Cannabis Unlocked

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Jordan Youkilis is joined by Joe Bayern, newly appointed CEO of MM Brands Inc., following their acquisition of BellRock Brand’s portfolio.

Joe shares his career path from consumer packaged goods and beverage turnarounds to senior leadership roles across cannabis, including taking Indus Holdings public and scaling Curaleaf through its most aggressive growth phase. Drawing on experience across both vertically-integrated operations and brand-led platforms, he explains why trust, efficacy, consistency, and execution, not simply scale,  will define the industry’s next chapter.

The conversation covers the opportunity Mary’s Medicinals and Dixie Brands have to stand out as national brands. With industry normalization beginning Schedule III momentum, 280E relief, and evolving regulation could reshape distribution, banking, and consumer education. In closing, Joe and Jordan also discuss the future of cannabinoid research, product consistency, and building an omni-channel, asset-light brand model in a state-by-state market.

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In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Chris Colón, CEO of Highway Cannabis, joins KEY Founding Partner Jordan Youkilis to unpack how cycles, capital, and timing define success in cannabis retail. Chris shares how he went from scaling fast-casual concepts like Smashburger to launching Highway Cannabis. The conversation covers how Chris sees states cycles over time sharing where smart M&A plays emerge across states like Colorado and California. Chris and Jordan also explore how hemp competes with cannabis retail, what products are moving in stores today, and why Schedule III won’t bring the capital shift the industry needs. In closing, Chris emphasizes the need for operational discipline, trusted product portfolios, and strategic patience in a fragmented market. Please enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Andrew Davison, CEO of Long Play Inc, joins KEY Founding Partner Jordan Youkilis to share how he built a national cannabis brand with a true American icon, Willie Nelson. Andrew recounts his path from Crocs’ first CMO to launching Willie’s Reserve in 2016, following a four-day interview with Willie Nelson’s team. The brand has since grown from flower and pre-rolls into vapes, edibles, and now beverages. Next they uncover positive outcomes of the Farm Bill, specifically the emphasis on product quality. In closing Andrew shares how Willie’s Reserve is different from other celebrity brands and how cannabis and music are historically intertwined.

KEY Investment Partners Webinar 11/25 : Rescheduling & Cannabis Investing Why now and why it’s exciting): The DOJ/DEA’s Schedule III process is underway, and rescheduling would be the biggest federal shift in cannabis policy in decades.What you’ll learn: What’s real, what’s next. A clear, investor-focused briefing on timing, process, remaining steps, and what Schedule III does and doesn’t change (taxes, banking, listings, and M&A).

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Aaron Miles, Chief Investment Officer of Verano Holdings, joins Jordan Youkilis, Founding Partner at KEY Investment Partners, to share his path from publishing into cannabis. The two dive into what makes Verano different from other cannabis operators. 

Aaron kicks off with insights into the challenges of cannabis finance, attracting institutional capital, and the potential impact up-listing could have for public cannabis companies.

Next they dive into today’s market themes: shifting M&A activity, price compression, competition from intoxicating hemp, and state-level opportunities. The two close with perspectives on rescheduling, 280E, the cultural role of cannabis, the future of psychedelics, and how Verano is positioning itself to stay ahead of capital markets.

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In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Guy Rocourt (Founder of GR Consulting and Co-Founder of Papa & Barkley) sits down with Jordan Youkilis (Founding Partner at KEY Investment Partners) to talk about the evolution of cannabis product formulation, the history of legalization, and the power of plant medicine. The conversations starts with Guy’s journey into cannabis from the early days of California's care giver program all the way to opening one of the first extraction labs in Colorado, leading to his realization of the importance of full spectrum products and label transparency. Guy and Jordan move on to talk through the head winds the cannabis industry has faced, the opportunities hemp presents and the current political landscape around cannabis. The episode wraps up with Guy’s perspectives on cannabis meditation, his consultancy GR Cannabis, and his product brand CLEA Mid Life. Please enjoy!

In this special edition of Cannabis Unlocked, KEY Investment Partners & Dykema hosted a Cannabis Round Table.Panelists included:

• Senator Bill Cunningham (D, IL-18, President Pro Tempore)
• Representative La Shawn K Ford (D, IL-8, and Candidate for Congress)
• Matthew Brewer, CEO & Co-Founder of Grasshopper
• Brandon Johnson, CEO & Co-Founder of TRP Co
• John Donovan, Government Policy Advisor & Counsel at Dykema
• Jordan Youkilis, Founding Partner, KEY Investment Partners

The discussion covered the history of IL cannabis legalization, the impact of intoxicating hemp products on regulated cannabis, the prospects of rescheduling and the outlook for hemp beverages. Panelists also discussed the successes & failures of IL’s social equity program, constituent attitudes towards cannabis, and the outlook for banking reform. Please enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Ernst Rustenhoven and Jake Kuczeruk of I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM) join KEY Founding Partner, Jordan Youkilis, to explore the momentum behind the home grow movement. Ernst, an Amsterdam-based venture veteran and CEO, joins Jake, head of ILGM’s community growth program, to break down how ILGM has evolved from a “seed bank" into a full-scale educational platform supporting home growers. Next they dive into ILGM’s pivot towards creating a community, exploring changes in customer demographics, and the reasons people are starting to grow themselves. In closing, the three discuss how ILGM’s platforms helps solve the common hurdles of starting your own grow and how cannabis is trending toward refinement much like the wine industry where local, small batch, and regional varieties hold value. Please enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Fred Gomez, Director of Institutional Research at ATB Capital Markets, joins KEY Founding Partner, Pete Karabas, to unpack what the latest data is telling us about U.S. and Canadian cannabis markets. Fred covers over 20 public cannabis companies across North America and shares what he believes investors should be watching, from upcoming MSO refinancing, to ongoing price compression and market saturation. From here Fred and Pete provide their insights on how Canada’s path offers lessons for U.S. operators exposing the myths around 280E and how it won’t solve the industries biggest issues. Lastly, they discuss why many investors overestimate growth and underestimate risk even in highly volatile industries like cannabis.

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In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Keith Cich, Co-Founder and President of Sunderstorm, joins KEY Founding Partner, Pete Karabas, for a deep dive into building one of California’s most trusted cannabis edible brands. Keith shares his journey from Wall Street to weed, starting out as a bond trader before pivoting to cannabis with his Stanford classmate Cameron Clark to found Sunderstorm. The conversation covers how Sunderstorm’s Kahna brand edibles are different from the other edible products you’ll find on dispensary shelves, delivering a consistent experience to the cannabis consumer. Next they discuss why a focus on deep vertical integration has been key to their scale and how they survived post-COVID market contractions despite California’s crowded brand scene. In closing Keith shares how the company has used AI, automation, and centralized operations to scale across new markets while maintaining quality, from LA to Thailand. 

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