The Dime

Sometimes, you need to go the extra mile to make a point—like buying every medicine at CVS to show regulators that medicine can, and often does, have flavor.  Sensible regulations should be rooted in logic, not outdated prohibition fears or baseless stigmas.  If cannabis is legalized, it should be treated like any other industry, not one plagued by fear of being a shadowy boogeyman. This week, we...

How many of you know that the post-harvest process is just as critical—or even more so—than cultivation for preserving terpenes and cannabinoids? While cultivation is often in the spotlight, the post-harvest process is essential to maintaining quality in cannabis. This week on The Dime , we sit down with Jack Grover, co-founder of Grove Bags, to explore how post-harvest techniques can make or brea...

Clones, tissue culture, gen-zero cloning—cultivation science dictates both the health, effects, and financial return on each cannabis plant. This week, we’re diving deep to understand how these techniques work and why they’re game-changers for the cannabis industry. We sit down with Kristian Andreassen from Conception Nurseries to explore: Gen-zero vs. gen-one Impact on genetic resets on yield & q...

With over 100 million visits a year, 1.3 million product reviews, and millions of orders, Leafly stands at the unique crossroads of cannabis consumers, brands, and retailers. Navigating the diverse challenges across states, highlighting brand leaders, and adapting to shifting consumer needs, Leafly’s content flywheel isn’t just powerful—it’s predictive. By harnessing insights from every digital in...

"Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way." — Daniele Vare Are we underestimating the role cannabis could play in shaping global influence?  U.S. brands have historically had global appeal, but could cannabis open the door to new trade opportunities and strategic value on an international scale?  Who will lead these global negotiations when the U.S. is still struggling with a sta...

Humbling… How many times have we thought catalysts were on the way, only to find out at the last minute it was just a pawn or a negotiation tactic? The question remains for optimists like myself: Is the thesis still intact? Yes, but the timing was off. A hard lesson learned—never count on DC for simple, sound decisions on a reasonable timeline. Let’s revisit the thesis. Gone are the days of unicor...

Imagine this...... The sun is shining, you’re lounging on a beautiful beach in Thailand with your partner.  The kids are with their grandparents when a friendly resort worker approaches with a smile and offers you an edible. Sounds like a dream of mine, or maybe just another social media fantasy, right?  Nope, this is reality in 2024. Kanha is revolutionizing plant medicine with a global perspecti...

Hemp beverages have exploded over the last 24 months, and they are likely the tip of the spear for broader cannabis reform, helping to normalize cannabis through a familiar form factor. The opportunity to produce hemp-based products in a single facility and distribute them across state lines offers benefits throughout the supply chain, providing consumers with more cost-effective products—much lik...

What is Bank Secrecy, and why are cash-heavy businesses like cannabis dispensaries, casinos, and laundromats treated the same? Did regulators understand that they forced cannabis businesses were once forced into "criminal" banking practices? Banking is available to the cannabis industry, but what are the differences? We discuss the complexities of navigating federal and state regulations, the impa...

Connected is one of the most influential cannabis brands in the world, renowned for its best-in-class genetics and highest-quality flower. But it's their unmatched R&D, breeding program, and bold appetite for pushing boundaries that truly set them apart. To understand how Connected became the powerhouse it is today, we delve into the origins of its journey, including the story behind the naming of...

Is Cannabis the most overlooked treatment in modern healthcare?  Learn how it could revolutionize care for cancer and other illnesses. In this episode of The Dime, Dr. Benjamin Caplan, founder of CED Clinic and author of the "Doctor Approved Cannabis Handbook," joins us to discuss the untapped potential of Cannabis in medicine. From his journey as a traditional primary care doctor to becoming a le...

Flavors, terpenes, and genetics—all essential components of an incredible cannabis product. But how do you achieve this while running a vertically integrated business with volatile wholesale prices?  That’s the beauty of the cannabis industry: you're building the plane while flying it. In this episode, the founders of Trade Roots reveal the secrets behind their exceptional strains and flavors.  Di...

Growing cannabis is like navigating a path in many directions. Are you cultivating for smokable flowers or extract? How do you take a skill once passed down from person to person and translate that into high-end cultivation practices that can be standardized across employees or even scaled across companies? These skills demand a unique blend of rigorous science and an intuitive "feel" that's hard...

Cresco Labs is one of the largest MSOs in the industry, but at its core, it has an entrepreneurial mindset that has always stayed the same. Many overlook that a company with a sizable market cap can still possess the craftiness and perspective of a smaller company. This mindset has led to strategic opportunities that allow Cresco Labs to thrive in areas easily overlooked by its peers. This week, w...

Kentucky is now hot on the radar as a prime location for medical cannabis opportunities. As the application window dwindles, we take a detailed look at the potential and challenges within the state's medical market. In this episode, we explore the intricate process of applying for cannabis licenses in Kentucky. Learn what you need to do to be successful, whether you're a mom-and-pop shop or a larg...

Cannabis reform always feels like it's on the verge of a breakthrough with policy. We know some policies can pass both the House & Senate yet it doesn’t , but it ends up feeling like a pawn in the horse trading by policymakers who all know that ~70% of Americans are in favor of cannabis legalization. So why does policy that has support from both sides of the aisle struggle to make progress? This w...

Successful marketing requires a blend of specialized expertise and a broad understanding of strategic frameworks. However, too often, marketing gets pigeonholed into a single person's role, expecting them to handle everything from strategy to execution. In fast-paced, scaling startups, this is precisely where fractional marketers can make a critical difference. Leveraging a team of skilled, experi...

"Every time a company doubles in size, you need to redo all processes." – Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn. The speed and development of the cannabis industry often conflict with the ability to take a step back and recognize the internal organizational changes that have occurred since the last time you aligned your structure. Are your total compensation packages, timing, and organizational struct...

Cannabis sentiment is not positive enough.  Given the challenges and fatigue, it's easy to lose sight of what's happening. Cannabis is being built from the ground up. Regulations and capital may currently hinder some aspects, but what's happening in the industry is undeniable. This week, we sit down with Ben Burstein, who reveals the actual situation in cannabis, focusing solely on information tha...

Tradeshows are a universal way of connecting with others in a similar industry for a unified reason. However, as costs rise, the value of attending these events is weighed against other efforts. Success at these events varies per individual, adding to the challenges. Rama Mayo and the team at Hall of Flowers already have a must-attend event. This year, they are elevating it even further by deepeni...

While many have found cannabis to be helpful for sleep, is it anecdotal, or is there science to back up these feelings?  In the US, 50 to 70 million adults have chronic sleep problems or sleep disorders, according to SleepHealth.org. FloraWorks set out to validate these claims through double-blind placebo trials, employing the rigorous standards used in pharmaceutical research. These trials aim to...

The lack of guidance from the US Federal Government on the cannabinoid industry poses significant challenges for those involved in the sector. The absence of clear regulations and leadership complicates business operations. In contrast, European countries are both legalizing cannabis and planning further legalization. They are keen to avoid the mistakes made by many US states and are learning from...

Creating a powerful and emotionally resonant message is essential in the cannabis industry, where many people have unique and personal connections to the plant. Crafting a message that genuinely resonates can yield compounding results. Although PR and marketing often get grouped together, they require distinct strategies to complement each other effectively. This week, we sit down with Jordan Isen...

What does your business do better than anyone else's?   This is your competitive advantage. As we move away from the "growth at all costs" mindset, businesses are doubling down on their strengths—Grown Rogue has emphatically done just that. Battle-tested in highly competitive markets, this high-end cultivator consistently proves its ability to design cultivation operations that produce high-qualit...

New York's Cannabis Program can only be described one way: Broken.  Despite lessons learned from other states and a goal to help those previously harmed, the program has faced significant financial and operational challenges, falling short of its intended success. With government officials labeling the rollout a disaster and promising an overhaul, the extent of the program's issues is clear. Were...