High Times launched in 1974 — and didn’t just cover cannabis culture. It helped build it.

After a short pause, the iconic brand is back. And Episode 2 of Talent in Cannabis goes straight to the source with Matt Stang, Partner and Chief Revenue Officer at High Times.

Matt’s story is pure cannabis industry lore. In 2002, he reached out to High Times for a quote for his senior thesis. They were so impressed, they offered him an internship — kicking off a 25-year run at the center of cannabis media, events, and culture as the industry evolved from legacy to corporate.

In this conversation, Matt breaks down what most people miss about the business behind cannabis media and the operational reality of producing major events. Plus, learn why the next era of High Times is all about community, quality storytelling, and independent journalism.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Matt’s career in cannabis started – and how it scaled
• How High Times went from print to digital – what changed, what stayed, and what media disruption forced High Times to rethink
• The real complexity behind producing cannabis events at scale
• How the Cannabis Cup in New York ignited its comeback
• Why the transition from legacy to corporate cannabis is messy and why it matters
• The parallels between psychedelics and cannabis, and the regulatory reality holding psychedelics back
• What entrepreneurs need to be ready for if they want a real shot in this industry
• Where High Times is heading next and what they’re building toward