Innovating Cannabis Podcast

Josh Kaplan is the Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at Western Washington University. His research focuses on optimizing CBD-based medicine for pediatric conditions (e.g., epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, exposure to early life stress). They use mouse models to probe the effects of CBD and terpenes at the behavioral, molecular, and electrophysiological levels.

They can observe the effects of this medicine unfold in real time through an animal's actions, take pictures of its effects on proteins and other chemicals, and listen to how it impacts brain cell communication patterns. They aim to provide a comprehensive picture of CBD's effects that will translate more effectively to humans.

Josh shares the findings from his latest research.

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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Dr. Julian Wichmann is a board-certified radiologist and the co-founder and CEO of Bloomwell,the first cannabis telemedicine platform to launch in Germany—and a model the U.S. should pay close attention to.
 

We dive into the current state of Germany’s cannabis market, the challenges of building a telemedicine blueprint from the ground up, how medical cannabis is revitalizing German pharmacies, and the role telehealth plays in connecting doctors, pharmacies, and patients.
 

The conversation offers valuable insight into how Germany is structuring medical cannabis at scale.

https://bloomwell.de

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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Ernest Toney joins us today. He is the founder of BIPOCANN, a Colorado-based nonprofit that provides business guidance to social equity entrepreneurs looking to start and scale cannabis businesses.

According to a survey released by economist Beau Whitney, only 27.3 percent of U.S. cannabis businesses are profitable. Another 40.6 percent are breaking even, while 32.2 percent are operating at a loss. Those profitability gaps are even more pronounced along racial lines: 33.7 percent of white-owned cannabis businesses reported being profitable, compared to just 17.5 percent of non-white-owned operators.

Ernest Toney is working to change those numbers by offering mentorship and incubator-style programs designed to give new entrepreneurs a real leg up in the industry.

Join me to learn more about the good things Ernest is doing with the BiPocann mentorship program.

https://bipocann.com/

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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Today, we are joined by Chris Emerson, who earned his PhD in small-molecule chemistry and completed his postdoctoral research at Stanford University before bringing his scientific rigor to the cannabis industry. He’s now the CEO and Chief Scientist of Level, and was one of the first to introduce cannabis in a precise, pill-based format.

At Level, the team is laser-focused on developing effect-based formulations—using unique cannabinoid combinations and custom ratios designed to deliver real therapeutic value. Chris is especially interested in working with acidic cannabinoids along with lesser-known minor cannabinoids—pushing beyond the usual THC-CBD playbook. Research seems to be increasing in the area of acidic cannabinoids since there is evidence that they provide stronger effects than their converted forms, such as THC and CBD.

In this episode, we dig into his approach to formulation science, what truly differentiates Level from other edibles, how he manages manufacturing and distribution partnerships, and the challenge of maintaining quality and consistency across state lines.

We also talk about what’s next, including plans to expand Level into the hemp market.

https://levelexperience.com

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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Joining the show today is Katherine Golden, a Colorado-based cannabis nurse who has been doing some of the industry's most important work behind the scenes.

Katherine has been working with the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation to help build a cannabis reimbursement framework for workers' comp — a model that other states can use to process claims and ensure patients receive proper guidance and support.

She's also the founder of Leaf411, a nonprofit national cannabis nurse helpline where people can literally "call a nurse" for advice on using cannabis as medicine.

In this episode, we talk about what it takes to establish both programs at the national level and the challenges that come with bringing clinical credibility and patient protections into the cannabis space.

https://leaf411.org

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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Joining the show today is Brad Zerman, founder of 7 Point Dispensary in Illinois.

Brad was awarded one of the state's first 50 medical dispensary licenses back in 2015. Brad ultimately sold his medical store and set his sights on an adult-use license, a process that took five years to bring to life.

7 Points is located in rural Danville, Illinois, about three hours south of Chicago and just minutes from the Indiana border. Roughly 75 percent of Brad's customers cross state lines to visit the dispensary.

The location is off the beaten path, near a casino, a few motels, and not much else. He is building a hospitality-driven destination that includes a consumption lounge with nightly events, a light fare restaurant, and a full-scale record store inside the dispensary featuring his personal collection of vinyl and music memorabilia.

Brad also gives insights on how to work with local politicians in the early planning stages and build an honest, legitimate community plan through charitable partnerships.

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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Today, our guest is Evan Eneman. Evan was an early team member at Snoop Dogg’s Casa Verde Capital and later worked closely with Snoop to launch Iconic Tonic, the beverage company behind Death Row Records’ drink line and other beverage brands.

In this conversation, Evan shares how he approaches the infused beverage market, the challenges of building and scaling brands in this category, his focus on functional ingredients, and how his team is thinking about the road ahead as they prepare for 2026.

https://drinkiconictonics.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaneneman

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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The American Council of Cannabis Medicine has been quietly working behind the scenes to prepare for a future where cannabis is recognized as legitimate medicine—and reimbursable through health insurance.

The organization currently holds nine seats on a special committee convened by the Health Secretary’s office. They have been tasked with advising President Trump on cannabis efficacy during the research phase tied to the executive order on rescheduling.

Beyond having a front-row seat in shaping federal cannabis policy, the Council is also building the infrastructure to integrate medical cannabis into the U.S. healthcare insurance system.

Today, my guest is Mathew Rothman, Chief Science and Marketing Officer at Cannalnx—the exclusive technology partner to the American Council of Cannabis Medicine, making this integration possible. This month, they’re rolling out a new program through licensed insurance brokers that allows patients to receive monthly reimbursements—typically between $100 and $175—for medical cannabis and related physician visits.

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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What started as growers gathering at the Big Sexy Brewery in Sacramento, California to talk shop and share knowledge grew into a collaboration among cultivation experts who went on to launch PowrHouse, an R&D cultivation facility designed to test the commercial viability of new genetics and nutrient lines.
 

PowrHouse is highly data-driven, tracking every R&D project and sharing insights with cultivators, such as which cultivars perform best in specific conditions and with specific nutrient inputs.
 

Our guest is co-founder Sergio Picazo. He walks us through their operations, partnerships, approach to data collection, and the importance of having a tissue culture program.

https://www.powr.house

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's not uncommon for industries outside of cannabis to adapt their technology to solve challenges unique to our space. American Air Filter International is one of those companies, bringing decades of expertise in air filtration for environments with high levels of gaseous contaminants, including wastewater treatment facilities, data centers, and, now, cannabis cultivation.

Our guest today is Nikki Sasher, a microbiologist and head of the Clean Air Lab at American Air Filter International. She's here to break down why air filtration matters in cannabis, and how growers can reduce airborne pathogen risk.

According to Nikki, the cannabis industry faces mold problems, among others, and once mold enters a cultivation facility, financial losses can be significant, not to mention the serious biosecurity and worker health risks. AFF addresses these challenges with advanced molecular and carbon-based filtration designed to scrub both incoming and outgoing air.

Nikki also explains the hidden dangers of airborne contaminants and how data-driven filtration strategies can help mitigate risk. AFF has partnered with Dr. Alison Justice of the Cannabis Research Center to analyze dirty filters from cultivation facilities to collect industry data.

As part of this research initiative, cultivators are invited to send in used filters to help build a clearer picture of air quality challenges across the industry.
 

REACH OUT TO NIKKI IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIRTY AIR FILTER PROGRAM: [email protected]

America Air Filter International.

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

Get in touch with [email protected].

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.