Welcome to the premiere episode of The Hybrid, where cannabis policy collides with pop culture! Join hosts Shawn Collins (former Executive Director, MA Cannabis Control Commission) and Erik Gundersen (former Director, Maine Office of Cannabis Policy) as they kick things off with a bang. In this episode, we introduce ourselves and the podcast’s mission—to make dense cannabis policy as engaging as your favorite movie.We share behind-the-scenes insights from our years as regulators, tackling the highs and lows of shaping the cannabis landscape. Then, we dive into the hot topic of social consumption—think cannabis lounges and cafes—and what it could mean for the future. Plus, we try to stump each other with cannabis trivia, from historical tidbits to pop culture gems.