Advice to newcomers:
Answer your why: why you want to come in and what drive this decision? If it is money, you will be highly disappointed. The industry isn't the way to make a quick buck. It's a long term project to build something worthwhile that can help people.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Our first interview for 2021 is with Harold Han, Founder and CSO of Vertosa. Vertosa is the leading provider of advanced infusion technology for products that require “pre-suspended aqueous solutions that maximize bioavailability, clarity, and taste”. We are honored to start this new year with Harold and his wise words and knowledge of the science of cannabis.
When I first entered the cannabis industry, I met Ben Larson when he was with a start-up incubator, he welcomed me with his smile and his generosity. Ben was always there with “how can I help you?”, he always put his words into action. Ben went on to found Vertosa with Harold, and I made contact with Harold to chat about his entry into the industry and he generously gave time to answer my Q & A. My first call with Harold was not only inspiring, it felt like we’ve been friends for years before the call, I put it to the touchpoints we shared in our heritage and our passion for the plant. AACE is honored to feature Harold Han, a pioneer in delivering plant medicine by elevating the science and education to the general public.
How has your views on cannabis changed?
I hadn't tried cannabis until I was 30-years-old. I am the living example of an Asian person who had no ties with cannabis until I was an adult. When I was working for Bio-Rad, a co-worker dropped me a bag of weed after it was legalized in California. It caught my attention and curiosity -- I wanted to study this plant. I smoked the weed a couple of times and wasn't a fan at first, but I kept researching its benefits, trying the plant more, and I finally I found that it made my life better: less drinking, more sleeping, more smiling, and just overall positive influence. I changed from a doubter to a believer.
What was the impetus to that change?
I learned and experienced the benefits that cannabis can bring to one's life.
How did you enter the cannabis industry?
I started to go out and meet people who are part of the cannabis community and industry. I asked them, with my professional background in emulsion science with a PhD in surface chemistry, 'how can I contribute to the industry'? A couple of people pointed me to the same direction: cannabis oil is not water-soluble, so the best way to consume at the time was to smoke or eat an edible. But if anyone can successfully merge cannabis oil and water to create a proper infused product like a cannabis beverage, that could help remove the stigma of cannabis and propel a huge business. I have been an emulsion chemist and studying oil/water relations my whole life (I was most recently the senior emulsion scientist at Bio-Rad). I thought I can be the best person to do this!
Did you do research into cannabis before entering?
I did extensive research. I had my own process, going from a doubter to believer.
I read books and watched documentaries about the history and propaganda that had caused cannabis to illegal.
I also attended industrial meetups such as Gateway, a startup accelerator co-founded by Ben Larson (who is now Vertosa's CEO) to meet people in the industry and ask for advice.
How does your family feel about your cannabis businesses?
When I told my parents about my idea of Verotsa, My dad asked me: are you the right person to do this?
I said: I am the best person to do this.
My mom asked me: are you having fun doing it?
I said: yes, I am happy every day just thinking about it.
They told me: then you should do it.
What is the most frequent question you are asked about cannabis?
My Chinese friends often ask me: is it addictive? There is still a deep stigma in the Asian community about cannabis. I do not blame them at all but we make it our mission at Vertosa to educate the general public about cannabis, what's true, what's false, and what is still being researched.
What is your favorite way of ingesting cannabis?
Flower and to drink an infused beverage:
Flower still offers the most natural/holistic experience from the plant.
The beverage is reliable and discreet. I like both form factors.
Where do you see the cannabis industry in five years?
First, legalization should happen in the coming years.
After legalization, cannabis will emerge into every element of life:
-- you should be able to find it at movie theaters for adults to consume; it may make comedies even funnier!
-- you should be able to find it at fitness clubs, such as yoga studios; it may help people focus more deeply
-- perhaps we'll find it on airplanes one day: it may make long flights more enjoyable
The example will go on forever: we need entrepreneurs to find out the ideal formulation to fit into the ideal use case.
When confronted by skeptics, how do you present the case that cannabis is not a gateway drug but plant medicine?
We cannot fight stigma head-on, we need to softly convince people by healing their pain using cannabis.
Everyone has pain, and there is always a way for plant medicine to help.
When people realized the benefit, especially when the pain is alleviated by cannabis, people will automatically question their original stigma and could even become an advocate.
In mapping out your career, did you ever see yourself in the cannabis industry?
Earlier in my career, I never even considered working in the cannabis industry. However, I always want to make people laugh, make them feel good about themselves, and spread happiness (one of my original goals is to open a comedy joint). So now, when I am working on exactly the same mission, just through cannabis as the delivery vehicle. I want to be remembered as a healer.
How does Vertosa position themselves as healing or do you focus on the commercial side of recreational drinks and edibles?
I believe, healing covers anywhere from taking the edge off a long day (adult-use) to reduce the pain from fibromyalgia (medical use).
At Vertosa, we currently focus on the adult-use market, and at the same time, we have started research collaborations with hospitals, research institutions, and universities to look deeper at how to HEAL and collect scientific evidence.
In the early days, cannabutter made from coconut oil was the vehicle for “liquid” cannabis, how far have we come from the crockpot to the lab?
What a journey we have seen. Now at Vertosa, we have developed different emulsion formulas for different applications: infused wine, beer, juice, soda, cosmetics, coffee powder...
The sky is the limit
We are so fortunate to be able to build the foundation of the infused industry.
But we shall never forget the people who started with butter and coconut oil, it needs generations of effort to push an industry forward.
Have you done a “Bring Dad to School” day and explained what you do?
I am not a father yet, but when that day comes, I will feel more proud than anything else. Our industry heals people's pain, it is an honor to work in the cannabis industry
Who is your inspiration in the cannabis industry and how do you mentor the ones entering the industry? What is your best 10 seconds of advice to these new entrants to cannabis?
Advice to newcomers:
Answer “your” why: why you want to come in and what drives this decision? If it is money, you will be highly disappointed. The industry isn't the way to make a quick buck. It's a long term project to build something worthwhile that can help people.
Leading the Vertosa team, Harold combines his storied background in emulsion chemistry and science with curiosity and fascination in the rapidly growing cannabis industry. Developing nano and microemulsions his entire career, Harold holds a Ph.D. in Surface Chemistry from NYU and is the author of two patents in emulsion chemistry. Prior to founding Vertosa, Harold was the senior emulsion scientist at Bio-Rad Laboratories, where his team scaled emulsification oil and supplied product to 90 countries. Previously, he founded a startup company in Silicon Valley.
As the CSO of Vertosa, Harold spearheads the company’s development of industry-leading and customized active ingredients for infused product makers, offering pre-suspended aqueous solutions to create incredibly homogenous and stable products while maximizing bioavailability, clarity, and taste.
