Innovating Cannabis Podcast

Today, we meet Ben Burstein, head of M&A and strategic partnerships at Leaflink. A leading wholesale cannabis commerce platform that connects brands and retailers by providing a digital marketplace where retailers can discover brands, place wholesale orders, and manage their inventory. We dive into the operational challenges of inventory management, identify emerging market performers, examine who...

Michael Sassano , a former Wall Street banker turned real estate developer, is known in the US for building 16 large-scale cultivation facilities in Nevada. He left for Europe in 2019 to get a head start in the European cannabis market and launched  Somai , a cannabinoid pharmaceutical company based in Lisbon, Portugal. Currently operating in 12 countries, Michael plans to be in 18 by year-end. We...

As Europe builds out a medically driven cannabis market, Sita Schubert is helping lead the charge. She's the founder and Secretary General of the EU Medical Cannabis Association and a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with a legal background. Her consultancy played a key role in helping Tilray establish itself as a leading operator in the German market. In this episode, we discuss the current stat...

Today on The Mary Jane Society , we're joined by Shane Johnson, a Stanford-trained medical doctor and accomplished biotech entrepreneur. Shane is the co-founder of BayMedica, a pioneering manufacturer of rare and minor cannabinoid ingredients known for their exceptional purity, consistency, and scalability traits critical to the future of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid products.   BayMedica was...

The Cannabis Media Council was founded to build bridges between the cannabis industry and mainstream media, elevate advertising standards, and help shift public perception through strategic public service announcements. Acting as a think tank of forward-thinking industry leaders, the Council believes in collaboration over competition—sharing knowledge and resources to make sure that all boats rise...

Today, we will learn about a potentially groundbreaking digital platform called The Cancer Playbook that could accelerate cannabis medicine for cancer treatment and redefine how patients, doctors, and researchers approach cancer care. Joining me are Jamie Bennett , Founder and Director of Operations, and Ryan Castle , Director of Research at The Cancer Playbook and Whole Health Oncology Institute....

Abstrax Tech is a leading terpene research, formulation, and manufacturing company renowned for its proprietary analytical technology and scientific breakthroughs.  Most recently, the team made headlines for discovering a new class of volatile aromatic compounds responsible for the unmistakable skunky scent of cannabis. Abstrax recreates precise and authentic terpene profiles that reflect the orig...

Bud and Mary_ Duncan Mackie. PhD                                                                                                                                                                                   Director of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics Today, I’m joined by Dr. Duncan Mackie, Director of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Bud & Mary's —an MSO with operations i...

Today, we're welcoming the team behind Vitabudz — a NYC legacy street brand making the leap into the legal cannabis market. Founded by brothers Jullian and Rich Murray , Vitabudz has teamed up with veteran cultivator Aaron Field to bring their passion for top-shelf, regeneratively grown cannabis to the New York marketplace. Their story is rooted in experience — with Jullian, Rich, and Aaron honing...

Today's guest is Dr. Avery Gilbert , a Sensory Scientist with roots in the luxury perfume industry. He's worked with major global brands and now brings his expertise to the cannabis space, helping companies elevate their products through sensory research and R&D. In this episode, we explore what truly defines a luxury product—beyond just price or packaging. From wine to perfume, luxury goods share...

Josh Krane is heading cultivation and manufacturing operations for one of NJ's top brands, Garden Greens. He brought his expertise from California, where he started in the medical market and transitioned into rec. He and his partners launched Field Extracts, which won multiple awards, the Emerald Cup, and Masters of Rosin, and then sold the company to GlassHouse Farms in 2019. He also ran 4 Front...

Today, we're talking about sensory science and its crucial role in R&D product development. While this methodology has been widely used for decades in the hops, beer, food, beverage, and perfume industries, the cannabis industry is just beginning to tap into its potential. Our guest today is Marshall Ligare, Ph. D. , former Research Scientist and Product Development Lead at John I. Haas , one of t...

Today, we're discussing cannabis extraction with industry expert Murphy Murri . She has been working in extraction since the early days of legalization in Colorado and has built a reputation as a go-to expert in both solventless and BHO techniques. She helps extraction teams optimize their operations, develop new products, and write SOPs to ensure efficiency and quality. In this episode, we discus...

As the beverage industry heats up, convenience store operators are debating about embracing this fast emerging category despite its legal gray area.  Meet Melissa VonderHaar, she is a nationally recognized expert in the convenience store channel . She regularly writes for the sector, covering stories specifically on cannabis, tobacco, vapor, and alcohol categories, and she speaks on the subject at...

Today, we’re joined by Ian Dyche, Head of Operations at MFNY, a top-selling brand in the NY market with its line of live resin products. A seasoned cultivator with 20 years of experience, Ian honed his craft in California before returning to his home state of New York bringing extensive expertise in large-scale cultivation and processing, specializing in indoor and high-tech, light-assisted greenh...

When we talk about crafting the best cannabis products, we often focus on extraction and preserving key compounds. But what happens in the curing process is just as crucial—if not more—when it comes to manipulating and enhancing a strain's unique characteristics. Joe Edwards knows a lot about this and has engineered decontamination and curing technology for Yofumo where he is the chief science off...

Today, our guest is Tom Cortez, CEO of Emergent Beverages , a seed-to-shelf company specializing in hemp-infused beverages. With a team of veterans from the alcohol industry, Emergent develops its own brands—like Calexio—while also helping other companies with brand development, manufacturing, and distribution. We’ll be talking about the growing hemp beverage market and what it takes to succeed in...

Every cannabis market has its own unique path to legalization, and Washington, DC, is no exception. Terrance White, CEO of the luxury dispensary Monko , joins us to discuss the city's evolving cannabis landscape. As the former chairman of the I-71 committee (more on that), he has played a key role in shaping DC's cannabis regulations. Now, as he prepares to open his second location—complete with a...

High Tide, the company responsible for Canna Cabana, the largest cannabis retail brand in Canada with over 190 retail locations, has officially entered the German cannabis market with its recent acquisition of Purecan- a German manufacturer and distributor with a license to import cannabis. They also announced they are actively seeking to participate in Germany's pilot retail program scheduled to...

Johns Hopkins University, renowned for its world-class medical program, established the Cannabis Science Lab (CSL) a number of years ago, but its research has become increasingly critical as the US government continues to neglect its duty in this area, hindering the industry's growth and economic development. Armed with a Schedule 1 research license, access to state-of-the-art cognitive testing eq...

BevNET is a media company focused on the mainstream beverage industry that includes producing one of the country's top beverage industry trade shows in Los Angeles and NYC each year. BevNet also creates CPG food and drink-focused podcasts, networking events, and a print magazine. I interviewed BevNet's founder, John Craven, to get insights into the mainstream beverage industry that might be applie...

 PHCANN International is one of a handful of European vertically integrated cannabis companies leading the way in establishing a trusted medical-first cannabis market. Last year, they partnered with Mike Tyson 2.0 to launch his products into the EU medical market. Today, our guest is Sasho Stephanoski, CEO of PHCANN. We talked about the European cannabis landscape and PHCANNs partnership with Mike...

Red Light Holland , a publicly traded company based in Canada, has been a trailblazer in the legal cultivation and sale of psilocybin truffles in the Netherlands for years. They also have a business selling functional mushroom grow kits for home use worldwide. Today, our guest is Sarah Hashkes , Red Light Holland's Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, to talk about their app, imicrodose, a jou...

Kyle Page grew up in the NYC and NJ area before being sent to a Kansas prison on marijuana charges for 8 years until the Last Prisoner Project intervened and got him released. They also helped him land a job with Ascend Wellness in their NJ cultivation operations. Kyle rapidly moved through the ranks into a top cultivation position. This year, Ascend Wellness is setting him up with his own dispens...

Peter Shafran, publisher of The Other Magazine, a new lifestyle magazine focused on NYC and the Hudson Valley, joins The Mary Jane Society podcast to discuss his plans for the cultural magazine and how he plans to build community through music events, farm tours, and wellness retreats as an extension of the magazine.  He has big plans outside of just the magazine.  Let’s welcome Peter Shafran to h...