Like any emerging industry, legal cannabis will not be able to reach its full potential without the support of lawyers in all sectors. In this episode, T. Andrew Brown, president of AWH New York and president of the New York State Bar Association, offers his unique perspective as an attorney on the future of cannabis in the state of New York and beyond. As New York begins to establish the framework of its legal market, he emphasizes the importance of embedding social equity components into legislation to address the impact of cannabis prohibition head-on. He explains the ways in which AWH is working to create meaningful and equitable legislation and support efforts in record-sealing, expungement, education and more to build up the communities most affected.

The cannabis retail ecosystem is nearly unrecognizable compared to its earliest iterations, and much of the sector’s growth can be attributed to LeafLink, the industry’s largest B2B wholesale platform. In this episode, Ryan G. Smith, co-founder and CEO of LeafLink, discusses his early days as an entrepreneur, why cannabis was a thrilling prospect for his next venture and how the company has successfully scaled and matured alongside the industry. Touching on the importance of building the strongest team possible and how social equity standards can be achieved in the industry, Ryan shares key insights as a pioneer in cannabis tech.

Despite its presence as a major emerging industry in the United States, cannabis has long lacked a key component to legitimizing its place in the mainstream business community: streamlined banking. In this episode, Len Tannenbaum, Founder and CEO of AFC Gamma, discusses his journey to becoming the head of the largest NASDAQ-listed cannabis investment firm and an influential figure in cannabis banking. Len explains AFC’s goals of bringing tailored expertise into the cannabis banking space and the need for safe, efficient institutional banking to support cannabis as the industry continues its rapid growth.

Federal cannabis regulation in the United States is not an “if,” but a “when.” With legislation like the SAFE Banking Act still on the table in Congress, access to traditional financial services for cannabis operators is inching towards being a reality. In this episode, Brady Cobb, policy advocate and CEO of Bluma Wellness, explains where cannabis stands in Congress and what needs to happen in order for the SAFE Banking Act to pass. As a successful cannabis entrepreneur, he also shares his advice for aspiring cannabis business owners on the skills needed and challenges to prepare for when entering markets and scaling a brand.

How does a brand go from being a startup to the largest MSO in its industry? In cannabis and beyond, it takes intelligent leadership and a constant feedback loop with consumers to grow to such impressive heights. In this episode, Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve, talks about how Trulieve prioritizes connecting with their consumers to ensure customer trust and allow the business to take root in a variety of markets. She discusses the necessity of embracing the changes and fast-paced nature of the industry, innovating based on consumer feedback and adapting to the many different types of markets throughout the states.

The cannabis industry faces a multitude of challenges, from sporadic legalization across states to inconsistent regulations. The lack of federal legalization has created a glaring problem in the financial sector of the industry. Without access to banking and payment opportunities, cannabis operators often struggle to expand the way that they want to, thus hindering the growth of the industry as a whole. In this episode, Josh Radbod, co-founder and CEO of the PBC Conference, explains the ways in which the public and private sectors can work together to solve the problems of banking, compliance and payments in cannabis. He explains how the PBC Conference brings these groups together to better propel the industry forward.

All established industries have some level of baseline best practices. But with cannabis only a decade into its legal years, new recruits entering the space often lack experience, knowledge and basic proficiencies from the start, making it difficult for all industry players to be on the same page. Max Simon, CEO and founder of Green Flower, recognized this problem and created the tools to address it. In this episode, Max talks about the need for standardized baseline knowledge for all professionals entering cannabis. He elaborates upon the types of training that Green Flower provides and how such training can help to fix many of the problems that the industry currently faces.

There are brands that have lasted for a hundred years. Household names like Procter and Gamble or Clorox are prime examples of traditional CPG companies that continue to succeed because of their strong foundation. With the right strategies and a strong team, CPG brands in cannabis can establish the same names for themselves. In this episode, Troy Datcher, CEO of The Parent Company, shares his insights on what the cannabis industry can learn from CPG, and vice versa. With 30 years of experience leading big-name brands, Troy explains the pillars of a long-lasting brand, the power of partnerships, and his long-term vision for bringing The Parent Company brands into the mainstream.

Social equity and the cannabis industry go hand-in-hand. Given cannabis’ controversial and discriminatory past, it is essential for leading operators to give back to communities that have been the most impacted by the War on Drugs. In this episode, Gary Santo, CEO of TILT Holdings, talks about his company’s unique approach to partnerships and supply chain and delves into the historic partnership TILT has created with the Shinnecock Nation of New York. He explains how MSOs like TILT can do more for social equity than just donations, and can go further by creating sustainable solutions that bring marginalized communities into the cannabis space and help them thrive for years to come.

In a fledgling industry like cannabis, unexpected challenges can arise as retailers work to maximize their full potential. One such issue is that of payment. Cannabis is a traditionally cash-based industry and many mainstream credit cards will not allow for the purchase of a federally illegal product. ATMs at dispensaries are at risk of transaction fees and scammers, and only accepting cash can inhibit a retailers’ ability to upsell. In this episode, Cathy Corby Iannuzzelli, Co-Founder and Chief Payments Officer at KindTap, explains the ways in which her company works to fix this broken system within the cannabis space. By facilitating payment for the diverse cannabis consumer demographic, KindTap aims to make paying for cannabis purchases as seamless as buying any mainstream product.