Canna Connect Show

There’s something about operators from places like Buffalo and Minneapolis.
 They understand what it takes to build through pressure.

In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, we sat down with Nate Geary of Range Marketing at Lucky Leaf in Minneapolis to talk about what it really looks like to grow a cannabis business in emerging markets.

Nate breaks down the realities behind dispensary marketing, from navigating local competition to understanding how market size changes everything. What works in Brooklyn won’t work in Buffalo. And what works in theory often falls apart in practice.

We also get into the overlooked challenges operators face, like licensing timelines, real estate pressure, and the hidden cost of just getting open. 

This is a conversation about adapting, staying realistic, and building something that actually lasts.

If you're an operator, marketer, or just trying to understand where this industry is headed, this one hits.

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

There’s a moment in every new market where things start to click.

You can feel it in the conversations.
 You can see it in the rooms.
 And you definitely feel it at events like Lucky Leaf.

Live from the Minneapolis Convention Center, we sat down with Mackenzie Ziegler from Surfside to talk about what’s actually happening behind the scenes as Minnesota steps into adult-use cannabis.

This isn’t just a conversation about marketing.

It’s about how brands find their customers in a space where the rules are still being written.

Mackenzie has spent over a decade in cannabis and nearly five years with Surfside, helping operators across the country connect data, advertising, and real customer behavior.

And what she shares here is something a lot of people are still trying to figure out.

In this episode, we get into:

• Why cannabis marketing is more restricted and more complex than most industries
 • How Surfside helps brands reach real consumers across mobile, apps, and connected devices 
 • The power of data and why measurement is everything for operators
 • What makes Minnesota’s market unique right now
 • Why testing and compliance are still major bottlenecks
 • How retailers can actually generate new revenue through retail media
 • The story behind Surfside’s “Third Thursday” events and why community still matters

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation:

Cannabis businesses are expected to operate at a higher level of compliance, with fewer tools, and less historical data than almost any other industry.

And yet, they’re still building something real.

📍 Recorded live at Lucky Leaf 2026
 📍 Minneapolis Convention Center

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 Tag us and join the conversation using #CannaConnectMN

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

At Lucky Leaf Expo in Minneapolis, we sat down with Oliver Gutierrez-Garcia, Client Relationship Manager, and Paul Ranisate, AVP and Treasury Management Officer at Union Bank & Trust.

Between the two of them, there’s a deep understanding of what cannabis operators actually deal with day to day. Compliance. Risk. Moving money safely. And figuring it all out while the industry is still taking shape.

Oliver brings a background in branch operations, compliance, and risk management, helping businesses get set up the right way from the start. Paul works closely with operators on treasury management, helping them understand how to move money, protect their accounts, and build systems that actually scale.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level banking talk.

We get into:

•  Why most cannabis businesses are still learning as they go 
•  What treasury management actually means in real terms 
•  How Minnesota is shifting from early “dreamer” energy to real operators 
•  Why Union Bank & Trust chose to keep fees low and focus on long-term growth 

There’s also a bigger story here.

As a bank backed by labor unions in the Twin Cities, their approach is rooted in supporting working people and building something sustainable within cannabis.

If you’re operating in Minnesota or preparing to enter the space, this episode gives a clear, honest look at what banking can look like when it’s done right.

🎧 Listen now
 📺 Full video drops at 4:20 PM
 New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

We sat down with Scott Miller, CEO of United Prairie Bank, for a conversation that gets into the realities of cannabis banking in Minnesota.

This was our first time working directly together, and it was clear right away that the focus is on doing things the right way. Supporting operators, understanding the risks, and building systems that actually hold up.

One theme came up throughout the conversation.

Compliance.

As Scott put it, if you don’t get compliance right, regulators can step in and shut things down. 

That reality shapes how banks approach this industry and what operators need to be prepared for before they ever walk through the door.

We also talk through:

• Why some operators hear “no” early in the process (“dream crushing”)

• The three things banks look for: commercial experience, working capital, and business acumen

• How United Prairie approached cannabis by building compliance first, before opening accounts or lending

• Why cannabis banking is ultimately a risk management decision

This is a straightforward conversation for people who are actually building.

Appreciate Scott and the United Prairie team for taking the time and being part of it.

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

We sat down with Tony Beeman and Brad Obermueller from the Center for Energy & Environment at Lucky Leaf to talk about one of the most overlooked parts of building a cannabis business in Minnesota.

Energy.

From LED rebates to real estate challenges, this conversation breaks down how early decisions around power, lighting, and facility setup can impact cost, timelines, and long-term success.

We also discuss:

•  Xcel Energy territory and eligibility 
•  Six-figure rebate opportunities 
•  Real estate challenges in Minnesota 
•  How operators can avoid costly delays 

If you're building or planning in Minnesota, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.

Real Estate Map Referenced in the Episode

#CannaConnectMN

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Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

We sat down with Ed Wells from Cannatrol at Lucky Leaf for a conversation that started with life and quickly moved into one of the most overlooked parts of cannabis production.

Drying and curing.

Ed breaks down how small inefficiencies after harvest can lead to meaningful losses for operators, especially in emerging markets like Minnesota where pricing is still strong.

We also talk about consistency, and why it’s one of the most important factors in building a cannabis brand that people come back to.

In this episode:

•  What most growers get wrong after harvest 
•  How drying impacts yield, quality, and profitability 
•  Why consistency is what separates brands long term 
•  The role of process and standardization in scaling operations 
•  New Cannatrol products and what’s coming next 

This episode is part of our Live from Lucky Leaf series, where we’re documenting the people building Minnesota cannabis in real time.

Connect with Cannatrol: https://www.cannatrols.com

Follow Canna Connect for more conversations like this: https://cannaverse-newsletter.beehiiv.com/

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, we sit down with Benjamin Mike and Dan Gilbert of Local 49 at Lucky Leaf Expo 2026 in Minneapolis.

With nearly 100 years of history, Local 49 is stepping into the Minnesota cannabis industry with a focus on partnership, worker protection, and simplifying benefits for business owners.

We cover pensions vs 401k plans, Labor Peace Agreements, microbusiness support, and how unions are positioning themselves in cannabis and hemp.

If you’re an operator, builder, or just curious about where labor fits into this industry, this conversation offers a grounded perspective.

Chapters:
 0:00 Disclaimer
 0:44 Introduction
 1:35 The 100-Year History of Local 49
 2:17 Benjamin Mike’s Career Path
 4:22 Benefits Provided by Local 49
 5:08 “We Were Told 401k’s Were the Future”
 8:05 Goals in the Cannabis Industry
 9:45 How Unions Entered Hemp & Cannabis
 11:00 Craft Brewery & Hemp Beverage Involvement
 12:26 Supporting the Cannabis Industry
 13:40 What Local 49 Offers Business Owners
 16:36 Labor Peace Agreements Explained
 20:30 Mental Health Support & Benefits
 23:20 How to Get in Touch with Local 49

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

Minnesota cannabis is still being shaped in real time and few people are closer to that process than Carol Moss.

In this episode of the Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann sits down with Carol from Hellmuth & Johnson to talk about what it really means to practice law in a brand new industry.

From interpreting unclear statutes to helping clients navigate risk without a clear roadmap, Carol shares the realities behind the work. As she explains, there is no scoreboard until enforcement happens and that creates a constant balancing act for both attorneys and operators. 

The conversation also breaks down a major recent win where her team challenged an OCM policy that attempted to restrict direct shipping of hemp products. The outcome reinforced an important idea that has been true since the early days of hemp in Minnesota: access matters, and so does protecting in-state businesses.

This episode covers:
 • The challenges of practicing cannabis law in Minnesota
 • How legal interpretation shapes the industry
 • The story behind the OCM shipping case
 • Why collaboration across operators and attorneys matters
 • The importance of rural access and local economies
 • What the future of Minnesota cannabis could look like

At its core, this is a story about people building something new together. From early community meetups to courtroom decisions, every step is shaping what comes next.

Connect with us at the next event.
 Tag us to be featured and join the community using #CannaConnectMN

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

In this episode of The Canna Connect Show I sit down with Chris Hanna, Director of Sales Engineering at Comcast Business. During the interview we discuss his background as a North Saint Paul native, with hobbies that include cars, in-line skating, and gardening. 

Chris has worked at Comcast Business for over 13 years and he currently serves as a Sales Engineer, helping connect the customer with the technology solution required. During the interview he shares best practices around phishing scams, what connectivity means in 2026, and how Comcast can serve cannabis entrepreneurs today in Minnesota. 

Beyond the basics we get into the, "Internet of Things" as well as hooking up and connecting cameras, kiosks, order fulfillment, and RFID tracking for small, medium, and large businesses. I also learn more from Chris about cyber security and how Comcast Business is already serving the cannabis industry today. 

This is a great interview if you want to learn more about how a Fortune 50 company is already serving the cannabis industry through ancillary products and services. It's also worth listening to the end to hear where I think we'll see more growth in Minnesota's cannabis industry. 

And as always, we touch on compliance. 

Thank you so much to Comcast Business for sponsoring Canna Connect's Official Lucky Leaf After Party at Earl Giles. For more information on how you can get in touch with Comcast Business click here: 

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.

Jason Tarasek is a knowledgeable cannabis partner at Vicente LLP. He has been working in the Minnesota hemp and cannabis industry since 2018. In 2019 he served as Minnesota’s Political Director for Marijuana Policy Project, where he helped orchestrate the state’s first-ever legislative hearing on cannabis legalization. 

As a cannabis policy advocate, Jason has spent many hours at the Minnesota State Capitol. In 2022, Jason successfully lobbied in favor of Minnesota’s “edible cannabinoid product” law, which sparked an explosion in the popularity of hemp-derived THC beverages throughout Minnesota and the United States. In 2023, he advocated for Minnesota’s passage of an adult-use cannabis bill. Today, Jason continues to strive for sensible policy as Minnesota implements its adult-use cannabis program while expanding its trailblazing hemp-derived THC beverage industry. 

In this episode, I sit down with Jason and talk about our long history of working together to connect and improve Minnesota cannabis for hemp entrepreneurs, homegrowers, tribal businesses, consumers, and medical patients. We discuss how Vicente got started, and why it might not be a good idea to have more dispensaries than Starbucks in the Twin Cities. 

We cover Jason’s optimism and his hope for equilibrium in 2026 as it relates to supply and demand within Minnesota’s cannabis industry. We also touch on the Wisconsin cannabis industry, or lack thereof, and his work with Tribal organizations who are interested in the Minnesota model and how they can replicate something similar in their state. The only problem? Wisconsin doesn’t even have a medical cannabis program! 

Lastly, we clear up a misconception around one of Jason’s clients and his involvement in the delay of the social equity lottery. 

This is a really great episode if you’re interested in the Minnesota cannabis industry and the greater opportunity across the midwest. Thanks for listening. 

Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network

Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.