"Navigating Highs and Lows with Aaron Miles: Verano's Investment Strategy Unveiled"
In the latest episode of the "Proud to Work in Cannabis" podcast, listeners were treated to an engaging and insightful conversation with Aaron Miles, the Chief Investment Officer at Verano.
Aaron talks to Karson Humiston about his unexpected journey into the cannabis industry, which began with a serendipitous text message while celebrating his 40th birthday in Italy. Despite initial skepticism, Aaron's curiosity about the industry's potential led him to pivot from a traditional corporate path at Pier One Imports to the dynamic world of cannabis at Cresco Labs, and eventually to his current role at Verano.
Throughout the episode, Aaron provided a candid look into the complexities of taking a cannabis company public, the nuances of navigating the industry's unique challenges, and the strategic moves Verano has made to position itself for future opportunities, including uplisting to the CSE. He emphasized the importance of being prepared for the U.S. capital markets and the potential impact of federal legislative changes on the industry.
Aaron also shared his personal connection to the medicinal benefits of cannabis, reflecting on a family member's struggle with addiction and how it shaped his perspective on the plant's potential as a safer alternative to opiates.
The episode concluded with a discussion on the current scale of Verano, its operations across multiple states, and Aaron's optimistic outlook on the future of cannabis legislation. His passion for the industry was evident as he spoke about the broader implications of cannabis legalization, including job creation, community investment, and the potential for groundbreaking medical research. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-miles/ https://www.verano.com/
TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 - Podcast Introduction
00:00:11 - Attempting to Connect with Aaron Miles
00:00:28 - Aaron's Health and Company Challenges
00:00:44 - Post-MJBiz Plague and COVID
00:01:15 - Aaron's History with MJBiz
00:01:26 - Comparing MJBiz Attendance
00:01:36 - Aaron's Role as Chief Investment Officer
00:01:54 - Unexpected Entry into Cannabis
00:02:16 - Transition from Newspaper to Cannabis
00:02:38 - A Text Message That Changed Everything
00:03:09 - Analyzing the Cannabis Industry's Potential
00:03:30 - Joining Cresco Labs
00:04:01 - Learning the Cannabis Ropes
00:04:12 - Moving to Verano
00:04:34 - Verano's Stage When Aaron Joined
00:04:48 - Verano's Late Public Market Entry
00:05:30 - Preparing Verano for Public Listing
00:06:34 - Aaron's Multifaceted Role at Verano
00:06:59 - Readying for U.S. Capital Markets
00:07:54 - Involvement in M&A and Capital Markets
00:08:47 - Verano's Scale and Operations
00:09:40 - The Role of a Chief Investment Officer
00:09:50 - Verano's Current Business Scale
00:12:04 - The Opportunity Post-Rescheduling
00:12:29 - Anticipating DEA's Confirmation
00:13:17 - Political Landscape and Cannabis
00:13:50 - The Impact of Cannabis Legalization
00:14:15 - The Frustration with Political Obstacles
00:14:25 - The Potential of Rescheduling
00:15:06 - Advocating for Cannabis in D.C.
00:15:38 - The Misconceptions and Education Gap
00:16:30 - The Absurdity of Political Opposition
00:16:59 - The Future of Cannabis Legislation
00:17:49 - Personal Stories and Political Influence
00:18:11 - The Economic Impact of Cannabis
00:19:08 - The Ripple Effect of Dispensary Spending
00:20:02 - Conversations with Cory Booker
00:20:37 - The Generational Divide in Cannabis Per
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