Innovating Cannabis Podcast

KEY TALKING POINTS: • Recent Developments and Market Dynamics : o Discusses the significance of Germany's move towards cannabis legalization. o Believes Germany's decision is a tipping point that will influence other countries. o Notes the impact of global politics on the cannabis industry, particularly in Europe. • Medical vs. Recreational Cannabis : o Highlights differences between U.S. and EU m...

Cherissa Jackson  is a 23-year veteran of the Air Force as an officer and nurse who has seen combat three times in Iraq and Afghanistan.  She is now the Founder and CEO of  WeDecode . It provides DNA testing to determine deficiencies in a person's endocannabinoid system and match cannabis products that will help them achieve homeostasis. Many apps are available that track consumer experience with...

Kieve works with US cannabis companies to expand their product line to Latin America. He shares market insights and which country in South America he is the most bullish on for brand expansion. He got his start in the cannabis industry in California with the launch of Heavy Grass, a portfolio of pre-roll brands. He expanded the product line into Mexico, built relationships throughout Latin America...

Puffco has dominated the hash space with its cutting-edge hardware for ten years. Today, we meet Chelsea Kossower, their VP of global expansion, to learn how she is elevating the hash culture around the world, spreading the Puffco brand, and building community.   Chelsea Kossower : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-kossower/ Puffco: https://www.puffco.com/pages/about-us The Innovating Cannabis p...

Alex Rogers has been a cannabis activist on the West Coast since the 1990s and has worked under people like Jack Herer, to name a few. He moved to Europe and continued his quest to legitimize cannabis. In 2017, he took the chance and started what has become one of the best-known cannabis B2B trade shows in Europe, The International Cannabis Business Conference , which is held in multiple countries...

Peter Homberg is a partner in the Dentons Berlin law office and heads up the European Cannabis Division. Peter joined The Mary Jane Society podcast to share his insights about Germany's recent step toward cannabis legalization and what it means for businesses in the US looking to enter the European market.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-homberg-90618519/ https://www.dentons.com/en/ The Innovat...

Ross Hunsinger is the director of food and beverage innovation at Abstrax Hops. In 2023, Abstrax Tech added an official hops division at Ross's suggestion, and they are now on track to disrupt the beer industry by introducing cannabis to the equation. They partnered with many of the best cultivators and brewers to study their cannabis and hops profiles to create the world's most advanced terpene f...

2024 could be a big year in so many ways for the cannabis industry aside from rescheduling. Hish Jain breaks it down for us on the latest episode of the Mary Jane Society podcast. Hirsh is the founder of  Ananda Strategy . He is a cannabis industry consultant and government policy expert and helps guide a company's competitive licensing efforts, expansion strategy, regulatory compliance, M&A activ...

Is there a future for strain-based drinks? Flower is the number one selling category in the country. Legacy growers, connoisseurs, and enthusiasts are obsessed with the nuances of the plant and how it can make you feel. Of course, there are significant challenges to maintaining consistency, quality, and scalability when manufacturing these beverages.  Our guest today is Randy Reed; he recently exi...

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. Michael shares their strategy and readiness for Europe's impending cannabis leg...

Many of you probably have heard of our next guest, A.C. Moon. She has been toiling away in the California cannabis industry for about 25 years where she earned a degree in horticulture, endured raids, and dealt with a federal indictment. She has opened dispensaries and developed one of the first line of edibles, back in the day. A.C. is also a multi-patented inventor, educator, and Emerald Cup jud...

Jason Reposa is the founder of Good Feels, a line of cannabis beverages in Massachusetts. We talked about his manufacturing operations, his business challenges, and how he is using a hemp version of Good Feels to build national brand awareness. He is constantly tinkering in his R&D lab to produce the best beverages on the market and is taking his time growing with the industry. Good Feels Jason Re...

Meet Wendy Bronfein , co-founder and policy director at Curio Wellness. Curio Wellness has been operating in Maryland's medical market since 2018 before they recently flipped to adult use. They are a family-owned vertical operation and are on the move with expansion plans by offering franchise opportunities with their Far & Dotter dispensary business model. They expanded cultivation facilities in...

Activism, cannabis, and the queer culture are at the heart of NYC's  Flamer  pre-roll brand. Co-founders Wyatt, Matias, and Khalil met through NYC's gay community and discovered they shared a passion for activism during their involvement with the Black Lives Matter movement during COVID-19. Flamer is a brand built out of authenticity and influenced by the trio's experience in the NYC queer communi...

Our latest guest is Paul Weaver, who is head of R&D for Boston Beer's cannabis division based in Toronto. They are the creators of TeaPot, a THC-infused iced tea brand they are testing and perfecting in Canada with plans to launch in the US when the time is right. So far, they are accruing accolades and awards for Teapot. Great name. The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Ch...

Christian Chavez, CEO and co-founder of Statis Cannabis Co. , is the first dispensary to open in the Bronx just a few months ago. Christian tells us how he went from running a successful construction and real estate business to being a dispensary owner with plans to open more around the city. Statis represents urban luxury and plans to elevate the culture in the Bronx. Find out how things are goin...

Colin Decker was born and raised in Upstate NY and has been growing cannabis since he was about 13 when his mother gifted him with a tin of seeds a Dutch friend gave her. Colin went from legacy to legal and launched his preroll brand, 7 Seaz. He is determined to be a dominant brand in the state and is innovating with a triple-infused preroll called the Tsunami. Colin is giving back to the communit...

Today I speak with Hirsh Jain , founder of Ananda Strategy . Hirsh is a cannabis industry consultant and expert in government policy. He helps guide a company's competitive licensing efforts, expansion strategy, regulatory compliance, M&A activity, and venture capital funds across North America and Western Europe. Hirsh shares current policy developments happening state-by-state and how they can a...

Adrian Adams, Ed. D. is the NY Director for Minorities For Medical Marijuana and has spent years working as an advocate for the social equity community in many ways. And once again, he is looking for innovative ways to uplift those who deserve a chance to thrive in the cannabis industry. Adrian is brokering deals to bring together successful business owners and license holders who need their exper...

When entrepreneurs decide they want to start a cannabis-based business, most likely they get distracted with the arduous process of applying for a license. However not getting the layout and design of their facility right can cost more to fix in the long run due to the legal complexities of the industry.   Today we meet Brian Anderson , co-founder of Massachusetts-based architectural firm, Anderso...

Many know Nikki Lawley in the cannabis industry for sharing her true story about how she used cannabis to help her heal from a brain trauma injury.   Nikki is on a mission to help bridge the gap between the medical and recreational communities and get both sides communicating instead of the hateful rant toward corporate cannabis. Nikki is shining a light on both entities hoping they will find a wa...

Thank you to our SHOW SPONSOR -- WWW.ARVANNA.COM   A well-known cattle rancher and craft lettuce farmer in the tiny town of Millerton, NY, teamed up to join the cannabis industry and launched the brand, Alchemy Pure.   I spoke to Chris Regan, Alchemy Pure's head grower and co-founder. We talk about what makes them stand out, their plans for launching a line of tinctures and gummies into the market...

Thank you to our show sponsor --- ARVANNA   This Cannabis Franchise Is Making Inroads In The North East Partnering with a franchise is a great way to fast-track a business, and get a built-in team of professionals, especially in the highly regulated cannabis industry. Sweet Spot Farms , a franchise in the NE has been quietly building cultivation facilities and dispensaries to support its franchise...

Thank you to this show's sponsor: ARVANNA ( https://arvanna.com/ )  Ruben Lindo is well known as someone working hard to make sure that everyone gets a fair shake in the cannabis industry. He started down the path of medical school and ended up developing a CBD-based product to help his daughter battle a disease that was causing her hair to fall out. It worked and that's when he launched Phoenix N...

Interview with Gary George, CEO of The Real Canna Consulting From a long career in the music industry as a recording rap artist, audio engineer, and marketing agency owner, Gary George stepped into the cannabis industry when his son asked him for help applying for a NJ dispensary license. He ended up consulting and writing applications for other social equity entrepreneurs and launched a yearly co...