Conversations In Cannabis: Recent Episodes
Conversations In Cannabis
Conversations In Cannabis, hosted by Nick Gaulin, takes deep look into the operators and market makers for the cannabis industry.
We put out weekly interviews every Friday at 4:20PM PST.
Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com (https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpbianchini.com&token=32a1bb-1-1628829638651)
Welcome to Conversations in Cannabis. Today I’m talking with Tiffany Chin, CEO at California based Death Row Cannabis to discuss the state of the industry and how celebrities play a role. This interview was recorded on April 8th, 2025
Welcome to Conversations in Cannabis. Today I’m talking with Socrates Rosenfeld, CEO and Co-Founder at California based Jane Technologies to discuss how 420 went this year and what the future of cannabis looks like. This interview was recorded on April 21st, 2025
Welcome to Conversations in Cannabis. Today I’m talking with Lauren Fontein, Co-Founder and Chief Compliance Officer at California based The Artist Tree to discuss the current issues plaguing the city of Riverside. This interview was recorded on January 28th, 2025
Mango Cannabis is a multi-state medical marijuana dispensary chain with locations in Oklahoma, Michigan, and New Mexico, and an upcoming expansion into New York. Initially established in Oklahoma, Mango Cannabis has expanded its footprint through regulatory approvals and new store openings.
We sat down with Co-Founder and CEO, Kevin Pattah, to discuss the brand and the future of cannabis in the United States.
A Golden State has come a long way since their initial inception some years back, having progressed into a retailer, scaled the bar for what's possible on the mid-tier market with Phases, and are planning further verticals this year.
We sat down with Nishant Reddy, Founder and CEO of A Golden State, to talk about how his progression into being a retailer went with his first 4/20, what 'Corporate Cannabis' truly means, and how likely rescheduling is to actually happen.
All this and more in this episode of Conversations in Cannabis.
Today I’m sitting down with Vince Ning, CEO and Co-Founder of Multi-State Distribution and Wholesale Marketplace Nabis. We’ll discuss how he got into the industry, his recent acquisition of blackbird from the HERBL receivership, and what it takes to make it in today’s market climate.
Nabis is the leading licensed cannabis wholesale platform in the world improving commerce for over half a billion dollars’ worth of products per year by wholesale value for over 300 brands to thousands of retailers across the United States. With expertise forged at Microsoft and in his prior company later sold to Amazon when he was 23 years old, Vince is a world-class technologist and entrepreneur who has turned his focus to accelerating cannabis industry growth operationally and compliantly. Vince’s prowess in technology, finance and data analysis have made him an invaluable partner to top-tier cannabis brands and retailers across the United States, where he has helped hundreds of businesses launch and scale.
Through his leadership, Nabis, a Y Combinator-backed company, is poised to become the largest national cannabis B2B platform. Vince, a Forbes 30 Under 30 executive, has held a position as Board Director of the Cannabis Distribution Association (CDA) to help shape regulations for the betterment of the cannabis supply chain. He has studied at Harvard Kennedy School for Public Policy & Leadership, and graduated from the University of Virginia with degrees in Computer Science, Economics and Statistics.
This podcast was recorded on April 19th, 2024.
Larry Scheffler, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Planet 13, has undoubtedly etched his mark on the global cannabis industry. Planet 13, under his stewardship alongside other Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Robert Groesbeck, is more than just a dispensary; it’s an embodiment of the larger-than-life appeal Las Vegas is renowned for. Strategically located right off-strip in the heart of Clark County, Planet 13 isn’t merely a store — it’s the very definition of an experiential store. Known as the world’s largest cannabis dispensary, it has not only redefined cannabis retailing but also set the bar high for competitors attempting to cultivate what experiential cannabis retail truly means.
We sat down with Larry to talk about the recent soft-opening of Dazed Consumption Lounge, 4-20, and what the future of Planet 13 looks like. All this and more in this week’s episode of Conversations in Cannabis!
Today, we're joined by Dani Diamond, the Founder and CEO of the California-based B2B Trade Show, Hall of Flowers.
As California's leading B2B cannabis trade show, Hall of Flowers showcases the latest in cannabis innovations, technology, and educational features. It's distinguished by its unique approach, especially through its consumption lounges that allow buyers to experience products firsthand, making it a hub for industry professionals.
Hall of Flowers is set to take place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on March 13th - 14th. For more information, please visit www.HallOfFlowers.com
This conversation was initially conducted via phone on February 22nd, 2024.
Welcome to Conversations in Cannabis. Today I’m sitting down with UFC Fighter and Gelato sponsored athlete Gilbert Urbina, to discuss the UFC taking THC off the banned substances list and what the future is for athletes and cannabis. Make sure to check him out in action at UFC Apex on Feb 3rd, please visit www.ufc.com for more details.
In this episode we welcome Southern California based THC Design's CEO Marlon Coburn and Chief Brand Officer Alex Maniatis during MJ Biz Con 2023.
Welcome to Conversations in Cannabis. Today I’m sitting down with David Goubert, CEO of Multi-State Operator Ayr Wellness, to discuss the difficulties in retail, newly emerging markets, and what we can expect in the coming year.
Welcome to Conversations in Cannabis. Today I’m sitting down with Cameron Clarke, CEO of Multi-State Operator Sunderstorm to discuss his business, the future of social consumption, and what 2024 looks like.
Lauren Fontein is the Co-Founder and Chief Compliance Officer of The Artist Tree, a distinctive brand in California's cannabis industry that blends art, culture, and cannabis.
Lauren's commitment to merging the worlds of cannabis, art, and culture is evident. Before establishing The Artist Tree in 2018, she led a cannabis manufacturing enterprise in Los Angeles and gained legal experience as a corporate attorney. Now, Lauren is at the forefront of transforming cannabis consumption into a normalized, stylish, and community-integrated experience.
With deep-seated connections in the cannabis realm, The Artist Tree's founders, which include Lauren, Avi Kahan, Mitchell Kahan, and Aviv Halimi, have operated licensed dispensaries for over a decade. The vision for The Artist Tree was to break the conventional stereotypes associated with cannabis by offering spaces that not only sell cannabis but also promote local arts and culture. With a rich history of cannabis inspiring artists, The Artist Tree's outlets underline this natural partnership, featuring rotating exhibitions from local talents and an array of art-centric events.
We sat down with Lauren to talk about the most recent failed cannabis cafe bill in California, and what the future of the state's consumption lounges will look like in this episode of Conversations in Cannabis.
Born and raised in East Harlem, NYC, in 1978, Keshawn Warner has witnessed firsthand the drastic shifts in the cannabis industry.
Sadly, like countless others who are now active contributors in the cannabis sector, Keshawn faced legal repercussions in 2008 when he was arrested for cannabis-related charges. Yet, in a turn of fate, by 2021, he was proudly launching Dazed Cannabis in Massachusetts. As he now plans to reintroduce the brand to his home state of New York, we sit down with Keshawn to delve deeper into his incredible journey and discover the exciting future prospects for Dazed Cannabis.
Larry Scheffler, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Planet 13, has undoubtedly etched his mark on the global cannabis industry. Planet 13, under his stewardship alongside other Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Robert Groesbeck, is more than just a dispensary; it's an embodiment of the larger-than-life appeal Las Vegas is renowned for. Strategically located right off-strip in the heart of Clark County, Planet 13 isn’t merely a store — it's the very definition of an experiential store. Known as the world's largest cannabis dispensary, it has not only redefined cannabis retailing but also set the bar high for competitors attempting to cultivate what experiential cannabis retail truly means.
With social use licensing now opening up in the Silver State, and Planet 13 acquiring renowned Florida operator Vidacann, Planet 13 is set to have an incredible 2024. We sat down with Larry to talk about his recent acquisition and what the future of Planet 13 looks like. All this and more in this week's episode of Conversations in Cannabis.
In this episode of Conversations in Cannabis -Classics Edition-, we sat down with influential cannabis advocate and the former president of Mexico to talk about the future of cannabis legalization globally and what that might look like if America decides not to legalize.
Welcome to Conversations in Cannabis. Today we’re sitting down with the teams from The Source and CAMP to talk about the ever-growing cannabis scene in the Silver State of Nevada. This conversation was recorded over the phone, June 29th, 2023.
This is Part 1 of that conversation, Aaron Nino – COO and Co-Founder at CAMP.
We would like to thank both Aaron and Sequoah for their time in being on today’s episode, as well as the entire team at CAMP and The Source for their tour in Clark County. If you would like to find out more about the respective brands please visit www.thesourcenv.com.
Make sure to stay tuned to the next episode here on Conversations in Cannabis.
It was an early encounter with CannaMoms, mothers fighting for access to cannabis as medicine for their children, that fueled Adam Bierman’s desire to build the brand MedMen and make cannabis available and accessible for the masses. Three years after he left the company, Bierman’s back to continue his fight to destigmatize cannabis by partnering with another brand rooted in the compassionate side of cannabis, Bombatta. Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Brianna McGee’s nursing background led her down a path of helping others, and that path crossed into cannabis as a healer and rejuvenator. Bombatta is taking its Bay Area, ultra premium, terpene-rich and zen-worthy strains from an underground movement to the mainstream - available to everyone, everywhere.
Bierman will serve as the brand’s Chief Experience Officer. McGee said of bringing in Bierman, “We’ve been working with Adam behind the scenes for the past few months and his level of thinking has challenged us to be more innovative in how we brand ourselves and more importantly, how we position the brand for the global marketplace. He’s the kingmaker this brand needs to go big.”
We sat down with Adam to talk about his new position with Bombatta and to go over all things cannabis in this episode of Conversations in Cannabis.
It's been about a year since we last talked with Sean regarding the growth of the Artist Tree. Join us as we take a look at the growth of social consumption in socal and what the future of the industry looks like.
From his massive success with his son Cody launching and selling House of Platinum, to his new father and son venture at Gelato, George has been an industry giant in California since the first time he stepped foot in the scene.
Now expanding its edible lineup with the waffle cone and chocolate infused treat, Last Bite, George sat down with us to talk about how it's going with Gelato as well as his collaborative official afterparty at Hall of Flowers.
In California, under the watch of the Cascade Mountains long before the cannabis renaissance, A Golden State has blossomed into one of California’s leaders in high quality cannabis flower in the adult-use era. With plants watered via snowmelt that trickles down from Mount Shasta, A Golden State ensures high-yield premium tier flower by growing in natural soil derived from coconut hulls.
We sat down with Nishant Reddy, Founder and CEO of A Golden State, to talk about his brands progression and what the future of the Californian cannabis industry looks like.
You can find out more about A Golden State by visiting them online at www.AGoldenState.com
Brothers Jack and Joe Tran took their love of lasers and cannabis to help bring the ancillary market into the 21st century with the brand Hitoki (www.Hitoki.com). Since its inception, Hitoki has expanded what's possible with laser combustion techniques so we sat down with the brothers to discuss where they came up with the idea and what the future of the brand might be.
Today’s guest is Dani Diamond, Founder & CEO of California based Business to Business Trade Show, Hall of Flowers.
Hall of Flowers is the premier business to business cannabis trade show in the state of California. Featuring innovative new products alongside technology and educational activations, the one-of-a-kind show centers the cannabis industry with several unique consumption lounges where buyers can interact with the brand’s products on-site.
Hall of Flowers flagship event, located at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa California, will be going on from May 3rd through the 4th and is available only for verified retail buyers.
This conversation was recorded over the phone, April 7th, 2023.
EPISODE TIMESTAMPS (* = exclusive)
1:26 – What can attendees expect from Hall of Flowers this year?
3:15 – What made you want to do an official afterparty with Gelato this year?
5:50 – When you’re looking at laying out an afterparty, how do you make sure you aren’t splitting the difference too much between your primary and secondary events?
*8:11 – What are some things people can expect from your Conversation Series at Hall of Flowers this year?
12:20 – When you were figuring out the best way to roll out a new NFC system, what were some things you considered?
14:35 – What are some big innovations in the industry that you believe people should be on the lookout for at Hall of Flowers?
16:20 – When you’re looking at the state of cannabis in California, what do you believe is the #1 thing on brands minds right now?
18:35 – What was the decision behind the cancellation of your Palm Springs event?
20:20 – What’s the business model look like for Hall of Flowers outside of California moving forward?
21:45 – What is helping drive your decision for events outside of California?
22:40 – Do you believe ancillary events that latch on to main events to take buyers is a major problem in the events business space?
23:45 – How does the buyer attendance look for you from year to year?
26:00 – Are you seeing an expansion of buyers as a result of the growth in social use lounges in California?
27:00 – Do you expect to see buyers’ positions at retailers to become more granular or more diversified?
29:20 – Would you rather do an event in Florida or New York if you had to choose?
30:20 – Is genetics an avenue worth exploring as a trade show?
31:33 – What can someone expect at the show from Day 1 to Day 2?
34:35 – What can people expect from Hall of Flowers as a brand moving forward in 2023?
We would like to thank Dani for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more about Hall of Flowers by visiting them online at www.HallofFlowers.com
Stay tuned to the next episode here on Conversations in Cannabis!
Growth accelerator. Brand whisperer. Creative marketer. These are just a couple of descriptors for one of the gems of the cannabis marketing world. Enter Angela Pih, CMO and creative force behind California based Statehouse Holdings.
Having cut her cannabis teeth with Papa & Barkley as well as Cannacraft, Angela is no stranger to helping navigate incredibly rich and storied brands through the ever-evolving maze that is cannabis marketing. Through the 4 and a half short years Angela has been in the space, she's managed to become a 3-time Clio Award winner as well as having a seat on the Rolling Stone Culture Council.
We caught up with Angela during the legendary Emerald Cup Harvest Ball located in Santa Rosa California to discuss her transition to CMO of Statehouse from Cannacraft and how Statehouse can best help the soured relationships between Northern California's legacy cannabis scene and Harborside dispensary.
All this and more in this week's edition of Conversations in Cannabis.
|EPISODE RUNDOWN|
00:42 - What originally brought you into the cannabis industry?
03:30 - What was the most difficult thing for you during your transition from marketing in an unregulated market vs a regulated market.
09:35 - What made you want to move from Papa & Barkley to CannaCraft?
13:05 - What made you want to make the move from Cannacraft to Statehouse?
16:05 - How is Statehouse working to remedy the relationship for the legacy growers harmed by Prop 64?
19:55 - What is the future relationship between The Emerald Cup and Statehouse regarding the Small Farmers Initiative?
22:40 - How does Statehouse ensure education of their budtenders on organic cannabis and the olfactory experience?
We'd like to thank Angela for her time in being on today's podcast. You can find out more about Statehouse by visiting them online at www.Statehouseholdings.com. You can also find out more about The Emerald Cup and the Emerald Cup Awards at www.TheEmeraldCup.com.
As always stay tuned for the next episode of Conversations in Cannabis!
Jones Soda Co. has been a symbol of counterculture since 1995 as the definitive craft soda company. Coming fresh off their launch of Mary Jones in California in 2022, Mary Jones (Jones Soda's cannabis brand) is looking to expand into their home state of Washington and beyond in 2023.
Bohb Blair, CMO of Jones Soda, took time to talk to us about how their cannabis brand has been doing now that it's solidly on its feet in the world's largest adult use market.
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What made Jones Soda want to get into cannabis in the first place?
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Are you planning on carrying your parent company's marketing style into your cannabis line?
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What are some things that you do to outreach to new consumers coming into the edible market?
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Are you guys looking to expand into other subcategories within the edibles space?
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Possible collaboration with Tyson 2.0 in Nootropics?
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With the success you've had in social use lounges, are you looking to expand into other states with social use licenses?
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What is a great model of social use lounge in your opinion?
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Are you guys looking at terpene driven products?
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What do you see as the future of the Mary Jones brand?
We would like to Bob for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more about Mary Jones by visiting them online at www.GoMaryJones.com and more about Jones Soda at www.JonesSoda.com. As always thanks for listening and we’ll see you on the next episode of Conversations in Cannabis!
We sat down with Brandon Barksdale, Co-CEO's of the state's most prolific medical dispensaries, Remedy, to talk about everything from his views as the Maryland industry takes shape to what the future of Remedy holds.
00:25 - How are the flowers looking this year?
01:18 - What is your R&D process behind your genetics decisions?
02:08 - What was your original relationship with the plant?
03:41 - When you first got out of prison, did that change your relationship?
05:11 - When you first met your co-founder, what was that like?
06:35 - How did you originally educate yourself on alternative cannabinoids?
08:37 - Do you see that education rolling out along the consumer market?
10:02 - Do you see Biden's statements as political posturing or a domino in a chain?
11:25 - Do you see banking reform coming statewide or federal first?
12:40 - When you are looking at the market as a whole, how do you decide to place your pieces in the industry?
14:54 - When attempting to preserve terp-profiles, what are some methods you use?
16:10 - What is your personal favorite terp profile?
16:30 - What can we look forward to at the Emerald Cup?
17:42 - With edibles, do multiple groups of consumers exist now?
19:00 - Is there a particular category that might eventually overtake flower?
20:50 - With terpenes becoming the forefront, will you see edible pairings in the future at social use lounges?
21:50 - Is there a possibility of CannaCraft ever going international?
22:30 - What's next for CannaCraft in 2023?
Chris Walsh is an absolute legend in the cannabis show and media space having originally taken the reigns and steered MJ Biz Con into one of the most successful acquisitions in industry history. We sat down to talk with him about this year's MJ Biz Con and what to expect post-acquisition.
We sat down with cannabis industry veteran George Sadler to discuss his newest brand, Gelato, during the 2022 Hall of Flowers trade show in Santa Rosa California
Hall of Flowers has made a name for itself in California’s cannabis industry as the cannabis trade show to attend. Now entering its second year with the Hall of Flowers Experience at MJ Biz Con, we sat down with Dani to talk about what attendees can expect from the experience, which brands he feels have gone above and beyond, as well as how he feels the cannabis industry is shaping up.
EPISODE BREAKDOWN
00:44 – What were some highlights of Hall of Flowers this year in Santa Rosa?
01:30 – What are you seeing in the Californian cannabis landscape?
02:58 – Will M&A's continue in the industry?
04:16 – How do you decide on which Core Conversations to have during the show?
06:30 – Is high THC or micro dosing the future of cannabis consumers mindset?
08:58 – Are there any brands that you feel have become empowered by Hall of Flowers?
11:20 – Has the evolution of hardware in the industry surprised you?
12:40 – Do you see an entry point for craft cannabis farmers to finally make it in the licensed market?
16:22 – What do you think California can do to help some of these craft cannabis farmers alive?
18:35 – Should there be impetus on the side of trade shows to help mom and pops?
20:15 – Do you see the Biden descheduling and pardon of federal possession charges comment as political posturing or the first domino towards legalization?
22:15 – Is there even a possibility of descheduling cannabis from the CSA?
23:20 – Do you see a deluge of capital once we legalize or deschedule or will that take time to build?
25:50 – What can we expect from the Hall of Flowers Experience?
28:25 – What's next for Hall of Flowers? EXCLUSIVE
30:45 - Any possibility for out of country expansion?
You can find out more Hall of Flowers by visiting them online at www.HallofFlowers.com
We sat down with Sean Shepherd, Director of Purchasing for California based retailer and social use lounge operator, The Artist Tree, to talk about everything from legalization to truth in product descriptions.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
We would like to thank Sean for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more about The Artist Tree by visiting them online at www.theartisttree.com
Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.JPBianchini.com
The world-renowned Emerald Cup Awards (www.theemeraldcup.com) announced earlier this month that they would pivot their highly anticipated 2022 Awards Ceremony will be moving to the historic Ricardo Montalbán Theatre (www.themontalban.com) from The Green Street Festival in Hollywood, California on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Now in its 18th year, the iconic cannabis awards show will be an invite-only, private event that will welcome all competitors, winners, judges, and the Cup’s closest community to celebrate the best of the best in cannabis.
We sat down with the father and daughter team behind the legendary Northern Californian cannabis event, The Emerald Cup, about their pivot to Southern California and what people can expect from the exclusive invite-only event in Hollywood.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:50 – How did you end up finding the Ricardo Montalban Theater?
01:50 – What can you give us as a sneak peak to the Emerald Cup Awards?
03:05 – Can you talk a little bit about what you are seeing in the industry?
05:20 – Are you surprised by the proliferation of micro-dosing in cannabis?
07:30 – Do you think that the rise of terpenes and lesser cannabinoids is helping the rise of micro-dose products?
09:00 –Do you feel like we could be seeing more from regulators in bringing more craft cannabis farmers on board?
10:50 – When you see celebrities who are older talking about cannabis, do you think that is helping change the stigma with the 55+ demographic?
12:45 – Did the 2018 Farm Bill creative the tipping point with conservative states where federal legalization is finally happening?
15:00 – Is this NorCal / SoCal spread the new annual for The Emerald Cup?
We would like to thank both Tim and Taylor for their time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more about The Emerald Cup by visiting them online at www.TheEmeraldCup.com.
As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
We sat down with Master Grower as well as Director of Cultivation for both Dr. Greenthumb Inc and the Insane OG Brand, Kenji Fujishima, to talk about everything from the early days of the 215 medical era of California, to curating a global cannabis brand’s flower and so much more.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:37 – What made you originally want to get into the industry?
08:00 – Did the evolution from the underground to the 215-market surprise you?
11:45 – Are you hopeful for banking reform in cannabis to prevent robberies in the cash heavy market?
14:20 – Are you surprised that the Dutch have been surpassed by the US and Canada in the CPG market of cannabis?
17:50 – Do you feel that federal legalization will help with trademarks of genetics in cannabis?
21:37 – Are you hopeful that the connoisseur markets ideology on cannabis will make its way into the mainstream market?
24:35 – Is that shift going to happen sooner rather than later?
26:45 – Do you give credit to the 2018 Farm Bill and the rise of CBD to people finally taking a look at lesser known cannabinoids?
31:45 – What goes into your consideration about what genetics to bring to market?
35:10 – What’s coming down the pipeline for Insane OG and the Dr. Greenthumb brand?
38:46 – Is there any particular market you are excited to enter into?
We would like to thank Kenji for being on the episode today. You can find out more about Kenji by visiting him online at Instagram.com/killdrama or Insane OG at Instagram.com/insane.og
As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Lauren Carpenter, CEO & Co-Founder of California based retailer Embarc, has over a decade of experience building prolific teams and leading successful strategy for some of the most diverse business coalitions and campaigns in California, including dozens of Fortune 50 companies.
Before Carpenter co-founded Embarc, she served as Chief Strategy Officer for Sweet Flower, and Director of Government Affairs for Western States at MedMen. Carpenter brought her extensive cannabis experience in government, regulatory, public, and community affairs to Embarc and into her role as CEO. Carpenter has become a trusted advisor to elected officials and continues to work with government agencies throughout the state and across the country to implement thoughtful cannabis regulations within communities to create mutually beneficial operations.
We sat down with Lauren last month to talk about everything from taxes, expansion, and being the retailer for the Grasslands area at Outside Lands in San Francisco.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
We sat down with recording artist, actor, and cannabis entrepreneur Xzibit to talk about everything from the early days of his career and medical cannabis markets in California to the adult-use market and Napalm’s expansion into the ancillary industry.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:27 – How did you get the name Xzibit?
01:33 – How did you eventually get introduced to Dr. Dre?
02:40 – What was the point in your career where you felt like you finally made it?
04:00 – What made you want to jump from being an entertainer to being a cannabis entrepreneur?
05:20 – Was there a point during the 215 era that you felt like you needed to be in the industry?
07:35 – Can you walk us through the process of how you created Napalm?
10:56 – Did the scope and scale of the ancillary market surprise you?
12:16 – How do you go about designing products with your team?
13:56 – Are you planning on expanding Napalm in the ancillary market?
14:40 – How do you settle on which products to release to the market?
17:27 – Are you surprised at the speed that the concentrate market has matured?
19:30 – Other than yourself, who do you think is doing it right in California?
21:21 – Who isn't in the cannabis industry right now that you feel should be?
25:40 – Did you ever find the people responsible for robbing your warehouse?
26:24 – Do you feel the DCC is doing all they can for operators regarding break-ins and robberies?
28:32 – What would you like to see the state of California do to stop counterfeit brands?
31:56 – Do you think that the illegal market will finally get pulled in to the licensed market in California?
34:45 – What about your new states enticed you and are there any other markets that are catching your eye?
36:52 – What's your timeline look like for rolling out into the new markets?
37:34 – What's next for you?
We would like to thank Xzibit for being on the episode today. You can find out more about Xzibit by visiting him online at www.Xzibit.com or Napalm by visiting https://Napalm.Shop. To check out Napalm’s collaboration with XVape and Bear Rootz, you can check them out at www.XVapeUSA.com and www.BearRootz.com respectively.
As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Today’s episode marks the second part of our end of the year wrap up, featuring interviews from some of California’s top brands. These sessions were conducted during Hall of Flowers NorCal and SoCal events. In this session, we spoke with Keith Cich, Co-Founder of Los Angeles based Sunderstorm. We sat down with Keith to talk about everything from his leading edibles brand Khana to what it takes to build a brand in in the world’s largest adult use market.
Welcome to Conversations in Cannabis. Today’s episode marks the third part in a series of sessions for our end of the year wrap up. The hall of flowers sessions features interviews from some of California’s top brands conducted -- during Hall of Flowers NorCal and SoCal events.
In this session, we spoke with Bryan Buckley -- CEO and Co-Founder of Los Angeles based Helmand Valley Growers Company.
We sat down with Bryan to talk about everything from his transition to cannabis -- as well as the biggest problems plaguing veterans and how the Battle Brothers Foundation is helping to change lives.
All this and more, on this episode of conversations in Cannabis.
Today’s episode marks the first part of our end of the year wrap up, featuring interviews from some of California’s top brands at Hall of Flowers NorCal and SoCal events. First up is Chris Lane, CMO of San Jose based Airfield Supply Co. We sat down with Chris to talk about everything from marketing in the world of cannabis to the future of the Airfield brand. All this and more, on this episode of Conversations in Cannabis.
The California cannabis market is the largest and most diverse on the planet and the Emerald Cup has long stood as the premier competition, celebration, and direct-to-consumer marketplace for the best that Cali has to offer.
In response to years of valued feedback from Emerald Cup participants, 2021 will offer the first of its kind Emerald Cup Harvest Ball in Santa Rosa on December 11th & 12th at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
We sat down with Tim and Taylor Blake, the father and daughter team behind The Emerald Cup to talk all about their world class northern Californian cannabis event.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:40 – How is the return to the first in-person Emerald Cup going for you guys?
03:26 – What can people expect with the Harvest Ball vs the traditional Emerald Cup?
04:30 – What’s your favorite acts that you’ve announced thus far?
05:50 – What’s your favorite experience of The Emerald Cup?
07:27 – Taylor’s favorite memory of The Emerald Cup
09:00 – Does Tim feel a sense of pride in the northern Californian cannabis community?
11:10 – What are you hearing from the Northern Californian farmers?
14:30 – Are you hopeful for an easing of the regulations?
16:30 – Are you hopeful we revert to a Prop 215 model?
17:45 – What can people expect from Emerald Cup SoCal?
20:11 – What is Taylor’s favorite cannabis from The Emerald Cup?
22:25 – Are you happy with the cultural shift happening in cannabis education towards consumption?
24:15 – Are you hopeful that there is going to be a continuation of microdosing with edibles?
27:20 – Everyone is excited, what can we look forward to?
We would like to thank Tim and Taylor for their time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more The Emerald Cup by visiting them online at www.TheEmeraldCup.com
As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
EPISODE BREAKDOWN
00:33 – How did you end up doing cannabis trade shows?
02:25 – How did you create your brand aesthetic to attract the cannabis industry?
05:20 – Is there a particular brand in cannabis you felt moved the paradigm forward for the industry?
06:26 – Did the consumer shift from only THC to add terpene profile in cannabis surprise you?
08:10 – Is there any advice you would give to entrepreneurs entering emerging markets?
10:21 – What are you seeing in the Californian regulatory landscape?
11:29 – What is your approval process like for deciding which brands to have at Hall of Flowers?
13:24 – What are some key indicators of who makes the grade for the outdoor activations?
16:24 – Do you get a personal pride from seeing brands launch and grow at Hall of Flowers?
17:39 – How did you team up with Green Street?
19:15 – What was the impetus to move to Nevada and Southern California?
25:47 – How did you decide on your venue in Southern California?
28:54 – What can attendees expect from this first SoCal show?
31:09 – Do you consume yourself and what is your favorite way to consume?
31:43 – Any particular strain or terp profile your favorite?
32:50 – Are you surprised by drinks heading more towards the micro-dose vs macro-dose?
34:55 – In your opinion what does the future of the cannabis industry look like?
In the world of dispensaries, design means everything when a new shop opens up. With so much overlap in product availability, the way you entice customers to get in the door has a lot to do with how your store is perceived. Robert Turk and John Simmen from Sevenpoint Interiors noticed this early on having come from high-end retail, and immediately set to elevate the dispensary design world.
We sat down with Robert Turk & John Simmen from Sevenpoint Interiors to talk all about the evolution of dispensary design and where they feel the industry is headed.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:57 – What made you want to originally break into the cannabis industry?
01:50 – When you guys are onboarding a client, how does the process get started?
03:50 – What is the most challenging part of onboarding a client?
04:54 – What was the most creative thing you’ve done for a client so far?
05:40 – What are some key indicators of success and failure you look for during a project?
06:20 – What does the future of cannabis look like in terms of design?
07:42 – What are some things you look pay close attention to when starting a project?
10:20 – What is the best model for dispensaries to take? Churn & burn or all-day customers?
11:00 – Did you guys expect cannabis drive throughs to happen?
11:32 – What is the most important part of building out your dispensary?
12:17 – Product / demographics before design? Or design before figuring out demographics and products?
13:00 – What has been the biggest evolution of dispensary design since the inception of
15:33 – What is a way to overcome a challenge with a client in a more restrictive market.
16:22 – Do you think psychedelics will take the same design approach that cannabis did?
17:20 – Will you guys jump in the psychedelics space once it opens up?
17:40 – What’s next on the pipeline for you guys?
18:20 – Are you hopeful for federal legalization in the United States?
20:40 – Has anyone ever gone into one of your dispensaries and hired you for traditional market retail?
21:23 – When you first got into the industry did you expect dispensary design to be pushing traditional retail design?
We would like to thank John and Robert for their time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more Sevenpoint Interiors by visiting them online at www.sevenpointinteriors.com
As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
In the ultra-competitive vaporization market, Hanu Labs has successfully established itself and is continuing to build on its previous wins. In February of this year, Ricardo Willis was named as Chief Executive Officer of Hanu Labs. Ricardo being a veteran of the proposition 215 days in California has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to fully understanding the plant having started from the ground up in the industry. We sat down with Ricardo to talk about his personal journey into cannabis. Starting from his early days of being a classically trained chef switching to a product demonstrator for Jetty Extracts to becoming the CEO of Hanu Labs.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:24 – What made you want to switch from being a chef to working in cannabis?
04:15 – Do you think drive is the one thing holding most people back from the industry?
06:10 – What has surprised you about the evolution of the accessories market?
07:35 – What is the future of the accessories market?
08:40 – What advice would you give to young minorities trying to break into the market?
10:27 – What are some pitfalls you saw from other entrepreneurs that helped you navigate?
12:55 – What does education in the cannabis space look like in the future?
14:55 – How do you remove apprehension from someone who maybe had a bad experience?
17:05 – If you are a retailer, how best can you break through your consumer with education?
22:19 – How would you best ease someone in to trying medical cannabis for the first time?
27:40 – What do you think it will take for hold-out states to finally legalize medical cannabis?
29:12 – Are you hopeful for federal legalization in the next 3-5 years?
31:00 – Will taxation in cannabis eventually be eased or is it here to stay?
32:20 – What are some changes you will be bringing to Hanu Labs?
We would like to thank Ricardo for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more Hanu Labs by visiting them online at www.HanuLabs.com
As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Terry Booth is a legend in the cannabis industry having been one of the original two founders of mammoth Canadian cannabis company, Aurora Cannabis Inc. Now serving as CEO of Australis Capital
We sat down with Terry to talk about his incredible journey from his co-founding of Aurora to his newest venture, AUDACIOUS.
All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis!
TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:30 – What made you want to originally break into the cannabis industry?
04:50 – Does federal criminalization in the US make you mad when you compare it to Canada?
09:30 – Did it surprise you at the speed the industry has matured?
11:35 – What are some pitfalls of scaling that some executives fall into?
12:50 – What are some things you look for when building out a space for agriculture?
15:20 – Are you surprised that the Netherlands didn’t take a more progressive approach towards commercial cannabis?
17:12 – Do you believe in a 2/3rds windfall of states legalizing forcing federal legalization?
18:17 – Do you see psychedelics as the next big rush?
20:00 – Will psychedelics be full CPG like cannabis? What is the future of that industry?
21:40 – What is the future of social use in cannabis?
23:40 – What does Cannabis 3.0 look like?
24:35 – Do you see the death of identifying cannabis by strain name?
25:55 – What does 2022 look like for you?
We would like to thank Terry for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more Australis Capital and Audacious by visiting them online at www.ausa-corp.com
As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Chris Walsh started his journey in journalism as an intern at The New York Times. Having worked his way through publications, he eventually landed with MJ Biz Daily as its founding Editor in Chief back in 2011. Chris has since taken the reigns in late 2019 as President and CEO of both the trade publication and its massive business conference, MJ Biz Con. We sat down with Chris to talk about everything from the future of MJ Biz Con under his leadership to what the future of the cannabis industry looks like as a whole. All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis! TRACK BREAKDOWN 00:50 – What made you want to jump into cannabis journalism from mainstream journalism? 04:50 – Did you foresee the cannabis industry being deemed essential during the pandemic? 06:30 – What’s the one thing that surprised you the most since getting into the industry? 07:40 – Do you feel that CBD has given the mainstream a lighter attitude towards THC? 09:20 – How did vape gate affect legislators’ viewpoints towards legal cannabis? 11:18 – What do you feel is the future of the alternative cannabinoid market? 13:35 – Do you see research as tipping the balance for more mass adoption? 14:50 – Are you hopeful for legislative easing of the cannabis industry soon? 19:10 – Do you see an international push for legalization to help push the US? 21:00 – Do you see legalization recreationally in the EU? 22:40 – How can your cannabusiness best be prepared for federal legalization? 26:30 – What can attendees expect from the Hall of Flowers experience at MJ Biz Con? 28:35 – What can people expect this year as we return to in-person events? We would like to thank Chris for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more MJ Biz Daily and MJ Biz Con by visiting them online at www.mjbizdaily.com and www.mjbizcon.com. As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Legendary musician turned cannabis entrepreneur B Real is no stranger to making a cannabis brand pop. Whether it’s on the ancillary side with Phunky Feel Tips or on the plant touching side with Dr. Greenthumbs or Insane Cannabis, B Real does it all. We sat down with B Real in his Los Angeles studio to talk about everything from the future of his brands and what the California marketplace looks like since the 215 days. All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis! TRACK BREAKDOWN 00:50 – How has the journey been through legalization as an operator? 02:45 – Are you hopeful for an easing of regulation moving forward here in California?
05:10 – Is federal legalization possible? 06:30 – How do you determine which markets to move into? 08:20 – Which market excites you the most? 10:20 – If you had a timeline to expansion, what would it look like? 12:10 – When you are talking with a potential partner, what are some things you look for? 18:20 – What is your process like in determining how your packaging looks for your consumer? 22:40 – Is there ever a strain that you thought was going to pop but just didn’t make it? 24:30 – Will you ever release your strains as seed for the consumer market to grow? 25:45 – Do you have a go-to strain? 28:00 – Is there someone who hasn’t gotten into the industry that you feel is missing out? 32:40 – Is Willie Nelson still the one that got away in terms of the smoke box? 33:40 – What does the future look like for you? Thanks again to B Real for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more about Insane OG by visiting them online at www.Instagram.com/Insane.OG and B Real TV at www.BReal.TV.
As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Lowell Herb Co. is a powerhouse brand in the Californian cannabis market. In 2020, California cannabis company Indus Holdings, Inc. acquired the Lowell portfolio, subsequently rebranding itself as Lowell Farms. We sat down with Mark Ainsworth, CEO of Lowell Farms, to talk about their acquisition of Lowell Herb Co and the future of cannabis in the state of California. All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis! TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:30 - What do you guys have going on right now?
01:35 - What made you want to take the leap into the cannabis space from traditional industries?
03:15 - Are you surprised at the time it took for the market to mature into a CPG industry?
05:20 - How do you decide on what finally makes it into the consumers hands?
07:05 - Are you looking to expand your current product portfolio?
09:15 - What is the concept behind the branding?
11:00 - Are you driven more towards effect based marketing or strain based marketing?
15:15 - Are there particular markets you would like to open into?
16:45 - How has the BCC (now the DCC) evolved since the legal market opened?
18:30 - Is there something you would like regulators to take a look at?
20:35 - Are you hopeful for banking regulation changes at the federal level?
22:09 - Do you see the state of California stepping in to do a type of reform if the feds don't?
23:00 - What do the next 1, 3, and 5 years look like for Lowell Farms? Thanks again to Mark for his time in being on today's episode. You can find out more about Lowell Farms by visiting them online at www.LowellFarms.com. As always a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Platinum is a multi-state cannabis operator spearheaded by father and son team George and Cody Sadler. Since their 215 days in California’s medical market, Platinum has transitioned into a powerhouse brand with offerings across the industry spectrum. We sat down with George, CEO and Co-Founder, to discuss everything Platinum from how he has taken the brand from the legacy days to a real CPG contender and why diversifying your brand is the key to success. All this and more in this week’s Conversations in Cannabis. TRACK BREAKDOWN
01:00 - What was the largest transitional point for you as an operator?
09:23 – When did you and your son decide to co-found a company in cannabis together?
12:50 – How did you overcome your largest hurdle in this industry?
11:40 - What was the drive to move away from the traditional naming system for strains?
15:20 – Are you hopeful for legislative reform for banking in cannabis?
00:00 - What is your hope as an operator for federal banking reform?
24:10 - Are there any markets right now that you would like to move into? Thanks again to George for his time in being on today's episode. You can find out more about Platinum by visiting them online at www.HouseOfPlatinum.com. As always, a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Founded in 2015, Canndescent is California’s leading cannabis brand house and the #1 supplier of flower pre-rolls. The company has spearheaded multiple industry firsts, including replacing traditional strain names with effects to simplify the consumer experience and implementing the first commercial-scale solar powered cultivation. We sat down with Adrian Sedlin, CEO of Canndescent, to discuss everything from how the Californian cannabis industry has changed over time to why his passions drove him to launch Canndescent. All this and more in this week's Conversations in Cannabis. TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:20 - What was the moment in your life when you decided to make cannabis your career?
05:07 - Did the speed of general consumer intelligence in the product surprise you?
10:00 - Reminiscing over the medical-only era days in California
11:40 - What was the drive to move away from the traditional naming system for strains?
16:20 - As an operator was the biggest hurdle to get over when launching in California?
21:00 - What is your hope as an operator for federal banking reform?
24:10 - Are there any markets right now that you would like to move into? Thanks again to Adrian for his time in being on today's episode. You can find out more about Canndescent by visiting them online at www.Canndescent.com. As always a special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track for our theme song. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
GRAV, the leader in handcrafted glass cannabis smoking accessories, has introduced its first GRAV Reserve glass joint line in California. The company teamed up with premium cannabis cultivators in Southern California to fill GRAV glass with the highest quality and freshest locally-grown flower. “After last year’s successful release of the first-ever glass joints, we’re taking the next step into the flower business and elevating the game,” said David Daily, founder and CEO of GRAV. “Fragrant and terpene-heavy, these strains deserve all the glory, with no paper or glue detracting from the gorgeous essence of the herb.” We sat down with David to discuss everything from how the accessories industry has changed in 17 years to his deal with The Cure Company to bring GRAV Reserve to the Californian cannabis market. TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:25 - When did you launch GRAV and what was the drive to do so?
01:52 - Were you worried about a second wave from Operation Pipe Dreams?
05:00 - What's the biggest innovation that has happened in the industry in your opinion?
07:30 - What's the R&D process behind some of your more creative pieces?
09:17 - Was there ever a product you loved that never made it to market?
11:00 - How did you find a partner and launch GRAV Reserve in California?
13:25 - How was the selection process for cannabis in the GRAV Reserve done?
15:00 - Are you looking beyond California with the GRAV Reserve?
16:00 - Are you hopeful for a legislative change in your home state of Texas?
17:40 - What is the hottest market for accessories right now?
21:12 - What's the next 5 years look like for you? Thanks again to David for his time in being on today's episode. You can find out more about GRAV by visiting www.GRAV.com. Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
In the world of music, System of a Down is legend. Their bassist, Shavo Odadjian, is now a legend in his own right in the world of cannabis. Having founded the California based cannabis lifestyle brand 22Red back in 2018, Shavo has since expanded his line into the Nevada and Arizona adult-use markets. We sat down with Shavo in Los Angeles to discuss 22Red's 7/10 concentrates drop in Las Vegas as well as what we can expect from the brand in the future, on this weeks edition of Conversations in Cannabis. -TRACK BREAKDOWN-
00:35 – How was your 4/20?
02:40 – What is the process in deciding what you want to bring to market?
07:30 – Has the California cannabis market gotten better or worse as an operator since you started?
09:30 – What is your timeline to be able to launch your greenhouse line and concentrates line in California?
10:00 – How did you get teamed up with Jardin for your 7/10 launch in Las Vegas?
12:00 – Can celebrity brands win on name alone?
15:00 - Do you expect the consumers to want
17:35 – Do you expect federal legalization in the next 3 to 5 years?
18:40 - Could Texas go legal and mess up what's going on in Oklahoma?
23:20 - Where do you want 22Red to be in 2-3 years?
25:25 - If you had one piece of advice that you could give to operators coming in, what would it be? We would like to thank Shavo for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more about 22Red by visiting www.22Red.com
Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.JPBianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Standing at 6-foot 8-inches, John Fetterman is a big man in stature. In his home state of Pennsylvania, he is also a big man in advocacy. Since his start in politics, John has had an unwavering position on cannabis and the legalization of the plant. John grew up in Pennsylvania to eventually become Mayor of Braddock. Now John serves as the Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth to Governor Tom Wolf. His next step is the Senate in order to reform cannabis for all Americans. We sat down with John shortly after 4/20 to discuss his work as a cannabis advocate, his future ambitions as a politician, as well as what his personal relationship with this plant is in this weeks edition of Conversations in Cannabis. -TRACK BREAKDOWN-
00:48 – How did you team up with NORML and Leafly this 4/20? 02:05 – Is there a particular market that you would prefer to emulate? 03:50 – What is the key in your opinion to getting legalization passed? 04:40 – How has Pennsylvania evolved since Operation Pipe Dream? 06:22 – Being someone that doesn't use THC, what led you to try CBD? 08:10 – Have you heard of or tried Delta-8 or Delta-10? 10:00 – Are you worried that legalization may harm the medical cannabis market? 12:33 - Are you hopeful for lighter taxation on medical if a recreational bill passes? 13:30 – Are you hopeful for Federal legalization in the near future? 15:30 - Were you surprised by Chuck Schumer's announcement regarding cannabis? 16:56 - Why aim for Congress vs the Governorship for your next step in politics? 18:40 - Are you hopeful for banking reform in cannabis if federal legalization doesn't happen? 21:12 - How do you feel about the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act? 22:15 - Do you feel vapor gate helped push legalization since all the tainted products were illegal? 23:25 - Do you think some politicians may have used it as an excuse to help keep it illegal? 25:00 - Do you feel like the general population has finally shifted on cannabis? 28:35 - How would you advise people to get involved in the legalization process? We would like to thank John for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more about his campaign for congress lounge by visiting www.JohnFetterman.com
Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.JPBianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Humboldt Social creates unique lodging, dining and event spaces in California. Most recently, Humboldt Social teamed up with Papa and Barkley on a social use experience in Eureka California. Aaron Sweat, Humboldt Social's CEO, sat down with us to discuss what it's like to run the first social use lounge in Eureka California and in partnership with such a legacy brand as Papa and Barkley to help in the cause of "Normalizing Cannabis Through Hospitality". -TRACK BREAKDOWN- 01:07 – How did you team up with Papa and Barkley? 01:56 – What can I expect as a first timer at Papa and Barkley Social? 03:10 – What were your goals and ambitions regarding the project? 04:06 – What are some of the lessons you've learned along the way? 06:04 – What are some roadblocks you've seen to consumer education? 08:00 – How does your staff help pair product offerings to consumers? 09:05 – Are alternative cannabinoids in the works for your offerings? 11:40 - Are you seeing apprehension with edibles in elderly patients? 13:30 – How did you decide which food to offer to your consumers? 14:38 - The 3-Women led farms you offer, will you expand the offering? 16:30 - What is your 1-3-5 year plan for the business? 17:53 - Potential move into Southern California? 21:30 - What advice would you give to people entering the industry? We would like to thank Aaron for his time in being on today’s episode. You can find out more about his social use lounge and wellness center with Papa and Barkley by visiting www.PapaAndBarkleySocial.com
Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.JPBianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Glass House Group is one of the top vertically integrated brand portfolios in the Californian cannabis industry. Graham Farrar, President of Glass House Group and CEO of Glass House Farms is one of the few individuals in the cannabis industry at the head of such a large scale operation who truly understands his business from literally the ground up having been a personal grower of cannabis for years before entering the industry. Graham sat down with us to discuss the Californian cannabis industry and Glass House Group's place in it on this edition of Conversations in Cannabis. -TRACK BREAKDOWN-
00:59 – What was the spark that drove you to cannabis? 04:38 – What has been the most significant evolution of the industry? 07:15 – Are you hopeful for banking reform in cannabis? 10:30 – How can growers be more sustainable with their practices? 13:14 – What is the most important attribute to getting a sale? 16:20 – What determines which genetics you bring to market? 19:14 – How have your SOP’s adjusted during the pandemic? 21:17 - How has delivery vs retail shifted for your business? 23:32 – Could Glass House Group expand beyond California? 25:29 - Favorite method of consumption and favorite strain? Thanks again to Graham for his time in being on today's episode. You can find out more about Glass House Group by visiting them online at www.GlassHouseGroup.com
Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.JPBianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Tim Blake is an absolute legend in the Californian cannabis scene. Being the creator of The Emerald Cup, the largest outdoor cannabis competition in the world, Tim has been on the frontlines of the industry, giving the world a special place to judge the best cannabis in the world with some of the most talented and respected industry leaders giving their thoughts as to that Fall Harvest's best crop. Tim sat down with us during his busy schedule to discuss founding The Emerald Cup, his hopes for the Californian cannabis industry, his teaming up with Social Club TV to take the Cup virtual and much, much more! TRACK BREAKDOWN 01:12 - What was your journey into the cannabis industry? 05:09 - What is your fondest memory since starting the Cup? 07:00 - How were you able to maintain the culture of the Cup? 10:10 - How can emerging markets get into regenerative farming? 12:58 - What is the entry requirements for The Emerald Cup? 15:45 - If you had to pick a favorite winner, who would it be? 21:10 - How did the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award happen? 24:20 - What would you like to see out of California's legal industry? 28:45 - Will the fight between wine and cannabis farms end? 31:09 - Will the vineyards adapt to regenerative farming practices? 32:35 - What was the process for doing Cup judging digitally? 35:40 - What was the drive to move to Southern California for 2022? 38:10 - What is your favorite strain and way to consume? Thanks again to Tim for his time and thanks to the entire team at The Emerald Cup. You can find out more about The Emerald Cup by visiting www.TheEmeraldCup.com Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
In 2020, California based cannabis brand Raw Garden released 327 unique strains for their concentrate line thus bringing their total unique strains up to 839 total strains to-date with more coming out weekly. Helping navigate those commercial offerings is Darren Clark, Chief Commercial Officer of Central Coast Agriculture, the parent company for Raw Garden. Darren sat down with us to discuss how the industry is shaping up, future expansion possibilities, and how Raw Garden can continuously put out new offerings at the rate they do. TRACK BREAKDOWN 00:52 - What was the draw to come into the cannabis industry? 02:08 - What was the most difficult part of the transition? 03:07 - Thoughts regarding regulation in marketing for cannabis 03:53 - Strategy behind expansion into the Arizona market 05:11 - The future expansion beyond California and Arizona 06:01 - Consumer trend shifts in the Californian market 07:30 - What category will dominate California in the future 08:54 - R&D process for Raw Garden New Product Announcement 10:30 - How does Raw Garden release so many different strains? 11:41 - Would Raw Garden ever do a legacy re-introduction? 13:15 - What is Darren's favorite strains to consume 14:07 - 1 year, 3 year, and 5 year hopes for Raw Garden 15:40 - New potential product category offerings for Raw Garden? You can find out more about Raw Garden by visiting www.RawGarden.Farm. Thanks again to Darren for his time and thanks to the entire team at Raw Garden. Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
On January 26, 2021, California based cannabis brand Papa & Barkley announced 2 new appointments to the company with Papa & Barkley Founder and former-CEO Adam Grossman moving to Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Taking over the CEO position was Evelyn Wang, an executive carrying an illustrious history with top tier premium beauty brands such as L'Oreal and Estee Lauder. Evelyn sat down with us during her first full week on the job as CEO of Papa & Barkley to discuss her transition from the tradition market to what we can expect in the future from the brand under her leadership. TRACK BREAKDOWN 00:41 - The most interesting change from the traditional market 02:35 - What Papa & Barkley under new leadership looks like 04:35 - The Californian market and expansion opportunities 07:48 - Thoughts on regulatory reform 09:44 - Alternative cannabinoids New Product Announcement 11:56 - What is the top selling product for Papa & Barkley? 13:07 - Evelyn's favorite way to consume 14:08 - Noticing pandemic caused shifts in consumer trends 15:33 - Looking at the consumer sales demographic in California 16:47 - What does the future look like for Papa & Barkley? 18:08 - Thoughts on federal legalization and international expansion You can find out more about Papa & Barkley by visiting www.PapaAndBarkley.com. Thanks again to Evelyn for her time and thanks to the entire team at Papa & Barkley. Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
On January 15, 2021, Subversive Capital Acquisition Corp. closed the largest cannabis SPAC in history on and in turn, launched The Parent Company with Sean "JAY-Z" Carter, Roc Nation, Caliva and Left Coast Ventures. The Parent Company is now the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in California and investors included Entertainment Powerhouse: Roc Nation and artists: Rihanna, Meek Mill, Yo Gotti and DJ Khaled. Steve Allan, CEO of newly formed The Parent Group, sat down with Conversations in Cannabis to discuss everything from the future of The Parent Company to which products Steve loves best. TRACK BREAKDOWN
00:52 - What Brought Steve To Cannabis?
04:41 - Favorite Way To Consume & Favorite Strain
06:02 - Trends In The Californian Marketplace
10:06 - What Was It Like Launching MONOGRAM With Jay-Z?
14:01 - How Did You Come Up With The Product Names?
20:23 - Is The Parent Company Looking To New Markets?
27:40 - Hopes For Federal Legalization?
32:34 - What's Next For The Parent Company? You can find out more about The Parent Company by visiting www.TheParent.co. We hope you enjoyed this exclusive interview. Thanks again to Steve for his time and thanks to the entire team at The Parent Company. Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Welcome to another episode of Conversations in Cannabis where we talk to the biggest names in the cannabis industry. Greenbits CEO Barry Saik is no stranger to technology. Having spent most of his career at fintech giant Intuit, the company that makes products such as TurboTax and Mint, he then repositioned himself as senior VP and GM of Telephony at GoDaddy where he helped their bizdev product offerings. Now, Barry has left the traditional technology market behind to take the reigns at Greenbits, one of the leading cannabis point of sale systems available on the market today. I sat down with Barry to discuss everything from why he left the traditional tech space for the cannabis industry to the future of point of sale. This is one episode you don't want to miss! - This episode was recorded over the phone on January 13th, 2021. - We hope you enjoyed this exclusive interview. Thanks again to Barry for his time and thanks to the entire team at Greenbits for their hard work and dedication to the cannabis industry. You can find out more about Greenbits by visiting them online at www.GreenBits.com. Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Welcome to another episode of Conversations in Cannabis where we talk to the biggest names in the cannabis industry. Every so often you get the privilege of meeting with someone in the cannabis industry who truly makes an impact that's beyond just creating an incredible brand or product. Someone whose true passion is to rise up others to their own level of achievement, not for the purpose of enriching themselves, but rather to enrich an entire community that has been unjustly impacted by the war on drugs. In my opinion, these are the true heroes of cannabis. Al Harrington is such a person. Many know Al Harrington as a veteran NBA player but for almost a decade now his focus has shifted entirely from the basketball court to the emerging cannabis industry. First by founding Viola, a California-based cannabis brand named after Al's Grandmother, then by expanding his brand into multiple states and during all of that also becoming one of the leading voices for social equity in the cannabis space. I sat down with Al to discuss everything from how he got into the cannabis industry to where he hopes to take his brand in the future. This is one episode you don't want to miss! - This episode was recorded over the phone on August 18th, 2020. - We hope you enjoyed this exclusive interview. Thanks again to Al for his time and thanks to the entire team at Viola for their hard work and dedication to the cannabis industry. You can find out more about Viola by visiting them online at www.ViolaBrands.com. If you would like more information regarding his collaboration with Ball Family Farms, that can be found by visiting Ball Family Farms online at www.BallFamilyFarms.com. Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Welcome to another episode of Conversations in Cannabis where we talk to the biggest names in the cannabis industry. Today we sat down with Yoko Miyashita, CEO of Leafly, and talked about everything from her newly appointed position to what her goals for the company are and much, much more! This is one episode you don't want to miss! This episode was recorded over the phone on August 18th, 2020. Editors Note
- I stated that Leafly has delivery and pickup options in 12 states. Leafly at the time had delivery in 12 states but has pickup options in all states with either medical or recreational cannabis. Thanks go out to Yoko for taking the time to talk to us. You can find out more about Leafly online at www.Leafly.com or on your Apple or Android device under their respective app stores. Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis, an MRR podcast!
Welcome to another episode of Conversations in Cannabis where we talk to the biggest names in the cannabis industry. Today we talk with Marcus Naramore, Director of Business Development at Full Spec, a cannabis operator in Seattle Washington. We talked with Marcus about everything from consumer trends following COVID-19 and VapeGate, how extraction technology is progressing and what the future of extraction might be, and much much more! This is one episode you don't want to miss! This episode was recorded over the phone on June 24th, 2020. Thanks go out to Marcus for taking the time to talk to us. You can find out more about Full Spec online at www.LeafWerx.com. Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
Welcome to another episode of Conversations in Cannabis where we talk to the biggest names in the cannabis industry. Today we talk with Gilbert Milam Jr., AKA Berner, who is arguably one of the most influential names in the industry today. We talked with Berner about everything from what it was like working in the heart of San Francisco during the Proposition 215 (medical) era in California. Berner also told us which celebrity he thinks needs to get into cannabis, and gives an open invitation for that celebrity to collaborate! This is one episode you don't want to miss! This episode was recorded over the phone on June 24th, 2020. Thanks go out to Berner for taking the time to talk to us. You can find out more about the Cookies brand online at cookies.co, Vibes Papers at www.VibesPapers.com, and Berner's music at www.BernerMusic.com
Special thanks also goes out to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
Stay tuned to the next episode on Conversations in Cannabis!
This episode was recorded over the phone on April 30th, 2020. Thanks go out to Karson her time in recording today's episode. You can find out more about Vangst online at www.Vangst.com for all your cannabis staffing needs. Special thanks to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate for our intro and outro music. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
This episode was recorded in-person in Marina Del Rey California, on October 4th, 2019. Thanks go out to Nishant Reddy for his time in the making of this episode. You can find out more about A Golden State online at www.AGoldenState.com
Special thanks to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate for our intro and outro music. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
This episode was recorded over the phone on April 9th 2020. Thanks go out to Rhonda Kratz for her time. You can find out more about Acreage Holdings online at www.acreageholdings.com and more about The Botanist at www.shopbotanist.com
Special thanks to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate for our intro and outro music. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com
This episode was recorded in-person at the OG Cannabis Café, on February 26th 2020. Thanks go out to Sarah Dale and the entire team at OG Cannabis Cafe for their time and hospitality. You can find out more about them online at www.Cannabis.Cafe
Special thanks to JP Bianchini for the licensed use of his track Upbeat Corporate for our intro and outro music. You can find out more about JP Bianchini by visiting his website at www.jpbianchini.com