The Green Lady Dispensary is a family-owned business on the island of Nantucket in Massachusetts, with a 2nd location recently opened in Newton, an upscale town outside of Boston. Co-founder Nicole Campbell headed the family's operations and joined the show to talk about the state of the cannabis industry in Massachusetts and how they are navigating growth and expansion into NY with their well-known products consumer-tested in Massachusetts. https://www.thegreenladydispensary.com/ https://www.li...
Sep 16, 2024•36 min•Ep. 118
Michael Briggs is President of Spiritus Oregon , the first company to receive a psilocybin edibles manufacturing license in the US. We discuss their seed-to-sale operations in Oregon, white-label manufacturing services, and what Spiritus has planned for their brand lineup—founded by well-known cannabis medical doctor Rachel Knox, and an impressive team of psilocybin extraction and formulation experts who are poised to introduce psychedelic mushrooms to the masses. If you want to know everything ...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 117
NFL great Ricky Williams is well-known for publicly advocating for cannabis and its therapeutic benefits by missing a football season and giving up millions of dollars because he purposely tested positive for cannabis. He joins the show to discuss the importance of using his fame to advocate for plant medicine. We discussed his new line of hemp-based products and future plans for beverages, psilocybin treatment centers, partnerships, and global expansion. I learned that Ricky Williams is a genui...
Aug 27, 2024•40 min•Ep. 116
Stephanie Abrams is a neuropharmacologist, researcher, and founder of Beyond The Bench , a consultant company in the psychedelic space. As a neuropharmacologist, she deeply understands medical therapies, plant medicines, and clinical studies and is a published researcher and writer. Stephanie designs and facilitates simple scientific trials and studies for plant medicine brands and psychedelic organizations & clinics.https://www.beyondthebench.life/aboutstephaniekarzonabrams We discussed: 1....
Aug 21, 2024•45 min•Ep. 115
Cannabis brands and retailers are challenged to find creative ways to market their businesses because strict rules forbid traditional methods. Best in Grass is a new company started by two High Times event producers, Mark Kazinec and Jason Quinn. It offers dispensaries and brands the opportunity to collaborate on a new and creative marketing solution for the cannabis industry. Best in Grass is a state-by-state product competition that involves product sampling kits, consumer judging contests, an...
Aug 01, 2024•44 min•Ep. 114
Matthias Fischer is the founder and Managing Director of Canymed, a subsidiary of Grunhorn, Germany's largest cannabis supply chain. He shares insights into how Grunhorn is building its seed-to-sale operation and supporting medical research through its robust data collection. We talk about the industry's bottlenecks and what needs to be done for the cannabis industry to flourish in Europe. https://www.gruenhorn.de https://www.canymed.com Contact: Maja Hoock: m.hoock@gruenhorn.de Innovating Canna...
Jul 26, 2024•35 min•Ep. 113
What if you could R&D a cannabis product or cultivate a strain knowing the precise effects a specific cannabinoid or terpene would provide a person based on scientific evidence? You can. Our latest guest is Israel Gasperin , the CEO of Zentrela , a scientific research company using EEG and AI technology to measure the brain waves of a cannabis user as a way to understand the impact of cannabis on the brain and how it alters a person's mood. Brands are using the technology to provide scientif...
Jul 10, 2024•58 min•Ep. 112
Roxanne Jennings is head of production for Envirostar , a Minnesota-based manufacturer that uses spray drying technology to turn food into powder—(think cake mixes). They also have a booming business producing THC drink sticks. We discuss the trend toward this method of consumption and the ease of launching drink sticks to use as a brand-building catalyst for your company. Roxanne predicts cannabis will be a regular food ingredient in the future, and they are ready to provide the tools to make i...
Jul 03, 2024•39 min•Ep. 111
Breanna Neff is the founder of Brelixi , a powdered THC drink mix that is leaning into the functional wellness trend and uses ingredients like adaptogens and nootropics. Breanna has a degree in food science and process engineering from Cornell University and formulated the Brelixi drink mix. She uses hemp biomass (not synthetics) and sources from cultivators that are part of the Black Farmers Alliance in Georgia. Breanna is building a strong following on TikTok and in her NY community and doing ...
Jun 11, 2024•33 min•Ep. 109
Jason Bello is the founder and CEO of a relatively new B2B cannabis trade show called The Flower Expo. He says his show is for "brands to meet buyers," and similar to how food and wine shows operate where there is an emphasis on product sampling. Jason learned the trade show ropes by working at West Coast trade shows like Hall of Flowers and Green Street Festival. Jason launched The Flower Expo last year in Massachusetts and is back again on June 5-6th in rural Greenfield, Mass. The show is set ...
May 29, 2024•27 min•Ep. 108
Holly Teegarden is a former marketing executive turned cannabis entrepreneur. Her first endeavor was in 2019 with a brick-and-mortar store focused on CBD wellness in Pittsburgh, PA. She then launched cannabis-focused wellness retreats for women over the age of 35+, mainly for the canna-curious, to introduce them to the wellness benefits of cannabis in the form of a relaxing retreat. So far, she has launched in four states from the Midwest to the East Coast. MoodRXRetreat Innovating Cannabis is p...
May 17, 2024•26 min•Ep. 107
Prof. Dedi Meiri heads the Laboratory of Cancer and Cannabinoid Research at Technion, Israel's highly regarded Institute of Technology. He comes from a highly diverse scientific background in biochemistry, plant biotechnology, and cancer and has about 50 research scientists working under him. We discuss the complexities of the endocannabinoid system and Dr. Meiri's painstaking work to document numerous combinations of cannabinoids to determine which ones unlock specific receptors to treat diseas...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 106
Robert Head served over five years in the Army, including on the front lines of Iraq. In 2016, he entered the cannabis industry and bought a farm in Maine to cultivate cannabis. Robert has also devoted his time to helping communities understand that cannabis plays a big role in the veteran's healing process through events and speaking engagements. In late 2022, he and another veteran, Todd Scattini, founded the non-profit, Hemp for Victory to bring attention to the need for plant medicine to hea...
May 07, 2024•31 min•Ep. 105
Tara Misu , a NJ native, has been kicking around cannabis industry for 15 years. She is the owner of the edibles company Blazin' Bakery, known for its brownie mix with the right formulation for making DIY pot brownies. The company previously sold at Spencer Gift Stores across the country, but is focusing on the cannabis edibles market now. Tara has studied extraction science in California and Colorado and is about to open the doors to her manufacturing facility, Alchemy Green, so that she can co...
Apr 29, 2024•42 min•Ep. 104
Today, we are talking SEO with Samuel Fisher from Green Dispensary Marketing . Sam and his team help dispensaries manage their online web presence and build traffic-generating assets. Sam explains why you should dump WeedMaps and Leafly. Green Dispensary Marketing will help maximize your traffic and ensure it converts to sales. Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, and marketing and PR specialist in the cannabis industry. Get in touch to discus...
Apr 26, 2024•28 min•Ep. 103
KEY TALKING POINTS · German Cannabis Market : Germany has decriminalized possession up to 25 grams and allows home cultivation of up to three plants. Consumers can also join cannabis social clubs starting July 1st. · Medical Cannabis : Medical cannabis in Germany has become more accessible, with reduced barriers to prescription and health insurance coverage for severely ill patients under specific conditions. · Pharmacy Role in Medical Cannabis : Pharmacists follow specific recipes for tea infus...
Apr 22, 2024•35 min•Ep. 102
Meet Kirsten Velasco , the inventor of VapeNProp. One of the first cannabis-themed products to enter the promotional products category. It's a vape pen accessory that holds your pen upright to keep it safe from leaks, clogs, and dropping and breaking. Kirstin is running out of the gate with Curaleaf as her first customer. They are celebrating 420 by giving away VapeNProps as gifts in their Ohio, North Dakota, PA, and Illinois stores. Kirsten talks about her journey in inventing, designing, and l...
Apr 18, 2024•29 min•Ep. 101
KEY TALKING POINTS: • Recent Developments and Market Dynamics : o Discusses the significance of Germany's move towards cannabis legalization. o Believes Germany's decision is a tipping point that will influence other countries. o Notes the impact of global politics on the cannabis industry, particularly in Europe. • Medical vs. Recreational Cannabis : o Highlights differences between U.S. and EU medical cannabis programs. o EU medical programs are integrated into the healthcare system, unlike th...
Apr 11, 2024•40 min•Ep. 100
Cherissa Jackson is a 23-year veteran of the Air Force as an officer and nurse who has seen combat three times in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is now the Founder and CEO of WeDecode . It provides DNA testing to determine deficiencies in a person's endocannabinoid system and match cannabis products that will help them achieve homeostasis. Many apps are available that track consumer experience with specific cannabis products, but identifying deficiencies in a person's endocannabinoid system is a game...
Apr 04, 2024•40 min•Ep. 99
Kieve works with US cannabis companies to expand their product line to Latin America. He shares market insights and which country in South America he is the most bullish on for brand expansion. He got his start in the cannabis industry in California with the launch of Heavy Grass, a portfolio of pre-roll brands. He expanded the product line into Mexico, built relationships throughout Latin America, and is a frequent guest speaker at B2B Conferences in Mexico and Columbia. Kieve Huffman: https://...
Mar 26, 2024•38 min•Ep. 98
Puffco has dominated the hash space with its cutting-edge hardware for ten years. Today, we meet Chelsea Kossower, their VP of global expansion, to learn how she is elevating the hash culture around the world, spreading the Puffco brand, and building community. Chelsea Kossower : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-kossower/ Puffco: https://www.puffco.com/pages/about-us Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, and marketing and PR specialist in th...
Mar 16, 2024•38 min•Ep. 97
Alex Rogers has been a cannabis activist on the West Coast since the 1990s and has worked under people like Jack Herer, to name a few. He moved to Europe and continued his quest to legitimize cannabis. In 2017, he took the chance and started what has become one of the best-known cannabis B2B trade shows in Europe, The International Cannabis Business Conference , which is held in multiple countries each year. His next show is in Barcelona on March 15th in partnership with Spannabis. Tune in to he...
Mar 05, 2024•52 min•Ep. 96
Peter Homberg is a partner in the Dentons Berlin law office and heads up the European Cannabis Division. Peter joined The Mary Jane Society podcast to share his insights about Germany's recent step toward cannabis legalization and what it means for businesses in the US looking to enter the European market. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-homberg-90618519/ https://www.dentons.com/en/ Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, and marketing and PR s...
Mar 01, 2024•40 min•Ep. 95
Ross Hunsinger is the director of food and beverage innovation at Abstrax Hops. In 2023, Abstrax Tech added an official hops division at Ross's suggestion, and they are now on track to disrupt the beer industry by introducing cannabis to the equation. They partnered with many of the best cultivators and brewers to study their cannabis and hops profiles to create the world's most advanced terpene formulations using botanicals. The consumer trend toward non-alcoholic drinks is causing brewers to f...
Feb 26, 2024•47 min•Ep. 94
2024 could be a big year in so many ways for the cannabis industry aside from rescheduling. Hish Jain breaks it down for us on the latest episode of the Mary Jane Society podcast. Hirsh is the founder of Ananda Strategy . He is a cannabis industry consultant and government policy expert and helps guide a company's competitive licensing efforts, expansion strategy, regulatory compliance, M&A activity, and venture capital raises. Hirsh shares current policy developments unfolding in key states...
Feb 19, 2024•59 min•Ep. 93
Is there a future for strain-based drinks? Flower is the number one selling category in the country. Legacy growers, connoisseurs, and enthusiasts are obsessed with the nuances of the plant and how it can make you feel. Of course, there are significant challenges to maintaining consistency, quality, and scalability when manufacturing these beverages. Our guest today is Randy Reed; he recently exited successfully from an infused beverage company and is now the VP of Scientific Solutions at AVD. H...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 92
Michael Sassano , a former Wall Street banker turned real estate developer, is known in the US for building 16 large-scale cultivation facilities in Nevada. He left for Europe in 2019 to get a head start in the European cannabis market and launched Somai , a cannabinoid pharmaceutical company based in Lisbon, Portugal. Michael shares their strategy and readiness for Europe's impending cannabis legalization and his predictions for 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/somaipharma https://www.lin...
Jan 16, 2024•41 min•Ep. 91
Many of you probably have heard of our next guest, A.C. Moon. She has been toiling away in the California cannabis industry for about 25 years where she earned a degree in horticulture, endured raids, and dealt with a federal indictment. She has opened dispensaries and developed one of the first line of edibles, back in the day. A.C. is also a multi-patented inventor, educator, and Emerald Cup judge. Her international work is expansive, but in the past few years, she has worked in the Caribbean ...
Jan 01, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 90
Jason Reposa is the founder of Good Feels, a line of cannabis beverages in Massachusetts. We talked about his manufacturing operations, his business challenges, and how he is using a hemp version of Good Feels to build national brand awareness. He is constantly tinkering in his R&D lab to produce the best beverages on the market and is taking his time growing with the industry. Good Feels Jason Reposa Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, a...
Dec 12, 2023•47 min•Ep. 89
Meet Wendy Bronfein , co-founder and policy director at Curio Wellness. Curio Wellness has been operating in Maryland's medical market since 2018 before they recently flipped to adult use. They are a family-owned vertical operation and are on the move with expansion plans by offering franchise opportunities with their Far & Dotter dispensary business model. They expanded cultivation facilities in Missouri as a stepping stone into that state. Their scientific advisory board is behind the deve...
Dec 04, 2023•43 min•Ep. 88
