Cannabis Business Minds

State of Marijuana Law and Policy in Washington DC with Malik Burnett

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Kristen and Simone speaks with physician advocate, marijuana law and policy expert, and civil rights and social justice reformer Malik Burnett MD, MBA, MPH, a resident physician in preventive medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

Fearless Entrepreneur and Cannaisseur Heather Jane

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Fearless Entrepreneur and Cannaisseur Heather Jane talks to Kristen and Simone about her work in the Cannabis Social where like minded individuals may connect and network within the cannabis industry.

National Association of Cannabis Businesses Launches

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:55:54 +0000

Kristen and Simone are joined by the distinguished leaders of the newly formed National Association of Cannabis Businesses.

Achieve Success in an Ever-Changing Regulatory Landscape

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:24:40 +0000

Today on Cannabis Business Minds we are joined The National Association of Cannabis Business's Joshua Laterman and Andrew Kline. The National Association of Cannabis Businesses is the premier cannabis industry self-regulatory organization in the United States, dedicated to helping its members achieve success in an ever-changing regulatory landscape by promoting compliance, transparency, record-keeping and responsible business practices. Being a member of the NACB distinguishes you as among the best operators in the industry. We’re driving a national solution aimed at reducing the risks to your business in an uncertain regulatory environment.

Importance of Leadership Training, Employee Engagement

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Kristen and Simone talk about the Importance of Leadership Training, Employee Engagement and Management Training following their recent visit to the 2017 NCIA Cannabis Business Summit and MJBizCon Spring 2017.

Previewing the 2017 Cannabis Women's Empowerment Summit

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 18:59:56 +0000

Bonita Bo Money is the CEO of Women Abuv Ground (WAG) a professional networking organization dedicated to educating and empowering ALL in the emerging cannabis industry. A cannapreneur, Bonita “Bo” Money is one of the few women of color in the emerging, billion dollar cannabis business.

Getting in the dirt with one of our favorite hemp farmers

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 17:46:15 +0000

In 2014 Obama sign the farm bill, Pauli packed his bags and family and moved to Colorado to start studying and working in the hemp industry. He landed at a dispensary that was conducting plant studies on cannabis.Through his studies, he established a routine that promoted a higher cannabinoid concentration and terpene concentration, noticeably larger amounts of CBG and CBD in cannabis. He then applied this method to hemp and had extraordinary success and creating a higher CBD content as well as CBD wall mitigating the THC content in the plant.Pauli has had the privilege and honor to work with some of the best chemists, chemical engineers, and engineers developing new equipment and new standards for the cannabis industry. This is where he was able to learn and study about extraction methods.

Endo Scientific

Pauli then went on to be a beta tester for breeders and working directly with almost every breeder in Colorado. He’s been cultivating every strain that's been out since it started in Colorado and would provide the Breeders with feedback on the strains they grow, ie the characteristics cannabinoid concentration terpene expression ect.. This ultimately led to Pauli cultivating and creating his own strains with the properties that he considered to be medicinal and of high value. Why does he do it? “Because I love helping people. I like to educate and inform others on the beautiful qualities of hemp and other nutritional aspects of other plant extracts as well. I’ve seen the facts and how hemp changes people's lives and how it can remediate our soil. I am its biggest fan and supporter and know that it's the future of America. This is our Gateway back to our history, where we were once a healthy Nation. My greatest accomplishment is helping people, and throughout every process that helps not only our customers and our growers, but also helps every member of the team, every time, without fail. No exception!.”

Raising Capital And A Peek Inside The Male Psyche

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:16:52 +0000

Renee Gagnon is the world's first Federally Licensed Transgendered Female Cannabis Pubco CEO, security specialist, and international speaker.

The Biggest Myth in Cannabis

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:16:52 +0000

“Wow! You work in the weed business? You must be killing it!” If you have ever said that, or thought that, you too, have fallen prey to the misconception. News coverage and reality TV shows make the cannabis industry appear as either the latest wealth generating commodity, or an industry “full of stoner entrepreneurs making money peddling weed”.

Importance of Community, Compassion, and Company Culture with Mariellen Jerkovich

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Kristen and Simone welcome Mariellen Jerkovich, director of the Humboldt Patient Resource Center. We learn about her work managing a medical marijuana dispensary and their compassionate care program.

Gorilla Glue #4 vs Gorilla Glue Corporation

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 17:09:55 +0000

Multinational Adhesive Corporation vs Internationally Acclaimed Cannabis Genetic Company
Let’s start with the basics: Gorilla Glue Adhesive Corporation is suing GG Strains, the creators of Gorilla Glue #4, #5 and #1, in Federal Court in Cincinnati Ohio for Dilution, Trademark infringement, Cyber Squatting and 2 other counts of trademark infringement. To be honest, I wasn’t surprised to hear of such a lawsuit. On the face of it all, why on earth would someone name their strain after a federally trademarked product? Let me ask you this: Should Dove Chocolate change their name because of Dove Soap, or vice versa? What about Delta Airlines and Delta Faucets? They coexist, because they are not competing in the same industry. What makes this instance any different?

Gorilla Glue Adhesive (or GGA) has no market share to lose over Gorilla Glue #4 (GG4). They are entirely different types of products. GGA has much more to GAIN in publicity with the considerable amount of popularity of GG4. They aren’t losing any customers from the affiliation. If anything, they have probably gained more customers!

The Hemp Counsel and Cannabis Regulation in California

Tue, 30 May 2017 18:23:41 +0000

Kristen and Simone discuss cannabis regulation in California with, Daniel A. Bergman, principal of the Bergman Law Group and its practice area The Hemp Counsel.

E27: THIS Is How You Should Run A Dispensary!

Mon, 22 May 2017 18:51:59 +0000

A new episode

E26: From Law Enforcement to Cannabis Advocacy

Sat, 13 May 2017 19:35:00 +0000

Terry Blevins discusses his previous work in law enforcement as a police officer working in Maricopa County, Arizona to now providing security for the cannabis industry and how he has been actively educating government officials regarding the realities of legalization and decriminalization

Luxury Cannabis Products Delivered

Wed, 10 May 2017 21:08:15 +0000

Talking about Luxury Cannabis Products Delivered as Kristen and Simone speak with Chris Husong, the Co-Founder ClubM, Sales & Marketing Director at Elixinol.ClubM is a California-based marijuana membership club. The business offers a plethora of pre-selected cannabis products that you can enjoy from the comfort of your living room. Every box (called Mbox) is designed to fuel your creative spirit and enhance your organic lifestyle. The discreet box looks like a thick black book that conveniently fits in with your collection of reading materials. No one will ever know what’s inside. If you find something in the kit that tickles your fancy and want more of it, simply head over to the club’s online store and order some more.

From Law Enforcement to Cannabis Advocacy

Wed, 10 May 2017 21:05:23 +0000

From Law Enforcement to Cannabis Advocacy as Kristen and Simone speak with Terry Blevins the President and CEO for Armaplex Security Group.

Returns of Cannabis Science and Cannabis Testing

Wed, 10 May 2017 21:05:23 +0000

Kristen and Simone discuss the many returns cannabis science and cannabis testing has brought us with Dr. Jeff Raber, the CEO and CVO for The Werc Shop.Dr. Jeffrey Raber received his PhD in organic chemistry from The University of Southern California with an emphasis on developing new synthetic methodologies useful in scientific drug discovery and development efforts.

E25: CBM PROGRESS UPDATE

Sat, 06 May 2017 19:07:04 +0000

If you are a regular listener, you might have noticed our absence for the past 2 weeks. Don't worry, we aren't going anywhere! We have been busy recording a bunch of new interviews, and doing some traveling to Oregon and Colorado for business. Today's mini-episode is a recap of our Denver and Portland trips, and some exciting news on the future of Cannabis Business Minds! Stay tuned!

E24: California Bans with Jacqueline McGowan

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 03:55:21 +0000

If you are like most people in the US, you might be thinking, "What do you mean, there are bans on cannabis businesses, I thought cannabis was legalized with Prop 64?", and you would be correct. Prop 64 did legalize cannabis, however it also allowed local governments the right to tax and regulate, or outright BAN cannabis businesses as they see fit. Our guest, Jacqueline McGowan is the founder of the group “California- City & County Ban Watch” which has become the #1 news source for cannabis regulations in the state. She began the group at the beginning of 2016 in order to track local bans that were sweeping the state after the passage of MCRSA. The group is now busy tracking Proposition 64 bans as well as local medical cannabis regulation implementation.

E22: Retail Strategies - Traditional vs Cannabis

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 21:10:34 +0000

How do cannabis consumers make buying decisions? What guided your purchase the last time you bought a cannabis product? Was it the packaging, the reputation of a brand, or did you ask the budtender? In most cases, especially for new patients and consumers, purchases are usually made based on the recommendation of the budtender. How about the last time you went grocery shopping? What guided your purchasing decisions? Was it your shopping list, what’s on sale, or perhaps were you just hungry? Grocery and retail stores have spent millions of dollars analyzing their customers' every move to determine their purchasing habits. On this episode, we discuss the various ways CPG’s manage to get consumers to purchase their products with zero human interaction guiding their decisions, and what cannabis manufacturers and retailers can learn. Check out our shownotes here

E22: California Regulations with the BMCR

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 21:22:57 +0000

We interview the Chief of Communications of the BMCR - the regulatory body responsible for REGULATING CANNABIS IN CALIFORNIA! Check out our show-notes at: http://liv-consulting.com/bmcr/

E21: Banking, Seed to Sale Tracking, and The Cannabis LAB

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 05:14:11 +0000

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT How Peter got into the cannabis industry and what it was like to be the CIO of Biotrack Peter demystifies seed to sale tracking and explains what the lifecycle/Lineage tracking is – from seed to lab to dispensary. Some common misconceptions about seed to sale tracking are. Barcodes versus RFID chips, and the costs associated with seed to sale tracking. Why Peter moved to LA to start the LA Chapter of CLAB What is FinCen and why banking solutions are hard to find in the cannabis industry What are some cashless solutions in the cannabis industry

E20: $750,000 FOR BEING NON-COMPLIANT? THAT’S SIGNIFICANT.

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:00:00 +0000

We talk with the CEO and Founder of Adherence Compliance, Steve Owens about cannabis and compliance. Steve is a highly accomplished, results-driven entrepreneur with a proven track record in developing, growing, and improving the profitability, performance and overall value of companies. He has more than 16 years of collaborative management experience with a deep knowledge of business and enterprise process architecture, Financials (Lead-to-Cash), Audits, CRM/ERP and cloud-based technologies. In 2014, Steve established Adherence Compliance – the cannabis industry’s first automated risk-based compliance solution platform and tracking software available on the Apple App Store. Steve is a former software executive with more than 17 years of enterprise IT and Financials solutions delivery experience. His previous work history includes Oracle, Alcatel-Lucent and AT&T. Steve is beyond knowledgable in the realm of business and cannabis compliance. For full show notes, go to: http://liv-consulting.com/cannabis-compliance-software-can-save-thousands/

E19: How safe is your Cannabis?

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 18:53:11 +0000

The cannabis industry has a SERIOUS problem with pesticides, and it's not just in unregulated states. Even in regulated states such as Oregon, the current testing requirements are only now shining a light on the residual pesticides leftover in cannabis products - and it is significant. Currently over 25% of concentrates and extracts are failing testing requirements for pesticides in Oregon. The prevalence of these toxic chemicals should require that regulation be tighter on cannabis operators, as this is a matter of public safety. However, recent proposed regulation in Oregon, is actually trying to loosen the rules on lab testing requirements. As a matter of public safety, this regulation must not pass. To take action go to www.liv-consulting.com/pesticides and follow instructions in the show notes.

E18: Cannabis Science, Product Development, and Lab Testing with Jeff Raber, PhD

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 17:00:00 +0000

We are at 1% of understanding the cannabis plant in terms of science. Think about the opportunities we haven't yet discovered. Driven by a desire to find his own medicine and make a positive contribution to society while creating American jobs, Dr. Raber founded The Werc Shop in 2010 with a focus on botanical analysis, product development and sustainability addressing unmet public health and safety needs within the medical cannabis community. Dr. Raber’s detailed investigations into the chemistry of cannabis as a medicine have provided him with a unique perspective and knowledge base useful in assisting state and local regulators in the construction and implementation of effective regulatory solutions for the safe and sustainable delivery of medical cannabis to qualified patients. Today The Werc Shop is widely recognized as a leading scientific pioneer and educator in the medical cannabis field which continues to further a richer understanding of the plant and its possible product developments. Enjoy this episode of cannabis business minds. Show notes can be found on www.liv-consulting.com

E17: Operations

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 23:28:54 +0000

What sets great companies apart? Operational Excellence. As a consulting group, we are lucky to see an array of business types, from startup operators to existing and established businesses. On this episode of cannabis business minds we talk about some of the pitfalls, shortcomings, and successes we've seen first hand in the cannabis industry. Read more at www.liv-consulting.com

E16: Special Edition: Trump and Cannabis

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 02:50:46 +0000

Though we feel that it is rarely a good idea to discuss politics in a business environment, we have recorded a special podcast to discuss the Trump administration's stance on cannabis and how it may impact the thriving cannabis community in the United States. We live in a world of uncertainty, add in cannabis and the uncertainty of the new administration's policies, and that uncertainty is MASSIVE. In an earlier post, we discussed our worry of what could happen with Trump's policy on cannabis. Here are a few facts before we dive into our analysis: It's Illegal and we're protected just by a few memos that can be wiped away. As of February 2017, 42 states have some form a cannabis legalization in place. 30 states have legalized medical medical marijuana, 8 states and D.C. have legalized the adult use of marijuana, and many more (13) have at least some type of cannabidiol law in place. Cannabis is a schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substance Act and is FEDERALLY illegal. We are all aiding and abetting in a federal crime, despite it being legal in more than half of the United States. The DOJ announced in 2013 it would not directly challenge state marijuana legalization laws and would tone down enforcement of federal laws against pot sales in states allowing the practice. (Cole Memo). This is after massive years of DEA raids and the cannabis eradication programs. The Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment also has protected the thriving medical marijuana program (including Puerto Rico and Guam). It's not Killing Anyone, and actually looks like some good is coming out of it Tax revenues in adult use states are massive (Oregon reported over $60Million in taxes its first year of licensing) Studies have suggested that cannabis is a tool to help fight the massive opioid addiction in the United States. Drugged driving, deaths, and other scare tactics as it relates to cannabis have yet to be discovered with the legalization of marijuana. Public safety remains a huge issue for the cannabis community as it relates to being an all cash business The industry is still very young, and there is clearly much more work to be done with respect to cannabis regulation. What the TRUMP? We wrote about it here, but Trump has said he thinks it is a states right issue. He has leaned more towards medical than adult use. We know Sessions (Attorney General) is a critical, and we just learned that Sean Spicer's wifey is the senior vice president of National Beer Wholesalers Association, which represents the interests of beer distributors. On February 23, 2017 in a press conference, Sean Spicer, elaborated on the administrations' stance on cannabis, with a clear stance that recreational marijuana is clearly different than medical marijuana. We encourage you to read the transcript here: On February 27, 2017 Jeff Session further elaborated that he didn't want recreational marijuana to become more prevalent in the United States, stating, "We’re seeing real violence around that. Experts are telling me there’s more violence around marijuana than one would think and there’s big money involved." Help Us Out! Please subscribe to our podcast and help us reach new listeners on iTunes by leaving us a rating and review! It takes just 30 seconds. We really appreciate it! What you can do: Sign this petition Join our FB Group Spread the word and continue to lobby Show Credits: We wouldn’t be able to produce this show, without our brilliant podcast editor and producer Gustavo Bulgach from East Venice Studios. Intro/Outro music is Funkadelicoscious, by Ketsa.

E15: Investing In The Cannabis Industry

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 19:57:36 +0000

How big of a return can you expect while investing in something that is federally illegal? How do cannabis stocks compare to other industries? On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds we talk about cannabis and investing. We’ll dive deep into investing in the cannabis industry and some of the misconceptions about cannabis publicly traded companies. Our guest began his career on Wall Street in 1986, is the founder of 420 Investor, and a frequent speaker at industry conferences and is a leading source to the media, including the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV.

E14: Finding Top Notch Talent in the Cannabis Industry

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 00:50:49 +0000

On this episode of cannabis business minds we talk about the ins and outs of recruiting outside professionals into the cannabis industry. Finding top notch talent isn’t something that you can just find on craigslist, it requires due diligence, a stringent assessment of skills, and time. Just like you can’t find top talent at your local dive bar, not all recruiters are created equal. Our guests on today's show make staffing and recruiting sound fun. Jessi and Travis Cox have a tenure of success, from helping professionals to search firms, to creating over 150 cannabis websites. Sit back, and enjoy this episode of Cannabis Business Minds.

E13: Top Cannabis Events of 2016 (Part 2)

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 19:04:37 +0000

Hello Cannabis Business Minds! This episode is part 2 of our Top 10 Cannabis Events of 2016. In our previous episode we talked about the DEA, CBD, and terpenes. What will be our number one event of 2016? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

E12: Top Cannabis Events of 2016

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:18:03 +0000

Happy 2017 Cannabis Business Minds! 2016 was a whirlwind of a year, and especially for the cannabis industry. 8 more states have legalized cannabis, making the total number of states with medical, adult use, and CBD laws up to 42. This episode of cannabis business minds is a two part series dissecting the major business events in 2016 and things to keep a lookout on in 2017. We’ve also got a surprise announcement in the show! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the first episode of cannabis business minds in 2017. Hosts: Simone Cimiluca-Radzins, CPA Kristen Yoder, Cannabis Operations Expert

E11: Getting Insurance in the Cannabis Industry

Fri, 11 Nov 2016 18:24:19 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds we talk about insurance. With the results of the election, 9 more states have legalized some form of cannabis regulation, opening up the market even further. Insurance can be a daunting subject, albeit an essential one. Can you find insurance for your cannabis company, and are the premiums going to be massive? What can be insured, and what cannot? In an effort to better understand the misconceptions that surround the insurance industry.

E10 - Strategic Thinking in the Cannabis Industry

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 17:53:54 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds we talk about how strategic thinking, having a talented and strong team, and a good company culture can take your business to the next level. Strategic planning, quarterly meetings, and budgets aren’t just a thing for corporate america, every business owner should be planning and thinking ahead. Our guest on today’s show has dedicated his professional life to medical cannabis. Bryce Berryessa talks to us about Conscious Capitalism and Organizational Awareness and how he’s built multiple successful cannabis brands in California.

E09: Emerging trends in the Cannabis Industry

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 15:31:34 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we talk about what emerging trends in the cannabis industry as of September 2016. The price of cannabis is dropping, tradeshows are on the rise, investors are more likely to do equity backed deals, and mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis industry are on the rise.

E08: Self regulating the edible market with Julianna Carella from Auntie Dolores

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 16:49:46 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we talk about what makes an infused product brand successful. Beyond just a tasty treat, cannabis infused products need to follow strict health, packaging, and labeling requirements. In California, there's not a lot of guidance on labeling requirements, and our guest has taken Self-Regulation to a new level. Our expert brings 20+ years of culinary work with cannabis and entrepreneurship in the health space and sheds some light on how she built a brand that is been on the High Times list of best edibles for multiple years.

E06: Cannabis Pharmaceuticals and the Israeli Medical Accelerator

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:32:12 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we talk about pharmaceuticals in Israel and the Israeli cannabis industry. In many ways, the United States is behind in cannabis research due to its federal illegality. Israel is one of the leading countries when it comes to cannabis research and science. Beginning in the 1960's the country started researching cannabis. Today, there are 8 major cannabis farms in Israel and the science and technology is driven by pharmaceuticals. In the next few months, Israel will significantly overhaul it's medical program and structure.

E05: Being Social is Social Media, with Amy Donohue

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 05:26:29 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we talk about how being social is the key to success for managing social media. In a day of information overload and so many social networking sites, how do you engage clients and customers through social media? Our guest gives insight and a reality check on what social media is, and what social media isn't. Amy Donohue breaks down the etiquette of social media and steps your business should take to be more social via social media.

E04: Carving out your niche in the Cannabis Industry...with Grannie Smith Organix.

Sat, 13 Aug 2016 07:28:42 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we talk about the importance of carving out your niche in the Cannabis Industry. As the industry moves toward the cannabis consumer, understanding the different target customers is essential to building a strong brand. Co-founded by mother-son duo, Debbie and Trevor Smith, from Grannie Smith Organix discuss how they carved at a very specific niche.

E03: Cannabis Business and Regulation in Latin America

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 04:07:28 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we talk about the medical cannabis industry in Latin America. Chile, Colombia, Uruguay all have some form of a regulated cannabis program, and Costa Rica currently has an initiative to legalize and regulate medical cannabis. Want to get a piece of the Latin American market? Listen to hear how you can!

E02: 5 steps to get started in the cannabis industry

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we talk about 5 ways to get started in the Cannabis Industry. The cannabis industry is diverse and profound, and there are so many options on how you can get involved and make an impact. Even if you don’t have a green thumb or don't want to work in a dispensary, you can serve the industry in other ways (ancillary). However, getting started in the cannabis industry may seem overwhelming. Simone breaks down the 5 steps she used to get started in the cannabis industry.

E01: If you’re in Cannabis, You’re in Compliance with Jenny Germano

Wed, 13 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we talk about how to make your cannabis business more compliant. There’s a common saying in the regulated industry “If you’re in Cannabis, You’re in Compliance.” It is estimated that cannabis businesses spend approximately 30-40% of their budget on compliance (lawyers, accountants, consultants, etc.). Colorado collected more than $700,000 from cannabis operators in compliance fines in 2015. Our guest on today’s show will break down what cannabis compliance is, and how you can take steps in your business to become more compliant.