The Biggest Cannabis RTO Ever

Green Rush Podcast

Welcome back to the Green Rush! This week Lewis is flying solo as he sits down with Joe Lusardi, CEO of Curaleaf which just completed the largest RTO – or reverse take over – in the history of US cannabis companies and carries a $4.5 billion valuation. Within the conversation, Joe and Lewis discuss the historic RTO and the process of raising $400 million. In addition, the two discuss Joe’s introduction to the cannabis industry, the benefits that come with company deciding to go public now, and what Joe’s keeping an eye on as we inch closer and closer to the midterm elections next week.

In addition to the conversation with the Curaleaf, we also have Benzinga cannabis reporter Javier Hasse opening this week’s episode covering the biggest news in the cannabis industry and breaking down what he thinks were the overlooked stories from last week. Make sure you check out Javier’s weekly column for Benzinga, “Pot Stocks, ETFs, Top News And Data From The Cannabis Industry This Week” as well!

Enjoy!

About Joe Lusardi, CEO of Curaleaf

Joseph Lusardi has more than 20 years of success in finance and private equity. He held previous executive positions at Affiliated Managers Group, Liberty Mutual Group and Devonshire Investors (Fidelity Investment’s private equity arm). A pioneer in the US cannabis industry, Mr. Lusardi is credited with opening the first vertically integrated cannabis operation on the East Coast and has more than seven years’ experience developing and operating medical cannabis companies in highly regulated states. In 2010 and 2014, Joseph Lusardi developed Maine Organic Therapy and Alternative Therapies Group, the first medical cannabis companies in Maine and Massachusetts.

About Javier Hasse

Javier Hasse is a young Latinx cannabis focused-writer, author of the book “Start Your Own Cannabis Business,” published via Entrepreneur Media. The book hit the #1 Best Seller spot for cannabis categories on Amazon during the week of its release.

In addition, Javier writes for a variety of mass media outlets and serves as the Director of Benzinga’s Cannabis Newsdesk. He’s had more than 4,500 articles published on CNBC, Playboy, Entrepreneur Mag, The Street, High Times, The Houston Chronicle, Leafly, Benzinga, CNN Money, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, MSN Money, Morningstar, Nasdaq, Apple News, Merry Jane, The Fresh Toast, and many others. Find samples of his written work here.

Javier is also a published photographer (High Times, Entrepreneur, Yahoo, etc.), a Billboard-topping artist, and a multimedia content producer and host.

Links to guest’s social media:

• Curaleaf Twitter: https://twitter.com/Curaleaf_Inc
• Joe Lusardi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-lusardi-1981846/
• Javier Hasse Twitter: https://twitter.com/JavierHasse
• Javier Hasse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierhasse/?locale=en_US

Links and Mentions:

• https://www.curaleaf.com/
• https://www.benzinga.com/author/javier-hasse
• https://www.amazon.com/Javier-Hasse/e/B0798XLDYZ

Show Credits:

This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications.

Special thanks to our Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther at Marijuana Today

You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing [e-mail]. You can also connect with us via our social channels:

Twitter / Instagram: @KCSA_Cannabis

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-rush-comms/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KCSACannabiz/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true