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Green Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur Mediawww.greenentrepreneur.com
How have entrepreneurs left their old careers behind and found success in cannabis, and how can you do the same? Green Entrepreneur with Jonathan Small answers that question each week, with inspiring stories of business owners who have taken the cannabis challenge and are now navigating the exciting but unpredictable Green Rush.
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Episodes

Big Papi's Marijuana Business Hits the Ground Running

Guest David 'Big Papi Ortiz' is three-time World Series Champion and former World Series MVP and a recent inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now you can add cannabis entrepreneur to his long list of accomplishments. Papi Cannabis is a new line of premium cannabis products available in dispensaries across Massachusetts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 08, 202221 minSeason 1Ep. 174

A Top Lawyer Talks About Her Lifelong War on the War on Drugs

Guest ALLISON MARGOLIN a Los Angeles-based criminal defense and civil rights lawyer and one of the nation’s leading experts in cannabis licensing and law. She has a new book out called Just Dope: A Leading Attorney’s Personal Journey Inside the War on Drugs, which is part memoir and part argument for a commonsense approach to drug use and legalization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 01, 202235 minSeason 1Ep. 173

What's Going on in Jersey?

Cannabis became recreationally legal in New Jersey four months ago. So how’s weed doing in the Garden State? To give us a perspective from the ground, we’re joined by Sharon Ali who is Regional General Manager, Mid Atlantic at Acreage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 25, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 172

Cann Just Sold Its Ten-Millionth Can

THC-infused beverage company Cann celebrated a major milestone this month: 10 million cans sold. Co-founder Luke Anderson joins the podcast to give an emotional interview about how they grew the company so rapidly and what other cannabis companies can learn from their success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 18, 202236 minSeason 1Ep. 171

An Acquisition Horror Story Has a Happy Ending

Many small cannabis companies dream about being acquired by a multi-million-dollar public company, but what if that dream becomes a nightmare? Hayley Dineen and Lana Van Brunt lived through that harrowing experience, but rather than back down they took matters into their own hands. They are the Brooklyn-based duo behind Sackville & Co., a design-focused contemporary cannabis lifestyle brand. What happened to them offers valuable lessons into how to M&As in your own business. Learn more a...

Aug 11, 202227 minSeason 1Ep. 170

Jones Soda Gets Into the Cannabis Business

Jones Soda is a well-known quirky craft soda company with drinks like Blue Bubblegum Cane Sugar Soda. Last April, the company launched Mary Jones in California, which includes cannabis-infused product lines of soda, syrup, and gummies. Bohb Blair, Chief Marketing Officer at Jones Soda, joins the pod to talk about why Jones got into the weed market, how they plan to stand out from the pack, and the state of cannabis-infused beverage industry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Aug 04, 202226 minSeason 1Ep. 169

Can Cannabis Make You More Creative? This Company Thinks So.

Pilgrim Soul is a purpose-driven cannabis company focused on creative performance. As part of their marketing effort, the company publishes Creative Thinking Journals to use when you’re high that have become runaway bestsellers on Amazon. Pilgrim Soul CEO and Co-founder Shawn Gold talks about how his unique purpose-driven approach to marketing, and how it can help other cannabis companies carve out a unique lane in an overcrowded industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Jul 28, 202234 minSeason 1Ep. 168

The Problem with the Legal Weed Industry

Economists Robin Goldstein and Daniel Sumner have a fascinating new book out called CAN LEGAL WEED WIN?: The Blunt Realities of Cannabis Economics. Though extensive research, they argue that the legal weed business presents an economic conundrum—while nearly 40% of Americans can walk into a dispensary and purchase weed legally, many still buy it illegally. On the show, they talk about why legal weed is a mess, what we can do to save the legal weed industry, and how small business owners can surv...

Jul 21, 202235 minSeason 1Ep. 167

How the Jeeter Infused Preroll Became the Nation's Best Seller

Since its launch in 2019 in California, Jeeter has grown into bestselling preroll company in the U.S, with a $400 million revenue projected this year. Co-founders Lukasz Tracz and Sebastian Solano join the show to talk about the five strategies they used to break through the pack and stand out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 202236 minSeason 1Ep. 166

This TV Design Guru Is On a Mission to Redesigns Pot Shops

Kim Myles is host of the lively new show High Design on Discovery Plus, in which she makes over dispensaries that could really use some freshening up. On the episode, she talks about her entrepreneurial journey from hair stylist to reality TV show winner to TV show and personality. She also shares her tips on how to transform your retail business to better serve your customers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 07, 202237 minSeason 1Ep. 165

How To Talk to Your Kids About Cannabis

Almost a quarter of parents who have consumed cannabis in the past year haven’t talked to their kids about their cannabis use, according to a new Harris poll. Can you blame them? It’s a hard conversation. To give some pointers we’re joined by Danielle Simone Brand, the author of the book Weed Mom, and Rabbi James Kahn, who along with being Executive Director at Holistic Industries has written much about helping to normalize cannabis, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 30, 202233 minSeason 1Ep. 164

NFL Great Calvin Johnson, Jr on How Cannabis Helped Him Stay In The Game

Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson Jr (aka Megatron played wide receiver for 9 illustrious years on the Detroit Lions. Now he’s embarked onon a new journey as a cannabis executive. Johnson is co-founder, along with Detroit Lions teammate Rob Sims, of Primitiv, a Michigan-based cannabis company that offers cannabis-based products, a branded line of merch, their first dispensary in Niles, Michigan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 23, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 63

Is Ketamine the Next Frontier? This Cannabis Exec Thinks So

Ketamine has been shown to treat depression, PTSD, and anxiety. In recent years, clinics have been popping up in cities across America and Canada. Guest Matt Stang is co-founder and CEO of Delic Corp, the largest infrastructure of psychedelic wellness clinics in the U.S. Matt started his career as an intern at High Times and rose up the ranks to be its owner. Now he’s embarking on a new journey in psychedelics such as ketamine. Here’s why he think ketamine is so powerful and his predictions for ...

Jun 16, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 162

A Rock Photographer Offers His Creative Advice to Brands

Andreas “Dre” Neumann is Chief Creative Officer of Jushi, a publicly-traded MSO that includes retails locations, brands, and grow facilities. He is also a photographer who has shot such artists as the Foo Fighters, Iggy Pop, and the Queens of the Stone Age. In fact, it was the latter that led him into the cannabis business. We talk to Dre about why this big advertising exec got into the cannabis business, and what advice he has to other creatives about branding. Learn more about your ad choices....

Jun 09, 202231 minSeason 1Ep. 161

Why This Twitter Executive Launched a Cannabis Data Company

As the cannabis market grows, so have the number of data technology companies offering brands business intelligence. Our guest today is Jeffrey Graham Co-Founder and CEO of Pistil Data. The company has built applications for salespeople at brands to that helps them identify the best-selling opportunities. Pistil recently closed a $6.5 million seed round led by Snoop Dogg’s Casa Verde. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 02, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 160

Do Most Cannabis Beverages Suck? This Cocktail Expert Thinks So.

Warren Bobrow is a mixologist, chef, and writer known as the Cocktail Whisperer. He has written 6 books, including Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails & Tonics: The Art of Spirited Drinks and Buzz-Worthy Libations. His latest venture is Klaus, which he calls “the finest terpene forward Craft cannabis cocktail in the world.” Bold words for sure, but Warren knows his cocktails and he uses only the finest ingredients. Here’s his take on the future of infused cannabis beverages. Learn more about your ...

May 26, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 159

How Asian-American Women Are Blazing New Paths in Cannabis

Despite stigmas, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are making a big difference in the cannabis industry. On this episode, we’re joined by Eunice Kim, founder and CEO of HiVi, a digital cannabis product that matches people to the right cannabis products, and Judy Yee co-founder and CEO of K-Zen, a cannabis beverage company. They talk about why they got into cannabis and the challenges they’ve had to overcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 202231 minSeason 1Ep. 158

Unpacking the MJ Unpacked Conference in NYC

Many executives in the cannabis industry will be heading to New York City this month for the MJ Unpacked conference from May 18 to 20—and not just to see Ghost Face Killah in concert. The event, only in its second year, offers a chance for cannabis CPG brands, retailers, and investors to make deals, network, and get excited about the NYC market. Guests George and Kim Jage are the founders of MJ Unpacked. They talk about why they started the event, what to expect, and their predictions for the le...

May 12, 202231 minSeason 1Ep. 157

So You Want To Infuse Your Cannabis Product? Start Here.

Guest Ben Larson is CEO of Vertosa, a cannabis company that creates active ingredients for infused products including its patented and patent-pending emulsion systems. Ben is also an outspoken critic of delta 8 and says he would never work with a delta 8 client. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 05, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 156

On the Road with a Top Delivery Service

Grassdoor is a leading cannabis delivery service in California. Despite fierce competition, they’ve managed to be successful thanks to a proprietary tech platform that enables brands to white label their services. We talk to CEO Zack Ein about how he went from being the company’s first delivery driver to overseeing a team of 450 full-time drivers. He also talks about the challenges and costs for DTC services and where the business is going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Apr 28, 202228 minSeason 1Ep. 155

What's Going On At Canopy Growth

Canopy Growth is an international, publicly traded cannabis MSO. Their offerings include Martha Stewart’s CBD line. Our guest is Sol Clahane VP & General Manager of the Canopy Growth Corporation in the U.S.. She talks about what Canopy does, how their relationship with Martha Stewart came to be, the biggest challenges CBD companies like theirs face, and why you shouldn’t be scared of MSO operators gobbling up the little guys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 26, 202228 minSeason 1Ep. 154

An Entrepreneurial Pastor Preaches Cannabis for Christians

There are 13.5 million Christians in the state California, 6.8 million of which have used a cannabis product. My guest Craig Gross wants to shine a light on this topic and invite the Christian community to to explore cannabis without shame or judgment. Craig is a well-known pastor and founder of XXXChurch.com. He recently launched Christian Cannabis, which offers high-CBD, low-THC cannabis strains cultivated specifically for Christian consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

Apr 14, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 153

Need Help? Consider Virtual Assistants for the Cannabis Industry

We’re all busier than ever. And we need help. But a dwindling number of job applicants and great need for efficiency has led many to consider new solutions to getting the help they need. Guest TaJanna Mallory says she has a solution: Virtual assistants. Guest TaJanna is Founder and Chief Executive Officer at CannAssistants, a virtual assistant (VA) agency that provides administrative support to mid-size cannabis companies, founders, and business executives. Here’s what VAs do and why you may nee...

Apr 07, 202221 minSeason 1Ep. 152

Not in My Backyard! How One Dispensary Chain Has Overcome Community Push Back

While a large majority of Americans support the legalization of cannabis, many get squeamish when a dispensary tries to open its doors in their neighborhood. The phenomena is known as NIMBY – not in my backyard. Guests Lauren Carpenter and Dustin Moore are co-founders of Embarc, a northern California cannabis retailer that has a unique and community-friendly approach to cannabis sales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 202231 minSeason 1Ep. 151

Exciting New Trends in Dispensary Design

Walking into a dispensary today is a completely different experience than it was just five years ago, thanks to legalization and the mainstreaming of cannabis retail. Some dispensaries are taking a nod from chains such as Nordstrom, Apple, and Sephora, to make the shopping experience a boutique, full-sensory experience. Guests Danielle Marzarella and Holly Cottrell of SevenPoint Interiors are part of the new revolution in cannabis retail space design. They talk about where dispensaries are now a...

Mar 24, 202229 minSeason 1Ep. 150

The Future of Cannabis Consumption Lounges

We talk a lot about the Green Rush, but few actually strike gold in this industry. Our guest, Cameron Forni, did after Curaleaf bought his company Select for an estimated $948 million. creating the world’s largest legal cannabis company by revenue. Cameron recently launched Hypescale Ventures, focused on investing in forward-thinking founders and technology. On the podcast, Forni talks about some of the investments he’s most excited about, including cannabis consumption lounges. Learn more about...

Mar 17, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 149

How High Tide Created a Canadian Tsunami

Raj Grover is the founder and CEO of High Tide, the largest Canadian retailer of recreational cannabis as measured by revenue. This is the story of how he grew his 500-square foot smoke shop of 2 employees into a cannabis empire with other 1000 employees spanning North America and Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 10, 202227 minSeason 1Ep. 148

From Convicted Felon to Cannabis Mogul: The Incredible Story of Chris Ball

Chris Ball is the founder of Ball Family Farms—the first vertically-integrated social equity brand in Los Angeles. The company is Black-owned and Black led, in an industry that could certainly use more people of color. Chris’s long and winding journey into the business is fascinating. A former star linebacker for Cal State, who did pro stints in the CFL and European NFL, Chris was convicted of a cannabis crime and had his life turned upside down. This how he turned everything around. Learn more ...

Feb 24, 202241 minSeason 1Ep. 146

Magic Mushroom Retreats to Jamaica Are Big Business

If you’ve got $4k, you can book an exclusive vacation to Jamaica for a 5-day psylocibin “trip.” The travel trend has become all the rage for psychonauts looking for a safe and legal experience with shrooms. Guest Douglas K. Gordan is the CEO of Silo Wellness, a multinational psychedelics company that hosts some the most luxurious retreats. Silo Wellness is also partners with the Marley family (as in Bob) in the first global mushroom company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

Feb 22, 202230 minSeason 1Ep. 45
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