Meet Chelsea Sutula: Retail Dispensary Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Sutula and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have always been a bit of a risk taker; I think all entrepreneurs takes risks but I chose one of the riskiest industries possible (legal cannabis). I was actively speaking out in favor of regulations and holding local politicians accountable for their positions prior to California legalizing cannabis in 2016. That put me on the radar and I believe was a factor in the sealed-search-warrant police action that was taken against me. I’ve taken calculated risks by moving to new cities for school or to take a better job many times. For me, fear of the unknown was always less of an obstacle than the risk of being bored or doing work that wasn’t aligned with my core values. Today the risk of selling cannabis in California is at an all-time low but still not without its challenges: I can’t obtain a mortgage until cannabis is rescheduled.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sespe Creek Collective is a boutique dispensary in Ojai that caters to a diverse crowd of locals and tourists. It’s very “Ojai” with reclaimed valley oak live edge wood shelving, a pink moment mural, and lots of plants. We are not trying to look like a sanitized Apple store — more like a store that sells organic apples, with bags of cannabis gummies overflowing from wood crates. We love welcoming new cannabis users to the store and giving them a good first experience. No one wants to feel stupid or out of place their first time. We treat everyone with compassion and respect. I stumbled into the cannabis business by luck; I was working on a few projects from home when I requested delivery from a new service I wanted to try and ended up talking to one of the owners for a few hours about the possibility of me working with them. By 2013 I was running the company by myself. Nothing about the process has been easy! I’ve fought very hard for everything I’ve been able to accomplish. Exactly a year after local law enforcement raided me under a sealed search warrant, I opened the first licensed dispensary in Ventura County. The success I’ve had so far I attribute to a few things: hiring and keeping the right people by empowering them; having a really broad set of experiences to draw from; having the support of friends and family; and making self-care a priority. I’ve come close to burning out completely a few times and had to realize I don’t have to accomplish my goals all at once. Keeping myself in a healthy space both physically and mentally as a single gal has maybe been the biggest challenge. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished but I’m ready to welcome more human connection into my life. I think some people get the impression that as a successful business owner I have it all — but really the business success has come at the expense of my personal life. I’m ready to find a partner to help me navigate the next chapter! 😉

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have so many favorite spots in this lovely town. I start my mornings with some sustainably sourced Beacon Coffee, then a short hike with my dogs on Shelf Rd. to see the sun rising over the valley. I love to wander or bike the citrus groves when the trees start flowering to feel intoxicated by the amazing smell. For libations and food I would take my friends for a cold pint at Topa Topa Brewery and a bite to eat at The Nest or Ca Marco or Agave Maria’s. On a nice afternoon we can picnic at Old Creek Winery or head down to the river bottom to dip our feet in the river when the water is running. When the pandemic is over I look forward to hearing some live music again at The Vine or the Deer Lodge, and catching summer concerts at the Libbey Bowl! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Deedee Kirkwood has been a true inspiration and a big source of support for me since I met her in November 2016, two days after I was raided by local law enforcement. At the lowest point of my life, Deedee was this lightbulb that helped me recognize an important truth: I was ok, this was part of the process, and I had important work to do so I couldn’t give up. She is my Pot Fairy Godmother and I will be forever grateful to her for her compassion and wisdom. I’d also like to acknowledge my friend Linnaea Bohn who also held space and provided comfort after I was raided by local police. She has shared some invaluable meditation resources that truly changed my life.

Website: www.sespe.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originalsespe/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sespe-creek-collective

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SespeCreekSCC

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sespe-creek-collective-ojai

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/SespeCreekCollectiveOjai