in on the weekends, giving their time off to meet the needs of our retail partners and consumers leading up to the week of 420.  

• In the warehouse, the fulfillment team has been hard at work, making sure orders go out on time. Like our manufacturing team, many of them have been putting in long days to do so. 

• At our cultivation facility to address the expectations of the project and keep it running smoothly; they have created different shifts to minimize the number of team members needed onsite at any one time.

3) Prepare for Uncertainty 

• Each Department Director and Team Lead has begun going over their SOP documents, revamping and updating them as needed to stay current with new procedures.

• Team Leads have also started training key team members on specific tasks to create an overlap in skill sets if there is a need for themselves or a specialized team member to quarantine or take time off to care for a loved one.

• Team Leads are seeing employees rise to the occasion in ways we'd never dreamed possible, and we couldn't be more proud of the collaboration we've seen during this time of crisis.

Everyone at LEGION is working together to remain agile and flexible with their thinking and processes to find that much-needed balance of safety vs. efficiency while we navigate this current Coronavirus pandemic. We would not be where we are today without the tireless efforts of the entire LEGION team! 

We are also very grateful to be considered an essential business during the pandemic. To be honest, without the ability to provide for the cannabis community, and without the support of it, it would be hard to survive this most trying of times.  

We're doing everything we can to ensure that when California does get back to business, there will be opportunities for our community to reconnect--regardless of how that may look.  When the state of California does get back out there, with concerts, camping, hiking, or dinners out, we will be there to enhance those experiences.

We are sending you nothing but positive/healing vibes.

From the LEGION to you, thank you for your continued support!

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