This week, we welcome back Max Simon, CEO & Co-Founder of Green Flower - industry leading cannabis education platform empowering the next generation of cannabis professionals.

We investigate the nuances that define 'craft' cannabis, how it is distinct from mass market flower, and why top quality cannabis products can be so hard to find in legal mass markets.

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:
https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e154

About Max Simon, 

Max Simon’s vision to change the world’s understanding of cannabis led him to create Green Flower, a first-of- its-kind education company, in 2014. Green Flower has since become the recognised industry leader in cannabis education and training, producing the world’s largest library of online cannabis courses; bolstering a network of more than 700 leading cannabis experts; powering the cannabis curriculums of multiple Universities across the US; successfully training cannabis workforces around the world; and creating the esteemed Ganjier Certification, known as the Cannabis Sommelier Certification.

Max’s mission to educate the world about cannabis echoes his earlier work in bringing mind-body wellness and meditation into the mainstream as the Director of Consumer Products for world-renowned self-help guru Deepak Chopra. Max rebranded that company, developed and launched 49 signature products, and helped millions of people improve the quality of their lives along the way.

Green Flower is also a deeply personal mission for Max, who has successfully used cannabis for more than two decades as an integral part of his wellness regime—and to aid in the treatment of his ADHD.

Quotables

‘I have an unwavering certainty that not only cannabis can be used medicinally, but for many different conditions’

‘If you want people to be successful, they need to have good education and training to play that role successfully’

Resources

Green Flower’s Website: https://www.green-flower.com/

Green Flower’s Ganjier Programme: https://www.green-flower.com/certificates#ganjier

Follow Green Flower on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/school/greenflower/

Connect with Max on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-simon-b51161156/

This week, we’re joined by Oliver Lamb - co-founder of Óskare Capital. Together, we examine the UK's cannabis startup investment landscape, including available funds, fundraising opportunities, and investor incentives.

The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino  - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing.

Get in touch at www.luminorecruit.com/

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:
https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e153

About Oliver Lamb

Oliver Lamb started his career with an AIM listed investment firm focussed on Sub-Saharan Africa, before returning to London to join Morgan Stanley. Since then, Lamb set up a consultancy and accelerator in the Agri-Tech space through which he met, and subsequently joined forces with, the Óskare Capital team. Óskare has recently launched the MEDCAN fund, an SEIS and EIS fund targeting the medical cannabis sector that complements the wider European venture fund that the team is currently raising.

Resources
Óskare Capital’s Website: https://oskarecapital.com/medias/
Follow Óskare Capital on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oskare-capital/
Follow Oliver on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-lamb-66580178/

This week we’re joined by previous guests Spiros Malandrakis & Shane MacGuill from Euromonitor International - the world's leading independent provider of strategic market research.

We examine the impact of the emergence of the cannabis industry on the legacy tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol markets, and how the sector may continue to disrupt these established global markets in the future.

The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino  - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing.

Get in touch at www.luminorecruit.com/

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:

https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e152

About Shane MacGuill - Global Lead, Nicotine and Cannabis

Shane MacGuill conducts research and provides strategic analysis on all aspects of the global tobacco, nicotine and cannabis industries - working with a range of stakeholders to map the potential evolution and intersection of these industries. Collaborating with a broad spectrum of industry players including international manufacturers and companies in the supply chain, he leads conversations on consumer and industry trends and strategic development. A frequent contributor to the mainstream and business media including CNBC, Reuters, the Economist, Bloomberg, the Financial Times, the Sunday Times and the Times of London.

About Spiros Malandrakis - Head of Research, Alcoholic Drinks and Cannabis

Spiros Malandrakis has been providing pioneering insights on the evolution, branding and innovation within the global alcoholic drinks industry for the past decade. One of the first analysts to highlight the parallels, opportunities and pitfalls for the nascent cannabis market and its intersection with other FMCG industries. 

A key author in trade magazines and a frequent contributor to high profile business media such as Bloomberg, the BBC, the Financial Times, Reuters, the WSJ, Spiros is regular keynote speaker in some of the industry’s most sought after conferences, and a firm believer in irreverent, opinionated and independent analysis.

Resources

Euromonitor’s Website: https://www.euromonitor.com/

Connect with Spiros on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spiros-malandrakis-36830446/

Connect with Shane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanemacguill/

This week we’re joined by Matt Lamers, International Editor at MJBiz - the leading industry news and data source for cannabis.

We investigate hype vs. reality within the cannabis industry as a whole, the impact of historical over-investment into large Canadian licensed producers, and some of the reasons why expectations of growth have not been met.

The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino  - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing.

Get in touch at www.luminorecruit.com/

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:
https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e151

About Matt Lamers

Matt is based in the Greater Toronto Area and covers international cannabis markets for Marijuana Business Daily. Previously, he worked as a business editor, photographer and reporter for newspapers and magazines in three countries, covering everything from the oil and gas industry in northern British Columbia to North Korean defectors in Seoul.

Quotables

‘In the cannabis industry, I think we need more journalists, traditional journalists or people asking hard questions’

Resources

MJBiz’s Website: https://mjbizdaily.com/

Connect with Matt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhlamers/

Follow MJBiz on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mjbiz/

This week is a special episode - our 150th! And we’re honoured to be celebrating this milestone by welcoming back Dr. Raphael Mechoulam to the show  - ‘The Godfather of Cannabis Research'.

Together, we deep dive into Dr. Mechoulam's current work looking at cannabinoid acids - examining their role interacting with the endocannabinoid system, their manipulation into compounds, as well as discussing his latest research into endogenous cannabinoids.

The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino  - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing.

Get in touch at www.luminorecruit.com/

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:
https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e150

About Dr. Raphael Mechoulam

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam is an award-winning Israeli organic chemist who has been studying the cannabis plant for over 50 years. Dr. Mechoulam is best known for discovering the Endocannabinoid System and first isolating the two primary compounds, CBD and THC. He is a professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel and has published over 350 scientific articles, primarily focused on the chemistry and pharmacology of Cannabinoids. His work has awarded him with many honors and awards, including the Israel Prize (2000), NIDA Discovery Award (2011) and many others.

Quotables

“I hope that people will look at cannabis research as a positive thing, and I hope that it brings us an additional understanding of what our body does”

Resources

Dr. Mechoulam’s Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Mechoulam

Dr. Mechoulam’s papers on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=err5l-YAAAAJ&hl=en

The Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research’s Website: https://cannabinoids.huji.ac.il/

This week we’re excited to welcome Mags Houston and Dr. Anne Katrin Schlag from Drug Science - independent science led drugs charity based in London.

Together, we explore how ProjectTwenty21 is progressing, some of the initial findings from the participating patient set, alongside digging into the true value of real-world data as a form of medical evidence opposed to randomised controlled trials.

The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino  - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing.

Get in touch at www.luminorecruit.com/

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:

https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e149

About Dr Anne Katrin Schlag - Head of Research at Drug Science 

Dr Anne Katrin Schlag is a Chartered Psychologist and Head of Research at Drug Science (https://drugscience.org.uk). She leads the research for the Drug Science Medical Cannabis Working Group, focusing on controversies surrounding medical cannabis, the improvement of patient access, and the continued development of education and stakeholder communication about medical cannabis. Dr Schlag is currently working on progressing the scientific evidence base of medical cannabis to include Patient Reported Outcomes, observational studies (such as T21) and the application of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to assess the benefits and safety of medical cannabis.

She holds Honorary Fellowships at both Imperial College London and King’s College London, chairs the research subgroup of the Cannabis Industry Council, and is scientific advisor to the Primary Care Cannabis Network. 

About Mags Houston - Head of T21 at Drug Science

As Head of Project Twenty21, Mags is the operational lead for Drug Science’s medical cannabis observational study, helping to raise awareness amongst patients and prescribers, build more evidence by attracting more patients and prescribers to actively join the project, and educate the public about the growing evidence surrounding medical cannabis for treating a range of conditions. Alongside her role on T21, she volunteers for Heroic Hearts Project UK, a not-for-profit that helps veterans suffering with PTSD by providing retreats and education in psychedelic therapy. She also curates and hosts events for The Psychedelic Society (UK) around drug policy, psychedelic science and mental health treatment. Mags’ mission is to shift the mainstream narrative around drugs by helping to provide education and challenging UK drug policy, so that therapies and medicines that are currently not accessible to patients might be made available on the NHS and prescribed to the people who desperately need them.

Resources

Drug Science’s Website:  https://www.drugscience.org.uk

Project Twenty21: https://www.drugscience.org.uk/project-twenty-21/

Join Anne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-katrin-schlag-3886a4/

Join Mags on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAOCG4IBadL6I3LJNez4_WtaJaWoemfjZlQ/

In this week’s episode we’re joined by Dr. Tim Shu, US-based veterinarian and Founder of VETCBD - a cannabinoid therapeutics company focused on supporting the health and wellness of animals.

We dig into the integration of cannabis and veterinary medicine, exploring the therapeutic potential and anecdotal evidence of cannabis use in pets and animals, alongside how this specific application fits into the wider framework of legalisation.

The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino  - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing.

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:
https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e148

About Dr. Tim Shu - Founder of VETCBD
Dr. Tim Shu, a veterinarian and VETCBD's founder and CEO, is dedicated to creating cannabinoid products that are safe and beneficial for animals. Combining his veterinary background and his expertise in medical cannabis, Dr. Shu is the mastermind behind crafting VETCBD's products. Dr. Shu's pioneering work on cannabis and pets has garnered international attention

Quotables

The cannabis and hemp market is a fascinating market, because of how quickly it moves. It really feels like every month things are changing every month. You know, there's new legislation, new regulations, new markets coming online. So it's an incredibly fast paced industry. And it's one that's still in its infancy.

[The endocannabinoid system] is perhaps one of the most important medical discoveries in our lifetime.

Resources

VETCBD’s Website:https://vetcbd.com/

VETCBD Hemp’s Website: https://vetcbdhemp.com/

Follow VETCBD on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetcbdglobal/

Follow Dr. Tim Shu on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-shu-dvm-784b16106/

Follow VETCBD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetcbdhemp/

In our latest episode we welcome Chris Kelly and Eoin Keenan, Co-Founders of Goodrays - CBD beverage and wellness brand.

We explore how ‘big tech’ has traditionally not been friendly towards cannabis brand content on social media, alongside some of the recent actions by Amazon which point towards a potential relaxation of the rules by some.

The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino  - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing.

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:

https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e147

About Chris Kelly - Co-Founder & Brand Director

Chris has been at the forefront of digital marketing, audience development and content production for over 15 years. In 2012 he created digital sports media business, Copa90, with investment from Google. Chris built the brand and business into one of the UK’s most successful digital media companies. Chris has scaled valuable brands across sports, gaming and creative services, delivering award winning strategies and campaigns for Nike, Red Bull, adidas, Vodafone, Lucozade and Oakley.

About Eoin Keenan - Co-Founder and CEO

Eoin is a recognised cannabis industry leader and CBD expert. After studying Drug Policy as part of his Undergraduate at Trinity College, Eoin spent over a decade studying the market and supporting the launch of some of the UK's most influential groups including Prohibition Partners and Cannabis Europa. Founding Goodrays, Eoin set out to create a truly credible range of products starting with the finest CBD and building them around true function, flavour and style. Now Goodrays is redefining the future of wellness with the world’s most misunderstood plant. Our premium CBD drinks, CBD oils and CBD gummies deliver sophisticated flavour experiences and genuine relaxation benefits with the UK's most effective doses.

Quotables

“The next wave of interesting cannabis innovation is within the brand space”

“2022 is going to be a major year for the category as a whole

Resources

Goodrays’ Website: https://www.goodrays.com/

Follow Eoin on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoin-keenan-009a8380/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kelly-50b58b19/?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAPSoRsBPSaiYi5I--Zyt-14sf5c8Fk-MTk

Follow Goodrays on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodrays/

Follow Goodrays on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodrays/

In our latest episode, we’re joined by Antonio Costanzo - CEO of Curaleaf International. Curaleaf is a leading US multi-state operator, and Curaleaf International is Europe’s largest vertically integrated cannabis company.

We examine the developing demand for medical and recreational cannabis use across Europe, looking into the various referendums, pilot projects, and regulatory changes underpinning the liberalisation of cannabis across the continent.

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:
https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e146

I’m really pleased to announce our new show sponsor - Lumino! 

Lumino is a boutique HR Agency that specialises in building high performance teams for the European cannabis industry - working in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing

About Antonio Costanzo - Chief Executive Officer, Curaleaf International

Antonio Costanzo is an experienced senior executive with a successful track record in public and private companies and in innovative, complex and highly regulated industries. Before co-founding EMMAC, now Curaleaf International, he was instrumental in the successful development of Nuuvera, a Canadian publicly listed cannabis company that was acquired by Aphria, in March 2018. He led the company’s development in Europe, Africa and South America.

Prior to focusing on the cannabis industry, he was Head of Public Policy and Government Relations at Uber in the key European markets. He formerly spent 10 years in the online gaming industry, at bwin, as Director of International Development and Regulatory Affairs, developing the group’s activities across Europe.

He served for 5 years as vice-Chairman and board Director at ESSA – Sport Betting Integrity. He started his career in the media industry, at Eurosport, where he launched and managed the Italian market. Fluent in 4 languages, he has developed an extensive political and business network across Europe.

Quotables

“But clearly cannabis shouldn't be treated as aspirin or as paracetamol. You know, it has some peculiarities that need to be taken into account and addressed. And I think that this is a challenge that we have as an industry is supporting regulators in identifying the ways that can make medical cannabis more accessible to patients.”

“Those of us who will be here in 10, 15, 20 years, we see this industry evolve dramatically in a way that is difficult to predict today. But clearly it's going to be one of the big worldwide industries that will shape the economy in the coming 10,15, 20 years.”

Resources

Curaleaf International’s Website: https://curaleaf.com/

Follow Antonio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniocostanzo/?originalSubdomain=uk

Follow Curaleaf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/curaleaf

In our latest episode, we’re joined by Paul Steckler, Managing Director for Canopy Growth International. We discuss the challenges of fitting cannabis production into a traditional pharmaceutical medical framework, along with some of the biggest UK-centric, economic and market challenges associated with operating within this space.

📚 VIEW SHOW NOTES AND EXTRAS:

https://www.canverse.global/shownotes/e145

About Paul Steckler

Paul Steckler is the Managing Director for Canopy Growth in international markets including Europe and APAC. Paul is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with over 20 years’ experience in commercial roles, having worked in both large and small pharmaceutical companies.

In his 15 years as Commercial Director at Pfizer, Paul successfully grew specialty brands from pre-launch to loss of exclusivity. Additionally, Paul oversaw a successful IPO while Chief Commercial Officer at Shield Therapeutics Plc., a London listed AIM specialty research-based pharmaceutical company, while simultaneously overseeing leading global commercial operations. Paul is also an eco-conscious vegetarian, avid cyclist and football coach.

Quotables

The industry is quite new, and it's exciting. It's entrepreneurial. Everyone is kind of learning as they go along

Resources

Canopy Growth’s Website: https://www.canopygrowth.com/

Follow Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsteckler/?originalSubdomain=uk

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canopy-growth-corporation/