the lobsterpot< podcast

California is seen by many as a pioneering state for modern legal cannabis. Because it’s bloomed into such a weed powerhouse, it’s little surprise that more developed parts of other markets are making their roots in the space. Speaking to Brian Applegarth, of the Cannabis Travel Association and The Cannabis Trail, we dig deeper and find out what it really means to be a cannabis tourist.

The cannabis sector needs little persuasion when it comes to embracing edginess and innovation. But building a brand in an emerging market category takes some serious upward punching.

Veteran brand marketer, and author of ‘Branding Bud’, David Paleschuck, needs little introduction to the global cannabis fam. He tells us more about the challenges and opportunities weed brands face as they figure out the way forward.

Jamie and Dave meet two proud Canucks whose passion for pot goes above and beyond. Alison Gordon and Amy Weinstein are two passion advocates for their cause. They give us the 411 on Canadian cannabis, creativity, and the Commonwealth (!).

Time for a key change… *stands*. We swap show notes with some guys who definitely feel like old friends now that we’ve met a few times! We chat some good green gossip with KD Khairah from CanMar, Brian Roth from Elevated Signals, and Chris Day from the GCNC.

Given that us thermidorks< were green when it came to MJBizCon, we thought we’d get a steer on what to anticipate from two seasoned pros – whose first rodeo it definitely was not! Big up to Danny Gold at ZolTrain and Juliana Whitney from CannStrategy for tutoring us in the ways of BizCon righteousness.

Cannabis and technology are a curious pairing. But aside from the paraphernalia – the digital dab ribs, vapes, and the like – lies an urgent need for tech that furthers the cause; that gives businesses, governments, and consumers actionable insights. Yup, things like safety, transparency, and accountability are crucial components in cannabis compliance. Orland Yee and James Black from Kanha know this only too well. Here’s their take on how tech can futureproof the cannabis industry.

South Africa’s quickly making a name for itself in the ever-changing cannabis landscape. And companies like MedCan are looking to get a foothold on the global medical scene. We speak to co-founder Micael Zollman to find out more.

The prospect of broader cannabis legalisation looks to be a certainty across Europe, when you look at what’s happening in Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, and other nations. But one major country that’s strangely quiet on the topic is France. Joanna Weaver-Pelissier, Co-founder and CEO, Be Cann, gives us an insider’s view on all things CBD and THC.

While famous the world over for hygge, Lego, and Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark isn’t exactly known for being at the forefront of cannabis innovation. But Simon Villum Folmann, founder at herb accessories brand, HØJ, is doing his darndest to change that: one Mako shark-inspired pipe at a time.

Sales is a dark art to many, but particularly in cannabis, it has to tread carefully between customer expectations, market limitations, and of course wildly varying legislation. In this episode, Brian Roth, head of international sales of Elevated Signals, helps pull back the curtain, showing us how someone slingin’ cannabis’ ancillary products needs to tackle the particular complexities of the cannabis industry to get deals done.