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Dr. John Oram is CEO and Founder of vertically-integrated cannabis company NUG, which operates the highest volume cannabis extraction facility in California, producing the majority of concentrates, vapes and other infused cannabis products sold in California under the NUG label and other leading brands. John holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in environmental chemistry and engineering from the University of California Los Angeles and bachelor’s degrees in analytical chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder. A veteran of the industry since the early 2000s, Dr. Oram possesses extensive knowledge on how to operate a successful cannabis company from seed to sale. Prior to founding NUG, he co-founded CW Analytical Laboratories–recognized as the most trusted analytical laboratory in the state–to establish standardized testing and certification protocols in order to ensure the safety and quality of medical cannabis.
Title: CEO and Founder
Company: NUG, Inc.
Years at current company: Five (NUG was founded in 2014)
Education profile: Earned Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in environmental chemistry and engineering from the University of California Los Angeles and bachelor’s degrees in analytical chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
GMR Executive Spotlight Q&A:
Most successful professional accomplishment before cannabis: Prior to shifting into cannabis, I had an extremely rewarding, nearly six-year tenure as a scientist at the San Francisco Estuary Institute.
Company Mission: To set an industrywide standard from seed to sale and consistently provide consumers with innovative products that are unmatched in quality and purity, and that appeal to both experienced cannabis enthusiasts and the canna-curious. NUG has set out to control our brand every step of the way, from the cultivation and extraction to the in-store experience and customer relations. Through this vertically integrated model, we can ensure that consumers have access to trustworthy products that are the best of the best. We want to be a leader in legitimizing the industry and in the mainstreaming of cannabis.
Company’s most successful achievement: We’re so proud to have grown tremendously since our company’s inception in 2014 and that we’ve remained profitable year after year while navigating an uncertain and ever-changing regulatory environment. 2018 through 2019 has marked a year of unprecedented growth for NUG, but perhaps the most successful achievement for our seed to sale company was fully completing the vertically integrated model by opening the first NUG retail store in Sacramento in March 2019. Our store, led by an all-women management team, features products from NUG as well as other top brands. It’s a welcoming, contemporary retail store with terrific budtenders who take part in our mission to normalize cannabis and create a safe space for people to shop for new products.
Has the company raised any capital (yes or no):
If so, how much?: Yes, most recently in May 2019 we closed a $15 million Series A funding round. NUG’s Series A equity offering was originally issued to raise $10 million, but ultimately it was oversubscribed and we raised an additional $5 million, which we were thrilled about because it underscored our investors’ confidence in our leadership within the seed to sale market, as well as the company’s growth potential.
Any plans on raising capital in the future? Yes
Most important company 5 year goal: To continue to elevate NUG’s role as a premier, diversified brand, and expand our three key pillars of manufacturing, distribution and branding, including by opening new, state-of-the-art cannabis retail stores throughout California.
