How We Do Boston with Peter Gallagher

photo: insa

As CEO and Co-Founder of Insa, Peter Gallagher has helped build one of Massachusetts' most recognizable cannabis brands while pushing for a more inclusive industry. As Pride Month gets underway, he talks about Insa's support of LGBTQ+ communities, how cannabis culture has changed over the years and why showing up for the community should be a year-round commitment. 

Tell us a little more about your company and what’s changed since starting in 2013? 

Insa is a vertically integrated, independent cannabis company I co-founded in 2013 in Springfield with my best friend Pat Gottschlicht. From the beginning, we set out on a simple mission: to help more people have better days more often. We have retail stores in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida and Connecticut. In 2013, we were only a handful of people working on applications together late at night. Today, we have over 400 people working to make your days better! 

What has building a cannabis brand in Massachusetts been like? 

Equal parts exciting, challenging and humbling. When we started, there was no roadmap. Every company in the industry was figuring things out in real time and we made our share of mistakes along the way. What I’m most proud of isn’t any one product or store, but the team we’ve built. 

If you could smoke a joint with any local celebrity, who would you pick? 

I would love to meet Bill Belichick and Tom Brady and hear what it was really like building and sustaining a championship culture. The lessons about leadership, teamwork and consistency probably apply just as much to business as they do to football.

What inspired this year’s Pride campaign? 

At Insa, we believe cannabis is for everyone. Our customers, patients and team members come from all walks of life, and we think that’s worth celebrating. Pride Month is about inclusion and creating spaces where people feel they belong. Those values align closely with the core values of our company. 

Pride has become increasingly commercialized; how do you make a campaign feel authentic rather than performative? 

We try to focus less on what we say and more on what we do. We’ve participated in the Springfield Pride Parade for years. Later this month, we’ll be at North Shore Pride talking with community members and celebrating alongside them. Support should be visible throughout the year, whether that’s through community involvement, charitable giving, hiring practices or creating an environment where everyone feels welcome.

If Insa could sponsor one local event or tradition, what would it be? 

The Big E! It’s one of New England's most iconic traditions and happens right here in Western Massachusetts. Cannabis is ultimately an agricultural product, so there’s something fitting about the idea of a Western MA cultivator being part of a tradition that has celebrated New England farming and craftsmanship for more than a century. 

What’s your go-to cannabis product for a summer day in New England? 

Peanut Butter Crunch is one of our signature genetics and one of my current favorites. It has rich, nutty aromas and a relaxing profile that’s perfect for a slow summer afternoon. 

What’s next for Insa? 

We have a lot of new cultivars launching later this summer, which is exciting. We have our own breeding program. Some of these cultivars have taken years to develop. The varieties I’m looking forward to are Greaseberry, Peanut Butter Junky and Gas Pack. 

What’s one trend you’re seeing in the cannabis space that would’ve surprised you when you started? 

I’m surprised by the pace of mainstream acceptance in the US. Watching attitudes evolve over the last decade has been remarkable, and it shows how much education and experience can change perceptions. 

photo: insa