This podcast advocates for businesses in the cannabis industry. Despite hurdles in legislation, regulation, and culture, there are tremendous opportunities for growers, producers and sellers of cannabis products. This podcast helps to bind the ties of businesses looking to buy, sell, partner and support like minded organizations in the industry. We advocate for the cannabis Industry -
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Northern Illinois Hemp Hub Day 2 Cannabis Advocate Podcast The Cannabis Advocate podcast advocates for businesses in the cannabis industry and explores the unique challenges they face. Despite hurdles in legislation, regulation, and culture, there are tremendous opportunities for growers, manufacturers, and retail sellers of cannabis products. Many…
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Northern Illinois Hemp Hub Workshop Day 1
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Northern Illinois Hemp Hub Workshop Day 1 I had the good fortune to explore the world of sustainable construction with a two-day hemp building workshop. The event was hosted by Kifcure and the Northern Illinois Hemp Hub in Maple Park Illinois from June 20th through 21st. Cannabis Advocate Podcast The Cannabis Advocate podcast advocates for business…
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Due to death of my son Tim Helmers, I'm pausing the podcast.
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Cannabis DNA Testing with Josh Wahba #149
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Cannabis DNA Testing with Josh Wahba #149 Since the mapping of the human genome, significant advancements in DNA analysis have been made. One area of expanding research now includes the exploration of cannabis usage, aiming to identify optimal dosing, strains, cannabinoids, and terpenes tailored to individual needs. Today, we are joined by Josh Wah…
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Step 1 For Cannabis Startups, Listen with Claudia Post #148
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Step 1 For Cannabis Startups, Listen with Claudia Post #148 It's no trivial thing to start a business. In the cannabis industry, it's all the more harder. This is why I invited today's guest Claudia Post. Claudia is an entrepreneur, pioneer groundbreaker, speaker, generous introducer, and power connector. Having joined the cannabis industry 13 year…
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Decorative Ruderalis Plants with Angie Moreland #147
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Decorative Ruderalis Plants with Angie Moreland #147 I think Cannabis plants are beautiful. But I've never considered using them for decorating. Our guest today sees them not only as a way to brighten your home but a way to brighten your life. Angie Moreland is the founder and CEO of Growing with Intention where they grow decorative ruderalis and s…
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Hemp Beverage Alliance with Chris Lackner #146
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Hemp Beverage Alliance with Chris Lackner #146 Have you ever tried a hemp drink? It's a unique alternative to pop and alcohol and I believe, it's the next big thing. Our guest today is Chris Lackner, president and CEO of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, whose goal is to make the industry safe and successful. In today's episode, we learn how the alliance…
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Emerging Market of Hempcrete with Cody Ley #145
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Emerging Market of Hempcrete with Cody Ley #145 Our guest today is Cody Ley, a farmer from Michigan and the founder of Hemp 4 Humanity. With a background in Chemistry and experience in the cannabis/hemp industry, Cody started H4H with the goal of creating eco-friendly housing solutions that work with nature. Today, we'll discuss industrial hemp, he…
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Cannabis Marketing Challenges with Sam Fisher #144
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Cannabis Marketing Challenges with Sam Fisher #144 So, today we're diving into the nitty-gritty of cannabis marketing. The industry's got its challenges. It's like walking through a maze while juggling. It's still federally illegal, and guess what? Tech giants like Instagram, Facebook, and Google are playing hard to get. It's like they're the cool …
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Grand Opening of Your Budz CBD Bakery with Nathanial Stende
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Grand Opening of Your Budz CBD Bakery with Nathanial Stende Do you ever thought about starting a CBD bakery? Nathanial Bender did! He's the mastermind behind Your Budz, the new CBD bakery sensation in Chicago. This guy's juggling raising capital and battling with city licenses, all while whipping up CBD-infused goodies. And get this, during our cha…
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Botanical and Hemp rolling papers with Alex Boone #142
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Botanical and Hemp rolling papers with Alex Boone #142 Our guest today is Alex Boone. Alex is the Managing Director of Botani. With more than 20 years of experience within SWM, Alex has led sales, marketing, and product development teams for North American and international markets. In 2018, Alex was instrumental in helping SWM International, a lea…
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Cannabis Baking Startup with Ebony Jones #141
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Cannabis Baking Startup with Ebony Jones #141 Ever felt the urge to experiment with cannabis-infused baking? Today, we’re joined by Ebony Jones, a passionate advocate for cannabis education, a skilled chef, and an ordained minister. Ebony proudly owns 8twenty8.llc in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she specializes in crafting from scratch desserts, hosting …
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How To Sell In the Cannabis Industry with Jason Hadley Today you will learn how to sell in the cannabis industry. My guest is Jason Hadley from FILTR, a company that specializes in filtering microbes from the air. Jason and I talk about the issues with selling, lead gen, relationship building, referrals, and references. Lighthouse Worldwide Solutio…
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Fully Baked Startup with Molly-Ruth Visco #139
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Fully Baked Startup with Molly-Ruth Visco #139 In today's episode, we return to the Fox.Build Makerspace studio in St. Charles. Our guest is Molly-Ruth Visco, the former Marketing and Education manager and President of Fully Baked Brands. Fully Baked is a new social equity cannabis infuser coming to the Illinois market. Her journey has been filled …
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Cannabis Virtual CFO Services with Guillermo Rodriguez #138
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Cannabis Virtual CFO Services with Guillermo Rodriguez #138 Summit Virtual CFO by Anders offers Virtual CFO services to small- to medium-sized businesses and specializes in the cannabis industry. Guillermo Rodriguez is their lead Virtual CFO and Guillermo will be hosting a new podcast in 2024 called CannaBiz Success Show. The audience for this show…
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How To Stay on the Right Side of Cannabis Law with Jim Ickes #137
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How To Stay on the Right Side of Cannabis Law with Jim Ickes #137 How can you ensure you're on the right side of the cannabis law? It's tough given the constant pulling and pushing of government regulation winds. Our guest is Jim Ickes from Zuber Lawler. I met Jim at Benzinga and today we talk about areas of grey in cannabis law and Jim's CBD start…
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How To Invest in a Cannabis ETF with Dan Ahrens #136
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How To Invest in a Cannabis ETF with Dan Ahrens #136 Capital investment has been on pause over the last few years as the industry waits for federal legalization. This has created a difficult situation for startups and cannabis investors. In this episode, we meet Dan Ahrens the Managing Director at AdvisorShares Investments. Advisor Shares provides …
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Business Broker for Cannabis Clients with Andy Lock #135
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Business Broker for Cannabis Clients with Andy Lock #135 Are you looking for help to line up capital? Are you on the cusp of a merger or an acquisition? Do you need to have your company valuated? If so our guest Andy Lock is a guy that can help broker the deal. Andy is the Director of Business Development at Viridian Capital Advisors. Viridian clai…
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Zen Leaf Roller Startup Journey #134 In this episode, we meet Bill Beauclair and Jon Allen from Zen Leaf Roller. The Zen Leaf Roller is a tool that teaches how to hand-roll marijuana joints simply and easily. I've used this device and found it a fun way to make a repeatable and smokable product. Today we discuss Bill and Jon's journey. challenges a…
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Visiting the Cannabis School Podcast #132
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Visiting the Cannabis School Podcast #132 In this episode, we meet Brandon Elder and Jessie Angeles of the Cannabis School Podcast. I've been a long-time fan of their podcast and today we delve into the origin of the Cannabis School, how they started the podcast, and the impact they have on improving the lives of their listeners. It's such an honor…
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Bettering the World with Cannabis with Mark Cozzi #133
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Bettering the World with Cannabis with Mark Cozzi #133 Today we enter the burgeoning market of Cannabis edibles. Our guest is Mark Cozzi, the founder of a Chicago-based luxury edible brand called The Bettering Company. Mark has a 35-year career in the finance sector, primarily focused on growth companies and startups including 14 years on Wall Stre…
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The Future of Hempwood with Gregg Wilson #131
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The Future of Hempwood with Gregg Wilson #131 Greg Wilson is the founder of Hempwood, a hemp flooring and lumber company from Murray KY. When I think of industrial hemp, Kentucky doesn't immediately come to mind as a place for innovation. But that's not the case. There is a huge opportunity in industrial hemp and Greg is at the forefront of that ma…
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Pat's Favorite Cannabis Drink with Ben Kennedy #130
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Pat's Favorite Cannabis Drink with Ben Kennedy #130 I've tried a lot of cannabis drinks and frankly most of them are horrible. If their not to sweet, they have strange smell, or a chemical aftertaste that I find wretched. With that said I know that I'm not the average customer. I like black coffee, IPAs, and dry wines. I'm the opposite of the targe…
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Cannabis Microdosing with Jason Durnett #129
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Cannabis Microdosing with Jason Durnett #129 Microdosing is taking the “low & slow” approach to cannabis. It refers to titration, the process of finding out how much or how little CBD or THC you need to feel the effects you’re looking for. there’s no such thing as a “standard dose” when it comes to cannabis. Everyone's body reacts differently, and …
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Industrial Hemp and Kifcure with Jarett Burke #128
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Industrial Hemp and Kifcure with Jarett Burke #128 Where can hemp farmers go to sell their harvest? Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, farmer after farmer has grown hemp and struggled to find a place to bring it to market. In this episode returning guest Jarett Burke shares what Kifcure is doing to bring farmers and hemp product manufacturers…
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Industrial Hemp Has Greater Opportunity with Jarett Burke #127
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Industrial Hemp Has Greater Opportunity with Jarett Burke #127 Did you know that hemp is cannabis, genetically the same, but with less THC? CBD comes from hemp. But that's just the start. Hemp can be used for construction materials, insulation, textiles, oils, plastics and much much more. Today we meet Jarett Burke from Kifcure. Jarett walks us thr…
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How To Optimize Cannabis Training with Brett King #126
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How To Optimize Cannabis Training with Brett King #126 What's one of the most difficult challenges when scaling a cannabis business? Training. Well-written and easily accessible training can lower turnover, raise compliance, build customer loyalty, and raise the quality of end products. In this episode, we meet Brett King from Learn Leaf. I met Bre…
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Cannabis Advertising with Jazz Wolk #125 Did you know that every state has a different set of regulations for cannabis advertising? This creates a huge challenge when it comes to promoting a business. In this episode, we travel to Detroit Michigan, and meet Jazz Wolk of Brkthru. Brkthru is a digital marketing agency that specializes in promoting ca…
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The Alchemy of Cannabis Insurance with Megan Kelly #124
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The Alchemy of Cannabis Insurance with Megan Kelly #124 This week we return to the Benzinga Cannabis Capital conference in Chicago and meet Megan Kelly to talk about cannabis insurance. Megan represents Alchemy, a specialty risk program that provides comprehensive policies designed for small to medium-sized cannabis businesses. In this interview, w…
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From Passion to Profit with Custom Cone Founder Harrison Bard #123
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From Passion to Profit with Custom Cone Founder Harrison Bard #123 Last month I attended the Benzinga Cannabis Capital conference in Chicago. It's an event focused on acquiring capital for aspiring cannabis businesses. This year was surprisingly optimistic compared to last year. It's important to remember we're very early in this industry and the s…
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Cannabis Networking at Tony P's #122 Do you want to grow your cannabis network? If you're a frequent listener to the podcast you may recall that many of the guests I've interviewed I originally met at a TonyP event. TonyP's is a cannabis networking meetup that's held monthly in Chicago. On this episode, we have the good fortune to meet the founders…
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The Dawning of Cannabis Drinks with James Hunter #121
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The Dawning of Cannabis Drinks with James Hunter #121 One thing we all have in common is we drink. Hydrating comes second only to breathing. Drinking with family and friends is baked into our culture. But given the desire for healthy choices, past drinks steeped in sugar or alcohol are starting to wane. That's why I'm excited to see a wave of canna…
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The Challenges of Cannabis Regulation with Solomon Hatch #120
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The Challenges of Cannabis Regulation with Solomon Hatch #120 Solomon Hatch is the Illinois Deputy Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office (CROO) administrator. The CROO makes recommendations for administrative and statutory changes and collects data regarding the regulation of cannabis. They also assist in the compilation of any reports required by t…
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Why Cannabis Air Quality Matters with AirAnswers Rachel Reboulet #119
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Why Cannabis Air Quality Matters with AirAnswers Rachel Reboulet #119 Dirty air can be the death knell of an indoor cannabis grow. Technology that can test for pathogens is the first step in mitigating plant harm. In this episode, we meet Rachel Reboulet, the Director of Laboratory Operations for AirAnswers. She is responsible for new and innovativ…
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Launching a New Cannabis Brand, Croquet #118
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Launching a New Cannabis Brand, Croquet #118 One great thing about hosting a cannabis podcast is the opportunity to glimpse new and exciting innovations. Today I would like to share one of these innovations. Last year, at MJBizcon, I met the founder of Croquet. Croquet is a cannabis brand that specializes in striped smoking cones that provide smoke…
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Concierge Cannabis EMS Provider with Amy Nathan #117
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Concierge Cannabis EMS Provider with Amy Nathan #117 Have you ever heard the term scratching your own itch? It's when you experience a problem, solve it, and then realize this could be a business. That's what happened to our guest Amy Nathan. While visiting a cannabis consumption lounge, Amy suffered a traumatic experience. That event birthed the i…
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Challenges in Cannabis Accounting with Daryl Jendras #116
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Challenges in Cannabis Accounting with Daryl Jendras #116 Daryl Jendras is a CPA and managing director at Green Rush who specializes in accounting, tax consulting, advising, and planning specifically in the cannabis space. In this episode, Daryl shares the challenges cannabis businesses face and the things they can do to mitigate their tax burden. …
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Smokebud Community App with K'von Henderson #115
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Smokebud Community App with K'von Henderson #115 In June I met our guest K'von Henderson at NECANN. K'von is creating a new social networking app dedicated to cannabis users. The app is called Smokebud. It's dedicated to connecting nearby smokers looking to have a session with others as well as buy and sell cannabis essentials. In this episode, K'v…
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Cannabis Drink Innovations with Cannalean #114
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Cannabis Drink Innovations with Cannalean #114 Last week I attended the Canna Drinks Expo and was able to sample many different kinds of cannabis drinks. So it's good timing to have the leadership of Cannalean visit the podcasts today. Chris Johnson is the CEO and founder of Cannalean and Kenny Cottrell is the COO and chemist at Cannalean. Together…
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Cannabis OG Advice with Jesse Porter #113
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Cannabis OG Advice with Jesse Porter #113 Moving from the nonregulated market to the regulated cannabis market is not a jump many OG growers were able to successfully make. Our guest is Jesse Porter, one of the few OGs who found success in the legit cannabis industry. His journey in cannabis started in 2004 years ago when his mom was diagnosed with…
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Cannabis Drinks Expo with Ankita Okate #112
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Cannabis Drinks Expo with Ankita Okate #112 Today we meet Ankita Okate from our new sponsor, the Cannabis Drinks Expo. Ankita is a Chief Growth Officer at Beverage Trade Network (BTN). The expo is hosted by the Beverage Trade Network. This event is the largest global gathering of cannabis drinks professionals, bringing together drinks producers, ma…
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Illinois News Joint with Jason Brown #111
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Illinois News Joint with Jason Brown #111 Jason Brown is the Founding Publisher of Illinois News Joint, the premier resource for the Illinois cannabis industry. Jason leads a small group of dedicated news people with a strong passion for the cannabis industry and how it relates to Illinois and beyond. They are committed to providing the most inform…
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Craft Growing Cannabis in Mississippi with Patricia Shall #110
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Craft Growing Cannabis in Mississippi with Patricia Shall #110 In this episode, we meet Patricia Shall, founding partner at One Source Products, a medical cannabis grower in Mississippi. Patricia shares her craftgrow journey. One Source Products has been one of the first growers to go online, in a state that has recently opened up for medical canna…
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Cannabis Banking is Finally Here with Mike Kozak #109
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Cannabis Banking is Finally Here with Mike Kozak #109 Did you know that finding a bank for your cannabis business is like riding a roller coaster without the safety bar? Sure, things start out great. But before you know it you're clicking up up up to the top of the crest. Then it's a heart-stopping vertical drop of 300 feet, and losing your phone i…
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Cannabis Law for Dispensaries, Processors and Growers #108
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Cannabis Law for Dispensaries, Processors and Growers #108 I met today's guest at the Michigan Cannatech Expo. Ahmed Hassouna a cannabis attorney at Navara Law. Navara is a full-service firm representing businesses in heavily regulated industries, including growers, processors, provisioning centers, and ancillary businesses such as insurers, realto…
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Supercritical Advice for Cannabis Startups with Kerry Jordan #107
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Supercritical Advice for Cannabis Startups with Kerry Jordan #107 Do you have a great idea that you want to take to market? Maybe you have a product that's like nothing anyone else has ever seen. Maybe you want to open up a shop that provides a cannabis experience unlike anything ever done before. If so you have a daunting challenge ahead of you. S…
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How to Extract Money by Extracting Cannabis with Scotty Rais #106
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How to Extract Money by Extracting Cannabis with Scotty Rais #106 There's a real buzz in cannabis and I saw it at the Michigan Cannatech Expo. I met Scotty Rais, Operations Director at CannaBee Extracts and his booth had a pop-up tent and a huge crowd throughout the two days. In today's episode, Scotty shares his journey in bootstrapping Cannabee E…
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The Challenge of Cannabis Compliance with Marion Mariathasan #105
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The Challenge of Cannabis Compliance with Marion Mariathasan #105 If you're in the plant-touching business, being audited is like being a contestant on American Ninja Warrior. It's one obstacle after another, where you half to climb a wall, then jump to a rope and swing to another side over a pool of water only to slip and tumble into the drink. Th…
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How To Build a Cannabis Community with Brett Macomber #104
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How To Build a Cannabis Community with Brett Macomber #104 This month I attended the Michigan Cannatech Expo, purportedly the largest tech expo for cannabis in the Midwest. While attending one of the many seminars I met Brett Macomber from Cannakins, an IT shop that targets businesses in the cannabis industry. But Brett was talking about IT, he was…
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How to Determine Your Cannabis Business Valuation with Brian Alwine #103
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How to Determine Your Cannabis Business Valuation with Brian Alwine #103 Do you know what you're worth? How do you know for fact you're worth what you think? This is especially hard when valuating a cannabis business. If you have a cannabis business and considering being acquired, looking for a loan, or just curious what you're business is worth, o…
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