Innovators And Pioneers Of The Cannabis Industry

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. John Oram of NUG Inc. NUG is an Oakland-based, vertically-integrated cannabis company with strong historical growth and performance. From its cutting-edge technology to its award-winning products and dedication to community involvement, the company is comprised of true creators, innovators, and pioneers, taking pride in their craft in an organic and efficient style that sets the industry wide standard from seed to sale. The company was founded in 2014 and houses the largest cultivation operation in Northern California across three facilities, along with world-class R&D, extraction, distillation, and post-processing laboratories.

Dr. Oram 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. Dr. Oram. has a deep knowledge of Cannabis and the Cannabis industry. Co-founded CW Analytical Laboratories to establish standardized testing and certification protocols to ensure the safety and quality of medical Cannabis. CW Analytical Laboratories is now recognized as the most trusted analytical laboratory in California.

Food Safety In The Cannabis Industry

In this episode, we speak with Trevor Morones, the CEO and President of Control Point. They secured Control Point through U.S. Patent and Trademark Office the dot com was unavailable therefore they locked in dot consulting. That term is often spoken with a bitter taste due to the consulting world filled with billable hours and unseen results.

This led Control Point to be liaisons, where work is performed on the line or in the trenches to engage with teams. They discuss the big-picture challenges and needs of the cannabis industry as it relates to food safety, as well as the ideal as far as food safety regulations go, plus what lessons can we learn from other non-cannabis food safety controls industry, like the fresh produce or meat industry.

Food Safety In The Cannabis Industry

In this episode, we speak with Trevor Morones, the CEO and President of Control Point about food safety in the cannabis industry. When they secured Control Point through U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the dot com was unavailable therefore they locked in dot consulting. That term is often spoken with a bitter taste due to the consulting world filled with billable hours and unseen results. This led Control Point to be liaisons, where work is performed on the line or in the trenches to engage with teams. They discuss the big-picture challenges and needs of the cannabis industry as it relates to food safety, as well as the ideal as far as food safety regulations go, and what lessons can we learn from other non-cannabis food safety controls industry, like the fresh produce or meat industry.

Find out more about Trevor and Control Point at controlpoint.consulting/profile

Reducing Opioid Dependence With Cannabis

Tune in to the latest episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice!

Reducing opioid dependence with cannabis, and much more with Rocco Iannapollo from Tundra Restaurant Supply. Rocco is the Business Development Director at Tundra Restaurant Supply, now serving the cannabis industry as Cannabis Kitchen Supplies!

Tundra has served the commercial restaurant industry for more than 25 years. They talk about his background and experience prior to finding himself serving the cannabis industry, his reason for being in the cannabis industry movement, as well as the fact that the public is becoming aware of the opioids crisis, and how cannabis helps. Enjoy this deep dive into reducing opioid dependence with cannabis.

Differing Regulations For Cannabis Products Versus CBD/Hemp-Derived Products

In this episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by Edmond Torbati, of Founder/CEO of Label Choices. Label Choices is a leading label company that has deep roots with some of the industries most recognized labels. For more than a decade, Label Choices has worked to deliver the highest quality labels and the best possible service.

Label Choices is an environmentally conscious company that can provide your company with solutions to help minimize waste and lessen the impact on the environment. They speak about the differing regulations for cannabis products versus CBD/Hemp-derived products, and about some of the differences for those products and how that impacts an entrepreneurs experience in the industry.

Making The Cannabis Industry Bigger, Better, And More Sophisticated

In this episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by Patrick Rea, Founder of Canopy Boulder. He has a diverse background that includes M&A, strategic management consulting, venture finance, B2B media, e-commerce, CEO coaching, and entrepreneur mentorship. Canopy Boulder is a venture fund and accelerator focused on the cannabis industry. They speak about how they’re making the cannabis industry bigger, better, and more sophisticated, as well as what type of people or companies that Canopy Boulder helps.

Compliant Automated Retail Systems In The Cannabis Industry

In this episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice, we are joined by Tracy Maltby, Client Relations Manager at Grasshopper, based in Northern California, offering compliant automated retail systems in the cannabis industry, where customer solutions meet versatile business solutions through kiosks, lockers, and payments systems. We speak about his history and experience in the cannabis industry, as well as detailing the customer experience of Grasshopper Kiosks. We also touch on the progression of the industry over the years and how this will affect the future.

The Complicated And Ever-Changing Regulations Of The Cannabis Industry

NCIA Host Bethany Moore is joined by Michael Cooper, a leading regulatory advisor to the adult-use cannabis industry helping to understand the rules, the compliance, and risks. He is also Vice Chair of NCIA’s State Regulations Committee and also a brand new member of NCIA’s Policy Council.

They speak about the complicated and ever-changing regulations in the business, and how to handle them in the day to day operation, as well as how our actions are being judged, and how important that is for an industry like ours that is a new industry and still federally illegal is being perceived.

Michael is also co-founder and managing member of MadisonJay Solutions, founded by executives of a leading provider of compliance solutions for alcohol producers. Drawing on their experience in the alcohol industry as well as legal practice advising companies in a wide range of regulated and non-regulated industries on their compliance systems, MadisonJay helps clients navigate the complex web of ever-evolving regulations that face a nascent industry like adult-use cannabis.

The Ruling For Harborside Health

Today on NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by Rachel Gillette and James Mann, attorneys in the cannabis space based in Denver, CO, and New York who focus much of their work on issues related to section 280E of the IRS tax code and beyond. James B. Mann is a partner with the Tax practice group of Greenspoon Marder LLP. Mr. Mann has over 25 years of experience serving as a trusted advisor to a broad range of stakeholders in the energy and financial services industries. He counsels clients on the new changes in the tax law, as well as cannabis tax issues and cannabis tax controversy proceedings. Rachel Gillette is among the first attorneys in the nation to dedicate her practice to the cannabis industry. Since 2010, Ms. Gillette has helped marijuana/cannabis businesses with licensing and regulatory compliance, business law and transactions, contract drafting and review, tax litigation, corporate formation, and tax matters, including audit representation. She works with startups and entrepreneurs, investors, and ancillary industry businesses to help develop the cannabis innovation ecosystem, and is a zealous advocate for the industry. They speak about the ruling for Harborside Health, which is a very well known cannabis dispensary in northern California founded by the famous Steve D’Angelo, as well as if there will be appeals or further action taken.

Comparing The Legal Cannabis Market In The United States To Other Countries

In this episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice, hear from Zac Venegas, Chairman and CEO of Helix TCS, the parent company of BioTrack THC and Cannabase wholesale market. BioTrack THC’s technology enables businesses to track every plant and every fraction-of-a-gram of cannabis throughout the production lifecycle including cultivation, harvest and cure, quality assurance testing, and more – bringing transparency, accountability, and meaningful insights to cannabis operations. Learn about his experience working in other countries around the world and how they compare to working with the legal cannabis market in the United States. Additionally, Canada recently legalized cannabis for adults, and now Mexico seems to be prepared to legalize as well. How does this put the United States in a position where we are now falling behind in what will be a global market?

Helping Cannabis Companies Thrive In The Face Of Uncertain Regulatory Environments

NCIA’s Bethany Moore is joined by Rebecca Berry, Account Executive with Würk, a provider of payroll and HR solutions. Würk exists to help underserved businesses fortify, comply, and thrive in the face of uncertain regulatory environments. Designed specifically for the highly regulated cannabis industry, the Würk platform allows employers to protect and streamline their operations while providing an environment. They talk about what’s unique about the cannabis industry as far as our workforce and payroll needs. The company’s founder, Keegan Peterson comes from HCM Tech and has been a follower and proponent for regulating cannabis.

Extraction Experts And Their Extraction Methods

Today on NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by Sarah Hines, Production Manager at Proof Extracts. At Proof, they aim to make cannabis products more accessible and affordable. Proof first started making their CBD capsules and tinctures for friends, family, and other members of their medical collective and saw amazing results.

When they went into dispensaries though, it always shocked them to see the expensive prices for CBD. That when they decided they could do it better, and much more affordable. Proof products offer all the same benefits everyone is accustomed to with clean, healthy, cannabis-derived CBD at a reasonable price. We talk about how Sarah got into the business in for first place and the pros and cons of what exactly Proof does. As well as let her explain what it was like being in a “Cage Match.”

Implementing Cannabis Legalization

In this episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by Jordan Wellington, who is the Chief Compliance Officer with Simplifya, a developer of regulatory compliance software for the cannabis industry. Wellington is also vice president of government relations at VS Strategies and an associate at Vicente Sederberg LLC, a Colorado-based law firm that is one of the leading practitioners in the cannabis industry.

He served as the sole policy analyst assigned to implementing cannabis legalization on behalf of the Colorado General Assembly and Marijuana Enforcement Division and has advised governments from across the world on technical details of cannabis regulations. Jordan has deep expertise in advising clients on navigating the complex web of regulatory operational requirements and handling government relations.

NCIA Team Discuss 2018 Progress and Midterm Election Results

Tune in to this new episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice weekly podcast! This week, hear from Executive Director Aaron Smith and Government Relations Manager Michelle Rutter as we discuss important highlights for cannabis policy reform in 2017 and 2018, and analyze the results of the midterm election.

Electrical Engineering Planning For The Cannabis Industry

In this week’s episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice podcast, we are joined by Sunshine Design LLC’s Sonny Antonio. Sonny Antonio is an expert on the rule tariffs governing Electric, Gas, Phone & TV. He worked for PG&E, for over 24 years working his way through the ranks from the helper (ditch digger) to a welder to foreman to Management Director, before moving into the private sector. He left PG&E to run UDI/Tetrad where he was in charge for 4 years before starting his own consulting firm, Integrated Utility Consulting Corporation, the parent company of Sunshine Design.

Raising Awareness About Measure 3 On The Ballots In North Dakota

In this episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by David Owen, from the Legalize North Dakota campaign, where Measure 3, if passed, would make personal use, possession, and cultivation of cannabis legal for adults over 21 and even expunge certain marijuana convictions. Being just days away from midterm elections, David has been raising awareness about Measure 3 on the ballots in North Dakota. David talks about his upbringing in North Dakota and how passionate he is about Measure 3 as well as how confident he is that it will be passed in his beloved state.

NCIA’s Government Relations for Cannabis in Washington D.C.

Today on the show, we speak to Michelle Rutter and Michael Correia. Michelle is government relations manager for the National Cannabis Industry Association. Prior to working for NCIA, Michelle was a research analyst at a government affairs firm in Washington, D.C., where she analyzed and tracked legislation on numerous issues. Michelle graduated from James Madison University in 2012, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in History. During her studies, she held a year-long internship with the Virginia House of Delegates member Tony Wilt.

Michael Correia is director of government relations for the National Cannabis Industry Association. His focus is on raising awareness and building support for the cannabis industry’s issues on Capitol Hill. In addition, Michael works with other national organizations to increase the cannabis industry profile nationally. Prior to joining NCIA, Michael spent many years working on Capitol Hill, including working for Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), who retired in 2010, and the House Committee on Resources, serving three different Chairmen. Previously, he was director of federal affairs for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and senior project manager for the Committee for Responsible Federal Budget.

Paving the Way for Sensible Drug Policy for the Future

In this episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice weekly podcast, we are joined by Betty Aldworth, Executive Director of SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy). Betty joined the SSDP team in February 2014 as Executive Director and has since led the organization through its most substantial growth: the member base and campuses on which SSDP is present have doubled; staff and offices supporting those members have tripled; global presence has quadrupled; and as a result the policy change and education efforts members are leading have grown immeasurably.

Since 2009, Betty has specialized in community outreach, public relations, advocacy, and policy reform as a consultant to or staffer for cannabis related businesses and nonprofit organizations. She served as spokesperson and advocacy director for Colorado’s successful 2012 Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the collaborative committee responsible for legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana for adults in Colorado, and was the Deputy Director of the National Cannabis Industry Association in 2013, the organization’s fastest year of growth. Prior to her work in marijuana policy and medical cannabis, she was a volunteer leadership professional with some of Denver’s most well-respected nonprofit organizations, ultimately leading a team of 4,000 volunteers who contributed over 40,000 hours of service annually.

Protecting Cannabis Businesses By Providing Comprehensive Insurance Solutions

In this episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice, we are joined by Mallory Czuchra, Marketing Director at National Cannabis Insurance Services. They help cannabis cultivators, processors and dispensaries protect their business by providing comprehensive insurance solutions.

They work with cannabis business owners to review their exposures and provide insurance options to help them determine what is best for their business. We talk about insurance nightmares that she has experienced, as well as the regulatory differences from state to state.

Revolutionary Products For The Cannabis Community

Today on NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by Kevin Love. Kevin is the Director of Product Development at Cannabiniers, who produce a line of high-quality cannabis-infused products, including Brewbudz, Two Roots and Just Society. The vision behind Cannabiniers was to create revolutionary products for the cannabis community that are easily consumed and enjoyed as part of daily life.

The merging of cannabis with their products, delivered in a sustained and environmentally conscious way, invests them in the responsibility of caring for both their customers and the environment. Kevin talks about infused products and edibles and how they are becoming an increasingly popular market with cannabis consumers. As well as how the regulations are constantly changing from state to state when it comes to cannabis.

The Cannabis Industry Should Get Legal Support From A Cannabis Attorney

Today on NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by Rachael Ardanuy of RZA Legal. Rachel graduated from the Florida State University, earning Bachelor’s degrees in Business Management and Real Estate. Following graduation, she managed a corporate restaurant and obtained a real estate sales associate license in Florida. After a few years, Rachel decided to return to school and earned her law degree, graduating with honors for academic achievement and dedication to providing pro bono service.

During law school, she gained valuable experience as an intern at the Florida Supreme Court. Upon becoming a Florida attorney, Rachel practiced law in Jacksonville, Florida for a number of years in the areas of estate planning, probate, guardianship, family law, and civil and criminal litigation. During that time, she visited friends and family living in Colorado and, with her husband, decided it is where they wanted to begin the next chapter of their lives. They talk about some of the big reasons business owners in the cannabis industry should get legal support from a cannabis attorney, and how Rachel got into to the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Royalty, Real Estate and Conservancy

In this week’s episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice podcast, hear from three NCIA members right from the expo floor of NCIA’s #CannaBizSummit held July 25-27 in San Jose, CA. Guests include Jason Thomas of Avalon Realty Advisors, Inc., Afzal Hasan of CannaRoyalty Corp, Brittny Anderson of The Cannabis Conservancy.

Entrepreneurs For The Cannabis Economy, Cannabis Cultivators, And Excellent Customer Service

In this week’s episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice podcast, hear from three NCIA members right from the expo floor of NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit held July 25-27 in San Jose, CA. In this episode, hear from guests including Peter Vogel of Leafwire, Tara Croom of Bibbeo Ltd., and Yarrow Kubrin of Special Teams Consulting.

Cannabis Lifestyle, Advocacy, And Untapped Market Niches

Tune in to the latest episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice weekly podcast! We conducted interviews directly from the expo floor at our 5th Annual #CannaBizSummit held last month in San Jose. In this episode, hear from guests including Dr. Bao Le of BAS Research, Scott Rutledge of Argentum Partners, and Victoria Posh of APOP MEDIA.

Analytics And E Commerce Platforms

Tune in to the latest episode of NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice weekly podcast! Guests include Peter Vogel of Leafwire, Tamar Maritz of BDS Analytics, and Socrates Rosenfeld of Jane Technologies.

From Aeroponics To Tag, Test and Track To Radio Frequency

AEssenseGrows VP, Marketing Phil Gibson discusses aeroponics technology for accelerated growth in plants.

Applied DNA Sciences Director of Cannabis Business Development Gordon Hope talks about a new solution his company has for providing provenance for cannabis to allow interested parties and regulators to forensically track the origin of cannabis and its byproducts called CertainT. The system provides an end to end solution to tag, test, and track, all data points captured in a secure cloud-based system for easy access to dashboards and detailed reporting.

Finally, Ziel Managing Director Arthur De Cordoba discusses his company’s APEX radio frequency treatment process to reduce total yeast and mold count in cannabis while preserving potency, terpenes, and sensory attributes.

Getting A Cannabis Brand Recognized In Search Engines

We are joined by Buoyancy Digital’s Founder & CEO, Scott Rabinowitz. Buoyancy Digital is a Colorado-based management & digital media consultancy. Principals of the company have been engaged in the timely delivery of profit-building online advertising campaigns & management consulting services for over 20 years.

They have bought and sold over $300 million in multi-channel digital media. Bethany and Scott talk about the digital marketing challenges and pain points like paid advertising, Google and Facebook scrutinizing ads and rejecting them. Also about how any cannabis brand who wants to be responsible would handle getting a cannabis brand recognized in search engines to reach their intended customers.

Cannabis Policy and Hemp Policy Defined

This week NCIA’s Bethany Moore is joined by Samantha Walsh, based in Denver. Samantha is an expert in public affairs strategies and legislative policy serving the cannabis and hemp industry, and was also the co-founder of the National Hemp Association and currently sits on the Colorado Hemp Industries Association board.

Samantha’s clients include the Marijuana Policy Project, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and various hemp and marijuana companies ranging from premier edibles manufacturers, dispensaries and cultivation, to cannabis education and advocacy groups.

Process Manufacturing In The Cannabis Industry

Today on NCIA Cannabis Industry Voice we are joined by Daniel Erickson, Product Strategy Manager with Process Pro, who specialized in process manufacturing. With roots in custom software programming that date back to 1985, ProcessPro has grown to be a leading mid-market ERP software solution for the process manufacturing industry. Daniel has been with the company for 20 years and tells Bethany what it has been like working with Process Pro. He explains his story of how he got into the cannabis industry and where the industry is heading from here. As well as speaking on the current state of seed-to-sale.

Tracking And Reporting Seed-to-Sale

NCIA’s Bethany Moore is joined by Jeffrey Gonring, Director of Marketing and Communications at BioTrackTHC. Biotrack was founded in 2010 and became members of NCIA in 2013. They have over 2,000 locations using their commercial software, with offices in FL, CO, WA, and Hawaii. They dive into how Jeffery got into the cannabis industry starting from the watershed moment to how the company developed into what it is now.

The cannabis industry is highly regulated. Seed-to-sale traceability is a huge issue in our industry, and it’s required in states with legal cannabis. Bethany and Jeffrey dive into that process plus much more.