Maui Boyz, a North Carolina dispensary, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, showcasing substantial growth in customer base and revenue. The dispensary has successfully integrated a "Maui vibe" into its operations, offering a laid-back, positive atmosphere and treating customers as "ohana" (family).

Founder James Bowersox discussed the impact of North Carolina's Senate and House Bill 328, which introduces age restrictions and packaging changes. Manager Wes Carter reported increased customer flow and a growing interest in hash and medicinal edibles, particularly among older clientele.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gigli is a THC-infused beverage recognized as one of the 20 "best non-alcoholic beverages of the year" at a 2025 international non-alcoholic competition.

Kam Talebi, Gigli founder and CEO, attributed their success to focusing on taste, and emphasizing their "good for you" approach, including being alcohol-free, gluten-free, vegan, all-natural, and under 80 calories.

We also discuss market expansion, product formulation, support for market regulation and dosage standards, and health benefits of their products.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Grassroots Marketing welcomed SANLight Senior Agricultural and Technical Account Manager Allison Zervopoulos. Allison discussed SANLight, an Austrian company that specializes in LED grow lights.

Their products, including the Evo, Evo Compact, and Sticks series, are optimized for cannabis cultivation efficiency and consistent cannabinoid expression, thanks to an R&D license for cannabis-specific testing.

SANLight is committed to sustainability by minimizing electricity usage and HVAC needs, offering customized lighting solutions based on PPFD goals, and providing comprehensive client support for seamless integration and scalability.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jasmine Johnson, CEO of GŪD Essence, is a black female pioneer in the cannabis industry.

She discussed the importance of blending hospitality with cannabis, advocating for precise cannabis terminology, and Good Essence's strategy for creating black generational wealth through employee ownership, partnerships, and expansion into apparel, lifestyle, and wellness.

GŪD Essence is also planning new store openings in Clearwater, Jacksonville, and Orlando.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

XRpure is a company specializing in cannabis decontamination using X-ray technology, emphasizing its cold process and minimal impact on cannabinoids.

Jeff Adams and Joseph Bancheri detailed the company's expansion into Canada through a partnership with Strangford Consulting, viewing it as a strategic move for international growth due to Canada's federal legalization and ease of product movement.

They also discussed the X-ray decontamination process, the differences between the XR12 and XR16 machine models, public perception of cannabis decontamination, and XRpure's leasing program.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Grassroots Marketing welcomes Theo Terris, CEO of Uncle Arnies, a rapidly growing THC and hemp-infused beverage brand, recently closed a $7.5 million Series A funding round to accelerate national expansion.

Theo details Uncle Arnie's growth strategy, which included dominating the California market before expanding into 10 new states, securing partnerships with major retailers like Total Wine and Circle K, and relaunching their website to boost e-commerce.

Theo also outlines Uncle Arie's diverse product line, emphasizing their commitment to great-tasting, fast-acting, and affordable THC beverages.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Drew Cesario, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Jaunty, to the podcast, discussing Jaunty's strategy for maintaining its top-selling vape brand status in New York through strong retail partnerships and a focus on sales velocity.

Drew detailed Jaunty's approach to scaling in the New York cannabis market, navigating regulatory challenges like the delayed seed-to-sale tracking system, and ensuring a reliable supply chain.

He also discussed their future-proofing strategy beyond vapes, focusing on R&D and innovation to compete in the evolving market.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeffrey Miller, CEO of Honey Projects, joined Grassroots Marketing, to talk about Honey Projects' focus on small-batch, independent cannabis brands, advocating for conscious leadership and integrating storytelling from their documentary background into the cannabis industry.

Miller also discussed the company's vision to bridge adult-use cannabis with psychedelic-assisted wellness, predicting a medical model for psychedelics while leveraging cannabis's current legal status to build infrastructure for conscious use and advocacy. Main talking points included award confidentiality, introductions, storytelling in cannabis,

Honey Projects' cultivation approach, supporting smaller brands, bridging cannabis and psychedelic wellness, and the future of cannabis and psychedelics.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jennifer Gierum, Founder and CEO of High Life Health, elaborated on their dispensary's unique approach in the competitive New York cannabis market, emphasizing a commitment to quality, safety, and consumer education by providing resources like lab reports.

Jennifer also discussed how their background in acting and modeling contributes to redefining the narrative around cannabis by starting a reality TV show featuring their family's journey in the industry, and addressed community concerns in New Rochelle by highlighting the dispensary's contributions to the ongoing revitalization through tax revenues and charitable donations.

Jennifer also discussed the challenges of combating the illicit cannabis market in New Rochelle, navigating the licensing process as a woman-owned equity license dispensary, and describing High Life Health's diverse product range aimed at educating and evolving customers.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The MJ Bowl, a new bi-coastal cannabis competition, launching at MJBizCon, with Emilie Lewis (Senior Vice President at MJBiz) highlighting its significance in the industry's evolution towards consumer and product quality, and Jocelyn Sheltraw (co-founder and CEO of Budist) emphasizing fostering connoisseurship.

The competition will feature five categories, judged by Budist expert critics and consumers via the Budist app, with winners announced at MJBizCon in Las Vegas.

The MJ Bowl will feature five categories: flowers, pre-rolls, concentrates, edibles, and vapes. Judging will be led by Budist expert critics using a standardized rubric, with winners announced at MJ BizCon in Las Vegas. Consumers will also participate by rating and reviewing products through the Budist app via consumer judging kits.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy