Innovating Cannabis Podcast

My guest today is Todd Shapiro, CEO of Red Light Holland, a company at the forefront of cultivating and selling legal magic truffles in the Netherlands’ recreational market.Red Light Holland is taking a multi-pronged approach to advancing psilocybin legalization—both as a therapeutic tool and a recreational product.Todd shares insights into the company’s strategy in the Netherlands, their expansion into Canada with mushroom grow kits and functional gummies, and their groundbreaking partnership with Irvine Labs in California, a DEA-registered facility analyzing imported Red Light Holland truffles from the Netherlands. https...

Alec Dixon is a lead judge for the Emerald Cup and co-founder of SC Testing Labs in California, Michigan, Arizona, and Colorado.For 15 years, SC Labs has tested hundreds of thousands of strains of cannabis and hemp, and learned a tremendous amount about the averages versus potentials on how the plant expresses itself.He shares insights into the characteristics of Emerald Cup-winning strains, and what is needed to take cannabis cultivation and products to the next level and what makes quality cannabis.Alec believes the craft industry is in danger of survival without...

Our guest today is Kevin Jodrey, a renowned cultivator from Humboldt County, founder of Wonderland Nursery, head of the R&D lab for Cookies genetics, and co-founder of Ganjier, to name a few accomplishments. We discuss the recent white papers from Abstrax Tech about their discovery that scientifically proves low-concentration flavorants like aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and sulfurs are responsible for the aroma of cannabis- not terpenes. Kevin talks about the opportunities, nuances, and challenges of manipulating these volatile compounds in breeding, cultivation, and extraction processes. He also reminds us not to chase the shiny object an...

Today, we meet Ben Burstein, head of M&A and strategic partnerships at Leaflink. A leading wholesale cannabis commerce platform that connects brands and retailers by providing a digital marketplace where retailers can discover brands, place wholesale orders, and manage their inventory.We dive into the operational challenges of inventory management, identify emerging market performers, examine wholesale sales trends, and explore which states are emerging as opportunities for brands, as well as the long-term growth projections for the market.https://www.leaflink.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminburstein/ Innovating...

Michael Sassano, a former Wall Street banker turned real estate developer, is known in the US for building 16 large-scale cultivation facilities in Nevada. He left for Europe in 2019 to get a head start in the European cannabis market and launched Somai, a cannabinoid pharmaceutical company based in Lisbon, Portugal. Currently operating in 12 countries, Michael plans to be in 18 by year-end.We discuss his global strategy and the obstacles he faces as a multi-country operator.https://www.linkedin.com/company/somaipharmahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsassano3/ Innovating Cannabis is produced a...

As Europe builds out a medically driven cannabis market, Sita Schubert is helping lead the charge. She's the founder and Secretary General of the EU Medical Cannabis Association and a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with a legal background. Her consultancy played a key role in helping Tilray establish itself as a leading operator in the German market.In this episode, we discuss the current state of the European cannabis industry, what it takes for outsiders to successfully enter the market, steps needed to harmonize regulations across international borders, and insights from her participation at the recent Global...

Today on The Mary Jane Society, we're joined by Shane Johnson, a Stanford-trained medical doctor and accomplished biotech entrepreneur. Shane is the co-founder of BayMedica, a pioneering manufacturer of rare and minor cannabinoid ingredients known for their exceptional purity, consistency, and scalability traits critical to the future of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid products. BayMedica was acquired by InMed Pharmaceuticals, a NASDAQ-listed, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Canada. InMed is developing a robust pipeline of proprietary small molecule drug candidates that target the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system. Their current research programs focus on therapeutic t...

The Cannabis Media Council was founded to build bridges between the cannabis industry and mainstream media, elevate advertising standards, and help shift public perception through strategic public service announcements. Acting as a think tank of forward-thinking industry leaders, the Council believes in collaboration over competition—sharing knowledge and resources to make sure that all boats rise.Today, I’m joined by co-founder Amy Deneson to explore the mission behind the Cannabis Media Council, its operations, and the impact it wants to make across media, marketing, and culture. https://www.cannabismediacouncil.com/https...

Today, we will learn about a potentially groundbreaking digital platform called The Cancer Playbook that could accelerate cannabis medicine for cancer treatment and redefine how patients, doctors, and researchers approach cancer care.Joining me are Jamie Bennett, Founder and Director of Operations, and Ryan Castle, Director of Research at The Cancer Playbook and Whole Health Oncology Institute.In today's episode, we'll explore:How the Playbook empowers cancer patients with tools for symptom tracking, using and dosing Rick Simpson Oil, education, and supportHow it enhances physician decision-making through patient-reported outcomes using cannabisThe value of this...

Abstrax Tech is a leading terpene research, formulation, and manufacturing company renowned for its proprietary analytical technology and scientific breakthroughs. Most recently, the team made headlines for discovering a new class of volatile aromatic compounds responsible for the unmistakable skunky scent of cannabis. Abstrax recreates precise and authentic terpene profiles that reflect the original plant by reverse-engineering each strain and flavor from scratch. Today, we're joined by TJ Martin, Vice President of R&D at Abstrax Tech, to explore what it takes to partner with Abstrax and build a standout vape brand. https://abs...

Bud and Mary_Duncan Mackie. PhD                                                                                                                                                                                   Director of Pharmacology & Experimental TherapeuticsToday, I’m joined by Dr. Duncan Mackie, Director of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Bud & Mary's—an MSO with operations in Colorado, Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri.Under Dr. Mackie’s leadership, Bud & Mary’s became the first cannabis company and multi-state operator to obtain a DEA research license—marking a major milestone for the industry.With a PhD in pharmacology and deep expertise in drug discovery, molecular biology, and G-protein-coupled receptor pharmacology, Dr. Mackie is advancing our understanding of cannabinoids and their interaction with the endocannabinoid system. His work is helping to identify novel drug targe...

Today, we're welcoming the team behind Vitabudz — a NYC legacy street brand making the leap into the legal cannabis market. Founded by brothers Jullian and Rich Murray, Vitabudz has teamed up with veteran cultivator Aaron Field to bring their passion for top-shelf, regeneratively grown cannabis to the New York marketplace.Their story is rooted in experience — with Jullian, Rich, and Aaron honing their cultivation skills in Colorado and California before returning home to New York, ready to take on the state's fast-growing legal industry. We dive into Aaron's sustainable farming practices, the Murray brothers' journey from the stre...

Today's guest is Dr. Avery Gilbert, a Sensory Scientist with roots in the luxury perfume industry. He's worked with major global brands and now brings his expertise to the cannabis space, helping companies elevate their products through sensory research and R&D.In this episode, we explore what truly defines a luxury product—beyond just price or packaging. From wine to perfume, luxury goods share common threads: craftsmanship, culture, technology, media, retail experience, and the art of blending. Cannabis brands can reach luxury status if done the right way.We'll break down these elements to un...

Josh Krane is heading cultivation and manufacturing operations for one of NJ's top brands, Garden Greens. He brought his expertise from California, where he started in the medical market and transitioned into rec. He and his partners launched Field Extracts, which won multiple awards, the Emerald Cup, and Masters of Rosin, and then sold the company to GlassHouse Farms in 2019. He also ran 4 Front Ventures California operations for few years before setting his sights on the East coast.Join us as Josh talks about how he is running one of NJ's top cultivation facilities and brands, and...

Today, we're talking about sensory science and its crucial role in R&D product development. While this methodology has been widely used for decades in the hops, beer, food, beverage, and perfume industries, the cannabis industry is just beginning to tap into its potential.Our guest today is Marshall Ligare, Ph.D., former Research Scientist and Product Development Lead at John I. Haas, one of the world's leading hops suppliers. The beer and hops industry has long relied on sensory science to craft unique and consistent flavor profiles, and Marshall brings a wealth of knowledge on how...

Today, we're discussing cannabis extraction with industry expert Murphy Murri. She has been working in extraction since the early days of legalization in Colorado and has built a reputation as a go-to expert in both solventless and BHO techniques. She helps extraction teams optimize their operations, develop new products, and write SOPs to ensure efficiency and quality. In this episode, we discuss how extractors can fine-tune their processes to preserve important compounds that are easily destroyed, as well as why more brands should apply sensory science to their R&D process for next-level product development. https://www.l...

As the beverage industry heats up, convenience store operators are debating about embracing this fast emerging category despite its legal gray area. Meet Melissa VonderHaar, she is a nationally recognized expert in the convenience store channel . She regularly writes for the sector, covering stories specifically on cannabis, tobacco, vapor, and alcohol categories, and she speaks on the subject at numerous industry events. She is also Head of Industry Relations for iSEE Store Innovations. Melissa shares important insights on why convenience stores will massively benefit from selling THC drinks, and it may be the tipping point for mass d...

Today, we’re joined by Ian Dyche, Head of Operations at MFNY, a top-selling brand in the NY market with its line of live resin products. A seasoned cultivator with 20 years of experience, Ian honed his craft in California before returning to his home state of New York bringing extensive expertise in large-scale cultivation and processing, specializing in indoor and high-tech, light-assisted greenhouse environments. Ian and his teams have earned top honors at the Emerald Cup, Santa Cruz Cup, Cannabis Cup, Hitman’s Best of New York, Long Island Cannabis Cup, New York Rosin Competition, and more. J...

When we talk about crafting the best cannabis products, we often focus on extraction and preserving key compounds. But what happens in the curing process is just as crucial—if not more—when it comes to manipulating and enhancing a strain's unique characteristics.Joe Edwards knows a lot about this and has engineered decontamination and curing technology for Yofumo where he is the chief science officer. He is a biochemist, engineer, and expert on various agricultural systems and operations. He has won multiple awards for his post-harvest curation methodologies. Join us as we geek out and get deep...

Today, our guest is Tom Cortez, CEO of Emergent Beverages, a seed-to-shelf company specializing in hemp-infused beverages. With a team of veterans from the alcohol industry, Emergent develops its own brands—like Calexio—while also helping other companies with brand development, manufacturing, and distribution. We’ll be talking about the growing hemp beverage market and what it takes to succeed in this space.https://www.emergentbeverage.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-cortez-851b4610/ Innovating Cannabis is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a journalist, freelance writer, and marketing and PR specialist in the...