Wyatt Harms is the cofounder and CEO of FLAMER, a Brooklyn-based cannabis brand. Harms answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insider’s ‘People to know’ series.
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What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?
I’m the cofounder and CEO of FLAMER, a Brooklyn-based cannabis brand that started in New York and is exclusively in the licensed New York market. You can find our iconic red joints at Housing Works, Union Square Travel Agency, Gotham, CONBUD and all other dispensaries in the city. We’re born out of the queer community and love creating connections around the plant.
How long have you worked in the cannabis space?
About four years – two years on FLAMER and two years before that helping my cofounder, Khalil Acevedo, on the business side while he was growing in Humboldt.
What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?
I worked in media and tech startups. I worked at BuzzFeed for a few years and relaunched BuzzFeed LGBTQ.
What led you to the cannabis industry?
I’ve always been deeply involved in the queer community in New York City since moving here almost 10 years ago. I even met my cofounder and the artist behind FLAMER, Matías Alvial, through a queer activist group.
After relaunching BuzzFeed LGBTQ, I realized there is a huge potential for community based businesses, but it had to be built authentically with the community to succeed. Matías and I loved to smoke together after protests and dream about what was possible, and it was Khalil who pushed us to think about how we could connect our New York City community to the plant.
In August 2021, the three of us decided to start FLAMER together and build it specifically for New York. We then met Patrick Weinert, from Janes Garden LLC, our first farm partner and the rest is, well, history!
Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?
Be unique! Build community! You’re not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s OK. If you’re going to succeed ,you have to have perspective and the right partners to build alongside.
What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?
Cannabis is going to be deeply integrated into all aspects of New York culture from nightlife to fashion to media, and because New York is the cultural capital for so much of the US and the world, we’ll start exporting our love for the plant everywhere. You’ll come to New York and you’ll get a pizza slice, a bagel and of course a FLAMER red J ;)
Do you use cannabis? If so, what’s your favorite method and why?
I’ve always preferred smoking joints. There is something magical about sharing a J with friends. It connects you to other people like no other product.
Who should contact you, and what’s the best method (i.e. email, phone number, LinkedIn handle, etc.)
wyatt@heyflamer.com or 817-897-1145.