From Pot to Popular

Cannabis businesses often say they are in the business of nurturing the well-being of their patients and customers, but how does that translate within their own corporate culture? In this episode, we talk to Stevens Sainte-Rose and Fanny Sheumaker from Parallel, one of the fastest-growing MSOs in the country, about how their team is creating a corporate benefits and rewards ecosystem that is suppo...

As mainstream cannabis consumption has taken off, so has the demand for cannabis accessories, one of the fastest growing sectors within the industry. In this episode, we talk to Aaron LoCascio from Greenlane about his nearly 20 year entrepreneurial journey in the accessories space. Aaron shares how taking a hyperlocal growth strategy in the company’s early days allowed Greenlane to eventually beco...

In this episode, we discuss industry trends, the future of the Florida market and the importance of consumer education with Todd Rosales, the host of Elevate Your Grind --one of the most popular podcasts in the industry. Todd shares with us the most impactful conversations he’s had on his show, new conversations he hopes to dive into as the industry continues to mature, and how leaders can tell th...

As the mainstream adoption of cannabis consumption continues to rise, more media outlets are taking note and covering the rise of the industry from a variety of perspectives. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of cannabis coverage with Sarah Jacoby, Associate News Director at SELF Magazine. As one of the first mainstream reporters to cover the industry, Sarah examines how cannabis has becom...

Hemp farming has become increasingly popular since the 2018 Farm Bill was passed, but patchwork federal and state regulations, unpredictable demand for the crop and numerous operational obstacles have prevented farmers from experiencing the full benefits of this lucrative industry. Dave Weir, the Co-Founder & CEO of First Crop, hopes that his public benefit company can create a framework for bette...

The past year has awakened the sleeping giant that is Michigan’s retail market. Adult-use sales jumped by over 280% in 2020, making the Wolverine State one of the top markets in the country. Gage Cannabis Co., one of the fastest growing operators in the industry, not only recognized the long-term potential of the state early on but was also able to anticipate the enormous demand for cannabis when...

On-demand delivery of common household goods, groceries and meals has become part of everyday life, especially since the start of the pandemic. As consumer demand for cannabis continues to climb, more legal business and industry leaders are ramping up efforts to claim their own stake in this critical retail space. Lantern, one of the few on-demand cannabis delivery marketplaces in the industry, ha...

Despite growing mainstream demand for legal cannabis, effectively reaching the right consumer remains one of the greatest obstacles to retailers and brands. Current regulations have shut out the legal industry from advertising on popular social media platforms, but springbig, the industry’s largest customer loyalty and CRM platform, has developed an ecosystem of modern solutions to help brands and...

Encumbered by strict regulations and ongoing legalization efforts, cannabis is arguably the final frontier of retail and e-commerce. In this episode, Socrates Rosenfeld, Co-Founder and CEO of Jane Technologies, examines what it takes to build a retail platform that empowers consumers, brands and retailers all at once. Soc also discusses how his military background drove him to create a product tha...

As an early investor in the legal cannabis space, Matt Hawkins, Founder and Managing Partner of Entourage Effect Capital has had his finger on the pulse since 2014. In this episode, Matt discusses what long-time investors are prioritizing as the industry continues to mature and identifies sub-sectors that still have more potential to grow. Matt also examines how cannabis is being embraced by more...

Throughout the past decade, legal cannabis has become a lucrative and established industry on the West Coast. Now, the same opportunities are quickly emerging on the East Coast, especially after last year’s consequential election. In this episode, Todd Sullivan, Co-CEO of Cannapreneur Partners, explains why the next wave of legalization is imminent on the East Coast and how investors are preparing...

In recent years, the West Coast has been synonymous with the legal cannabis industry, but a new class of multi-state operators are rapidly scaling in emerging markets on the Midwest and East Coast. One of the most visible heavy hitters in the space is Jushi, an MSO with key operations in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Virginia. In this episode, company President and Co-founder Erich Mauff discusses ho...

Cannabis became one of the hottest commodities in the U.S. after a year defined by political and economic uncertainty. Favorable retail, social and political climates have now placed the legal industry in a position to flourish this year. In this episode, Todd Harrison, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer of CB1 Capital Management examines the most prominent growth opportunities for MSOs...

Despite cannabis’ essential status in 2020, many retailers struggled with fluctuating shut down regulations and were slow to pivot in their respective markets. In this episode, Bruce Macdonald, Chairman of the Board of C21 Investments, discusses how the operator was able to prevent pandemic-related losses through staying nimble in Nevada. Bruce also shares key insights into running a cash flow pos...

Legal cannabis has exploded in popularity over the past few years and has piqued the interests of mainstream brands around the world. One tech company is aiming to bolster the mainstream market potential of cannabis through data, education and artificial intelligence. In this episode, Chad Bronstein, the Founder and CEO of Fyllo, discusses how cannabis consumer data will transform the future of th...

Legal cannabis has made considerable social and political headway this year as the go-to product for mental and physical relief, but there are still a number of racial equity issues that have yet to be addressed by key industry players. Mary Pryor, Co-founder of Cannaclusive and Chief Marketing Officer of TONIC CBD, has been one of the most vocal advocates for a more inclusive industry that amplif...

For nearly a decade, scientists and entrepreneurs in the cannabis space have been developing technologies that address niche issues that are specific to the industry. As legal cannabis has become more sophisticated, a number of companies are beginning to recognize the universal applications of their technologies. This year, in the midst of a global pandemic that pushed mainstream testing and medic...

In recent years, public demand for legal cannabis has exploded --largely due to increased interest from female consumers, the fastest-growing demographic in the cannabis space. In this episode, April Pride, one of the first entrepreneurs in cannabis who created a specific consumer space for women, discusses why the legal industry may never reach its full potential without the help of female consum...

The therapeutic properties of cannabis have been widely embraced by patients and medical professionals over the past decade, but cannabis medicine is still lagging behind in the female healthcare and wellness space. Carrie Mapes and Patty Pappas recognized the pressing need for cannabis products that specifically catered to women in their age group when they were unable to find holistic forms of r...

Cy Scott has been immersed in legal cannabis long before many entrepreneurs recognized the industry’s potential and has founded two of the most impactful technology companies in the space. In this episode, Cy talks about the market pain points he aimed to address when he founded Leafly and Headset and how data has enabled consumer-facing companies to rapidly scale and mature. Cy will also discuss...

Public perception of cannabis products has come a long way in the past few years. In the nascent years of the legal industry, many products were still sold in ziploc bags with inconsistent dosing and unpredictable effects. Cameron Clarke and Keith Cich recognized the urgency of this issue early on and decided to address this pervasive matter by founding Sunderstorm. In this episode, Cameron and Ke...

Nearly a decade ago, the emerging legal market was shrouded in uncertainty. For the most part, retailers and brands were grasping in the dark about what consumers really wanted out of their cannabis experiences. Since then, the industry has evolved to a point where cannabis companies have gathered troves of consumer data --the question now remains, what should be done with these valuable insights?...

In the cannabis space, the key differentiator between legal and underground businesses is safety. Having rigorous testing standards is integral to building mainstream consumer trust and legitimizing the entire industry. In many states, cannabis safety standards are even more stringent than FDA agriculture guidelines, but more can be done to push the needle forward. In this episode, Antonio Frazier...

Although the modern cannabis industry still faces its fair share of regulatory hurdles, the sector was rife with legal battles and largely lacked any infrastructure when the legalization movement first gained traction over a decade ago. Much of the industry’s legal framework and professionalization can be attributed to Bob Hoban, one of the most prolific lawyers in the space. His firm, Hoban Law G...

Like many investors in the cannabis industry, Phyto Partners Managing Partner Larry Schnurmacher left Wall Street at the beginning of the legalization movement after witnessing the innumerable opportunities that were available in this emerging market. In this episode, Larry discusses how his company’s solutions-driven approach to investing is mainstreaming cannabis, what industries and services wi...