With a strong background in the consumer healthcare sector today's guest, John Mueller is the co-founder and CEO of Greenlight one of the fasted growing Cannabis MSO’s in the country. In this capacity John possesses unparalleled knowledge in both state regulations and compliance requirements for cannabis cultivation and the operation of state dispensaries. In this episode of the Freedom to Buy podcast, we delve into the challenges and intricacies of operating in an industry that faces stringent regulations, high taxation, and the complexities of a product that remains federally illegal.

Today's guest Steve Bosack, President and CEO of Guardians Credit Union, takes us through the unique structure of credit unions, which allows for traditional banking products that do not hike up prices to turn a profit, unlike traditional banks. As the CEO of a Credit Union that facilitates everything from armored car services to financial advisory services to the Cannabis Industry, Bosack champions the delicate balance between federal compliance and dedicated services that define his organization's approach to providing solutions to the cannabis industry. 

Today Steve, alongside his colleagues Kim Romanelli and Jasper Boone, delve into the intertwining worlds of banking, credit unions, and the burgeoning cannabis industry. This comprehensive discussion explores the innovative solutions and challenges that financial institutions like Guardians Credit Union face while serving cannabis-related businesses. With Bosack’s insights, we discover the potential of credit unions in revolutionizing financial services for underbanked sectors.

The cannabis industry is unfolding with high growth and emerging complexities, drawing parallels with the dynamism observed in traditional financial markets. Seasoned Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager Tim Seymour shares his insights into the world of cannabis investments, bringing to light the intricacies and promise of a rapidly evolving industry.

In the conversation, Tim Seymour unpacks the complexities and opportunities within the cannabis industry, weaving together his past experiences and offering a forward-looking perspective on investment strategies. With an active approach, Tim emphasizes the importance of tactical asset management and readiness to adapt to a rapidly evolving market. He also sheds light on the legislative advancements and market trends that could significantly influence the sector's trajectory.

The cannabis industry, while fraught with regulatory challenges and financial hurdles, continues to grow and innovate, particularly on the fronts of retail and delivery services. The inability to process credit transactions remains a critical bottleneck in cannabis delivery services. The CEO of Eaze, Cory Azzalino, joins us today to talk about how Pivoting from technology to comprehensive retail services has been pivotal for Eaze's growth in the competitive cannabis market.

Azzalino discusses the challenges of terminal-based payments – a stopgap measure that cannot replace the ease of online credit transactions. This hurdle considerably impacts sales and customer satisfaction, and according to Azzalino, every six months, the company faces a "crisis" due to payment processing issues, showing a dire need for an industry-wide solution. Azzalino's journey from a Deloitte accountant to the leader of a cannabis tech company underscores the shifting tides in career pathways created by emerging industries.

Education is crucial in the cannabis industry to navigate the risks and challenges of banking cannabis. In this episode of the Freedom to Buy podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Sundie Seefried, the CEO and President of Safe Harbor Financial. Sundie emphasized the need to educate both industry participants and regulators about the unique challenges and risks of banking in the cannabis industry. With close to 40 years of experience in the credit union industry, Sundie has been at the forefront of providing reliable banking and lending solutions to the cannabis industry. In this thought-provoking conversation, we delved into the origins of Safe Harbor, the challenges of banking in the cannabis industry, and the future outlook for cannabis banking.

One of the biggest obstacles in the cannabis industry is the messy nature of the data. Today's guest, Kris Walker, the co-founder, president, and chief commercial officer of Hoodie Analytics, talks about overcoming data challenges in the cannabis industry. Without standardized barcodes or industry-wide governance, the same product can be listed in multiple ways, making it difficult to organize and analyze the data. However, Hoodie Analytics has developed a proprietary platform that uses machine learning and master data management to clean and organize the data. This allows them to provide accurate and actionable insights to their clients.

The federal prohibition on cannabis has created unique challenges for the cannabis industry. Insurance carriers are hesitant to enter the market due to the regulatory complexities and limited historical data. Today's guest, Frank Costa, Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of World Insurance, tells us about the Emerging Cannabis Insurance Market and how his company is navigating those challenges. Recognizing the potential of the cannabis industry, World Insurance decided to enter this emerging market and provide comprehensive insurance solutions to cannabis businesses. Frank takes us through their process and provides tips on how you too can benefit from certain insurance opportunities.

As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, it's important to know how to navigate the complexities of licensing and business operations. Our guest today, Sarah Gullickson, CEO of the Cannabis Business Advisor, takes us through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the cannabis industry as a whole. Sarah explains how market saturation, pricing, and the ability to establish a strong brand presence are key factors to the profitability of dispensaries. We also dive into Sarah's thoughts on recent federal legislation to reschedule marijuana and how she believes they "should focus on banking solutions for the cannabis industry rather than rescheduling marijuana".

Zoning and entitlement are important aspects of the cannabis industry, making real estate experience an extremely useful tool. To help us better understand this we are joined by Jason Vedadi, CEO of Story Cannabis. Throughout his career, Jason has built many successful dispensaries, including Harvest Health and Recreation and Oasis Cannabis. Jason explains how his background in real estate played a crucial role in understanding the intricate zoning and entitlement processes when applying for cannabis licenses.

On today's episode we learn about the importance of recognizing the right opportunities and capitalizing on them in the world of corporate finance. Our guest, Seth Yakatan, has sold 22 companies, started ten, and raised over 1 billion for startups. Seth joins us today to discuss the current landscape of banking, DC, and private equity, and how recent failures have impacted the ability to raise capital. With Seth having over 30 years of experience as a corporate finance professional, you dont want to miss this conversation.