Catching Up With Alien Labs: How This High School Dealer Built A Cannabis Empire

Still in touch with your high school dealer? Well, he might have become one of the most influential forces in the legal cannabis space.

This past weekend at Hall of Flowers, we caught up with the Co-founder and CEO of Connected Cannabis Co., Caleb Counts. From slinging dime bags as a pre-teen to revolutionizing cannabis cultivation, Caleb’s story goes to show how grit combined with passion is an unstoppable force.

Over the years, he’s gained some serious insights on what it takes to stay on top, particularly after joining forces with Alien Labs in 2018 alongside Founder and Creative Director Ted Lidie.

Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at what’s become one of the most legendary brands in our space.

Caleb’s been in the weed game since he was a kid. “I’ve always been selling weed,” he told us with a grin. “I sold my first bag at 12 to get some free smoke, and I never really stopped.”

Well, except for a brief stint in the corporate world after college. But when the market crashed, Caleb knew it was time to get back to his roots.

Fed up with subpar service at dispensaries, Caleb decided to open his own shop. But he quickly realized that to truly stand out, he needed control over his supply chain. That’s when things got interesting.

“We opened our first grow, and I got a mentor,” Caleb explained. “The first grow was built out 50% to his style, 50% to R&D because I had to try everything I’d been seeing on the forums. I had to know what was the best.”

This blend of tried-and-true methods and cutting-edge experimentation has been the backbone of Connected’s success ever since.

Connected’s been behind some of the most popular strains in recent years. Biscotti? That was them, back in 2015. They worked with Berner to name it and get it out there. Since then, they’ve dropped hit after hit, including Gelonades and Gushers.

But for Caleb, it’s not just about breeding. “We have a big R&D and breeding department,” he said. “Those work hand in hand. We’re innovating on new cultivation techniques all the time.”

One of Connected’s biggest innovations? Under-canopy lighting. “We started it, we didn’t talk about it, people copied it, now it’s everywhere,” Caleb laughed. “I’m happy for them. Good for them. I know when I go to sleep like, hey, we started that, but we got a bunch of that shit behind the scenes.”

With Connected and Alien Labs killing it in California, Arizona, and Florida, what’s next? Caleb’s got his eye on more states, but he’s not rushing into anything.

“Our mission has always been quality,” he emphasized. “When it comes to going to other states, it’s like, where is our quality going to be recognized? And I don’t mean recognized like who’s heard of us, but where is it going to be appreciated?”

Caleb’s approach to expansion is all about strategy. They’re looking for markets where premium cannabis is in demand, where the regulatory environment makes sense, and where they can find the right partners.

“We’re not flushed with cash like some of these MSOs,” Caleb admitted. “So we need to look at strategic partnerships to assess where the next move is.” But don’t fret. Caleb hinted that we might see Connected and Alien Labs in a couple more states within the next 12 months.

As for what’s next in the weed world, Caleb and his team are super picky about it. Only because quality is the name of the game, and they deeply understand your need for a premium cannabis experience.

For more information about Connected Cannabis Co. and Alien Labs, visit their websites at connectedcannabisco.com and alienlabs.org.