As the cannabis industry faces tighter margins and harder-to-find profits, many businesses are struggling not just to grow, but to survive.

This year, operators are shifting focus. Instead of chasing expansion, they are being forced to rethink how they grow and, more importantly, how they operate efficiently.

Today, our guest is Matt Morea, co-founder of PrizmGPS, a company focused on what happens after a product hits the shelf.

PrizmGPS helps brands bridge the gap between field sales and in-store execution, bringing a more structured, data-driven approach modeled after industries like alcohol.

As Matt explains, most brands don’t lose performance all at once. They lose it quietly, store by store, as merchandising slips, menus become inconsistent, and reorders grow unpredictable.

The issue is not distribution. It is a lack of visibility into execution.

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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Today, we're joined by Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ Holdings, a biopharmaceutical company advancing cannabis-derived medicines through the FDA's botanical Drug Development Pathway. MMJ has received Orphan drug designation for Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis, and its cannabis-derived soft-gel formulations are now preparing to enter phase 2 clinical trials, helping pave the way for a new era of FDA-validated cannabis medicine. 

Duane shares the long road to reaching this milestone, the challenges of bringing cannabis-based therapeutics through the FDA process, and what the future may hold for cannabis as a mainstream medicine. 

https://mmjih.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/duane-boise-b174b9168/

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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Curio Wellness was founded by father-and-daughter team Michael and Wendy Bronfein. Michael built his career in the supermarket industry before launching his own chain of pharmacies, eventually bringing that experience into Maryland's medical cannabis market in 2015.

Since then, Curio has grown into a vertically integrated company with GMP-certified operations in Maryland and Missouri, franchise partnerships in New Jersey and Mississippi, and a recent entry into New York through a licensing deal with Vireo Health.

The company has distinguished itself through a strong focus on research and development, supported by a team of scientists and a commitment to meeting FDA-level standards across its products, cultivation, and manufacturing.

Today, Wendy and her sister, Rebecca Bronfein, are leading the next chapter of Curio Wellness following the passing of their father, Michael, earlier this year.

In this episode, I catch up with Wendy and Rebecca to talk about Curio's operations in Missouri, the evolution of the state's cannabis program, and what lies ahead for the company.

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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Today's guest is Dr. Hemant Kumar Bid, a scientist, educator, and consultant at the forefront of biotechnology, medical cannabis, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Bid serves as Program Director for the Master of Science in Biotechnology with a concentration in Medical Cannabis at Morehouse School of Medicine — one of the only programs of its kind offered entirely online.

His academic foundation spans biochemistry, pharmacology, and medical science, capped by a PhD in Medical Biochemistry and certifications from MIT in AI and machine learning applications in biopharma — a growing passion he's now weaving directly into his curriculum.

With over 15 years in medical cannabis research and education, Dr. Bid has worked across academic, pharmaceutical, and industry settings. He founded and directed a cannabis testing laboratory in Columbus, Ohio, consults for Essentia Scientific — a leader in acidic cannabinoids — and advises a regulatory consulting firm in Atlanta on cannabis policy, SOPs, and compliance. He also teaches at College of DuPage, Olive Harvey College, and St. Louis University, where he developed a pharmacology of cannabis course specifically for physicians and nurse practitioners.

Today, we're diving into the connection between AI, biotechnology, and medical cannabis — and what the future of this rapidly evolving field looks like.

https://web.msm.edu/online/contact.php

https://web.msm.edu/online/biotechnology/msbtcannabis/index.php

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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Trade show season for 2026 is officially underway. 

I’ll be heading to MJ Unpacked, taking place May 5–7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 

I recently sat down with co-founder George Jage—someone many of you already know from his long track record in the trade show world, including his role in helping scale MJBizCon in the early days. 

In this conversation, we go beyond the typical event preview and dig into what it actually takes to build a meaningful industry gathering in cannabis. George shares how MJ Unpacked is intentionally designed not to be the biggest show, but the most valuable—especially for CPG brands navigating today’s fragmented, state-by-state market. 

We also get into the challenge of creating a “national” platform in an industry that still operates locally, and why that distinction matters. We talk about the growing importance of visual merchandising at retail, what makes Atlantic City a strategic location for drawing operators from across the tri-state and mid-Atlantic regions, and why the show’s content still resonates beyond those markets. 

George also offers insights into emerging markets like Missouri, breaks down the thinking behind the MJ Cup awards and their partnerships with Ganjier and Green Flower, and shares what’s next—including his upcoming Hemp Beverage Expo in Austin this June.

https://mjunpacked.com/

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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Allison Kirchhofer is the Director of the Cannabis Division at Sax Accounting, where she leads a team of CPAs serving operators across multiple states. She has also worked closely with businesses in New York.s turbulent adult-use rollout, helping them manage compliance, tax strategy, and financial infrastructure in one of the country's most closely watched markets.

Prior to joining Sax, Allison served as Controller for Travel Agency, one of New York's first licensed dispensaries, giving her first-hand operational insight into the financial realities of launching and running a cannabis retail business.

In today’s conversation, we’ll discuss the financial challenges cannabis companies face, where they can tighten margins, pitfalls and common mistakes, and what businesses need to understand to stay compliant and financially healthy as the market continues to evolve.

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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Kema Ogden was one of the early pioneers of Nevada’s legal cannabis industry. In 2015, she helped open one of the state’s first medical dispensaries, laying the foundation for what would become the Top Notch THC brand.

Since then, she and her partners have expanded to multiple adult-use locations across Nevada, building a loyal customer base in one of the country’s most competitive cannabis markets. Today, Top Notch THC serves both medical patients and recreational consumers and continues to grow alongside the evolving industry.

In this episode, we talk about the Nevada cannabis market, what it takes to survive in one of the nation’s earliest and most established legal markets, and the challenges operators face as the industry matures.

https://topnotchthc.com/

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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River Falls, Wisconsin, is home to Tattersall Distilling, a nationally recognized craft spirits producer whose portfolio is distributed across 25 states. Known for sourcing locally and crafting spirits infused with botanicals and functional ingredients, Tattersall has built a reputation on flavor innovation and ingredient integrity. 

Co-founder Jon Kreidler joins the show to discuss the company's strategic expansion into the fast-growing hemp-derived THC beverage market with Tattersall Functional. Drawing on years of experience working with complex flavor profiles and plant-based ingredients, Jon explains how Tattersall is translating its distilling expertise into this new category. 

He also shares insights into Wisconsin's evolving hemp landscape by allowing beverages in liquor stores and restaurants, helping to normalize cannabis. He discusses what it takes to scale a regulated beverage brand across state lines, and how distributors and retailers are preparing for a potential federal hemp ban this November. 

https://www.tattersallfunctional.com 

https://www.tattersalldistilling.com

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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Jeff Rawson founded the nonprofit Institute of Cannabis Science while serving as a postdoctoral researcher in chemistry at Harvard University. He conducts scientific research, investigative reporting, and regulatory reviews, and provides subject-matter expertise in cannabis testing. 

Jeff serves on the ASTM D37 Committee on Cannabis and is involved with ACIL, which honored him with the 2024 Preston S. Miller Award for extraordinary service. 

He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bard College, a master’s in organic chemistry from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Duke University. 

Driven by a passion for improving public health, Jeff applies his analytical expertise to protect cannabis consumers. He founded the Institute of Cannabis Science because, as he puts it, it is the most impactful way to use his chemistry background for the public good.

 https://cannsci.org/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-rawson-31b1a724b

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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Today, we examine the Ohio cannabis market with our guests, attorneys John Oberle and Greg May from Ice Miller. We discuss the latest referendum effort led by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, which seeks to repeal key components of a bill the governor recently signed to scale back the state's voter-approved cannabis law and ban the sale of consumable hemp products outside of licensed cannabis dispensaries.

We also explore opportunities for new businesses entering the Ohio market and what they need to know before getting started.

https://www.icemiller.com/

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. 

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