From Street Dealer To Cannabis CEO: New Book Shines A Light On The Journey Of Oliver Summers

He wasn't always known as the "Duke of Pico." There was a time when Oliver Summers was just another street-level pot dealer, navigating the hazy alleys and dubious side streets of 1990s Los Angeles. Clad in worn jeans and faded T-shirts, Summers would measure out bags of weed, all while dreaming of an industry that could elevate cannabis to legitimacy.

Today, three decades later, Summers is the CEO of a publicly traded cannabis company,  Chai Cannabis Co. CPTR, proving that dreams steeped in persistence can come true. This story is laid out in his upcoming book, "The Duke Of Pico: Illegal Pot Dealer To Corporate Cannabis CEO In Thirty Years."

Back then, it was a game of cat and mouse with law enforcement, a tug-of-war between necessity and morality. Summers quickly learned the art of survival in the underworld, developing an astute sense for dodging DEA raids and mitigating the damages of robberies and burglaries.

He weathered the stormy seas of an illicit trade, grappling with the daily reality of criminality, while buoyed by a steadfast belief in the therapeutic potential of his product. For Summers, cannabis was never just about making a quick buck—it was about bringing relief to those suffering and changing the narrative around a deeply misunderstood plant.

In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, making the Golden State the first in the U.S to legalize medical marijuana. This watershed moment emboldened Summers and his clandestine cannabis community to open one of the first medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles. Despite the glimmer of legitimacy, the newfound industry was a battlefield, where DEA raids were as much a reality as before.

Yet, the battles hardened Summers and his comrades, who found unity in adversity. Through countless skirmishes, they forged a tight-knit community, relentlessly advocating for patient rights and confronting societal stigma head-on. Together, they launched advocacy groups, tackling political and legal hurdles while nurturing their fledgling businesses.

But it wasn't just the law that was against them. Summers' personal life was also caught in the crossfire. A notable instance being his dismissal as a cameraman for the popular Howard Stern Show due to his cannabis-related activities. Even friends, fearing for his well-being, staged interventions to deter him from running the dispensary. These instances of personal turmoil further underscore the sacrifices Summers made on his path towards cannabis legitimacy.

Today, Summers is far removed from his past life, yet the lessons from his underground days still resonate. His journey encapsulates the evolution of cannabis from a fringe, illicit substance to an industry that is rewriting the rules of big business. Oliver Summers, once an illegal pot dealer, is now a corporate cannabis CEO, a testament to how far the industry has come in thirty years. He stands tall, not just as an emblem of triumph but as a symbol of a paradigm shift in the world's perception of cannabis.