Grassroots Marketing

We discuss the State of Employee Retention Credits For Cannabis Business with Sultana DeJesus, General Counsel at ERC Provider.

"I am representing ERC Provider and along with our filing partner, ERC Specialists, we have helped over 35,000 US businesses secure over $6 billion in Employee Retention Credits (ERC).  

This is a government Covid relief program administered by the IRS that helps put up to $26,000 per full-time W2 employee they retained on payroll back into the business. It is the only Covid relief measures that businesses can still apply for if they meet the program’s criteria. Our company helps determine if the business qualifies and, if it does, then handles all the paperwork with the IRS.  

We are not a payroll company or a law firm. We are a team of qualified ERC specialists – and we’ve streamlined the Employee Retention Credit process. Since ERC qualification is all we do, we understand the regulations inside and out and literally write the White Papers for the ERC industry."

Grassroots Marketing speaks with Karin Meadows, the Owner of Herb Meadows Medicinals, LLC.

"We are committed to giving our customers the very best that nature has to offer, keeping the plants as whole as possible. When the plants are whole, the “entourage effect” allows the plants to offer their fullest natural potency. 

We offer our USDA organic herbs to our customers without the use of synthetic chemicals at all. We pride ourselves on honoring the plants, humanity and our planet Earth."  "We have a USDA Organic hand-crafted whole plant full spectrum hemp oil for sale from our 2020 crop year. It was extracted naturally using USDA Organic Grape alcohol for two years. We evaporated the alcohol so nothing but the hemp was left, then we added USDA Organic hemp oil to make our full spectrum product. It has a nutty, earthy flavor and if you prefer bubble gum flavor over real plant flavors, this is probably not for you. No offense to those selling bubble gum flavored CBD products. Everyone has different tastes!"

BuildMySOP is setting Up Custom Standard Operating Procedures For Cannabis, and we learn more from Founder and CEO Kady Cravens. She spoke at the Expo on the Benefits of having Standard Operating Procedures.

Kady Cravens is the Founder and CEO of BuildMySOP, serving the regulated cannabis industry with standard operating procures, management software and tools, and education so that operators build a professional and profitable business.

As a compliance expert, Kady has been a featured speaker at expos in the industry, including Lucky Leaf Expo, Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, and NoCo Hemp Expo. Kady is also an experienced podcaster, co-hosting the monthly podcast Ask The Regulator alongside former

Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division regulator Tom Mohan.

We go from Brown Family Farms to Hempfinity with their owner Patrick Brown. We also discuss the ongoing issues of social, racial, and gender equity and justice through sustainable agriculture in developed markets.

Patrick Brown, an American Entrepreneur, Born in 1982 in Henderson, NC. During Patrick’s adolescent years he grew up on his family farm as the 4th generation heir learning to cultivate Tobacco, Soybean and Wheat alongside his father the late Rev. Dr. Arthur A. Brown. Currently farming on land that his family has owned for generations in a small community called Hecks Grove in southeastern Warren County, North Carolina. Outside of operating his family business Patrick is still employed by the federal government at the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. And also consults independently as a Project Manager of Research for the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, MD. Patrick is a highly motivated leader that possess self-awareness, empowers others, constant and consistent who exhibits humility and focuses on building working relationships.

Grassroots Marketing welcomes Liam O'Brien, Co-Founder Chief Marketing Officer of Fernway. Amid general volatility in the Massachusetts cannabis industry, Fernway's story is one of success and expansion. They were founded only two years ago — and were started by four best friends (one of whom is Liam) who wanted to create a true best-in-class product. Now they have Massachusetts’ number one selling cannabis vape, are one of the top 5 cannabis brands to watch nationwide — and they’re hoping to win more customers and fans through their flower offerings.

Fernway is best known for their innovative vapes and delicious flavors in their products. Now, consumers can expand their cannabis experience with Fernway's terpene-infused joints and the highest quality bud in the state. For those who prefer smoking over vaping, this is a much-anticipated addition to their line as Fernway is the only company in Mass. using reusable ceramic tips on joints, which create a true premium approach to the joint form factor.

This is also a great opportunity for consumers to find consistently great flower as no other company is approaching the challenge of how to sell great cannabis like Fernway.

Solving Logistics and Supply Chain Issues with Kevin Schultz, Co-Founder and President The 357 Company, the makers of 357 Hemp Logistics.

357 Hemp Logistics, a division of The 357 Company, is setting the standard of excellence for hemp logistics and supply chain management, centered around compliant standard operating procedures and dedication to unparalleled customer service and education. Headquartered in Illinois, 357’s leadership team collectively has over 50 years of transportation, logistics, medical device, and supply chain management experience, in addition to developing operational processes and procedures for some of largest brands in the restaurant home delivery and highly regulated medical cannabis industries, including GrubHub, Verano, and PharmaCann.

We discuss the Status of a Limited Texas Cannabis Market with Richard Cheng, Member at Weaver Johnston Nelson, PLLC as part of our coverage of NoCo Hemp Expo 2023

Weaver Johnston Nelson, PLLC a Texas law firm which focuses on healthcare law, as well as corporate and general business law, with an emphasis on representing hospitals, surgery centers, free standing emergency departments, physicians, dentists and other healthcare providers.

Richard Y. Cheng’s practice focuses on corporate transactions and advises clients on cannabis regulatory matters. Richard developed a cannabis regulatory and corporate practice in 2013 and grew his practice by representing a variety of cannabis related clients at a national law firm. Subsequently, Richard was an equity partner and chair of the hemp/hemp cannabinoid products practice at a global AmLaw 100 law firm, leading multiple initiatives in building the firm’s reputation in cannabis. As a leading cannabis attorney, Richard represents cannabis businesses, investors, private equity groups, healthcare providers in medical marijuana programs and cannabis ancillary providers. Richard has represented the Texas Cannabis Industry Association (TCIA) as its external general counsel, served as a board member for a hemp cannabinoid bio-pharmaceutical company, co-authored multiple cannabis publications and has been named a top 250 cannabis legal expert by Databird Research Journal.

Morgan Coffey interviews Third Generation Farmer, author, and speaker Steve Groff on location from NoCo Hemp Expo 2023.

Steve is a soil health expert who has educated thousands of farmers around the world HOW to grow nutrient dense food that fends off chronic diseases, toxicity, and poor health. He’s been growing CBD hemp for the past 4 years in addition to grain and fiber hemp. He’s the CEO of Cedar Meadow Farm’s line of oils, lotions and salves derived entirely from his farm. These products are rooted in Steve’s regenerative agriculture expertise. His passion for giving people a natural alternative for balanced, healthy living comes through in every bottle. He wrote the book “The Future-Proof Farm; Changing Mindsets in a Changing World”

We talk about Helping Distressed Cannabis Business with Scott Yahraus, Founder and CEO of Scott Yahraus & Associates, a company that guides and supports trustees, conservators and business owners on assignments involving distressed or troubles businesses and/or real estate.

Scott has a deep and varied background in real estate, receiverships and business turnarounds. He is a wise choice for a troubled business or family or divorcing partners to bring their case to resolution.

Scott Yahraus is a professional fiduciary, investor and turnaround specialist and president of Scott Yahraus & Associates. The company guides and supports Trustees, Fiduciaries, and Business Owners on assignments involving distressed or troubled businesses and/or real estate. If family members or partners need to be divorced from their business or troubled assets need to be transitioned, they may be able to help.

We speak with the Ryan Hermansky, the Founder of Pure Edibles and Noble Herb located in Flagstaff, Arizona.

"I launched Pure Edibles with my brother Brandon and our longtime friend, Doug Daly after opening Noble Herb, a dispensary in Flagstaff that we still co-own and operate today. Before that, I spent over a decade in medical sales. And while that may sound like a far cry from being in the cannabis industry and owning an edible product line, the experience helped solidify my need to create something that would help people. We developed Pure because we wanted more people to get the medicine they needed with less financial challenges. We wanted to make a product that was consistent, accessible, and enhanced people’s lives. And, I believe we’ve truly done that, which is something I’m extremely proud of.

A big lesson i’ve learned along the way sounds so obvious, but one of the easiest things to do to build effective business relationships is to answer your phone. And to call people back immediately. It’s the simple things that impress people and help drive you forward in your career. Just answer the phone.

When we started our company, there was still a stigma around the industry. Cannabis was seen by many as a recreational activity with very little growth opportunity. I believe people are finally seeing that’s never been the case. Our products were designed above all else to help people and make a difference in their lives. Which is what the industry has always had the potential of doing."