Innovating Cannabis Podcast
Welcome to the Innovating Cannabis Podcast, where you will meet the people breaking barriers in the cannabis industry, both locally, nationally, and internationally, with a focus on business, entrepreneurship, cultivation, manufacturing, retail, brands, science, and policy. Get in touch with pam@InnovatingCannabisPodcast.com
10
190_Where Cannabis Brands Struggle in Retail Execution
<p>As the cannabis industry faces tighter margins and harder-to-find profits, many businesses are struggling not just to grow, but to survive.</p> <p>This year, operators are shifting focus. Instead of chasing expansion, they are being forced to rethink how they grow and, more importantly, how they operate efficiently.</p> <p>Today, our guest is Matt Morea, co-founder of PrizmGPS, a company focused on what happens after a product hits the shelf.</p> <p>PrizmGPS helps brands bridge the gap between field sales and in-store execution, bringing a more structured, data-driven approach modeled after industries like alcohol.</p> <p>...
189_ MMJ Holdings Moves Ahead with FDA Approved Botanical Drug Pathway
<p>Today, we're joined by Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ Holdings, a biopharmaceutical company advancing cannabis-derived medicines through the FDA's botanical Drug Development Pathway. MMJ has received Orphan drug designation for Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis, and its cannabis-derived soft-gel formulations are now preparing to enter phase 2 clinical trials, helping pave the way for a new era of FDA-validated cannabis medicine. </p> <p>Duane shares the long road to reaching this milestone, the challenges of bringing cannabis-based therapeutics through the FDA process, and what the future may hold for cannabis as a mainstream medicine. </p> <p>https://mmjih.com </p> <p>h...
188_Operating in Missouri with Curio Wellness
<p>Curio Wellness was founded by father-and-daughter team Michael and Wendy Bronfein. Michael built his career in the supermarket industry before launching his own chain of pharmacies, eventually bringing that experience into Maryland's medical cannabis market in 2015.</p> <p>Since then, Curio has grown into a vertically integrated company with GMP-certified operations in Maryland and Missouri, franchise partnerships in New Jersey and Mississippi, and a recent entry into New York through a licensing deal with Vireo Health.</p> <p>The company has distinguished itself through a strong focus on research and development, supported by a team of scientists and a...
187_ AI and Cannabis Medicine with Hemant Kumar Bid
<p>Today's guest is Dr. Hemant Kumar Bid, a scientist, educator, and consultant at the forefront of biotechnology, medical cannabis, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Bid serves as Program Director for the Master of Science in Biotechnology with a concentration in Medical Cannabis at Morehouse School of Medicine — one of the only programs of its kind offered entirely online.</p> <p> </p> <p>His academic foundation spans biochemistry, pharmacology, and medical science, capped by a PhD in Medical Biochemistry and certifications from MIT in AI and machine learning applications in biopharma — a growing passion he's now weaving directly into his curriculum.</p> <p...
186_ Trade Show Strategy and Cannabis Industry Insights With George Jage
<p>Trade show season for 2026 is officially underway. </p> <p>I’ll be heading to MJ Unpacked, taking place May 5–7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. </p> <p>I recently sat down with co-founder George Jage—someone many of you already know from his long track record in the trade show world, including his role in helping scale MJBizCon in the early days. </p> <p>In this conversation, we go beyond the typical event preview and dig into what it actually takes to build a meaningful industry gathering in cannabis. George shares how MJ Unpacked is intentionally designed not to be the bigge...
185_ Crunching Numbers With Sax Accounting
<p>Allison Kirchhofer is the Director of the Cannabis Division at Sax Accounting, where she leads a team of CPAs serving operators across multiple states. She has also worked closely with businesses in New York.s turbulent adult-use rollout, helping them manage compliance, tax strategy, and financial infrastructure in one of the country's most closely watched markets.</p> <p> </p> <p>Prior to joining Sax, Allison served as Controller for Travel Agency, one of New York's first licensed dispensaries, giving her first-hand operational insight into the financial realities of launching and running a cannabis retail business.</p> <p> </p> <p>In...
184_ How's the Nevada Cannabis Market Doing?
<p>Kema Ogden was one of the early pioneers of Nevada’s legal cannabis industry. In 2015, she helped open one of the state’s first medical dispensaries, laying the foundation for what would become the Top Notch THC brand.</p> <p>Since then, she and her partners have expanded to multiple adult-use locations across Nevada, building a loyal customer base in one of the country’s most competitive cannabis markets. Today, Top Notch THC serves both medical patients and recreational consumers and continues to grow alongside the evolving industry.</p> <p>In this episode, we talk about the Nevada cannabis market...
183_ How a Wisconsin Spirits Distiller Is Breaking Into THC Beverages
<p>River Falls, Wisconsin, is home to Tattersall Distilling, a nationally recognized craft spirits producer whose portfolio is distributed across 25 states. Known for sourcing locally and crafting spirits infused with botanicals and functional ingredients, Tattersall has built a reputation on flavor innovation and ingredient integrity. </p> <p>Co-founder Jon Kreidler joins the show to discuss the company's strategic expansion into the fast-growing hemp-derived THC beverage market with Tattersall Functional. Drawing on years of experience working with complex flavor profiles and plant-based ingredients, Jon explains how Tattersall is translating its distilling expertise into this new category. </p> <p>He also shares in...
182 Jeff Rawson's Mission to Protect Cannabis Consumers
<p>Jeff Rawson founded the nonprofit Institute of Cannabis Science while serving as a postdoctoral researcher in chemistry at Harvard University. He conducts scientific research, investigative reporting, and regulatory reviews, and provides subject-matter expertise in cannabis testing. </p> <p>Jeff serves on the ASTM D37 Committee on Cannabis and is involved with ACIL, which honored him with the 2024 Preston S. Miller Award for extraordinary service. </p> <p>He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bard College, a master’s in organic chemistry from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Duke University. </p> <p>Driven...
181_Updates on the Ohio Market with Law Firm, Ice Miller
<p>Today, we examine the Ohio cannabis market with our guests, attorneys John Oberle and Greg May from Ice Miller. We discuss the latest referendum effort led by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, which seeks to repeal key components of a bill the governor recently signed to scale back the state's voter-approved cannabis law and ban the sale of consumable hemp products outside of licensed cannabis dispensaries.</p> <p>We also explore opportunities for new businesses entering the Ohio market and what they need to know before getting started.</p> <p>https://www.icemiller.com/</p> <p><p>The Innovating Cannabis...
