What does it really mean to be a social equity business? How can operators in the cannabis space provide access and opportunities to people affected negatively by the war on drugs and give back to their communities in ways that make a real difference? To answer these questions, we’re talking to Tamika Samson and Beth…

There’s a greater appetite for cannabis events than ever before–and today’s guest is doing some amazing stuff to create safe, fun, and upscale opportunities and experiences for people who want to partake!  We’re talking to Mark Rafailovich. Mark is the founder and owner of Spleaf, which he launched by selling homemade THC brownies when he…

Running a successful event of any kind isn’t easy. And running a successful event in the cannabis space isn’t any easier. But that’s exactly what Marc Shepard is doing, and he’s helping local communities and industries to thrive and grow. Marc is the founder of NECANN–the world’s largest B2B cannabis convention–as well as a member…

While some cultivators might focus on yield or volume, Malek’s Premium Cannabis is all about passion over profit with a flavor-first approach. And joining us today to explain why is Malek’s CMO and Head of Marketing Katherine Wolf. Katherine is a self-confessed branding nerd and a published writer with a passion for helping cannabis companies…

If you’ve been following the podcast for a while, you’ve undoubtedly heard us ask our guests: “When do you think we’ll see full federal legalization?” We’ve gotten all kinds of answers, but most of us are making educated guesses at best. To get more of an insider’s perspective, we’re thrilled to be talking to Jarrod…

Every brand has a story, but few have a combination of family recipe, story, and legacy quite like Dr. Norm’s. Dr. Norm was a real person–a well respected M.D. His wife, Audrey, was a professional pharmacist and beloved baker. Their children started a traditional cookie company to honor their mother, and it’s since become one…

We’ve spoken to many entrepreneurs and business leaders in the cannabis industry, and we’ve noticed one overarching theme: everyone is very new and still figuring it out as they go. Even in the most mature markets, things are constantly changing, and new categories are emerging all the time. Today’s guest, Bohb Blair, is relatively new…

With so many new markets coming online in the next few years, there are more people than ever before looking for help with permitting, licensing, and everything else that comes with launching a business in a highly regulated industry. When they need that help, they turn to people like today’s guest, Dr. Sherry Boodram. She’s…

With New York coming online as a major player in our industry, things are changing fast. New players are looking to enter the field at a rapid pace, and the decisions we make along the way could easily have lasting repercussions for operators and consumers nationwide. But as this industry grows, how do we make…

Today, Rick and Jeff “unpack” their experience at the MJ Unpacked conference at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan as they share their thoughts, highlights, and the sights and sounds from the event. At this high-energy event, they saw more deals get done than ever before, tons of new brands working to enter the space,…

This week, we’re reporting from the floor of the MJ Unpacked Conference here in New York City. Over the course of three days, we had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the latest innovations in the industry and connect with a number of power players doing fascinating things. First up is Elizabeth Becker. After working…

Over the last half-decade, there’s been an explosion in interest in virtual assistants. Entrepreneurs of all kinds have hired remote support staff to do all sorts of tasks: making travel arrangements, managing calendars, briefing team members before conferences or engagements, and even assisting with content creation and social media. This is as true of cannabis…

For obvious reasons, today is a very special episode. Happy 420, everyone! Instead of our usual interview format, we’re speaking to three budtenders in the world of cannabis. We ask each of them a handful of questions before jumping into Stump the Budtender–a game that’s exactly what it sounds like. So, who are our contestants?…

The War on Drugs in America disproportionately affected people of color. So many potential entrepreneurs and their families have had their lives ruined by drug laws and racial profiling. Meanwhile, white male entrepreneurs have had no trouble reaping massive profits from the legal cannabis industry. Today’s guest, Jesce Horton, knows this well. He left the…

What does the future of cannabis farming look like? In an industry where energy consumption is always an issue, supply chains may be in permanent disarray, and regulation can destroy efficiency, producers may seem like they’re always struggling to sustainably create great products.  However, that doesn’t mean that innovation is impossible. Today, we’re talking to…

There’s always been a connection between cannabis and music, but how do legal cannabis brands authentically connect with music lovers? To answer that question, we’re talking to Kieve Huffman. Kieve is the founder and CEO of Engager Brands–a portfolio of cannabis lifestyle brands focused on reaching under-marketed music audiences. He builds authentic awareness for brands…

The nascent cannabis industry still has a long way to grow. In many ways, it hasn’t successfully given back to the people hurt the most from the war on drugs, empowered marginalized entrepreneurs, or created opportunities for more than a small number of people–many of whom are men–with access to capital. Today, we’re talking to…

For hospitality professionals, wine and spirits are a lifelong education. You can spend a lifetime learning about grape varietals, terroir, fermentation, and so much more. And in the world of cannabis, we’re just scratching the surface in many ways. You might ask yourself, what does the future of the culinary and hospitality cannabis industries look…

In this new year, there’s one thing we’ve been thinking about more than almost anything else: what is on-premises consumption of cannabis going to look like in America? When will it happen, and how will marketing and branding change when it does? In the alcohol industry, on-premises consumption builds brands while the off-trade grows volume….

The potential health benefits of cannabis are not strictly limited to humans. In fact, animals of all kinds have seen positive results from all sorts of different kinds of cannabis use, including dogs, pigs, and other species as well. Few people know this as well as holistic pet and medical cannabis expert Angela Ardolino. She’s…

If you bought cannabis products in the mid-2010s, you probably remember just how profoundly bro-y all of the emerging brands were–design was lowbrow and often covered in naked girls and aggressive guys. This is why when Christina DiPaci launched her brand, she did things differently. She’s the founder and CEO of Paradiso Gardens–one of California’s…

What does social equity look like in the cannabis industry? How can companies work to repair damage caused by the war on drugs and address challenges pertaining to diversity, education, community, and sustainability?   Rabbi James Kahn is the executive director of Liberty Cannabis Cares. LCC is the social impact and corporate responsibility team at Holistic…

Welcome to part two of our MJ Unpacked experience! In this episode, we take some time to reflect and share some final thoughts on our trip to the MJ Unpacked conference. We’ll discuss our biggest takeaways and highlight some of our favorite moments and products. We also have another special interview for you. Our guests…

Welcome to our recap of the MJ Unpacked Conference from Las Vegas. MJ Unpacked is the first cannabis event connecting retailers, THC CPG brands, and investors with opportunities to connect, collaborate, and get access to capital.  We spent our time walking the floor and attending a wide array of seminars. We learned what a number…

These days, everyone’s talking about supply chains and the challenges they’re facing when it comes to sending and receiving virtually anything from one part of the world to another. As you might expect, since cannabis is still federally illegal, it comes with its own set of challenges, and relies on complex networks that aren’t easy…

Today, we’re talking to Amy Weinstein, co-founder of Other People’s Pot–a Canadian sales agency where cannabis lovers and industry vets put pot products in the hands of other people. They equip cannabis brands with the knowledge, tools, and strategy to build a better industry. Before co-founding Other People’s Pot, Amy worked in sales and marketing,…

Media companies are finally changing their tune when it comes to cannabis. After decades of reporting from all sorts of outlets about cannabis as a problematic drug, the New York Times changed the conversation by calling for the legalization of cannabis in 2014—and one of the people to have a real conversation with the head…

When Julia Jacobson developed chronic migraines in her 20’s, with the advice of an E.R. doctor, she started treating her migraines with cannabis. And it completely changed her life. Having been freed from the cocktails of medications that never worked, she’s turned her focus to the cannabis industry. Julia is the CEO and co-founder of…

The cannabis industry feels like an unstoppable locomotive right now. Business is growing and scaling all over the country, and there are extraordinary opportunities to build businesses within the industry. But when a cannabis brand needs help, who can they turn to for resources and guidance? Meet George Jage. He’s a leading cannabis executive with…

If you want to use digital marketing to grow your business, there’s a pretty good chance your plan involves buying ads on Google and Facebook. But what happens when not just those platforms, but almost every major advertising platform, won’t take your money? Sam Hollander is determined to solve this issue. He’s the Chief Data…

For the uninitiated, CBD can be a confounding product category. It can’t simply be labeled fat-free or sugar-free, called natural or organic, and isn’t reliably or consistently dosed from product to product. Andrea Wightwick is working to change this. She’s the Founder and CEO of Hapsy–a CBD brand that puts power back in the hands…

How does one cross over from working in the corporate world to the cannabis industry? What does that journey look like, and what are the common challenges along the way? And how can you identify opportunities to lend your skills and transform a fast-growing but still nascent industry?  Dasheeda Dawson is a global cannabis advocate,…

For some consumers, going into a dispensary for the first time can feel scary. The retail environment rarely caters to first-time buyers, and there are still countless stigmas associated with cannabis and “weed culture” that feel like they should have died out years ago, but still persist today. Mimi Lam is on a quest to…

420 is a perfectly natural holiday for the cannabis industry. It’s also a great opportunity to look back on past episodes of this podcast, what we’ve learned along the way, and to examine the state of the industry. We started this podcast in September of 2019 to explore the cannabis industry, to educate ourselves, and…

There are many talented people working to demonstrate the link between positive health outcomes and cannabis use, but what about in sports and athletics?  To help us answer that question, we’re speaking to Jim McAlpine. Jim is a snowboard company executive and an early advocate for cannabis use among athletes. He created the 420 Games…

The audience for cannabis content has grown rapidly over the last decade – but who writes it, what value does it provide, and what challenges make this niche so unique? Here to answer these questions is Lauren Yoshiko. She’s a writer, cannabis journalist, magazine editor, and the host of Broccoli Talk, Broccoli Magazine’s official podcast….

In the age of social media backlash and deep distrust in “influencers,” how can one be a responsible ambassador and advocate for cannabis?  Here to help us answer that question is Brooke Burgstahler. She’s a writer, producer, host, and actress in TV, online media, and film. She’s the star of BigMike and Advanced Nutrients’ show,…

In the early days of legal cannabis edibles, it was hard to find anything that seemed “healthy.” Most products were full of sugar, dyed with synthetic colors, and prone to leaving their consumers completely incapacitated.  This is why Gillian Levy, the President of Humboldt Apothecary, set out to change things. She holds a degree in…

In one sense, the cannabis industry is like any other: when you identify a gap in the market, there’s an opportunity to achieve success by filling it.  Space Coyote’s high quality pre-rolls, available all over California, do just that. Today’s guest, co-founder Libby Cooper, has helped to create a truly unique brand that marries the…

In America, a criminal record can make it much harder not just to get a job, but to launch a business. Social equity programs are working to change this, and have helped former felons and victims of Reagan-era drug policy to start innovative companies – sometimes in formerly criminalized industries.  Chris Ball is the founder…

The legal cannabis industry is astoundingly white and astoundingly male – and the barriers to entry for everyone else are astoundingly high. Entrepreneurs of color struggle to raise funds, shake social stigmas, and become part of an industry that hasn’t fully reckoned with its history. Entrepreneurs like Ashley Stallworth don’t just know this firsthand –…

The stereotypes around “stoner culture” – Bob Marley posters, ridiculous looking photos of bongs, and the associations with criminals, addicts, and drug dealers – have been around for decades. As the perception of cannabis, both in medicine and adult use, changes, people are finally pushing back against this imagery.  Serial entrepreneur Ophelia Chong is a…

There’s no one-size-fits-all career, especially in the world of cannabis. However, there’s one thing we’ve learned in our conversations with industry insiders and talented people building incredible companies: there’s a long way to go before the stigmas around stoner culture, slacking off, and being lazy are gone for good. Jay Jackson, aka Laganja Estranja, is…

Direct to consumer subscription services have filled a wide variety of niches and become massively popular over the last several years. For reasons both obvious and not so obvious, the cannabis industry is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this business model, but also faces extremely specific challenges that other subscription goods services do not….

The nascent culture surrounding adult-use cannabis is still finding its tone of voice, and brands are still struggling to fully define themselves. Many companies that produce materials for the industry are either cold and clinical and make you feel like you’re looking at something from a pharmacy. Others fully embrace all of the stereotypes of…

Huge amounts of wealth have been created for entrepreneurs and businesses seeing success in the cannabis industry today. However, there are still many people all over the country incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses, and there is so much work to be done as we reckon with the legacy of cannabis prohibition. Andrew Deangelo has spent decades…

The cannabis industry faces many unique challenges, and making sense of the data it produces requires specialized tools. To name just a few, there’s an astounding amount of product out there, tons of variables at play at every stage of manufacturing and distribution, and the nuances of legality across states. To turn this information into…

With the onset of the COVID-19, lifestyles all over the world have changed in major ways. More than ever before, people are relying on delivery services to get their groceries, meals from their favorite restaurants, alcoholic beverages, and a whole lot of other things. However, for many reasons, some of which might be obvious, cannabis…

In November of 2018, Missouri voted to legalize medical use of cannabis, making them the 33rd state to do so. As the state builds momentum toward adult use, a number of interesting things are happening that prove how different just every path to legalization is. Today’s guest is Internist Mimi Vo. Mimi graduated from medical…

The COVID-19 pandemic and surrounding crises have impacted virtually every industry all over the world, and cannabis is no exception. Though cannabis businesses, much like liquor, have been deemed essential, there are myriad issues facing producers and users at this time – and they may ultimately impact the long journey to full legalization. As 2020…

When cannabis businesses need funding, they can’t simply get traditional loans. A number of legal and regulatory hurdles stand in the way for many operators, and the rules surrounding lending vary greatly from state to state. For investors who do lend to cannabis businesses, finding great partnerships isn’t easy – and differs in a number…

The cannabis beverage space is a fascinating one. Much like the craft beer movement, which grew from the work of a few hobbyists in the 1980s and 1990s into a multibillion dollar industry today, we’re seeing pioneers invent new product categories, take big chances, and create new consumer experiences.  In Colorado, Keith Villa is doing…

Even as both medical and adult use cannabis legalization has continued across the United States, growers and resalers have faced a number of challenges, like how to standardize and regulate a product that isn’t always easy to measure. In the CBD space in particular, it’s easy to end up with “hot” product where THC levels…

Though adult use cannabis is rapidly maturing in many parts of the United States, the medical cannabis industry is still developing as well. It faces a different set of operational hurdles and challenges, is continuing to shift and develop, and remains the sole source of legal cannabis in a number of states, including New York….

Drug laws at the city, state, and federal levels have been used for almost a century to disproportionately punish people of color. Despite making up only 31.5% of the United States’ population, 46.9% of people arrested for violating drug laws are Black or Latino, and it’s never hard to find news stories of white offenders…

Maine legalized medical use cannabis in 1999, long before many other states. However, after adult-use cannabis was legalized by a vote in 2016, it effectively stayed inaccessible for another two years, with licenses finally going live and prohibition being lifted on December 5 of this year and retail sales not starting until March of 2020….

If you dive deep into the history of federally forbidden substances, you start to see clear parallels in the history of alcohol and cannabis when it comes to how prohibitions occur (and why they fall apart). Dr. William Rorabaugh is here to talk all about it. Dr. William Rorabaugh is a Professor of History at…

Throughout human history, economics has played a major part in setting policy and inspiring actions of all kinds, including prohibitions – and few have a deeper understanding of prohibitions than Dr. Mark Thornton. Dr. Thornton is a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and an economist who’s written and spoken extensively on the topic of…

In the last episode of our podcast, we talked all about how cannabis was widely prescribed in the 19th century, fell out of favor, and was ultimately outlawed at the federal level. Today, we continue this guided tour throughout cannabis history as it ping pongs from being celebrated to vilified (and back again), and there’s…

Cannabis usage in America didn’t start a few years or even a few decades ago. In fact, cannabis has a long, storied history including a period of extensive medical use before the prohibition that is just now coming to an end. Few know more about this history than Adam Rathge. Adam Rathge holds a Ph.D….

The vast majority of American states now have medical cannabis programs, and 11 states plus Washington D.C. have adult (or recreational) use programs as well. However, cannabis is still federally illegal, and the rules and regulations vary greatly depending on what side of the industry you’re in and where you’re doing business. Few people understand…

Welcome to the very first episode of The Green Repeal: the story of legal cannabis through the lens of marketers who know the unique challenges of working in highly regulated industries. Today, our guest is Sean Everett. Sean is an operating advisor to high growth companies in the consumer product space. He has 20 years of…