The Ganjapreneur Podcast

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt speaks with Tom Lauerman, better known as Farmer Tom, a longtime cannabis advocate, organic cultivator, and educator. As the founder of Farmer Tom Organics, Tom has worn many hats in his cannabis career, from medical grower and activist to consultant and federal educator. In this insightful conversation, Tom reflects on his decades-long...

In this episode, TG Branfalt sits down with Morgan Fox, Political Director for NORML, one of the nation's leading cannabis advocacy organizations. Morgan brings over a decade of experience in cannabis policy reform to the conversation, discussing the Biden administration's announcement on cannabis rescheduling and the real-world impact it may—or may not—have on the cannabis industry, consumers, an...

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt sits down with Jessica McElfresh, Chair of the Cannabis Law Institute and board member of the International Cannabis Bar Association, to explore the evolving landscape of cannabis law. Jessica shares her experiences practicing cannabis regulatory law in Southern California since 2010 and provides insights into the critical role attorney...

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by LJ Dawson, the Editor-in-Chief of The Outlaw Report, a Washington, DC-based cannabis news outlet covering the dynamic cannabis landscape in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. LJ shares her journey from criminal justice reporting to leading an independent cannabis-focused publication, offering unique insights into...

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by Dr. Sean Myles, an associate professor of agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who brings a wealth of knowledge on plant genetics. While Dr. Myles has made significant contributions to the study of plant varieties in apples and grapes, today's focus is on his groundbreaking work in cannabis research....

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur podcast, host TG Branfalt connects with the multi-talented Ngaio Bealum. Ngaio is a true cannabis renaissance man—comedian, musician, writer, actor, and activist—known for his work as a host of numerous events and shows, including the International Cannabis Business Conference, and the Emerald Cup. In this engaging conversation, Ngaio shares his journey from per...

Brian Applegarth is the founder of Applegarth Strategies, an agency that operates at the intersection of cannabis and travel. He's also the head of the Cannabis Travel Association, leads the Cannabis and Task Force for the California Travel Association and Destinations International, serves as an industry consultant, and holds a certification as a Ganjier cannabis sommelier—a man of many talents a...

This episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast features Tara Rosenblum, an investigative reporter for News 12, who has recently released a compelling documentary titled "Cannabis Contest." The documentary offers an in-depth look at the social equity aspects of cannabis licensing in New York City, showcasing the challenges and triumphs of hopeful licensees within the evolving legal landscape -- including...

The Ganjapreneur Podcast is back! In this episode, host TG Branfalt welcomes Jeremy Rivera, co-founder and CEO of Terp Bros, a dispensary in Astoria, Queens. Rivera, a beneficiary of New York’s Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program, shares his journey from the legacy market and facing multiple cannabis convictions to launching his own licensed cannabis business. He goes into deta...

For decades, cannabis research in the U.S. was hindered by steep federal requirements, foot-dragging enforcement agencies, and an archaic rule limiting the source of research-grade cannabis to just one cultivator in Mississippi. But thanks to a lawsuit against the DEA by Dr. Sue Sisley MD, a doctor who spent years trying to get federal approval for her study, which sought to investigate the therap...

From transitioning out of a self-described "boring" career in finance to heading one of the East Coast's biggest multistate operators, to eventually moving to California to focus on team- and brand-building for Lowell Farms, few people have experience in the cannabis industry like George Allen. In the latest Ganjapreneur.com Podcast interview, George and our host TG Branfalt discuss George's exit...

Joseph Ori is co-founder of Six Labs, a Michigan-based manufacturer of craft cannabis products. With nearly one million medical cannabis caregivers licensed in the state, Michigan is an often undersung hub of cannabis culture, cultivation, and industry expertise. In a recent interview covering entrepreneurship and the Michigan marketplace, Joseph and our podcast host TG Branfalt discuss the though...

TJ Stouder is the founder and CEO of MyHi, which offers stir STIKs containing water-soluble and fast-acting THC powder designed for a truly convenient and sociable cannabis experience. As cannabis becomes more and more ubiquitous in social circles and even in public spaces, it's important for new cannabis products to collectively drive the industry's innovation and acceptance by more mainstream au...

Chris Ray is the general manager for The Tree House, a cannabis dispensary in Anchorage, Alaska. In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast, Chris joins our host TG Branfalt to discuss the early days of Alaska's cannabis marketplace, Chris' transition from working in cultivation to the retail side of the industry, and strategies for improving foot traffic and the overall cannabis retail exper...

Keith Stephenson is the owner and founder of Purple Heart, the first Black-owned cannabis business to be licensed in the U.S. and the longest-running cannabis dispensary in Oakland, California. During the sweeping social justice protests last year, Purple Heart was hit by a series of burglaries that ultimately crippled the company — Keith is still working to build back his business. In this podcas...

Jon O’Connor and Amy Cirincione O’Connor are the co-founders of Humboldt Social, which offers pro-cannabis lodging, dining, and event spaces. As cannabis reforms become more and more widespread, the traditional tourism industry has unfortunately been slow to accept the cannabis community. Even in Humboldt County, California — which is world-famous for its expert cannabis cultivators and cannabis-f...

Luxury cannabis products constitute a peculiar segment for the cannabis industry: where many consumers might scoff at what they consider an overpriced product, there are many others for whom the added charm (and promise of excellence) is worth the extra cost. To learn more about the growing market for luxury cannabis products, we turned to Sebastien Centner, co-founder of Hervé—a Toronto-based, Fr...

Reginald Stanfield is the CEO and head horticulturist of JustinCredible Cultivation, a Massachusetts cannabis cultivator. To launch a successful cannabis cultivation facility, one requires a significant amount of planning, resources, and initiative. Launching during a worldwide pandemic, however, makes things infinitely harder but that was the unfortunate reality for Massachusetts-based JustinCred...

With Arizona's recent switch to an adult-use market, cannabis enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and investors are also scrambling to learn as much as possible about the state's new cannabis opportunities. The Open Dør is an Arizona-based cannabis dispensary franchise that specializes in providing a comfort-focused and modern retail experience. In this podcast interview, our host TG Branfalt is joined by...

New Jersey's cannabis legalization bid was a long-sought and hard-fought victory, only achieved through the collaboration of advocates, lobbyists, and lawmakers. As President of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association — which works to promote jobs and growth in a sustainable, responsible cannabis industry — Edmund DeVeaux was closely attuned to the process. In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com...

Ryan Douglas is the author of the new book From Seed to Success: How to Launch a Great Cannabis Cultivation Business in Record Time, wherein he breaks down the process of starting and growing a successful cannabis cultivation business. Formerly the master grower for Tweed Inc., Ryan pivoted to cannabis industry consulting in 2016 and since then has gotten involved in scaling up the medical cannabi...

John McLeod is the co-founder of Michigan-based Cloud Cannabis Co. — which operates brick-and-mortar cannabis retailers in Ann Arbor, Muskegon, and Traverse City — and a former police officer for the city of Detroit. In this podcast interview, John discusses how an on-duty leg injury ultimately opened his eyes to the effectiveness of cannabis medicine, how cannabis saved him from a plummet into op...

Alvin Edwards is the founder of Fruits of Our Labor, which hires former prisoners to provide professional services; David Moss is the chief development officer for cannabis dispensary From the Earth. Together, they have created an equity-building partnership in the cannabis space. In this podcast interview, Alvin and David join our host TG Branfalt to discuss the strategic partnership between thei...

Elliot Lewis is the owner and founder of Catalyst Cannabis Co., a competitive chain of cannabis retailers in Southern California. As an entrepreneur, Elliot lives for — and loves — the competition of business. For the latest Ganjapreneur.com Podcast episode, he joins our host TG Branfalt to discuss the business philosophy that drives Catalyst Cannabis Co. and the exhilaration of pursuing and winni...

Zappy Zapolin is the filmmaker and activist behind The Reality of Truth, a documentary that follows Hollywood movie star Michelle Rodriguez and several of her friends through a journey of personal discovery fueled by psychedelics. Before finding success as a filmmaker, Zappy was a pioneering entrepreneur and domain name trader during the 1990s. In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast, Zapp...