Blunt Business

In what is being hailed as a "watershed moment" for the cannabis industry, President Trump has officially signed an executive order to move cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 of the Controlled Substances Act.

This historic shift, which follows a bipartisan initiation process started by the Biden administration, formally recognizes the plant's medical benefits for the first time in over 50 years.

Beyond rescheduling,...

Attorney Joshua Bauchner is back to talk about the potential reclassification of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, spurred by reports of an impending executive order from President Trump.

While the move is seen as a beneficial step for research, both speakers and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Normal) prefer full declassification, expressing concern that reclassification could stall further refor...

Ryan Hurley, founder of Litix Legal, discusses the "full swing market correction" in the Arizona cannabis industry, stressing the critical need for lean, compliant operations for survival.

He introduced Litix Legal's model of "killing the billable hour" through flat, subscription-based rates, making legal services more accessible and predictable for businesses burdened by costs like Section 280E.

Hurley cautione...

Blunt Business speaks with Joel Latham, CEO of Incannex Healthcare (NASDAQ: IXHL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the use of proprietary combination medicines.

Latham breaks down their strategy of fusing synthetic cannabinoids and well-characterized active drug components to target chronic conditions with significant unmet needs, emphasizing a robust intellectual property posit...

Blunt Business welcomes back Paul Weaver, Director and Head of Cannabis at the Boston Beer Company, to Blunt Business to discuss the expansion of their Emerald Hour cannabis line, which now includes cocktail-inspired THC gummies made with live rosin, launching in Ontario and Alberta following last year's beverage debut.

Paul explained the company’s bifurcated cannabis strategy, focusing on Teapot for mainstre...

Jackson Rund, a recipient of the DaySavers Higher Potential Scholarship and co-founder of Higher State Brands, shared his journey in the cannabis industry. He overcame felony charges at 17 to pursue his passion, earning dual bachelor's degrees in cannabis chemistry and business.

Rund's company, Higher State Brands, focuses on technology and beverages, including dispensary software and a hemp-...

LeafLink CEO Ashwin Raj discusses the changes for their customers involve a shift back to a flat-fee pricing model from a usage-based structure.

discuss the company's shift in its pricing model. Leaf Link is reverting from an unpopular usage-based structure back to a flat-fee structure and simplifying its product tiers from three to a Starter and a Pro package.

We also discuss Ashwin's backgr...

Founder and Chief Communications Officer of Cornbread Hemp and Cornbread Mafia Author Jim Higdon discusses the critical federal threat to the $28.4 billion hemp industry posed by a minibus appropriations bill seeking to ban hemp-derived THC nationwide, noting the government shutdown provides a temporary advocacy opportunity and highlighting that Florida has three congressional members on the relevant...

Daniela Williams, Chief Growth Officer for Paylient, discusses the critical role of HR and the benefits of the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) model in the cannabis industry.

Daniela detailed how PEOs like Paylient manage HR complexities, ensure compliance with labor laws, and mitigate risks through a co-employment model, allowing businesses to offload administrative tasks while retaining operational control.

She further e...

Shabbaz K Virani, Co-Founder of The Cannabis Collective and a key speaker at the upcoming Business of Cannabis NY event, delves into the dynamic New York cannabis market.

We cover the market's rapid growth, compliance and regulatory hurdles, the crucial role of Dr. June Chin, the new Chief Medical Officer at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, and the modernization of medical cannabis programs.

SKV also highlights ...

Zakiya Watson-Caffe, principal attorney at Watson Law LLC, and Rancheros Fortune, Founder and CEO of Good Fortune Group, discussed the lawsuit "Grassroots Association Incorporated versus the state of Georgia."

This lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the Georgia Hemp Farming Act (SB 494) due to federal preemption, burdensome licensing requirements, and significant revenue losses exper...

MJBizCon is evolving to offer a more consumer-focused experience, introducing initiatives like the MJBowl, a bi-coastal cannabis competition, and hosting offsite consumption events at NuWu. This shift aims to gather consumer feedback and integrate the consumer aspect into the "seed to sale" lifecycle. Emilie Lewis, Senior Vice President & Brand Leader, MJBiz and VP of Sales Harrison Radie...

Jason Little, Lead of The Cannabis Practice Team at Farrell Fritz, returns to discuss the recent federal appeals court ruling that New York State's cannabis licensing criteria, which excluded individuals with federal or out-of-state cannabis convictions from receiving priority, were likely unconstitutional.

They also discussed how tariffs impact the cannabis industry and how potential federal tax...

Blunt Business welcomes Darren Gleeman, author of "The Cannabis ESOP Architect," to discuss how Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) offer a revolutionary, IRS-approved, zero-tax exit strategy for cannabis businesses, making the 280E tax irrelevant.

Darren explained that ESOPs are the only significant M&A activity in the cannabis sector, fostering employee engagement and retention by tu...

Blunt Business welcomes Melissa Hanson, Flowhub's new VP of Operations, to discuss their new e-commerce platform, which aims to power online cannabis retail growth.

Melissa, leveraging her 20 years of retail experience, explained that the platform was designed by former Wayfair experts to streamline dispensary operations by removing the need for multiple vendors and ensuring live inventory and de...

Corinne Butler discusses Azuca's "2025 Edibles Premiumization Report," which highlights that premium cannabis is defined by efficacy and that consumers are willing to pay more for fast-acting edibles due to their predictability and consistent experience.

Corinne detailed how Azuca's encapsulation method ensures fast-acting effects (5-15 minutes) and preserves Delta-9 THC, addressing common inconsistencies in traditi...

Joe Ziolkowski, CEO of Relm Insurance delves into the evolving landscape of insurance for emerging and high-risk industries. They specifically addressed the significant insurance gaps for THC beverages and the prevalent underinsurance within the broader cannabis sector. Ziolkowski highlighted Relm Insurance's strategic diversification within the cannabis market, expanding its operations and achieving 50-state Managing General A...

Rama Mayo, the Founder of Hall of Flowers, discussed the upcoming Hall of Flowers events coming to Santa Rosa, California (site of their very first event) as well as hosting their first New York show and its significance for the cannabis industry. Hall of Flowers, a B2B cannabis trade show, has garnered significant praise, particularly for its California events.

Rama shares his and his team's connection to New York City and prov...

Cannabis Tax Attorney James B Mann highlights the ongoing frustration within the cannabis industry due to persistent delays in legalization and reform, particularly concerning the SAFER Banking Act and Section 280E.

James addresses the perceived ineffectiveness of current lobbying efforts and explores various legal challenges to Section 280E, noting instances where companies have successfully disputed its application and received ta...