Under the Microscope with Jenny

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano, sits down with Chris Van Dyke, Partner at Cogent Law, to break down one of the most complex and often misunderstood areas of the cannabis industry: banking. Chris brings a rare, dual-perspective background, having helped launch one of the early cannabis banking programs and serving as a state regulator during the rollout of the 2014 FinCEN guidance. Today, he advises banks and credit unions on how to safely and effectively serve cannabis-related businesses (CRB’s). Together, Jenny and Chris unpack the fundamentals defining key terms like BSA (Bank Secrecy Act), and SARs (Suspicious Activity Reports) while exploring the shared compliance burden between operators and financial institutions. They walk through the real risks banks face, particularly around BSA/AML compliance, and why many institutions remain cautious despite growing demand.

The conversation also addresses common misconceptions about cannabis banking, the evolving regulatory landscape, and why financial institutions are increasingly entering the space from fee-based revenue opportunities to portfolio diversification and long-term customer loyalty. Jenny and Chris dive into practical guidance for operators, including how to vet a cannabis-friendly bank, what to expect during onboarding and due diligence, and how to position your business as a low-risk, transparent customer. This episode is a must listen for operators looking to secure and maintain strong banking relationships, reduce compliance risk, and better understand how financial institutions are navigating the cannabis industry behind the scenes.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

01:05 Chris Intro & Background

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano sits down with Dina Nagib, Principal Consultant at Grass Goddess Consulting, to break down one of the biggest operational pain points in cannabis - software overload. Dina brings a unique perspective from her background in pharmaceuticals and software development. Together, Jenny and Dina explore why dispensaries in particular face a heavy software burden, managing everything from POS systems and e-commerce to marketing tools and state track-and-trace systems like Metrc. They walk through the software categories every operator encounters, including payroll systems, product ordering platforms, and analytics tools while highlighting the real risks of overcomplicating your tech stack. Jenny and Dina also talk about how to properly vet software vendors and why understanding your data structure is critical. They discuss the dangers of fragmented, non-integrated systems, the risks associated with switching POS platforms, and how poor integration can create compliance and operational gaps. This episode delivers practical, real-world guidance to help operators simplify their systems, stay compliant, and make smarter technology decisions as they scale.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

01:19 Meet Dina Najeeb

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano, welcomes Amanda Eastling, Founder of Eastling Services. Amanda shares her path into cannabis HR, starting with a Minnesota-based, tribally owned cannabis startup where she built HR systems from the ground up developing policies, procedures, and operational frameworks tailored to the industry’s unique and highly regulated environment. Together, they unpack the complexities of cannabis HR, including layered compliance across state, federal, and tribal jurisdictions, employee badging and background checks. The conversation dives into the must-have HR policies every operator should have in place such as attendance and call-out procedures to technology use, recording restrictions, and security protocols around phones and restricted areas. Jenny and Amanda tackle common HR pitfalls, recordkeeping requirements including employee file retention and proper I-9 storage. As businesses scale, they highlight the importance of building HR systems that grow with the company, including benefits planning and staying aligned with legal counsel and regulatory expectations. This episode is a practical, no-nonsense guide to building compliant, scalable HR systems in cannabis while still protecting company culture and setting your team up for long-term success.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

00:47 Intro Amanda Eastling

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano continues her Cannabis Operator Series with Anthony “AJ” Mollins, Founder of AJ’s Craft Cannabis Farm in Colorado, for a deep dive into legacy cultivation, innovation, and what it really takes to build a sustainable cannabis operation in today’s market. AJ shares his journey from California’s legacy market, including launching Tahoe Herbal Care in Northern Lake Tahoe in 2009 and exiting in 2014, before relocating to Colorado to design and build a truly unique underground cultivation facility. Built on living soil, natural sunlight, and geothermal cooling and to produce high-quality, terpene-rich cannabis. Jenny and AJ get into the realities operators are facing today from increasing regulatory pressure, testing costs, and recalls to the industry’s continued shift toward large-scale, high-volume “pump and dump” production. AJ contrasts that model with craft cultivation, emphasizing plant health, environmental control, and post-harvest precision as the true differentiators in quality.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

🌎 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://www.ajsmj.com

🌎𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺: https://www.instagram.com/ajs_kush

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

02:05 AJ’s background

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting, shares lessons learned from operating vertically integrated cannabis facilities in Colorado during the early days and from years of experience guiding operators nationwide. She outlines the most common pitfalls quietly hurting cannabis businesses. Jenny emphasizes the difference between winning a license and achieving true operational readiness, stressing continual SOP updates, reinforced training, especially around seed-to-sale systems like Metrc, and routine internal auditing rather than waiting for regulators to flag non-compliance. She identifies silent profit killers such as inventory variances, sampling abuse, waste tracking issues, and reconciliation errors. Operators also face risks from data overload without actionable insights, cashflow blind spots, rapid promotions without leadership development, safety gaps in cultivation and manufacturing, and compliance complacency both in emerging and mature markets. Jenny shares practical strategies to identify risks early, tighten operational controls, and build systems that scale with evolving regulations, protect profits, and maintain compliance discipline. Listeners will walk away with a clear roadmap for operational discipline, a strong compliance culture, and management systems needed to build a sustainable, profitable cannabis business.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

01:35 Why Pitfalls Matter

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano sits down with Evan Bliss, Owner and Design Director of Studio Bliss, to discuss what it really takes to design cannabis facilities in emerging markets. Evan shares his journey from traditional architecture into cannabis starting with extraction labs in California and expanding into cultivation and dispensary projects across the country. Together, they break down common misconceptions operators face, including underestimating total building size beyond licensed canopy and misallocating budget dollars. They emphasize the importance of engaging experienced design, engineering, and construction teams early to prevent workflow inefficiencies, storage and vault constraints, biosecurity gaps, and costly code-compliance issues. Key topics include phasing facilities for scalable growth, understanding the budget impact of HVAC and utility infrastructure, avoiding redesigns caused by fire egress and permitting missteps, navigating multi-agency approvals, managing equipment lead times, and preventing expensive power upgrade surprises through early load calculations.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

01:24 Evan’s Origin Story

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

🎙 In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano continues her Cannabis Operator Series with Joey Coleman, Founder and CEO of KAI Dispensary. Joey shares how a paragliding accident in Colombia that caused a severe spinal injury led him to cannabis and ultimately into the industry. He discusses transitioning from operating a 40-acre hemp/CBD farm and extraction business to launching an adult-use dispensary in Grand Junction, Colorado. Joey walks through winning a license via lottery, building from the ground up, and navigating complex zoning, planning, and permitting delays. The conversation explores what sets KAI apart: thoughtful architectural design by his brother, a light-filled retail space with a courtyard and sawtooth roofline, curated merchandising including a “smell bar,” and strong community engagement through local artist partnerships and First Friday events. Joey also shares candid lessons on staffing, compliance systems, capital constraints, supply chain logistics to the Western Slope, and building a hospitality-driven culture without micromanaging. They close by previewing KAI’s one-year anniversary celebration in March, highlighting how intentional operations and community connection help a single-store operator compete in Colorado’s mature market. Listeners will walk away with practical insights on navigating licensing and delays, building a differentiated retail experience, and leading with both compliance and hospitality at the forefront.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

00:57 Joey’s Origin Story

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

🎙 In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano breaks down the growing wave of scams and fraud targeting licensed cannabis operators across the U.S. Drawing from her experience operating vertically integrated cannabis facilities in Denver since 2009 and her work through ICS Consulting for over the last 10 years, Jenny explains why cannabis businesses are uniquely vulnerable due to regulatory complexity, cash-heavy operations, evolving licensing frameworks, and limited banking access.

The conversation outlines six major scam categories affecting operators nationwide - including regulator impersonation, fake licensing and social equity programs, payment diversion schemes, delivery and reporting fraud, and investment scams. Jenny walks through real-world examples and regulator alerts while highlighting common red flags like spoofed communications, urgent payment demands, threats of license action, and attempts to bypass internal controls.

✨ This episode delivers practical safeguards operators can implement immediately, including SOPs for verifying regulator communications, stronger payment controls, role-based employee training, and clear response protocols when scam attempts occur - helping cannabis businesses protect their licenses, finances, and teams in an increasingly complex environment.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

🌎 𝗜𝗖𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: https://www.icsconsultingservice.com

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

03:39 National Scam Overview

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano sits down with Michael Andrud, CEO and Founder of Lüt., to break down operational best practices for cannabis retail payments. Michael shares his background in financial services and how that experience informs his approach to navigating payments in highly regulated cannabis environments. The conversation explores the real risks of cash-heavy operations, common misconceptions around payment processing, and the compliance and regulatory concerns tied to payment options like cashless ATMs. Jenny and Michael also discuss the importance of creating consistent customer payment experiences, aligning payment solutions with business models, and effectively implementing loyalty programs. They dive deeper into staff training, documentation, fraud prevention, transparency, and optimizing payment workflows to reduce risk and improve operational efficiency. This episode offers practical guidance and actionable insights for dispensary operators looking to strengthen their payment processes while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

00:57 Guest Introduction: Michael Andrud

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

In this episode of Under the Microscope, host Jenny Germano sits down with Alex Hearding, Founder and President of Red Wolf Risk, to break down what’s next for the cannabis industry. From upcoming federal rescheduling and the possibility of full descheduling in the future and what these shifts mean for day-to-day operations. The conversation focuses on how operators can prepare for a more regulated future. Alex explains why aligning with federal standards now is critical and dives into the role Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) will play as the industry matures. Together, they explore how proactive compliance can help operators stay competitive, strengthen operations, empower them to quickly adapt by lowering risk exposures and increase business value ahead of future mergers and acquisitions. Tune in to gain insights into what lies ahead for cannabis operators and positioning your business for the industry’s next phase.

🌿𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

⏰𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀⏰

01:07 Introducing the Guest: Alex Hearding

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcast’s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.