Bryan McLaren: Navigating Cannabis Commercial Real Estate – Real Finds Podcast #8

Host: Gordon Lamphere, Director of Sales & Leasing at Van Vlissingen and Co.

Guest: Bryan McLaren, the Chairman and CEO of Zoned Properties, Inc.

Summary:

In this insightful episode of “The Real Finds Podcast,” host Gordon Lamphere welcomes Bryan McLaren, the Chairman and CEO of Zoned Properties, Inc. Zoned Properties is a prominent commercial real estate agency specializing in emerging and highly regulated industries, particularly regulated cannabis.

Bryan and Gordon dive deep into the intriguing world of commercial cannabis real estate. They unpack the challenges and opportunities associated with entering this dynamic industry and cover the diverse array of real estate asset classes within it. Their discussion extends to the pros and cons of buying versus leasing an asset for cannabis industry users, offering valuable insights for potential investors and industry players.

In particular, they highlight the unique challenges of financing cannabis deals, especially during a period of low liquidity, and address the stringent requirements for retail cannabis locations. These aspects underscore the complexity and depth of the commercial cannabis real estate sector.

Bryan lends his extensive expertise to a discussion on the site selection process for highly regulated industries. He explains the ongoing trends in cannabis legalization, the evolution of zoning software, and the potential role of artificial intelligence in streamlining the site selection process. Bryan’s contributions, rooted in his vast experience in sustainable development and regulated real estate, make this podcast an enlightening and engaging listen.

Whether you’re an enthusiast in the commercial cannabis industry or curious about how highly regulated commercial real estate industries operate, this episode serves as an excellent resource.

Book Recommendation:

“Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers” by Geoffrey A. Moore (Amazon link)

Gordon Lamphere

Gordon is a licensed Illinois Real Estate Broker, who manages the commercial sales and leasing team. Gordon also leads Van Vlissingen and Co’s media marketing team. He is an honors graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and holds a Juris Doctorate from Tulane University Law School.