Innovating Cannabis Podcast

Today, our guest is Jason Adelstone, an attorney with Harris Sliwoski. He joins the podcast to break down the legal chaos affecting the cannabis and hemp industries. We dive into a new potential hemp loophole, the latest on 280E, Thailand's reversal of its cannabis laws, the pros and cons of pursuing a DEA license for future international trade, and the rise in product recalls—along with who ultimately bears the liability.

https://harris-sliwoski.com/

Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, and marketing and PR specialist in...

How many cannabis companies do you know that have been around for 26 years—and are still thriving?

Today, we meet BigMike, founder and CEO of Advanced Nutrients. His story begins in California, where, in his twenties, he started cultivating cannabis. At the time, the big fertilizer companies were too afraid to develop products specifically for the cannabis industry—but BigMike knew that what worked for tomatoes and cucumbers didn't work for cannabis.

Determined, he assembled a team of top plant scientists to develop the world's most advanced cannabis nutrients—an approach that remains the backbone of the...

As the cannabis industry evolves, so does the technology shaping its future. Innovations from outside sectors are being adapted and refined to meet the unique challenges of cannabis production.

One of the newest breakthroughs is X-ray technology for microbial remediation. Unlike chemical or fog-based methods—which interact with terpene and cannabinoid compounds, potentially degrading flavor and aroma—X-ray penetrates the whole flower while leaving cannabinoids and terpenes untouched.

Today, we’re joined by Jeff Adams, founder of XRPure, and Joseph Bancheri, the company’s head of business development. They’ll walk us through how XRPure’s X-ray reme...

Rama Mayo is the co-founder of Hall of Flowers, one of the most influential B2B trade shows in the cannabis industry, bringing brands and retailers together in California for the past eight years. The show recently made its New York debut, and Rama joins us to share how the East Coast industry received it.

We also dive into the cultural and brand differences between the West and East Coasts — and explore how both markets can collaborate to support each other’s growth.

With more than two decades immersed in California’s cannabis scene — and a backgr...

Jason Ambrosino, the founder of Veterans Holdings, a leading B2B cannabis manufacturer and supply partner, producing bulk distillate, rosin, crude oil, BHO, infused pre-rolls, and finished goods for licensed dispensaries, brands, and distributors across New York. Jason is also a member of the Association of New York Cannabis Processors and mentors and advises numerous operators on business strategy and operations. 

He is very vocal in informing the Office of Cannabis Management and elected officials on the economics of cannabis and his challenges as a business owner. Jason is not shy about sharing his insights and opinions o...

Darren Gleeman is the Managing Partner of MBO Ventures, an investment firm that works exclusively with Employee Stock Ownership Plans, or ESOPS. He believes ESOPS could be the golden ticket for cannabis companies looking to boost profit margins- especially as debt comes due and financial pressures mount. While the process can be complex, the benefits are substantial: the government actively supports ESOPS and even subsidizes them by eliminating state and federal tax obligations for companies that participate. Darren breaks it all down for us in this episode.

Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel...

As the cannabis industry matures, setting standards is the next critical step toward ensuring consumer safety and preparing for scalability and global trade.

In this episode, I speak with Darwin Millard, Technical Director and standards development expert at Cannabis Safety and Quality (CSQ) — an accredited safety and quality management certification program that supports businesses across the entire supply chain, from seed to sale.

Darwin breaks down the standards being developed for each sector. He explains why companies should begin implementing them now to stay ahead of regulations, scale efficiently, and compete in an increasingly global ma...

Today I'm talking with Ryan Crandall, Chief Commercial Officer for MariMed, the MSO with operations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Maryland.

We discussed their operations in various states, including their plans to outfit facilities for GMP certification in Maryland, product development and R&D processes, the addition of functional ingredients to products, and their interest in the hemp beverage space.

https://www.marimedinc.com

Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, and marketing and PR specialist in the cannabis industry. Get in touch to...

What does it take to ship cannabis around the world? My guest today, Yoram Eshel, is CEO of Cannabilog, a company leading the way in global cannabis transportation a. nd logistics. After a long career in the pharmaceutical industry, managing the movement of products across continents, Yoram came out of retirement to apply his expertise in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry and launched Cannabilog.

In this episode, Yoram shares his playbook for building a compliant, efficient, and scalable supply chain for global cannabis import and export trade.

https://cannabilog.com/

I...

Today, I’m excited to welcome Shawn Sherman, a longtime player in California’s cannabis market. Shawn began his journey as both a cultivator and a delivery service operator, and today he’s the founder of Golden Apple Cannabis—a manufacturing, distribution, and retail operation based in Paso Robles, California, the state’s second-largest wine country after Napa.

 In our conversation, Shawn shares his approach to maintaining product quality, his collaborations with craft farmers to bring the best products to market, and his plans for a terpene tasting room aimed at educating consumers and elevating the cannabis retail expe...

Nick Tanem is a true OG in the cannabis extraction space, widely credited with coining the term "solventless" and pioneering the rosin, resin, and exotic concentrate movement that defines today's market. He's a founding council member and instructor for the Ganjier certification program, travels the world judging cannabis competitions, and shares his knowledge of hash-making with the next generation of extractors.

In this episode, Nick discusses his company, Essential Extracts, and its premium concentrates, which are available in New Jersey, California, and Colorado. He also shares tips on how to win a cannabis cup, preserving t...

Today’s guest is Claudio Miranda, a longtime operator in California’s cannabis market dating back to the days before Prop 215. He co-founded Guild Extracts, one of the state’s pioneering extraction companies, and is now the co-founder of Budist—a consumer rating app often described as the Wine Spectator of cannabis for the depth of education and expertise it provides.

Claudio joins me to discuss Budist’s recent partnership with MJBiz to launch the first-ever bi-coastal cannabis competition, The MJBowl, with winners set to be honored live on stage at MJBizCon this December 4th. Rather than pitting re...

I'm your host, Pam Chmiel. In addition to producing and hosting this podcast, I'm also a journalist—you can find links to my work and contact information in the show notes.

Today's guest is Flavia Cassani, who, along with her husband Mikey, co-founded Flow Kana in 2015 to champion sun-grown craft farmers in California's Emerald Triangle. At its peak, Flow Kana was the state's largest cannabis brand. But after taking on partners, they faced a hostile takeover and were ultimately pushed out of the company.

After stepping away and spending time in Euro...

My guest today is Todd Shapiro, CEO of Red Light Holland, a company at the forefront of cultivating and selling legal magic truffles in the Netherlands’ recreational market.

Red Light Holland is taking a multi-pronged approach to advancing psilocybin legalization—both as a therapeutic tool and a recreational product.

Todd shares insights into the company’s strategy in the Netherlands, their expansion into Canada with mushroom grow kits and functional gummies, and their groundbreaking partnership with Irvine Labs in California, a DEA-registered facility analyzing imported Red Light Holland truffles from the Netherlands.

https...

Alec Dixon is a lead judge for the Emerald Cup and co-founder of SC Testing Labs in California, Michigan, Arizona, and Colorado.

For 15 years, SC Labs has tested hundreds of thousands of strains of cannabis and hemp, and learned a tremendous amount about the averages versus potentials on how the plant expresses itself.

He shares insights into the characteristics of Emerald Cup-winning strains, and what is needed to take cannabis cultivation and products to the next level and what makes quality cannabis.

Alec believes the craft industry is in danger of survival without...

Our guest today is Kevin Jodrey, a renowned cultivator from Humboldt County, founder of Wonderland Nursery, head of the R&D lab for Cookies genetics, and co-founder of Ganjier, to name a few accomplishments. 

We discuss the recent white papers from Abstrax Tech about their discovery that scientifically proves low-concentration flavorants like aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and sulfurs are responsible for the aroma of cannabis- not terpenes. 

Kevin talks about the opportunities, nuances, and challenges of manipulating these volatile compounds in breeding, cultivation, and extraction processes. He also reminds us not to chase the shiny object an...

Today, we meet Ben Burstein, head of M&A and strategic partnerships at Leaflink. A leading wholesale cannabis commerce platform that connects brands and retailers by providing a digital marketplace where retailers can discover brands, place wholesale orders, and manage their inventory.

We dive into the operational challenges of inventory management, identify emerging market performers, examine wholesale sales trends, and explore which states are emerging as opportunities for brands, as well as the long-term growth projections for the market.

https://www.leaflink.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminburstein/

Innovating...

Michael Sassano, a former Wall Street banker turned real estate developer, is known in the US for building 16 large-scale cultivation facilities in Nevada. He left for Europe in 2019 to get a head start in the European cannabis market and launched Somai, a cannabinoid pharmaceutical company based in Lisbon, Portugal. Currently operating in 12 countries, Michael plans to be in 18 by year-end.

We discuss his global strategy and the obstacles he faces as a multi-country operator.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/somaipharma

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsassano3/

Innovating Cannabis is produced a...

As Europe builds out a medically driven cannabis market, Sita Schubert is helping lead the charge. She's the founder and Secretary General of the EU Medical Cannabis Association and a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with a legal background. Her consultancy played a key role in helping Tilray establish itself as a leading operator in the German market.

In this episode, we discuss the current state of the European cannabis industry, what it takes for outsiders to successfully enter the market, steps needed to harmonize regulations across international borders, and insights from her participation at the recent Global...

Today on The Mary Jane Society, we're joined by Shane Johnson, a Stanford-trained medical doctor and accomplished biotech entrepreneur. Shane is the co-founder of BayMedica, a pioneering manufacturer of rare and minor cannabinoid ingredients known for their exceptional purity, consistency, and scalability traits critical to the future of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid products.

BayMedica was acquired by InMed Pharmaceuticals, a NASDAQ-listed, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Canada. InMed is developing a robust pipeline of proprietary small molecule drug candidates that target the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system. Their current research programs focus on therapeutic t...

The Cannabis Media Council was founded to build bridges between the cannabis industry and mainstream media, elevate advertising standards, and help shift public perception through strategic public service announcements. Acting as a think tank of forward-thinking industry leaders, the Council believes in collaboration over competition—sharing knowledge and resources to make sure that all boats rise.

Today, I’m joined by co-founder Amy Deneson to explore the mission behind the Cannabis Media Council, its operations, and the impact it wants to make across media, marketing, and culture.

https://www.cannabismediacouncil.com/

https...

Today, we will learn about a potentially groundbreaking digital platform called The Cancer Playbook that could accelerate cannabis medicine for cancer treatment and redefine how patients, doctors, and researchers approach cancer care.

Joining me are Jamie Bennett, Founder and Director of Operations, and Ryan Castle, Director of Research at The Cancer Playbook and Whole Health Oncology Institute.

In today's episode, we'll explore:

Abstrax Tech is a leading terpene research, formulation, and manufacturing company renowned for its proprietary analytical technology and scientific breakthroughs. 

Most recently, the team made headlines for discovering a new class of volatile aromatic compounds responsible for the unmistakable skunky scent of cannabis. Abstrax recreates precise and authentic terpene profiles that reflect the original plant by reverse-engineering each strain and flavor from scratch. 

Today, we're joined by TJ Martin, Vice President of R&D at Abstrax Tech, to explore what it takes to partner with Abstrax and build a standout vape brand.

 https://abs...

Bud and Mary_Duncan Mackie. PhD                                                                                                                                                                                   Director of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Duncan Mackie, Director of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Bud & Mary's—an MSO with operations in Colorado, Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri.

Under Dr. Mackie’s leadership, Bud & Mary’s became the first cannabis company and multi-state operator to obtain a DEA research license—marking a major milestone for the industry.

With a PhD in pharmacology and deep expertise in drug discovery, molecular biology, and G-protein-coupled receptor pharmacology, Dr. Mackie is advancing our understanding of cannabinoids and their interaction with the endocannabinoid system. His work is helping to identify novel drug targe...

Today, we're welcoming the team behind Vitabudz — a NYC legacy street brand making the leap into the legal cannabis market. Founded by brothers Jullian and Rich Murray, Vitabudz has teamed up with veteran cultivator Aaron Field to bring their passion for top-shelf, regeneratively grown cannabis to the New York marketplace.

Their story is rooted in experience — with Jullian, Rich, and Aaron honing their cultivation skills in Colorado and California before returning home to New York, ready to take on the state's fast-growing legal industry. We dive into Aaron's sustainable farming practices, the Murray brothers' journey from the stre...

Today's guest is Dr. Avery Gilbert, a Sensory Scientist with roots in the luxury perfume industry. He's worked with major global brands and now brings his expertise to the cannabis space, helping companies elevate their products through sensory research and R&D.

In this episode, we explore what truly defines a luxury product—beyond just price or packaging. From wine to perfume, luxury goods share common threads: craftsmanship, culture, technology, media, retail experience, and the art of blending. Cannabis brands can reach luxury status if done the right way.

We'll break down these elements to un...

Josh Krane is heading cultivation and manufacturing operations for one of NJ's top brands, Garden Greens. He brought his expertise from California, where he started in the medical market and transitioned into rec. He and his partners launched Field Extracts, which won multiple awards, the Emerald Cup, and Masters of Rosin, and then sold the company to GlassHouse Farms in 2019. He also ran 4 Front Ventures California operations for few years before setting his sights on the East coast.

Join us as Josh talks about how he is running one of NJ's top cultivation facilities and brands, and...

Today, we're talking about sensory science and its crucial role in R&D product development. While this methodology has been widely used for decades in the hops, beer, food, beverage, and perfume industries, the cannabis industry is just beginning to tap into its potential.

Our guest today is Marshall Ligare, Ph.D., former Research Scientist and Product Development Lead at John I. Haas, one of the world's leading hops suppliers. The beer and hops industry has long relied on sensory science to craft unique and consistent flavor profiles, and Marshall brings a wealth of knowledge on how...

Today, we're discussing cannabis extraction with industry expert Murphy Murri. She has been working in extraction since the early days of legalization in Colorado and has built a reputation as a go-to expert in both solventless and BHO techniques. She helps extraction teams optimize their operations, develop new products, and write SOPs to ensure efficiency and quality. In this episode, we discuss how extractors can fine-tune their processes to preserve important compounds that are easily destroyed, as well as why more brands should apply sensory science to their R&D process for next-level product development. 

https://www.l...

As the beverage industry heats up, convenience store operators are debating about embracing this fast emerging category despite its legal gray area. 

Meet Melissa VonderHaar, she is a nationally recognized expert in the convenience store channel . She regularly writes for the sector, covering stories specifically on cannabis, tobacco, vapor, and alcohol categories, and she speaks on the subject at numerous industry events. She is also Head of Industry Relations for iSEE Store Innovations. Melissa shares important insights on why convenience stores will massively benefit from selling THC drinks, and it may be the tipping point for mass d...

Today, we’re joined by Ian Dyche, Head of Operations at MFNY, a top-selling brand in the NY market with its line of live resin products. A seasoned cultivator with 20 years of experience, Ian honed his craft in California before returning to his home state of New York bringing extensive expertise in large-scale cultivation and processing, specializing in indoor and high-tech, light-assisted greenhouse environments. 

Ian and his teams have earned top honors at the Emerald Cup, Santa Cruz Cup, Cannabis Cup, Hitman’s Best of New York, Long Island Cannabis Cup, New York Rosin Competition, and more. 

J...

When we talk about crafting the best cannabis products, we often focus on extraction and preserving key compounds. But what happens in the curing process is just as crucial—if not more—when it comes to manipulating and enhancing a strain's unique characteristics.

Joe Edwards knows a lot about this and has engineered decontamination and curing technology for Yofumo where he is the chief science officer. He is a biochemist, engineer, and expert on various agricultural systems and operations. He has won multiple awards for his post-harvest curation methodologies. Join us as we geek out and get deep...

Today, our guest is Tom Cortez, CEO of Emergent Beverages, a seed-to-shelf company specializing in hemp-infused beverages. With a team of veterans from the alcohol industry, Emergent develops its own brands—like Calexio—while also helping other companies with brand development, manufacturing, and distribution. We’ll be talking about the growing hemp beverage market and what it takes to succeed in this space.

https://www.emergentbeverage.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-cortez-851b4610/

Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, and marketing and PR specialist in the...

Every cannabis market has its own unique path to legalization, and Washington, DC, is no exception. Terrance White, CEO of the luxury dispensary Monko, joins us to discuss the city's evolving cannabis landscape. As the former chairman of the I-71 committee (more on that), he has played a key role in shaping DC's cannabis regulations. Now, as he prepares to open his second location—complete with a cultivation license—he shares his mission to destigmatize cannabis through high-end dispensary experiences and position DC as a world-class cannabis destination.

https://monko.co/

Innovating Canna...

High Tide, the company responsible for Canna Cabana, the largest cannabis retail brand in Canada with over 190 retail locations, has officially entered the German cannabis market with its recent acquisition of Purecan- a German manufacturer and distributor with a license to import cannabis. They also announced they are actively seeking to participate in Germany's pilot retail program scheduled to launch in 2025, hoping to bring their Canna Cabana retail brand to Germany. High Tide's Chief Communications Officer, Omar Khan, joins the Mary Jane Society podcast to discuss this exciting expansion into the German market and discuss their multi-pronged approach to it...

Johns Hopkins University, renowned for its world-class medical program, established the Cannabis Science Lab (CSL) a number of years ago, but its research has become increasingly critical as the US government continues to neglect its duty in this area, hindering the industry's growth and economic development. Armed with a Schedule 1 research license, access to state-of-the-art cognitive testing equipment, an in-house pharmacy capable of formulating various products, and a reliable supply of high-quality cannabis flower and extracts, the Lab is well-equipped to conduct rigorous investigations. 

Today our guest is Professor Ryan Vandrey, one of the esteemed professors, researchers, a...

BevNET is a media company focused on the mainstream beverage industry that includes producing one of the country's top beverage industry trade shows in Los Angeles and NYC each year. BevNet also creates CPG food and drink-focused podcasts, networking events, and a print magazine. I interviewed BevNet's founder, John Craven, to get insights into the mainstream beverage industry that might be applied to cannabis beverages. If you are thinking of launching a cannabis beverage or want insights into the sector-- listen in. John is a sought after expert on beverages and drops knowledge worth listening to.

 https://w...

 PHCANN International is one of a handful of European vertically integrated cannabis companies leading the way in establishing a trusted medical-first cannabis market. Last year, they partnered with Mike Tyson 2.0 to launch his products into the EU medical market.

Today, our guest is Sasho Stephanoski, CEO of PHCANN. We talked about the European cannabis landscape and PHCANNs partnership with Mike Tyson.

https://phcann.com/

Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, and marketing and PR specialist in the cannabis industry. Get...

Red Light Holland, a publicly traded company based in Canada, has been a trailblazer in the legal cultivation and sale of psilocybin truffles in the Netherlands for years. They also have a business selling functional mushroom grow kits for home use worldwide.

Today, our guest is Sarah Hashkes, Red Light Holland's Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, to talk about their app, imicrodose, a journaling app they developed to gain insights into the usage and benefits of psilocybin microdosing they can use to support the development of global standards and regulations in the psychedelics industry.

RLH...

Kyle Page grew up in the NYC and NJ area before being sent to a Kansas prison on marijuana charges for 8 years until the Last Prisoner Project intervened and got him released. They also helped him land a job with Ascend Wellness in their NJ cultivation operations. Kyle rapidly moved through the ranks into a top cultivation position. This year, Ascend Wellness is setting him up with his own dispensary called East Coast in Dank.

This is a happy ending for someone who served time in federal prison for selling marijuana and turned things around to open...