High Class a Cannabis Business Podcast

Starting a business itself is hard, not to mention starting a cannabis business. Finding funding, hiring your first few employees, and navigating regulations is difficult. But then if you’re trying to scale your cannabis business, you’ll face an entirely new set of challenges that nobody ever warned you about. Until today.

In this episode, I’m interviewing Anna Willey, founder of California Artisanal Medicine (CAM), and someone I really admire. Anna shares why you should nurture your business team, how she scaled her business and overcame the associated challenges, and what it’s like to be a woman in the cannabis industry, especially as a grower.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[02:05] An introduction to Anna, her exit from her Colorado business, and how she came to be where she is in the California cannabis space currently

[07:54] How cannabis has become a part of our personal identity, and why you should invest in growing and nurturing your team

[16:05] Anna walks us through how she scaled her business

[23:22] What it’s like being a woman in the cannabis industry, specifically as a grower, plus her advice for someone just starting out

[26:52] Anna explains the art of scaling and the challenges you face while doing so

[34:32] Where Anna sees her brand going and what it’s like to be a female leader

[41:59] The state of policy and the cannabis industry in California

Get full notes and a transcript at: https://highsalwa.com/2023/08/02/how-to-cultivate-grow-and-scale-your-cannabis-business-with-anna-willey/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

I had a Zoom call with a friend recently where she felt taken advantage of for her knowledge and expertise and didn’t get paid what she was worth. It really fired me up because I know the importance of setting your prices and being confident in them in order to be compensated fairly. 

In this episode, I’m sharing my advice for how to accurately and confidently charge for your time and calculate your hourly rate. I give you action steps to plan for profits, know your expenses, evaluate your time costs, and more. I have a lot of experience as a paying customer and a businesswoman and my goal for this episode is to make sure that you are paid what you’re worth for your time and expertise.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[01:08] Women in the cannabis industry are often disregarded, even though they bring valuable insight and expertise to the table

[03:05] Some stats comparing the profitability of women-led companies to the amount of funding they receive

[06:02] My steps for how to confidently charge for your time by planning for profits

[23:22] Remember that it’s so important to gain clarity around your prices and profits in order to succeed in business

Get full notes and a transcript at: https://highsalwa.com/2023/07/26/adding-up-the-numbers-how-to-set-your-hourly-rate-and-prices-with-confidence/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

Event planning is a beast. There are so many moving parts to consider, but they are wonderful for bringing people together, especially in the cannabis industry. You just have to be prepared, be knowledgeable, and most of all, be flexible. 

In this episode, I do a live coaching call with my friend, Raeven Duckett, a cannabis equity activist and co-founder of Community Gardens in Oakland, California. I answer her questions about the logistics of planning a cannabis event and share my advice from past event experiences. We chat about promoters, vendors, security, sponsorships, and most importantly, event budgets.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[03:28] I catch up with my friend, Raeven, on what she’s been up to

[05:35] Raeven asks for my advice about events for 2024, what makes a good cannabis event, and the logistics behind setting it all up

[14:44] The ins and outs of promoters for cannabis events

[18:23] Finding food trucks for your event, and the importance of having an event map

[22:36] We chat about security, booking local talent, corporate sponsorship, and event budgets

Get full notes and a transcript at: https://highsalwa.com/2023/07/19/cannabis-events-101-the-logistics-behind-a-successful-cannabis-event-with-raeven-duckett/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

If you want to step into the cannabis industry, you don’t have to recreate the wheel. That being said, exploration is key in this business. Try out different events and products and business ideas to find what lights you up. 

In this episode, I do a live coaching call with Jackie Simion, a passionate cannabis advocate and community organizer, and answer her questions about where to start and how to prioritize all of her business ideas. We talk about which paths are worth it and how exploration and experimentation is necessary.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[01:49] Jackie’s introduction to the cannabis industry was for health reasons

[08:01] Jackie shares her business goals, including launching a dispensary project in her local community, and I give my advice and feedback on her next steps

[31:33] How to create and try out a cannabis product with a white labeler

[35:46] My biggest advice is to explore the cannabis industry and try out what interests you

[40:08] How to stay engaged, even when facing activism burnout

Get full notes and a transcript at: 

https://highsalwa.com/2023/07/12/qa-hour-with-your-cannabis-auntie-try-before-you-buy-into-the-cannabis-business-with-jackie-simion/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

Music and cannabis just go together like peanut butter and jelly. Cannabis culture has been heavily influenced by musical artists and festivals and it’s a unique and valuable dynamic to our industry. 

In this episode, I’m interviewing Chang Weisberg, a powerhouse in the cannabis and music industries. He shares about his amazing career, why cannabis and music are a match made in heaven, and why he created the High Hopes Summit and Festival. It’s an enlightening conversation, and I hope you learn as much as I did.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[04:08] Chang is a powerhouse in the cannabis industry and he shares some highlights of his amazing career

[15:43] Chang breaks down what production means for a music festival, the difference between production and promotion, and why music and cannabis go so well together

[21:33] The joys of owning a cannabis dispensary and meeting people from all walks of life, plus Chang shares about his new shop, New Generation

[34:39] The responsibilities of being a cannabis license holder, plus the importance of having a real estate portfolio

[45:54] Chang talks about why he created the High Hopes Festival

[57:57] What’s happening in cannabis legislation around the country is scary right now

[01:05:21] Chang gives me tips on how to judge cannabis flower

Get full notes and a transcript at: 

https://highsalwa.com/2023/07/05/high-hopes-why-music-and-cannabis-are-a-dynamic-duo-with-entrepreneur-chang-weisberg/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

The entrepreneurship life can seem really easy and glamorous online, but how do you know if you’re really ready to make the jump from employee to cannabis entrepreneur? It can definitely be done, I’m proof of that, but I have some things you should consider first. 

In this episode, I’m putting my cannabis auntie hat on and talking all about what it takes to become a cannabis entrepreneur (or really any kind of entrepreneur, the basics apply). I share what to consider, my list of signs to know if you’re ready for entrepreneurship or not, and final pointers on what your next steps should be if you do think you’re ready.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[01:12] Two things to consider first about being an entrepreneur: sacrifice and payoff

[04:25] My list of how to know when it’s time to leave your job and pursue the entrepreneurial life, like taking risks, gaining industry experience, building credibility, and more

[21:34] Reminder: entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business it’s so much more than that

[22:05] If after listening, you feel ready to start your business, here are a few last minute pointers on finances, market research, mentors, adaptability, and legal considerations 

Get full notes and a transcript at: 

https://highsalwa.com/2023/06/28/how-to-know-if-youre-ready-to-become-a-cannabis-entrepreneur/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

If you’re new to the cannabis world, you might assume that the scene in every city is basically the same from how you sell to how you network to how you grow your business. But there are definitely differences between what’s happening on the east and west coasts. 

In this episode, I’m interviewing Lulu Tsui, co-founder of On the Revel and president of the Cannabis Media Council. Lulu shares about the diversity of the NY cannabis culture, what’s happening with legislation in her state, and what she’s doing to help educate consumers on the benefits of cannabis.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[06:59] The importance of community in the cannabis space and bringing people together

[12:05] Lulu describes what the NY cannabis scene is like, especially the diversity found within the culture

[16:34] What’s shaping the legislation in NY and the dynamics between outsiders, locals, politics and legacy

[26:06] What’s going on with the unregulated market in NY, and how the Cannabis Media Council helps educate consumers

[32:25] Why your cannabis network and attending events is so important, plus Lulu’s advice to someone who is just starting out

[39:11] Lulu’s vision for the future of cannabis in NY

Get full notes and a transcript at: https://highsalwa.com/2023/06/21/east-coast-vs-west-coast-and-new-yorks-unique-cannabis-culture-with-lulu-tsui/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

We’ve talked a lot about the legal, retail, and marketing sides of cannabis on the show, but today we’re putting our science hats on and getting into the formulation side of things.  

In this episode, I’m interviewing Maya Elisabeth, founder of OM, a female owned and operated legacy Cannabis company in The Bay Area. Maya shares her vast knowledge on the formulation of things like edibles and topicals and how cannabis can make people feel better in their everyday lives. 

A quick disclaimer before you listen: Maya and I are not doctors and our discussion should not be construed as medical advice. Please do your own research!

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[07:10] How Maya started her brand, OM, and the bridge that took her from formulator to entrepreneur

[10:25] Maya breaks down the science of formulation for things like edibles and topicals

[23:17] Maya’s advice on how to find a really good formulator 

[29:41] Why cannabis bath salts are so amazing for your mind and body

[34:11] How someone can find relief with a cannabis suppository and the magic of the womb space

[41:34] What’s going on in the CBD market, what Maya thinks the future of cannabis looks like, and her tips for a 19 year old just starting out in this business

Get full notes and a transcript at: https://highsalwa.com/2023/06/14/formulation-edibles-and-the-magic-of-cannabis-with-maya-elisabeth-of-om/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

If you’ve been listening to the podcast so far, you know my story of how I got into the cannabis industry. You could certainly say it was more of a traditional route into the business. 

In this episode, I’m interviewing Sarah El-Sayed and Natasha Przedborski, co-hosts of the Not 4 Nothing Podcast. These ladies share their nontraditional route of breaking into the industry via branding and content and breathing new life into the cannabis space.

Their podcast is so funny and relatable and we chat about how they started it, plus their experiences so far with the New York and L.A. weed scenes, how they feel about gatekeepers in this industry, and their goals for the future. 

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[00:56] An introduction to Sarah and Natasha of the Not 4 Nothing Podcast and a story about how I found them online

[09:42] How Sarah and Natasha are using their skillsets of PR and branding from their previous work for themselves and their podcast

[12:04] The importance of YouTube for podcasters in terms of SEO and freedom

[14:14] Sarah and Natasha discuss whether L.A. or New York has better weed

[19:34] Their aspirations and goals for the future

[27:02] How men in the industry are still trying to gatekeep women

Get full notes and a transcript at https://highsalwa.com/2023/06/07/not-4-nothing-two-women-taking-up-space-in-the-cannabis-industry-with-sarah-elsayed-and-natasha-przedborski/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/

Let’s say you have a business plan and you’re ready to make your cannabis business official. What are your next steps? How do you make it happen? Who do you talk to? 

In this episode, I’m interviewing Sarah Yoell, the manager of local government affairs for the Bay area for PG&E. Sarah shares her knowledge and advice on how to navigate the local government departments in order to start the paperwork for your cannabis business. 

While each city or county government can vary slightly, you’ll be able to use this advice and take actionable steps to get your business started. 

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[03:52] What constituents are (P.S. it’s you!) and the power they hold in local affairs

[08:16] Sarah walks us through the process of fundraising for an elected official and how someone who may not have the resources can get their foot in the door

[09:19] Sarah breaks down what the city manager/city administrator’s office does

[16:34] Why you should check the city’s redevelopment plan to make sure it doesn’t conflict with your business plan

[20:40] What you need to know about the business license and finance department 

[22:49] A quick rundown on the public safety department, and a story about how Sarah’s husband wrote Salwa’s safety plan

[29:53] Sarah’s tips on how a small business going through the process can compete with larger competitors

Get full notes and a transcript at https://highsalwa.com/2023/05/31/how-to-work-with-your-local-government-as-a-cannabis-business-owner-with-sarah-chavez-yoell/

Let me help you save time and money in the industry with my templates on winning licenses in multiple cannabis markets. Visit my website for all the pre-rolled downloads you’ll need to get started: https://highsalwa.com/