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Weed Empire: How I Battled Gangsters, Investment Banks, and the Department of Justice to Build the Cannabis Industry in America
From the cofounder of MedMen, this is the true, unfiltered inside tale of the mainstreaming of an outlaw the growers, dealers, lobbyists, tycoons, and titans of industry that created corporate cannabis.
Adam Bierman wasn’t planning on selling weed—or developing a network of cannabis stores, or safeguarding his money in shoeboxes, or facing off with gangbangers in dark corners of parking lots, or taking on the public markets and justice system itself to bring the world America’s first public cannabis unicorn. But, of course, not everything goes according to plan.
Weed Empire is an inside look at the story behind MedMen, America’s first cannabis unicorn and the world’s first globally recognized cannabis brand. It’s the underdog story of how a kid from the suburbs entered the cannabis scene and later reimagined weed for the mainstream, jumping at an opportunity to shift the conversation about legalizing marijuana. And it’s the tale of how a one-room studio dispensary eventually turned into a public company valued at over $2 billion—led by a CEO with no college degree, and with politicians, entertainment moguls, and Wall Street heavyweights on his team.
An unconventional but intensely authentic memoir, Weed Empire is more than just an account of MedMen’s colorful history—it’s also a cautionary tale of the high cost of ambition. Adam refuses to pull any punches in his tell-all story, documenting MedMen’s decade-long rise as well as all the extraordinary behind-the-scenes moments, the slog of passing cannabis legislation, and the exhausting battle to start a public company, bring a dream to the world, and hold a family—and himself—together through the madness.
Adam Bierman wasn’t planning on selling weed—or developing a network of cannabis stores, or safeguarding his money in shoeboxes, or facing off with gangbangers in dark corners of parking lots, or taking on the public markets and justice system itself to bring the world America’s first public cannabis unicorn. But, of course, not everything goes according to plan.
Weed Empire is an inside look at the story behind MedMen, America’s first cannabis unicorn and the world’s first globally recognized cannabis brand. It’s the underdog story of how a kid from the suburbs entered the cannabis scene and later reimagined weed for the mainstream, jumping at an opportunity to shift the conversation about legalizing marijuana. And it’s the tale of how a one-room studio dispensary eventually turned into a public company valued at over $2 billion—led by a CEO with no college degree, and with politicians, entertainment moguls, and Wall Street heavyweights on his team.
An unconventional but intensely authentic memoir, Weed Empire is more than just an account of MedMen’s colorful history—it’s also a cautionary tale of the high cost of ambition. Adam refuses to pull any punches in his tell-all story, documenting MedMen’s decade-long rise as well as all the extraordinary behind-the-scenes moments, the slog of passing cannabis legislation, and the exhausting battle to start a public company, bring a dream to the world, and hold a family—and himself—together through the madness.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published April 22, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1717 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 13, 2025
Weed Empire by Adam Bierman
Audio Version
Overall Grade: B-
Information: C
Writing/Organization: C
Narration: B
Best Aspect: Interesting information about the business of marijuana and battling the government in regards to it.
Worst Aspect: Very long winded in many sections, very arrogant and crass when it truly did not need to be, made it childish.
Recommend: Maybe.
Available 4/22/25
Audio Version
Overall Grade: B-
Information: C
Writing/Organization: C
Narration: B
Best Aspect: Interesting information about the business of marijuana and battling the government in regards to it.
Worst Aspect: Very long winded in many sections, very arrogant and crass when it truly did not need to be, made it childish.
Recommend: Maybe.
Available 4/22/25
April 18, 2025
Listening to this as an audiobook, I have to say that the author and narrator, Adam Bierman, definitely has a talent for sales, or at least, he knows how to pitch a story. This skill reflects well in his narration: when Adam was discussing routine business matters, the tone and pacing were fairly neutral, but whenever the story took a twist, mood and intonation swirled accompanying the change. This reading definitely deserves credit.
Unfortunately, beyond the narration, the book didn’t offer much else for me. It was interesting in the very beginning, when Adam explains how he happened to begin with his weed business, but it quickly devolved into a string of endless business hustles. The story became a repetitive cycle of seeking funding, chasing clients, lobbying interests, and attempting rapid expansion. Within just a few years, Adam went through numerous partners and investors, creating a flood of names, companies, and locations that became difficult to follow. Somewhere at the middle of the book, I completely lost track of his operations and more importantly, my interest in them.
And while it’s one thing for the business journey to feel flat, what really pushed me away was Adam himself, as he came across as deeply unlikable. His intense focus on business led him to neglect his family, even blaming them for wanting to spend time with him. He seemed obsessed with earning the approval of his abusive father. In general, throughout the story, his behavior was very selfish and arrogant, and the more I listened, the less I wanted to keep going.
So… I didn’t. I stopped before the end. I don’t know if Adam eventually reflects on his mistakes or changes his ways, but I hope he does, because the nice thing about not finishing a book is that I get to imagine my own, hopefully better, ending.
Unfortunately, beyond the narration, the book didn’t offer much else for me. It was interesting in the very beginning, when Adam explains how he happened to begin with his weed business, but it quickly devolved into a string of endless business hustles. The story became a repetitive cycle of seeking funding, chasing clients, lobbying interests, and attempting rapid expansion. Within just a few years, Adam went through numerous partners and investors, creating a flood of names, companies, and locations that became difficult to follow. Somewhere at the middle of the book, I completely lost track of his operations and more importantly, my interest in them.
And while it’s one thing for the business journey to feel flat, what really pushed me away was Adam himself, as he came across as deeply unlikable. His intense focus on business led him to neglect his family, even blaming them for wanting to spend time with him. He seemed obsessed with earning the approval of his abusive father. In general, throughout the story, his behavior was very selfish and arrogant, and the more I listened, the less I wanted to keep going.
So… I didn’t. I stopped before the end. I don’t know if Adam eventually reflects on his mistakes or changes his ways, but I hope he does, because the nice thing about not finishing a book is that I get to imagine my own, hopefully better, ending.
May 17, 2025
Fun retelling of history from a man with a front row seat. It’s his perspective, and rating shouldn’t impact whether you agree with him or not. My main gripe was his constant omission of dates, it would’ve been so much easier to follow if he’d occasionally put the year throughout.
March 25, 2025
Weed Empire
Publishes April 22, 2025
Weed Empire: How I Battled Gangsters, Investment Banks, and the Department of Justice to Build the Cannabis Industry in America by Adam Bierman, Narrated by Adam Bierman. This was absolutely fascinating and I learned so much that I didn’t know about the cannabis industry in America. Adam the cofounder of MedMen tells his story about how he didn’t start out with a plan to sell weed or even developing the network of cannabis stores he did. He also didn’t ever think he would have to face gangsters, hide his money in shoeboxes or take on public markets and the biggest hurdle the justice system.
MedMen, Americas first “cannabis unicorn” as well as it being the first globally recognized cannabis brand. The kid from the suburbs who joined the cannabis scene who helped reimagine weed for the mainstream, one who jumped at the chance to help with conversations about legalizing marijuana.
I really enjoyed this book and learned alot about the struggles and just how much money and effort and lobbying it took to expand cannabis in America. I do think it was strange that Adam still wanted his father’s approval despite all the nasty things he would say to his mother. I also didn’t like that Adam screamed and kicked his wife out of a car when she asked for help and for him to be present with the kids. Ive seen to many people who didn’t have parents active in their lives and you can really tell a difference in the type of person they become later in life. While arrogant at times, Adam for sure wouldn’t be where he is today.
Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words.
Publishes April 22, 2025
Weed Empire: How I Battled Gangsters, Investment Banks, and the Department of Justice to Build the Cannabis Industry in America by Adam Bierman, Narrated by Adam Bierman. This was absolutely fascinating and I learned so much that I didn’t know about the cannabis industry in America. Adam the cofounder of MedMen tells his story about how he didn’t start out with a plan to sell weed or even developing the network of cannabis stores he did. He also didn’t ever think he would have to face gangsters, hide his money in shoeboxes or take on public markets and the biggest hurdle the justice system.
MedMen, Americas first “cannabis unicorn” as well as it being the first globally recognized cannabis brand. The kid from the suburbs who joined the cannabis scene who helped reimagine weed for the mainstream, one who jumped at the chance to help with conversations about legalizing marijuana.
I really enjoyed this book and learned alot about the struggles and just how much money and effort and lobbying it took to expand cannabis in America. I do think it was strange that Adam still wanted his father’s approval despite all the nasty things he would say to his mother. I also didn’t like that Adam screamed and kicked his wife out of a car when she asked for help and for him to be present with the kids. Ive seen to many people who didn’t have parents active in their lives and you can really tell a difference in the type of person they become later in life. While arrogant at times, Adam for sure wouldn’t be where he is today.
Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words.
March 23, 2025
Thank for a review copy of this book!
This booked peeked my curiosity, but it didn’t hold it. I enjoyed the narrator and their enthusiasm about sharing their story and it was interesting at times.
It lost me quite a few times as I found it didn’t keep my attention like I wanted it too. This book was political which the title eludes too, but I wasn’t invested due to the lack of personal connection from the story teller.
⭐️⭐️
This booked peeked my curiosity, but it didn’t hold it. I enjoyed the narrator and their enthusiasm about sharing their story and it was interesting at times.
It lost me quite a few times as I found it didn’t keep my attention like I wanted it too. This book was political which the title eludes too, but I wasn’t invested due to the lack of personal connection from the story teller.
⭐️⭐️
April 10, 2025
DNF at 30%. Long-winded and not as personal as I’d hoped it would be.
July 10, 2025
A lot of bull but the earlier parts were entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews