The Ganjapreneur.com Podcast

Sabrina Fendrick is the Director of Government Affairs for Berkeley Patients Group, a licensed medical cannabis dispensary serving patients throughout the greater Berkeley area. Prior to working at BPG, Sabrina spent seven years at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in Washington D.C. In 2010, she founded the NORML Women’s Alliance — the first nationwide women’s outreach organization in the cannabis space — and she was a founding advisor for Women Grow. She is a member of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy Advisory Council, sits on the Marijuana Majority Advisory Board, and is a member of the Council for Responsible Cannabis Policy’s National Packaging and Labeling Standards Committee. In this episode of the Spark the Conversation podcast, Sabrina joins host Bianca Green for a discussion at the Emerald Cup about the state of the industry, the history of cannabis activism, and the ongoing push for legalization at local, state, and federal levels of government. For a full t

Kristi Knoblich Palmer is the COO of Kiva Confections, a pioneering force in California’s cannabis edibles marketplace, and is a founding member of the California Cannabis Manufacturers Association (CCMA). In the following episode, Ganjapreneur.com podcast host TG Branfalt speaks with Kristi about the founding of Kiva Confections, training to become an expert chocolatier, and California’s medical (and soon-to-be recreational) cannabis industry’s scramble towards a regulatory structure. The two also discuss the growing trend of micro-dosing cannabis, the founding and current goals of the CCMA, and much, much more. For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/kristi-knoblich-palmer-navigating-new-regulations-california/

Joey Shepp is the CEO of Humboldt's Finest, a company of generational cannabis farmers based out of California's Humboldt County that provides ecologically friendly sungrown cannabis products. In this episode of Spark the Conversation, Joey joins podcast host and cannabis advocate Bianca Green for a conversation about the company's unique branding efforts and their efforts to maintain a socially and ecologically responsible presence in an increasingly corporate cannabis industry. The two also discuss the future of California (and specifically Humboldt County) now that legalization is a reality in The Golden State, the recent launch of Humboldt's Finest products onto the California marketplace, and much, much more! For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/spark-conversation-joey-shepp-humboldts-finest/

Charlo Greene is host of The Weed Show With Charlo Greene, an independent media channel that investigates popular and important cannabis issues in a weekly live format, and she is also the owner and founder of CBD Body and Beauty, offering high-quality CBD products in the pursuit of transformative body and beauty care. In this week's episode of the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast, Charlo joined our host TG Branfalt to discuss the reasons behind her decision to leave a cherished career in broadcast television and give her all to Alaska's 2014 cannabis legalization push, her eventual return to the media scene via The Weed Show, and the experience of both founding a company and bringing a product to market in the cannabis space. They also discuss Charlo's ongoing cannabis activism which has taken her around the world, the substantial and growing number of women-led companies in the cannabis space, as well as the importance of emphasizing cannabis reform efforts that empower communities of color who were disproportiona

Terpenes are an essential part of the healing and playful aspects of cannabis. As normalization stretches across the country, more products are being developed and more consumers are experimenting with terpenes in an array of applications. On this episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los chats with Ben Cassiday, co-founder of True Terpenes about the origins of terpenes used in cannabis products, their desirable traits and how to enjoy terpenes without cannabis at all. For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/shaping-fire-ben-cassiday-putting-terpenes-work/

Serge Chistov is the financial advisor for the Honest Marijuana Company, a Colorado-based cannabis cultivation group that prides itself on providing clean, premium cannabis products to the medical and recreational consumer markets. In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast, our host TG Branfalt and Serge discuss the importance of all-natural cannabis growing, what qualities Serge looked for in a company before getting involved in the cannabis industry, and — with Serge coming from a previous career in liquor and spirits imports — how he believes cannabis legalization will affect the alcohol industry. The two also discuss reusable, quality packaging options in the cannabis industry and much, much more! For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/serge-chistov-choosing-road-pure/

Michael Katz is the owner and founder of Evoxe Laboratories, a family business that offers innovative vaporizer technology combining cannabinoids with organically grown essential oils. Michael joined Spark the Conversation podcast host Bianca Green for an interview at the Emerald Cup in December. In this episode, Michael and Bianca talk about the cannabis industry's dwindling stigma, emigrating from the East to the West coast to start a family business in cannabis, making the change from a media-focused career in videography to owning and operating a company providing an actual, tangible product, and more!

Rob Tankson is a career tech innovator and founding partner of PrestoDoctor, an online medical cannabis recommendation service based out of California that puts patients in contact with cannabis-friendly doctors. Rob joined cannabis activist and Spark the Conversation podcast host Bianca Green for a live interview during the Emerald Cup. In this podcast episode, Rob and Bianca discuss the founding of PrestoDoctor, the medical cannabis recommendation process in California, the ongoing development of telemedicine laws around the U.S. and what it can mean for patients, and much more. For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/spark-conversation-rob-tankson-prestodoctor/

Chip Baker is a man of many pursuits and accomplishments in the cannabis industry: he is the founder and former owner of Royal Gold Potting Soil, the founder and current CEO of Cultivate Colorado, and he is also the host of his own cannabis industry podcast — The Real Dirt with Chip Baker. In this Ganjapreneur.com Podcast episode, Chip sits down with our own podcast host TG Branfalt to discuss Chip’s entrance to the cannabis world, the early years he spent learning about cannabis cultivation from professionals in Switzerland and the Netherlands, and the important role that independent media plays in the national coverage of the cannabis movement. For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/chip-baker-livelihood-dirt-and-cannabis/

Jerred Kiloh is president of the United Cannabis Business Association and owner of The Higher Path, an award-winning medical cannabis dispensary in Los Angeles. In this episode of the Spark the Conversation podcast, host Bianca Green interviews Jerred about creating one of the region’s best-known and most-loved dispensaries. In the following interview, Jerred shares his own strategies for running a dispensary, which include an emphasis on employee fulfillment & retention, as well as community involvement and making sure that patients feel safe and comfortable during their visit. The two discuss best business practices for the cannabis industry — and according to Jerred, you have to choose the cannabis industry for more than just monetary reasons if you want to truly be successful. For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/spark-conversation-jerred-kiloh-higher-path/

Richard Pine is the founder and CEO of Cleveland Cannabis College, an institution in Independence, Ohio that offers quality, in-depth schooling on the cannabis plant. Classes at the Cleveland Cannabis College cover the plant's historical significance, its many medical properties, the culture of cannabis and the legalization movement, as well as the actual cultivation and preparation processes. In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast, Richard joins our podcast host TG Branfalt for a discussion about the college's founding, available curriculum, and Ohio's medical cannabis rollout. Richard also shares what it's like being a young (28) entrepreneur in the nascent cannabis space and he talks about transitioning from the retail investment industry to cannabis. For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/richard-pine-education-for-ohios-medical-cannabis-program/

Aaron Justis is CEO of Buds and Roses, a seasoned medical cannabis dispensary in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. In this podcast episode, Aaron hosts Spark the Conversation's Bianca Green for a conversation inside of the Buds and Roses dispensary location. This interview was recorded during the Spark the Conversation bus tour last fall, before California had officially voted to end the prohibition of cannabis. The interview covers the scope of Aaron's cannabis career, which began with the leap of faith of uprooting from Illinois to move to California and join a technically illegal industry, as well as his many long-term activism efforts. Though this conversation technically took place during the Spark the Conversation bus tour last fall (before California voters approved Prop. 65 to legalize adult-use cannabis), we hear from Aaron about his predictions for the L.A. cannabis market and he offers his input on what qualities are most important for an entrepreneur entering the cannabis

David Barakett is the CEO of ShowGrow, a culture-focused dispensary chain with California locations in Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and Ramona. ShowGrow also runs a dispensary in Las Vegas, Nevada. David recently joined our podcast host TG Branfalt for a chat about participating in the widening cannabis markets in California and Nevada. In this episode, David offers predictions for the new adult-use cannabis markets that will be opening after last November's election, describes how he is able to make his dispensary brand stand out in the modern cannabis industry by understanding who cannabis consumers are and what they care about, and shares insight about his own management style, which he says can be summed up in one word: "positivity." For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/showgrow-expand-dispensary-chain-multiple-states/

Josh Haupt is the owner of three Colorado-based cannabis companies: Success Nutrients, Superfarm, and Tree House. Recently, Josh joined us for an interview about his recent release of Three a Light (as in three pounds per light), a luxury cannabis growing guide based on his experience. In this interview, Josh tells our host TG Branfalt about his earliest medical cannabis experiences — including the story of the first plant that Josh ever grew — as well as what readers of the book can expect from their purchase. The two discuss the reasons why Josh authored Three a Light, what the writing process was like, and what the driving factors were behind the book's emphasis on luxurious photography and elegance. For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/josh-haupt-three-a-light-book/

Hadley Ford is the co-founder and CEO of iAnthus Capital Holdings, a cannabis finance and investment firm with active partnerships in four different legal U.S. markets. In the following interview, our podcast host TG Branfalt interviews Hadley about his life before entering the world of finance, which included five years spent in communes and hitchhiking around Europe and the United States. The two also discuss cannabis companies trading on the Canadian stock market, the many investment opportunities found in cannabis, strategies for choosing the right state market for an investment, and much more! For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/hadley-ford-choosing-right-cannabis-investments/

Dale Sky Jones is the executive chancellor of Oaksterdam University, an internationally recognized cannabis education institution based out of Oakland, California. In this podcast episode, Dale is interviewed by renowned cannabis advocate Bianca Green for the first episode of her Spark the Conversation podcast, produced in partnership with Ganjapreneur. This interview was recorded last fall during the Spark the Conversation bus tour across California, during which Bianca and her team bused around the state talking to cannabis advocates and experts in preparation for the November elections. This means that the conversation took place before California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts voted to legalize adult-use cannabis — and before Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election. The following interview contains some truly amazing stories from Dale. Tune in below to hear about how Dale quit her corporate career to dedicate her life to cannabis education and activism; her experience being targeted

Julianna Carella is the founder and CEO of two companies that create cannabinoid infusions. Her first company, Auntie Dolores, is an infused gourmet edibles producer that offers medical cannabis concoctions; her second company, Treatibles, has quickly become a national sensation for providing nutritious and wellness-focused CBD treats that have been enjoyed by animals of all shapes and sizes throughout the U.S. In this interview, our host TG Branfalt talks with Julianna about the founding of her two companies, the importance of providing a consistent dosage in any product with infused cannabinoids, lessons she picked up when making the swap from providing products meant for human consumption to products meant for animals, and much more! For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/julianna-carella-brightening-lives-cbd-infused-pet-treats/

We are excited to bring this special episode of Shaping Fire, hosted by Shango Los, to the Ganjapreneur audience. Shango recently interviewed Kristen Baldwin, the director of operations for Green Mountain Harvest, a Colorado-based cannabis trimming agency that sends its employees to grow sites around the state to help commercial and residential growers complete the final steps of their harvest cycle. In this interview, they discuss the many demands and expectations of running a professional trimming agency, including workplace safety concerns, ideal trimming strategies and tools, and the general business plan that Green Mountain Harvest follows to find success in the industry. For a full transcript, visit: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/shaping-fire-kristen-baldwin/ ‎ For more episodes of Shaping Fire, visit: http://www.shapingfire.com

Marc Shepard is an active member of NORML, MassCann, and the Patient Advocacy Alliance. He is also co-founder of the New England Cannabis Convention: an extensive and affordable cannabis industry business conference that is returning to Boston this April. In the latest episode of our podcast, our podcast host TG Branfalt and Marc discuss the upcoming recreational markets in Massachusetts and Maine, what is likely to happen to the states' medical markets as recreational laws come online, how lawmakers and entrepreneurs are preparing for the changes, and more! For a full transcript: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/marc-shepard-preparing-legalization-new-england/

One of the most frequent and well-known labels applied to cannabis users is that of the "lazy stoner" -- the idea that cannabis use goes hand-in-hand with a sedentary lifestyle and lack of motivation. Patients, advocates, and cannabis entrepreneurs know that this is false (although of course anyone can get too high to function if they over-consume), yet this notion continues to appear in mainstream culture on a regular basis. Our latest podcast guest is involved in numerous business ventures that directly challenge this stereotype. Our podcast host TG Branfalt recently sat down for a conversation with Jim McAlpine, a serial cannabis entrepreneur best-known for his roles as founder and organizer of the New West Summit, 420 Games, and Powerplant Fitness. In the interview, Jim details his own personal experience with micro-dosing cannabis to help him get past the mental barrier to exercising and losing weight, how he set out to organize athletic events geared toward cannabis users with the 420 games, how cannab