“I hope anybody that meets me, even if they disagree with me, they go, ‘Man, that guy is trying to bring the love.’”
The guy bringing the love is Seth Murphy. He’s the founder and CEO of MAS Alliance LLC, a cannabis growing operation based in Federalsburg. He’ll be the first to tell you that a lot more goes into these plants than meets the eye, and the chance to grow alongside the Federalsburg community has been more rewarding than any profit margin.
A University of Colorado Boulder alum, Murphy has been involved with the cannabis industry for over 13 years, advocating for positive legislation and equal opportunities in the business for marginalized people. But MAS Alliance got its start just over four years ago. While waiting on state licensing, Murphy came across the former Kraft Foods site, which by then had become Eastern Shore Forest Products, and immediately recognized its potential. “This was where I wanted to be most,” he said. “It just represented everything that I was looking for, everything that would give my business a chance to grow and succeed.”
Cultivating cannabis plants at MAS Alliance is a highly sophisticated process – so much so that Murphy often refers to it as an “art form.” “For all this work, it is still not an exacting science. There are still elements of this that are representations of true artistry,” he said. Phases of cannabis artistry that happen behind MAS Alliance’s doors include the planting, growing, harvesting, drying, and trimming of raw cannabis flower. Other products derived from cannabis, like edibles or THC oils, are manufactured off-site by separate processors. The third and final stage of getting cannabis into customers’ and patients’ hands happens at the dispensaries.
While MAS Alliance is focused on cultivation, Murphy said the broader impact of the business is widespread, “what I do has implications that affect every Marylander. There are public health concerns, tax concerns, environmental concerns, social justice and social equity concerns. I think that's the thing about cannabis, it cuts at the core of everything.” In a small town like Federalsburg, a cultivation center can have a significant influence, and Murphy wants his to be a worthwhile one. “We employ a lot of people in this town, and we intend to make a pretty sizable impact with our taxable revenue.” Beyond basic economic benefits, Murphy wants to provide educational opportunities, skill development, and other avenues of support for his employees, all of which will “hopefully extend to the town.” “I tell everybody the most precious commodity we have in this building isn’t the plants, it’s the people,” Murphy said.
A not-so-desirable side effect of MAS Alliance’s existence is the smell factor, but Murphy said that is “something we're working on here - vibrantly.” He understands that “you cannot let my passion-or anybody's passion-for cannabis outweigh what could be legitimate public health concerns. It's important to me, because the town has told me it's important to them.”
Even though he lives in Baltimore City, Murphy strives to invest time and energy into the town that hosts his business, “The people of Federalsburg are passionate. They care. They yearn for opportunity. They work hard, and they want to see their town prosper, but in ways that collectively make sense,” he said, “Our ultimate goal is to do good and to grow the town in the way that the town wants to grow. To be a neighbor. And so far, I've got the greatest neighbors in the state.”
He can only describe his experience with the local leadership in Federalsburg as “exemplary.” It is this enthusiastic acceptance and support that motivates him. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude, and it pushes me to be successful,” he said. Federalsburg’s leadership could not be reached for their perspective. Another entity Murphy expressed thankfulness to work alongside is the Maryland Cannabis Authority, which oversees all cannabis-related operations in the state. “They want the state and its citizens to be successful. They want the patients and citizens, from a public health perspective, to be able to access things that are safe and healthy. That level of care and attention to detail – it’s infectious,” he said. Even though MAS Alliance is Murphy’s brainchild, he reinforced the vital encouragement he has received from local and state agencies, employees, contractors, and others: “I haven't done this by myself.”
Despite the increasing number of cannabis companies in Maryland, Murphy rejects standard capital competition in favor of collaboration. “We're looking forward to creating robust partnerships, even with the [businesses] that might think we're in competition. One of the core tenets of my business is that a rising tide lifts all boats.” He prefers to work with local contractors whenever possible, and as “the only Black American man who owns and controls outright a vertically integrated, fully state-licensed cannabis facility” that he knows of, Murphy is especially passionate about supporting minority-owned businesses.
“If there’s anybody that doesn’t want me here, I’d love to sit down and break bread with them.” Murphy understands that the stigma around cannabis is sometimes hard to overcome. He hopes to continue to work toward a common understanding with his neighbors in Federalsburg as his business continues to grow. “Me and everybody on my team are gonna fight and work and love and struggle and persevere with whatever challenges face us. And I think if we continue to do that and stay true to ourselves, the future will always have a silver lining.”
As for how all this translates to his business’s output, Murphy believes wholeheartedly in his detailed and extremely personal approach to cannabis cultivation, which he says results in a better overall product. He referenced the old gardener’s adage that plants need love to thrive as much as they need water, soil, or sunlight; so nurturing the people is, in turn, nurturing the cannabis. “There are people who have the rationale to say there's a cheaper, easier, more efficient way to do this, but it takes away from your overall experience of the products and the medicine that we provide… It's a unique kind of give and take at every phase of the process,” he said.