013 – Episode thirteen delves into CBD and Sport, covers a bit about white labeling for a new CBD brand as well as featuring some canna machine music at the end.

1. Dom Day - Four Five CBD

Gary meets Dom Day from Four Five CBD who is a professional rugby player at Saracens.

- Together with his business partner and Saracens team mate George Kruis the pair set up FourFive CBD in 2019 launching a range of CBD products for athletes. 

- FourFive sell oils, balms and capsules based around recovery/ injury recovery.

- The company like to track from seed to shelf.

- The duo saw the tide of change in the USA and could see demand over here for CBD.

- Their flagship product is 0% THC. It's been checked by a lab for any cross-contamination for banned substances in sport. - P

- An inspiring quote for Dom is: "Rest,recover, rise".

- In the next 5 years Dom hope's to see stronger regulation to help ensure higher quality in the marketplace. 

Website: https://fourfivecbd.co.uk/

2. Simon Dusher - CBDLife

Based in the North East CBDLife produce a range of branded CBD products as well as offering white label services. 

- CBDLife was founded in 2015 when the industry was at its infancy. and manufacture for a number of brands

- The first products produced were full spectrum oil. However, THC free CBD products is now becoming more in demand.

- CBDLife offer a low MOQ of 25 units on order.

- Simon talks about the steps to launch a CBD brand and the time it takes

- Common mistakes people make can include isolate being used in food supplements.

- How CBDLife are moving into the edibles side of things.

- Simon explains how using Instagram influencers has worked well - especially promoting with athletes.

- In the next 5 Years Simon expects to see bigger brands launching CBD. 

Website: https://cbdlifeuk.com/

Episode webpage: 

https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep013-cbdrugby-sport-fourfive-cbdlife

Twitter: @cannamachine

In episode twelve its all about sales, marketing, POS and why CBD education still really matters!

Full episode show notes are here  - https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep012-vitality-cbd-erth-hemp

1. Ella Gligor - Vitality CBD

First up, Gary meets Ella Gligor from Vitality CBD at the Vaper UK Expo held at the Birmingham NEC.

Ella talks about the company's roots in the vape industry and pharma, and how Vitality CBD have managed to achieve UK wide product distribution for their products in many major shopping chains in a short space of time. 

Ella also shares why Vitality focus on education, and explains all about their new, state of the art CBD sampling station  - which is being rolled out in pharmacies.

More info on Vitality CBD - https://vitalitycbd.co.uk/ 

2. Danny Methew - ERTH Hemp

In part two meet Danny Methew at the Hemp and CBD expo. Danny is founder of ERTH Hemp a Californian CBD company that launched in 2018.

Danny talks about ERTH Hemp's target customer, the design of the packaging and their POS.

He also covers the importance of education, the success of their 'try before you buy' program and their new distribution deal in the UK with Flawless.

More info on ERTH Hemp - https://erthhemp.com/

Canna Machine Website - https://cannamachine.co.uk

Twitter: @cannamachine

Welcome to episode 11 of the Canna machine podcast. A show all about the CBD and Canna Industry.

Episode Webpage:

https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep011-snoops-nutrients-rich-hamilton-faces

1. Snoop's Nutrients

In this episode Gary meets Ed from Snoop's Nutrients. Yes Snoog Dogg has his own nutrients brand of fertilizers, specially formulated for growers! Ed who manages operations helps explains all.

Hear how Ed (a regular guy from the UK) ended up in California and forming a business relationship with one of the most famous hip-hop artists in the world.

More info: https://www.snoopspremium.com/

2. Rich Hamilton - Growers Guide Books & Hydro Chronicle Podcast

In the 2nd section meet Richard Hamilton – writer and author of the Growers guide series and host of the Hydro Chronicle podcast. Rich talks about the importance of the UK Product Earth expo, gives a couple of top-level tips about growing as well as some  predictions for the future.

More info: https://www.thegrowersguide.co.uk

3. Steve Melhuish - Founder of FACES Education Centre.

And in the last section, meet Steve from FACES Education Centre. A new Cannabis Education Centre opening in Weston Super Mare, near Bristol. The centre will help educate under 18s about the benefits and risks of cannabis as well as support children affected by knife crime and gang life.

Steve faced initial resistance for his centre from the local authorities down there in Weston, but his determination and perseverance has now paid off. FACES is soon to launch and the initiative has been widely supported by everyone from CBD brands, the local community, DJs, Graffiti Artists and even the local police force.

More info: https://www.facessupport.org.uk/

Canna Machine Website: https://cannamachine.co.uk/

And until next time

Stay lucky!

Episode 010 – Gary meets Greg De Hoedt from the UK Cannabis Social Clubs as well as Adam from Modular Growth an inventor of a 3 dimensional, LED, indoor lighting system.

Greg De Hoedt UKCSC

• Greg explains the background of the UKCSC and how the organisation supports the right to grow and helps people who want to run a cannabis club to have a place to go and socialise.
• He explains the different kinds of clubs. And Greg believes that cannabis social clubs can be an important part of community life as for many patients like himself who are prescribed pharmaceutical drugs it can make them withdrawn and cut off. Sometimes a club can be a good solution for social & therapeutic reasons.
• To help people start clubs the UKCSC have a structure and legal team who will support members who follow the club's rules and guidance.
• Greg claims that seven of the UK's police authorities are open to discuss and permit cannabis social clubs if certain procedures are followed.
• He goes on to explain how UK laws towards cannabis tends to now operate via a 3 strikes discretionary system. Though this is not set in stone and can be implemented differently around the country.
• Finally Greg discusses what he thinks will happen in the next five years in respect to cannabis laws in the UK

Adam Modular Growth

• Modular Growth are a hyrdoponic lighting company that specialises in a modular system. which is a bit like meccano for hydroponic lighting.
• Adam believes they are the first company to do a 3 dimensional lighting system. which outputs light suitable for grow or flower.
• The lighting unit emits 5 spectrums of light temperature E.g. warm, red, cold white, 2 blue colours.
• The system is both modular and app/ cloud based so users can upload settings that have worked well for different plants.
• It is constructed around 1 metre strips connected at 45 degrees using mounted rails so the user can connect them to create cubes.
• Adam shares how it is possible to create sun rise to sunset in a fading time of your choice. So it replicates realistic sun rise and sunset and can this based on times of year. 1 cubic metre generates 336 watts of 3 dimensional light.
• A university is currently doing a thesis on the modular lighting unit and will calculate energy costs for the unit.
• When asked about what he thought about this years Product Earth festival. Adam said its "The Way Forward"

Full show notes – https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep010-uk-cannabis-social-clubs-ukcsc-modular-growth

In episode 9 Gary meets 3 award winning CBD brands from the Hemp and CBD Expo, which was held at the Birmingham NEC.

Green Stem

First up hear from Brett Horth, CEO of Green Stem, who won the award for best CBD oil at the expo.

Green Stem are a brand that quickly established themselves as a major player in the UK CBD industry, achieving UK wide distribution, award winning products and creating plush expo stands too.

Brett explains how Green Stem was set up by himself and his brother and how they come from a vape background. The duo also own a chain of shops called Vaporiz.

He explains how the team were able to leverage in-house skills and resources to create the CBD brand, which is now stocked in over 350 stores.  

He discusses the UK CBD industry, regulations and some ways new CBD brands may be able to market their business online, in spite of CBD being a somewhat restricted industry. 

More info: https://www.greenstemcbd.com

BNatural CBD

Next up meet Sam and Georgina from BNatural CBD. The pair started the business over 12 months ago and produce a range of CBD oils and balms.

They discuss compliance, self-regulation, product testing and why a legalised, regulated cannabis market could be a positive change.

More info: https://www.bnaturaloil.co.uk/ 

Herbl

In the final section meet Louis from Herbl.

He explains the challenges he has faced launching a new CBD edibles brand from scratch. As well as the difficulties in getting approval from the local council and FSA to make CBD products at his home.

More info: https://herbl.co.uk

Full show notes for this Canna Machine episode are available at – https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep009-green-stem-bnatural-herbl

Twitter & Instagram: @cannamachine

Ep008 - In this episode of the Canna Machine podcast we meet some of the folks who run headshops or create products for them.

Gary meets Mara from Abscent (AKA the bag lady) a Canadian living in Amsterdam). If you don't want everyone to know what you have in your bag, then maybe smell proof bags are the answer. I caught up Mara with at Product Earth. https://www.abscent.eu/

We hear from Steve from Piecemaker pipes who produces silicon wet and dry pipes that are virtually indestructible and even get the thumbs up for patients by the NHS. More info: https://piecemakeruk.com/

Graham from Juicy Joint in Birmingham stalks about the business and how they started off as vinyl dance music store and Are now one of the go-to place for vapes, accessories and CBD in Birmingham. More info: https://thejuicyjoint.co.uk/

And finally Jack from The Festival Shop in Middlesborough shares his thoughts on a range of issues from nicotine to legalisation and the growing popularity of cannabis clubs of the north east. As opinions shift in respect to cannabis, so too does the way the authorities police by consent. Whilst this seems to vary from region to region, in parts of the North East it appears like there's a growing acceptance of private members cannabis clubs and a more tolerant approach by the police. Listen to Jack to find out more!

Show Notes: https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep008-headshops

Insta and Twitter = @cannamachine

#007 – In this episode we talk about hemp.

Gary meets Free Cannabis - someone who changed his name for the cause of Cannabis. Free has dedicated over 20 years to Cannabis activism and has appeared in the national news many times.  He was the person behind a Cannabis museum in London and he discusses cannabis and it many uses. He also shares a poem with us too.

More info: http://freecannabis.net/

Also meet Alex Sparrow MD of UK Hempcrete. His company uses hemp to create a hemp concrete which has been used in buildings for over two decades. Alex gives us some background about his business and the benefits of using hempcrete.

More info: https://www.ukhempcrete.com/

And in the final section meet Chloe Forfitt who is an artist and author. Chloe talks about her views on hemp and how she believes that used properly it has the power to help mankind with a number of problems it faces.

More info: https://www.facebook.com/chloeforfitt.co.uk

For the full show notes visit – https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep007-free-cannabis-hempcr

IG: @cannamachine

Twitter: @cannamachine

#006 – In this episode it's all about the legal business of selling cannabis/ marijuana seeds in Europe.

Meet Lee from BSB Genetics, Natalia from Attitude Seedbank and Ruben from Delicious Seeds.

Recorded live at product earth, I chat to the businesses about the challenges they face, current laws, as well as their predictions for the future of seeds retail around Europe.

1) Lee Mallett - BSB Genetics

Lee talks about the history of the company and how its evolved over the last 8 years. 

The problems of working in a cash based industry and the issues this causes with banking, tenancy and accounting.

The different types of seeds and how different countries have different preferences due to growing times.  

Why decriminalisation and regulation could be beneficial to both businesses and consumers in the long run. 

https://www.bsbgenetics.com/

2) Natalia Faehnrich - Attitude Seedbank

A successful entrepreneur and industry media presenter Natalia has grown Attitude Seedbank into one of the largest seed-selling companies in the UK. The brand also has a smoking division and a skater clothes store in Colchester, Essex.

Website: https://www.cannabis-seeds-bank.co.uk/

3) Ruben Fernandez - Delicious Seeds

Ruben discusses Spanish laws in respect to cannabis and how smoking clubs work in Barcelona. 

Ruben also discusses the seeds business and why indoor grow is the most prudent industrial grow strategy in Spain, due to potential cross pollenation issues.

https://www.deliciousseeds.com/del_en/

For the full show notes visit - https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep006-meet-the-cannabis-seed-sellers/

Want to be a guest or have some news to share?

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://cannamachine.co.uk

Instagram and Twitter: @cannamachine

Product Earth Festival: https://productearthexpo.com/

#005 – In this episode I meet Clark French and Leila Simpson from the United Patients Alliance (UPA). The organisation are a patients advocacy group who campaign for better access to medical cannabis in both the private and public health sectors.

Some of the things Clark And Leila discuss in the episode include:

- The UPA was founded in 2014 by Caroline Lucas and Professor David Nutt to raise awareness for medical cannabis. The organisation aims to support patients that use cannabis. The UPA is a support and advocacy group.

- Currently there is no funding available for medical cannabis on the NHA as CCGs can't afford cannabis. A few private prescriptions are starting to happen, but are still quite rare. The cost for a private prescription is over 3x the street price for cannabis so many patients cannot afford it.

- Some patients have said they can grow their own cannabis instead of paying for it privately. However this is not legal in the UK.

- Carly's Barton a fellow patient, has an Amnesty campaign called 'Carly's Amnesty' to allow medical cannabis users to grow up to 9 plants for personal use. However, patients still encounter problems with the authorities and Carly's home was visited by the police and items related to the personal grow confiscated

- There is a challenge in providing clinical evidence to satisfy NICE/ the medical establishment to show that Cannabis is safe. They require a body of evidence and the UPA are trying to help produce that body of evidence.

- Stigma can still cause medicinal cannabis users problems with landlords and neighbours.

- There is urgency as according to Clark patients as advocates are the 'Frontline of the battle.'

To find out more about the UPA visit - https://www.upalliance.org/

For the full episode show notes visit - https://cannamachine.co.uk/ep005-united-patients-alliance-interview-medical-cannabis-uk

#004 – In this episode guests talk about CBD compliance, regulation and CBD flower. We look at the key laws which affect CBD sellers as well as some of the common misconceptions new sellers may have about the industry.

The first interview is with Guy Coxall the compliance director of the Cannabis Trades Association and chairman of Hemptank.

Website - https://www.hemptank.co.uk/

Next we chat with Mike Harlington chair of the Cannabis TRades Association. The CTA has approaching 1000 members from over 30 countries and works with the UK government to help build a regulated CBD industry.

CTA website - https://cannabistrades.org/

In the final section David from Adact Medical talks about lab testing. He covers some of the main tests companies should uncdetake and talks about why the medical establishment may soon classify CBD as a medicine which could have a big impact on the CBD industry.

https://www.adactmedical.com/

For the full episode's show notes see: http://cannamachine.co.uk/ep004-compliance-cannabis-trades-association-and-product-testing

Instagram: @cannamachine

Twitter: @cannamachine