AACE INTERVIEW: Vien Trinh of aeropay
Vien Trinh: Discussing the Strategy of Cannabis
Culturally, there are topics and subjects you ‘just don’t talk about’…Instead, be informative, inclusive, and understanding. You’ll attract more bees with honey than vinegar. - Vien Trinh
There are many different types of conversations, from social to enlightening to all business to the one I had with Vien Trinh of AeroPay, it was a wonderful combination of all of the above. What set it apart was since joining the cannabis community, I’ve met many people that I shared only the love for the plant with ones that I share not just the advocacy but also heritage. There is a shorthand that APIs (Asian Pacific Islanders) have, all we need to say is a few keywords about parents, food, and the re-gifting holiday blue tins of Danish Butter Cookies by our moms.
Vien speaks of his family’s roots and his choice to join the military and his transition to the cannabis industry on AACE. In his own words, today we have the honor of spotlighting Vien Trinh, MBA, veteran, and advocate. - Ophelia Chong
Tell us about how your parents honored their heritage by raising you as Asian and American.
First,
I’d like to thank my parents for raising me.
As my nationality is American, I’m ethnically Chinese, Mom is from Hong Kong, & Vietnamese from my father’s side, raised in Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon. They met as students while attending Southern Illinois University.
I was born in Lubbock, Texas. For the first three years of my life, Dad worked at Texas Instrument while Mom stayed home and raised my brother and me.
Their intermediate families moved to Canada from Asia. Half live in Toronto, ON (Mom’s) & the other half live in Montreal, QC (Dad’s). We’re the only ones on both sides of the family to settle in the States. When Dad got a job in the Chicagoland area, we moved to the northwest suburbs. It must have been tough on both of them as my parents didn’t have family or a strong support network in the area. We’re still the only Asian family on the block for over three decades.
Besides growing up in a conservative household where academics were the priority, my folks impacted my preferences in food. Meals were always homecooked by mostly Mom and sometimes Dad. It was a heavy dose of Asian cuisine. Once a month, we’d drive into Chicago’s Chinatowns to buy the necessary groceries and eat around there. I credit them for my appreciation of foods from various ethnic origins and my knack for cooking. Predominantly, I make East/Southeast Asian dishes. I also love experimenting with different cuisines, flavors, & spices. And the American in me grills a MEAN cheeseburger.
In the summer and the winter holidays of my childhood, Dad drove us to Canada. I loved being around my extended family. It was always livelier than the four of us during Thanksgiving. From spending time with my relatives in Canada to visiting Asia, my parents did what they could to ensure we embraced
our culture when there was an expectation of assimilation. Prior to the pandemic, I was visiting Hong Kong and Vietnam almost every other year. I hope to go back soon.
As a veteran, how has that shaped your work ethic, and was also being Asian American?
Growing up with strict Asian parents, having a strong work ethic was ingrained in my mind! They believed working hard at school and your job will pay off in the long run. And do it without asking too many questions. Those parts of my upbringing prepared me for life in the military.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the diversity. Growing up in Midwest suburbia, it was pretty homogenous. The military has people from many walks of life. Their background, cultures, beliefs, & formal education levels all differ. So as I continued my career in the military as an officer, I focused on putting my Soldiers in the best place to succeed. Understand what’s important to them. What drives them? How do they communicate? How can I relate to them for me to see their point of view and vice versa? That was the best thing I got out of being in the military: Learning to adapt, relate, and empathize.
Lastly, was it in the military that you embraced problem-solving, or was that a skill you learned from your parents and/or culture?
I knew someone who used this expression about problem-solving:
The cow’s already in the ditch. Let’s get it out of the ditch. Figure out how it got in the ditch. Make sure it doesn’t get back in the ditch.
It’s unrealistic to say I’ve never been in a situation where hindsight was 20/20, and I could’ve made a better decision. However, the military teaches their leaders making a decision is better than having no decision at all. Now, that doesn’t mean to problem-solve on impulse or intuition completely. It’s essential to think through the solution. There are moments you’ll need to make a split-second decision for the sake of time and resources. However, if you’re fortunate to have time to plan, create one and execute. Figure out the best way to get the cow out of the ditch and do it.
Some of us experimented with cannabis in high school. What were your initial thoughts? Why did you embrace plant medicine later in life?
I didn’t dabble into cannabis until college. I was a strait-laced high schooler and the worst things I did were break curfew or mouth off. However, I tried cannabis a handful of times during my freshman year in college. I didn’t love my experiences, though I enjoyed creatively naming our fraternity bong, The Flux Capacitor.
I wasn’t used to the burning sensation and after-taste after inhalation. Also, the quality of the flower and the multitude of available products have become exceptionally better since my days at Uni. After joining the military in the fall after my freshman year, I had developed a different and negative mindset around the plant.
My thoughts on cannabis drastically changed a few years later after a family member had a recurring tumor which ultimately led to his passing. It was difficult for my family to watch his physical condition worsen, which led me to research the plant and its pain-relieving qualities.
At that time, cannabis was federally illegal in Canada. Attempting to converse with my family surrounding its prohibited use would’ve caused mass hysteria and grave disappointment. I found this stigma undeserving and ironic as growing up, the use of roots, i.e., ginseng & ginger, and drinking herbal teas were considered healthy, almost preventative, in our lives.
Cannabis is a plant that’s a combination of art & science. No fillers or preservatives added. And as you know, China cultivated cannabis for millennia to use as a fiber, food, and medicine. The Chinese have a character for cannabis, 麻, pronounced Ma.
There’s substantial historical research around cannabis and its medicinal qualities and recreational use. Once normalized, I’m fascinated to see cannabis’s other medical benefits. Yet, unfortunately, we still have ways to go until we see that future.
And how do you educate your family and friends about cannabis, and is there a way culturally that you do it so that it is easier to grasp when you bring in the historical uses?
It’s not a topic I steamroll into, especially with family. Culturally, there are topics and subjects you ‘just don’t talk about. In addition, I have friends who conservatively believe ‘marijuana is bad’. I’ll consider my audience and bring up my cannabis advocacy and utilization when it’s appropriate.
From there, it typically stems into a conversation. I love intimate settings of dialogue and discussion, especially around cannabis. When I speak about the plant, people see my passion and that I’ve taken time to educate myself to have an intellectual chat.
However, I’ll never push anyone to try cannabis or see my point of view. That’s the easiest way to put someone off. Instead, be informative, inclusive, and understanding. You’ll attract more bees with honey than vinegar.
With the ever-changing landscape of the cannabis industry, problem-solving in the space requires creative solutions. How has AeroPay helped the cannabis industry with one of the biggest roadblocks, banking?
While AeroPay specializes in digital payments, we believe greater access to financial services more generally is imperative for the long-term success of the industry.
Every state with some form of cannabis legalization has cannabis-compliant banking options available. AeroPay has developed a network of such banks and can help connect cannabis businesses when banking is a challenge for them.
Once they have a cannabis-compliant bank, these businesses can take advantage of AeroPay’s digital payments platform.
Together with the banks in the space, we work to normalize the industry by decreasing cash reliance and removing the need for cash management. Ultimately, our goal is to create an experience comparable to other industries, where money seamlessly moves without the need for duffle bags or armored cars.
What is your favorite strain for the end of a long, long day?
A nice Sativa-dominant hybrid. Wedding Cake or Gelato hits the spot, no pun intended.
Links: