Blunt Business

Cat Packer, Director of Drug Markets and Legal Regulation, Drug Policy Alliance joins Blunt Business for a 2-part interview where we first discuss the need for a comprehensive approach to cannabis policy reform that prioritizes social equity and harm reduction. We talk about the importance of addressing social equity concerns, such as the concentration of unlicensed activity in local jurisdictions, and responsible and equitable enf...

Robert Hoban, Chair, Cannabis Practice, Clark Hill discusses the current state of cannabis legalization and industry development. We also discuss recent halts in licensing due to court decisions and Robert sharing his firm's expansion into the European Union. We also highlight discussed difficulties faced in New York's licensing process, challenges in social equity licensing, and legal and regulatory obstacles. We also deba...

Blunt Business welcomes Jeffrey Harris, the CEO of springbig to discuss the importance of loyalty programs in the cannabis industry, We follow up on Springbig's growth and expansion to over 3000 retail locations. We also look into the challenges and opportunities in the industry, including investment strategies, regulatory changes, and tax benefits. Both emphasized the need for convenient payment solutions and loyalty programs ...

Adam Wilks, CEO of Carma HoldCo is back on Blunt Business to talk about his work operating his global licensing company behind the nation’s fastest-growing celebrity brands, working with icons like Mike Tyson (Tyson 2.0), Ric Flair (Ric Flair Drip and Wooo Energy drinks), Future (EVOL) and Hulk Hogan (Immortal) to turn their cannabis brands into lucrative businesses.

Blunt Business speaks with the dynamic managing partners of Galaxy 1, Rick and Michelle Ringold. We hear about their option to enter the Illinois cannabis market through the social equity pathway given met the qualifying criteria but has set a new standard. Join us as they share their insights into building craft grow facilities that support non-multi-state operators, emphasizing their commitment to social equity in the cannabis in...

David Standa, partner at Greenspoon Marder, takes us on a journey through the intricacies of Minnesota's adult-use cannabis rollout. As a seasoned advisor in the cannabis industry, Mr. Standa shares insights into the challenges faced by the state, from issues of illegal possession to delayed dispensary openings and the crucial role played by the Cannabis Control Board.

Delving into the peculiarities of Minnesota's cannabis p...

Blunt Business speaks with Christian Chavez, the seasoned CEO of Statis Cannabis Co., who brings 17 years of real estate expertise, including a robust 5-year stint in the cannabis industry. We delve deep into the intricate world of cannabis licensing, funding, and social equity challenges, specifically focusing on the burgeoning cannabis scene in New York.

The discussion unfolds through key topics such as social equity licensing, ob...

Blunt Business gets an exclusive account on Opening a Dispensary After Winning The Illinois Social Equity Cannabis Lottery with one of those social equity applicants. Shankar Ramakrishnan is COO of Indus365, the company behind Mystic Greenz. . Central Illinois has been transformed by the opening of Mystic Greenz’ inaugural dispensary in Macon County, marking a significant shift in the region’s cannabis landscape. Located near the D...

Blunt Business speaks with Dr. Benjamin Caplan, a distinguished family medicine doctor and member of the American Medical Association, who has overseen the healthcare journey of over 250,000 patients exploring the benefits of medical cannabis. Dr. Caplan recently published "The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook," delving into the safe use of cannabis for managing various conditions like cognitive decline, cancer, chronic pa...

Brian Sullivan, CEO of Indoor Ag-Con fills us in on details of their upcoming Indoor Ag-Con, the premier trade show and conference dedicated to vertical farming, greenhouse, and controlled environment agriculture. Returning to Caesars Forum in Las Vegas on March 11-12 for its 11th annual event  

For the first time, Indoor Ag-Con introduces a dedicated Cannabis Conference track for cultivators. Sullivan provides a sneak peek into the...

Blunt Business welcomes back Arthur de Cordova, CEO & Co-Founder of Ziel, who takes us on a journey through the remarkable advancements since our last encounter, specifically highlighting APEX 7. This seventh-generation technology stands as an organic natural kill step, effectively annihilating harmful bacteria in cannabis with minimal THC loss and an impressive 3x throughput compared to competitors. Join us as we explore the f...

Blunt Business delves into the concept of Fractional CMOs and Prioritizing Marketing Strategy and Execution with Laurie Parfitt, CEO & Principal: of LKP Impact Consulting. 

Laurie works with cannabis and consumer products companies on brand strategy/design, consumer insights, and commercial go-to-market strategy. Parfitt’s background includes experience in large-scale, integrated cross-channel marketing and experience campaigns,...

Blunt Business reflects the ongoing congressional gridlock of federal legalization efforts and the need for more voices to reach a larger public to counteract the constant attacks made by lobbying efforts and the negative media coverage. We also look forward to the pending DEA schedule change and what it will bring to the industry in 2024.

Cannabis Podcasts Compared and Contrasted and the pressing subjects as we speak with Sean Hocking, owner of the Karma Koala Podcast and Cannabis Law Report, National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium. 

Sean Hocking boasts a rich and accomplished career spanning over 25 years in the professional and legal publishing, as well as bookselling industry.

His journey began in the late 80s when he took his first steps behind the counter a...

Todd Davis, CEO of the Index Corporation and founder of CBD Unlimited, discusses the journey of getting CBD products into major drugstores and the challenges faced along the way. He emphasizes the importance of hiring the right people and collaborating with mass retail buyers to pave the way for CBD products to be accepted on store shelves. Todd also highlights the difficulties of advertising CBD products due to strict regulations ...

Blunt Business welcomes Keshawn Warner, the co-founder of Dazed Cannabis who Went From originally Being Arrested For Cannabis To Leading A Multi-Million Dollar Dispensary in Dazed Cannabis. 

Taking cues from legendary hip-hop moments, the atmosphere and branding of Dazed Cannabis infuse old-school vibes with bright and modern elements. From dope merch, curated playlists, celebrity-hosted events, and meet & greets, the brand is b...

Katie Neer, Of Counsel at Dickinson & Avella joins us on Blunt Business to discuss New York State and Their Cannabis Compliance Challenges. We go in-depth on a NY Cannabis Insider investigation which found labs were reportedly breaking rules for reporting pesticides and other contaminants as well as companies misreporting numbers and selling cannabis that has failed tests.

We also talk about the education, training, and licensi...

DC Legacy Operators Fight for Cannabis Legalization and Social Equity. Today to dive into this our guest is Terence White, the CEO and founder of the cannabis lifestyle brand Monko and the chairman of the I 71 Committee. We'll be discussing the unique challenges and opportunities of operating a cannabis business in Washington, DC, and the implications for the wider industry.