From Pot to Popular

Throughout the past decade, legal cannabis has become a lucrative and established industry on the West Coast. Now, the same opportunities are quickly emerging on the East Coast, especially after last year’s consequential election. In this episode, Todd Sullivan, Co-CEO of Cannapreneur Partners, explains why the next wave of legalization is imminent on the East Coast and how investors are preparing for the next Green Rush. Todd also discusses why partnership-based investment strategies are especially important in cannabis and how companies can leverage their resources to make a positive impact in communities that can benefit the most from legal cannabis.

In recent years, the West Coast has been synonymous with the legal cannabis industry, but a new class of multi-state operators are rapidly scaling in emerging markets on the Midwest and East Coast. One of the most visible heavy hitters in the space is Jushi, an MSO with key operations in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Virginia. In this episode, company President and Co-founder Erich Mauff discusses how Jushi is making the right bets in the right markets, what it takes to scale sustainably in a volatile environment and why the company puts an onus on data-driven decisions.

Cannabis became one of the hottest commodities in the U.S. after a year defined by political and economic uncertainty. Favorable retail, social and political climates have now placed the legal industry in a position to flourish this year. In this episode, Todd Harrison, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer of CB1 Capital Management examines the most prominent growth opportunities for MSOs and the importance of doubling down on education to create pathways for mainstream acceptance. Todd also shares what excites him most about the future of cannabis innovation and his top companies to watch in the coming year.

Despite cannabis’ essential status in 2020, many retailers struggled with fluctuating shut down regulations and were slow to pivot in their respective markets. In this episode, Bruce Macdonald, Chairman of the Board of C21 Investments, discusses how the operator was able to prevent pandemic-related losses through staying nimble in Nevada. Bruce also shares key insights into running a cash flow positive cannabis business, what it means to grow sustainably and how C21 is navigating potential political hurdles in 2021.

Legal cannabis has exploded in popularity over the past few years and has piqued the interests of mainstream brands around the world. One tech company is aiming to bolster the mainstream market potential of cannabis through data, education and artificial intelligence. In this episode, Chad Bronstein, the Founder and CEO of Fyllo, discusses how cannabis consumer data will transform the future of the CPG marketing ecosystem. Chad also shares his insights about the top regulatory barriers companies should be mindful of and the importance of building a cohesive business team in the cannabis start up world.

Legal cannabis has made considerable social and political headway this year as the go-to product for mental and physical relief, but there are still a number of racial equity issues that have yet to be addressed by key industry players. Mary Pryor, Co-founder of Cannaclusive and Chief Marketing Officer of TONIC CBD, has been one of the most vocal advocates for a more inclusive industry that amplifies the talents, voices and contributions of BIPOC cannabis entrepreneurs and consumers. In this episode, Mary discusses how education and honest intentions are the cornerstones of an effective equity plan and outlines her top policy priorities for newly legalized states.

For nearly a decade, scientists and entrepreneurs in the cannabis space have been developing technologies that address niche issues that are specific to the industry. As legal cannabis has become more sophisticated, a number of companies are beginning to recognize the universal applications of their technologies. This year, in the midst of a global pandemic that pushed mainstream testing and medical companies to their limits, PathogenDx adapted its microarray testing platform, originally developed to detect cannabis-specific microbes, to test for COVID-19. In this episode, CEO and co-founder Milan Patel discusses the potential universal applications of cannabis science, how PathogenDx is using its two NIH grants to advance COVID-19 diagnostic technology, and what comprehensive cannabis safety and testing standards should look like.

In recent years, public demand for legal cannabis has exploded --largely due to increased interest from female consumers, the fastest-growing demographic in the cannabis space. In this episode, April Pride, one of the first entrepreneurs in cannabis who created a specific consumer space for women, discusses why the legal industry may never reach its full potential without the help of female consumers. April also examines how marketing cannabis as a wellness product acted as a successful inroad to female engagement, why education and scientific research is paramount to reaching consumers in the future and the steps established cannabis entrepreneurs can take to create a more inclusive and equitable industry.

The therapeutic properties of cannabis have been widely embraced by patients and medical professionals over the past decade, but cannabis medicine is still lagging behind in the female healthcare and wellness space. Carrie Mapes and Patty Pappas recognized the pressing need for cannabis products that specifically catered to women in their age group when they were unable to find holistic forms of relief during the throes of menopause. In this episode, the co-founders of Hello Again discuss the evolution of cannabis in women’s healthcare, the process of marketing cannabis products to women that grew up during the War on Drugs, and how becoming first-time entrepreneurs in their fifties gave them confidence to thrive in this emerging industry.

Cy Scott has been immersed in legal cannabis long before many entrepreneurs recognized the industry’s potential and has founded two of the most impactful technology companies in the space. In this episode, Cy talks about the market pain points he aimed to address when he founded Leafly and Headset and how data has enabled consumer-facing companies to rapidly scale and mature. Cy will also discuss how real-time cannabis data is increasingly being leveraged by established industries and how these insights will pave the way for mainstream acceptance.