QA With Tenisha Victor: Clique Canna

How and why did you get into cannabis?

I’ve been a cannabis consumer since I was 14, so my relationship with the plant started long before I ever worked in the industry. The opportunity to enter the space came through someone very close to me still a friend and mentor to this day who invited me to help build a company from the ground up. That experience gave me a front-row seat to what it meant to operate on the ground level creating processes from scratch, navigating brand-new regulations, and building culture while building a business. It was equal parts chaotic and exciting, and it showed me just how much possibility this industry held.

You have been in the cannabis industry for over 10 years, how on earth have you survived this rollercoaster ride this long?

It’s definitely not for the faint of heart! The cannabis industry is unpredictable regulations change overnight, capital markets dry up, and yet consumer demand and culture move faster than most operators can keep up with. I’ve survived by being adaptable and hands-on. I’ve operated in 8+ markets, opened more than 60 stores, and weathered everything from compliance overhauls to MSO mergers. The lesson is you need resilience, a strong team, and a willingness to pivot without losing sight of your core values. And just as important you have to know when it’s time to exit or pivot a situation. Sometimes longevity in this industry is less about holding on and more about knowing when to move on.

NJ recreational cannabis has a ton of momentum overall, but specifically with social consumption, any thoughts on why? Something unique about the Garden State?

New Jersey has always had a culture of hospitality and community gathering great food, music, and social connection are at the center of our lifestyle here. Social consumption is a natural extension of that. Add in our density, proximity to New York and Philly, and the fact that people in New Jersey are trend-forward but still very community-oriented it makes sense that lounges and social experiences would resonate here more quickly than in other markets. Each pocket of the state has its own vibe, but the common thread is that people are looking for experiences whether that’s relaxation, entertainment, or connection. Cannabis fits right into that! Pairing the plant with the experiences we already seek out beach days, concerts, food festivals, nightlife makes social consumption uniquely suited to thrive here.

As a leader, and a market maker, if there was one thing with NJ recreational cannabis you could change/optimize today, what would it be?

I would create a more streamlined path between regulation and market reality. Operators want to be compliant and consumer-focused, but the lag between policy and practice slows down innovation and hurts small businesses. For example, optimizing licensing timelines and giving clarity around areas like social consumption, sampling programs to better educate consumers and budtenders would unlock massive growth of new form factors, expansion of under performing form factors like concentrates etc.

What’s biggest difference between working for an MSO and running your own company?

Working for an MSO gave me scale and resources but it also came with bureaucracy and a one-size-fits-all approach. Running my own company is the opposite every decision matters, every dollar is intentional, and the culture you build is the culture your team and community experience. The biggest difference is accountability when it’s yours, there’s no corporate safety net. But that’s also the reward you get to build something authentic, nimble, and rooted in your own vision with 100% of the upside.