Cannabis license holders are using an interesting new way to free up capital and grow their business. Here to give us the details is Anthony Coniglio of New Lake Capital Partners.

Learn more at https://www.newlake.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Anthony’s background in real estate and how he came to start New Lake
• An inside look at New Lake, a newly-formed Maryland real estate partner that leases industrial and retail properties to state-licensed cannabis operators
• Why cannabis has been deemed essential across the country and how this is influencing investors and license-holders
• Factors to consider when choosing the most valuable states and cities to buy real estate for the cannabis market 
• How New Lake has raised $100 million in capital to build its diversified portfolio
• How much New Lake’s investors can expect in returns and Anthony’s predictions for where dividends are heading in the next few years
• What Anthony looks for when considering cannabis operators looking to lease his properties, from their business strategy to their ability to raise capital
• How COVID-19 has affected the commercial real estate market in the US and where Anthony sees it heading

Technological advances not only bring efficiency, but they’re also profoundly deflationary. 

But could that deflation actually be key to an abundant future? Here to tell us is Jeff Booth, author of The Price of Tomorrow.

Jeff's book: https://www.amazon.com/Price-Tomorrow-Deflation-Abundant-Future/dp/1999257405

Jeff's Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffBooth

Key Takeaways:

• Goods and services that are inflationary versus those that are deflationary
• What a deflation economy looks like and examples of when we’ve seen deflation in the past
• The natural deflationary process that’s occurring right now thanks to advancing technologies like AI
• The deceptive power of exponential technologies and how they gain traction
• How central bankers are fighting a losing battle by taking on more debt to create inflation
• The power of network effects for business owners, investors, and employees
• Where Jeff sees bitcoin heading in the next few years and his advice for those looking to get in
• Why Jeff believes AI will eventually force us to embrace deflation and how that could benefit society as a whole

How can cannabis retailers adapt to the new post-pandemic environment and create customer comfort?

Here to help us answer this question is Matt Cutone of Seed Technology.

Learn more at http://www.getseed.io

Key Takeaways:

• Matt’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Seed Technology
• An inside look at Seed and how it provides dispensaries with in-store displays that improve customer experience
• How cannabis retailers have been impacted by the pandemic and what Seed is doing to help them adapt their retail environments
• Matt’s advice on how dispensaries can create a successful in-store “flow” and where curbside pickup fits into that
• How dispensaries can use handheld tablets to significantly increase profits and customer satisfaction
• The most popular cannabis products on the market right now
• How dispensaries can benefit from in-store displays
• The mature and emerging markets in the US and how they differ from state to state

What’s it like to immigrate from Nigeria, grow up in the US, and put yourself at the forefront of the cannabis industry in multiple states?

Here to help us answer that question is Seun Adedeji, CEO of Elev8 Cannabis.

Learn more at https://elev8cannabis.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Seun’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Elev8
• An inside look at Elev8 and its dispensaries across the US
• Where Elev8 currently is in the capital-raising process
• Why Seun decided to open dispensaries in Oregon, Massachusetts, and now Illinois
• Oregon’s shifting supply and demand and how Seun is working around it
• How Elev8 partners with local businesses to get customers in the door
• Seun’s advice to those trying to get into the cannabis industry
• Where Seun sees the cannabis market heading in the next few years

Taxes, regulations, a thriving black market, and then COVID-19. How can cannabis retailers in California survive in this environment and serve their community?

Here to help answer these questions is Dennis O’Malley, CEO of Caliva.

Learn more at https://www.gocaliva.com

Key Takeaways:

• Dennis’ background in cannabis and how he came to start Caliva
• An inside look at Caliva and how it compares to other cannabis dispensaries in California
• Why Dennis decided to end his partnership with Eaze and create his own delivery app for Caliva
• Pros and cons to using your own delivery app
• Why Dennis has partnered with Hypur to provide contactless payment options for customers
• How COVID-19 has impacted Caliva and where Dennis sees the company heading in the months ahead
• How cannabis consumer behavior has changed during COVID-19 including popular products and curbside pickup versus delivery
• Incentives and disincentives in the California marketplace that are making the black market three times bigger than the legal market
• Where Dennis sees cannabis heading in California and across the US in the next 3-5 years

Consumer packaged goods companies are in stealth mode waiting to capitalize on CBD the moment the regulatory fog clears. Here to tell us about it is Justin Singer of Caliper Foods.

Learn more at https://www.caliperfoods.life 

Key Takeaways:

• Justin’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Caliper Foods
• How Justin’s core brand Ripple has become the best-selling soluble cannabinoid powder in the US
• Why consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) are waiting for regulatory clarity in the CBD industry
• How Caliper Foods provides soluble CBD ingredients at scale to some of the nation’s largest food, beverage, and supplement companies
• Where Justin sees CBD heading as an active ingredient comparable to caffeine
• An inside look at Caliper Foods and how it provides soluble CBD ingredients at scale to CPG manufacturers
• Caliper Foods’ research on how the solubility of CBD affects onset and impact
• Where Caliper Foods currently is in the capital-raising process

As cannabis cultivators pour billions of dollars into developing cutting-edge, efficient grows, we need to ask: is there a hidden disruptor that could steal their business in the years ahead?

Here to help us answer this is Kevin Chen of Hyasynth Bio, one of just a few companies experimenting with non-plant-derived cannabinoids.

Learn more at https://hyasynthbio.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Kevin’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Hyasynth Bio
• An inside look at Hyasynth Bio and its work with non-plant-derived cannabinoids
• A deep dive into biosynthesis and how Hyasynth Bio uses this process to grow cannabis compounds inside yeast cells
• How Hyasynth Bio has successfully overcome challenges with biosynthesis
• The history of biosynthesis and cannabis and where Kevin sees this relationship evolving in the years to come 
• The different types of end products we’ll start to see for sale in dispensaries that use biosynthesis
• How biosynthesis will affect cannabis prices
• Hyasynth Bio’s intellectual property strategy and how Kevin manages the company’s patents
• The traditional cannabis companies that are investing in biosynthesis
• Where Kevin sees cannabinoid biosynthesis heading in the next 3-5 years

Is the market for CBD and THC products saturated or is it just too much of the same products? Could it be a matter of creating a unique product and achieving product-market-fit?

Chris Abbott from Botanica is here today to help us answer these questions.

Learn more at https://www.mrmoxeys.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Chris’ background in cannabis and how he came to start Botanica
• An inside look at Botanica and its popular cannabis-mint brand Mr Moxey’s
• What to expect when you eat Mr Moxey’s mints
• Why microdosing is gaining popularity 
• When and why people typically eat Mr Moxey’s mints to enhance their state and take the edge off
• Mistakes Chris has made as an entrepreneur and what he learned from them
• Chris’ advice on how to get a brand into distribution and on retailers’ shelves
• Why Botanica uses a specific extraction process for the hemp oil that goes into Mr Moxey’s
• Where Chris sees cannabis and low-dose edibles heading over the next few years

While hemp-derived products are already big business, they’re set to skyrocket as hemp begins to take market share from traditional wellness and household brands. 

Here to tell us about it is Michael Cammarata of Neptune Wellness Solutions, one of Canada’s leading cannabinoid extraction companies.

Learn more at https://neptunecorp.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Michael’s background in hemp and how he came to be the CEO of Neptune Wellness
• An inside look at Neptune and how it’s evolved from biotech to health and wellness since founded in 1998
• Why hemp is becoming so popular as an ingredient in consumer packaged goods
• The most popular hemp-derived products in the wellness industry right now
• Neptune’s partnership with Jane Goodall and their upcoming line of hemp-derived hand sanitizers and essential oils
• How Neptune is innovating new technology that will make hemp goods more cost-effective for customers
• How COVID-19 is affecting the hemp wellness and household industries
• Where Michael sees the hemp industry heading over the next few years as it continues to make its way into the wellness arena

What will the cannabis industry look like after COVID-19?

CannaInsider host Matthew Kind forecasts the 7 disruptive changes that will take place in the years to come.

Check out an infographic on these 7 changes at https://www.cannainsider.com/covid 

Key Takeaways:

• How COVID-19 will impact cannabis in the next few years, including:
• Automated grow rooms
• Pathogen detection policies
• Contactless delivery and payment
• Pre-purchase of discounts cards and gift cards
• Results-only business partners
• Commercial drones for cultivation
• VR education

How is COVID-19 impacting investments in the cannabis space?

Here to tell us is Kimberly Kovacs of The Arcview Group, the leading private investment network and market research firm in the cannabis space. 

Learn more at https://arcviewgroup.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Kim’s background in cannabis and how she came to be CEO of The Arcview Group
• An inside look at Arcview and its mission to forge a principled and profitable industry from the ashes of cannabis prohibition
• How the coronavirus is impacting cannabis businesses and investor sentiment
• Kim’s advice to startups looking for funding right now
• Tips on how new investors can get started to set themselves up for long-term success
• Kim’s best investments and factors that played into her decision-making
• An update on what investors are currently funding most
• Important takeaways from Arcview’s recent data reports on the size and dynamics of the cannabis market
• What investors and entrepreneurs can gain from AV Access, Arcview’s new educational webinar series

With COVID-19 keeping people at home, cannabis delivery is booming.

Here to tell us more about it is Tim Conder of Blackbird Logistics, one of the industry’s leading software and operations companies.

Learn more at https://myblackbird.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Tim’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Blackbird
• An inside look at Blackbird and how the company facilitates the movement of cannabis products at each touchpoint of the supply chain
• How Blackbird fits in with its parent company TILT Holdings
• Ways in which cultivators, dispensaries, and brands can benefit from Blackbird
• How payment is being handled for home cannabis deliveries amid COVID-19
• Recent changes Tim has seen in cannabis delivery and where he sees it heading in the years to come
• How customer behavior is different than usual and the products people are ordering most
• Tim’s advice for cannabis companies trying to navigate COVID-19

Banking is one of the thorniest problems for the cannabis industry in the US - until now. Here to tell us how he’s created a solution to this problem is Dan Roda of Abaca.

Learn more at https://www.goabaca.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Dan’s background in law and how he came to start Abaca
• An inside look at Abaca and how it's providing a safe banking platform for US cannabis businesses 
• What dispensaries can expect when using Abaca
• The current state of merchant processing in cannabis and how Dan believes that will evolve over the next few years
• The most common questions clients ask Dan
• States that Abaca is currently operating in and where Dan sees the company expanding
• Abaca’s capital-raising process
• Where Dan sees the cannabis financial services market heading in the next 3-5 years and some emerging trends to keep an eye on

While hotels have prohibited cannabis use for years, it’s now considered a benefit many guests are demanding.

Here to tell us about it is Matthew Singer of tökr, an app that creates a personalized cannabis experience based on individual preferences.

Learn more at https://www.trytokr.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Matthew’s background in cannabis and how he came to start tökr 
• An inside look at tökr’s premium cannabis delivery marketplace
• How COVID-19 is affecting the cannabis environment in California and beyond
• How the hotel industry’s stance on cannabis use is changing in the US
• Ways in which boutique hotels are leading the charge for on-site cannabis use from trusted vendors
• Cannabis consumer behavior in hotels and what’s trending right now
• Matthew’s opinion on California’s black market problem and what needs to be done to fix it
• Why brands have a hard time telling their story in dispensaries and how tökr is working to solve this
• Where tökr currently is in the capital-raising process

It’s no secret that achieving a truly targeted effect is the holy grail of the cannabis industry, but how close are we to making this a reality? Are designer cannabis products on the horizon? 

Here to help answer this is Chris Emerson, co-founder and CEO of a unique company known as Level that’s working to disrupt the cannabis industry with products precisely tailored to every individual and every occasion.

Learn more at https://www.levelblends.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Chris’ background in chemistry and how it led him to the cannabis space
• An inside look at Level and its mission to provide a tailored cannabis experience to every patient and consumer
• How Chris’ extensive background in science allows him to think about cannabis products differently than most entrepreneurs in the industry
• Why Level sources its oils from strains high in CBD, CBG, and THCV and how this enhances the overall effect for consumers
• Chris’ efforts to find rare and unique cannabinoids for Level’s products and his discoveries to date
• A deep dive into Level’s tablinguals and pax vaporizer pods
• Chris’ work at Level determining new uses for cannabinoids, including everything from stimulants to hangover cures
• New and exciting initiatives at Level and Chris’ insight on what the cannabis industry will look like in the next 5-10 years

Is speed paramount when it comes to a good cannabis delivery service?

Not according to Sava founder Andrea Brooks, who shares with us how she’s gained more customer satisfaction and larger order sizes than her much faster competitors.

Learn more at https://www.getsava.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Andrea’s background in cannabis and how she came to start Sava
• An inside look at Sava and its mission to provide the highest quality cannabis products for delivery in the San Francisco Bay Area
• How Andrea won the AVG Best Pitch Award and what about her presentation resonated most with investors
• What investors need to know about unit economics and basket size
• Common obstacles in cannabis delivery and how Sava has overcome these to get ahead of other services like Ease and MedMen
• Ways in which Sava has gained so many repeat customers
• Sava’s generous compensation for drivers and how this impacts the company’s overall success
• Where Andrea sees the cannabis drink category heading in the next few years
• Andrea’s conservative approach to growth projections and meeting investor expectations
• Where Sava currently is in the capital-raising process and Andrea’s goals for the years ahead

If you’re concerned about the wildly fluctuating cannabis stocks, you’re not alone. But could there be a light at the end of the tunnel?

Here to answer this is returning guest Alan Brochstein, founder of New Cannabis Ventures and 420 Investor.

Learn more at https://www.newcannabisventures.com

Key Takeaways:

• Alan’s background in the cannabis stock space and how he came to start New Cannabis Ventures and 420 Investor
• A 10,000 ft view of the cannabis stock space and Alan’s predictions for the future
• The meteoric rise and fall of cannabis and pharmaceutical company Tilray
• Stocks Alan is asked about most and where he sees them heading
• Companies creating shareholder value and how that can set them apart
• Popular challenges and opportunities discussed among cannabis executives
• Alan’s views on sovereign debt, class warfare, and other issues threatening the economy
• Where Alan sees hemp and cannabis laws heading in his home state of Texas

A big problem for cannabis retailers is how to re-engage once enthusiastic customers.

CEO of Happy Cabbage Andrew Watson tells us how dispensaries are using his platform to rekindle customer relationships.

Learn more at https://www.happycabbage.io 

Key Takeaways:

• Andrew’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Happy Cabbage
• An inside look at Happy Cabbage, a data analytics and insights platform for the cannabis industry
• Ways Happy Cabbage re-engages previous dispensary customers with highly targeted, personalized messaging
• Analytic tools Happy Cabbage provides dispensaries that enable them to measure the success of their campaigns
• Generating customer excitement through experiential events
• Similarities between stripper economics and the economics of dispensary product placement
• Dispensaries currently working with Happy Cabbage and how they’re using the platform to re-engage their customer base
• Andrew’s experience with CanopyBoulder, a business accelerator and venture capital fund for the cannabis industry

With cannabis legalization in full swing, it’s easy to forget there’s a big difference in how legalization is unfolding between US states and countries around the world.

Here to help us contextualize the difference between markets is Michael Mayes of Quantum 9, an expert cannabis consulting firm with one of the highest success rates in the industry.

Learn more at https://quantum9.net 

Key Takeaways:

• Michael’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Quantum 9
• An inside look at Quantum 9 and its mission to help maximize the potential of cannabis cultivation, control, and dispensary businesses
• Tips on how to successfully pursue a cannabis brand license and the common misconceptions Michael sees among new clients
• Exciting new developments taking place in the Michigan and Illinois markets
• Illinois’ social equity program and what it means for cannabis businesses
• How Michael believes cannabis will affect alcohol market shares over the next few years
• How Michael is working to help states create systems that help both businesses and patients
• Where Michael sees cannabis heading in Illinois and beyond over the next 3-5 years

Making dispensary customers feel welcome and informed the moment they walk into the store is vital, and the company that knows how to do this best is Seed Technology.

Providing dispensaries with educational kiosks that help inform customers, Seed helps to achieve a customer experience that results in bigger purchases and repeat buyers.

In this episode, Seed CEO Matt Cutone shares with us the incredible return on investment Seed is providing dispensaries across the US and gives us his insights on the future of interactive kiosks.

Learn more at http://www.getseed.io

Key Takeaways

• Matt’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Seed Technology
• An inside look at Seed, including how the company’s in-store displays work and the experience they provide for the customer
• How Seed helps dispensaries integrate interactive kiosks and the customization required
• Ways in which Seed ensures an engaging customer interaction with little drop-off
• Mistakes Matt sees dispensaries make with their interactive kiosks and how to avoid them
• How Seed’s kiosks lead to larger purchases and more loyal customers
• Matt’s insights on the future of AI and how it will improve educational kiosks with greater customization

What will the cannabis industry look like in the next five years? CannaInsider host Matthew Kind reviews his past predictions and forecasts the five disruptive changes that will take place in the years to come. 

Considering how many Matthew got right in 2017, you don’t want to miss this.

Key Takeaways:

• Review of Matt’s previous forecasts from 2017
• Trend 1: AI-assisted product selection to improve significantly
• Trend 2: Fintech meets Cannabis
• Trend 3: Cannabinoid drinks put a double-digit dent in the alcohol market share
• Trend 4: Cost of cannabis flower decreases 50 to 80 percent 
• Trend 5: Autonomous car delivery with biometric verification

If you hand most people a cannabis drink, their first question is probably, “How high will this make me?” 

This one unknown might just be what’s holding cannabis beverages back. Until now.

Listen in as Luke Anderson of Cann discusses the state of cannabis drinks and where he sees the category heading.

Learn more at http://www.drinkcann.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Luke’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Cann
• An inside look at Cann and its mission to become the standard for cannabis-infused tonics
• Why Cann produces only low-THC tonics to target consumers that don’t wish to experience a high
• The type of effect consumers can expect from Cann’s social tonics
• Why Luke believes it’s important to take out the guesswork in cannabis beverages 
• Cann’s social tonics versus beer and wine in terms of time and effect
• How Cann decided on its unique THC/CBD concentration profile
• How Luke and his team overcame challenges with emulsion and dispersion to ensure consistency in every sip
• Where Luke sees cannabis microdosing heading in the next few years

To know where the cannabis market is going, we need to examine where it’s been and where it is right now. 

Here to help us is Cy Scott of Headset, a data-driven tech company that provides business intelligence for the cannabis industry.

Learn more at https://www.headset.io 

Key Takeaways:

• Cy’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Headset
• An inside look at Headset and its mission to help cannabis companies stay ahead of the curve
• Surprising trends Cy has observed in recent dispensary sales data 
• How data can help inform an entrepreneur looking to bring a new cannabis product to market
• Valuable takeaways from purchasing behavior data that have proven to maximize visitor engagement and drive sales
• How different products sell better on different days of the week as well as morning versus evening
• How purchasing patterns differ between generations
• What to expect in cannabis over the next few years based on Headset’s real-time data and market intelligence

Is California the Hunger Games of cannabis?

In the face of regulatory failure in California, black market cannabis thrives as licensed sellers and growers - much like the pledges in the Hunger Games - compete to survive in a dangerous world controlled by The Capitol (Sacramento).

So what happens next? Will state leaders see the error in their ways or will dispensaries and cultivators unite to force a change? Here to help us answer this is Seibo Shen, CEO of Hanu Labs.

Learn more at https://hanulabs.com 

Seibo Shen's new product The Hanu Stone from hanulabs.com

Key Takeaways:

• Seibo’s background and how he came to enter the cannabis space
• How California’s cannabis market has evolved over the last few years
• Disadvantages that licensed growers and dispensaries deal with compared to those in the black market
• How the black market has impacted the vaping crisis
• Why so many cannabis businesses are undergoing financial difficulties
• Slotting fees and why brands must pay to get their products on dispensary shelves
• An inside look at Hanu Labs and its new, award-winning personal vaporizer
• How Hanu Labs is unique to other big players in the pod manufacturing space
• Where Seibo sees California’s cannabis market heading in the next few years

With online shopping at an all-time high, dispensaries are looking for more and more ways to create retail experiences that inspire customers to shop in-store.

Today’s guest is Shryne Group Executive Chairman Jon Avidor, who will explain why customers line up for his cannabis dispensaries AND what experiential retail means for cannabis.

Learn more at https://shrynegroup.com

Key Takeaways:

• Jon’s background as a business attorney and what inspired him to enter the cannabis space
• An inside look at Los Angeles-based cannabis holding company Shryne Group Inc.
• Ways in which California’s cannabis market affects the rest of the country
• Why Jon believes it’s important for Shryne Group to be a vertically-integrated company in the cannabis industry
• How Jon has created experiential retail experiences so successful that customers line up at his dispensaries
• Jon’s advice on how to spark excitement in customers with fun attractions like Instagram pods, art murals for photo-taking, etc.
• The types of people dispensaries need on their team to achieve an exciting in-store environment
• Exciting things to expect from Shryne Group in the next 12 months

While thousands of new cannabis products hit the market each year, most fail to create product-market fit due to a lack of differentiation or clear-cut benefits. 

Today’s guest is CEO of Dosist Gunner Winston, who has simplified cannabis consumption with targeted formulas and precise dosing to create a product that is catapulting cannabis into the wellness arena.

Learn more at https://dosist.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Gunner’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Dosist
• An inside look at Dosist and its mission to simplify cannabis consumption with innovative delivery devices
• How taking the guesswork out of cannabis is attracting more people to the category
• Variables that are important to luxury brand consumers
• Customer reactions to Dosist’s new dose pen and dose dial
• The thought process behind Dosist’s high-end yet minimalist retail environment
• Why Gunner believes brick and mortar stores remain valuable in the age of online shopping 
• Where Dosist is in the capital-raising process
• How Gunner is planning to evolve Dosist in the coming years as consumer preferences change

California is arguably the cannabis industry’s most impactful market with more and more developments taking place each month.

Here to tell us about it is Khurshid Khoja, a business attorney constantly interfacing with Sacramento regulators and politicians to help his clients see what’s just around the corner. 

Learn more at http://www.greenbridgelaw.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Khurshid’s background in business law and how he came to start Greenbridge Corporate Counsel
• How the California cannabis market is coping with high taxes and restrictive regulations 
• The biggest obstacles the cannabis industry faced in 2019 and those to come in 2020
• The Interstate Commerce Clause and how it’s affecting the cannabis market
• How Oregon passed SB 582 and the doors it opens for licensed businesses in-state 
• Exciting new developments Khurshid foresees taking place in 2020 as well as areas to practice caution
• Whether or not Sacramento politicians can remedy the budget deficit and debt situation in California
• Khurshid’s advice to those looking to enter the California cannabis market