Kayvan Khalatbari

Kayvan Khalatbari
Born Kayvan Soorena Tyler Khalatbari-Limaki
(1983-08-01) August 1, 1983
Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Occupation Founding Partner, Sexy Pizza
Founding Partner, Denver Relief
Founding Partner, Denver Relief Consulting
Founding Partner, Sexpot Comedy
Founding Partner, Birdy Magazine
Founding Partner, DRx, LLC
Community Organizer

Kayvan Khalatbari (Kayvan Soorena Tyler Khalatbari-Limaki) is an Iranian-American entrepreneur and cannabis advocate in Denver, Colorado. He is co-founder and partner of a Denver-based pizza chain, a medical and recreational marijuana dispensary, and a medical marijuana consulting company. He also co-founded and is partner in Sexpot Comedy, a burgeoning comedy collective, and is active as a volunteer and advocate in several political and nonprofit ventures aimed at changing the perception of the cannabis industry, people in need, and children’s education.

Early Life & Education

Khalatbari was born August 1, 1983 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the older of two boys in a first-generation Iranian immigrant family. After graduating high school early at 16, Khalatbari earned an associate degree in architectural engineering from the Milford campus of Southeast Community College at the age of 19. He worked at the Lincoln office of M.E. Group, an MEP engineering firm, before being transferred to their Denver office in 2004.[1] After volunteering with a marijuana legalization effort, Khalatbari eventually moved toward a career in cannabis advocacy.

Entrepreneurship

Sexy Pizza

Khalatbari opened the first Sexy Pizza restaurant in April 2008 with Evan Ackerfeld and other investors. Ackerfeld and Khalatbari met while volunteering for a marijuana advocacy group in Denver called SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation). In the early years the venture lost money, so Khalatbari worked behind the counter of the shop to make ends meet. At one point, he even rented his Denver home out and lived in a tent for the winter season. Sexy Pizza has now opened three locations around Denver. In 2014, the combined stores were estimated to earn roughly $2.5 million.[1] Khalatbari supports medical cannabis activism through the pizzeria, and donates to non-profit advocacy organizations by giving proceeds of specific menu items to organizations such as Sensible Colorado, SAFER, and LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) each time that item is ordered.[2]

Denver Relief

Khalatbari co-founded Denver Relief, a medical and adult-use marijuana dispensary in May 2009. Denver Relief is the second oldest marijuana dispensary in Colorado and the longest continuously operating cannabis business in the city.[2] The business was founded with a $4,000 dollar investment and a ½ pound of cannabis. Now serving several thousand regular patients and customers in Denver, the marijuana dispensary has won numerous High Times Cannabis Cup awards and carries internationally recognized strains, which the business cultivates from seed to sale.[1] Faced with the strict banking restrictions many other cannabis business owners were familiar with, the founders were unable to receive any traditional financing for their business. Instead, Khalatbari and his business partners looked to family members and friends for financial lending. When they needed more equity, they relied on credit cards. In March 2013, Denver Relief became a debt-free enterprise.[3]

Denver Relief Consulting

In 2011, from the financial success of Denver Relief, Khalatbari opened the international consulting arm of Denver Relief—called Denver Relief Consulting—with Denver Relief’s GM, Andy Betts, and a co-owner of Denver Relief, Ean Seeb. Most of the firm's work is with out-of-state entities who are looking to get involved in cannabis-related businesses.[1] In 2012, Khalatbari also served as a media spokesman, speaking about Colorado Amendment 64 (a ballot measure to amend Colorado's constitution, outlining a statewide drug policy for cannabis) to media outlets including CNN's Newsroom.[4] In 2014, Khalatbari worked with client groups in Illinois, Nevada, and Canada, advocating reform and creating business plans and applications for partners to establish operations in each. The first months of 2015 will bring Khalatbari to Alaska and Maryland, working with entrepreneurs pursuing business in the cannabis field who are interested in social responsibility and are looking to open companies similar to Denver Relief.

Sexpot Comedy

Sexpot Comedy is a comedy collective in Denver, producing or sponsoring nine podcasts and more than a dozen weekly or monthly live events. The recently launched website, SexpotComedy.com, also hosts a variety of videos and creative writing pieces. The collective also launched a streaming radio station in 2015, which features Sexpot podcast clips along with standup comedy, with a heavy emphasis on Denver-based comedians.[5] Sexpot-sponsored or -produced shows have been featured at Bridgetown Comedy Festival,[6] South by Southwest (SXSW),[7] and at the Hollywood Improv.[8] In its August 2015 issue, GQ named Sexpot's monthly show one of the "5 Funniest Nights in America."[9]

Khalatbari created Sexpot Comedy in June 2012 as an invite-only live standup show, designed as a marketing tool for Denver Relief and Sexy Pizza. Hosted at one of the Sexy Pizza locations as private events for Denver Relief medical cannabis patients, the shows allowed audience members to freely smoke marijuana, and married Khalatbari's interests in the pizza, cannabis, and comedy realms.[10] Comedians began approaching Khalatbari to sponsor more local shows, and in late 2013, Khalatbari partnered with local producer and comedian Andy Juett to roll out Sexpot on a larger scale. On October 31, 2014, they launched SexpotComedy.com, home to photos, videos, a streaming comedy radio station, and a calendar of Sexpot events, along with all the sponsored podcasts and original written content.[11]

Birdy Magazine

Khalatbari also bankrolls Birdy, an alternative culture magazine out of Denver. Designed by local artist Michael King, the magazine is available as a free printed publication, distributed to local bookstores, coffee shops and bars on a monthly edition basis.[1] Conceived and founded by Jonny DeStefano and Christy Thacker in January 2014, the magazine features unique artwork, articles and creative writing pieces from journalists, comedians and artists.[12]

Cresco Labs

Cresco Labs is a medical marijuana business licensed by the state of Illinois, that received the three highest scores in the state's "rigorous" application process and is planning to open three cultivation facilities in Joliet, Kankakee, and Lincoln, Illinois.[13] Khalatbari was a founder of Cresco Labs, and SEC documents list him as an executive officer with the firm.[14]

Silver State Relief

Silver State Relief was the first medical marijuana dispensary in the state of Nevada to open when it launched on July 31, 2015 in Sparks, Nevada. Silver State worked with Khalatbari as a consultant during the development phases,[15] and earned the highest score from the state licensure board.[16]

Cannabis Advocacy & Politics

SAFER

When Khalatbari moved to Denver in 2004, he was looking to find a way to get involved and meet people. His brother Hassan found a group online called SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation), a marijuana legalization group that had just passed initiatives on CU and CSU campuses to equalize cannabis possession with alcohol possession. The group centers on educating the public about cannabis benefits and the harmful consequences to consumers and society of alcohol, while encouraging policy reform. Colorado Amendment 44 was placed on the voting ballet after SAFER volunteers received over 129,000 signatures to put the act in place (only 68,000 were required by the Secretary of State in Colorado).[1] Khalatbari started volunteering for the organization, collecting petition signatures and staging political protests[17] in an effort to pass Initiated Question 100 (I-100). I-100 was a City of Denver ballot initiative, to legalize adult marijuana possession. The measure passed in the fall of 2005, making Denver the first U.S. city to vote to remove all penalties for adult marijuana possession.[18]

Chickenlooper

In 2006, SAFER's leader, Mason Tvert, encouraged Khalatbari to dress up in a chicken suit and "harass" then-Denver mayor John Hickenlooper at town hall meetings. He even challenged Hickenlooper to a debate as the chicken, which had by then been named "Chickenlooper."[17]

Khalatbari recently revived the Chickenlooper costume and character to protest Hickenlooper's bid for re-election in the 2014 Colorado gubernatorial race.[19] Chickenlooper also took part in a photo opp to protest Colorado's controversial "Don't Be a Lab Rat" campaign, aimed at curbing underage marijuana use.[20]

Sensible Colorado

Khalatbari has been an active participant at Sensible Colorado since moving to the state, volunteering for patients’ rights and proactive regulation over cannabis. While volunteering at Sensible Colorado, Khalatbari met other industry activists and met his future business partners for Sexy Pizza, Denver Relief, and Denver Relief Consulting.[21]

MMAPA

Khalatbari was a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of America (MMAPA), an organization that worked to raise awareness of the positive attributes of medical cannabis use, decrease the negative social stigma correlated with cannabis, and provide aid to patients who are unable to afford access to cannabis medicine. The organization shut down in 2012.[22]

ILCIA

Khalatbari sits on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Cannabis Industry Association (ILCIA), an Illinois cannabis trade association that aims to initiate policy change and reforms to provide responsible and professional cannabis industry operations within the state.[23]

National Cannabis Industry Association

Khalatbari was elected in June 2015 to sit on the Board of Directors for the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). NCIA was founded in late 2010 to address the challenges many cannabis-based companies face when entering the burgeoning industry—specifically finding legitimate bank funding, and Internal Revenue Service codes that do not allow them to deduct business expenses.[24] Today, it exists as the "only national trade association advancing the interests of the legitimate and responsible cannabis industry."[25]

CRCR

Khalatbari was a founding Council Member for (and still sits on) the Council on Responsible Cannabis Regulation (CRCR), which is composed of "cannabis business leaders who are committed to seeing the industry grow in a responsible manner." [26]

Denver City Council Campaign

In January 2015, Khalatbari announced that he would enter the Denver City Council race as an At-Large candidate. His platform included initiatives in the cannabis and hemp industries; law enforcement reform; children's services; and affordable housing.[27] The election was held May 5, 2015 and he came in fifth place.[28]

Philanthropy

Denver Kids

Denver Kids Inc. is a nonprofit that works with Denver Public Schools to pair at-risk students with educational counselors and community mentors.[29] Khalatbari has been a “big brother” mentor for Denver Kids Inc. since 2007, and has been guiding his current “little brother” since 2009.[30]

Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra

The Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1984 to provide orchestral experience for school-age musicians. The Orchestra now offers four ensembles and plays regular concerts around Denver.[31] Khalatbari serves on the CYSO board of directors.[32]

Denver Relief Green Team

The Denver Relief Green Team is the volunteer wing of Denver Relief co-founded by Khalatbari and Seeb. Starting its mission for social action in the cannabis industry in 2009, the Denver Relief Green Team focuses on the ethical framework of cannabis business professionals working towards the overall benefit of society. Often referred to as simply the “Green Team,” Khalatbari began his volunteer work with the philanthropy wing by cleaning up after public cannabis rallies and events, raising money for charitable causes, repairing wheelchairs and bikes,[33] and donating harvest food for the less fortunate at a local organic urban farm—EKAR: Jewish Urban and Garden Farm—in Denver.[34] As of 2014, Khalatbari and Seeb have helped the Denver Relief Green Team to collect over 250 active volunteers in Colorado that help the organization through community service to improve the once very negative public perception of medical cannabis. In 2013 alone, these two co-founders worked to bring in approximately 900 hours of logged volunteer time spent helping to improve the community.[33]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wenzel, John (August 17, 2014). "Kayvan Khalatbari rolls weed, pizza and comedy into Denver empire". Denver Post. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Meet the Team: Kayvan Khalatbari". Denver Relief Consulting. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ Hickey, Walter (June 25, 2013). "How To Sell Marijuana In America". Business Insider. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ Costello, Carol (October 26, 2014). "Denver Relief Consulting's Kayvan Khalatbari Visits CNN to Debate Happy Haynes on Amendment 64". Newsroom. CNN. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ Wenzel, John (December 12, 2014). "Sexpot Comedy retools for 2015 with new lineups, lessons in hand". Denver Post. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sexpot Comedy Presents: Uncalled Four". Bridgetown Comedy Festival. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Sexpot Comedy presents WOMEN Live". SXSW. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Sexpot Comedy with Kyle Kinane, Howard Kremer, Jay Weingerten, Troy Walker, Jordan Doll, Kristin Rand, Jimi Hickox, Aaron Urist and Andy Juett with Special Guests". Hollywood Improv. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  9. ↑ Campion, Freddie (July 25, 2015). "The 5 Funniest Nights in America". GQ Magazine. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  10. ↑ Hesse, Josiah (October 25, 2013). "Sexy Pizza expands Sexpot Comedy with third location in Jefferson Park". Westword. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ Galaba, Kevin (November 7, 2014). "Sexpot Comedy Launches Website That Takes Local Funny Business Seriously". Westword. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  12. ↑ Gassman, Ian (April 29, 2014). "Founders of Birdy make mark on Denver culture". Met Media. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Cresco Labs Will Spend A Million Dollars To Let People Know About Illinois Medical Marijuana Program". prnewswire.com. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Cresco Labs, LLC". secinfo.com. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  15. ↑ Bessette, Chanelle (July 29, 2015). "Nevada's first medical pot marijuana dispensary now open in Sparks". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Nevada Marijuana Retail Map and Directory". Kush Tourism. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  17. 1 2 "Featured Advocate: Kayvan Khalatbari". Culture. September 4, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  18. ↑ "About SAFER". SAFERchoice.org. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  19. ↑ Marcus, Peter (August 19, 2014). "Pot to back Colo. guv?". The Durango Herald. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Colorado's "Don't Be A Lab Rat" Campaign". Cannabis Camera. August 14, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Speakers Bio: Kayvan Khalatbari". Cannabis Business Summit. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  22. ↑ Roberts, Michael (April 17, 2012). "Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of America shuts down". Westword. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Mission Statement". Illinois Cannabis Industry Association. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  24. ↑ Pugh, Tony (March 30, 2011). "Medical marijuana industry rapidly grows mainstream". McClatchyDC. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  25. ↑ "NCIA Home Page". National Cannabis Industry Association. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Council". Council on Responsible Cannabis Regulation. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  27. ↑ Mitchell, Thomas (January 28, 2015). "Sexy Pizza's Kayvan Khalatbari on Why He's Running for Denver City Council". Westword. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  28. ↑ Murray, Jon (May 5, 2015). "Denver election centers on active City Council races". Denver Post. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  29. ↑ Kosmider, Nick (November 30, 2014). "Denver Kids program links at-risk students with education counselors". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Kayvan Khalatbari, Biography". MedicalJane.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  31. ↑ "CYSO Audience Page: About the CYSO". ColoradoYouthSymphony.org. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  32. ↑ Asmar, Melanie; Hesse, Josiah (January 2, 2014). "Meet three ganjapreneurs in the brave new world of weed". Westword. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  33. 1 2 Wenzel, John (April 20, 2013). "Medical marijuana dispensaries turn to charity to improve image". Denver Post. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  34. ↑ Moore, Maurice (October 1, 2014). "Denver: Urban Gardening at Ekar Farms – October Edition". Best Events. Retrieved December 21, 2014.

External links

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