Green Rush Podcast

This week on The Green Rush, our hosts Nick and Anne are chatting with David Johnson, CEO of Enveric Biosciences, a patient-first biotechnology company developing rigorously tested, novel cannabinoid medicines to improve quality of life for cancer patients.  It’s been a while since the Green Rush team has talked about CBD so we used this opportunity to get an update on the state of the space including how CBD is fitting into the existing medical landscape, the ways that technology is progressing the validation of these molecules and what the market could look like in the next several years. We also explore Enveric’s business model and how they compare to other players in the industry as well as key news from the industry including Jazz Pharmaceuticals acquisition of GW Pharma.  Now on to our conversation with David Johnson of Enveric Biosciences. David Johnson, Chairman and CEO of Enveric Biosciences Former CEO of Convatec, oversaw the $4.1B spin out of Convatec from Bristol Myers Squibb; former CEO of Alliqua Biomedical, a developer of wound care technologies. Links and mentions in the show https://www.enveric.com/ Diverse Biotech PartnershipPureForm Partnership Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts David Johnson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-johnson-235b0224/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush, our hosts Nick and Anne are talking with Dean Friday, CEO of Lyphe Group, Europe’s largest online cannabis clinic, and direct-to-patient pharmacy ecosystem. Lyphe is one of the better-known names in the UK, with 60% of all active patients. Our hosts dive into the Lyphe business model with Dean and get an idea on how different the UK cannabis market is compared to its North American counterpart.. Since most of our conversations to date have focused on the North American market, we’re excited to explore the growing European cannabis market and the progress being made across the Atlantic. From patient access to supply challenges, the UK and Lyphe are in the beginning stages of tackling some of the greatest issues facing this growing segment and Dean provides some tremendous insight on where the industry is today and where it hopes to go in the near future.  Now on to our conversation with Dean Friday, of Lyphe Group. Dean Friday, CEO of Lyphe Group As CEO, Dean Friday leads Lyphe Group leveraging more than 12 years of experience serving as a senior executive driving growth in start-up businesses and having raised over $19M across four companies. Prior to launching Lyphe, Dean served as CFO & Partner at ECH Limited. In addition he’s held c-suite roles at Saavy Property Tech and the TSX listed Arian Silver as COO & CFO respectively. Links and mentions in the show https://lyphegroup.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Lyphe Twitter: https://twitter.com/lyphegroup Lyphe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lyphe-group1/ Dean Friday’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-friday/?originalSubdomain=uk  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush, our hosts Nick and Anne are talking with Jeff Stevens, CEO of Psyched Wellness (CSE: PSYC), a Canadian-based health supplements company focused on the production and distribution of artisanal functional and psychedelic mushrooms. At its core, Psyched Wellness is developing a line of Amanita muscaria-derived water-based extracts, teas and capsules designed to help with three health objectives: promote stress relief, relaxation and assist with restful sleeping. With increased interest in plant-based wellness alternatives to pharmacological treatments for health issues such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety, Psyched Wellness and its work with the Amanita Muscaria mushroom are part of the larger push within the psychedelics space to transform mental healthcare. We chat with Jeff about the unique characteristics of Amanita, what differentiates Psyched from other psychedelics companies and what the company has in store for 2021.  So sit back and enjoy our conversation with Jeff Stevens of Psyched Wellness. Jeff Stevens, CEO and Director of Psyched Wellness Jeff Stevens is the CEO and Director of Psyched Wellness. Jeff has 20+ years of capital markets experience and has been an officer and director with several public companies. He has taken three companies public via reverse takeover, built teams and structured multiple M&A transactions while building successful businesses. Links and mentions in the show https://psyched-wellness.com/    Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffste44576043 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/psyched-wellness/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-stevens-7a897a5/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush, our hosts are chatting with Amanda Siebert, a freelance journalist covering the psychedelics and cannabis space and the author of “The Little Book of Cannabis: How Marijuana Can Improve Your Life”. She is a co-founder and editor-in-chief at Inside the Jar, a growing independent publication focused on drug culture in Canada and the United States and recently was announced as the new editor of the revamped CannabisHealth.com  Based in Canada, Amanda is one of the leading journalists covering both cannabis and psychedelics space with her byline regularly appearing in Forbes and having been featured in the New York Times, Vice, Leafly, Calgary Herald, and Georgia Straight. We sat down with her chat about the latest headlines in both industries including drug decriminalization legislation, how much of the investor excitement permeating through these industries is real and what’s just hype, as well as her follow up book, "The Little Book of Psychedelics” which is due out later this year.  So sit back and enjoy our conversation with journalist Amanda Siebert. Amanda Siebert, Cannabis and Psychedelics Journalist Amanda is a freelance multimedia journalist focusing on the intersections of business and culture in the cannabis and psychedelics industries. She is a co-founder and editor-in-chief at Inside the Jar, a growing independent publication focused on drug culture in Canada and the United States. Her first book, “The Little Book of Cannabis: How Marijuana Can Improve Your Life”, was published by Greystone Books in 2018 on the same day cannabis was legalized here. In 2019, the Toronto Star bestseller was also named the #1-selling non-fiction cannabis book in the country. A follow-up, "The Little Book of Psychedelics," is in the works. Her byline has appeared in the New York Times, Vice, Leafly, Calgary Herald, Georgia Straight (where she received national and regional awards for her work), CannCentral, and Inside the Jar, among others. As an author, I have been featured on CBC and Global News, as well as a wide variety of national radio shows. I endeavour to cover cannabis from an international perspective and hope you enjoy reading my work. Links and mentions in the show Amanda’s website: https://amandasiebert.comThe Little Book of Cannabis website: https://littlebookofcannabis.comInside the Jar: https://insidethejar.comCannabisHealth: https://cannabishealth.com/ Amanda’s Forbes columns: https://www.forbes.com/sites/amandasiebert   Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Twitter: https://twitter.com/amanda_siebertInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda_siebert/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandasiebertjournalistClubhouse: @amanda_siebert Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush our hosts are chatting with Chris Driessen, the President and Chief Executive Officer of SLANG Worldwide (CSE: SLNG). SLANG Worldwide is a consumer-packaged-goods company that owns, licenses, and markets cannabis brands, serving the flower, concentrates, edibles, and beverage categories. SLANG has 6 brands in 15 different markets (12 states and 2 countries) in 4,000 retail stores.  Anne and Nick chatted with Chris about the increasingly competitive cannabis marketplace, some of the Company’s partnerships including with Trulieve, Slang’s U.S. expansion plans and entry into the CBD space as well as what’s coming down the pipeline that has Chris excited for 2021. As one of the leading CPG companies in the cannabis space, Chris’ insights on the growth and potential of the space are really interesting and something we are sure our listeners will enjoy. Now onto our conversation with Chris Driessen of SLANG Worldwide. Chris Driessen, President and Chief Executive Officer of SLANG Worldwide Chris Driessen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of SLANG Worldwide (CSE: SLNG). In his role, Driessen is responsible for the overall performance of the organization. His leadership has been instrumental in creating business processes that streamline efficiency, drive dramatic revenue gains and foster lasting, mutually-profitable relationships with the largest names in the marijuana industry. In his professional tenure, Driessen has led sales efforts for Fortune 500 companies including Starwood, Konica Minolta, Marriott, and Intercontinental Hotels Group. Outside the office, Chris can be found spending time with his wife and three children, hoarding airline miles, and cooking what some might call the best BBQ in America. Links and mentions in the show https://www.slangww.com/ https://www.slangww.com/brands-partnerships/ https://lunchboxalchemycbd.com/ https://www.yahoo.com/now/slang-worldwide-launches-o-pen-124500444.html  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Chris’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdriessen/ SLANG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slangworldwide/ SLANG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/slang-worldwide/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

On this week’s Green Rush, we are sitting down with Jelani Gibson, the Content lead at the NJ Cannabis Insider for NJ Advance Media, which is also home to NJ.com and the Star Ledger. Having previously covered gun violence and other social equity issues at his previous stops in Kansas City and Texas, Jelani is well-versed on the intersection of public policy and social justice. We sat down with him to look at how issues around social justice and policing have stalled efforts to pass a cannabis legalization bill in New Jersey and what the outlook of that market looks like for both consumers and businesses after voters approved cannabis on the ballot last November.   This was a tremendously thought-provoking conversation that will provide a ton of insight into how the War on Drugs still plays a heavy role in legislation around cannabis and potential solutions to empower communities that have historically been underserved and underrepresented. So sit back and enjoy our conversation with Jelani Gibson. Links and mentions in the show https://njcannabisinsider.nj.com/about/ https://www.nj.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Jelani’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jelanigibson1 Jelani’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelani-gibson-2297b03a/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

On this week’s Green Rush, we have a special episode featuring Rick Doblin, Founder and Executive Director of MAPS, who sat down for a special fireside chat with Anne at the virtual KCSA Psychedelics Investor Conference.  Suffice to say, there likely would not be a revived psychedelics industry if it were not for Rick who has for the last 35 years worked with the FDA, Congress and researchers around the world to advance psychedelic science and medicine. Founded by Rick in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. Anne and Rick sat down to discuss the evolution of the psychedelics space, the latest on MAPS clinical trials and the roster of well-known capital market players supporting the psychedelic renaissance. Over the decades, Rick Doblin has established himself as a leading authority on the renaissance of psychedelics and his insights on how these molecules may be able to solve the global mental health crisis will not be something that you want to miss. So sit back, relax and listen to our special fireside chat with Rick Doblin. Links and mentions in the show MAPS website: https://maps.org/Rick Doblin’s TED Talks: https://www.ted.com/speakers/rick_doblin Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Rick Doblin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rickdoblinMAPS Twitter: https://twitter.com/MAPSRick Doblin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickdoblin/MAPS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapsnews/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther and Allison Soss. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush, our host Anne Donohoe jumped back in the chair with our friends over at Marijuana Today for a special episode to talk about the next stage of cannabis reform at the federal and state level!  Chatting with friend of the pod Ben Larson of Vertosa, they look at the first federal cannabis bill for 2021 which would see cannabis rescheduled from Schedule 1 to 3. They also take a look at how states like New York and New Jersey are incrementally moving cannabis forward, but in a more lackluster fashion than constituents and advocates would like.  In addition to the chat between Ben and Anne, Marijuana Today also explores the needs around social equity in the cannabis space and how to best provide the resources and education that’s needed to help those most negatively impacted by the War on Drugs to enter and be successful in the industry. Philly-based journalist and Executive Board Member of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists Tauhid Chappell joins to provide his thoughts So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links to guest’s social media: Tauhid’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tauhid-chappell-8b9a5220/ Ben Larson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/  Links and Mentions: http://mjtodaymedia.com/ https://mjtodaydaily.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications and Ben Larson of Vertosa.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Ryan Douglas, former Master Grower of Tweed turned cultivation consultant at Ryan Douglas Cultivation, LLC is today’s guest on The Green Rush. Ryan recently published his first book - “From Seed to Success: How to Launch a Great Cannabis Cultivation Business In Record Time” that aims to demystify the process of establishing a productive, profitable and rewarding cultivation operation.  With over two decades specializing in horticulture and legal cannabis - Ryan has been one of the leading voices helping to establish industry standards for cultivation and is a must follow resource for cannabis entrepreneurs looking to break their way into the industry. We chat with Ryan about scaling cultivation operations to meet consumer demands, managing in an environment with constant regulatory changes, what the future of cannabis genetics looks like and how his book is helping entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes as they build out their grows.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Ryan Douglas’ Bio Ryan Douglas provides cannabis consulting services through his company, Ryan Douglas Cultivation, LLC. He has worked in commercial horticulture for 23 years and specializes in legal cannabis start-ups.  As former Master Grower at Tweed Inc., Canada’s largest licensed producer of legal cannabis, and the flagship subsidiary of Canopy Growth Corporation, Ryan was crucial to Tweed’s early success. He designed the production facility, selected the genetics, and hired and trained staff to produce 70,000 plants and process 6 tons of dry cannabis annually. Links to guest’s social media: Ryan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanCultivationRyan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryancultivation/ Ryan’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanCultivationRyan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandouglascultivation/Ryan’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWBcIrWOM0xuY2c_CI4LJKw Links and Mentions: Ryan’s Website: https://douglascultivation.com/  Amazon: Link to purchase Ryan’s book Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Hi Green Rush listeners, we’re doing something different this week and instead of publishing a new episode of our show, we are featuring an episode from our good friends at the Marijuana Today Podcast. This episode hosted by Kris Krane, Heather Sullivan and Ben Larson, dive into the results of the special Senate runoff elections in Georgia and what it could mean for the future of legal cannabis now that the Democrats control all three branches of government. Marijuana Today has long been a pillar of information for the cannabis industry and we are sure our listeners will appreciate hearing the thoughts and insights from these three season cannabis executives.   So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links to guest’s social media: Kris Krane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskrane/ Ben Larson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/ Heather Sullivan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sullivan-4a07841/   Links and Mentions: https://mjtodaypodcast.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Kris Krane, Heather Sullivan and Ben Larson.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Kicking off 2021 the right way, The Green Rush is pleased to provide our listeners with our very first hostful episode of the New Year! Featuring Anne, Nick and Phil Carlson, Managing Director of Investor Relations at KCSA, our hosts offer a retrospective to the biggest news in cannabis in 2020 and what we’re looking forward to in 2021. Following an exciting election season that saw a clean sweep for cannabis legislation and the wins by Democrats Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, 2021 is shaping up to be a monumental year for cannabis. Our hosts chat about what surprised them the most about 2020, what’s got them excited for 2021, what trends they expect to see or are following closely over the next couple of months and whether a fully Democrat led government will finally push the football over the finish line for cannabis. We also touch on the development of new state adult-use programs moving forward in New Jersey and Arizona and how we’ve all been trying to stay sane over the last 10 months.   So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Phil Carlson, Managing Director of Investor Relations at KCSA Strategic Communications Phil Carlson leads KCSA’s Cannabis Investor Relations Practice. He has developed proactive investor relations and communication strategies for several multi-national, micro and small cap cannabis companies. Through his extensive network, Phil has helped position his cannabis clients as thought leaders in the emerging cannabis industry. He has secured speaking engagements at premiere conferences and has organized several cannabis industry panels which have included himself as well as his clients. Phil is a Wall Street and Investor Relations veteran having worked at firms such as JPMorganChase and Merrill Lynch. His experience includes IPOs and reverse mergers, implementing retail and institutional road shows, and providing strategic counsel to clients. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Kent State University. Links to guest’s social media: Phil Carlson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipecarlson   Links and Mentions: https://www.kcsa.com/ https://www.kcsa-cannabis.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Yaron Conforti, CEO and Director of Novamind Ventures (CSE: NM), which delivers psychedelic therapies to patients suffering from treatment resistant psychological conditions at its Cedar Psychiatry clinics in Utah, is this week’s special guest on The Green Rush.  Novamind is evolving the model of regulated psychedelic medicine by treating patients with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at its four Cedar Psychiatry clinics in Utah; creating complementary evidence-based therapy modalities that enhance patient outcomes; and, building a network of outpatient mental health clinics and clinical research sites in jurisdictions with established regulations for the use of psychedelics.  As the psychedelic renaissance continues to take shape, our hosts Anne and Nick sat down with Yaron to chat with him about the more than 3,000 ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatments Novamind has administered (more than anyone else in the nation), the Company’s expansion plans beyond its home base of Utah and Novamind’s RTO onto the CSE. As psychedelic investors look for opportunities, they won’t want to miss this interview with Yaron as he delves into how his company is focused on execution and bringing these next-generation treatments to the masses.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Yaron Conforti, Chief Executive Officer of Novamind Yaron Conforti is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Novamind. He’s an entrepreneur and the principal of Emmcap Corp., an investor in venture-stage companies. Previously, he served in senior investment banking roles at Desjardins Securities and Sandfire Securities, and in CEO, CFO and corporate director roles for private and public companies. Links and mentions in the show https://novamind.ca/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Novamind LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/novamind-inc/Novamind Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/novamind-inc/Novamind Twitter: https://twitter.com/Novamind_IncNovamind Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/novamindincYaron Conforti LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaron-conforti-venture-capital/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Happy Holidays to the Green Rush Family! Thank you all for being loyal listeners during what has been a crazy year. In honor of the holiday season, we wanted to give you all a little “gift” by way of a special episode.  Back in November, Anne Donohoe hosted a live interview with Jim Belushi for the IAB Brand Disruption Summit. For those who don’t know, IAB is the The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), is the national association for digital media and marketing industries. The trade group that empowers  these companies to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership is made up of more than 750 leading media companies, brands, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. Full disclosure - IAB is a KCSA client.  The third annual IAB Brand Disruption Summit took a look at this turbulent year and how brands navigated new risks - and in some cases, reaped new rewards. How does cannabis play into this? When we talk about “disruptors” there is possibly no other industry as a whole more “disruptive” than the cannabis industry. After all - how do you build a brand when it’s federally illegal? By navigating through a patchwork of state-level regulations and laws, this industry has had to build itself through a web of complex – and dynamic – ecosystems that allow companies to bring their products to market.  Perhaps no one knows this better than Jim Belushi, founder of Belushi’s Farm. And while he needs no introduction - i’m going to give him one anyway… You know him as a multi-hyphenate entertainer - actor, comedian, singer, musician, producer, director, but you Green Rushers know, Jim has made a name for himself as a farmer and an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry. He is building out an impressive brand portfolio from his adopted home state of Oregon - and has recently announced brand expansions to states including Illinois and Colorado. So with HUGE thanks to the IAB for letting us repurpose this, on to Anne’s interview with Jim Belushi.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Jim Belushi, Hollywood Star and Cannabis Entrepreneur It’s been 12 years since Jim first came to Oregon’s Rogue Valley where his dear friend John has a sprawling property along the Rogue River, one town over in Shady Cove. Their children are the same age and attended classes together in California, so the families gathered for many activities over the years. With Jim’s own family’s experience and numerous others marred by opioids and the stigmatization of cannabis, Jim was incredibly grateful to have been led to the Rogue River where he first envisioned Belushi’s Farm and his own part in the agricultural and healing gift of cannabis. A proud Chicagoan, Jim graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Speech, Education and Theatre before moving on to become a resident member of Chicago's famed Second City for three years. In 1979, he left for Los Angeles, where he was cast on TV, launching his career as a performer. In addition to starring in a diverse and remarkable list of television and film— movies from Trading Places to Wonder Wheel, working with famed directors like Oliver Stone, Roman Polanski, David Lynch and Michael Mann—Jim wrote and appeared in Saturday Night Live for two seasons. He’s also served as an executive producer, music composer, director, book author, and Broadway star. His own television show According to Jim aired for 182 episodes during eight seasons before the family favorite launched into off-net syndication in 2007. Locally, Jim is actively engaged in several projects benefiting the communities surrounding Belushi’s Farm in Jackson County, Oregon. In Medford, Jim is helping reconstruct the historic Holly Theater to bring the 1930s Spanish Colonial movie palace back to life as Southern Oregon's largest indoor concert venue. In Eagle Point, Jim’s assisting with the reconstruction of The Butte Creek Mill,

Timothy Ko, CEO of Entheon Biomedical, a company that is pioneering a leading-edge addiction recovery solution that harnesses and optimizes the therapeutic potential of the DMT molecule, is this week’s special guest on The Green Rush! Entheon exists to invert the addiction-recovery ratio, turning the ‘untreatable case’ and ‘lost cause’ from the norm to the exception. When it comes to treating addiction, the rate of success is so low that society has been conditioned to accept – and even expect – failure. This manner of thinking is both unacceptable and counterproductive. There is a need for an alternative approach, that addresses the human cost of addiction for individuals, families and society at large. Entheon is developing a DMT-assisted therapeutic protocol that will be specifically tailored to address the core mechanisms underlying drug-seeking and using behavior. For hosts Nick and Phil Carlson, this is one of the most powerful interviews we have ever had on The Green Rush. It was great getting to chat with Tim and his story is one we think our audience will truly enjoy.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Timothy Ko, Chief Executive Officer at Entheon Biomedical Timothy Ko has a broad background of leading private ventures in the Service Sector, Investor Relations, Retail and Technology. Timothy’s passion for the psychedelic space is shaped by firsthand knowledge of the shortcomings of the current mental health system, and through his exposure to psychedelics which he credits with saving his life. Links and mentions in the show https://entheonbiomedical.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Entheon’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/entheonbiomedical/Entheon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/entheonbiomedEntheon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entheon Tim Ko’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-ko-ab982931?originalSubdomain=ca Tim Ko’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/entheontim   Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Nick Opich and Phil Carlson of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Tony Noto, Editor at Benzinga and a key member of the cannabis team is this week’s special guest on The Green Rush!    Tony Noto has over a decade's worth of journalism experience, covering startups, venture capital, private equity, the environment and cannabis. In addition to being an editor at Benzinga, he is also a filmmaker and co-host of the Who's Saving The Planet podcast. In his current position, Tony helps oversee all of Benzinga’s cannabis coverage including the widely popular Benzinga Cannabis Hour.  This will be a really fun conversation that will cover a number of topics including the 2020 Election, COVID-19, and the expansion of the cannabis industry. When chatting with Tony, conversation can tend to fly in all sorts of directions and this was surely does as well and it was a lot of fun having him join the show. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links and mentions in the show https://www.benzinga.com/ https://www.benzinga.com/events/cannabis/cannabis-hour/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Benzinga Cannabis Twitter: https://twitter.com/BzCannabis Anthony’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamtonynoto Anthony’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noto1031/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

As a special Thanksgiving treat for our listeners, we are cross posting an episode with our friends over at Marijuana Today that includes the one and only Anne Donohoe! Marijuana Today is a podcast about the business and politics of marijuana. It is a nerdy and in-depth discussion for those who want a behind the scenes look at the latest marijuana news. Every week Marijuana Today aims to have the highest-level conversation around about the latest developments in the marijuana industry, the politics of legalization, and the effectiveness of public policy. They find the new marijuana markets opening across the country and the fall of marijuana prohibition to be a unique and fascinating development which we will likely not see again in our lifetime. For this podcast, Shea Gunther and friends bring together some of the top experts in the country in a variety of subject areas, many of whom have been working together to reform marijuana laws for a long time.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links and mentions in the show http://mjtodaymedia.com/ https://mjtodaypodcast.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Jason Ackerman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman at TerrAscend, stock symbols ’TER’ on the CSE and ‘TRSSF’ on the OTC is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Widely recognized as the first North American Operator, TerrAscend participates in the medical and legal adult-use market across Canada and in several US states, including limited license northeast states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. TerrAscend has built a vertically integrated footprint on both the West and East Coast through the acquisition of its subsidiaries which include The Apothecarium, an award-winning cannabis dispensary brand known for architecturally stunning retail locations in California and Pennsylvania, State Flower, a San Francisco based, ultra-premium cannabis brand focused on the cultivation of truly exceptional flowers, as well as Ilera Healthcare, Pennsylvania's premier medical cannabis cultivator, processor and dispenser. TerrAscend holds a cultivation permit in the State of New Jersey and is pending approval for a vertically integrated medical cannabis operation with the ability to operate up to 3 Alternative Treatment Centers. It was a pleasure to have Jason join us to discuss his background as Founder of FreshDirect, consumer trends in the cannabis industry under the conditions of COVID-19 and the Company’s growth in the U.S. particularly in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Jason Ackerman, CEO and Executive Chairman of TerrAscend Jason Ackerman was appointed to the TerrAscend Board of Directors and named to the role of Executive Chairman in November 2019. Jason is the founder of FreshDirect, a pure-play home delivery grocer that pioneered e-commerce in the US, defining a unique and profitable operating model that is customer-centric, hyper-fresh, focused on relationships with producers, and technologically innovative. Over 20 years he served various senior roles including President, CFO and CEO & Chairman. More recently in 2016, Jason also founded Foodkick, where he designed and assembled a team to build a new same-day hourly service. Jason has deep knowledge of retail e-commerce, especially in online grocery strategy and logistics across the spectrum of pure-play to brick-and-mortar retailers. He has strong experience operationalizing strategy – be it with org structure & talent, technology vision, or go-to market (marketing and product development). Jason is also experienced in operations and logistics topics, including design networks, picking methods (and related technologies) and last mile delivery. He is a consumer centric thinker and firmly believes in metric-driven management. He is a Senior Advisor at The Boston Consulting Group and actively involved in digital transformation and strategies Links and mentions in the show https://www.terrascend.com/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Jason Ackerman’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ackerman-559b817 TerrAscend Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrascend/TerrAscend LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/terrascendTerrAscend Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrAscend-241083406358893/TerrAscend Twitter: https://twitter.com/terrascendcorp Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Pamela Moore, VP of Marijuana Business Daily is this week’s special guest on The Green Rush. Rooted as a journalist, Pam’s background is as a leader on content and strategy for events and media teams at UBM before she joined MJBizDaily in Fall 2019, overseeing the editorial team, conferences and media revenue. With COVID-19 raging havoc on the conference and trade show space, we wanted to sit down with Pam to get a read on how she and the rest of her team have been keeping their audiences engaged.  Anne and Nick sat down with Pam to get a deep dive on MJ Biz Conference 2020 and what the MJ Biz team has in store for this year’s event. We also touch on the big wins the cannabis industry saw in Election 2020 and what it means for the industry going forward.  Pam also has graciously offered out listeners a 10% discount code to register for MJ Biz Con 2020. The code for our listeners to use is PR6BIZCON2020.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Pamela Moore, Vice President of Publishing for Marijuana Business Daily Pamela has been a B2B communications leader for over 20 years, working in sectors as diverse as clinical medicine and advanced manufacturing. Rooted as a journalist, she led content and strategy for events and media teams at UBM as well as overseeing the company’s internal communications and internal and external re-brand. Folio Magazine named her a “Corporate Visionary” and one of the “Top Women in Media.” She joined MJBizDaily in Fall 2019, overseeing the editorial team and media revenue. Links and mentions in the show https://mjbizdaily.com/ https://mjbizconference.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Pam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalmoore/ Pam’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/pamelalmoore  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Lindsay Hoover and Simeon Schnapper, Managing Partners of JLS Fund, an early-stage plant fund focused on novel molecule and whole plant drug development and discovery; treatment centers and clinical networks; cultivation, formulation, extraction and processing; and supporting infrastructure are this week’s guests on The Green Rush!  JLS, a $50M fund and one of the first funds in the space leading similar investment charges. We talk with them about the burgeoning psychedelics space and what elements of the industry have caught their attention. We also cover their fundraising efforts during the COVID-19 crisis, their thoughts on the wave of psychedelic companies listing on public exchanges, JLS’ portfolio and what’s exciting them the most about the space.  This was a really fun conversation that goes into great detail on the growth of psychedelics and how seasoned investors are monitoring the space. Lindsay and Simeon are extremely knowledgeable not just on what the space looks like today but how exciting it could become in the near and long-term.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Simeon Schnapper, Managing Partner  Simeon is a life-long student of Psychedelics and has a keen awareness of the cultural regulatory and the nascent venture landscape of the mushrooming industry. His introduction to these came 30 years ago in Chicago where he studied with Dr. Robert E.L. Masters and Jean Huston Ph.D. Simeon founded the world’s first Visionary Art Gallery and Medical Marijuana Dispensary praised as a paradigm shift at the very beginning of the end of prohibition. Simeon advises several psychedelic startups, is a founding partner at JLS a plant medicine fund, is an Aspen Institute Fellow, a member of NYMS (New York Mycology Society) and TTI (Top Tier Impact). Links and mentions in the show https://jls.fund/  JLS@Kcsa.com  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Simeon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeonschnapper/Lindsay’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-hoover-213a7/   Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Kris Krane, Co-Founder and President of 4Front Ventures, is back on The Green Rush for a special edition episode covering the 2020 Election! A longtime advocate turned executive, Kris has been the front lines advancing cannabis legislation across the country for decades. In addition to his work at 4Front, Kris is also a Senior Contributor with Forbes looking at the investment, legislative and operational advancements of the cannabis industry.  With several cannabis initiatives on ballots in states like New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota, Montana and Mississippi as well as the massive presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, we wanted to get Kris on the show to give us an idea of how this election could shift the cannabis industry in a massive way. In our conversation we also cover SAFE Banking and the MORE Acts as well as get Kris’ thoughts on the role VP candidate Kamala Harris could play in advancing decriminalization of cannabis.  For those looking for a primer on what to watch for in the 2020 Election - you would be hard-pressed to find someone more knowledgeable than Kris.   So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Kris Krane, Co-Founder and President of 4Front Ventures and Mission Dispensaries Having founded 4Front Advisors in 2011, Kris now serves as president of 4Front. Prior to forming 4Front, Kris served as director of client services for CannBe, a pioneer in developing best practices within the medical cannabis industry. Kris has dedicated his career to reforming the nation’s misguided drug policies, having served as associate director of NORML from 2000 to 2005 and executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy from 2006 to 2009. He currently serves on the National Cannabis Industry Association board of directors and pens a column about the cannabis industry for Forbes. Links and mentions in the show 4Front website: https://4frontfamily.com/  Kris Krane’s Forbes column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kriskraneColumn on states voting on cannabis: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kriskrane/2020/09/25/these-states-will-be-the-next-to-legalize-marijuana/#76af7a8d6152  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Kris Krane Twitter: https://twitter.com/kranewreck Kris Krane LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskrane/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Dr. Jordan Lewis, founder, CEO and Executive Chairman of Fotmer Life Sciences is this week’s special guest on The Green Rush. A global cannabis cultivator and extractor, Fotmer is one of the world’s largest cannabis exporters. Fotmer was the first fully-licensed company in Uruguay to produce top pharmaceutical-grade cannabis flower, pharmaceutical ingredients, cannabis extracts and manufactured products for the international market.  With low-cost cultivation capabilities, an established international transportation infrastructure that supports a continuous supply cycle, efficient economies of scale and the largest license to cultivate medical cannabis in Latin America, Fotmer has quickly become one of the world’s largest exporters of medical-grade cannabis to Europe, APAC and Israel. Our hosts Anne and Nick chat with Jordan about the Company’s Uruguayan operations, the overall growth of the Latin American cannabis market and how low-cost, high-THC producers like Fotmer are positioned to shape emerging markets in Europe, Israel and Australia. Our hosts also chat with Jordan about how the company has maintained operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fotmer’s Series C raise and Jordan’s predictions for the future of international cannabis.  With countries like Colombia and Uruguay rapidly ramp up their cannabis cultivation capabilities, Jordan’s insights provide a solid look into the current state of the region and what investors should be monitoring as they explore investment opportunities.  So don’t sit back, lean forward!   Jordan Lewis, CEO and Executive Chairman of Fotmer Life Sciences Dr. Jordan Lewis serves as the Executive Chairman and CEO of Fotmer Life Sciences, a global cannabis cultivator and one of the world’s largest exporters of medical-grade cannabis. Under Dr. Lewis’ leadership, Fotmer has delivered over three metric tons of medical cannabis flower from its Uruguayan facilities to Europe, APAC and Israel over the last twelve months and has played a critical role energizing and advancing the international cannabis supply chain. Dr. Lewis has over a decade of experience in the industry covering the full supply chain including agronomy, greenhouse operations, pharmacology, and retail operations management. Prior to establishing Fotmer, Dr. Lewis founded Silverpeak in 2009, a medical cannabis growing operation and dispensary based in Aspen, Colorado. Silverpeak continues to be widely recognized for its industry leading cultivation, manufacturing and retail operations. Links to guest’s social media: Fotmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fotmer-life-sciences-uruguay/ Fotmer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FotmerLifeSciences/ Fotmer Twitter: https://twitter.com/fotmerLife Jordan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-lewis-1bb613180/  Links and Mentions: https://fotmer.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Dan Muller, founder and CEO of Aeropay, is this week’s special guest on The Green Rush. Launched in 2017, AeroPay is a financial technology company founded whose alternative payments platform gives cannabis businesses the ability to accept digital payments both in-person and online. The AeroPay platform works by enabling bank-to-bank payments - through what the company calls 'smart bank transfers' - between cannabis businesses and their customers or other businesses.  Today, most cannabis businesses still rely on cash because they are considered a high-risk payments category in the U.S. due to the illegal status of marijuana at the federal level. Most mainstream banks and payment networks don’t want to participate, but there are many companies like AeroPay that are willing to take the chance to support payments in this industry.  Our hosts Anne and Nick chat with Dan about the issues and challenges cannabis businesses face when dealing in cash, AeroPay’s most recent funding round, how decriminalization under a potential Biden administration could impact the payments sector and Dan’s outlook for the future of banking and payments in the space. With 11 adult-use states currently and four more voting on this issue in the upcoming election, the financial side of this industry is a fast-moving target. So we’re glad to have Dan on the show today to talk about this timely topic and how he’s planning to get ahead of some of these big anticipated changes.  So don’t sit back, lean forward!   Daniel Muller, CEO and Founder of AeroPay Daniel Muller is the CEO & Founder of AeroPay, a financial technology company whose alternative payments platform gives cash reliant cannabis businesses the ability to accept digital payments from their customers both in-person and online. Prior to starting AeroPay, Daniel spent 10+ years in digital product innovation most recently at GPShopper (acquired by Synchrony Financial), where he oversaw the design and development of over 300 web and mobile applications for large scale Fortune 500 companies. Dan founded AeroPay in 2017 with the goal of simplifying payments for owners and operators in all industries and verticals. He is passionate about helping under-served businesses and markets through financial technology and innovation. Links to guest’s social media: AeroPay’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aeropay/ AeroPay’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aeropayapp AeroPay’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/aeropaycannabis AeroPay’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aeropay/ Dan Muller’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannymuller/ Dan Muller’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielm_muller  Links and Mentions: AeroPay Cannabis homepage: https://www.aeropay.com/cannabis AeroPay / Safe Harbor Private Banking Partnership: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aeropay-and-safe-harbor-private-banking-announce-strategic-partnership-to-create-better-cannabis-payments-301121677.html AeroPay Seed Round: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alternative-payments-platform-aeropay-raises-seed-round-funding-led-by-fintech-experts-continental-investors-301139739.html  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on the Green Rush we are chatting with Angelo Tsebelis, Chief Executive Officer at WeedMD (TSX: WMD; OTC: WDDMF) a highly focused, licensed producer and distributor of cannabis products for both the medical and adult-use markets in Canada. WeedMD is widely recognized throughout the industry for producing high quality products, using indoor & outdoor cultivation combined with in-house extraction, product development & manufacturing. With its recent acquisition of Starseed Medicinal, WeedMD has expanded its multi-channeled distribution strategy with a valuable medical channel. Starseed’s partnerships with union groups, employers and benefit providers in Canada, provide exclusive access to ~350,000+ potential patients, and complements WeedMD’s direct sales to medical patients. The Company is also well capitalized to continue its commercial growth and pursue its Cannabis 2.0 product roll out for all channels, with a strategic institutional investor in the LiUNA Pension Fund. Angelo joined our hosts Nick and Phil to discuss all things WeedMD including the Company’s indoor & outdoor cultivation capabilities, its unique closed loop direct-to-consumer medical sales model, and consumer trends in the cannabis industry under the conditions of COVID-19. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Angelo Tsebelis, Chief Executive Officer at WeedMD Mr. Tsebelis has close to 20 years of commercial experience in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and cannabis industries. Responsible for setting the strategic commercialization, and product development initiatives for both WeedMD and Starseed, Angelo previously held positions of increasing responsibility with Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaw Corporation where he built strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, insurers, adjudicators and brokers in the Canadian market. Prior to this, Angelo held various commercial leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline, Bell Canada and Harrison Associates.  Links to guest’s social media: WeedMD’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weedmd/ WeedMD’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeedMD WeedMD’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weedmd/ Angelo Tsebelis’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-tsebelis-743510/  Links and Mentions: WeedMD homepage: https://www.weedmd.com/ Starseed acquisition: https://www.weedmd.com/weedmd-closes-acquisition-of-starseed-holdings-inc-and-25-million-subscription-receipt-financing/  WeedMD products: https://www.weedmd.com/weedmd-products/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Nick Opich and Phil Carlson of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush we’re chatting with Sol Clahane, Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Region for Canopy Growth. Sol oversees all of Canopy’s commercial operations and brands available in the U.S. market, including BioSteel, First & Free, This Works and the recently launched Martha Stewart CBD product portfolio. With a deep background in beverages and CPG, our hosts sat down with Sol to talk about making the switch to the cannabis industry, the major partnership between Martha Stewart and Canopy, the organization’s work with Constellation and what’s next for the company as it looks to expand its footprint in the U.S. Additionally we talk with Sol about the importance of female leadership and diversity in the upper echelon of the space, what it is like to work with a celebrity of Martha Stewart’s stature and how she talks to her daughter about working in cannabis and CBD. As one of the major players in North American cannabis, Canopy Growth is a trendsetter for the industry and Sol’s leadership is one of the reasons why. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy our conversation! So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Sol Clahane, Vice President and General Manager for the U.S. Region at Canopy Growth Corporation As Vice President and General Manager for the U.S. Region at Canopy Growth Corporation, Sol Clahane is responsible for regional growth, leading sales strategies and business development, while overseeing all Canopy Commercial operations and brands available in the U.S. market. Before joining Canopy, Sol served as the Vice President and General Manager of US Chains for Pernod-Ricard; she has also held senior roles at iconic global brands, such as Brown-Forman, Coca-Cola and Pepsi. She brings to Canopy extensive experience in strategic planning, customer management, revenue growth management and sales operations. Sol has worked closely with several non-profit organizations, including Boys and Girls Club of America, Safe Haven Women’s Shelter and Lapiz Rojo, an organization dedicated to providing school supplies for low-income families in Fort Worth, Texas. Sol holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Political Science from Shepherd University and an Executive Leadership Certificate in Business Management from John Hopkins University. Links to guest’s social media: Sol Clahane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sclahane/ Canopy Growth Twitter: https://twitter.com/CanopyGrowth Canopy Growth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canopy-growth-corporation Links and Mentions: https://www.shopcanopy.com/en https://www.shopcanopy.com/en/martha-stewart-cbd https://www.canopygrowth.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

A message from Green Rush host Anne Donohoe:  Dear Green Rush friends - Happy 150th episode day! The Green Rush podcast started as an experiment three years ago (!) and now, 150 episodes later, we have become one of the “go to” podcasts in the industry! We now get pitched (every day!) by other PR pros wanting their execs to come on. It’s been a wild ride! When we started this, I thought we’d maybe do 10 episodes and call it a day. I mean who else would be willing to talk to us?! Turns out – a lot of people! From “big names” like Jim Belushi, Ziggy Marley, Kevin Smith, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (twice!), Mike Tyson and Senator Tom Daschle, to leaders in the industry like Kevin Murphy, Tahira Rehmatullah, Joe Lusardi, Kris Krane, Chanda Macias, Jeanne Sullivan, Irwin Simon – and the list goes on. We wanted to create a platform where people can come on and have the runway to tell their stories in their own words. We wanted to hear about their personal journeys with cannabis, as well as their entrepreneurial aspirations in this crazy industry. It was created as a space for honest discussion and discourse – with a goal of having our listeners learn something along the way. We hope we have accomplished that goal.  Big HUGE thanks to the KCSA partners, Lewis (Lewis and then Lewis again), Todd & Jeffrey for taking a chance with us. When Lewis and I came to you with this crazy idea – you said run with it. Nick Opich - you are vital! You keep the trains running on the tracks and you’ve stepped into the co-hosting gig with grace, excitement and confidence! Phil Carlson - ditto! Thanks for your counsel, humor and for jumping in when we need you to (Go Bills!). Shea Gunther - we are nowhere without you. Your passion for the industry combined with your podcasting superpowers are amazing! You are constantly saving our butts! Tiffany Rutowski, Cassidy Colarik & the social media team - thank you for all you do to promote the podcast (and dealing with last minute…. well... everything!). Thanks to Derek Friday who is helping us with the relaunch of our newsletter. And all of our guests who have spent time with us…thank you for sharing your stories with our listeners. And to you guys – our friends and colleagues who have listened, provided feedback and supported us every step of the way – we appreciate you ALL! Lastly - our listeners! You are everything! We love every tweet, every email (even the mean ones) and every “like” on our Instagram. Thank you for coming on this crazy ride with us.  While we’re at it, we wanted to share some cool new stuff! Like we alluded to, we’re starting up the newsletter again! So if you want to subscribe - go to our website to sign up or email us at greenrush@kcsa.com and we’ll add you to the list. We also have a YOUTUBE CHANNEL! We won’t record all of the episodes (you don’t want to see that much of us….trust me) but from time to time we’ll record the video and stick it up on the channel. Right now, we have some great initial content up there from interviews with Jim Belushi, Earl Blumenauer, Kevin Smith, etc.  Lastly, we are exploring MERCH! So if you’re interested in a T-shirt, hat, sticker - whatever - drop us a note and tell us what you’d like to see.  Ok really lastly -  social media channels! Follow us, like us, interact with us! We want to give you content that you LIKE and part of that is…. Actually KNOWING what you like. So - don’t be shy - tell us!  And as always, don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  About KCSA Strategic Communications KCSA is a fully integrated communications agency specializing in public relations, shareholder communications and social media, with expertise in cannabis, financial and professional services, technology, healthcare, digital media and energy. Since 1969, the firm has demonstrated strategic thinking and program execution that drives results for its clients in the ever-changing communications and digital landscape.

Sam Chapman, Campaign Manager Yes On Measure 109 (Psilocybin Therapy) is this week’s guest on the Green Rush. Measure 109 is a carefully crafted ballot initiative supported by medical experts, veterans, and people from over 300 Oregon cities to bring psilocybin therapy to Oregon. Much like how Oregon led the U.S. on cannabis legalization, this year, on the ballot in Oregon, voters will be able to decide whether to approve the U.S.’s first medical psilocybin program. As the Campaign Manager for this initiative Sam has been instrumental in gaining support for this measure having helped gather over 164,000 signatures supporting the proposed legislation. Against all odds, including COVID-19 we may see the very first legal psychedelics market in the US. Our host Anne Donohoe sat down with Sam to get a full update on the campaign and talk through some of the critical components of this initiative including why was Oregon chosen to lead the psychedelics movement, how the campaign has been funded, what the program will look like if voters approve of the measure and how long it will take to ramp up the market. Sam also provides more information on his background and how our listeners can get involved to help push this campaign across the finish line.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Sam Chapman, Campaign Manager for the Yes On Measure 109 Sam is the Campaign Manager for the Yes On IP 34 Campaign (aka the Psilocybin Services Initiative) in Oregon, a ballot initiative campaign seeking to create the first ever state wide regulated Psilocybin therapy program in the United States. Sam has over a decade of experience in advocating for progressive drug policy reforms at the local, state, and national level. His previous experience includes consulting for statewide political campaigns, assisting local governments in writing rules and regulations, and identifying new opportunities within emerging industries. In 2013 Sam co-authored House Bill 3460, the Oregon law that legalized medical marijuana dispensaries. Sam has been a resident of Oregon for 20 years. He holds a baccalaureate degree from the University of Oregon in Philosophy and Political Science.  Links to guest’s social media: Sam’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/seriouslysamuel Sam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-chapman-0a0a8229/ Yes on 109 Twitter: https://twitter.com/voteyeson109  Links and Mentions: Yes on 109 website: https://voteyeson109.org/Yes on 109 Donation Page: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/vote_yes_on_109?amount=25   Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush we’re publishing the virtual press conference announcing the completion of the Capstone Campaign, a $30 million fundraising effort headlined by the Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative and MAPS, to support the final stretch of Phase 3 trials required to seek FDA approval of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Featuring Joe Green, Co-Founder of PSFC; Rick Doblin, Founder and Executive Director of MAPS; Amy Emerson, CEO of MAPS Public Benefit Corps as well as major donors Tim Ferriss, Author and Entrepreneur and Alan Fournier, Founder of Pennant Capital, the press conference highlights the excitement around the potential of psychedelics, the wholesale reassessment of drugs like MDMA and psilocybin and their potential to help address some of the defining mental health crises of our time. With an interim analysis of the first Phase 3 trial showing greater than 90% probability to significantly effect treating PTSD, this final funding round could help put MAPS’ clinical trial on track to submit to the FDA for approval as soon as 2022. For those following the path to FDA approval for psychedelics, this episode is a must listen to.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Joe Green, Co-Founder and President of PSFC Joe Green is the co-founder and President of PSFC. Joe supports causes that have a high potential for systemic impact, yet limited resources to achieve their full potential. PSFC was created because medical trials of MDMA and psilocybin have shown compelling evidence to treat millions of people who suffer from mental health issues, but there was insufficient funding to complete the next phase of trials. Joe is a social entrepreneur who has spent his career addressing significant challenges by marrying technology with community organizing. Joe co-founded Causes, which empowered more than 100 million people to make an impact; NationBuilder, a leading software provider for organizers; and FWD.us, which has mobilized the tech community around immigration and criminal justice reform. He is currently the chairman and co-founder of Treehouse, an organization that builds communal housing apartment buildings in Los Angeles, and chairman of Or Halev, a center for Jewish meditation. Links to guest’s social media: Joe Green’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joegreen3/ Rick Doblin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rickdoblin MAPS Twitter: https://twitter.com/MAPS Tim Ferriss Twitter: https://twitter.com/tferriss Tim Ferris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timferriss/ Amy Emerson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-emerson-5ab7473/ Alan Fournier LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-fournier-121974122/  Links and Mentions: https://psfc.co/ https://tim.blog/ https://maps.org/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Christian Schenk, Chief Executive Officer at Driven Deliveries, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Driven Deliveries is one of California's fastest growing online cannabis retailers and direct-to-consumer logistics companies. Founded by experienced technology and cannabis executives, the company provides e-commerce solutions, online sales, and on-demand cannabis delivery to 92% of California’s population. Driven’s success has led to record revenue for Q2 in 2020 and now sees the company offering legal cannabis consumers over 450 products and delivery to their door in less than 60 minutes.  With COVID-19 leading to a massive influx of cannabis consumers looking for delivery options, our hosts Anne and Phil wanted to sit down with Christian to get an idea of the uptick his business has seen in recent months. Christian also touches on Driven’s technology and the consumer trends his team has been following under the conditions of COVID-19. As cannabis delivery continues to gain acceptance in major markets, Christian and his team have their finger on the pulse of how these capabilities will transform the future of cannabis retail.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Christian Schenk, Chief Executive Officer of Driven Deliveries Christian Schenk is an accomplished transportation and payment technology executive with extensive public company experience and a profound track record of generating sustainable, rapid growth. Mr. Schenk joined Driven Deliveries in April 2019 as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Since then, the company has successfully completed acquisitions of 2 cannabis retailers: Ganjarunner and Budee Inc., making Driven California’s largest licensed, online retailer. Mr. Schenk has taken Driven from what was a sputtering startup to a rapidly growing public entity with more than $29M in forecasted earnings.  The company is based in sunny LA and is home to more than 400 employees across the state of California.   Links to guest’s social media: Christian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-schenk-23620110/Driven Deliveries Twitter: https://twitter.com/drivendeliveryDriven Deliveries LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drivendeliveries/BudeeDelivery Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/budeedelivery/GanjaRunner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ganjarunner_ca/?hl=enWeedWavess Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weedwavess/  Links and Mentions: BrandBudee Program: https://www.drvd.com/brandsDRVD Overview: https://drvd.com/invest Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Phil Carlson of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Kyle Detwiler, CEO of Clever Leaves, a multi-international operator with operations and facilities in Colombia, Portugal, the United States, Canada and Germany, is today’s special guest on The Green Rush. A KCSA client, Clever Leaves recently entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: SAMA) to become a NASDAQ-listed public company in the Fourth Quarter 2020.  Our hosts Anne and Nick sat down with Kyle to discuss the upcoming public listing as well as the Company’s operational expansion into new markets like Portugal and Australia. As one of the leading voices on the growth of the international cannabis marketplace, Kyle gave our listeners a deep dive into the markets to watch outside of the U.S. and Canada, how the COVID-19 crisis has affected the cannabis import/export business and what the future of Clever Leaves and the cannabis industry will look like. For our listeners keen on following the international opportunities in cannabis, you will not want to miss this episode.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Kyle Detwiler, Chief Executive Officer of Clever Leaves Kyle Detwiler is CEO of Clever Leaves. Prior to the integration of Northern Swan and Clever Leaves in 2019, Detwiler served as CEO and co-founder of Northern Swan Holdings as well as co-founded Silver Swan Capital, an investment firm focused on niche and underfollowed sectors. He was also a Principal at The Blackstone Group, a leading alternative investment manager with $472 billion in assets under management. As an early member of the Tactical Opportunities Fund, Detwiler was involved in the management and served as a board member of seven investments with roughly $1 billion of Blackstone capital. Detwiler was previously a member of the private equity practice at KKR, focusing on transactions in the oil and gas, energy, natural resource and health care sectors. He began his career as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. Detwiler graduated with distinction from Harvard Business School and cum laude from Princeton University. Links to guest’s social media: Kyle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledetwiler/Clever Leaves Twitter: https://twitter.com/clever_leavesClever Leaves LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clever-leaves/Clever Leaves Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clever.leaves/ Links and Mentions: https://cleverleaves.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Photo by Kevin Abosch Award winning journalist and author Heather Cabot is today’s guest on the Green Rush! Heather joins our hosts Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich to talk about her new book, The New Chardonnay: The Unlikely Story of How Marijuana Went Mainstream, a deeply reported journey into the new world of legal cannabis. Drawing on exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the world of cannabis including Snoop Dogg, Bruce Linton, Beth Stavola, Ted Chung and Jeff The 420 Chef, Cabot’s book explores the confluence of social, economic, and political forces that have brought marijuana into the mainstream. Our hosts chatted with Heather about her reporting journey for the book including her preconceived notions about the industry before her first trip to the Marijuana Business Conference in Las Vegas, the evolving demographics of cannabis consumers, the social and racial justice movement within the industry, her craziest stories while being embedded with some of the biggest names in cannabis and how she explained to her family and friends that she was working on a book about cannabis.   The New Chardonnay hits shelves this week and as ‘Good Morning America’ exclaims, this book is an absolute must read. Heather is an absolute delight and thorough coverage of the burgeoning cannabis industry is something readers and our listeners will not want to miss.   So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Heather Cabot, Award Winning Journalist and Author Heather Cabot is an author, award-winning journalist, keynote speaker and former ABC News correspondent and anchor. Heather’s long career spans print, digital and television news in cities around the country where she worked as a local TV reporter and anchor from 1994 to 2002. In 2002, she was hired by ABC News to report from Washington, DC on breaking national news stories for the network’s NewsOne affiliate division. The stint led to a New York-based post for the network filing stories for Good Morning America and World News Tonight and serving as co-anchor of World News Now and World News This Morning. Links to guest’s social media: Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather.cabot/Heather’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/cabotventuresHeather’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-cabot-5aa5704/ Links and Mentions: Purchase The New Chardonnay: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607962/the-new-chardonnay-by-heather-cabot/Book Launch Link: https://www.strandbooks.com/events/event51?title=heather_cabot_with_zibby_owens_the_new_chardonnay_the_unlikely_story_of_how_marijuana_went_mainstream&utm_content=bufferee35f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferHeather’s Website: https://heathercabot.com/Good Morning America Must Read: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/read-books-ultimate-escape-august-72073208 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

4Front Ventures CEO Leo Gontmakher is today’s special guest on the Green Rush. Our hosts Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich are talking with Leo, who was recently installed as CEO of the multi-state operator, to chat with him following the Company’s earnings report that boasted impressive full-year and Q4 results. The Green Rush team wanted to sit down with the 4Front’s new man in charge to get a fuller view at the company’s success to date and his vision for the future of the company. With cultivation, production and retail operations across ke adult-use states like Washington, Michigan, Illinois and Massachusetts, Leo and 4Front provide a unique perspective on the exciting growth taking place in those markets. Additionally, we’ll get Leo’s thoughts on what’s next for the industry, particularly as the COVID-19 crisis carries on, his vision for the future of the Company and what factors are most important when it comes building a successful consumer brand.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Leo Gontmakher, Chief Executive Officer of 4Front Ventures Leo Gontmakher co-founded Northwest Cannabis Solutions, which under his leadership grew to be one of the largest and most successful producers of cannabis products in Washington state. He also served as Chief Operating Officer at Cannex, which merged with 4Front in July 2019. Leo has significant experience in cannabis facility design, construction management, equipment sourcing, operations, branding, sales and marketing strategy, and software solutions. Before entering the cannabis industry, he served on the senior management team at North America’s largest processor and distributor of specialized seafood products. Links to guest’s social media: 4Front’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4front-advisors/4Front’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/4FrontVentures Links and Mentions: 4Front Website: https://4frontventures.com/Massachusetts Updates: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/4front-ventures-granted-final-state-approval-for-adult-use-cannabis-sales-at-its-mission-facilities-in-georgetown-massachusetts-with-a-grand-opening-slated-for-august-12-301105767.htmlIllinois Updates: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/4front-ventures-to-reopen-its-mission-dispensary-in-chicago-receives-approval-for-retail-expansion-in-calumet-city-il-301102892.html Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Today on The Green Rush, hosts Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich are chatting with Ryan Crandall, Chief Product Officer and SVP of Sales at MariMed, a leading multi-state cannabis and hemp operator focused on health and wellness. With operations in both adult-use and medical states across the U.S., MariMed covers all touchpoints of the cannabis supply chain including cannabis cultivation, cannabis-infused products, and dispensary operations. Following the Company’s recent report that it is experiencing improved cash flow from operations due to robust sales in the adult use programs, the Green Rush team wanted to sit down to chat with Ryan about how the company has weathered the COVID storm as well as what the MariMed has planned for the second half of 2020. In addition, our hosts cover the MariMed’s expanded operations in Massachusetts and Illinois and MariMed’s approach to branding that has allowed its products to stand out amongst the competition.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Ryan Crandall, Chief Product Officer and SVP Sales for MariMed Ryan Crandall, Chief Product Officer and SVP of Sales is responsible for MariMed’s national sales initiative and growing MariMed’s portfolio of products and brands. Crandall holds a solid combination of medical cannabis product development expertise combined with global sales and business development in the technology industry. Crandall was the cofounder of Betty’s Eddies™, a branded line of delectable, precision dosed, all natural, cannabis-infused fruit chews. Previously, Crandall rose through the ranks to Director of Enterprise Field Sales in North America & Global Head of Business Development for major cybersecurity and software corporations, including RSA and EMC. Crandall built national and global sales teams that skyrocketed sales and closed numerous million dollar transactions with government and Fortune 500 corporations. Links to guest’s social media: Ryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-crandall-43133b12/MariMed’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marimed-inc/ Links and Mentions: MariMed website: https://marimedinc.com/MariMed brands: https://marimedinc.com/brands/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Today on The Green Rush, hosts Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg are sitting down with Bill VanFaasen, interim Chief Executive Officer and Glen Leibowitz, Chief Financial Officer of Acreage Holdings, one of the best known multi-state operators in the U.S. cannabis industry. Following the recent transition of Kevin Murphy from CEO to Chairman of the board, The Green Rush team wanted to sit down with the new leadership to get an in-depth on where the company stands today and its growth strategy going forward.   In the conversation, Bill expands on how his experience has prepared him for his new role as interim CEO and filling Murph’s shoes, the recent restructuring of Acreage’s deal with Canopy Growth and offers updates on the Company including its entry into New Jersey. Additionally, both Bill and Glen expand how the restructuring will affect Acreage shareholders, the Company’s plans for its hemp holdings and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the business. Acreage is considered one of the bellwether MSOs of the American cannabis industry and investors monitoring the space will not want to miss this conversation.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Glen Leibowitz, Chief Financial Officer of Acreage Holdings  Mr. Leibowitz has over 20 years of finance and accounting experience with expertise in building and scaling operations, improving controls, enhancing IPO readiness and working to manage an organization through accelerated business growth. During his 9 years at Apollo, Mr. Leibowitz  held various key roles within the finance organization including the accounting lead in taking the organization public in 2011. Under his tenure, he Implemented the public reporting framework, accounting policies and directed the company-wide Sarbanes-Oxley program. Prior to Apollo, Mr. Leibowitz spent almost 10 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers focused on multiple complex foreign registrant financial statements and client IPO documents across sectors including: alternative asset managers, Internet/software, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and mining. Mr. Leibowitz serves on the board of directors and is the audit committee chair for PowerPlay NYC, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating girls through one-of-a-kind sports and academic enrichment programs. Bill’s VanFaasen, Interim CEO of Acreage Holdings Bill VanFaasen first served as Chairman of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts from 2002-2007. He served as interim President and CEO from March-September 2010. In 2010 he was elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the second time, retiring in March 2014 when he was named Chair Emeritus. Bill joined Blue Cross in 1990 as EVP and COO. He served as President and CEO from 1992-2004 resigning as President and served as CEO until 2005. He was SVP of Operational Services at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, serving in operational, marketing, and health care capacities over 20 years Links to guest’s social media: Glen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenleibowitz/Acreage Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcreageCannabisAcreage LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acreageholdings/Acreage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acreageholdings/ Links and Mentions: Acreage website: https://www.acreageholdings.com/about-us/Canopy/Acreage update: http://investors.acreageholdings.com/file/Index?KeyFile=404447631 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.

Today on The Green Rush, hosts Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich are talking with Ben Larson, CEO of Vertosa, an Oakland-based cannabis and hemp infusion technology company that creates industry-leading active ingredients for infused product makers. Their patent pending nano- and micro-emulsions are designed for specific needs of each customer that create incredibly homogeneous and stable products while maximizing bioavailability, clarity, and taste.  As you’ll notice The Green Rush has been covering the cannabis infused beverage market in the recent weeks. There are many reasons we are focusing on this space - it is a fast-growth segment within the cannabis space fuelled by an increasing demand for health and wellness beverages infused with bioactive compounds as consumers seek robust recreational marijuana for healthy, innovative and smoke-free experiences. Several companies like Vertosa are are developing cool new beverages such as hemp juices, Cannabidiol (CBD) Infused water, CBD Infused tea, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Infused beer, THC Wine, Hemp milk, and even...a Hemp gin.  Many long-time cannabis consumers and enthusiasts have never even tried a THC-infused beverage, so the potential for growth and awareness on this topic is what got us excited to focus on it. Ben explores all of the space on this week’s episode. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Ben Larson, Chief Executive Officer at Vertosa Ben Larson is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and startup adviser. Prior to Vertosa, he co-founded Gateway, the cannabis startup accelerator and venture fund. He's a Director and Mentor of the Founder Institute, where he formerly managed global operations and is active on several boards. Ben’s expertise and passion for helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams inspires the work he does every day at Vertosa. Links to guest’s social media: Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/Ben’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrbenlarson/Ben’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbenlarsonVertosa’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/vertosaincVertosa’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vertosa/ Links and Mentions: http://www.blarson.com/https://vertosa.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week, Anne and guest host Nick Opich are chatting with Jeffrey Samuels, Vice President of the Cannabis Practice at Embroker, a digital insurance platform based in the Bay Area. Embroker is one of the few companies that have carved out a space specifically for the cannabis industry. We all know that risk is inherent in cannabis- especially now during the COVID-19 crisis - and so much of the cannabis isn’t afforded the basic protections that other industries have access to - and insurance is usually at the top of that list. Jeff walks the team through issues that are vital to anyone in the cannabis industry right now including: What is their insurance coverage, how can they protect themselves when something like the Covid-19 pandemic hit and how to think about the future of your business. If you’re an operator, ancillary service provider or anyone invested in the space, this is a great one to listen to. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Jeffrey Samuels, Vice President of the Cannabis Practice at Embroker Jeffrey Samuels is the Cannabis and Hemp Practice leader at Embroker, an insurance and technology platform based in SF, Chicago, Boston, and NYC, who has raised over $40M in venture funding to drastically improve the way high-growth businesses engage with insurance products. Jeffrey holds a property and casualty insurance license in all 50 states as well as a Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designation. He is also the Vice President of Business Development at Hillview, a next-generation cannabis and hemp company based in Lincoln Park, NJ. Since its inaugural year in 2017, Jeffrey has been a board member with NCIA’s Risk Management and Insurance Committee where he is still active today. Links to guest’s social media: Jeff’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreysamuels/Embroker’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Embroker Links and Mentions: https://www.embroker.com/https://www.embroker.com/industry/cannabis/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Continuing our exploration into the growing cannabis beverage market, our guest this week on the Green Rush is Tracey Mason, Co-Founder and CEO of House of Saka. Founded in 2018 and with products officially launched in 2019, House of Saka is an up-and-coming luxury cannabis beverage brand in California made by women and for women.  Our hosts Anne and Nick wanted to sit down with Tracey as House of Saka’s beverages are  kind of an entirely new category as a grape-based drink (so kind of like a wine) but instead of alcohol, the beverages are CBD and THC infused giving consumers a familiar and quick onset feeling. As a former executive at drink powerhouse Diageo, Tracey has long been involved in the luxury beverage business and walked our hosts through the burgeoning cannabeverage marketplace. Covering branding/marketing, comparisons to the hard seltzer industry and House of Saka’s growth plans, Tracey illustrated the opportunity for beverages to make a dent in the edibles space, especially amongst new users.   So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Tracey Mason, Co-Founder and CEO of House of Saka  Tracey Mason is a 25–year veteran of the adult beverage industry with experience in nearly every facet. She has held executive–level marketing positions at some of the world's largest beverage companies, including Diageo, where she worked her way up from sales management to Director of Commercial Innovation, and Fosters Wine Estates, where she held the position of Vice President of Marketing/Innovation until 2006, when she left to pursue her dream of running a small business. Links to guest’s social media: House of Saka Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/InfusedSaka/House of Saka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/InfusedSaka/Tracey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masontracey/ Links and Mentions: https://www.houseofsaka.com/https://www.houseofsaka.com/purchase/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Jim Belushi, actor, musician, comedian, all around entertainer as well as cannabis entrepreneur and the founder of Belushi's Farms is this week’s special guest on the Green Rush!  Jim has long been a household name due to his distinguished acting career but he’s also incredibly active in the cannabis community with a nearly 100 acre farm in the heart of Oregon’s beautiful banana belt, he is out there getting his hands dirty and producing some of the most-talked about cannabis in the state. With brands like Captain Jack, The Blues Brothers and Good Ugly Weed and Belushi’s Secret Stash, Jim Belushi’s cannabis products are quickly becoming the most talked about product line across the state.  Jim was gracious enough to sit down with our hot Anne Donohoe and guest host Phil Carlson to talk about his cannabis journey and venture into becoming a cannpreneur. In the discussion, Jim dishes on the role cannabis plays in his life, his work with important advocacy organizations like the Last Prisoner Project and why he loves getting into the dirt and actually taking part in the growing of his own plants.  This episode was a real treat and something that we hope all of our listeners can enjoy - we sure did!  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Jim Belushi, Hollywood Star and Cannabis Entrepreneur It’s been 12 years since Jim first came to Oregon’s Rogue Valley where his dear friend John has a sprawling property along the Rogue River, one town over in Shady Cove. Their children are the same age and attended classes together in California, so the families gathered for many activities over the years. With Jim’s own family’s experience and numerous others marred by opioids and the stigmatization of cannabis, Jim was incredibly grateful to have been led to the Rogue River where he first envisioned Belushi’s Farm and his own part in the agricultural and healing gift of cannabis. A proud Chicagoan, Jim graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Speech, Education and Theatre before moving on to become a resident member of Chicago's famed Second City for three years. In 1979, he left for Los Angeles, where he was cast on TV, launching his career as a performer. In addition to starring in a diverse and remarkable list of television and film— movies from Trading Places to Wonder Wheel, working with famed directors like Oliver Stone, Roman Polanski, David Lynch and Michael Mann—Jim wrote and appeared in Saturday Night Live for two seasons. He’s also served as an executive producer, music composer, director, book author, and Broadway star. His own television show According to Jim aired for 182 episodes during eight seasons before the family favorite launched into off-net syndication in 2007. Locally, Jim is actively engaged in several projects benefiting the communities surrounding Belushi’s Farm in Jackson County, Oregon. In Medford, Jim is helping reconstruct the historic Holly Theater to bring the 1930s Spanish Colonial movie palace back to life as Southern Oregon's largest indoor concert venue. In Eagle Point, Jim’s assisting with the reconstruction of The Butte Creek Mill, destroyed in a 2016 electrical fire, to preserve its heritage, build community, and improve the environment. In Los Angeles, Jim’s a benefactor of the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration, and Stuart House, a program of the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center Rape Treatment Center. Jim’s also a supporter of The Joyful Heart Foundation in New York City, whose mission is transforming society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, supporting survivors’ healing and ending the violence forever.  Links to guest’s social media: Jim’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JimBelushiJim’s IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000902/Belushi Farm’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belushisfarm/ Links and Mentions: Belushi's Farm homepage: https://www.belushisfarm.

Aaron Silverstein, Managing Director of BevZero, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! BevZero’s mission is to create high-quality non-alcoholic product options for consumers in North America. Their primary focus is cannabis and hemp-infused de-alcoholized beverages. BevZero enables companies to produce and bottle cannabis-infused non-alcoholic wines and other adult beverages without having to navigate the complexity of managing U.S. federal alcohol compliance concurrently with state-licensed cannabis operation. Over the last several weeks Lewis and Anne have focused more squarely on the cannabis infused beverage market as it is a fast-growth segment fuelled by an increasing demand for health and wellness beverages infused with bioactive compounds as consumers seek robust recreational marijuana for healthy, innovative and smoke-free experiences. In their conversation with Aaron, Lewis and Anne look at the current and future state of cannabis beverages, the science behind cannabeverages, BevZero’s growth and capital market plans over the coming months and how the market has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.  For our listeners interested in this growing segment of the cannabis space, this is surely an episode you will not want to miss. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Aaron Silverstein, Managing Director of BevZero  Aaron Sliverstein graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Enology and Viticulture. Over the last ten years he has worked in production roles at wineries in the United States and Spain, and at breweries and distilleries in the United States. In 2017, he joined Advanced Beverage Technologies’ ConeTech team as a Production Enologist, and now holds the position of Managing Directory, BevZero. Links to guest’s social media: Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/absilverstein/BevZero’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bevzero/ Links and Mentions: https://bevzero.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Eben Britton, former NFL offensive lineman and a dedicated cannabis advocate, podcaster and all-around fascinating guy is this week’s special guest on The Green Rush!  Selected 39th overall in the 2009 NFL draft, Eben spent four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars followed by two with the Chicago Bears. Since his retirement in 2014, Britton has been extremely open about his use of cannabis as a preferred method of pain management during his football career, and has cited the health risks associated with pharmaceutical painkillers as a reason why players should not be punished for choosing a natural alternative. Britton is now a board member of Athletes for Care, a group that advocates for athletes on various issues of health and safety including the use of cannabis as medicine. Additionally, Eben is the co-host of Hotboxin Podcast with the legendary Mike Tyson.   This is truly a fascinating conversation, one that covers mental health, cannabis, the NFL and psychedelics. Eben gives hosts Lewis and Nick a deep, personal dive into the trials and tribulations of his football career and how cannabis has helped him achieve a greater sense of peace in his post-playing career.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Eben Britton, former NFL offensive lineman   Selected 39th overall in the 2009 NFL draft, Eben Britton spent four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars followed by two with the Chicago Bears. Britton says he used cannabis as a preferred method of pain management during his football career, and has cited the health risks associated with pharmaceutical painkillers as a reason why players should not be punished for choosing a natural alternative. Eben is a board member for the non-profit organization Athletes for Care and the co-host of the Hotboxin Podcast with Mike Tyson. Links to guest’s social media: Eben’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/edsbrittonEben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eben-britton-613654b8/Eben’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsbritton/ Links and Mentions: https://www.hotboxinpodcast.com/https://www.athletesforcare.org/https://www.ebenbritton.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Javier Hasse, the Managing Director for Benzinga Cannabis, and CEO and founder of Spanish language news site El Planteo, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Through his vocal social media presence and dutiful reporting over the years, Javier has quickly risen to being one of the most influential reporters covering the cannabis space speaking with top executives and cultural figures who are driving the future of the industry.  For today’s episode, Anne and guest host and producer Nick chat with Javier about the cannabis news of the day including how cannabis companies are responding to the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality, the launch of his Spanish language news site El Planteo, the role of women in the industry and his favorite stories to tell about his time working in the cannabis industry.   With a well-earned reputation as one of the most dutiful and diligent reporters covering the cannabis space, Javier is in the elite tier of media that is a must follow for anyone interested in the cannabis industry.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Javier Hasse, Managing Director of Benzinga Cannabis  Javier Hasse is a cannabis, hemp, CBD and psychedelics-focused reporter, currently serving as Managing Director for Benzinga Cannabis, and CEO of Spanish language news site El Planteo, a company he co-founded. His book, “Start Your Own Cannabis Business,” was published by Entrepreneur Media in 2018 and hit the #1 Best-Seller spot on Amazon. As an award-winning reporter and editor, Javier's had roughly 5,000 unique articles published across numerous mass media outlets including CNN, Forbes, MSN, Chicago Tribune, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Entrepreneur Magazine, MarketWatch, Houston Chronicle, The Street, Nasdaq, Morningstar, Playboy, Benzinga, MERRY JANE, High Times, and many others. Beyond cannabis, Javier is a published photographer and Billboard-charting rapper, featured on hip-hop albums that also included Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Inspectah Deck, Twista, Lil Windex, Riff Raff, Cyhi The Prynce, Yung Bleu, DJ Whoo Kid, Jonathan Hay, and others. Links to guest’s social media: Javier’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JavierHasseJavier’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierhasse/Javier’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/javierhasse/ Links and Mentions: Benzinga: https://www.benzinga.com/El Planteo: https://elplanteo.com/Javier’s Forbes Author Page: https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/#258a11021bfe‘Start Your Own Cannabis Business’ book: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Cannabis-Business-Step-Step/dp/1599186322 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Tyler Robson, the CEO and Executive Director of The Valens Company, a global leader in the end-to-end development and manufacturing of innovative, cannabinoid-based products, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Valens is the largest third-party extraction Company in Canada with an annual capacity of 425,000 kg of dried cannabis and hemp biomass at its facility in Kelowna, British Columbia which is in the process of becoming European Union (EU) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliant.  For today’s episode, Anne and guest host and producer Nick are talking with Tyler about how he has built Valens into one of the best performing cannabis companies in Canada. Our hosts also chat with Tyler about the evolution of the company since his stepping into the CEO role in 2017, Cannabis 2.0 rollout and when we may see more products start to hit the shelves, what it is about Valens’ business model that is allowing it to thrive amidst a global pandemic and the company’s future international expansion plans.  This company is on the pulse of the Canadian market and one to follow for investors in the space. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Tyler Robson, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Based on Mr. Robson’s impressive commitment and contributions to The Valens Company, he was appointed CEO in May 2017 after previously serving as Chief Operating Officer. Tyler attended the University of Saskatchewan on a football scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences degree specializing in biology. He returned to Kelowna to pursue his passion for the cannabis industry by focusing on research and development, plant innovation, and life sciences. Tyler’s main interest is the medical application of cannabis to combat ailments while preparing for the up and coming adult use recreational market. Links to guest’s social media: Tyler’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/tyrobsonnTyler’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-robson-a77ba4155/ Links and Mentions: https://thevalenscompany.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Emmy-winning Writer, Producer, and Director Donick Cary is this week’s special guest on The Green Rush! Well know around the television and film industry for having written for TV staples like The David Letterman Show, The Simpsons, Silicon Valley and Parks and Recreation, Donick is also the writer and director for the Netflix hit, ‘Have a Good Trip’. Mixing comedy with a thorough investigation of psychedelics, 'Have a Good Trip' explores the pros, cons, science, history, future, pop cultural impact, and cosmic possibilities of hallucinogens. The documentary also includes some of the best psychedelic trip stories from celebrities like Sting, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller, A$AP Rocky and late greats Carrie Fisher and Anthony Bourdain. Our host Lewis sat down the Donick to discuss his film in greater depth including what drew his attention to psychedelics, his inspiration for developing a documentary around stories of psychedelic trips (and how he sold that idea to Netflix), his own introduction to psychedelics and whether or not he’s turning to psychedelics to help him deal with the anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Donick is one of the most talented writers in Hollywood and it was a real treat to have him join us to discuss his journey.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Filmaker and Writer Donick Cary Emmy-winning Writer, Producer, and Director Donick Cary got his start writing for Late Night with David Letterman. He continued writing for Dave at The Academy Awards (but not the Oprah-Uma joke) and served as both Head Writer and “The Guy in the Bear Suit” on Late Show with David Letterman. After five years in late night, Cary moved to The Simpsons, where he served as a Co-Executive Producer for seasons seven through eleven, winning an Emmy and penning many memorable episodes including “D’oh-in in The Wind,” “In Marge We Trust,” (Mr. Sparkle) and “Hell Toupee”  (Homer gets the hair transplants of a killer).  Links to guest’s social media: Donick’s IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0142620/Donick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donick-cary-3802439/Donick’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonickDonick’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donickcary/Have a Good Trip Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodtripnetflixHave a Good Trip Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodtripnetflix/ Links and Mentions: Have a Good Trip on Netflixhttps://donickcary.com/http://www.sugarshackanimation.com/teamGood Trip Merch: https://www.haveagoodtrip.shop/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Earl Blumenauer, a House Democrat from Oregon and one of the preeminent voices in the cannabis legalization movement returns for another episode of The Green Rush! Congressman Blumenauer has represented Oregon as a congressman for over 20 years, a state where voters first legalized medical marijuana back in 1998, becoming one of the very first states to do so. Oregon made history again in 2012 when its voters legalized adult use cannabis.  Our hosts Anne and Lewis to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic and the legislation he’s introduced in the House to make cannabis businesses eligible for the next round of the SBA PPP loans. The Congressman also provides an update on the latest movement of the SAFE Banking Act and how its being held up by ‘Moscow Mitch’ in the Senate, provides an in-depth analogy of how current cannabis prohibition mirrors alcohol prohibition in the 1930s and what his conversations with presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden have been like and how accommodating to advancing the industry forward he may be. Congressman Blumenauer has been on the front lines of fighting for cannabis rights for over two decades so anyone interested in the future of cannabis legislation, this episode is one you will not want to miss.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)  A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) has devoted his entire career to public service. While still a student at Lewis and Clark College, he spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon and at the national level. He was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1972, where he served three terms and Chaired the House Education and Revenue Committee in 1977-78. In 1978, he was elected to the Multnomah County Commission, where he served for eight years before being elected to the Portland City Council in 1986. There, his 10-year tenure as the Commissioner of Public Works demonstrated his leadership on the innovative accomplishments in transportation, planning, environmental programs and public participation that have helped Portland earn an international reputation as one of America’s most livable cities. Elected to the US House of Representatives in 1996, Mr. Blumenauer has created a unique role as Congress’ chief spokesperson for Livable Communities: places where people are safe, healthy and economically secure.  From 1996 to 2007, he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he was a strong advocate for federal policies that address transportation alternatives, provide housing choices, support sustainable economies and improve the environment. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2001 to 2007, and vice-chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2010.  He is currently a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the subcommittees on Health, Oversight, and Tax Policy. Congressman Blumenauer’s academic training includes undergraduate and law degrees from Lewis and Clark College in Portland. Links to guest’s social media: Rep. Blumenauer’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/repblumenauer  Rep. Blumenauer’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blumenauer/  Links and Mentions: https://blumenauer.house.gov/ http://earlblumenauer.com/ Congressman Blumenauer on Cannabis Reform: https://blumenauer.house.gov/issues/marijuana-and-drug-reformCOVID-19 cannabis business relief legislation: https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-blumenauer-and-perlmutter-introduce-legislation-make-cannabis Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com.

Kevin Smith, world-renowned filmmaker and cultural icon is today’s special guest on The Green Rush! Most well-known for his rise to prominence as the character Silent Bob in his classic film “Clerks” in 1994 (which he also wrote, directed and co-produced) Kevin Smith has since become a household name as an actor, writer, director, comedien, public speaker, comic book writer, author and podcaster.  Longtime listeners to the show should remember our interview with Kevin's hetero life mate, Jason Mewes, AKA Jay of the comedic duo Jay and Silent Bob, back in December of 2018. Together they have appeared in Smith’s collection of films including Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Clerks II and Silent Bob Reboot.  A native New Jerseyan, Lewis and Anne sat down with Kevin for a lengthy discussion to chat about their shared New Jersey roots as well as all things cannabis and podcasting. Within the conversation, our hosts explored with Kevin his love of podcasting, his films, his supernatural ability to smoke cannabis all day, everyday and remain highly productive, the development of his own strains of weed (and where to find them!), his upcoming projects and much, much more.  In addition to being a cannabis icon, Kevin is an incredibly generous person and all of us at The Green Rush are grateful that he joined us to geek out about movies and cannabis.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Links and mentions in the show https://www.smodcast.com/Jay and Silent Bob merch: https://www.amazon.com/jayandsilentbobKevin Smith’s IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003620/https://jayandsilentbob.com/Jay and Silent Bob cannabis products: https://www.caviargold.com/caviargold-productline2020 Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Kevin Smith’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatkevinsmithKevin Smith’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfDoPEgiYTMmraXj8HS7s4gKevin Smith’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatkevinsmith/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Adam Orens and Sal Barnes from MPG Consulting (formerly the Marijuana Policy Group), are this week’s guests on The Green Rush! MPG Consulting is an internationally recognized cannabis and hemp corporate strategy and policy advisory firm that has completed strategic projects in 27 states and 7 countries for some of the industry’s leading MSOs, regulators, ancillary businesses and investment firms. MPG enables clients to make informed decisions through strategic advisement, research, and analysis.  The group headed by Adam and Sal has helped shape the policy decisions of some of the biggest states around the regulations of medical and adult use cannabis programs and helped major MSOs get their start.  They write the rules, they work with the C-Level in the industry...and are cool guys too boot.  Lewis and Anne sat down with Adam and Sal about the firm’s whitepaper on how states can leverage Cannabis Municipal Bonds and why this is relevant now during the COVID-19 crisis, the evolution of the hemp marketplace and what we should be expecting going forward, as well as their processes working both with licensed operators and the regulatory bodies that oversee them. During a time of so much uncertainty, Adam and Sal are a must listen if you are interested in what the future of the sector could look like in a post-COVID world.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Adam Orens - Founder and Managing Director Adam Orens is the founder of MPG. Adam has 13 years of experience in economic and public policy consulting, including market analysis, public finance, and regional economic analysis. Adam has completed numerous studies that analyze the relationships between markets, demographics, and government policy. Adam has advised numerous early-stage cannabis businesses in their formation, and strategic and business planning. Adam has also helped governments implement successful cannabis regulatory systems in Colorado, Canada, Florida, and California. In addition to Adam’s regulated cannabis qualifications, he and MPG  have completed complex consulting engagements for businesses and governments in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. Salmeron Barnes – Managing Director Sal is a Managing Director at the MPG Consulting responsible for the growth and strategy of the firm. In this role, he has helped numerous early-stage companies, established enterprises, institutional capital firms, and Native American Tribes create and execute effective cannabis and hemp strategies ranging from business planning to operational execution. While at MPG, Sal has also delivered economic and public policy consulting projects, including market analysis, public finance, and regional economic analysis across North America, Latin America, and Europe. Currently, he is tasked with assisting the state of Colorado’s Agriculture Commissioner in developing its hemp management program (the CHAMP). He joined MPG from Oliver Wyman where he worked as a C-Level strategy consultant for technology and energy companies. He has extensive experience working with Cannabis, Regulatory, Technology, and Startup organizations all over the world. Links and mentions in the show http://mpg.consulting/blog/resources/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts http://mpg.consulting MPG’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marijuana-policy-group/MPG’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjpolicygroup  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ 

Anthony Coniglio, CEO of New Lake Capital Partners, an independent investment vehicle focused on acquiring a diversified real estate portfolio of industrial and retail properties in the cannabis industry, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! To date, NewLake has acquired a real estate portfolio from coast-to-coast with tenants across the supply chain including cultivation, manufacturing and retail, providing these companies with much needed liquidity. Lewis and Anne are both back at the helm for this week’s conversation with Anthony discussing the current state of the market during the COVID-19 crisis, NewLake’s recent deals with PharmaCann and Grassroots, diversification in this kind of environment, and the ongoing capital crunch facing the industry.Given the current state of the market - both in and outside of cannabis - this one is well worth the listen. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Anthony Coniglio, CEO of NewLake Capital Partners Mr. Coniglio has been growing businesses for more than 20 years. Most recently, he led a start-up from concept to exit, selling to the #3 player in the segment. Mr. Coniglio used a combination of acquisitions, partnerships and organic growth to execute a successful business plan. Previously, Mr. Coniglio was a Managing Director at JPMorgan, leading three separate investment banking businesses to #1 position over his 14 year career at the firm. Additionally, he was an independent director of a NYSE listed company, serving on the audit committee. Links and mentions in the show https://www.newlake.com/Grassroots deal: https://www.newlake.com/2020/02/19/newlake-capital-acquires-properties-in-six-states-and-enters-into-long-term-leases-with-affiliates-of-leading-multi-state-cannabis-operator-grassroots/PharmaCann deal: https://www.newlake.com/2020/02/28/newlake-capital-acquires-properties-in-two-states-and-enters-into-long-term-leases-with-leading-multi-state-cannabis-operator-pharmacann/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Anthony’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coniglioanthony/NewLake’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newlake/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Karli Warner and Erin Gore the dynamic duo behind Garden Society, the popular female-focused edibles brand in California, are this week’s guests on The Green Rush. The Garden Society is an organization that was founded by women for women and together they have created quality infused confections and sun-grown flower pre-rolls made from responsibly sourced, sustainable ingredients. Anne was flying solo for this conversation with Karli and Erin as they discuss the origins of their brand and products, the leadership role they are taking in making sure that women have an equal opportunity in the cannabis space and how their “Garden Parties” are helping to normalize and educate cannabis for nascent users.  Additionally, this episode was recorded a few weeks back just as the quarantine was getting into full swing - so they also discuss how the COVID-19 crisis has affected their business and impacted their conversations with investors.   So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Erin Gore, Founder and CEO of Garden Society Erin Gore is founder and CEO of Garden Society, a California-based, cannabis-focused benefit corporation serving women in search of new, more holistic ways to rejuvenate from the rigors of their daily lives. Erin is an active member of the Northern California cannabis community, and frequently speaks on the topics of cannabis and entrepreneurship. She’s a fearless advocate for women-owned cannabis businesses, and equally dedicated to breaking the stigma and rewriting the script around the plant. With a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Erin is also fluent in the science-based talk of cannabis and production.  Karli Werner, Co-Founder, VP of Marketing & Communications Karli began her career in the wine industry at a boutique PR agency in Napa, learning the ropes of pitching and building media relationships while also expanding her wine education. Building her repertoire in food and wine, both professionally and personally, she quickly began exploring other aspects brand and event marketing in those fields. As her career progressed she moved to Constellation Brands, the world’s leading wine company, where she learned firsthand the importance of partnerships and cross-brand collaboration to become a top-tier marketer.  Links and mentions in the show https://thegardensociety.com/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Garden Society’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/grdnsocietyGarden Society’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grdnsociety/Erin Gore’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekjohnson2/Karli Warner’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kknappwarner/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Lewis Koski, the Chief Operating Officer of Metrc, America’s leading solution for cannabis and hemp governance, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Metrc’s software, RFID technology and support teams track cannabis products from seed to sale, ensuring a closed, legal ecosystem. Metrc’s solution ensures a secure supply chain, transparency, and public health, providing a safe marketplace for everyone. In today’s oddly regulated cannabis world, regulations on the industry are created at the state level.  Our hosts sat down with Lewis to discuss how the differing rules and regulations across each state make working in the legal, taxed portion of the cannabis industry a challenge and how his platform is working to make compliance easier and easier. With an interesting background, coming from Colorado, where he was Director of Marijuana enforcement, we wanted to chat with Lewis about why rollout of cannabis programs in different states are so different, his thoughts on how the cannabis industry has handled the vaping crisis, and what he thinks are the dumbest and silliest regulations facing the industry. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Lewis Koski, Chief Operating Officer of Metrc Lewis Koski is the Chief Operating Officer of Metrc – the nation’s leading solution for cannabis and hemp governance. Koski was director of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, where he helped build the first state agency to develop and implement medical and adult-use cannabis policy. He most recently co-founded Freedman & Koski, where he partnered with government agencies to build cannabis policies. Koski is recognized internationally as an expert in formative cannabis policy, as he helped to develop regulations that balance cannabis industry growth and public safety. He holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on International Business and is a Doctoral Candidate in Public Administration with a focus on policy analysis and public participation in rulemaking.  Links and mentions in the show Metrc website: https://www.metrc.com/Lewis’s Forbes column on the vaping crisis: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lewiskoski/2020/01/10/state-regulators-need-to-be-the-frontline-against-vaping-related-illnesses/#2fb26b4fa1bdExpansion into Maine: https://www.metrc.com/post/metrc-announces-expansion-into-maine Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Metrc’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/official_metrcMetrc’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metrc-llc/?viewAsMember=trueLewis’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/lewiskoski Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Rick Doblin, Founder and Executive Director of MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Founded by Rick in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS envisions a world where psychedelics and marijuana are safely and legally available for beneficial uses, and where research is governed by rigorous scientific evaluation of their risks and benefits. Rick is a major advocate of the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic molecules like MDMA and psilocybin to treat mental health challenges so Lewis and Anne invited him on to discuss how psychedelics may benefit those that are suffering from stress and other psychological problems caused by the COVID pandemic. In addition, our hosts chat with Rick about the organizations MDMA trials and the recent ‘breakthrough status’ it has received from the FDA; offers guidance to those contemplating using psychedelics as part of their self-care routines while dealing with social distancing and the overall growth of both the for-profit and non-profit sectors of the psychedelic space.  Over the decades, Rick Doblin has established himself as a leading authority on the renaissance of psychedelics and his insights on how these molecules may be able to solve the global mental health crisis will not be something that you want to miss.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Rick Doblin, Founder and Executive Director of MAPS Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master's thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary's Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife, dog, and empty rooms from three children, one of whom is in college and two have graduated. Links and mentions in the show MAPS website: https://maps.org/Rick Doblin’s TED Talks: https://www.ted.com/speakers/rick_doblin Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Rick Doblin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rickdoblinMAPS Twitter: https://twitter.com/MAPSRick Doblin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickdoblin/MAPS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapsnews/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.

Punit Seth, CEO, Director and Co-Founder of Toast, a forward thinking cannabis brand delivering full-spectrum CBD and some low-dose THC products, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Toast’s has made a lot of noise in the nascent cannabis branding space through its mission of delivering microdosed cannabis products that fit a range of users needs so that they can enjoy cannabis socially but also remain in control and dose themselves appropriately.  Anne was again joined by Nick for this sit down with Punit where the three discuss the impetus for launching Toast, how he was able to successfully recruit a former Coca-Cola and AB InBev executive to join his startup team and how he has been able to build a known brand in an industry with strict rules and regulations. In addition, Punit touches on the rise of CBD and whether its just a fad or something that will continue to grow in popularity as well as the capital crunch facing the industry and how his company has been able to weather the storm while others have taken massive hits.   Punit and his team at Toast are some of the most innovative and creative branding experts within the cannabis space and his insights on building and maintaining consumer loyalty is truly fascinating.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Punit Seth, CEO, Director and Co-Founder of Toast Punit is a seasoned strategy and operations management executive with 10+ years of experience and specializations in program management, strategic planning, operations management, people management, coaching, executive communication, human resources management, and turnaround/transformation management. Punit has worked for and advised notable organizations across several industries including: Bridgewater Associates, Accenture, Bank of America, Walgreens, US Department of Commerce, NYC Government, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, American Express, and more.  Punit decided to leave his successful corporate career and focus on starting Toast - a disruptive startup for the world's fastest growing industry, Cannabis. Punit is a native of Charleston, SC and received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and graduated Summa Cum Laude with General Honors from Clemson University. He also received his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.  Links and mentions in the show WeToast website: https://wetoast.com/ToastWellness: https://toastwellness.com/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Toast’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-toast/Toast’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeToast/Toast’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wetoast/Punit’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/punitseth/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Kris Krane, Co-Founder and President of 4Front Ventures, is back on The Green Rush to chat with Lewis and Anne about how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting the cannabis industry. A longtime advocate turned executive, Kris has been the front lines advancing the space forward. In addition to his work at 4Front, Kris is also a Senior Contributor with Forbes looking at the investment and operational advancements of the cannabis industry.  With the COVID-19 crisis paralyzing the globe, Lewis and Anne turned to Kris to get his incredibly valuable insights into the health and economic impact the pandemic is having on the global markets and the overall space. As part of the conversation, Kris, runs through some of his key points in his most recent Forbes column that looked at how severe the impact the coronavirus will be on the cannabis industry. This conversation looks at the “essential service” designation cannabis businesses have received, why he believes cannabis operators deserve to be part of the federal stimulus plan and how this crisis could accelerate the relaxing of regulations facing the industry around staffing, delivery and the imprisonment of non-violent drug offenders.  The COVID-19 crisis is one that is impossible to ignore and for those interested in learning how the cannabis industry is navigating these troubling times, this is an episode you will not want to miss.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Kris Krane, Co-Founder and President of 4Front Ventures and Mission Dispensaries Having founded 4Front Advisors in 2011, Kris now serves as president of 4Front. Prior to forming 4Front, Kris served as director of client services for CannBe, a pioneer in developing best practices within the medical cannabis industry. Kris has dedicated his career to reforming the nation’s misguided drug policies, having served as associate director of NORML from 2000 to 2005 and executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy from 2006 to 2009. He currently serves on the National Cannabis Industry Association board of directors and pens a column about the cannabis industry for Forbes. Links and mentions in the show 4Front website: https://4frontfamily.com/  Kris Krane’s Forbes column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kriskraneKris’s article on COVID-19 and cannabis: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kriskrane/2020/03/18/how-the-coronavirus-pandemic-will-affect-the-cannabis-industry Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Kris Krane Twitter: https://twitter.com/kranewreck Kris Krane LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskrane/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Bruce Linton, formerly the CEO of cannabis behemoth Canopy Growth and now Director of Mind Medicine is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Since his departure from Canopy in 2019, Bruce has since moved onto several new ventures within the cannabis and psychedelics spaces but is still the unquestioned face of the industry. Started with CNBC’s Kevin O’Leary, Bruce’s most notable role right now is with Mind Medicine, a neuro-pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and deploys psychedelic inspired medicines to improve health, promote wellness and alleviate suffering. Fresh off taking Mind Med public on the NEO Exchange, Bruce sat down with Lewis to chat about what he’s been up to since his departure from Canopy. The two touch on all of the headlines dominating the cannabis industry including most notably the public markets and capital crunch as well as what his outlook is for the long and short-term future of the space. In addition, the two tackle the burgeoning psychedelics industry and explore the work that Mind Med is currently undergoing, why now was the time to take the company public and what convinced Bruce that psychedelics were the real deal. In addition, the pair discuss Bruce’s other cannabis ventures including his roles at Vireo Health (CSE: VREO), Better Choice Company (OTC: BTTR) and Gage Cannabis.  As most know, Bruce is a one-of-a-kind leader in this space and his interview with Lewis provides a ton of great insights on how he is approaching the future. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Bruce Linton, Director of Mind Medicine Inc. Bruce has a passion for entrepreneurship and making a positive difference in the world. He brings a wealth of experience in building strong technology driven companies, developing world class teams and positioning his companies to deliver exceptional customer value and service.In his newly appointed role as an Active Advisor, Bruce will serve as Executive Chairman with GAGE Cannabis Co., following completion of the acquisition of Innovations – GAGE is innovating and curating the highest quality cannabis experiences possible for patients in the state of Michigan and bringing internationally renowned brands to market. He is Special Advisor with Better Choice Company – (BTTR) BTTR is an animal health and wellness cannabinoid company that acquired TruPet LLC, an online seller of ultra-premium, all-natural pet food, treats and supplements, with a special focus on freeze dried and dehydrated raw products. And Director with MindMed – MindMed is assembling a drug development pipeline of psychedelic inspired medicines planning or undertaking FDA trials.Bruce is also an Activist Investor with SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CSE:SLNG) is a leading global cannabis consumer packaged goods company with a robust portfolio of renowned brands distributed across 2,600 stores in 12 U.S. states. And with OG DNA Genetics Inc. (“DNA”) – DNA has built and curated a seasoned genetic library and developed proven standard operating procedures for genetic selection, breeding, and cultivation.He is the Founder and Former Chairman and CEO of Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC/WEED), Co-Chairman and past CEO of Martello Technologies, and Co?founder of Ruckify & Better Software. Links and mentions in the show https://www.betterchoicecompany.com/https://vireohealth.com/https://gageusa.com/https://www.mindmed.co/https://www.canopygrowth.com/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Bruce’s Website: https://www.brucelinton.com/MindMed Website: https://www.mindmed.co/MindMed’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindmedco/ MindMed’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindmed_co/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.

This week, The Green Rush is publishing a very special JOINT episode with the Eat Well, Travel Often Podcast hosted by Lewis’ better half Melissa Goldberg. In this episode the Goldbergs are chatting with Jeff the 420 Chef, author of The 420 Gourmet: The art of Elevated Cannabis Cuisine. Dubbed “The Julia Child of Weed”, Jeff works with cannabis in ways that no other cannabis chef in the world does. Jeff has been redefining the cannabis consumption experience since 2012 with his "tasteless" cannabutter and canna-oils, edible culinary cannabis, which mimic herbs like oregano, rosemary and thyme and infused cooking oils devoid of the herbaceous cannabis taste. He’s since grown his business into a best-selling cookbook and has become one of the nation’s most in-demand private cannabis chefs. Lewis and Melissa chat with Jeff about his tinkering with recipes to get them to the perfect balance between THC levels and tastiness, the rise of social consumption in lounges and restaurants in legal states and what his plans are for the future of his brand. If you’ve ever had interest in cooking cannabis, learning more about the edible making process or how to get your cannabis infused meal, this is the episode for you. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Jeff the 420 Chef Jeff The 420 Chef is one of the nation's first private chefs to cook cannabis infused meals. He started this career as a hobby in 2013, and turned it into full-time business -- catering.  Jeff is also a best-selling cookbook author, The 420 Gourmet that not only details so much about infused cooking but includes a THC calculator. He is also soon to be part of the first-ever cannabis cafe in California. JeffThe420Chef, works with cannabis in ways that no other cannabis chef in the world does. Jeff has been redefining the cannabis consumption experience since 2012 with his "tasteless" cannabutter and canna-oils, edible culinary cannabis, which mimic herbs like oregano, rosemary and thyme and infused cooking oils devoid of the herbaceous cannabis taste. JeffThe420Chef and his recipes are continuously featured in high profile publications including the High Times, Cheddar TV, MerryJane, Emerald Magazine, The Forward, Culture Magazine and Edibles Magazine. He has also been featured on TruTV with Margaret Cho, Bakeout.tv, Vice, Business Insider, WeedmapsTV (soon to be released), Elite Daily, The Daily Beast, The Boston Globe  The New York Daily News, The Huffington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle and more... Links and mentions in the show Jeff’s website: https://www.jeffthe420chef.com/Jeff’s book: Book:  The 420 GourmetTHC Calculator: https://www.jeffthe420chef.com/calculatorEat Well, Travel Often website: http://www.eatwelltraveloften.net/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Jeff’s Instagram - @JeffThe420ChefJeff’s Facebook - @The420ChefJeff’s Website: https://www.jeffthe420chef.comJeff’s YouTube Channel: JeffThe420ChefEat Well, Travel Often’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatwelltraveloftenpodcast/Eat Well, Travel Often’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatwelltraveloftenpodcast/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications and Melissa Goldberg of the Eat Well, Travel Often Podcast. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Matthew Anderson, the Founder and CEO of Vanguard Scientific Systems, a systems and solutions provider servicing the botanical industry, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Launched by Matthew in 2014, Vanguard’s mission is to deliver the capability to manufacture the highest quality, most valued, oils and extracts routinely and cost effectively in the cannabis and hemp industries. Anne, who was joined by Nick for this conversation, will sit down with Matthew for a deep dive on how his company is using cutting edge technologies to help cannabis producers develop and create the next generation cannabis products that consumers will enjoy. In addition, they touch on how the industry capital crunch is affecting ancillary service providers, Matthew’s insights on how other states can follow Oregon’s lead when it comes to promoting innovation and Vanguard’s work with advocacy groups like Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Matthew also shared about his days as a “moonshiner” while in college and how that sparked his desire to be an entrepreneur. Matthew is an incredibly well-spoken individual who’s experience and understanding of the knitty gritty of the cannabis space is something all of our listeners will enjoy.  Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Matthew Anderson, CEO and Founder of Vanguard Scientific Systems Matthew Anderson, Founder/CEO of Vanguard Scientific Systems, is a leader in the changing world of processing, extraction and active-ingredient manufacturing of natural botanicals. Matthew is delivering a global network of integrated systems and solutions to meet the processing needs of the rapidly evolving cannabis and hemp industries. Through partnerships committed to market-leading technology, standards, quality control, and training excellence, Vanguard will lead a compliant, stable supply chain to the global marketplace. Links and mentions in the show Vanguard website: https://vanguardscientific.com/Students for Sensible Drug Policy: https://ssdp.org/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Vanguard’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/vanguard360Vanguard’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanguardscientific/Matthew’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galtanderson/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Hershel Gerson, CEO and Managing Director of Ello Capital is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Started in Summer 2019, Ello is an investment bank and M&A advisory firm focused on empowering client growth and strategic thinking throughout every stage of the cannabis industry life cycle. Our hosts will sit down with Hershel to discuss Ello Capital’s recent analysis on the cash position of public MSOs which has caused a stir within the industry. We’ll dive into the weeds of how Ello conducted its analysis, why access to capital remains the biggest challenge facing operators in the cannabis industry and whether we can reasonably expect new regulations that will remove the capital hurdles facing Canadian LPs and U.S. MSOs. We’ll also chat with Hershel about his background in private equity and M&A and what drew him to the burgeoning cannabis industry. Hershel has his finger on the pulse of the capital side of the industry, so this won’t be an episode you’ll want to miss. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Hershel Gerson, CEO and Managing Director of Ello Capital Hershel has over 20 years of success in Investment Banking, M&A and Private Equity. He has successfully advised and closed over 55 transactions for private equity and corporate clients with a total value exceeding $30 billion. His ability to advise across a broad range of strategic matters – including leveraged finance, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, private placements, project finance, and general advisory assignments – has allowed him to build long-standing, trusted relationships with clients. He has previous deal experience across industry verticals that include retail and consumer, TMT, energy, real estate and healthcare. Previously, Hershel led Macquarie Capital's Consumer Coverage efforts focused on the food, beverage, H.P.C. and restaurant sectors. Prior, he led M&A efforts at Causeforce, bringing capital to consolidate the endurance event space with a focus on raising money for cancer research. He also held leadership roles at BNP Paribas as West Coast Team Leader and Credit Suisse as Head of West Coast Retail and Consumer coverage. Links and mentions in the show https://ellocapital.com/https://www.elloinsights.com/Ello Capital MSO Cash Analysis: https://www.barrons.com/articles/marijuana-companies-could-burn-through-cash-in-months-51581391260?shareToken=stc172fde12b9a43aab865315a2bc62804&reflink=article_email_share Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Ello Capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/ELLOCapitalEllo Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ello-capital/Hershel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hershel-gerson-371a143/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: http²s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Shea Gunther, the creative mind behind MJ Today Media and the Marijuana Today podcast is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! In addition to his role as the unfailing Program Director for the Green Rush, Shea is himself a podcaster, writer, activist and entrepreneur who, from behind the scenes, has for decades helped drive the cannabis industry forward. As an activist, Shea had a hand founding the first chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy back in 1998, and is currently leads up MJToday Media, a publishing company focusing on creating content for legal marijuana business nerds. He’s the host of “Marijuana Today Daily” and produces the weekly show “Marijuana Today“. Lewis and Anne sat down with Shea to discuss some of the latest headlines within the industry including the lack of capital facing the industry and the age-old tensions between the suits and the “stoners”. In addition, Shea gave us a peak at what it was like to be on the front lines of the cannabis movement in the 90s and his thoughts on what kind of legislative and regulatory support it’s going to take to for a healthy cannabis marketplace to take shape.   Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Shea Gunther, Founder, Producer and Host at MJ Today Media Shea Gunther helped kick off the student drug reform movement in 1998 by founding Students for Sensible Drug Policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Since then, he’s built his career around media, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. He worked with Kris to start one of the nation’s leading providers of wind power and has been a top featured writer for the Mother Nature Network, the #1 environmental news site on the web, since its launch in 2009. He frequently consults on a wide range of topics in social marketing, editorial design, and media architecture. Shea is a truly multimodal designer and communicator and handles all the technical aspects of the show as well as maintaining the social media accounts and this website. Links and mentions in the show http://mjtodaypodcast.com/http://mjtodaymedia.com/http://mjtodaydaily.com/http://www.weedwonks.com/https://ssdp.org/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts MJ Today Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjtodaypodcast  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Mitch Baruchowitz, Founder and Managing Partner of Merida Capital Partners, sits down with the Green Rush team for a special episode to discuss the ongoing vaping crisis facing the cannabis industry and how that would affect investor interest and patience. This is a unique episode that we recorded last summer while in the relatively early stages of the vaping crisis. Despite taping this episode with Mitch several months ago, we thought it would be interesting for our listeners to hear how the investment community was thinking about the issues surrounding vaping during the throes of the problems and compare that with where we are today. Mitch and Merida Capital have a major presence in the industry as one of the leading (if not THE leading) private equity investment firms in the cannabis space. Since 2012, Mitch and his team have been on the ground floor, watching and investing early in a number of well-known companies and recognizing where the greatest opportunities lie. Mitch has watched the industry progress and evolve throughout the years, providing him with a unique perspective of the space. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Mitch Baruchowitz, Managing Partner of Merida Capital Partners  Mr. Baruchowitz has nine years of experience in the legal cannabis industry and is considered a national expert in the diverse licensing regimes governing each state. His cannabis career began in assisting Colorado-based legal cultivators to structure state compliant capital transactions and analyzing the legal cannabis market in order to develop an optimal business strategy for their operations. After several years of work with Colorado companies, he co-founded Theraplant, LLC  where he architected the highest scoring application in Connecticut’s highly selective licensing process. In 2014, he cofounded LeafLine Labs, LLC, which was one of only two Minnesota companies to win a license to cultivate and dispense cannabis in extracted form. Mr. Baruchowitz is also a founder of Maryland-based Grow West MD, one of 15 companies selected for a cultivation and dispensing license. He has also founded a Pennsylvania-based cultivator that is in the pre-operational licensing stage. Links and mentions in the show https://www.meridacap.com/https://www.meridacap.com/portfolio  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Mitch Baruchowitz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-baruchowitz-73b182/ Merida Capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/meridacapMerida Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/merida-capital-partners/about/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Dr. Bill Levine, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of CannRx, a biotech company that develops proprietary, scientifically based medical and recreational cannabis products that have consistent therapeutic effects. Dr. Levine is a highly sought-out speaker and resource for the cannabis industry. He was most recently named Cannabis & Tech Today’s Innovator of the Year for 2019 and is one of the primary drivers of the Israeli cannabis marketplace. Our hosts will chat with Dr. Levine about his extensive background in botanical medicine and how that has aided him in his transition to the cannabis space. In addition, we will discuss Israel’s rise as a hub for technological and medical innovation and how his company CannRx is working on finding water soluble, bioavailable solutions to disrupt the cannabis beverage space. Dr. Levine is an incredible source of information and if you have any interest in the science and technology driving the future of the cannabis industry you will love this episode. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Dr. William Z. Levine, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Bill Levine is the founder of Izun Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in Botanical Medicine. This area of specialty pharma develops pharmaceutical and healthcare products from plant-based sources. Bill, who received his DDS degree and specialty training in Periodontics from Columbia University, initially utilized this background to formulate novel oral care products to treat periodontal disease more effectively. Izun has also developed wound care products, oncology support products, and products targeting women’s health care. Recognizing the Izun expertise with botanicals, Bill subsequently applied this knowledge to the cannabis plant and established CannRx. In a short time, CannRx has developed validated assays (receiving ISO 17025 service laboratory certification) and new and differentiated delivery systems. CannRx has identified & licensed new potent strains and appears well on its way to establishing itself as a leading player in the cannabis field. Links and mentions: CannRx Website: https://cannrx.com/  Links to guest’s social media: Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Troy Dayton, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of the Arcview Group is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Founded in 2010 with the help of Steve D’Angelo of Harborside fame, Arcview serves as the largest collection of high net worth investors who focus on putting money into early stage cannabis companies. Since its launch, very nearly every major cannabis company from the U.S. has presented to Arcview members and raised capital from the group. Troy’s journey in the space started long before the launch of Arcview as he (alongside Kris Krane and Kris Lotlikar and a few others) helped start Students for Sensible Drug Policy back in the 1990s. Our hosts will sit down with Troy to explore his journey from activist to investor in the space and get his take on some of the biggest stories facing the industry. We’ll also touch on the evolution of Arcview from its origins to today, Troy’s thoughts on the lack of M&A activity in 2019 and whether we will see significant change in 2020 and what he thinks is coming down the pike in terms of federal policy changes to cannabis. Troy’s story is unique and this episode won’t be one to miss. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of The Arcview Group, the first and largest group of investors dedicated to the cannabis sector which he co-founded in 2010 with fellow pioneer Steve DeAngelo. Arcview has partnered with 1600+ high net worth and institutional investors to place more than $275 million behind 215+ Arcview-curated cannabis deals.  Since 2012, Arcview has been the top publisher of cannabis market research, data and analysis, making them the most quoted company in the sector. In 2015, Arcview helped launch a partner business accelerator, CanopyBoulder and in 2019 Arcview launched the Arcview Member Managed Fund. Forbes named Arcview among the top 5 financial firms in the sector and Business Insider named them to their top 12 cannabis venture firms. Dayton is also chairman of the board of the Marijuana Policy Project and was formerly its chief fundraiser and among its first volunteers when it was founded in 1995. He is a founding and current board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association and he co-founded of Students for Sensible Drug Policy in 1998, which is now on over 300 campuses. Links and mentions: Arcview Website: https://arcviewgroup.com/  Links to guest’s social media: Arcview Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arcviewgroup/Arcview Twitter: https://twitter.com/arcviewgroupTroy Dayton’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-dayton-850a0a21/Troy Dayton’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/tdazzl  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Alan Brochstein, one of the most influential reporters/analysts covering the cannabis sector as the owner of New Cannabis Ventures and the 420 Investor. Alan has played the role as the voice of the retail investors for his entire career.  He watches nearly all the public cannabis companies, reads every single filing, talks with management.  Plainly said, Alan knows as much if not more about the public cannabis markets than anyone around. He can be controversial, and has been known to speak his mind, bluntly, directly, and with no fear of pissing people off. Love him or not, everyone respects Alan Brochstein. Our hosts will discuss with Alan the sad state of cannabis stocks and when may finally hit the bottom, his thoughts on different state regulations and their impact on operators, whether he believes 2020 will finally be the year the industry gets some relief from the federal government and what positive changes for industry he’s looking for in 2020. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Alan Brochstein, Founder of New Cannabis Ventures  Alan Brochstein, CFA, was the first investment professional to devote himself to sharing his observations about the cannabis industry from an investor's perspective publicly. He runs 420 Investor, a subscription-based due diligence platform for investors interested in the publicly-traded cannabis stocks and is also the founder of New Cannabis Ventures, a content aggregation site focused on investors and entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. Alan has worked in the securities industry since 1986, primarily with the responsibility for managing investments in institutional environments until he founded AB Analytical Services in 2007 in order to provide independent research and consulting to registered investment advisors.  Alan launched www.420Investor.com in late 2013 as the premier source of information for "Green Rush" investors seeking to capitalize on the proliferation of legalized medical and recreational cannabis. In March 2014, Alan, who is a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association, began to focus solely on the cannabis sector. He launched www.NewCannabisVentures.com in late 2015.  Links and mentions: Alan’s Newsletter: https://marketfy.com/item/420-investor-newsletter/New Cannabis Ventures: https://www.newcannabisventures.com/ Links to guest’s social media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanbrochsteinTwitter: https://twitter.com/Invest420 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week, The Green Rush wraps up our series of interviews from the Marijuana Business Conference with a special three guest episode featuring Max Cherney, reporter for MarketWatch, Richard Carleton, CEO of the Canadian Securities Exchange, and Emily Paxhia, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Poseidon Asset Management. Lewis and Anne sat down with Max, Richard and Emily for three mini-interviews at MJ Biz Con to garner their thoughts on the cannabis industry in 2019 and what they are looking forward to in 2020. All three of our guests are in the thick of it when it comes to the public markets so if you are an investor in the cannabis sector, this is the episode for you.  Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy Max Cherney, Reporter at MarketWatch  Max A. Cherney is a MarketWatch reporter based in San Francisco. A veteran Bay Area journalist whose work has been featured in local and national publications, he conducted the first jailhouse interview with Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow, a San Francisco Chinatown gangster whose affiliation with a state senator led to a statewide scandal, and he had a scoop about Sean Parker's role in the effort to legalize marijuana in California. Max previously covered e-commerce for IBD, with a focus on Amazon, and most recently was a staffer for J, where he investigated the rise in anti-Semitism at Bay Area schools since the 2016 election. Originally from Toronto, he attended Trent University in Ontario before receiving an MFA at California College of the Arts.  Richard Carleton, CEO of Canadian Securities Exchange  Richard Carleton has been CEO of the Canadian Securities Exchange for seven years. Prior to this appointment, Richard served as Vice-President Corporate Development with responsibility for the CSE’s technology, operations, market data and trading sales teams. Before joining the exchange, Richard worked as a business development consultant in Toronto and New York in the risk management and index product fields after spending twelve years with the Toronto Stock Exchange, serving most recently as a member of the exchange’s senior management team. Active in industry affairs, Richard served two terms as chair of the market data industry’s global trade association in the late 1990's and is a frequent panelist at market structure and trading technology events across North America. Richard also serves as a member of the boards of the Private Capital Markets Association and the Empire Club of Canada. Emily Paxhia, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Poseidon Asset Management  Emily has reviewed thousands of companies in the cannabis industry and has worked with countless founders in many capacities. She had helped to shape founders' pitch preparations, their go-to-market strategies/ product launches, and advised on day-to-day business operations. Emily has held board seats for three portfolio companies and participates as an adviser to multiple teams. Extremely active in the investment decision making and ongoing investment oversight processes, she works closely with her partners to create meaningful deal structures, ensuring that proper governance is carried out at the company level. Further, Emily has dedicated time and energy to supporting policy groups and has served on the Board of Directors of the Marijuana Policy Project. She also currently serves on the Board of Athletes for CARE. Links to guest’s social media: Max Cherney’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/chernandburnRichard Carleton’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-carleton-3b460416/?originalSubdomain=caCSE Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSE_NewsEmily Paxhia’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/empax1 Emily Paxhia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilypaxhia/ Links and Mentions: https://www.marketwatch.com/https://www.thecse.com/https://www.poseidonassetmanagement.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communication...

Former Majority Leader and Senator Tom Daschle, who last year joined the Board of Advisors for Clever Leaves is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Senator Daschle is one of the longest serving Senate Democratic leaders in history and one of only two to serve twice as both Majority and Minority Leader. In 1978, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served eight years. In 1986, he was elected to the U.S. Senate and was chosen as Senate Democratic Leader in 1994. Senator Daschle is also the Founder and CEO of the Daschle Group, a Public Policy Advisory of Baker Donelson, a legal and government affairs firm that advises clients on a broad array of economic, policy and political issues. Our hosts sat down with the Senator at MJ Biz Con in Las Vegas to talk about his entry into the cannabis sector, what attracted him to the Cleaver Leaves team and the politics of legalizing cannabis. Senator Daschle has quickly become a giant in this field and we are ecstatic to share our conversation with him with all of you. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy Former Senator Tom Daschle, Board of Advisors at Clever Leaves  Senator Daschle is one of the longest serving Senate Democratic leaders in history and one of only two to serve twice as both Majority and Minority Leader. In 1978, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served eight years. In 1986, he was elected to the U.S. Senate and was chosen as Senate Democratic Leader in 1994. Senator Daschle is also the Founder and CEO of the Daschle Group, a Public Policy Advisory of Baker Donelson, a legal and government affairs firm that advises clients on a broad array of economic, policy and political issues. Senator Daschle is the Chair of the Board of Directors at the Center for American Progress and Vice Chair for the National Democratic Institute. Senator Daschle serves on the board of Edward M. Kennedy Institute and the LBJ Foundation. He is also a member of the Health Policy and Management Executive Council at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Council of Foreign Relations. Links to guest’s social media: Tom Daschle’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomDaschleClever Leaves LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clever-leaves/Clever Leaves Twitter: https://twitter.com/clever_leaves Clever Leaves Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clever.leaves/ Links and Mentions: https://cleverleaves.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe h of KCSA Strategic Communications at the Marijauna Business Conference in Las Vegas. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Welcome to 2020! To kick off the New Year, The Green Rush team is starting with a bang as we publish our conversation with Steve and Andrew DeAngelo, Co-Founders of Harborside Health Center and two of the most important players in the history of legalizing marijuana. Steve DeAngelo is a pioneering cannabis entrepreneur, activist, author, and on-screen personality. He co-founded several iconic cannabis businesses and organizations including Harborside, one of the first six dispensaries licensed in the US; Steep Hill Laboratory, the first dedicated cannabis lab; the ArcView Group, the first cannabis investment firm; and the National Cannabis Industry Association, the industry’s first trade association. He currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of Harborside Inc, a vertically integrated California cannabis company. Steve and his brother Andrew sat down with us in Las Vegas at the 2019 Marijuana Business  Conference where they gave us a rundown of what they are working on now at Harborside, their work with the Last Prisoner Project and their hopes for the industry in 2020. We think this is the right conversation to begin the new year with, especially in light of what Governor Pritzker just did in Illinois, expunging 11,000 non-violent cannabis convictions ahead of Illinois implementing adult-use.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  Steve DeAngelo, Co-Founder of Harborside Health Center Steve DeAngelo is an inspired and undisputed national leader, with four decades of activism and advocacy in the cannabis reform movement. His creation of a model medical cannabis dispensary and lifelong cannabis activism, coupled with his extensive knowledge in this arena, has made him one of the strongest voices in the cannabis and hemp industries. Steve’s career has focused on the intersection of advocacy and entrepreneurship, creating profitable ventures that simultaneously advance social goals. His other ventures include Ecolution, SteepHill Laboratory, Cannasure and The ArcView Group. Andrew DeAngelo, Co-Founder of Harborside Health Center Andrew DeAngelo is Co-Founder and General Manager of Harborside Health Center in Oakland, CA. Accordingly, he handles the facility’s day to day operations. Prior to his work with Harborside, Andrew served as the Vice President of Ecolution, Inc., a hemp clothing company founded by his brother Steve DeAngelo. After this time, Andrew spent a short stint as a theater and film professor at Chapman University. Andrew and Steve went on to open Harborside Health Center in 2006, and the Discovery Channel featured the brothers on their reality TV series Weed Wars. Links to guest’s social media: Steve DeAngelo’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevedeangelo Steve DeAngelo’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve.deangelo/Steve DeAngelo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-deangelo-b5584751/ Andrew’s DeAngelo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdeangelo/Andrew DeAngelo’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrew_deangelo Links and Mentions: https://www.shopharborside.com/https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/https://www.stevedeangelo.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe h of KCSA Strategic Communications at the Marijauna Business Conference in Las Vegas. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

To celebrate Christmas Week, we’ll be providing our listeners presents throughout the week by posting some of our favorite episodes from 2019! For our final episode of the week we are republishing one of our most listened to interviews from 2019 with Irwin Simon, Interim CEO at Aphria, Inc. A Canadian LP, Aphria is listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange and has a market cap of around $3 billion, making it one of the largest cannabis companies in the world. Our hosts chatted with Irwin to get an update on the state of the company since he’s taken over the CEO role and how his Company is weathering the storm that is the cannabis public markets. We also cover Irwin’s entrepreneurial journey, why he thinks consolidation is on the horizon for Canadian cannabis and a preview of Aphria’s new edible and vape products set to hit the market later this year. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Irwin Simon, Interim CEO at Aphria, Inc. Irwin Simon is a business executive who founded The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAIN) a leading organic and natural products company in 1993. As Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Irwin Simon led Hain Celestial for more than 25 years and grew the business to $3 billion in net sales with operations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East providing consumers with A Healthier Way of Life™. Irwin Simon has more than 30 years of business experience spanning many domestic and international leadership and operating roles. Prior to Hain Celestial, Irwin Simon was employed in various marketing and sales positions at Slim-Fast Foods Company, a dietary supplement foods company, and The Häagen-Dazs Company, a frozen dessert company, then a division of Grand Metropolitan, a multi-national luxury brands company. Links to guest’s social media: Aphria’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/aphriainc  Aphria’s LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/aphriainc Aphria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aphriainc_/  Links and Mentions: https://aphriainc.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications from the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo in Los Angeles, CA.  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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

To celebrate Christmas Week, we’ll be providing our listeners presents throughout the week by posting some of our favorite episodes from 2019! For our fourth episode of the week we present our end of the year KCSA Hostful Holiday episode! Our hosts are joined by their KCSA colleagues Nick Opich and Phil Carlson to recap 2019 for the cannabis industry and explore what they think is on deck for the space in 2020. In addition to recapping the space, the KCSA team explores what storylines surprised them most in the last year, what to expect in terms of M&A in 2020 following a disastrous year in the capital markets, their predictions for how cannabis can achieve greater cultural acceptance and how markets like Michigan, Illinois and Oklahoma are shaping the future of the industry.  Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About KCSA Strategic Communications KCSA is a fully integrated communications agency specializing in public relations, shareholder communications and social media, with expertise in cannabis, financial and professional services, technology, healthcare, digital media and energy. Since 1969, the firm has demonstrated strategic thinking and program execution that drives results for its clients in the ever-changing communications and digital landscape. The firm’s clients are its best references. KCSA’s cannabis practice, which is one of the largest in North America for public relations, investor relations and social media, has been representing companies in the cannabis industry for more than five years. Clients span the entire supply chain from companies that grow the plant, process it and dispense it, to companies that provide consulting services, financial services and even ancillary products such as lighting, nutrients and packaging. For more information, please visit www.kcsa.com or www.kcsa-cannabis.com. Links to guest’s social media: KCSA Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcsastrategicKCSA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcsastrategic/KCSA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kcsa-strategic-communications/ Links and Mentions: Investor Confidence Survey Results: https://www.kcsa.com/in-the-news/detail/3047/press-release---investors-remain-confident-in-cannabis Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

To celebrate Christmas Week, we’ll be providing our listeners presents throughout the week by posting some of our favorite episodes from 2019! For our third episode of the week we are republishing one of Nick’s favorite interviews from 2019 with New York State Senator Liz Krueger, an outspoken advocate for cannabis and the lead sponsor of the “Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act” After it looked like 2019 would finally be the year that New York would legalize adult use cannabis, the state legislature was unable to find common ground on a number of issues and failed to pass a bill that would satisfy the Democratic majority. Senator Krueger, who previously appeared on The Green Rush back in 2018, joined Lewis and guest host, Gretchen Gailey, to discuss what went wrong and what needs to happen in 2020 to get full legalization passed in the state.    Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About New York State Senator Liz Krueger  First elected to the New York State Senate in a Special Election in February 2002, Liz Krueger is currently the Ranking Member of Senate Finance Committee. She is also a member of five other committees: Elections; Higher Education; Housing, Construction and Community Development; Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities; and Rules. For the past several years, Manhattan state senator Liz Krueger has proposed a marijuana tax and regulation bill modeled on the state liquor law that treats marijuana companies like beverage distributors. Senator Krueger’s conservative estimate is that legalization of cannabis could produce $500 million in new revenue for the state government, $2 billion in new economic activity, and $300 million in savings for the state’s criminal justice system. Links and mentions in the show http://www.wecanstudy.org/ https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/liz-krueger https://www.lizkrueger.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Senator Krueger’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/LizKrueger Senator Krueger’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/statesenatorlizkrueger/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Gretchen Gailey of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

To celebrate Christmas Week, we’ll be providing our listeners presents throughout the week by posting some of our favorite episodes from 2019! For our second episode of the week we are republishing one of Lewis’s favorite interviews from 2019 with Matt Gerson, founder and CEO of Foria Wellness, a cannabis company that sits at the intersection of cannabis and sexuality. Foria Wellness is a different kind of cannabis company, one that, at its core is about women’s empowerment and sexuality. Our hosts chatted with Matt about the unique link between consumption and sexuality. Foria goes beyond marketing gimmicks to educate its consumers about how CBD works with the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to enhance the functions of our daily lives. Matt also goes into detail on the company’s fundraising efforts and what it was like to go into his first VC meeting to pitch a sex-tech/cannabis company. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Mathew Gerson Bio - Founder & Co CEO at Foria In 2014 the available options for women’s sexual health & enjoyment were few to none compared with the huge number of products available for men. With a focus on female pleasure, Foria developed a first of it’s kind sensual enhancement oil with cannabis inspired by the historical celebration of cannabis as an aide for intimacy. The reported benefits of Pleasure led to the invention of Relief, the first cannabis-infused suppository for menstrual cramps and discomfort, soon to be the focus of a first of it’s kind Harvard researcher lead observational study.  Foria now has a line of THC products in California and Colorado as well as a CBD powered line available globally online. Prior to the creation of Foria, Mr. Gerson founded Sir Richard’s Condom Company, helping to address the unmet need for condoms globally with a “buy one-give one” business model in tandem with Partners in Health in Haiti and retail distribution in Whole Foods Market. Prior to becoming a socially-minded entrepreneur Mathew spent ten years studying Buddhist meditation in Asia, Canada and the U.S. Links to guest’s social media: Matt Gerson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewgerson Foria’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Foriawellness Foria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foriawellness/  Links and Mentions: https://www.foriawellness.com/  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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

To celebrate Christmas Week, we’ll be providing our listeners presents throughout the week by posting some of our favorite episodes from 2019. For our first episode of the week we will be republishing one of Anne’s favorite interviews from 2019 with Lizzie Post, the author of Higher Etiquette; A Guide to the World of Cannabis from Dispensaries to Dinner Parties. Lizzie is also co-president of the Emily Post Institute as well as a co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast (now in its fifth year), a weekly Q&A show that explores the topic of etiquette through the lens of consideration, respect, and honesty. In this episode, Anne and Lewis chatted with Lizzie about her new book, her work at the Emily Post Institute and what she thinks her great-great grandmother would think about her foray into the cannabis space. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Lizzie Post, Author of Higher Etiquette Lizzie Post, is the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, and author of Higher Etiquette, and co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette 19th edition as well as Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette 6th edition, and The Etiquette Advantage in Business 3rd edition. She is a co-president of the Emily Post Institute as well as a co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast (now in its fifth year), a weekly Q&A show that explores the topic of etiquette through the lens of consideration, respect, and honesty.  Lizzie does speaking engagements across the country sharing advice about lifestyle and wedding etiquette. She has worked as a spokesperson for brands including Bank of America, American Express Platinum, AirBnB, and Marshalls. She has held columns with Good Housekeeping, Women’s Running, and Houzz.com, The Farmhouse Movement, and Broccoli Magazine. Lizzie Post holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from The University of Vermont and currently lives in her native Vermont. Links and mentions in the show Emily Post Institute Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyPostInst Emily Post Institute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-emily-post-institute/?trk=tabs_biz_home Emily Post Institute Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilypostinstitute Buy Higher Etiquette: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586479/higher-etiquette-by-lizzie-post/9780399582394/Listen to the Awesome Etiquette Podcast: https://emilypost.com/awesome-etiquette-podcast/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Lizzie Post’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizzieapost Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Bill Thurman, CEO and Chairman of Redbird Bioscience, a licensed Oklahoma medical marijuana operator with an emphasis on large-scale cultivation and processing. Oklahoma is the nation’s fastest growing medical marijuana markets with regulators approving more than 7,300 business licenses in the first year of the state’s medical cannabis program, including nearly 4,300 grower permits. According to tax receipts released by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, sales of medical marijuana in the state stood at just over $258 million through the first 10 months of 2019 and are on pace to eclipse $350 million by the end of the year. Lewis and Nick chat with Bill about all things Oklahoma including what the true potential of the market is and how Redbird is working to help grow the infrastructure and community acceptance of medical marijuana in the state. In addition, the Green Rush team chats with Bill about the untapped cannabis market that is the South, Redbird’s plans for 2020 as it tries to grow out its brand identity and why compassion needs to be a greater emphasis for companies operating in the medical cannabis space. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Bill Thurman, CEO and Chairman of Redbird Bioscience  Bill is a manager of Redbird Management and a member of the Board of Directors of Redbird Partners. Bill has extensive experience in the Long-Term Care Industry, with over fifteen years in management operations and development. Prior to the new opportunity with Redbird, Bill served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Heart to Heart Hospice, which grew under his leadership and direction from an entity valued at approximately $13 million in 2009, to an organization now serving over twenty locations in three different states, with a value exceeding $250 million. His experience ranges from operations and management as Vice President of Provident LifeCare and LifeCare Management, operating two 120 bed skilled nursing facilities, to serving as Director of Development for Frisco Health Partners. He also served as a development consultant to Victoria Gardens. Since 1995 he has been directly involved in the ground up development of eight new Long-Term Care facilities in Texas and has won Medicaid contracts as a project consultant for numerous development ventures. Bill's experience includes Medicare/Medicaid contract application, site selection, acquisition and construction. Bill graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor’s degree in 1986. Links to guest’s social media: Redbird Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedbirdMMJ Bill’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-thurman-39940b186/ Links and Mentions: https://redbirdmmj.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Michael Schwamm, Partner in the Cannabis Practice at Duane Morris, LLP, one of the nation’s leading law firms serving the cannabis industry. Duane Morris attorneys represent businesses and individuals at every level of the cannabis supply chain. Duane Morris clients include state-licensed adult-use marijuana, medical marijuana and hemp cultivators, processors, distributors and dispensaries, whether vertically integrated or operating as standalone businesses, as well as investors in those businesses. Michael knows the nitty gritty about the industry like where the deals are, where the money is coming from and for listeners of this show who are closely following the M&A space, we promise this is a fascinating individual and an episode you will not want to miss. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About Michael Schwamm, Partner at Duane Morris Michael D. Schwamm represents public and private entities in all aspects of their business affairs. He practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities and technology law and provides general corporate counseling. Mr. Schwamm formerly was general counsel and chief operating officer of FiberCity Networks, Inc., a telecommunications service provider and uses his experience to provide his clients with proofed, business-centered advice. Mr. Schwamm represents companies of all sizes, including startups and venture-backed companies, privately held family businesses and both large and small public companies in all aspects of their business affairs. He also provides services to venture capital and private equity funds, angel and other institutional investors. An increasing focus of his practice is assisting single family offices in structuring their direct business acquisitions; Mr. Schwamm co-leads the firm’s initiative in this area.  Mr. Schwamm has worked on a wide variety of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, private placements, joint ventures and licensing arrangements involving a number of industries, such as big data, business services, consumer/retail, technology including FinTech, entertainment, healthcare services, manufacturing, sports and telecommunication. He calls upon his partners across the country and around the world in other practice areas to ensure his clients receive seamless, efficient and effective service for all their legal needs. Links to guest’s social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mschwamm/https://twitter.com/mschwamm?lang=en Links and Mentions: https://www.duanemorris.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Dr. Rick Strassman, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! After twenty years of intermission, Dr. Strassman was the first person in the United States to undertake human research with psychedelic, hallucinogenic, or entheogenic substances with his research in the 1990s. Thanks to the research by Dr. Strassman, organizations like the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) have moved the ball forward with the FDA to the point that MDMA - or ecstasy - has been granted Phase III breakthrough status for the treatment of PTSD and universities such as NYU, the Imperial College in London and Johns Hopkins are all conducting cutting edge research. For this episode, Lewis dives deep with Dr. Strassman about the medical value of psychedelics, how he reflects on his research 20 years after the fact what he foresees as the future of psychedelic medicine. Anyone following the cannabis industry should be closely following the psychedelics space as the paths to legalization for both are nearly parallel.  Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About Dr. Rick Strassman Los Angeles native, Rick Strassman, holds degrees from Stanford University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. He took his internship and general psychiatry residency at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center in Sacramento and he spent ten years as a tenured professor at the University of Mexico. Dr. Strassman also began the first new U.S.-Government-approved-and funded clinical research with psychedelic drugs in over twenty years. In addition, he has been a consultant to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Veteran's Administration Hospitals, Social Security Administration, and other state and local agencies. Dr. Strassman currently practices psychiatry in Taos, New Mexico and is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the UNM School of Medicine.While living in the Pacific Northwest of the United States for five years, Dr. Strassman worked in community mental health centers for Washington State's Whatcom and Jefferson Counties. He currently lives and practices psychiatry in Taos, New Mexico, and is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Links to guest’s social media: https://www.rickstrassman.com/ Links and Mentions: Rick’s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Strassman/e/B001JP8KSE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

The Green Rush is taking a break for the Thanksgiving holiday so to provide a special treat to our loyal listeners we are resharing our episode with “Iron” Mike Tyson. Mike was larger than life during his boxing career in the 90s until personal and professional failures rerouted the course of his life. Now, 10-15 years after his athletic career ended, Mike has pivoted to become an entertainer and entrepreneur, starring in blockbuster Hollywood films and launching his own cannabis company, Tyson Ranch.  For this episode, we flew Lewis out to Los Angeles to meet with Mike and his business partner, Rob Hickman, to talk about Mike’s boxing career, the pair’s new cannabis venture and Mike’s experimentation with psychedelics. In their conversation, Mike opens up about what drew him to cannabis, his dreams of building a ‘cannabis resort’ and what it’s like to be a businessman forging his own path in the “Wild West” of cannabis.  Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About Tyson Ranch Tyson Ranch is a cannabis company founded by Mike Tyson. Consistency and quality are at the core of our company with the mission to make cannabis universally understood and accessible. Through select partnerships with esteemed growers, Tyson Ranch proudly supports the industries very best, bringing you 'Better Cannabis' in every single package. Our commitment to the plant and passion for exotic genetics ensure that we deliver clean, quality, premium cannabis with every purchase. Links to guest’s social media: Mike Tyson’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeTyson Rob Hickman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-rob-hickman-0b4a0879/ Tyson Ranch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tysonranchofficial/ Tyson Ranch Twitter: https://twitter.com/tysonranchTyson Ranch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tysonranch/ Links and Mentions: tysonranch.com Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Josh Rothman, CEO and Founder of CRESTA Management Services, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! With more than 250,000 new cannabis jobs rumored to be filled, CRESTA Management is helping businesses within the space scale their operations to meet their complex needs on the operational, financial and regulatory compliance fronts. Recognizing that part of the difficulty of scaling up is finding quality talent, CRESTA positions itself as the go-to firm that companies large and small turn to when they need to find someone to fill these gaps. Our hosts sat down with Josh at the Cannabis World Conference and Business Expo to discuss the trends in hiring that he’s seeing including which regions of the U.S. are see shortages and what kind of positions major MSOs are in most need of. If you’ve ever been interested in making the career switch to cannabis, this episode will provide you with the direction you need to make that leap.  Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Josh Rothman, Founder and CEO of CRESTA Management Service Josh Rothman is the founder and CEO of CRESTA Management Services, an Executive Staffing and Human Resources firm with over 15 years of experience. Cresta Management Services is one of the largest boutique staffing agencies in the Western United States focused in the Public Accounting Arena and Real Estate Markets. When the tide of cannabis legalization began to sweep across North America, Josh saw the opportunity to support a fast-growing, yet under-served, market in need of experienced professionals. CRESTA responded by becoming one of the first established staffing agencies to pivot to the cannabis industry. From offices in California and New York, CRESTA now builds high-performing teams for cannabis companies across the US. Before founding CRESTA, Josh served as Managing Partner and Director of Human Resource at HR Outsourcing and Recruiting companies. It was during this time that he shaped the “relationships-first” approach that defines the service philosophy of CRESTA. Josh and his team of 15+ recruiters take the time to get to know both clients and candidates on a personal level. By understanding personal goals and motivations, CRESTA makes lasting connections that serve the needs of both parties. Links to guest’s social media: CRESTA’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cresta-management-services/ Josh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-rothman-17b2373/Josh’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/crestarecruit Links and Mentions: http://crestamanagementservices.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo in Los Angeles.  Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Dr. John Oram, the CEO and Founder of the vertically-integrated, California cannabis company NUG is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Since its founding in 2014, NUG has grown into one of the strongest brands in the nation’s largest cannabis market offering consumers its well-crafted edible and concentrate products as well as flower. In addition, the company recently opened its first retail shop in Sacramento in April 2019 and is on track to open two more retail locations in late 2019 and early 2020. Our hosts sat down with John to discuss the NUG business model and better understand how the company has been able to achieve success in one of the world’s most crowded cannabis markets and what else it has in line for future success. In addition, we explore John’s chemistry background, the company’s current capital situation and John’s work with Oakland Cannabis Equity Program. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Bio: Dr. John Oram, CEO & Founder:  John entered the cannabis business in the early 2000s (practically the stone age for cannabis) and in 2009, with a chemistry and engineering background (he holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in environmental chemistry and engineering from the University of California Los Angeles and bachelor’s degrees in analytical chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder), founded CW Analytical Laboratories—now recognized as the most trusted analytical laboratory in California for cannabis. He then set out on a mission to elevate the industry to a higher standard across all verticals – from cultivation to distribution – and in 2014 NUG was born from a home equity loan. Little did he know how quickly it would take off. And even in uncertain regulatory environments, NUG has remained profitable each year. In addition, John and his team at NUG play a major role in the Oakland Equity Program; NUG incubates businesses run by area residents who had been targeted by the war on drugs. They are also building new greenhouses for these companies, set to be complete by the end of this year. Links to guest’s social media: NUG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nug/NUG Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesocialnugNUG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nug/ Links and Mentions: NUG Website (consumer facing): http://nug.com/NUG Website (Corporate): http://nug.com/corporate-home/http://nug.com/nug-sacramento-voted-best-place-to-buy-cannabis-by-sacramento-magazine-readers/ http://nug.com/retail/Sacramento Retail opening press release: http://nug.com/elementor-3484/Fundraising Announcement (May 2019; Series A): http://nug.com/nug-inc-raises-15-million-in-series-a-funding-round/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Ken Alston, CEO of Hydroponics, Inc., a premier provider of global agricultural supplies, logistics, and procurement for large scale, commercial farms is this week’s guest on The Green Rush.    At its core, Hydroponics makes life easier for cultivators by streamlining the cannabis supply chain. Working with cultivators to decrease supply, logistics, and procurement expenses through their best-in-class agricultural solutions, Ken and his team allow companies to better focus their time on increasing revenue and developing their brand. Our hosts sat down with Ken at the Cannabis World Business Conference and Expo in Los Angeles to discuss the company’s business model, how companies can fill in the gaps within its supply chain and what the future of cannabis cultivation will look like as cheaper grow alternatives in Latin American become more commonplace. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Ken Alston, Chief Executive Officer As the CEO of Hydroponics, Inc., Ken oversees the growth and success of the Company’s strategies and business operations. Since acquiring the Company in 2018, his management team has expanded Hydroponics, Inc.'s geographic footprint and customer base while providing best-in-class agricultural solutions and analytics for many well-known farms in the Western US and Canada. Previously, Ken was Executive Chairman of Eventide Risk Management, one of the most successful search funds since inception of the asset class, as well as the CEO of MedVision, recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in California. Ken also serves as a periodic lecturer on entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California. Ken holds an MA from Columbia University and a BA from Southern Methodist University.  Links to guest’s social media: Hydroponics’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hydroponicsinc/ Ken’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-alston-610b3441/ Links and Mentions: https://www.hydroponicsinc.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Marion Mariathasan, CEO of Simplifya, a leading provider of regulatory compliance software for the cannabis industry is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Simplifya is every cannabis operator and compliance managers best friend due to its web-based, self-auditing system which distills complex state and local regulations into a series of simple yes-or-no questions to facilitate self-audits, identify areas of non-compliance, manage remediation efforts, and generate management and audit reports. In addition to covering how Simplifya is able to decode complex regulations on a state-by-state basis, our hosts also cover the company’s recent hire of John Vardaman, the author of the Cole Memo as well as Marion’s incredibly unique entrepreneurial journey including his Sri Lankan royal background. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Marion Mariathasan, Co-Founder and CEO at Simplifya Marion is a serial entrepreneur that has founded, invested in, or been an advisor to over a dozen start-ups. He is a regular guest speaker at events such as Denver Start-up Week, CU Denver's program on social entrepreneurship, and the United Nations Global Accelerator Initiative. Marion studied Architecture and Computer Science at the University of Kansas and Computer Information Systems with a minor in Business Management at Emporia State University. He enjoys time with his family, cooking spicy Sri Lankan cuisine, traveling, and connecting with people. Links to guest’s social media: Marion’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionmariathasan/  Links and Mentions: https://www.simplifya.com  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Chuck Smith President and CEO at DIXIE Brands is the guest on The Green Rush this week! DIXIE has quickly cemented itself as one of the leading house of brands in the cannabis space in no small part due to Chuck’s leadership. Since launching over a decade ago, DIXIE has become a powerhouse multi-state operator (and soon to be multi-country operator) focusing on building, developing, manufacturing and distributing premium cannabis infused products. In our conversation with Chuck, we’ll chat with him about his vision for the future of the DIXIE including its expansion outside of the U.S., the recently announced venture with AriZona Brands and when we may begin seeing some of those products hit the shelves and what else the company has coming down the R&D pipeline. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Chuck Smith, President and CEO at DIXIE Brands Charles “Chuck” Smith is the President and Chief Executive Officer for USA Inc., the parent company of the Dixie Elixirs & Edibles brand, as well as Therabis, and Aceso Wellness, two of the leading hemp supplement brands. As one of two original founders of USA Inc., Chuck helped the company grow from a “garage operation” to a 27,000 square foot state-of-the-art, vertically integrated manufacturing facility that was the first-of-its-kind for the marijuana industry. Prior to building USA Inc. and the Dixie brand, Chuck was President of Bella Terra Realty Holdings where he oversaw all aspects of the Bella Terra Resort Development Company. He was also President of Sagebrush Realty Development and responsible for developing, selling and managing residential condominium projects valued at over $85 million in revenues. Chuck has over twenty-five years of experience in a variety of industries. He has a strong financial background, holding the position of Chief Financial Officer for a mid-sized retail apparel chain and has built and managed sales and marketing teams for private and publicly traded technology companies. Links to guest’s social media: DIXIE’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/DixieBrands DIXIE’s Instagram: https://twitter.com/DixieBrands  Links and Mentions: https://dixieelixirs.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications from the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo in Los Angeles, CA.  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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Irwin Simon, Interim CEO at Aphria, Inc. is this week’s first guest on The Green Rush as we give our listeners a rare two episode week! A Canadian LP, Aphria is listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange and has a market cap of around $3 billion, making it one of the largest cannabis companies in the world. The company is also one of the rare in the space that can boast that it is profitable, making it one of the few bright spots in the legal cannabis space in 2019.  Our hosts chat with Irwin to get an update on the state of the company since he’s taken over the CEO role and how his Company is weathering the storm that is the cannabis public markets. We also cover Irwin’s entrepreneurial journey, why he thinks consolidation is on the horizon for Canadian cannabis and a preview of Aphria’s new edible and vape products set to hit the market later this year. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Irwin Simon, Interim CEO at Aphria, Inc.Irwin Simon is a business executive who founded The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAIN) a leading organic and natural products company in 1993. As Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Irwin Simon led Hain Celestial for more than 25 years and grew the business to $3 billion in net sales with operations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East providing consumers with A Healthier Way of Life™. Irwin Simon has more than 30 years of business experience spanning many domestic and international leadership and operating roles. Prior to Hain Celestial, Irwin Simon was employed in various marketing and sales positions at Slim-Fast Foods Company, a dietary supplement foods company, and The Häagen-Dazs Company, a frozen dessert company, then a division of Grand Metropolitan, a multi-national luxury brands company. Links to guest’s social media: Aphria’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/aphriainc  Aphria’s LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/aphriainc Aphria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aphriainc_/  Links and Mentions: https://aphriainc.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications from the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo in Los Angeles, CA.  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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Matt Gerson, founder and CEO of Foria Wellness, a cannabis company that sits at the intersection of cannabis and sexuality. Foria Wellness is a different kind of cannabis company, one that, at its core is about women’s empowerment and sexuality. Our hosts chat with Matt about the unique link between consumption and sexuality. Foria goes beyond marketing gimmicks to educate its consumers about how CBD works with the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to enhance the functions of our daily lives. Matt also goes into detail on the company’s fundraising efforts and what it was like to go into his first VC meeting to pitch a sex-tech/cannabis company. For listeners interested in discovering more unique ways consumers are looking to add CBD and THC to their daily lives this is the conversation for you. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Mathew Gerson Bio - Founder & Co CEO at Foria In 2014 the available options for women’s sexual health & enjoyment were few to none compared with the huge number of products available for men. With a focus on female pleasure, Foria developed a first of it’s kind sensual enhancement oil with cannabis inspired by the historical celebration of cannabis as an aide for intimacy. The reported benefits of Pleasure led to the invention of Relief, the first cannabis-infused suppository for menstrual cramps and discomfort, soon to be the focus of a first of it’s kind Harvard researcher lead observational study.  Foria now has a line of THC products in California and Colorado as well as a CBD powered line available globally online. Prior to the creation of Foria, Mr. Gerson founded Sir Richard’s Condom Company, helping to address the unmet need for condoms globally with a “buy one-give one” business model in tandem with Partners in Health in Haiti and retail distribution in Whole Foods Market. Prior to becoming a socially-minded entrepreneur Mathew spent ten years studying Buddhist meditation in Asia, Canada and the U.S. Links to guest’s social media: Matt Gerson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewgerson Foria’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Foriawellness Foria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foriawellness/  Links and Mentions: https://www.foriawellness.com/  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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

On this historic day, The Green Rush is publishing its 100th episode! After launching the podcast two years ago, Anne, Lewis and Nick want to express their gratitude to all of our dedicated listeners who have stuck with us! To treat our audience, we are celebrating with a very special guest, Kevin Murphy, CEO of Acreage Holdings. We think an interview with one of the top CEOs in the cannabis space is the perfect treat as we set forth towards our next 100 episodes. Kevin Murphy is arguably one of the most powerful leaders in cannabis having built Acreage Holdings into one of the leading MSOs driving the U.S. cannabis industry forward. We sent Lewis to the Acreage offices in NYC to chat all things Acreage including the acquisition arrangement the Company announced earlier in 2019 with Canopy Growth and where that deal stands today. We also discuss how Acreage is using its political might to drive reform to cannabis banking regulations, the Company’s “house of brands” strategy and how the SAFE Banking Act could transform the industry. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Kevin Murphy, Chairman and CEO of Acreage Holdings Prior to his role at Acreage Holdings, Kevin was most recently a Founding Member and Managing Partner of Tandem Global Partners, a boutique investment firm focused on the emerging markets. Previously, he was Managing Partner at Stanfield Capital Partners, where he served as a member of the Operating and Management team that oversaw all aspects of Stanfield’s business, including risk management, sales and distribution, client services, legal, compliance and operations. Mr. Murphy also previously worked at Gleacher NatWest (Partner and Dir. of Marketing), Schroders (Sr. VP of Sales), Lazard Freres (VP) and Cantor Fitzgerald (VP). Mr. Murphy graduated with a B.A. from Holy Cross College. Links to guest’s social media: Kevin Murphy’s’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-murphy-5945294Acreage Holdings’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/acreagecannabis  Links and Mentions: https://www.acreageholdings.com  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Matt Hawkins, Managing Partner of Entourage Effect Capital (formerly Cresco Capital Partners), is back on The Green Rush this week as we get his take on the latest news and earnings reports from around the cannabis industry. Since its inception in 2014, Matt and Entourage Effect have invested over $100 million in the cannabis industry helping to give accredited investors access to a diversified range of investment opportunities in the space including cultivation, retail, and ancillary services. To date, the Entourage Effect team has done well in recognizing cannabis ‘unicorns’ having been early investors in power players like Acreage Holdings and Green Thumb Industries.  With regular appearances on CNBC and Cheddar – Matt is one of the most sought out voices in the cannabis investing space, so you won’t want to miss this episode. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Matt Hawkins, CEO of Entourage Effect Capital Matt Hawkins brings an extensive background in building large alternative investment firms and scaling the companies he invests in. In 2014, Matt had a vision to launch Entourage Effect Capital and create the leading private equity firm focused specifically on investing in the legalized cannabis industry.  Prior to diving into the cannabis realm, Matt previously served as Partner and President of Tucson Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on multifamily residential and self-storage assets. Between 2008 and 2013, the company completed more than 55 bank-direct acquisitions, deploying over $500MM of capital. He successfully exited in 2013. Matt also was Principal & Co-founder of Adjacent Capital, a private equity/specialty lending fund where he oversaw the sourcing, origination, structuring and closing of over 60 transactions in a 3 year period. He also became a turnaround specialist through his time at Treadstone Partners and San Jacinto Partners. He is known and respected in the cannabis industry as one of the successful early investors and serves on the board of numerous cannabis companies.   Links to guest’s social media: Matt Hawkins’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hawkins-11288a2/ Cresco Capital Partners LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cresco-capital-partners-llc/ Links and Mentions: https://www.crescocapitalpartners.com    Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Ted Lichtenberger, the CEO of Flower Co. Flower is this week’s guest on The Green. Flower Co. is a “Big Box Retailer of Cannabis” that is bringing wholesale cannabis prices to consumers. With delivery increasingly becoming a critical access point for cannabis patients and consumers to obtain the plant, we want to speak with Ted about the issues around delivery in California and how the company is working with its drivers to ensure safe and timely transport of its products. Ted will also chat with our hosts about why he thinks Flower’s business model is suited to thrive in the modern cannabis economy, what he is seeing from consumer behavior in the California cannabis market and how his background at McKinsey has prepared him for success in the cannabis industry. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Ted Lichtenberger, Co-Founder & CEO  Ted is a serial entrepreneur whose most recent endeavor, FLOWER CO., has helped him deepen his connection to the beauty and nature of Humboldt County. As CEO of this startup, he feels carrying the integrity and legacy of Emerald Triangle’s textured past into the new era of cannabis is of utmost importance. At FLOWER CO., Ted brings his multifaceted background to everything from fundraising and brand partnerships to customer acquisition and hiring team members. His expertise in operations and structure has allowed FLOWER CO., to break into the largest legal cannabis market in the world with a fresh business model.  Links and mentions in the show https://flowercompany.com Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowercompany/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Sebastien St-Louis, the CEO and Co-Founder of HEXO Corp is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. HEXO is one of Canada’s largest LPs and a leader in the race to capture the estimated $250 billion global market. Recently the company joined other major players like Aurora and Canopy on the NYSE and inked a deal with MolsonCoors Canada to produce cannabis infused beverages, set to hit Canadian shelves this December.  Lewis is joined by Nick for this week’s conversation with Sebastien as we sit down with him to learn more about how HEXO is preparing for the coming consumables marketplace in Canada, discuss how CannTrust’s issues have affected (or not affected) how other LPs are operating, and what the long-term future of the Canadian cannabis market really looks like. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Sébastien St-Louis, CEO and Co-Founder of HEXO Corp.  Sébastien St-Louis is an entrepreneur with strong leadership abilities, financial acumen and operational expertise. Sébastien has wide-ranging business experience in manufacturing, distribution, trade finance and commercial lending. He has advised Canadian business owners and CEOs across multiple industry sectors, while structuring and closing $200 million in financing to support their export and growth initiatives. Sébastien co-founded HEXO Corp. with one goal in mind: to create a world-class company based on the highest standards of product quality and safety. Since 2013, he has secured more than $260 million dollars in financing for the company. His leadership has been instrumental in navigating the company through regulatory, financing and start-up challenges on route to becoming the only significant licensed cannabis producer in Quebec and, upon completion of two fully-funded expansion projects currently underway, one of the largest in Canada. Sébastien holds an MBA in Finance from the Université du Québec à Montréal and completed his Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of Ottawa in 18 months. Links and mentions in the show https://www.hexocorp.com/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Facebook LinkedInTwitterInstagram Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Lizzie Post, the author of Higher Etiquette: A Guide to the World of Cannabis from Dispensaries to Dinner Parties is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Lizzie is also co-president of the Emily Post Institute as well as a co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast (now in its fifth year), a weekly Q&A show that explores the topic of etiquette through the lens of consideration, respect, and honesty. If you think Lizzie’s name sounds familiar, she is the great-great granddaughter of Emily Post, who’s numerous books, syndicated newspaper columns and regular radio program made her the leading authority on etiquette in America. Now in the “post-prohibition” era, Lizzie has followed her great-great grandmother’s lead to combine cannabis culture’s long-established norms with the Emily Post Institute’s tried-and-true principles to provide a thorough and accessible guide for everyone, from newbies to cannabis enthusiasts, on the proper etiquette within the cannabis community. Anne and Lewis are chatting with Lizzie about her new book, her work at the Emily Post Institute and what she thinks her great-great grandmother would think about her foray into the cannabis space. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Lizzie Post, Author of Higher Etiquette Lizzie Post, is the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, and author of Higher Etiquette, and co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette 19th edition as well as Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette 6th edition, and The Etiquette Advantage in Business 3rd edition. She is a co-president of the Emily Post Institute as well as a co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast (now in its fifth year), a weekly Q&A show that explores the topic of etiquette through the lens of consideration, respect, and honesty.  Lizzie does speaking engagements across the country sharing advice about lifestyle and wedding etiquette. She has worked as a spokesperson for brands including Bank of America, American Express Platinum, AirBnB, and Marshalls. She has held columns with Good Housekeeping, Women’s Running, and Houzz.com, The Farmhouse Movement, and Broccoli Magazine. Lizzie Post holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from The University of Vermont and currently lives in her native Vermont. Links and mentions in the show Emily Post Institute Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyPostInst Emily Post Institute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-emily-post-institute/?trk=tabs_biz_home Emily Post Institute Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilypostinstitute Buy Higher Etiquette: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586479/higher-etiquette-by-lizzie-post/9780399582394/Listen to the Awesome Etiquette Podcast: https://emilypost.com/awesome-etiquette-podcast/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Lizzie Post’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizzieapost Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Danny Moses of “The Big Short” fame and friend of the podcast is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. As you've heard from our previous interviews, Danny is one of the smartest and most diligent investors in the cannabis space. This week’s conversation with Danny focused on his preaching of patience for long-term investors looking to capitalize on the industry. With two more states having approved adult use cannabis since his last appearance on the show, Danny is bullish on sticking with companies that have realistic, long-term growth plans. Danny also provided his unique take on the downturn the cannabis public markets have taken over the last 3-4 months, his optimism that cannabis banking reform could pass Congress later this year and what’s the one question he thinks all retail investors should be asking when considering whether to buy, hold or sell.  Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Danny Moses - Cannabis Investor Danny Moses has extensive experience with financial markets having worked on Wall Street since 1991 and holding a variety of positions including municipal bond analyst, institutional sell-side broker, trader, and hedge fund manager. The book and later movie “The Big Short” features the character of Danny Moses and a few others who were able to successfully navigate the volatility of the financial markets during the formation of the housing bubble in 2004.   Links and mentions in the show Danny’s Podcast BailStreet: https://www.bailstreet.com/Danny at the Brookings Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y2aEJShnUw The Big Short Deleted Scene: https://metro.co.uk/video/the-big-short-deleted-scene-1291428/?ito=vjs-link Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmoses34 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Matt Markiewicz, Managing Director of The Cannabis ETF, the first passively managed pure-play ETF solution for investing in cannabis is this week’s guest on The Green Rush.   Launched by Matt earlier in 2019, The Cannabis ETF (NYSE: THCX) focuses only on companies in the legal marijuana, CBD and hemp industries. The fund is the first cannabis ETF which does not rely on tobacco stocks and differentiates itself from existing cannabis ETFs in the space by rebalancing on a monthly basis, making THCX the MOST market-sensitive / reactive cannabis ETF without the unpredictability of active management. With cannabis earnings season upon us, we sat down with Matt to get his take on all things capital markets including his reactions post-earnings on major players like Tilray, Acreage Holdings and Canopy Growth, his process for analyzing cannabis stocks and whether he thinks investors should fear a cannabis “bubble”. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Matt Markiewicz, Managing Director, Innovation Shares  With 20 years of experience in finance, Matt Markiewicz is currently Managing Director at Innovation Shares LLC an exchange traded fund (ETF) company currently focused on thematic equity exposures, including recently-launched THCX, The Cannabis ETF. Prior to Innovation Shares he served as Director of Operations for Genuine Foods, an on-site food services startup that served meals for over 1000 school children in New York City. His previous 6 ½ years were spent at BlackRock as a Director in a sales and strategy role within the iShares business, the world’s largest manager of exchanged traded funds (ETFs). During his tenure at iShares, the firm launched over 150 funds as the as the industry’s global assets under management (AUM) grew from $711 billion at the end of 2008 to over $3 trillion by mid-2015. Links and mentions in the show https://thcxetf.com/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-markiewicz-256a4510  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Ronan Levy, Founder of Field Trip Ventures sits down with The Green Rush this week as the team looks to cover something a little different: psychedelics. Field Trip Ventures is a first-of-its-kind venture that is blending operational execution with strategic investing across all aspects of the psychedelics supply chain.  From basic research on botanical psychedelics like psilocybin, to the operation of world-class clinics focused on psychedelic-assisted therapies (for example, using MDMA to treat PTSD), Ronan and his team are on the front lines of the “next cannabis.” The Green Rush will chat with Ronan about his cannabis roots including his time as an executive with Aurora Cannabis, the re-emergence of psychedelic-based therapies, how psychedelics could follow the same “playbook” as cannabis as it looks to move towards legalization and busting common myths and misinformation around its addictiveness and dangers. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Ronan Levy - Founder, Field Trip Ventures A lawyer by training, Ronan presently serves as a founder of Field Trip Ventures, Grassfed Ventures and is on the Board of Directors of Province Brands and Proof & Concept Inc. , He is also the founder of Toronto Gold , Toronto’s most respected precious metal broker and principal at TDF Advisory Law Professional Corporation. Ronan started his career as a corporate lawyer at Blake, Cassels Graydon LLP and Legal Counsel at CTVglobemedia Inc. (now Bell Media Inc.) He holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Commerce degree, both from the University of Toronto.  Links and mentions in the show https://fieldtrip.ventures/https://maps.org/Michael Pollan’s Book “How to Change Your Mind” Research: Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiencesResearch: Drugs & Mysticism: An Analysis of the Relationship between Psychedelic Drugs and Mystical ConsciousnessResearch: A default mode of brain function Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Ronan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronanlevy/?originalSubdomain=caRonan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonanDLevy  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Mitch Baruchowitz, Founder and Managing Partner of Merida Capital Partners, sits down with the Green Rush team to discuss how private equity and venture capital are driving the rapid development of the cannabis industry. Merida Capital has a major presence in the industry as one of the leading (if not THE leading) private equity investment firms in the cannabis space. Since 2012, Mitch and his team have been on the ground floor, investing early in a number of well-known companies in cannabis. Mitch has watched the industry progress and evolve throughout the years, providing him with a unique perspective of the space. Lewis and Anne spoke with Mitch about what he looks for when identifying a potential investment opportunity, why he thinks there will be significant change in how major MSOs conduct business over the next year and who he thinks may follow Bruce Linton as the next CEO to get the axe. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Mitch Baruchowitz, Managing Partner of Merida Capital Partners  Mr. Baruchowitz has nine years of experience in the legal cannabis industry and is considered a national expert in the diverse licensing regimes governing each state. His cannabis career began in assisting Colorado-based legal cultivators to structure state compliant capital transactions and analyzing the legal cannabis market in order to develop an optimal business strategy for their operations. After several years of work with Colorado companies, he co-founded Theraplant, LLC  where he architected the highest scoring application in Connecticut’s highly selective licensing process. In 2014, he cofounded LeafLine Labs, LLC, which was one of only two Minnesota companies to win a license to cultivate and dispense cannabis in extracted form. Mr. Baruchowitz is also a founder of Maryland-based Grow West MD, one of 15 companies selected for a cultivation and dispensing license. He has also founded a Pennsylvania-based cultivator that is in the pre-operational licensing stage. Links and mentions in the show https://www.meridacap.com/https://www.meridacap.com/portfolio  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Mitch Baruchowitz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-baruchowitz-73b182/ Merida Capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/meridacapMerida Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/merida-capital-partners/about/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Shanita Penny, the Founder/CEO of Budding Solutions and the President of the Board of Directors for the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) is our guest this week on The Green Rush. Social equity and its role within the cannabis space has been one of the defining conversations for the industry in 2019 with advocates fighting in states like New York, New Jersey and California for a greater emphasis on minority ownership. Shanita and the MCBA have been on the front line of these conversations, testifying in front of the House Committee on Small Business and lobbying legislators on the federal and state level about this issue. To learn more about the role of small business in the cannabis industry and why minority ownership is important, Lewis and Anne chatted with Shanita about which states, and companies are “getting it right” when it comes to social equity and corporate social responsibility. They also touched on the feedback she has received from legislators and why the momentum she’s seeing at the grassroots level has her hopeful for the years to come. Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Shanita Penny, Founder/CEO of Budding Solutions and President for Minority Cannabis Association   Shanita Penny is a cannabis advocate, business professional and entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience helping world class companies and startups solve complex issues and improve business performance in multiple industries. In 2015, Shanita took a leap of faith and founded Budding Solutions, a boutique cannabis consulting firm based in Baltimore, MD, to provide Management and Strategy Consulting to startups, small businesses and multistate operators in the cannabis industry. Shanita proudly serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), the first non-profit organization created specifically to progress the cannabis industry by increasing diversity through the creation of equal access and economic empowerment for cannabis businesses, their patients, and the communities most affected by the war on drugs. She is also a member of the New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association’s (NJCIA) Board of Trustees. NJCIA is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing the legalization of cannabis by promoting sensible policy for the responsible development and growth of a legalized cannabis-based economy. Links and mentions in the show https://minoritycannabis.org/ http://www.buddingsolutions.net/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Shanita Penny’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spenny/Budding Solution’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/BudSol4U MCBA Twitter: https://twitter.com/MinCannBusAssoc  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Christina DeGiovanni, Founder and Publisher of Emerald Magazine and Emerald Media Group is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Thrust into the cannabis industry while in college, Christina originally launched her cannabis lifestyle magazine while living in the Emerald Triangle in 2012. Since then, Christina has fought her way up the cannabis media food chain, expanding her media empire across the country, reaching thousands of readers from the Valley in LA to the streets of New York City. In their conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Christina about what makes for a compelling cannabis news story, the role of the media in shaping the public narrative around cannabis and her thoughts about what excites her about the industry today and in the future. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About Christina DeGiovanni, Founder and Publisher of Emerald Magazine Christina DeGiovanni is the founder and CEO of the Emerald ​ Media Group​.  In 2012, Christina found herself a victim of Federal Asset Forfeiture when her live-in boyfriend, a cannabis grower, was caught with bulk currency on an Amtrak train by the Reno Drug Task Force. After law enforcement was notified in Humboldt County, Christina fought the system for nine months until her charges were dropped and she was able to reclaim her seized assets. Following her experience of civil injustice, Christina launched a print publication called the ​Emerald Magazine ​ during her last semester at Humboldt State University, where she graduated with a degree in Journalism. Christina created ​Emerald Magazine as a resource to demystify cannabis for non-traditional, new medicinal users like her mother. The Media Group perfectly positions itself to educate those entering the new market.  Links and mentions in the show https://theemeraldmagazine.com/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Christina’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinadegiovanni/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

New York State Senator Liz Krueger, an outspoken advocate for cannabis and the lead sponsor of the “Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act” is returns to The Green Rush this week! After it looked like 2019 would finally be the year that New York would legalize adult use cannabis, the state legislature was unable to find common ground on a number of issues and failed to pass a bill that would satisfy the Democratic majority. Senator Krueger, who previously appeared on The Green Rush back in 2018, joins Lewis and guest host, Gretchen Gailey, to discuss what went wrong and what needs to happen in 2020 to get full legalization passed in the state.    In our conversation, our hosts explore the debates that took place around the Senator’s cannabis bill, what New York is learning from other states that have passed legalization, the race to legalization between New York and New Jersey and what the outlook looks like for cannabis legalization in 2020. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About New York State Senator Liz Krueger  First elected to the New York State Senate in a Special Election in February 2002, Liz Krueger is currently the Ranking Member of Senate Finance Committee. She is also a member of five other committees: Elections; Higher Education; Housing, Construction and Community Development; Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities; and Rules. For the past several years, Manhattan state senator Liz Krueger has proposed a marijuana tax and regulation bill modeled on the state liquor law that treats marijuana companies like beverage distributors. Senator Krueger’s conservative estimate is that legalization of cannabis could produce $500 million in new revenue for the state government, $2 billion in new economic activity, and $300 million in savings for the state’s criminal justice system. Links and mentions in the show http://www.wecanstudy.org/ https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/liz-krueger https://www.lizkrueger.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Senator Krueger’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/LizKrueger Senator Krueger’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/statesenatorlizkrueger/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Gretchen Gailey of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Arnaud Dumas de Rauly, Co-Founder and CEO, of The Blinc Group, a leading distributor of best-in-class cannabis vaping hardware and complementary ancillary products is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! In addition to his role with Blinc, Arnaud is also Chairman of the International ISO Committee on Vaping Standards, Chairman of the European CEN Committee on Vapor Products, former President of FIVAPE in EU, and one of the world’s most renowned experts in vapor technology, regulations, manufacturing and distribution.  Consumables, including vaporizers, are steadily being introduced to mainstream consumers as a popular alternative form factor to use cannabis beyond the traditional method of smoking flower. With cannabis vaping on the rise, we sat down with Arnaud to pick his encyclopedic brain on all things vape and oil related including evolving safety standards (particularly around heavy metals), what he’s thinks is the next big thing in vape technology and whether vaping could eventually overtaking smoke as how the majority of consumers enjoy cannabis.   Arnaud is one of our favorite personalities in the cannabis space and if you have any interest in the vape space you’ll learn a ton from this week’s show. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About Arnaud Dumas de Rauly Arnaud Dumas de Rauly is the Co-Founder And Co- Chief Executive Officer, Strategy & Corporate Development for the Blinc Group. In addition to his role at Blinc, Arnaud is also Chairman of the International ISO committee on Vaping Standards, Chairman of the European CEN Committee on Vapor Products, former President of FIVAPE in EU, and one of the world’s most renowned experts in Vapor Technology, regulations, manufacturing and distribution. Links to guest’s social media: Blinc GroupLinkedInTwitter (@TheBlincGroup)FacebookInstagram (@TheBlincGroup)Arnaud Dumas de RaulyLinkedinTwitter (@dumasderauly) Links and Mentions: https://www.theblincgroup.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Jeffrey Goldberger of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Mike Tyson, the legendary heavyweight champion, cultural icon and now cannabis entrepreneur, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Iron Mike was larger than life during his boxing career in the 90s until personal and professional failures rerouted the course of his life. Now, 10-15 years after his athletic career ended, Mike has pivoted to become an entertainer and entrepreneur, starring in blockbuster Hollywood films and launching his own cannabis company, Tyson Ranch.  For this week’s episode, we flew Lewis out to Los Angeles to meet with Mike and his business partner, Rob Hickman, to talk about Mike’s boxing career, the pair’s new cannabis venture and Mike’s experimentation with psychedelics. In their conversation, Mike opens up about what drew him to cannabis, his dreams of building a ‘cannabis resort’ and what it’s like to be a businessman forging his own path in the “Wild West” of cannabis.  This was a deep and soulful interview with Mike and one that we’re excited to share with the world so don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! About Tyson Ranch Tyson Ranch is a cannabis company founded by Mike Tyson. Consistency and quality are at the core of Tyson Ranch with the mission to make cannabis universally understood and accessible. Through select partnerships with esteemed growers, Tyson Ranch proudly supports the industries very best, bringing you 'Better Cannabis' in every single package. The company's commitment to the plant and passion for exotic genetics ensure that it delivers clean, quality, premium cannabis with every purchase. Links to guest’s social media: Mike Tyson’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeTyson Rob Hickman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-rob-hickman-0b4a0879/ Tyson Ranch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tysonranchofficial/ Tyson Ranch Twitter: https://twitter.com/tysonranchTyson Ranch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tysonranch/ Links and Mentions: tysonranch.com Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications.Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich Program Director Shea Gunther at Marijuana TodayYou can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels:Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Liesl Bernard, the founder and CEO of CannabizTeam, one of the leading staffing firms for the cannabis industry, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Liesl is a veteran of the staffing industry having spent over 20 years working at one of the largest staffing firms in the world helping to recruit finance and accounting professionals. Tapping into her own entrepreneurial spirit and recognizing the immense staffing needs for the burgeoning cannabis industry, Liesl launched her own company, CannabizTeam, just over three years ago.    In this week’s conversation, Liesl discusses with our hosts the trajectory of the cannabis economy and how the growth of the industry has helped it quickly become the sexiest industry to work in. In addition, Liesl touches on what type of candidates cannabis companies are looking to hire, which states are hot for those looking to transition into the industry and how cannabis jobs compare to non-cannabis opportunities in terms of compensation and benefits. She also shines a light on the need for continued development of workplace culture within cannabis companies and how federal regulations can prevent some companies from being able to offer things like 401K plans and other types of benefits that traditional industries can offer.  If you have an entrepreneurial spirit or have ever thought about making the transition to the cannabis industry, this is a must listen episode filled with tremendous advice and insight into how to achieve your dreams.  Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Liesl Bernard - Founder and CEO of CannabizTeam  Liesl is a single mother of two teenage sons who saw the opportunity to launch a top notch Executive Search and Staffing firm in the Cannabis Industry in 2016.  She left a very successful career at the world's largest staffing firm and used her personal savings to start CannabizTeam. CannabizTeam now places candidates at an Executive Level in all verticals in the cannabis industry across the US, Canada and Europe and is soon launching CannabizteamTemp to tap into the temp and temp to perm cannabis job market. Liesl and her team have developed trusted relationships across growers, retail, manufacturing, distribution, R&D and related industries in the US and Canada.  Liesl has more than 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies searching for and placing executives all over the world. Her passion for finding exceptional talent and her curiosity to hunt down emerging opportunities led her to discover unmet talent needs of the Cannabis Industry and placed her in a unique position to head up one of the fastest growing Executive Search and Staffing firms in the Cannabis and related industries. Her fine-tuned ability to understand the underlying cultural and interpersonal dynamics of each executive search and her  grounding in business enables her to deliver superior talent and cultural fit for each search they complete. Liesl started her career as a CPA with KPMG in Cape Town specializing in organizational development before joining global Executive Search firm Robert Half in Australia, eventually rising to Managing Director Executive Search in the USA. Links to guest’s social media: CannabizTeam LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cannabizteam/CannabizTeam Twitter: https://twitter.com/cannabiz_teamCannabizTeam Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cannabizteamCannabizTeam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannabizteam/ Liesl Bernard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieslbernard/  Links and Mentions: https://www.cannabizteam.com/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich 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 greenrush@kcsa.com.

We’ve now hit the final rendition of our special series highlighting the panels of the inaugural “KCSA Congressional Cannabis Day Forum” at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. As part of the event, KCSA gathered a host of some of the brightest minds in the industry for a series of panel discussions aimed at addressing critical issues relevant to the sector, including capital markets and banking, CBD/hemp, opioids, veterans' issues and social justice. In the fourth and final installment of this series, we hear from our Veterans Panel which shined a brighter light on how veterans have been able to use cannabis to treat a variety of post-combat issues like PTSD and chronic pain. We were privileged to have with us, Melissa Bryant, Chief Policy Officer for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Joe Penzler, Director of Communications for the Wounded Warrior Project’s Government and Community Relations, Nick Etten, Vice President of Government Affairs at Acreage Holdings, Bill Ferguson, Co-Founder of the Veterans Cannabis Coalition and Moderator Michael Correia, Director of Government Relations for NCIA. Many in the veteran community struggle under unique health burdens stemming from their service, and have experienced little success in managing their conditions with available pharmaceuticals. Through cannabis, veterans of all generations and states of health have experienced improvements in their quality of life--whether it is as a supplemental treatment for cancer or a traumatic brain injury. Our panel’s discussion focused on the legal, moral, and ethical of making cannabis available to veterans and how the plant can be used as an alternative to opioids. So don't sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links to guest’s social media: Melissa Bryant’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/mabryant256 Melissa Bryant’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mab401/ Joe Penzler’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeplenzler/ Joe Penzler’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoePlenzler Nick Etten’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicketten/Veteran’s Cannabis Coalition LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/veterans-cannabis-coalition/Michael Correia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-correia-0059133/ Michael Correia’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepotlobbyist Links and Mentions: https://iava.org/https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/https://www.acreageholdings.com/https://www.veteranscannacoalition.org/https://thecannabisindustry.org/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Gretchen Gailey of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

We’re onto part three of our special series highlighting the panels of the inaugural “KCSA Congressional Cannabis Day Forum” at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. As part of the event, KCSA gathered a host of some of the brightest minds in the industry for a series of panel discussions aimed at addressing critical issues relevant to the sector, including capital markets and banking, CBD/hemp, opioids, veterans' issues and social justice. In the third installment of this four part series, we hear from our Opioids, Is Cannabis the Answer? Panel. We were privileged to have with us, Dr. Bonni Goldstein, Medical Director of Canna-Centers Wellness and Education Dr. Richard Boxer, Clinical Professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Patricia Frye, Chief Medical Officer of HelloMD, and Moderator Carl Cameron, formerly of Fox News Channel. So often the medicinal benefits and the real impact cannabis has as an alternative to opioids can be forgotten so it was great to have some of the foremost researchers on this topic speak to the tremendous value cannabis brings to those in need. What follows is a conversation that explores how cannabis affects our bodies, what benefits and treatments researchers have been able to garner from limited research to date and what next steps are needed to expand clinical research on the plant. So don't sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links to guest’s social media: Dr. Bonni Goldstein’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/bonnigoldstein Dr. Bonni Goldstein’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnigoldsteinmd/Dr. Patricia Frye’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/takomacare Dr. Patricia Frye’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciafryemd/ Dr. Richard Boxer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-boxer-md-facs-264b0625/ Links and Mentions: http://www.bonnigoldsteinmd.com/http://www.boxerhealthstrategies.com/team https://www.hellomd.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Gretchen Gailey of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

We’re onto part two of our special series highlighting the panels of the inaugural “KCSA Congressional Cannabis Day Forum” at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. As part of the event, KCSA gathered a host of some of the brightest minds in the industry for a series of panel discussions aimed at addressing critical issues relevant to the sector, including capital markets and banking, CBD/hemp, opioids, veterans' issues and social justice. In the second installment of this four part series, we hear from our Social Justice Panel. We were privileged to have with us, Dr. Chanda Macias, CEO of National Holistic Healing Center and Women Grow, Jeannette Ward Horton, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the NuLeaf Project, James Watts, Senior Consultant with Cage Free Cannabis, and Moderator Leah Heise, Chief Experience Officer at 4Front. This was an incredible discussion about the need for social equity to be a key part of any conversation around cannabis legalization, what is and what is not working in regards to legislation aimed at tackling this issue, the lack of funding and access to capital that minority entrepreneurs face, and the potential solutions to providing greater opportunities to minorities within the industry. So don't sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links to guest’s social media: Leah Heise’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-heise-67093a21/ Dr. Chanda Macias’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandamacias/ National Holistic Healing Center Twitter: https://twitter.com/NHolisticDC Jeannette Ward Horton’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannette-ward-horton-1614ab5/ Jeannette Ward Horton’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeannetteaward Links and Mentions: http://nuleafproject.org/ https://www.cagefreecannabis.com/https://nationalholistic.com/https://4frontfamily.com/https://womengrow.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Gretchen Gailey of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week and next on The Green Rush we have a special treat for our listeners! Back in May, the KCSA team held the inaugural “KCSA Congressional Cannabis Day Forum” at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to discuss the legal and regulatory headaches of operating in the cannabis space. As part of the event, KCSA gathered a host of some of the brightest minds in the industry for a series of panel discussions aimed at addressing critical issues relevant to the sector, including capital markets and banking, CBD/hemp, opioids, veterans' issues and social justice. In the first installment of this four part series, we hear from our Capital Markets and Banking Panel. We were privileged to have with us, Evan Eneman, co-founder and CEO of MGO | Ello Alliance, Codie Sanchez, Managing Director of Cresco Capital Partners, Edward Fields, Chair and CEO of Dionymed, Nick Kovacevich, CEO and Founder of KushCo, and Moderator Tim Seymour from CNBC. What ensues a tremendous discussion on the banking and regulatory hurdles that cannabis businesses must endure and how that affects investor activity in the space. So don't sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links to guest’s social media: Tim Seymour Twitter: https://twitter.com/timseymour Tim Seymour LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-seymour-29084818/ Tim Seymour CNBC author page: https://www.cnbc.com/timothy-seymour/Evan Eneman’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaneneman/  Nick Kovacevich Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickkovacevichNick Kovacevich LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickkovacevich/ Nick Kovacevich Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickkovacevich/#3fbd63e82aefCodie Sanchez’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codiesanchez/ Codie Sanchez’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/codie_sanchez?lang=en Ed Fields LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-m-fields-543aa01/ Links and Mentions: https://www.mgocpa.com/www.elloinsights.com  https://www.crescocapitalpartners.com   https://www.dionymed.com/ https://www.kushco.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Gretchen Gailey of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Bob Luciano, the founder of the popular California cannabis brand Mr. Natural - is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Mr. Natural brand is one of the longest standing and most successful cannabis brands in California, having won the first High Times Cannabis Cup in 2010. Since then, Bob has grown the company into a major player in the California marketplace and eventually caught the eye of Scott Dowty at Australis Capital which acquired the Mr. Natural brand in 2018. In addition to his work with the Mr. Natural brand, Bob is a 100% disabled veteran with PTSD and has been a strong advocate for the medical use of cannabis for veterans. Bob continues his pursuit to cultivate strains specifically for PTSD, chronic illness and pain to enable other veterans to gain relief. Bob has actively worked with the Veterans Administration since 1972 to educate others on cannabis and its use for treating PTS. In this week’s conversation, Anne is joined by Nick Opich to chat with Bob about his cannabis roots, the origins of the Mr. Natural brand and his work with the VA to bring medicinal cannabis to our veterans. Bob provides great insight into how he honed his unique growing techniques and why he never thought cannabis would be legalized in the U.S. during his lifetime.   At a time where the medicinal benefits of cannabis and its influence in treating our veterans can be quickly forgotten, it was refreshing to chat with Bob about how this plant truly helps our men and women of the military.   Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Bob Luciano - Founder of Mr. Natural A Vietnam veteran, Bob "Natural" Luciano’s continued cultivation of high-quality strains offers relief for people suffering from post-traumatic stress (PTS), chronic illness and pain. During his military service, Bob and many of his compatriots discovered the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. When he returned home, Bob discovered access to cannabis, the only viable treatment for his ailments, was no longer available to him. This launched Bob's lifelong mission to educate and advocate for medicinal cannabis. A 100% disabled veteran with PTS, Bob has been a strong advocate for the medical use of cannabis for veterans. Advocacy and growing cannabis in a culture predisposed to view cannabis negatively was a constant challenge. Bob continues his pursuit to cultivate strains specifically for PTS, chronic illness and pain to enable other veterans to gain relief. Bob has actively worked with the Veterans Administration since 1972 to educate others on cannabis and its use for treating PTS. Links to guest’s social media: Bob Luciano’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-natural-a8250b37/Bob Luciano’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/bobnatural1 Links and Mentions: https://themrnatural.com/Press release announcing Australis acquisition of Mr. Natural: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/australis-capital-to-acquire-california-cannabis-brand-mr-natural-productions-inc-300801916.html Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Nick Opich and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Everett Knight - the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Investments for Valens GroWorks is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Valens is the largest third-party extraction company in Canada. They work with most of the big LPs in Canada like Canopy, Tilray, TGOD and Organigram and their business continues to boom. The company also recently published a study on the Future of Cannabis in Canada (linked below) and provides valuable insights into the demands and trends in cannabis consumption, straight from Canadian consumers. In this week’s conversation, Anne and Lewis chat with Everett about the company has been able to achieve these major partnerships and notoriety in the space despite not having a consumer-facing brand, how the company works with its major LP partners to deliver unique products, what Valen has planned for the future as both medical and recreational markets continue to grow around the world and how the Company is preparing for October 2019 which will open up new products for Candian consumers to choose from including edibles, oils and extracts. Everett is truly one of the brightest young minds in the cannabis industry and his insights into the nascent oils and extracts space is something that every Green Rush listener is sure to enjoy. Don’t sit back, lean forward. Everett Knight, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Investments at Valens GroWorks Mr. Knight is Executive Vice President of Strategy & Investments where he oversees corporate strategy including mergers & acquisitions, marketing, & investor relations. Mr. Knight is known across the cannabis space for his expertise and thought leadership where he has been involved with working, analyzing, lobbying, investing, advising, & consulting throughout the cannabis value chain. Previous to Valens, Mr. Knight was a portfolio manager at Matco Financial Inc where he ran the Small Cap Fund and launched the first long only institutional Cannabis Fund in Canada and led them both become the top performing funds in their corresponding categories. He has toured over 85 facilities worldwide and analyzed over 1200+ cannabis globally where he accumulated a thorough understanding of the industry, regulations, subsectors, and the companies involved in this fast-growing space. His focus in the cannabis industry has shifted in recent years to developing a specialty in extraction, testing, formulation, & value-added products. Mr. Knight has spoken at 150+ cannabis events across the globe including trade shows, corporate conferences, investor events, government forums, and legal/regulatory debates. Links to guest’s social media: Valens Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValensGroWorksValens instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valensgroworks/Everett Knight Twitter: https://twitter.com/smallcapfund Links and Mentions: Valens website: https://www.valensgroworks.com/Future of Cannabis in Canada report: https://www.valensgroworks.com/blog/extracted-podcast/extracted-episode-13-the-future-of-cannabis-in-canada-with-chris-fair/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Todd Fromer, Managing Partner at KCSA Strategic Communications is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! As we’ve regularly discussed on the podcast, over the past 5 years KCSA has established itself as the leading public and investor relations firm serving the cannabis industry and Todd has been a major catalyst in that practice. Todd manages KCSA’s investor relations practice and has been working in the IR field for more than 20 years.   Recently, KCSA fielded a survey gauging retail and institutional investor sentiment and exposure to the cannabis industry and the results were really interesting.  It turns out average investors are buying a lot of cannabis stocks and plan on holding them for a long time. Lewis and Anne dive into the survey data with Todd to analyze some of the key findings, what Todd sees as the parallels between the cannabis industry and the tech bubble and how Todd counsels his investor relations clients on navigating the public markets.   If you have a real interest in the investing side of the cannabis business, if you own any stocks in this industry, or if you “get” why this podcast is called The Green Rush then this is the episode for you. Don’t sit back, lean forward. Todd is a Managing Partner at KCSA and oversees the firm's investor relations practice. Todd specializes in the implementation of proactive investor relations programs for public companies, including crisis communications and IPOs. He has led successful corporate communications campaigns for more than 100 micro- and small-cap companies and has provided strategic communications counsel to hundreds of C-level executives. Todd has been the recipient of the Silver Anvil award and The IABC Ace Award for Business Communications. He holds a bachelor's degree in business from Hofstra University. In is free time, Todd is a songwriter and plays lead guitar in a blues band. Links to guest’s social media: Todd’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/toddfromerTodd’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddfromerkcsa Links and Mentions: KCSA investor survey: https://www.kcsa.com/in-the-news/detail/3000/todays-gold-rush-is-green-with-cannabisKCSA website: https://www.kcsa.com Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Scott Dowty, CEO of Australis Capital, the United States spin off of the Canadian LP Aurora Cannabis, is this week’s guest on the Green Rush! Since launching as the U.S. investment arm of Aurora in 2017, Australis has operated independently and most recently went public in September 2018 on the OTC. As CEO, Scott is on the front lines for Australis, helping the company navigate the highly regulated U.S. market to identify exciting investment opportunities for the company. In this week’s conversation, our Green Rush hosts chat with Scott about the mission of Australis, what he is observing from the marketplace so far in 2019,  what he puts more value on - the management team or underlying business and provides some insight on what kind of deals he’s most focused on. The team also gets Scott’s perspective on the recent Canopy-Acreage deal and some of the concerns around well-funded Canadian LPs, like Canopy and Aurora, will swallow up U.S. companes. If your a listener focused on investing in cannabis, this episode will touch on every aspect of that side of the business. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Scott Dowty - CEO of Australis Capital Mr. Dowty has 25 years of experience evaluating companies and markets to identify key business drivers, spur rapid revenue and profit growth in competitive and highly regulated global markets. Mr. Dowty has held executive and corporate officer positions with several U.S. based NYSE and NASDAQ traded companies, and founded several successful start-up companies in North America and abroad. Mr. Dowty’s extensive operational capital markets experience in the International fintech and gambling sectors is closely aligned to the regulatory path of the U.S. cannabis industry. Scott resides in Las Vegas, NV. Links to guest’s social media: Australis Capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustralisCapit1Australis Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/australis-capital-inc/Scott’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-dowty-95726035/ Links and Mentions: https://www.ausacap.com/https://www.ausacap.com/investors/press-releases/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our Executive 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Shea Alderete, the CEO and co-founder of Gen X Biosciences, a cannatech firm focused on using innovative technology and scalable extraction methodologies to deliver premium cannabis products is this week’s guest on the Green Rush. Shea is one of the true “OGs” of the cannabis industry and has worked with some of the well-known brands in the space like Moxie and HTH, where he set the innovative standard for cannabis extraction and paved the way for their success. Now at the head of his own company, Shea has focused on revolutionizing cannabis and the extraction process in order to provide clean medicine and high-quality extracts to cannabis users. In this week’s conversation, Lewis is joined by producer Nick Opich as the two chat with Shea about his bonafides in the cannabis industry and what his experiences have been like building a small business into an extraction powerhouse. Shea also touches on the company’s ongoing RTO process, Gen X’s proprietary molecular perfection extraction process and how he was able to shake down his 98 year old grandfather for some early investment cash. For listeners interested in the growth of the extraction and distillate space then you’ll love this interview. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!   Shea Alderete – CEO and Founder of Gen X Biosciences Shea Alderete is a passionate and strategic entrepreneur with over 15 years’ experience in the cannabis industry. Previously, Shea had a professional career in baseball and recognized that there was a gap in the market for anti-inflammatory medicines for pain relief. Shea has a long term experience working with famous brands in the cannabis industry such as Moxie and HTH, where he set the innovative standard for cannabis extraction and paved the way for their success. He won numerous cannabis product awards with the Cloud Vapes brand, which today is a $70M USD-a-year profitable business. In addition to this Shea has won the Chalice Cup of California for the best CBD products as well as the Canada Karma Cup for the best vaporizer and terpenes in 2016. Shea Alderete has focused on revolutionizing cannabis for the past decade to provide clean medicine from its extraction. He brings the technical background to produce high quality cannabis and the innovation of such cuttingedge technological processes to Gen X. Links to guest’s social media: Gen X Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genxtech/?hl=enShea Alderete’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldrushceo/?hl=en Shea’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shea-alderete-b6974414/ Links and Mentions: https://www.genxbiosciences.com/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on the Green Rush, we wanted to take a step back in our look at the cannabis industry. For nearly 80 episodes, we’ve talked with some of the most influential leaders shaping the future of legal cannabis. But for this week, we decided to further explore what many in the industry refer to as the “grey market” - or the business of the industry that operates outside of the legal regulations within their country or state. According to most projections, marijuana is almost a 100 billion dollar industry annually, both legal and illicit. Yet despite the emergence of a strong international legal medical market and an ever-expanding adult use market, only about 15 billion dollars of that 100 billion comes from legal sales. To help explore this side of the industry, we were able to secure an interview this week with a guest who is regarded as one of the best artisanal small-batch marijuana edibles bakers in the country. Because he lives and works in a state where adult use marijuana isn't quite yet legal, we've taken the steps today to filter and anonymize his voice. What follows is a conversation that looks at the challenges a small business owner faces when trying to become a regulated company, the lucrativity of operating outside of the legal cannabis space, the growing popularity of infused meals and dinner parties and how underground edibles dealers market and build customer loyalty. This is truly a must listen to episode, so don't sit back, lean forward. Now onto the chat with the chocolatier who we affectionately call Willie Wonka. Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Keith Stephenson, CEO and founder of Purple Heart Patient Center in Oakland, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Keith was the first African American in the United States to run a medical cannabis dispensary. He’s the founder and CEO of Purple Heart Patient Center in Oakland, California. He started the dispensary 11 years ago and now he’s serving 10,000 patients a month. He implemented lab testing so rigorous that it exceeds the standards of Oregon and Washington. He was appointed to the California Cannabis Commission Advisory Panel, where he advises the state on regulations protecting consumer health and safety. In this week’s conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Keith about being a pioneering small business owner in the cannabis space for nearly three decades and how the industry has evolved around him during that time. They also touch on the issues of social justice and equity and the difficulties facing mom and pop shops in an industry that is increasingly being overrun by larger, corporate interests. For listeners interested in the history of the California cannabis marketplace, the delivery lawsuit taking place in the state and the role of social justice and equity in shaping the industry than you’ll love this interview. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!   Keith Stephenson, CEO and founder of Purple Heart Patient Center Keith Stephenson is a statewide resource on cannabis and has been recognized by the California State Legislature as a subject matter expert, and has been appointed to the State of California's Cannabis Advisory Committee under the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC). This 22- person committee advises BCC and other licensing authorities on the development of regulations that help protect health and safety and reduce the illegal market for cannabis. After experiencing the health benefits of using cannabis for work related injuries and complications from arthritis, Keith Stephenson launched Purple Heart in 2006. Using a combination of Mr. Stephenson's operational expertise acquired from a 15-year stint at United Airlines, and more than 30 years of experience in the cannabis space, Purple Heart is now the longest operating cannabis retailer in Oakland. Mr. Stephenson is the first African American to operate a licensed cannabis business in America. Mr. Stephenson has served two terms on the City of Oakland’s Measure to Tax and Regulate Adult Cannabis, which was the precursor to California Prop 19. Links to guest’s social media: Keith Stephenson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithcannabisKeith’s email: keith@purpleheartpc.org Links and Mentions: http://www.purpleheartpc.org/Information on the California Advisory Commission: https://bcc.ca.gov/about_us/committee_members.html Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Dr. Jonathan Rothbard, CEO, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Katexco Pharmaceuticals, a medical cannabis biopharma company based in Palo Alto, California, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. In addition to his work in the cannabis space, Dr. Rothbard works in the neurology department at Stanford University where he's also worked in the departments of chemistry and rheumatology. Dr. Rothbard is also the founder of Amylin, which was eventually sold to Bristol-Myers Squibb. Dr. Rothbard is spearheading the second generation of medical cannabis, where cannabinoids like CBD and THC will be synthesized in labs instead of extracted from plants grown on farms. His mission is to put CBD through clinical trials to prove scientifically that it can be an effective medical treatment in conjunction with other compounds and to patent those compounds and submit them to the FDA for approval as pharmaceuticals. In addition to our regular hosts Lewis and Anne, we also has a special guest, KCSA colleague Caitlin Kasunich, join us for this week’s conversation. For listeners interested in the growth of medicinal cannabis, science and the developing relationship between the traditional pharma space and cannabis, this interview is for you! So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!   Dr. Jonathan Rothbard, CEO, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Katexco Pharmaceuticals Dr. Jonathan Rothbard, PhD received his BA from Hamilton College (1973) and his PhD from Columbia with Ronald Breslow (1977). His post-doctoral fellowship was with Gerald Edelman at The Rockefeller University after which he was with Gary Schoolnik at Stanford University Medical School where he published the first of 26 manuscripts with Lawrence Steinman in 1986. Subsequently, he was head of the Molecular Immunology Laboratory at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London where he first collaborated with Prof. Sir Marc Feldman (1990). He left academia to help establish ImmuLogic in Palo Alto, and founding Amylin in San Diego. Amylin, which he founded in 1987, was a pharmaceuticals company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs relating to diseases including obesity and diabetes. The success of Amylin led to another appointment at Stanford for Dr. Rothbard, followed by the founding of CellGate. Leaving CellGate, he returned to an appointment at Stanford, first in the department of chemistry, then rheumatology, and currently in neurology. Amylin was sold to Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2012 for $5.4 Billion USD.   Links to guest’s social media: Jonathan Rothbard’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-rothbard-5913b76 Links and Mentions: https://katexcopharma.com Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications with special guest Caitlin Kasunich. 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Justin Zaremba is the lead report for NJ Cannabis Insider from NJ Advance Media, a trade publication dedicated to covering the New Jersey cannabis industry, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. As part of the NJ Advance Media family, Justin’s work has been published across a number of outlets  including NJ.com and The Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest daily newspaper. As the top cannabis reporter in the state, Justin has been closely following and chronicling the New Jersey legislature’s efforts to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state which, up until the beginning of April, seemed like an inevitability. Now that the vote on the referendum has been delayed, Justin gives our hosts Lewis and Anne the inside information on what led to the hold up around the vote, the current state of NJ’s medical cannabis program and how it’s woefully under-serving its patients and how NJ is looking at states like Nevada and California for guidance in graduating their medicinal program into a fully-operational recreational market. For listeners keen on following the expansion of the cannabis market to the East Coast, this interview is filled with facts and information that shows just how differently states in the East operate compared to their counterparts in the West. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!    Justin Zaremba, Lead Reporter for NJ Cannabis Insider Justin Zaremba is the lead reporter for NJ Cannabis Insider for NJ Advance Media. Links to guest’s social media: Justin Zaremba’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-zaremba-85581a15/Justin Zaremba’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinZarembaNJ Links and Mentions: NJ Health Division of Medical Marijuana Biennial ReportNJ Cannabis Insider Homepage Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Matt Hawkins, CEO of Cresco Capital Partners, a US based private equity investment firm dedicated to investing in the cannabis industry, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Since its inception in 2014, Matt and Cresco have invested over $50 million in the cannabis industry helping to give accredited investors access to a diversified range of investment opportunities in the space including cultivation, retail, and ancillary services. To date, the Cresco team has done well in recognizing cannabis ‘unicorns’ having been early investors in power players like Acreage Holdings and Green Thumb Industries. For this episode, our hosts picked Matt’s brain to learn how he’s been so successful over his 20+ years in private equity and what it was like in the early days approaching high net worth individuals to peak their interest in the cannabis space. In addition, Matt expounds on how investing in cannabis has evolved over the last five years, why he’s skeptical of investing in a straight cultivation play or CBD and his advice and preach for patience for those looking to make a strong deal.   If you're an investor, someone trying to make money in the cannabis industry, or just someone who closely follows marijuana market trends, then this is the episode for you! And after the interview, make sure to check out crescocapitalpartners.com to learn more and make sure to tell them The Green Rush sent you. Enjoy!    Matt Hawkins, CEO of Cresco Capital Partners Matt Hawkins brings an extensive background in building large alternative investment firms and scaling the companies he invests in. In 2014, Matt had a vision to launch Cresco Capital Partners and create the leading private equity firm focused specifically on investing in the legalized cannabis industry.  Prior to diving into the cannabis realm, Matt previously served as Partner and President of Tucson Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on multifamily residential and self-storage assets. Between 2008 and 2013, the company completed more than 55 bank-direct acquisitions, deploying over $500MM of capital. He successfully exited in 2013. Matt also was Principal & Co-founder of Adjacent Capital, a private equity/specialty lending fund where he oversaw the sourcing, origination, structuring and closing of over 60 transactions in a 3 year period. He also became a turnaround specialist through his time at Treadstone Partners and San Jacinto Partners. He is known and respected in the cannabis industry as one of the successful early investors and serves on the board of numerous cannabis companies.   Links to guest’s social media: Matt Hawkins’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hawkins-11288a2/ Cresco Capital Partners LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cresco-capital-partners-llc/ Links and Mentions: https://www.crescocapitalpartners.com    Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Jane West, Co-Founder and CEO of the cannabis lifestyle brand Jane West and one of the most influential women in the industry, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Following her entry into the space in 2014 following legalization in Colorado, Jane quickly went on to help found the cannabis networking organization Women Grow, and in 2016, Inc. magazine named her “the most widely recognized female personality in cannabis." In an industry dominated by major players vying for space in an increasingly crowded marketplace, Jane is unique in that she’s built a well-recognized brand and social following around her name, likeness, and her style. With Lewis and Anne together again back behind the microphone, they chat with Jane about her well-documented transition into the cannabis space, the challenges she faced as an entrepreneur, the time one of her events was raided by a SWAT team, how the US markets differ from the growing European markets and her disappointment in the lack of small business success in cannabis. Enjoy!    Jane West – Co-Founder and CEO of Cannabis Lifestyle Brand Jane West Jane West is the CEO of the cannabis lifestyle brand Jane West. At Jane West, she develops cannabis accessories and home goods that  invite women to experience the benefits of cannabis and take part in the legal lifestyle. West is also the founder of Women Grow, the cannabis industry’s  largest professional networking organization. Since the launch of her consumption-friendly cannabis events company Edible Events in 2014, she has emerged as a prominent figure in mainstream cannabis culture. An experienced executive with a broad management background, West is  committed to changing the face of women in cannabis, both as consumers and as leaders. West is a leading influencer in the cannabis industry, shifting mainstream perceptions by providing insider access to the modern legal lifestyle. She first became a marijuana media darling early in 2014 with her breakthrough “On a High Note” collaboration between the Colorado  Symphony Orchestra and her other business, Edible Events Company, Colorado’s premiere cannabis event production company. Before joining the cannabis industry, West was a working mother rising through the management ranks as a corporate event planner. After her employer spotted her vaping on CNBC, she was quickly fired. Immediately, West embraced the opportunity to dive headfirst into the cannabis industry as an outspoken advocate for cannabis legalization. In the two years since Colorado legalized cannabis, West has become a fixture of mainstream cannabis  coverage on CNBC, NBC Nightly News, and in the New York Times, Newsweek, Forbes, TIME, the Guardian, and many others Links to guest’s social media: Jane West’s Instagram: @shopjanewestJane West’s Facebook: /ShopJaneWestJane West’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/theJaneWest​ Links and Mentions: www.janewest.com   Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week we experienced some technical issues so we are revisiting one of our more recent favorite episodes with Representative Earl Blumenauer, a House Democrat from Oregon.  Congressman Blumenauer has represented Oregon as a Congressman for more than 20 years and has been a pivotal player in US legalization since the beginning. He also is one of the founders and co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, a bipartisan Caucus for members of the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss, learn, and work together to establish a better and more rational approach to federal cannabis policy. With 18+ Democrats vying for the Democratic Presidential nomination this primary election cycle, we wanted to revisit this conversation to see how influential leaders like Congressman Blumenauer envision the federal government moving forward with cannabis legalization. Policy wonks, you’re in for a treat - lean in and enjoy! About Congressman Blumenauer A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) has devoted his entire career to public service. While still a student at Lewis and Clark College, he spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon and at the national level. He was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1972, where he served three terms and Chaired the House Education and Revenue Committee in 1977-78. In 1978, he was elected to the Multnomah County Commission, where he served for eight years before being elected to the Portland City Council in 1986. There, his 10-year tenure as the Commissioner of Public Works demonstrated his leadership on the innovative accomplishments in transportation, planning, environmental programs and public participation that have helped Portland earn an international reputation as one of America’s most livable cities. Elected to the US House of Representatives in 1996, Mr. Blumenauer has created a unique role as Congress’ chief spokesperson for Livable Communities: places where people are safe, healthy and economically secure.  From 1996 to 2007, he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he was a strong advocate for federal policies that address transportation alternatives, provide housing choices, support sustainable economies and improve the environment. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2001 to 2007, and vice-chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2010.  He is currently a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the subcommittees on Health, Oversight, and Tax Policy. Congressman Blumenauer’s academic training includes undergraduate and law degrees from Lewis and Clark College in Portland. Links to guest’s social media: Rep. Blumenauer’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/repblumenauer Rep. Blumenauer’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blumenauer/ Links and Mentions: https://blumenauer.house.gov/ http://earlblumenauer.com/ Congressman Blumenauer on Cannabis Reform: https://blumenauer.house.gov/issues/marijuana-and-drug-reform Congressman Blumenauer’s Cannabis Road Map for Democrats: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/10/17/congressman-issues-blueprint-to-legalize-marijuana-for-democratic-house-in-2019/#4fc4194e3aaf   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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Evan Eneman, CEO of MGO-ELLO Alliance, is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. In case this is the first time you’ve heard of MGO-ELLO Alliance, the company can be considered the “Deloitte of Cannabis”, a leader in the cannabis financial, tax and advisory services space. ELLO has worked with hundreds of businesses to help them solve complex problems in regulatory compliance, capital markets advisory, tax services, operational improvements as well as staffing needs. Evan previously worked at Casa Verde Capital, a venture capital firm focused exclusively on the cannabis industry, which counts Snoop Dogg among its partners. With both Anne and Nick away for this week’s conversation, Lewis solicited the help of Aaron Smith, former CNN cannabis reporter and now a member of the KCSA team, to join him for this interview. Because cannabis finance is extremely complicated and challenging, Lewis and Aaron enlist Evan to help them navigate the banking, security and regulatory issues cannabusinesses face including a deep dive on 280E. Additionally, Evan touches on the growth of the East Coast market and which state he thinks will transition to adult use first - New York or New Jersey? Enjoy!    Evan Eneman – Co-Founder and CEO of MGO-ELLO Alliance Evan Eneman, a serial entrepreneur, advisor, and investor, is the founder of several leading ventures steering the cannabis industry today. He is the co-founder and CEO of ELLO and National Cannabis Practice leader for MGO/ELLO, an alliance of professional services firms providing capital markets and M&A advisory, tax, assurance, consulting, staffing and outsourcing services to a few hundred clients in the cannabis industry.  He is also the founder and CEO of Fiorello, a cannabis branding and marketing agency. After co-founding and running Casa Verde Capital for several years, Eneman launched Sands Lane Capital, a purpose-driven venture capital firm focusing on opportunities in the cannabis and hemp industries. Links to guest’s social media: Evan Eneman’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaneneman/  MGO LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/macias-gini-&-o%27connell-llp-mgo-/ MGO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mgocpa MGO Twitter: https://twitter.com/mgocpa Ello Insights LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ello-llc/ Ello Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELLOInsights/ Ello Insights Twitter: https://twitter.com/elloinsights Links and Mentions: https://www.mgocpa.com/ www.elloinsights.com   Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Aaron Smith and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Jeanne M. Sullivan, General Partner at The Arcview Venture Fund, is this week’s guest on the Green Rush! Jeanne is a fierce advocate for legalization and regulation of the Cannabis industry and works as an adviser to investors for this new high growth industry. An inspiration to entrepreneurs across a host of verticals, Business Insider called Jeanne one of the rising stars in the cannabis investing landscape and she’s been honored by the New York Hall of Sciences for her work inspiring girls and women in science and technology. In this week’s conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Jeanne about the developments in the cannabis industry that are exciting her the most and what she looks for when it comes to investing in the space. As a long time tech investor, Jeanne offers parallels for the emerging cannabis space and how it is mirroring the innovations she seen in tech. Additionally, Jeanne opens up on what first drew her to invest in the space, why she thinks women are well-positioned to succeed in this industry and how the ending of federal prohibition will impact investing and the future of cannabis. Jeanne is a truly inspirational figure in the cannabis space and we loved discussing her experiences raising capital and investing in cannabiz.   Enjoy!    Jeanne M. Sullivan General Partner – The Arcview Venture Fund Jeanne M. Sullivan is a fierce advocate and for the regulation and legalization of the Cannabis industry. Jeanne is a co-founder of a venture capital firm in NYC and long- time tech investor and now building the Arcview Venture Fund – to invest in the vibrant cannabis sector. Many great Unicorns are being created to serve the cannabis industry – a focused investing target. Ms. Sullivan is a sought-after industry speaker on the subject of “how to get the wallet out of investors’ pocket and what entreprenuers need to do to win.”  Named by Business Insider 2018 as one of the “rising stars” in the cannabis investing landscape, Sullivan is leveraging her tech investing experience in this fast growing cannabis sector about science, wellness, social justice issues and wealth creation. Forbes cited Sullivan as “one of the women VCs changing the world – grooming the next generation of female entrepreneurs”. The New York Angels organization honored Jeanne as the OPEL award winner – Outstanding Professionals for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The New York Hall of Science honored Jeanne for her work inspiring girls and women in science, technology (STEM) sectors.  Jeanne also serves on the Board of Trustees of the New York Hall of Science – a museum that introduces people of all ages to STEM learning. Links to guest’s social media: Jeanne Sullivan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/gianna212 Jeanne Sullivan’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeannemsullivan Jeanne Sullivan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giannanyc/?hl=en Links and Mentions: Mary’s Medicinals Green Rush episode: http://greenrushpodcast.net/2018/06/27/maximizing-medicinal-cannabis-with-lynn-honderd-co-founder-and-ceo-of-marys-medicinals/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Live From the National Cannabis Industry Association's Seed-to-Sale Institutional Capital Forum PR Panel we have another Lewis conference special. Hosted by 4Front President Kris Krane and joined by John Lindsay Phillips from RLM PR, Lewis participated in a rollicking conversation about the communications, challenges and media/PR opportunities present in the cannabis industry. The conversation ranged from how working with cannabis companies differs from working with other business clients, the lack of beat reporters at top tier publications dedicated to the cannabis space and how the PR landscape has evolved over the past half decade when it comes to cannabis coverage. The panel also included a Q&A session with members of the audience asking questions of Lewis and John. Lewis had a lot of fun in this discussion and we think our readers will enjoy the spirited conversation as well so don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!. Links to guest’s social media: KCSA Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcsastrategic KCSA Cannabis Twitter: https://twitter.com/KCSA_Cannabis KCSA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcsa_cannabis/?hl=en Lewis Goldberg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-goldberg-1839a22/ Lewis Goldberg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewisdg/ KCSA main site: https://www.kcsa.com   Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Kris Krane of 4Front at the at the National Cannabis Industry Association's Seed-to-Sale Institutional Capital Forum in Boston with Lewis Goldberg and John Lindsay Phillips of RLM PR. 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Dr. Oludare Odumosu,Chief Scientific Officer/EVP Pharmaceutical Division for Pennsylvania-based Ilera Healthcare, is this week’s guest on the Green Rush! Dr. Odumosu has an extensive scientific and medical background with a PhD. in biochemistry as well as having shepherded the development of pharmaceuticals through FDA approval and the marketing that occurs afterwards. A native of Nigeria, it’s worth mentioning that Dr. Odumosu is one of a growing number of African-Americans who are taking on leadership roles to shape the cannabis industry. In this week’s conversation, our hosts and Oludare touch on a number of fascinating subjects including social justice reform; Dr. Odumosu’s introduction to cannabis and why he credits the plant with saving his life; what drove him to make the jump from the world of academia to cannabis; how Dr. Odumosu’s past work developing pain meds has informed his work with cannabis; and what kind of study he would commission on cannabis if he worked at the FDA. We really enjoyed this informative and fun discussion with Dr. Odumosu and this conversation is sure to be of interest to all of our listeners interested in leanring more about the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Enjoy!    Dr. Oludare Odumosu Bio Dr. Odumosu brings 10 years of experience in corporate pharmaceutical business development, operations and strategic alliance management to his role as Ilera Healthcare’s Chief Scientific Officer/EVP Pharmaceutical Division. His background in biochemistry and healthcare entrepreneurship gives him unique qualifications for this role. Dr. Odumosu played a critical role in Iroko Pharmaceutical’s post-clinical development of Zorvolex Tivorbex and Vivlodex through FDA approvals and successful US market commercialization. He also managed the execution of the business development gate processes for the expansion of Iroko’s Solumatrix franchise products through ex-US licensing agreement negotiations. He received a PhD in Biochemistry and a Master’s in Public Health-Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and School of Public Health in Loma Linda, California; and a BS in Biology from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Odumosu is a World Bank Institute Certified public health professional with global healthcare translational/clinical/epidemiological research and data management experience. Links to guest’s social media: Oludare Odumosu’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/oludareodumosu Oludare Odumosu’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oludare-odumosu-371125a/ Links and Mentions: Ilera Healthcare Website: https://www.ilerahealthcare.comIlera HealthcareFacebook:  @IlerahealthIlera HealthcareTwitter:  @IleraHealthcareIlera Healthcare Instagram:  @ilerahealthcare Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Chanda Macias, widely regarded as one of the most influential women in cannabis, is this week’s guest on the Green Rush! Chanda is the owner and general manager of the National Holistic Healing Center medical marijuana dispensary in Washington DC, a patient advocacy company dedicated to providing individuals with debilitating medical conditions with alternative allopathic medicine. She is an accomplished scientist, has a master's degree in supply chain management, and is also the chair of the Women Grow organization. Anne and Lewis chat with Chanda about ensuring the cannabis industry stays inclusive to people of all colors and backgrounds, Chanda’s personal background and what eventually led to her entry into the cannabis space, the complicated nature of Washington D.C.’s cannabis laws and marketplace, the overall growth of up and coming cannabis markets in states like Virginia and Maryland and why cannabis should be looked at by regulators as both a policy issue and public health issue. The Green Rush team also breaks its first piece of news during this week’s conversation! This was truly a fun conversation, Chanda is one of our favorite people in the industry, and one we think that all of our listeners will enjoy! Chanda Macias, PhD, MBA is the CEO and the owner of National Holistic Healing Center (NHHC), the leading medical marijuana dispensary in Washington DC. Dr. Macias has spent 15+ years developing knowledge of medical marijuana impact on patients. Dr. Macias educates women and minority entrepreneurs and patients through her outreach platform as the Chairwoman of the Board of Managers and acting CEO for Women Grow with a national educational reach impacting over 50,000+ people and patients. Dr. Macias is a proud member of Americans for Safe Access, promoting safe and legal access to medical marijuana for research purposes. In her local market, she serves as the Treasurer and Secretary of DC Medical Cannabis Trade Association that proactively engages in legislation, regulations, and compliance with the Department of Health. Dr. Macias serves on the Advisory Board of Southern University, a state-funded university, which was granted a license to cultivate medical cannabis in Louisiana.  She and her partners at Ilera Healthcare will launch the second cultivation facility in the state, becoming the President of Ilera Holistic Healthcare.  Finally, Dr. Macias serves on the Board of Directors for the Minority Cannabis Business Association focusing on the growth of the industry in existing and emerging markets. Links to guest’s social media: Chanda Macias LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanda-macias-ab23a973/ Links and Mentions: Women Grow Website: https://womengrow.com/ National Holistic Healing Center Website: https://nationalholistic.com/ Women Grow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenGrow/ Women Grow Twitter: https://twitter.com/womengrow Women Grow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womengrow/ National Holistic Healing Center Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalholistic/ National Holistic Healing Center Twitter: https://twitter.com/nholisticdc National Holistic Healing Center Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalholisticdc/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Doug Cortina, CEO, and Jigar Patel, President, of NorCal Cannabis, one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis operators in California, are our guest for this week’s episode of the Green Rush! Subbing in on hosting duties for Lewis this week is our old pal Nick Opich who joins Anne to chat with Doug and Jigar. In case NorCal is a new name for our listeners, it's one that you should get on your radar quick. Currently the company operates state-of-the-art production facilities, including more than 100,000 sq. feet of indoor flower canopy, manufacturing, processing, packaging and distribution assets. In addition, NorCal also operates the leading network of statewide delivery depots, and had a coming out party of sorts this past week when they announced the company raised $27M as part of its Series A round. Anne and Nick chat with Doug and Jigar for a deep dive into the operations of NorCal and discuss what the company has planned for the new financing. In addition, our hosts touch on NorCal’s potential plans to go public, how Doug and Jigar found each other, and the evolving California cannabis delivery landscape. To top things off, Doug and Jigar let us in what they would tell California Governor Gavin Newsom if they get the chance to bend his ear about the California cannabis industry.     Sit back and enjoy! Doug Cortina, CEO, brings a strong background of hands on business and entrepreneurial experience to NorCal Cannabis. Doug has successfully led the planning, development and execution of three cannabis projects in the Bay Area. Douglas has been involved in the real estate development industry in the Bay Area for the past five years. During this time he has structured and administered numerous real estate partnerships and is directly responsible for the acquisition of over $50MM in Bay Area properties. Prior to moving to San Francisco Douglas worked in NYC for the investment bank Brown Brothers Harriman. Jigar Patel, President, has been an instrumental leader in the California cannabis industry.  He is the founder of four state and locally compliant cannabis businesses, playing pivotal roles in real estate sourcing, entitlement, funding, design, build and operations.  He is an industry leader in bringing local regulatory compliance to many jurisdictions including San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County. His depth of knowledge of the rich history of California cannabis, regulation, cultivation, and sales in a compliant marketplace provides a distinct advantage to achieving NCC’s business objectives.  An experienced entrepreneur, Mr. Patel has also been the founder of a successful Sonoma County winery, Jigar Wines. As President of NorCal Cannabis Company, Mr. Patel is responsible for oversight of all operations. Links to guest’s social media: Doug Cortina’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-cortina-19416843/ Jigar Patel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jigar-patel-94b4b6a2/   Links and Mentions: https://www.norcalcann.com/ Press Release on Series A: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/norcal-cannabis-closes-series-a-financing-300786494.html Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications. Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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  

Kashif Shan, CEO and founder of Folium Biosciences, the largest vertically integrated producer, manufacturer and distributor of hemp-derived phytocannabinoinds, is this week’s guest on the Green Rush! With the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018, hemp and CBD is now 100% legal so Anne and Lewis sat down with Kashif to get an overview of the current state of the CBD space, the future growth market for hemp derived CBD and when we may see big box retailers take a bigger step into the CBD marketplace. In addition to touching on the overall industry, Kashif provides our listeners an in-depth look at the inception and growth of Folium Biosciences, how the company plans to use the funds it received from a recent investment by Australis Capital, what Folium’s R&D department is working on right now and the story of how Kashif let his conservative parents know he was working in the cannabis industry. This week’s conversation is sure to be a treat for those who are interested in learning more about the CBD space. So sit back and enjoy! Kashif Shan is the Founder and CEO of Folium Biosciences. Kashif has spent over 20 years as a High Technology Executive across a range of fields where he oversaw Finance, Facilities, and HR. Kashif founded Folium Biosciences in 2014 and has helped grow the company to become the global leader in non-psychoactive cannabinoids and employs over 250 people. Prior to entering the cannabis space, Kashif was the Founder of Equus Capital, a real estate investment company. Links to guest’s social media: Kashif Shan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kashif-shan-a8b035169 Links and Mentions: https://foliumbiosciences.com/ 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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  

Jason Raznick, CEO and founder of the financial news outlet Benzinga joins the Green Rush team in the booth today! In addition to talking about the smashing success that was the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference last week, Jason shares his thinking behind his financial news outlets decision to go all in on covering cannabis and what he’s done to build out an impressive team of journalists to cover the space. Also in this week’s conversation, Jason touches on his successes and failures running a media company in the digital age, the trends he’s seeing in how people consume media and what interests him most about the future of the cannabis industry.    To kick off the episode this week, we have friend of the podcast and one of the top financial reporters covering the cannabis space, Bill Peters of Investor’s Business Daily providing us with his take on the story we all should be paying attention to. If you’re not already reading Bill’s daily columns on the cannabis markets, you are missing out! Enjoy! Jason Raznick is the founder of Benzinga, a media and data technology startup empowering a new generation of investors. Raznick launched Benzinga.com in 2010, and it has since grown to become a hub for actionable information on the capital markets with approximately 2 million readers a month. Benzinga.com is supported by a high-speed newswire, Benzinga Pro, which is home to exclusive market-moving news. Raznick is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he started multiple companies. He has been quoted in a variety of financial news publications, such as CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post. Raznick has been named to the Crain's Detroit Business 40 Under 40 list as well as the DBusiness 30 in Their 30s list. Benzinga is based in Detroit, and Raznick is dedicated to helping rebuild Detroit as a hub of technology and finance. Bill Peters writes breaking news stories and features for Investor’s Business Daily about the stock market and trends in the broader financial world, covering an array of topics, including the big banks, restaurants, airlines, retail and marijuana. Bill also also provides live video news analysis online. Links to guest’s social media: Jason Raznick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonraznick Jason Raznick’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonRaznick Bill Peter’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ibd_bpeters Bill Peter’s Author Page: https://www.investors.com/author/petersb/ Links and Mentions: Benzinga homepage: https://www.benzinga.com Benzinga Pro: https://www.pro.benzinga.com  Investor’s Business Daily homepage: https://www.investors.com Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference: https://www.benzingacannabisconference.com/ 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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  

It’s time for our first hostful episode for 2019! KCSAers Phil Carlson and Nick Opich are back in the booth with our hosts Lewis and Anne to talk about the year that was 2018 and provide their outlook on what they predict we may see from the cannabis industry in 2019. In this week’s episode our guests chat about their favorite episodes from 2018, dream guests for 2019, new predictions on federal legalization and M&A activity and who our team is watching for potential breakout performances in the New Year. Our hosts and guests also answer some listener questions and provide their thoughts on when we may see the NASDAQ and NYSE loosen their stances on cannabis companies. Enjoy! Phil Carlson is a Managing Director of Investor Relations at KCSA. He has developed proactive investor relations and communication strategies for several multi-national, micro and small cap companies in various sectors including technology, healthcare, financial services and natural resources. Phil also leads KCSA’s Cannabis Investor Relations practice. Through his extensive network, Phil has helped position his cannabis clients as thought leaders in the emerging cannabis industry. He has secured speaking engagements at premiere conferences and has organized several cannabis industry panels which have included himself as well as his clients. Phil is a Wall Street and Investor Relations veteran having worked at firms such as JPMorganChase and Merrill Lynch. His experience includes IPOs and reverse mergers, implementing retail and institutional road shows, and providing strategic counsel to clients. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Kent State University. Nick Opich is a Senior Account Executive working in the Public Relations department at KCSA. As part of the Cannabis business team, Nick advises clients on a number of fronts including developing brand messaging, refining and advancing media strategies and securing meaningful print and broadcast media coverage. His clients are involved in all aspects of the cannabis industry including cultivation, extraction, packaging, compliance and branding. Nick holds bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Spanish from Arizona State University. Links to guest’s social media: Phil Carlson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipecarlson   Nick Opich LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-opich-6450218a Nick Opich Twitter: https://twitter.com/nopich Links and Mentions: https://www.kcsa.com/ https://www.kcsa-cannabis.com/ 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Taylor West, Senior Communications Director for the cannabis branding and marketing company COHNNABIS, is our first official guest of 2019 on the Green Rush! As you know, the Green Rush is a part of the fantastic MJ Today media family which includes podcasts like Marijuana Today where Taylor appears as one of the regulars. In this week’s episode, Lewis and Anne chat with Taylor about her deep roots in drug policy reform, her personal background and how she came to join the cannabis space via her work with NCIA and what the future holds for the future of cannabis branding and marketing. To kick off the episode this week, we have friend of the podcast and everyone’s favorite recurring guest, Alan Brochstein of New Cannabis Ventures and 420 Investor providing us with his take on the story we all should be paying attention to. Enjoy!   Taylor West is senior communications director for COHNNABIS, a full-service brand, marketing, digital, and public relations agency dedicated to the unique needs of the cannabis industry. Prior to joining COHNNABIS in August 2017, Taylor spent nearly four years as deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). At NCIA, she oversaw marketing, communications, and media relations, often serving as a spokesperson for the organization and for the industry as a whole. Before joining the cannabis industry, Taylor spent four years working in Washington, D.C., first as a strategist for a variety of policy and regulatory reform efforts, and then as communications director for National Journal, a highly respected national media organization. She is also a veteran of several high-profile political campaigns and has appeared as a commentator on MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, PBS, and NPR. Taylor first became involved in drug policy reform 20 years ago with an internship at DRCNet, now known as StoptheDrugWar.org. Links to guest’s social media: Taylor West’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Taylor_West Taylor West’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-west-34736455/ Links and Mentions: COHNNABIS website NCIA website: https://thecannabisindustry.org/ https://www.newcannabisventures.com/ 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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  

This week's episode is another Lewis conference special. The discussion features Barron's Reporter Bill Alpert and Acreage Holdings' Chief Communications Officer, Howard Schacter who joined Lewis back in December at the Cannabis Media Summit. The conversation ranged from how to effectively engage with the media, to the language around the cannabis industry. In particular, the Q&A session at the end of the panel got quiet heated, and is well worth listening to. There is no better way to kick off 2019 than with a rousing Green Rush Podcast and this one, well...was a hell of a lot of fun to listen to live and is just as fun and informative recorded...so don't sit back, lean forward. Enjoy! Bill Alpert has been a senior writer at Barron's since 1984. His investigations have inspired stock-fraud prosecutions and reforms in such areas as “backdoor” stock-exchange listings, for-profit colleges, and the Magnitsky Act that sanctions international human-rights violators. Howard Schacter has over 30 years of experience from both agency and in-house public relations, marketing, and communications roles, having supported consumer and business-to-business organizations across several major industries, including cannabis, retail and entertainment. Prior to joining Acreage Holdings, Schacter served as Chief Communications Officer for the National Association of Cannabis Businesses, the cannabis industry's first and only self-regulatory organization. Earlier in his career, he led corporate communications for Live Nation (then SFX/Clear Channel Entertainment). Links and Mentions: https://www.cannabismediasummit.com/ Links to guest’s social media: Bill Alpert's author page: https://www.barrons.com/authors/8520 Bill Alpert's Twitter: https://twitter.com/blalpert Howard Schacter's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hschacter/ Howard Schacter's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hschacter Mannada Events Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mannada_Events Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

We're onto Day 4 of our week long Christmas special! Today's episode was chosen by our outstanding social media team member Tiffany Rutkowski who chose to replay our interview with Leah Heise, Chief Experience and Chief Compliance Officer for 4Front. During this conversation, the GreenRush team and Leah discuss the medicinal side of cannabis and how Leah's diagnosis with chronic pancreatitis led to her foray into medicinal cannabis and ultimately her career in the cannabis industry. Leah also touches on her position as Chief Experience Office for 4Front and how the company is helping medicinal cannabis patients educate themselves on the various strains of the plant and consumption options that would be most effective for treating their specific condition. Leah also provides her predictions on what the cannabis industry would look like if rescheduling, descheduling, or legalization were to happen. Enjoy! Links and Mentions: 4Front: https://4frontfamily.com/ Mission dispensaries: https://missiondispensaries.com/ Links to guest’s social media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-heise-67093a21 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

We're onto Day 3 of our greatest hits this week and today's selection is a personal favorite of Anne's. For her episode, Anne chose to highlight our interview with Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer. Representative Blumenauer has been instrumental in the legalization movement and his state has really become a leader and bellwether in figuring how the adult use market works. What Anne loved about this interview is that he took it incredibly seriously – and more importantly – he called Lewis out on his shit. In the interview, Lewis challenged him a bit and said that the Democrats are at risk of ceding control of the issue to the Republicans. Congressman Blumenauer strongly defended his party and reminded us key Democrats have been on the right side of the issue for decades. He also reminded us of all of the good work that they’ve done to date. So without further ado – here is our replay of the interview with Congressman Earl Blumenauer. A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) has devoted his entire career to public service. While still a student at Lewis and Clark College, he spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon and at the national level. He was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1972, where he served three terms and Chaired the House Education and Revenue Committee in 1977-78. In 1978, he was elected to the Multnomah County Commission, where he served for eight years before being elected to the Portland City Council in 1986. There, his 10-year tenure as the Commissioner of Public Works demonstrated his leadership on the innovative accomplishments in transportation, planning, environmental programs and public participation that have helped Portland earn an international reputation as one of America’s most livable cities. Elected to the US House of Representatives in 1996, Mr. Blumenauer has created a unique role as Congress’ chief spokesperson for Livable Communities: places where people are safe, healthy and economically secure.  From 1996 to 2007, he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he was a strong advocate for federal policies that address transportation alternatives, provide housing choices, support sustainable economies and improve the environment. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2001 to 2007, and vice-chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2010.  He is currently a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the subcommittees on Health, Oversight, and Tax Policy. Congressman Blumenauer’s academic training includes undergraduate and law degrees from Lewis and Clark College in Portland. Links to guest’s social media: Rep. Blumenauer’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/repblumenauer Rep. Blumenauer’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blumenauer/ Links and Mentions: https://blumenauer.house.gov/ http://earlblumenauer.com/ Congressman Blumenauer on Cannabis Reform: https://blumenauer.house.gov/issues/marijuana-and-drug-reform Congressman Blumenauer’s Cannabis Road Map for Democrats: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/10/17/congressman-issues-blueprint-to-legalize-marijuana-for-democratic-house-in-2019/#4fc4194e3aaf 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

We're onto Day 2 of our celebration of Christmas Week where our special gift to our loyal Green Rush listeners are us sharing some of our favorite episodes of the season. Today it's Nick's turn to pick his favortie episode so naturally when it came down to choosing a favorite episode, he picked one that featured him! This episode is a callback to when Anne and Nick got to interview Grammy award winner and a member of one of the most legendary families in music history, Ziggy Marley. The Marley name is practically synonymous with cannabis culture so being able to bring him on to chat with us about his music, his dad and his involvement in the cannabis industry was a real treat and one of the highlights of the year for our team. Ziggy was incredibly grateful with his time for this interview and we think this conversation is one all of our listeners will enjoy all over again. So relax and enjoy our conversation with Ziggy Marley! An eight-time GRAMMY winner, Emmy winner, author, philanthropist, and reggae icon, Ziggy Marley has released thirteen albums to much critical acclaim. Now with his own label, Tuff Gong Worldwide, and publishing company, Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his master recordings and publishing. His early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father, Bob Marley. As front man to Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, the group released eight best-selling albums that garnered three GRAMMYs, with such chart-topping hits as "Look Who's Dancing," "Tomorrow People" and "Tumbling Down." Ziggy's first solo album, Dragonfly (RCA Records), was released in 2003. His second solo release, Love is My Religion (Tuff Gong Worldwide), won a GRAMMY in 2006 for "Best Reggae Album." His third solo studio album, Family Time (Tuff Gong Worldwide), scored a 5th GRAMMY award for "Best Children's Album." In 2011, Ziggy released his 4th solo studio album, Wild and Free, as well as his first graphic novel entitled MARIJUANAMAN. His 2012 live album Ziggy Marley In Concert, earned a 6th GRAMMY award for "Best Reggae Album," and released his debut children's book I Love You Too. Ziggy's fifth solo studio album, Fly Rasta was released to mass critical acclaim in 2015, and earned his 7th GRAMMY for "Best Reggae Album." 2016 marked the release of Marley's self-titled album, which garnered his 8th GRAMMY, as well as The Ziggy Marley and Family Cookbook, via Akashic Books. Links and mentions in the show LISTEN to Rebellion Rises, Ziggy’s new single - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhcDEnL_bb0 To purchase Ziggy’s comic book “Marijuana Man” - https://www.amazon.com/Ziggy-Marleys-Marijuanaman-Joe-Casey/dp/1607063700 To preorder Ziggy’s new album, Rebellion Rises, out May 18th - http://ziggymarley.com/rebellion-rises/ To find when Ziggy is coming to a city near you - http://ziggymarley.com/upcoming-shows/ Ziggy’s charity U.R.G.E. which supports education, health and the environment, in efforts to improve the communities of Jamaica, Africa and throughout the world -http://www.urgefoundation.org/ Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Ziggy Marley Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ZiggyMarley/ Ziggy Marley Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ziggymarley/ Ziggy Marley Twitter - https://twitter.com/ziggymarley Show Credits This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: https://twitter.com/KCSA_Cannabis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcsa_cannabis/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18329588/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/KCSACannabiz/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

As a Christmas gift to you, our loyal Green Rush Podcast listeners, for Christmas week we are republishing our top 5 episodes of the season. These aren’t necessarily the episodes that had the most downloads, rather these are the ones that we all believe were different, impactful, better than others.  Now, don’t get me wrong, Anne, me, Nick, Phil and Shea love each and every episode.  Making us pick one, each was hard.  Not as hard as say, picking between my children, but hard none the less. For our first “fave” Lewis selected his chat with Danny Moses at the Green Market Summit earlier this summer.  It was a great conversation and one of the first times we've take our show on the road so to speak.  If you follow the stock market, Danny is a guru.  He is so damn smart, and just a great guy. This episode was tremendously fun. And the info so valuable.  We talked about the valuations of US companies vs. Canadian companies.  We talked specific stocks (and yes name a few names). Danny will be on again in 2019, and we can’t wait to talk with him again. Enjoy! Danny Moses has extensive experience with financial markets having worked on Wall Street since 1991 and holding a variety of positions including municipal bond analyst, institutional sell-side broker, trader, and hedge fund manager. The book and later movie “The Big Short” features the character of Danny Moses and a few others who were able to successfully navigate the volatility of the financial markets during the formation of the housing bubble in 2004. Links to guest’s social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmoses34 Links and Mentions: Bail The Street podcast: https://www.bailstreet.com/ Danny at the Brookings Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y2aEJShnUw The Big Short Deleted Scene: https://metro.co.uk/video/the-big-short-deleted-scene-1291428/?ito=vjs-link Investopedia Terms: Credit Default Swaps: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/creditdefaultswap.asp Collateralized Debt Obligation: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cdo.asp Collateralized Mortgage Obligation: https://www.investopedia.com/exam-guide/series-7/debt-securities/collateralized-mortgage-obligation.asp Synthetic: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/synthetic.asp Volcker Rule: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/volcker-rule.asp Dodd-Frank Bill: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dodd-frank-financial-regulatory-reform-bill.asp Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg at the Green Market Summit in NYC. Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Tim Seymour, Co-Host of CNBC’s Fast Money, joins the Green Rush this week to talk about cannabis investing, the cable news networks expanded coverage of the cannabis industry and the unique dichotomy between US and Canadian cannabis companies. In addition, Lewis and Anne chat with Tim about his recent appointment to the advisory board for The Green Organic Dutchman and what he’s looking for when it comes to analyzing cannabis stocks. To kick off the episode this week, we have our very own Shea Gunther of Marijuana Today providing us with his take on what the biggest story in the industry is this week. Enjoy! Tim Seymour is founder and Chief Investment Officer of Seymour Asset Management(SAM). SAM provides both asset management and wealth management services for its clients, including direct investment and allocation to private equity and alternative assets. Tim has over 22 years of investment experience as a portfolio manager, allocator and capital markets professional across multiple asset classes. He also looks at the impact of cyber risks on the global economy. Tim is a recognized voice within the investment community as a trader and market strategist on CNBC. For the past decade,Tim has been a primary investor voice on Fast Money. Tim is often cited as one of the top finance professionals on Twitter, including The Wall Street Journal's "Top Tweets For Your Money". Links to guest’s social media: Tim Seymour Twitter: https://twitter.com/timseymour Tim Seymour LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-seymour-29084818/ Tim Seymour CNBC author page: https://www.cnbc.com/timothy-seymour/ Links and Mentions: https://www.cnbc.com/ https://www.cnbc.com/fast-money/ 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome back to the Green Rush!  This week we have Part Two of our special broadcast from the floor of the Marijuana Business Conference in Las Vegas. At the mid-November conference, Lewis and Anne took to Podcaster’s Row to chat with a number of guests to discuss the growth of the conference, the excitement of the industry as a whole and get the low down on what’s coming up next for the burgeoning business of cannabis. For Part Two, we first have Lewis and Anne’s conversation with David Kretzmann, an Analyst/Investor with The Motley Fool - an investment news site designed to educate, amuse and enrich readers and help them make better financial decisions. As cannabis has grown from being a strictly illegal commodity to the fastest growing industry in the U.S., David has been one of the leading financial analysts looking at the space and helping the Motley Fool community of investors understand whether it makes sense for them to jump into the industry and what companies they should be watching. In the second half of the podcast, Lewis and Anne sit down with Bill Peters, reporter for Investor’s Business Daily - a financial news site providing ongoing support, research and news to help investors make more informed decisions. Formerly a general business reporter, Bill’s primary focus in the last year has shifted to cannabis due to the growth of the industry, the legalization of recreational cannabis in California and the way the industry has excited investors across North America. To wrap the episode, Lewis and Anne invite KCSA colleagues Annie Graf and Nick Opich into the booth to talk about what their seeing from the industry and the overall growth of Marijuana Business Conference. Enjoy! David started investing in stocks when he was 12 years old and has been a Fool ever since. He is a graduate of Berea College as well as the Motley Fool's Analyst Development Program, currently serving as an analyst in Rule Breakers and Supernova. Links to guest’s social media: David Kretzmann’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/David_Kretzmann David Kretzmann’s Author Page: https://www.fool.com/author/7893/index.aspx Bill Peter’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ibd_bpeters Bill Peter’s Author Page: https://www.investors.com/author/petersb/ Links and Mentions: The Motley Fool homepage: https://www.fool.com Investor’s Business Daily homepage: https://www.investors.com Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications at MJ Biz Con in Las Vegas. 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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 

Welcome back to the Green Rush!  This week we have Lewis and Anne go back to their New Jersey roots as they welcome in the legendary Jason Mewes of Jay and Silent Bob fame!  Heralded as one of the most influential cultural cannabis icons in Hollywood over the last 25 years, Mewes got his start in Hollywood with the indie-smash, Clerks and has since starred in a number of films including Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Jason has since evolved his career from an actor into a full-fledged entertainer hosting the “Jay and Silent Bob Get Old” podcast and directing his own feature film “Madness in the Method” which is slated to be released in late 2018/early 2019. During the conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Jay about his relationship with Kevin Smith, when he was finally able to quit his day job and become a working actor, Jay’s struggles with addiction and his views on cannabis exit drug for those working to overcome opioid addiction; how Jay plans to introduce his daughter to his movies and cannabis and what Jay has coming up in the pipeline including his upcoming appearance at The Emerald Cup later this month. In addition to the conversation with Jason, we also have Shea Gunther of Marijuana Today and our magnificent Program Director, 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. If you aren’t already make sure you are checking out all of the great content Shea is helping produce over at Marijuana Today. Enjoy! About Jason Mewes Indie film icon, Jason Mewes, is perhaps best known as the vocal half of the on-screen comedic duo, Jay and Silent Bob. Mewes’ has reprised his role as celebrated character, “Jay,” in a number of hit films. With cult-fans following his controversial antics, Mewes has captured audiences with rebellious banter against his unspoken other half and longtime friend, Kevin Smith (Silent Bob). Since the beginning of the duo’s offbeat work together, Mewes and Smith have continued to build on their beloved character driven roles from the Jay and Silent Bob series.   Links to guest’s social media: Jason Mewes Twitter: https://twitter.com/JayMewes Jason Mewes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaymewes/ Links and Mentions: Jason’s website: http://www.jmewes.com Jay and Silent Bob Get Old Podcast: https://www.smodcast.com/channel/jaysilentbobgetold Madness in the Method: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6038042/ SmodCasts: https://www.smodcast.com The Emerald Cup: https://theemeraldcup.com/   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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome back for another episode of the Green Rush! To celebrate the holidays, we’ve decided to give our listeners a BONUS episode this week with executives over at CordovaCann! CEO Taz Turner and COO Nate Nienhuis join Lewis and Anne in this episode to chat about all things Cordova and cannabis. If you don’t know Cordova, they are a cannabis-focused consumer products company focused on building a leading, diversified cannabis products business. The company is also public on the CSE under the ticker - CDVA. In this episode, Lewis and Anne chat with Taz and Nate about their largely different backgrounds and how the opportunities in the cannabis space brought them together. Noting Taz’s largely financial services background, our hosts explore Taz’s cannabis story and what ultimately lead to him making the leap into the highly regulated industry. Nate’s been a veteran of the cannabis industry for decades having consulted on the Washington D.C. program for legalized medical cannabis and was one of the first people to grow cannabis legally for the U.S. government.   So lean in and enjoy! Taz Turner has over 15 years of experience in the capital markets focused on both debt and equity securities in the technology and consumer industries. Since founding Southshore Capital Partners, LP in 2009, Mr. Turner has guided the growth of Southshore’s long/short global equity hedge fund as General Partner. Through his fund, Mr. Turner has invested in public and private cannabis companies since 2012. Prior to Southshore, Mr. Turner held progressive positions at hedge funds and private equity funds with Tala Investments, Trafelet Delta Funds and ABS Capital Partners, where he specialized in technology and consumer investments. Mr. Turner graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in both Commerce and Mathematics. Nate Nienhuis has extensive experience consulting to both public and private companies on all aspects of cannabis operations; including general operations, facility design, management of production and processing facilities, product development and dispensary oversight. Mr. Nienhuis has served as a consultant to various public and private companies since 1996. Over the course of his career, Mr. Nienhuis has served as head horticulturalist at licensed medical cannabis companies in California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Washington DC, and Canada. Furthermore, Mr. Nienhuis has developed and sold cutting-edge equipment for the safe extraction of cannabinoids and has been at the forefront of devising new extraction methods for processing at scale. As an extraction expert, Mr. Nienhuis has consulted on facility design for commercial cannabis extraction laboratories across the world, including ensuring compliance with Class 1 Division 1 standards for the use of volatile chemicals. Links to guest’s social media: Cordova Twitter: https://twitter.com/cordovacann   Taz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tazturner/ Nate’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-nienhuis-1b75a3154/ Links and Mentions: Main site: http://www.cordovacann.com/   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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome back to the Green Rush!  This week is Part One of our special broadcast from the floor of the Marijuana Business Conference in Las Vegas. At the mid-November conference, Lewis and Anne took to Podcaster’s Row to chat with a number of guests to discuss the growth of the conference, the excitement of the industry as a whole and get the low down on what’s coming up next for the burgeoning business of cannabis. For Part One, we first have Lewis and Anne’s conversation with Troy Dayton, Founder and CEO of the ArcView Group - an industry investment and research company, that provides financing for cannabis related businesses and projects through its network of investor members. In addition to leading ArcView, Troy is also an elected board member for the Marijuana Policy Project and a founding board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association and co-founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. In the second half of the podcast, Lewis and Anne sit down with Kris Krane, President of 4Front. After initially founding 4Front as an advising firm back in 2011, Kris has transformed the company into a leading retail and brand development company and helped the company develop a national platform that consists of a multi-state footprint, including its Mission branded retail operations. In addition to running 4Front, Kris also serves on the National Cannabis Industry Association board of directors and pens a column about the cannabis industry for Forbes. The conversations with Troy and Kris are slightly shorter than our average episode but are jam packed with information and observations from two of the brightest minds driving the future of the cannabis space. Enjoy! Troy is an elected board member for the Marijuana Policy Project and was formerly their top fundraiser and lead liaison to the legal cannabis industry. He is a founding board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association and co-founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, which is now on over 200 campuses. Troy also helped launch and served as the first sales director at Renewable Choice Energy, which was recently named the #1 green power provider by the EPA. He was recently named by Fortune Magazine as one of the top 7 most powerful people in the cannabis industry. In his spare time, Troy enjoys karaoke and the Burning Man festival. Having founded 4Front Advisors in 2011, Kris now serves as president of 4Front. Prior to forming 4Front, Kris served as director of client services for CannBe, a pioneer in developing best practices within the medical cannabis industry. Kris has dedicated his career to reforming the nation’s misguided drug policies, having served as associate director of NORML from 2000 to 2005 and executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy from 2006 to 2009. He currently serves on the National Cannabis Industry Association board of directors and pens a column about the cannabis industry for Forbes. Links to guest’s social media: Troy Dayton Twitter: https://twitter.com/tdazzl Troy Dayton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-dayton-850a0a21/ Kris Krane Twitter: https://twitter.com/kranewreck Kris Krane LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskrane/ Links and Mentions: https://arcviewgroup.com https://4frontfamily.com/   https://mjbizconference.com/ Kris Krane’s Forbes column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kriskrane/#5b4b6ffc9ed1 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications at MJ Biz Con in Las Vegas. 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter / Instagram: @KCSA_Cannabis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-rush-comms/

Welcome back for another episode of the Green Rush! In this episode, Lewis and Anne sit down with famed talk show host Ricki Lake and respected indie director Abby Epstein to talk about their emotional documentary Weed the People. The documentary explores how cannabis may just be the most innovative cancer treatment available, yet one that's also fraught with stigma. Released back in March, Weed the People is a work of wonderful storytelling that is sure to tug at your heart strings.   In the episode, Lewis and Anne explore with their guests not only the film making process to develop and produce this deeply introspective piece but also Ricki and Abby’s own introductions to cannabis. If you haven’t had a chance to see the film, check out the link below in our notes to check out when the next screening will happen at a theater near you! Enjoy! From acting and producing, to dancing her way into the hearts of television audiences, Emmy Award-winning television host Ricki Lake is a pop culture icon who has built a career on her graciously candid sensibility and her authentic, relatable nature. The world first met Lake in 1988 as Tracy Turnblad in John Waters’ film “Hairspray.” Lake’s legacy and perhaps her greatest love is her role as independent filmmaker. She has channeled her nurturing spirit and drive for social change into passion projects that are altering the way society views birth, breastfeeding, childhood obesity, birth control and now medical cannabis. Abby made her film directing debut at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival with the documentary, Until the Violence Stops, featuring Jane Fonda, Eve Ensler, Salma Hayek and Rosie Perez. The film played at the Miami, Santa Barbara, Maui and Locarno Film Festivals and won the Audience Award at the Amnesty International Film Festival in Vancouver. Until the Violence Stops premiered on Lifetime Television and received an Emmy and a Gracie Allen Award. Prior to her film work Abby directed theater, helming National Tours and international premieres of RENT and “The Vagina Monologues.” Links to guest’s social media: Weed the People Twitter: https://twitter.com/weedthepplfilm Weed the People Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weedthepeoplefilm/ Ricki Lake Twitter: https://twitter.com/RickiLake Abby Epstein Twitter: https://twitter.com/abbyepstein   Links and Mentions: Main site: https://www.weedthepeoplemovie.com Upcoming screenings: https://www.weedthepeoplemovie.com/screenings/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications at MJ Biz Con in Las Vegas. 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome back to the Green Rush!  This week we have Lewis and Anne back together again in booth chatting with the CEO of the Canadian Securities Exchange (or as some in the industry have dubbed it the “Cannabis Stock Exchange). Smaller than its more famous cousin, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the CSE got its infamous nickname over the last year as its become home to a lot of cannabis companies looking to capitalize on the public markets. In this week’s conversation, our hosts chat with Richard about why the CSE has become so attractive to cannabis companies, particularly those in the US who are unable to list on Nasdaq and NYSE. In addition, they touch on the early days of the CSE, why RTOs have become much more commonplace in the cannabis sector than traditional IPOs, how Canada legalization is going to impact the CSE and what Richard thinks will happen next as the industry continues to expand - hint hint it’s consolidation!   In addition to the conversation with the CSE, we also have Green Market Report’s founder and friend of the podcast, Deb Borchardt, opening this week’s episode covering the biggest news in the cannabis industry and breaking down what she thinks were the overlooked stories from last week. Make sure you check out Deb’s work over at Green Market Report and follow her for the latest news on the next Green Market Summit. Enjoy!   About Richard Carleton Richard Carleton has been CEO of the Canadian Securities Exchange for seven years. Prior to this appointment, Richard served as Vice-President Corporate Development with responsibility for the CSE’s technology, operations, market data and trading sales teams. Before joining the exchange, Richard worked as a business development consultant in Toronto and New York in the risk management and index product fields after spending twelve years with the Toronto Stock Exchange, serving most recently as a member of the exchange’s senior management team. Active in industry affairs, Richard served two terms as chair of the market data industry’s global trade association in the late 1990's and is a frequent panelist at market structure and trading technology events across North America. Richard also serves as a member of the boards of the Private Capital Markets Association and the Empire Club of Canada. A member of the Law Society of Upper Canada since 1987, Richard is a graduate of the University of Ottawa (B.A. ’81) and the University of Toronto (LL.B. ’85). He has also completed the executive development programme at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. About Deb Borchardt Debra is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Editor-In-Chief of Green Market Report, a financial news site for the cannabis industry. Prior to this, Debra spent more than 15 years working in a variety of jobs in the securities industry before earning her Master's Degree in Journalism at NYU. As a financial journalist, Debra has appeared on The Today Show, CNBC, and Bloomberg TV talking about multiple business topics including the cannabis industry. Her work in the cannabis space has been recognized with an AZBEE award for the video “Where People Want To Buy Pot.” Links to guest’s social media: CSE Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSE_News CSE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanadianSecuritiesExchange/ Richard Carleton’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-carleton-3b460416/?originalSubdomain=ca Deb Borchardt Twitter: https://twitter.com/WallandBroad Links and Mentions: https://thecse.com/ https://www.greenmarketreport.com/ https://www.greenmarketsummit.com/ 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 greenrush@kcsa.com.

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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome back to the Green Rush!  This week we are celebrating our 50TH Episode and wanted to send a quick message of thanks to all of our listeners who have supported our show since our launch nearly one year ago. As a special treat for all of our dedicated listeners, we have a very special guest for this episode, Oregon Congressman, Earl Blumenauer! A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) has devoted his entire career to public service and has been a staunch advocate for cannabis legalization throughout his time in Congress. Within the conversation, Lewis and Anne discuss the potential for an October cannabis surprise from President Trump, the Congressman’s road map for Democrats to use in the new Congress to move forward on cannabis legalization and a lively debate as to whether the Democrats are in danger of letting the Republicans take the lead on cannabis policy. In addition to the conversation with the Congressman, we also have a new opening for the show that will have some of the top journalists and analysts discussing some of the biggest news stories facing the cannabis industry. This week, we have friend of the show and the 420 Investor Alan Brochstein breaking down what he thinks were the overlooked stories from last week. And if you haven’t already, sign up for the 420 Investor newsletter Alan publishes to stay up to date on all the latest news on the public cannabis market. Link to the newsletter can be found in the show notes. Enjoy! A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) has devoted his entire career to public service. While still a student at Lewis and Clark College, he spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon and at the national level. He was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1972, where he served three terms and Chaired the House Education and Revenue Committee in 1977-78. In 1978, he was elected to the Multnomah County Commission, where he served for eight years before being elected to the Portland City Council in 1986. There, his 10-year tenure as the Commissioner of Public Works demonstrated his leadership on the innovative accomplishments in transportation, planning, environmental programs and public participation that have helped Portland earn an international reputation as one of America’s most livable cities. Elected to the US House of Representatives in 1996, Mr. Blumenauer has created a unique role as Congress’ chief spokesperson for Livable Communities: places where people are safe, healthy and economically secure.  From 1996 to 2007, he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he was a strong advocate for federal policies that address transportation alternatives, provide housing choices, support sustainable economies and improve the environment. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2001 to 2007, and vice-chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2010.  He is currently a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the subcommittees on Health, Oversight, and Tax Policy. Congressman Blumenauer’s academic training includes undergraduate and law degrees from Lewis and Clark College in Portland. Links to guest’s social media: Rep. Blumenauer’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/repblumenauer Rep. Blumenauer’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blumenauer/ Alan Brochstein’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Invest420 Links and Mentions: https://blumenauer.house.gov/ http://earlblumenauer.com/ Congressman Blumenauer on Cannabis Reform: https://blumenauer.house.gov/issues/marijuana-and-drug-reform Congressman Blumenauer’s Cannabis Road Map for Democrats: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/10/17/congressman-issues-blueprint-to-legalize-marijuana-for-democratic-house-in-2019/#4fc4194e3aaf   https://www.newcannabisventures.com/ 420 Investor’s Newsletter: https://marketfy.

Welcome back to the Green Rush, this week we have a special treat for our listeners - a live recording from the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo (CWCBE) in Los Angeles. In this week’s conversation we bring you the “Cannabis and The Capital Markets” panel moderated by our very own Lewis Goldberg. Lewis is joined on the panel by a “who’s who” of the cannabis industry in Kris Krane, President of 4Front, Tahira Rehmatullah, CFO at MTech and Beth Stavola, COO and President of MPX Bioceutical Corp. The Cannabis and Capital Markets panel covers the intersection of cannabis and the capital markets and takes a look at how both are evolving quicker than nearly anyone has expected. With more and more companies going public in the US and in Canada and an increasing number of RTOs, IPOs and roadshows dominating the industry, this panel of speakers from companies that either recently went public or are in the process of going public discuss the pitfalls, opportunities, and lessons learned from their experiences. Enjoy! Links to guest’s social media: Tahira’s social Twitter: https://twitter.com/tahirarehm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tahirarehm/?hl=en Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trehmatullah1 Beth’s social Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-stavola-a9260025/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethstavola Kris’s social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/kranewreck LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskrane Links and Mentions: Tahira’s links: https://hypurventures.com/ https://www.marleynatural.com/ https://www.mjfreeway.com Beth’s links: https://mpxbioceutical.com/ https://healthforlifedispensaries.com/ https://greenmart-of-nevada.myshopify.com/ https://www.cbdforlife.us/ Kris’ links: https://4frontventures.com/ https://missiondispensaries.com   Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo in Los Angeles, CA. Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome back to the Green Rush, this week’s episode features our old friend Nick Opich subbing in alongside Anne while Lewis was out at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo in Los Angeles. For this week’s conversation, the Green Rush crew sits down with one of the first reporters to truly “own” the cannabis beat in Alex Halperin of WeedWeek. Alex has been chasing the green rush for over four years and is one of the most accomplished and well respected reporters covering the space. If you have any kind of interest in cannabis and have not yet signed up for the WeedWeek newsletter - do so now! In this week’s conversation, Anne and Nick chat with Alex about the growing acceptance of larger media companies to covering the cannabis industry, what Alex is seeing and anticipating ahead of the upcoming November elections, what Alex believes in one of the most underreported stories in the space and the latest news out of WeedWeek and Recharge 2019. Enjoy! Alex Halperin is a freelance business reporter where he has been covering the green rush for almost four years. Alex founded WeedWeek (WeedWeek.net) and writes the High Time column for the Guardian. In addition, his work as appeared in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Mother Jones, Fast Company and many other publications. Links to guest’s social media: Website: https://www.alexhalperin.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexhalperin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhalperin   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weedweeknews/ Links and Mentions: WeedWeek: https://www.weedweek.net/ WeedWeek Newsletter: https://www.weedweek.net/newsletter/ Alex’s Guardian Calendar: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/alex-halperin Recharge 2019: https://www.weedweek.net/recharge19/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich. Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome back to the Green Rush, Lewis is back riding solo in the booth for today’s episode with a truly interesting guest, Matt Karnes from Green Wave Advisors. After spending over 20 years gaining diverse finance and accounting experience, Matt shifted his focus to the cannabis industry in 2014 with the founding of GreenWave Advisors. If you're not familiar with GreenWave Advisors you’ll be sure to follow them regularly going forward as they have consistently provided accurate and relevant research and analysis of the cannabis industry and is the only independent firm to bring Wall Street investment research credentials to this emerging sector. In today’s episode, Lewis and Matt cover a range of topics including Matt’s thoughts on the crazy high valuations of Canadian cannabis stocks; some interesting data on the relationship between the US banking industry and the cannabis space; Matt’s thoughts on what may happen over the next few months from an M&A perspective and whether there could be a growing sense of investor fatigue amongst institutional money in Canada. Enojy! Matt Karnes has over 20 years of diverse finance and accounting experience. Prior to founding GreenWave Advisors LLC, Matt worked in equity research focusing on the Radio Broadcasting and Cable Television industries for First Union Securities. Matt also covered Satellite Communication at SG Cowen and in addition, worked with the top ranked Consumer Internet analyst at Bear Stearns & Co – this team was consistently recognized by the Institutional Investor’s “All America Research Team”. As a sellside equity analyst, Matt authored and co-authored numerous emerging industry research reports including such names as Google, Sirius, XM Satellite Radio, DIRECTV and EchoStar Communications. In his most recent role, Matt was Principal and Senior Equity Analyst at Bull Path Capital Management, a New York City based hedge fund, where he was responsible for investment strategies of emerging technologies primarily within the Technology, Media and Telecom sectors. Prior to his career on Wall Street, Matt held various finance and accounting positions at PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Deloitte as well as at Texaco Inc. where he worked throughout the U.S., Europe, The Caribbean and Asia. Additionally at Chase, Matt was responsible for implementing the bank’s corporate accounting policies on commodity, interest rate and foreign currency derivative products. Matt graduated from Fordham University with an MBA in finance and earned a B.S. Business Administration with a double major in accounting and finance from Miami University (OH). Matt is also a Certified Public Accountant. Links to guest’s social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/mkarnes?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenwavemj Facebook https://www.facebook.com/greenwaveadvisors/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenwave-advisors/ Links and Mentions: www.greenwaveadvisors.com Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg. Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome back to a very special episode of the Green Rush! Back in early September, Lewis sat down for a conversation with friend of the pod, Danny Moses of “The Big Short” fame while at the Green Market Summit in New York City. For those who may not know, the Green Market Summit is a cannabis investor series put on by Deb Borchardt of the Green Market Report, another recurring guest on the Green Rush Podcast. If you listened to the initial conversation between Anne, Lewis and Danny you know it was a doozy, and this one is no less interesting. In the conversation, Lewis and Danny chat in front of a live audience about where we are today as an economy, Danny’s process for evaluating potential investment targets in the cannabis space, his thoughts on the some of the largest deals in the sector and more. Also, this is our first live recording, so we know that the audio isn’t the best but ask that you give us a little leeway if the sound is a bit wonky at times. Enjoy! Danny Moses has extensive experience with financial markets having worked on Wall Street since 1991 and holding a variety of positions including municipal bond analyst, institutional sell-side broker, trader, and hedge fund manager. The book and later movie “The Big Short” features the character of Danny Moses and a few others who were able to successfully navigate the volatility of the financial markets during the formation of the housing bubble in 2004. Links to guest’s social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmoses34 Links and Mentions: Bail The Street podcast: https://www.bailstreet.com/ Danny at the Brookings Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y2aEJShnUw The Big Short Deleted Scene: https://metro.co.uk/video/the-big-short-deleted-scene-1291428/?ito=vjs-link Investopedia Terms: Credit Default Swaps: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/creditdefaultswap.asp Collateralized Debt Obligation: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cdo.asp Collateralized Mortgage Obligation: https://www.investopedia.com/exam-guide/series-7/debt-securities/collateralized-mortgage-obligation.asp Synthetic: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/synthetic.asp Volcker Rule: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/volcker-rule.asp Dodd-Frank Bill: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dodd-frank-financial-regulatory-reform-bill.asp Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg at the Green Market Summit in NYC. Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

Welcome to another episode of the Green Rush! Nick is sticking around the studio again this week, this time filling in for Lewis as he and Anne chat with Tim Blake, one of the earliest pioneers in the cannabis industry. Tim Blake is most well-known for creating and continuing to produce the The Emerald Cup, Northern California’s premier event for medicinal and recreational marijuana enthusiasts that also advances the concept of sustainable, outdoor farming. Tim has been producing the Emerald Cup for the past fifteen years and history with cannabis goes back even further making him one of the rare entrepreneurs who has been in the industry from it’s black market heights in the 70s and 80s through today. In this week’s conversation, the Green Rush team and Tim chat about how the landscape of cannabis in California has changed since he first started getting involved in the late 70s, Tim’s history of community organizing and his role in helping produce one of the first gatherings of law enforcement and cannabis farmers in the country to openly discuss how they could work together as well as what attendees can expect from this year’s Emerald Cup lineup. Tim Blake created and has continued to produce the The Emerald Cup for the past fourteen years. He sponsored and helped produce the first gathering of law enforcement and cannabis farmers in the country to openly discuss how they could work together. He was the co-founder of the Mendocino Farmers Collective and also Healing Harvest Farms, both local cannabis dispensaries designed to help facilitate getting outdoor cannabis into the dispensaries across the state. He was a founding member of Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform (CCPR), which evolved into ReformCA, and was also a founding member of the Mendocino Cannabis Policy Council (MCPC). Tim was also on the steering committee for the Mendocino Heritage Initiative (Measure AF), which was on the county ballot in 2016, and is on the board of directors of The Mendocino Cannabis Industry Association (MCIA). Tim’s personal goal is to help the world integrate spirituality, cannabis, organic food and living into a holistic lifestyle. Links and mentions: https://theemeraldcup.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Cannabis-Crusader-Dancing-Tim-Blake/dp/1519631847 Links to guest’s social media: https://twitter.com/TheEmeraldCup https://www.instagram.com/theemeraldcup/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-blake-00868582/ https://www.facebook.com/TheEmeraldCup/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-rush-comms/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenrushcomms/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true  

Welcome to another episode of the Green Rush! Anne is back in town and joining Lewis to chat with Adam Orens, the Founding Partner of the Marijuana Policy Group, one of the most respected economic and policy consulting firms, nationally recognized for its role in shaping regulated medical and recreational cannabis markets. Adam and our hosts have a fascinating discussion around some of the recent research coming out of the MPG, including a study on the size of the Canadian market, sponsored by Health Canada (hint: it’s big), and how Colorado is essentially erasing the black market (and what other states can do to take note). Adam also let’s us in on some clients that have surprised him and why.   Adam Orens is a founding partner of the Marijuana Policy Group His areas of expertise include market analysis, public finance, and regional economic analysis. He also has experience in statistical analysis and consumer market research. Adam has completed numerous studies that analyze the relationships between markets, demographics and government policy. Adam received his undergraduate degree in economics from Rutgers University and has a master’s degree in agricultural and resource economics from Colorado State University. Adam’s demographic and economic research related to the emerging cannabis market has been cited by the New York Times, 60 Minutes, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and the Huffington Post. His recent studies in Colorado, Alaska, Illinois, Maryland, and Vermont have examined many facets of medical and recreational cannabis markets, including providing estimates of cannabis market size; annual cannabis consumption by residents, tourists and patients; cannabis tax revenue projections; and market supply channels. Adam was a lead author of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division 2014 Market Size and Demand report and continues to provide consulting services to the MED and private interests nationwide. Links and mentions: www.mjpolicygroup.com Links to guest’s social media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marijuana-policy-group/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjpolicygroup Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjpolicygroup Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-rush-comms/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenrushcomms/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Welcome to another episode of the Green Rush! Anne is off this week enjoying a getaway to Europe so Lewis has employed the help of Nick for this episode’s chat with Deb Borchardt, Co-Founder, CEO, and Editor-In-Chief of Green Market Report, a financial news site focused on covering the biggest news in the cannabis industry. This is Deb’s second appearance on the Green Rush and she’s since her last appearance she’s expanded her duties beyond just publishing. Deb is also the Founder of the Green Market Summit, a new conference series meant to bring together the most respected companies, brands and executives, yielding the most experience and knowledge available in the cannabis industry. In partnership with the TheStreet.com, the inaugural Green Market Summit will take place on September 14 in New York City at the One World Trade Center and will cover the The Advanced Economic State Of Cannabis. In this week’s chat, the Green Rush team and Deb chat about some of the key cannabis ballot initiatives across the country, how the lack of banking access is affecting cannabis businesses and whether its getting to be too late for smaller entrepreneurs to jump into the space and compete against the behemoths in Canopy, Acreage Holdings and Curaleaf. Debra is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Editor-In-Chief of Green Market Report, a financial news site for the cannabis industry. Prior to this, Debra spent more than 15 years working in a variety of jobs in the securities industry before earning her Master's Degree in Journalism at NYU. As a financial journalist, Debra has appeared on The Today Show, CNBC, and Bloomberg TV talking about multiple business topics including the cannabis industry. Her work in the cannabis space has been recognized with an AZBEE award for the video “Where People Want To Buy Pot.” Links and mentions: https://www.greenmarketreport.com/ https://www.greenmarketsummit.com/ Links to guest’s social media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-borchardt-0860884/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wallandbroad Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Nick Opich Special thanks to our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-rush-comms/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenrushcomms/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Welcome back to another episode of the Green Rush! This week, Anne, & Lewis chat with fellow New Jerseyan Beth Stavola, the Chief Operating Officer of MPX Bioceutical, one of the leading, vertically integrated holding companies in the cannabis industry. Beth began her cannabis journey in 2012, shortly after Arizona voters approved medical cannabis in the state, and opened one of the first dispensaries along Arizona’s southern border in the town of Douglas. Since then, she’s built a cannabis empire that stretches across the U.S. and was most recently acquired by MPX in January 2017 for $25 million. In this week’s conversation, Beth dives in on a number of topics including the differences in running a public cannabis company in Canada vs. being public in the US, the role of women and minorities in the burgeoning cannabis industry and how she was able to convince her younger sister to follow in her footsteps and into the cannabis industry. Beth Stavola is the Chief Operating Officer of MPX Bioceutical, one of the leading, vertically integrated holding companies in the cannabis industry. In addition to her role with MPX, Beth is also the Founder and CEO of Stavola Medical Marijuana Holdings, Health for Life Inc, GreenMart of Nevada, and CBD For Life. Before her career in cannabis, Beth was Senior Vice President of Institutional Equity Sales at Jefferies New York. Like our favorite co-host Anne, Beth is also a proud graduate of Monmouth University.   Links and mentions: https://mpxbioceutical.com/ https://healthforlifedispensaries.com/ https://greenmart-of-nevada.myshopify.com/ https://www.cbdforlife.us/ Links to guest’s social media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-stavola-a9260025/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethstavola Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe. Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-rush-comms/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenrushcomms/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on the Green Rush Podcast, Lewis and Anne welcome back Alan Brochstein of 420 Investor and New Cannabis Ventures back into the studio. Alan is a unique voice in the cannabis industry because he was really the first investment professional to make a career out of covering the cannabis space from an investor's perspective publicly. When he speaks, investors listen. In this week’s episode, Alan discusses the latest news on the the cannabis markets in both the United States and Canada including some of the major deals from companies like Aurora and Canopy; offers insight into which IPOs/RTOs he’s most looking forward to in 2018 and touches on the impending legalization day for Canada and what investors should know as we approach October 17th. Alan Brochstein, CFA, was the first investment professional to devote himself to sharing his observations about the cannabis industry from an investor's perspective publicly. He runs 420 Investor, a subscription-based due diligence platform for investors interested in the publicly-traded cannabis stocks and is also the founder of New Cannabis Ventures, a content aggregation site focused on investors and entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. Alan has worked in the securities industry since 1986, primarily with the responsibility for managing investments in institutional environments until he founded AB Analytical Services in 2007 in order to provide independent research and consulting to registered investment advisors. In addition to advising several different hedge funds and investment managers, including Friedberg Investment Management, where he participated as a member of its investment management committee, Alan was also a senior analyst for the independent research firm Management CV. In 2008, he began providing a first-of-its-kind subscription-based service for individual investors, Invest By Model, which offered two different portfolios that investors could replicate in their own accounts for $20 per month. Alan also offered The Analytical Trader at Marketfy, where he used fundamental and technical analysis in a disciplined process to offer specific trade ideas geared towards swing traders. Alan launched www.420Investor.com in late 2013 as the premier source of information for "Green Rush" investors seeking to capitalize on the proliferation of legalized medical and recreational cannabis. In March 2014, Alan, who is a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association, began to focus solely on the cannabis sector. He launched www.NewCannabisVentures.com in late 2015.   Links and mentions: Alan’s Newsletter: https://marketfy.com/item/420-investor-newsletter/ Alan - New Cannabis Ventures: https://www.newcannabisventures.com/ Links to guest’s social media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanbrochstein Twitter: https://twitter.com/Invest420?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe. Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-rush-comms/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenrushcomms/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on the Green Rush Podcast, Anne, Lewis, and Phil sit down with Danny Moses, Wall Street insider and investor in the cannabis industry. If you don’t know Danny, you should.  He was at the center of the financial meltdown in 2007/08 and his role in the crisis was recaptured in the famous film, “The Big Short”.  As a trader working for Steve Eisman, Danny was a “short” meaning he bet against the housing market and made a ton of money. He’s one of the smartest guys from Wall Street and over the past few years he’s been going “long” on the cannabis sector. Danny speaks to his experience in the 2008 financial crisis, similarities he sees between the financial collapse and the cannabis industry, why he believes investing in cannabis is smart, and the social issues that continue to plague the cannabis industry. 3 Main Takeaways: There’s great risk and reward in cannabis industry Do your homework when investing in cannabis   There are a wide range of health/medicinal uses to cannabis Danny Moses has extensive experience with financial markets having worked on Wall Street since 1991 and holding a variety of positions including municipal bond analyst, institutional sell-side broker, trader, and hedge fund manager. The book and later movie “The Big Short” features the character of Danny Moses and a few others who were able to successfully navigate the volatility of the financial markets during the formation of the housing bubble in 2004. Links to guest’s social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmoses34 Links and Mentions: Bail The Street podcast: https://www.bailstreet.com/ Danny at the Brookings Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y2aEJShnUw The Big Short Deleted Scene: https://metro.co.uk/video/the-big-short-deleted-scene-1291428/?ito=vjs-link Investopedia Terms: Credit Default Swaps: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/creditdefaultswap.asp Collateralized Debt Obligation: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cdo.asp Collateralized Mortgage Obligation: https://www.investopedia.com/exam-guide/series-7/debt-securities/collateralized-mortgage-obligation.asp Synthetic: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/synthetic.asp Volcker Rule: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/volcker-rule.asp Dodd-Frank Bill: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dodd-frank-financial-regulatory-reform-bill.asp Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe, Lewis Goldberg, and Phil Carlson of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

This week on the Green Rush, Nick is filling in for Lewis as he and Anne are joined by Leah Heise, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Experience Officer at 4Front Ventures. During their conversation, Leah discusses how her diagnosis with chronic pancreatitis led to her foray into medicinal cannabis and ultimately her career in the cannabis industry. Leah also touches on her position as Chief Experience Office for 4Front and how the company is helping medicinal cannabis patients educate themselves on the various strains of the plant and consumption options that would be most effective for treating their specific condition. Leah also provides her predictions on what the cannabis industry would look like if rescheduling, descheduling, or legalization were to happen.     Leah Heise serves as the Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Experience Officer at 4Front Ventures, a medicinal cannabis company operating in multiple states across the country. As CXO, Leah oversees the Mission brand, a branch of 4Front Ventures, and ensures that patients have a positive experience at 4Front dispensaries. As a medicinal cannabis patient herself, it is important to Leah that 4Front customers are provided with the most sophisticated information on cannabis so that they can treat their conditions safely and effectively.        Links and Mentions: 4Front Advisors: https://4frontadvisors.com/ 4Front Ventures: https://4frontventures.com/ Mission dispensaries: https://www.missioncan.com/ Links to guest’s social media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-heise-67093a21 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

This week on the Green Rush podcast, Anne and Lewis sit down with Super Bowl champion defensive end Marvin Washington. After spending 11 years in the NFL terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, Marvin has since shifted his career towards the legal cannabis industry and is now the spokesman for Isodiol International Inc., a leading manufacturer of CBD-focused consumer products. In their conversation, Marvin discusses his experience with cannabis in the NFL and how medicinal cannabis can help those suffering with pain in addition to those struggling with addiction. Marvin also touches on the issue of minority representation within the cannabis space and his recent lawsuit against the Department of Justice and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.   3 main takeaways: Cannabis is likely to be a point of contention in the next NFL/NFLPA collective bargaining discussions in 2021 Medicinal cannabis could be a game changer for athletes that are wary of overuse of opiates and looking to for pain relief Social justice issues must be part of the cannabis legalization conversation Marvin Washington is a retired NFL player who played a total of 11 years with three teams: the New York Jets, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers. A voice for former NFL players in the NFL’s concussion lawsuit, Washington addresses the truth about the outcome as well as the effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). An advocate for all-natural, non-habit forming cannabis, Washington is speaking out on the topic of using cannabinoids as neuroprotectants as well as an avenue to alleviate the nation’s #1 health epidemic: prescription opioid abuse and addiction. He has also lobbied the NFL Players Association to push for changes in the sport’s drug policies. Washington is a graduate of Idaho University and a 2004 inductee into the University of Idaho Vandal Sports Hall of Fame. After football Washington worked for William Small Wealth Management Group as a Financial Advisor. At Williams advised high net worth individual investors and Professional Athletes in the NFL and NBA. Washington worked in financial services for 10 years focusing on financial planning, retirement planning and estate planning. Now a serial entrepreneur, Washington is focused on the cannabis industry. He is an investor and co-owner of a number of cannabis ventures. Washington is also a NFL league ambassador for Athletes For Care and is a member of the Board of Directors. Links to guest’s social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/mwash52?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mwash52/?hl=en Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-washington-9a559b108 Links and mentions: Isodiol: https://isodiol.com/?v=f24485ae434a Iso-Sport: https://iso-sport.com/ Farm Bill: https://agriculture.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?IssueID=14904 Athletes For Care: https://athletesforcare.org/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe, Lewis Goldberg, and Phil Carlson of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

In the latest edition of the Green Rush Podcast, Lewis and Anne sit down with George Allen, President of Acreage Holdings, the U.S.’ largest national cannabis operator and brand, to discuss the company’s $119 million funding round, the largest private equity round in U.S. cannabis history. George touches on how raising capital for the cannabis space differs vs. traditional industries and why the company was able to find greater success during this round of funding with high net worth individuals vs. institutional investors. In addition, George provides more insights on the recruitment of Former Speaker John Boehner to join the Acreage board, the valuation of licenses across the country and the pressure Wall Street is putting on the White house to move towards rescheduling cannabis.             George Allen is a seasoned executive with extensive financing and transaction experience, who was previously Chief Investment Officer of Cambridge Information Group (CIG), where he managed a portfolio of private and public direct investments as well as a collection of indirect investments, and founded an internally managed hedge fund focused on global growth equities.Mr. Allen managed corporate development at Blucora, a CIG Investment, guiding the company as it transformed into a successful public leader in its vertical that now operates independently, securing an extremely profitable investment for CIG on its four-year investment. Prior to Blucora, Mr. Allen spent nine years at Warburg Pincus, managing investments in the communication, media and technology sectors, and Goldman Sachs in New York and Hong Kong, where he invested capital in distressed securities. Links and Mentions: https://www.acreageholdings.com/ Links to the guest’s company and media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/AcreageHoldings/ https://www.instagram.com/acreageholdings/ https://twitter.com/AcreageCannabis https://www.linkedin.com/company/acreageholdings/?originalSubdomain=ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/gallen97/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

On the latest edition of the Green Rush, Lewis and Anne invite Phil Carlson from KCSA back into the booth for a roundtable episode talking about the latest news and trends in the industry. The Green Rush team explores with Phil the current cannabis landscape in the U.S., in what ways investors are helping to grow the industry, and how cannabis is disrupting other spaces such as the pharmaceutical industry and the alcohol industry. Additionally, with legalization underway in Massachusetts and Canada, the Green Rush team and Phil explore how these decisions will affect the U.S. cannabis space and upcoming elections.       Phil leads KCSA’s Cannabis Investor Relations Practice. He has developed proactive investor relations and communication strategies for several multinational, micro and small cap cannabis companies. Through his extensive network, Phil has helped position his cannabis clients as thought leaders in the emerging cannabis industry. He has secured speaking engagements at premiere conferences and has organized several cannabis industry panels which have included himself as well as his clients. Phil is a Wall Street and Investor Relations veteran having worked at firms such as JPMorganChase and Merrill Lynch. His experience includes IPOs and reverse mergers, implementing retail and institutional road shows, and providing strategic counsel to clients. Links and Mentions: IL cannabis regulations: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/mcpp/Pages/default.aspx Links to the guest’s company and media accounts: https://www.kcsa-cannabis.com/team Phil Carlson Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipecarlson Phil Carlson Twitter: https://twitter.com/philcarlsonkcsa Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

This week on the Green Rush Podcast, Lewis and Anne chat with one of the most influential executives in cannabis that you likely haven’t heard of, Tahira Rehmatullah, CFO of MTech Acquisition Corporation. Tahira has an expansive cannabis background - in addition to her work with MTech, she is also Managing Director of Hypur Ventures and a Director of Dope Media. Prior to her current roles, Tahira served as General Manager of Marley Natural, where she was responsible for the brand’s launch and managing day-to-day operations of the company. In this week’s episode, the Green Rush team and Tahira discuss social justice issues within the cannabis space, how policy has failed to address these concerns, and how she feels obligated to pay it forward to newcomers and minorities joining the industry. Tahira also touches on Canada’s recent decision to federally legalize cannabis and the implications this decision will have on US markets, and the recent trends regarding M&A activity in the industry. Fortune Magazine has called Tahira Rehmatullah is one of the top 5 most powerful women in pot and Business Insider has deemed her one of the rising stars of the marijuana investment scene. Tahira is the Chief Financial Officer at a company called MTech Acquisition Corporation, which is one of the few publicly traded cannabis focused companies on the NASDAQ. Under her leadership, they completed a $50M IPO earlier this year and the company’s focus will be on acquiring an ancillary cannabis business, with a particular sector focus that includes compliance, business intelligence, brand development and media. Links and Mentions: https://hypurventures.com/ https://www.marleynatural.com/ Links to the guest’s company and media accounts: Twitter: https://twitter.com/tahirarehm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tahirarehm/?hl=en Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trehmatullah1 Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

In this special edition episode of the Green Rush podcast to celebrate the July 4th holiday, Anne and Lewis bring back colleagues Phil Carlson and Nick Opich to discuss the current state of cannabis. The Green Rush team explores some of the biggest headlines over the past couple of months including Aurora Cannabis’ announcement to go public in Canada and the implications this decision has for US markets; the growing conversation around social justices issues; the role cannabis companies have in helping right the wrongs of the War on Drugs; whether cannabis will become a platform issue for the Democratic Party; and John Boehner’s recent announcement to join the board of Acreage Holdings. Links and Mentions: Aurora Cannabis - https://www.auroramj.com/ Acreage Holdings - https://www.acreageholdings.com/ MJ Biz Conference - https://mjbizconference.com/next/ Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

On the latest edition of the Green Rush, Lewis and Anne begin to take a look at the role cannabis will play in shaping the midterm elections across the United States and in particular New York state. Joining them this week is Scott Levenson, one of New York’s most influential public affairs specialists and the President and Founder of The Advance Group, which has helped elect hundreds of state officials from governors down to city council members. The Green Rush team explores with Scott the current cannabis landscape in New York and whether Democratic challenger, Cynthia Nixon, is truly influencing Governor Andrew Cuomo’s stance on the issue of cannabis. In addition, Scott offers an in-depth look at how the general assembly in New York is approaching the cannabis issue, why the lack of diversity and social responsibility in the industry is holding it back and what voters can do to make their voices heard. Scott Levenson is an internationally recognized consultant and has built The Advance Group into one of the country’s leading strategic consulting firms. Scott created The Advance Group following a decade of community organizing and labor union organizing, which included serving as the lead advance person for Jesse Jackson’s Presidential Campaign in 1988 and as Director of Advance for David Dinkins’ mayoral campaign in 1989. Scott ran Mark Green’s successful 1993 race to become New York City’s first elected Public Advocate, and from 1994 through 1999, he served as Chief of Operations for the Office of the Public Advocate of the City of New York. Scott also served as the Campaign Director for both Mr. Green’s 1998 run for the U.S. Senate and Ruth Messinger’s 1997 campaign for Mayor of New York City. Scott is a national commentator on New York City and national Democratic politics. He can often be seen on television, radio and in print media. Scott is a trained organizer and campaign veteran with a national reputation. A Political Science major with a specialty in African Studies at Boston University, Scott has a son, Sebastian, and lives in Forest Hills, New York. Links and Mentions: https://www.governor.ny.gov/ http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Carl-E-Heastie http://nyassembly.gov/mem/John-T-McDonald-III http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Richard-N-Gottfried http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Walter-T-Mosley/ http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Linda-B-Rosenthal Links to the guest’s company and media accounts: http://www.theadvancegroup.com/ Scott Levenson Twitter: https://twitter.com/levenson_scott?lang=en Scott Levenson Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-levenson Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to Nick Opich, our Producer, and our 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. 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

On this week’s episode of The Green Rush, Lewis and Anne are joined by Lynn Honderd, CEO and Co-Founder of Mary’s Medicinals and one of the leading executives in the medical cannabis space. Mary’s Medicinals is one of the best known brands in the space and is the leading producer of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products, including its award-winning products - a patent-pending transdermal cannabis patch and patented dispenser gel pen as well as the Mary’s Distillate Vape Kit and Vape Pen. During their conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Lynn about building a nationwide cannabis brand, the difficulty in obtaining patents in the cannabis industry and what’s in store for the future of Mary’s Medicinals.   Lynn Honderd is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mary’s Medicinals, Mary’s Nutritionals and Mary’s Pets. Since 2013, Mary's has been leading the industry as a pioneer of cannabis delivery methods. Honderd has been instrumental in positioning Mary’s as one of the nation’s most innovative and fastest growing companies in its sector. Prior to Mary’s, Honderd served in a variety of senior finance positions at organizations including Bank of America and UBS Paine Webber.Honderd holds a B.S. in finance from Pepperdine University and a B.S. in international business from the University of San Francisco. Links and mentions in the show www.marysmedicinals.com Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Mary’s Medicinals Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/marymedicinalsofficial/ Mary’s Medicinals Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marys_medicinals/?hl=en Mary’s Medicinals Twitter - https://twitter.com/marysmedicinals Mary’s Medicinals LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mary's-medicinals/ Show Credits This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications Special thanks to 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 greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: https://twitter.com/KCSA_Cannabis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcsa_cannabis/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18329588/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/KCSACannabiz/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Shea Gunther is a long time activist, having founded the first chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy back in 1998, and is currently leads up MJToday Media, a publishing company focusing on creating content for legal marijuana business nerds. He's the host of "Marijuana Today Daily" and produces the weekly show "Marijuana Today", in addition to his new duties producing the Green Rush podcast. Follow Marijuana Today on Twitter. Follow Marijuana Today Daily on Twitter.

Welcome to The Green Rush. This week Anne & Lewis are talking about the law- with the maze of cannabis regulation, good lawyers are hard to come by and today we are talking to two of the best in the business. Marc Ross is a founding partner of  Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner in New York. Marc doesn’t just “do” law, he teaches it as well - having just finished his 4th year teaching The Business and Law of Marijuana as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University School of Law. The class is so popular and there is a wait list. On the other side of the coast, we’re talking with Benson Lau  with The Lau Law Firm in Los Angeles. Benson works with clients looking to obtain licenses, stay in compliance, transition from the black market to the legit green marketplace, and he does due diligence for investors.  

On this week’s episode of The Green Rush, Lewis and Anne chat with Adrian Sedlin, CEO and founder of Canndescent, on of the most recognizable, ultra-premium flower brands in the cannabis industry. To date, Adrian has raised nearly $30 million in seed capital for CANNDESCENT, and helped establish Canndescent as the first municipally-permitted cultivator south of San Jose. In addition to his work with Canndescent, Adrian serves on the board of the Desert Hot Springs Cannabis Alliance Network (DHS CAN), advises the CA Dept. of Food & Agriculture on its cultivation committee, serves as a Co-Chair on the Policy Council for the NCIA, and writes a monthly column for mg magazine. During their conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Adrian about the need for more harmony between the long-time cannapreneurs and the new investment coming from people who have traditionally worked outside of the industry. We also discuss Canndescent’s abandonment of traditional strain names, the challenges in building a premium brand in a nascent market and what Canndescent has in store for the rest of 2018.

This week on The Green Rush, Lewis and Anne invite celebrated actor, director, writer, and producer James Hutson onto the podcast to discuss how Hollywood is approaching the rapidly evolving culture shift surrounding cannabis. Winner of 'Best Actor' for his movie at the New York City Cannabis Film Festival, James Hutson was the all-around creator of the independent film Dark Harvest, starring himself and the iconic Cheech Marin. During the conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with James about what drove him to want to make a cannabis crime thriller, how he was able to convince Cheech that now was the time to return to the cannabis genre and the differences in cannabis cultural acceptance between the U.S. and his native Canada.

Just in time for 4/20, The Green Rush team has a very special episode for all of our dedicated listeners! With Lewis out at the Cowen Cannabis Conference in Los Angeles, Anne solicits the help of Nick for a very special interview with music and cannabis royalty, Ziggy Marley! Ziggy has been very busy so far in 2018, putting the finishing touches on his new album ‘Rebellion Rises’, which is set to be released worldwide on May 18th, and is getting ready to embark on a North American tour in support of the new record. Before he hits the road, he sat down with The Green Rush team to discuss his new album, what it’s like growing up and being part of a family so closely associated to the cannabis culture in the U.S. and how he talks to his own kids about cannabis.

This week on the Green Rush, our hosts talk with the CEO who literally turned the cannabis industry on its head in Kevin Murphy, CEO of Acreage Holdings. Last week (week of 4/9) Kevin and Acreage Holdings announced that former speaker of the House John Boehner and former Mass Governor and the VP candidate for the Libertarian Party in 2016, William Weld to their Board of Directors. Founded in 2014, Acreage Holdings (formerly known as High Street Capital Partners) has the most diverse portfolio of any company in the American cannabis industry, with cultivation, processing and dispensing operations across 11 states with plans to expand.  During their conversation, Lewis and Anne discuss with Kevin how he was able to help evolve Mr. Boehner’s views on cannabis, the role Speaker Boehner and Governor Weld will play on the Acreage board and Acreage Holding’s strategy for building out its portfolio of disparate mix of brands.

This week on the Green Rush, our hosts talk with the most well-known name in cannabis media in Ricardo Baca, the Founder and first marijuana editor for The Cannabist. Back in 2013, when The Cannabist first launched, Ricardo became an instant celebrity with outlets like The Colbert Report and The New York Times covering his appointment as the first cannabis editor at a major American newspaper, The Denver Post. During their conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Ricardo about this vault into cannabis fame as well as the documentary Rolling Papers, which covered his work at the The Denver Post, how cannabis becoming more synonymous with mainstream culture and why Ricardo thinks 2018 will be the “year we figure out social cannabis consumption.”

On this week’s episode of the Green Rush, Lewis and Anne are joined by Ben Kovler, Founder and Chairman of Green Thumb industries (GTI). Since launching GTI in 2014, Ben has built the company into one of the premier players in the medical cannabis space, with a world class team of cannapreneurs helping lead operations at 26 licensed facilities across five highly regulated U.S. markets. During their conversation, Ben and the Green Rush team chat about his family’s roots in the bourbon industry, the importance of branding in the cannabis space as well as the difficult challenge all cannabis entrepreneurs face in terms of managing the finances while also leveraging entrepreneurial risk.

This week on a very special episode of the Green Rush, Lewis and Anne are joined by the literally the biggest name in cannabis,  NBA legend- and cannabis CEO, Al Harrington. Not a user during his playing career and finding inspiration from his grandmother Viola, Al discovered the benefits of CBDs upon retirement, turning to medical cannabis for pain relief and inflammation issues. Recognizing the business opportunity that medical cannabis presented, Al dove headfirst into becoming one of the most public cannabis entrepreneurs in the industry. During their conversation, the Green Rush team and Al discuss how his work ethic in basketball prepared him to become a successful entrepreneur, how he was able to change former NBA commissioner David Stern’s mind on the medical benefits of cannabis and the hypocrisy of alcohol endorsements and sponsorships versus cannabis.

“It’s not as easy as you think.” On this week’s episode of the Green Rush, Lewis and Anne chat with long-time cannabis advocate and now cannapreneur Kris Krane, Co-Founder and President of 4Front Ventures. The Green Rush team explore Kris’ cannabis roots and his journey from activist and advocate to thriving cannapreneur during this week’s conversation. We touch on a number of topics including having to compete against the “Johnny Come Latelys” to the cannabis industry, what he thinks is going to happen in NJ and what that means for the rest of the Northeast and his advice for the young entrepreneur that wants to get into cannabis.

On this week’s episode of the Green Rush, our hosts welcome iAnthus Capital CEO and Co-Founder Hadley Ford into their podcast realm. Since launching the company in 2013, Hadley has built iAnthus into a major power player in the rapid cannabis industry, helping the business expand rapidly across the United States. During their conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Hadley about how family connections helped steer him towards the cannabis industry, iAnthus’ recent acquisition of the NY Cannabis company Citiva Medical and how Hadley was able to support himself while hitchhiking across America and Europe after being kicked out of the University of Rochester.

This week on The Green Rush, Lewis and Anne had the pleasure of speaking with New York State Senator Liz Krueger, one of the greatest advocates for cannabis in the New York state house. Senator Krueger represents the 28th District, which encompasses the Upper East Side of Manhattan and is the primary sponsor of The Marijuana Regulation And Taxation Act, which she first introduce back in 2015. During their conversation, The Green Rush and Senator Krueger touch on a number of issues facing cannabis in New York state including the current status of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, what New York can learn from other states about how to properly introduce and regulate cannabis and how the Senator’s stance on cannabis reflects her work around poverty and social justice issues.

This week on The Green Rush, Lewis is flying solo as he sits down with the CEO of one of the fastest growing cannabis media properties, George Jage, CEO of DOPE Media. DOPE Media is a cultural cannabis media company that was founded in 2011 and has quickly become one of the most recognized brands in the industry in large parts due to its magazine, DOPE Magazine, and its events like the DOPE Cup and DOPE Industry Awards. In this week’s episode, Lewis and George discuss George tea industry roots, what it takes to build an elite conference or trade show and what DOPE Media has in store for the future.

This week on The Green Rush, Nick is back in the host chair as he fills in for Lewis as he and Anne chat with  David Sutton, the President & COO of NanoSphere Health Sciences. NanoSphere is a biotech company that has the first and only commercialize nanotechnology platform that essentially allows for the precise dosing for cannabis. During the conversation, Anne and Nick get into the weeds (pun intended) with David on exactly what nanotechnology is and how it is making waves in how cannabis can be delivered as well as the importance of understanding proper dosing when it comes to cannabis consumption.

In honor of Valentine’s Day - we are taking a moment to step back and reflect on the love we have for this industry…. Just kidding. We are doing another “Host Full” episode! In this episode Anne & Lewis take stock - so to speak - of what’s going in the great state of New Jersey, what’s really “different” in the California market and how language is so important when we are talking about cannabis advocacy.

This week The Green Rush team is joined by Associate Producer Nick Opich as they welcome the President of VividGro, David Friedman. David is veteran executive with a track record as a thought leader in the indoor agriculture and cannabis industries.  During the conversation, Lewis, Anne and Nick discuss with David a number of subjects including David’s introduction to the cannabis industry, whether cannabis farming can be done in a “green” way and how sunny California will affect his lighting business.

This week The Green Rush team welcomes into the studio Medicine Man Technologies’ Chief Cultivation Officer, Josh Haupt. Most well known for his grow strategies and line of nutrients, Josh has literally written THE book on cannabis cultivation called Three A Light, a comprehensive guide detailing all the steps from beginning to end to maximize your yield. During the conversation, Lewis and Anne chat with Josh about his introduction to growing cannabis, the medicinal benefits of the plant and what Josh would tell The Donald and Jeff Sessions about cannabis if he got the chance to sit down with them.

On this week’s episode of The Green Rush, Lewis is riding solo for his one-on-one conversation with Jason Cranford, Founder of Flowering H.O.P.E. Foundation and South Park Farma. Jason is one of the nation’s leading developers of medicinal cannabis in the United States and is the creator of the strain Haleigh’s Hope, designed to treat children with epilepsy. During their conversation, Lewis and Jason discuss his impetus for developing the Haleigh’s Hope strain, Jason’s role in helping Georgia pass its medicinal marijuana legislation and the benefits of medicinal cannabis vs. traditional pharmacological drugs.

Today on Green Rush our Hosts are joined by Nick Kovacevich and Ben Wu from Kush Bottles. Nick is a seasoned entrepreneur who has built several successful businesses, including Kush Bottles, a leading compliant packaging solutions provider for the legal cannabis industry, where he currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer. Ben’s background covers a broad range of industries including manufacturing, distribution, branded consumer products and packaging.

Today on Green Rush our hosts are joined by California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher about the legalization of Cannabis and the laws moving forward in the United States. Rohrabacher and Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, led a bipartisan group of lawmakers urging House and Senate leadership to continue state medical marijuana protections in any legislation to fund the government beyond Dec. 8, 2017. The Rohrabacher-Blumenauer provision prevents the Department of Justice from interfering with state medical marijuana laws. Rep. Rohrabacher said he hopes to convince Attorney General Jeff Sessions that good people do indeed sometimes smoke pot.

Today on Green Rush our hosts speak with Patrick McManamon, the managing director of Cannasure Insurance Services, LLC. Patrick is a leading voice at the intersection of cannabis and the insurance industry and has most recently been quoted in outlets like Bloomberg and The Cannabist on the Northern California wildfires that affected cannabis growers across the area. Prior to Cannasure, Patrick was the president of McManamon Insurance, a third-generation insurance agency.

Today on Green Rush our hosts speak with Adam Levin. Adam is the CEO of High Times and Founder and Managing Director and CEO of Oreva Capital. High Times is the most recognized brand in the cannabis industry – transcending the cannabis community and known to people outside of the community. In June of this year, Adam’s LA-based investment firm Oreva purchased the 43-year-old cannabis magazine High Times in a deal valued at $70 million.

In this week’s episode of The Green Rush, Lewis and Anne speak with Oregon’s own William Simpson, CEO of Golden Leaf Holdings (OTCQB: GLDFF) and Founder of Chalice Farms. During their conversation, William discusses Golden Leaf’s innovative, vertically-integrated platform, the national debate around opioids, why cannabis may be a potential solution and the challenges of taking over a public company in a highly regulated industry.

In this week’s episode, Lewis is flying solo for his conversation with one of the premier journalists covering the cannabis industry in Aaron Smith of CNNMoney. In their conversation, Aaron discusses how he pushed CNN to more broadly cover the industry, the federal government's influence on the burgeoning industry and some of the more interesting and innovative ways he’s seen entrepreneurs enter the marijuana market. The two even venture into how to talk to their kids about their work and touch on parental guidance when it comes to cannabis.

Broadcasting from the MJ Biz Conference in Las Vegas, Lewis and Anne speak with highly-respected cannapreneur Bruce Linton, Chairman and CEO of Canopy Growth Corp. Fresh off the announcement that Constellation Brands has purchased nearly a $200 million stake in his company, Bruce talks about the recent transaction, research in the pipeline and the differences between the U.S. and Canadian cannabis markets. And he answers the one question that he wishes the media would ask him!

In episode three, Lewis and Anne invite cannabis financial reporter Debra Borchardt onto the podcast to discuss why she believes one of the biggest stories of the next decade will be the legalization of cannabis. They also chat with Debra about the launch of her new venture - Green Market Report, how she talks to her kids about marijuana, being one of the first full-time financial reporters in the cannabis space as well as her brief appearance on one of the most memorable SNL sketches of the 90s.

In this episode Lewis and Anne speak with cannabis industry analyst and the founder/creator of 420 Investor and New Cannabis Ventures Alan Brochstein, CFA. Alan was the first investment professional to devote himself to publicly sharing his observations about the cannabis industry from an investor’s perspective. Together they chat with Alan about how investors can get better involved in the cannabis industry as well as the recent Constellation-Canopy Growth Partnership.

In this inaugural episode, Lewis and Anne speak with entrepreneur Alan Lien, Founder and President at Solis Tek, a vertically-integrated technology innovator, developer, manufacturer, and distributor focused on bringing lighting and nutrient products and solutions to commercial cannabis growers in legal markets across the U.S. to help growers 'grow better'.