The Hotbox with Dustin Hoxworth isn’t your polished PR interview. It’s me getting stoned and asking people the questions they probably aren’t ready for. These aren’t cold reads or copy-paste Q&As; I sit with my guests, usually multiple times, and I’ve likely met them in person, which gives me a window to learn who they really are before I ever send the questions. By the time the words hit the page, it’s smoke-thick honesty, not surface-level bullshit. These are cannabis conversations that showcase the voices, stories, and truths that won’t show up in the boardroom.
The Hotbox with Shawn Williams
This week, we sat down with Shawn Williams, a leader whose journey through cannabis has been built on patience, purpose, and persistence. He started like a lot of us before legalization, but once legalization started to take hold, he got his start on the retail floor, learning what connection through the plant really means. From there, he grew into operations, where he learned how to make those connections sustainable. Now, as part of the team at Sweed, Shawn is helping shape the digital systems that power dispensaries across the country.
He is also the founder of Burners Block, a community-centered organization that turns cannabis culture into direct action. Burners Block creates space for the industry to give back, helping schools, mothers, and unhoused individuals by providing resources to people reentering society after incarceration. It is a movement rooted in service, education, and unity.
Shawn represents what happens when passion meets accountability. His story is not just about building a career, but about building bridges between the plant, the people, and the purpose behind it all.
Hotbox Q&A: 5 Questions with Shawn Williams
You’ve worked across nearly every part of cannabis, from retail to operations and now technology. What did that journey teach you about the industry and the people who drive it?
It taught me that this industry looks inclusive from the outside but when you get behind the scenes—especially corporate cannabis —it’s very disproportionate. There aren’t many black faces in those rooms, let alone in positions of ownership and leadership. I try to use my journey as a way of opening the door wider for the next person. I’ve seen almost every level of the industry from trapping to tech. What keeps me grounded is remembering that cannabis came from the community, our culture, us–and we deserve to have a real seat at the table.
Burners Block has earned a reputation for authentic community work. What inspired you to create it, and what kind of impact have you seen it make so far?
Burners Block was born from frustration, honestly. I was sick and tired of brands profiting off of “community” and “culture” without actually showing up for either. So I built something that does. Burners Block is about action–feeding families, providing for our children, combating homelessness, helping returning citizens, helping mothers, showing up where it matters. We make giving back look normal in this space because it should be. The impact has been dope. I feel dispensaries and brands are finally realizing that being part of this culture means being part of the solution too.
You’re part of the team at Sweed, which is known for making cannabis technology feel more human. What makes Sweed different, and how do you see technology shaping the future of cannabis retail?
You said it. Sweed keeps cannabis tech human. Most dispensaries are juggling five different systems that don’t talk to each other, but Sweed brings everything under one roof: POS, loyalty, eComm, marketing, and delivery—all working together. That means retailers can spend less time fighting software and more time building community. And the best part is our team. We show up. We listen, we show up in person, and we make sure our partners feel supported. The future of cannabis retail is connection. The industry needs tech that runs smoothly in the background so the people can stay front and center.
Cannabis politics can still feel complicated and inconsistent. What changes do you think need to happen for this industry to move forward with real integrity?
We need to be real about legalization. We know it hasn’t been fair. Too many people who got locked up or left out are still being left behind while others profit. Stop treating equity like a buzzword and have some real integrity. Build systems that actually give black and brown people access to licenses, capital, and leadership. Real leadership. I’m not talking about your AGM either [annual general meeting]. We deserve HR positions and director positions at some of these bigger cannabis companies too. Until that happens, all the talk about progress is just noise. Laws, policies, and the industry itself needs to fix the damage prohibition caused and that starts with accountability.
When you look ahead, what does the future of cannabis look like to you, and what do you hope to build through both Burners Block and Sweed?
The future of cannabis is about owning it–really owning it and not just showing up. Black ownership, community ownership, people who have been left out finally having a seat at the table. Burners Block is proof that cannabis culture can give back, and Sweed is where we’re building tools to make growth real. I’m not chasing fancy titles or recognition. I’m always building tables for the next generation. I want this industry to reflect the people who built it and make sure our voices can’t be ignored.
Conversations with people like Shawn Williams remind us what this plant is truly about. It is about connection, collaboration, and community. Whether he is helping dispensaries evolve through technology or helping families through Burners Block, Shawn’s work reflects the kind of leadership that moves cannabis forward with intention. He continues to prove that when passion and purpose meet, real progress follows.
