Canadian Cannabis Update

One of these things is not like the other! Trying to interview a man like Marc Emery has been one of the most frustrating experiences in my podcast life!  Trying to make sense of a man that so many people loathe, puts you into the crosshairs of public opinion, no matter the type of spin that you try to bake into it. Is Marc Emery all about the counter-culture movement, is he just a shit disturber, or is he just crazy? I recorded a 20 minute conversation with Marc, but decided that an editorial on the experience would be of more value to you than publishing the actual words he said. I hope you find this perspective interesting & I hope that you find it in you to be kind to one another.

Sure, we all shop at our favourite cannabis stores & we all have different reasons for choosing them. When you visit a larger retail chain, it can feel like that "personal touch" is missing..  Who are the people behind the brand & what's important to them? Today I spoke with High Tide's President & CEO Raj Grover who's chain of retail stores called Canna Cabana have recently acquired Meta Growth's retails stores called New Leaf.  If you buy legal cannabis, you would likely already know who the two chains are independently but now with the acquisition, they will become one & the biggest combined chain of stores in Canada. Raj talks about his own life, coming to Canada as an immigrant, working day & night trying to get his business off the ground.  He discusses other projects he's involved with & explains why they're important not just to Canna Cabana, but for consumers as well. It was nice to see the face behind the brand & to know that at Canna Cabana, they're real p

Today's interview is with Sybil Taylor, who is a seasoned marketer with well over 20 years in the alcohol & now the cannabis space.  Sybil is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for Medipharm Labs, she talks about her professional life & why her approach to marketing over the years has found success.  I've personally admired her work on social streams for about 3 years, trust me, she's really good! If you're a marketer, in sales, communications, or whatever.. This one's for you! Find Sybil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sybil-taylor/

This story is both serious & amazing.  My friend & co-worker Jay Chowdhury contracted COVID-19 & spent almost a month on life support.  It's easy to dismiss COVID, or perhaps be annoyed by it, but in my case, I know someone who almost died.  This is his story, about a month after being released from the ICU.  I hope you enjoy.

Imagine going to see your favourite band in an out of the way spot & finding the perfect little cannabis store serving concert goers?! Jake Neiman & his crew at POPCANN are re-fabricating sea cannisters to make retail more accessible to consumers, aspiring store owners entrepreneurs & more.  It's a brilliant idea, the question will be whether POPCANN can navigate the red tape that surrounds this restrictive industry. To find out more about POPCANN & their many conceptual ideas, check out popcann.com

Dr. Steve Webb, Social Media Intelligence Expert, Police Officer & Founder of Safe School Systems talks about keeping children safe in an electronic World.  Dr. Webb has also published a book called Education in a Violent World, that gives insights on what children & teenagers must deal with & what their parents may not be aware of.   "Education in a Violent World" is available on Amazon or visit: www.drstevewebb.com

With everything happening in the World these days, being at peace with yourself & the World has never been more important.  Richard L Haight joined me to talk about meditation & mindfulness.  Richard tells his story & describes his on-going journey as a meditator, teacher, author & martial artists.  Fascinating guy, I hop you enjoy! You can find out more about Richard here: https://richardlhaight.com/ https://amzn.to/382NSHa

Alex Halperin is a long-time journalist who made the transition into cannabis media after attending MJBizCon in Las Vegas.  Alex recognized how big the industry was becoming & that it had very little credible media coverage.   Alex & his team created WeedWeek, which covers cannabis news & information in California, Throughout the US & in Canada as well.  Alex talks about what it takes to stay in the cannabis media game, when so many others try to cover it only to walk away.   Check them out at www.weedweek.net WeedWeek's Alex Halperin - Cannabis Media Insights

Dan Lamorte is a young, handsome buck, who also happens to be a very funny comedian!  Dan also tells a pretty damn good story, so making this interview was a snap.  I asked a question, he responded with a crazy-ass story & I laughed.  Perfect! Like everyone else on the planet, Dan's life is currently on hold so there was no better time than now to have chat online, record it & play it for a world that's missing fresh comedy in their lives. I'm looking forward to watching Dan's career explode & hoping that one day, I'll be telling people over beers that I once interviewed the great & powerful Dan Lamorte!  (Don't let me down Dan!) Check him out: www.danlamorte.com & Insta/Twitter @danlamorte

Marigolds Cannabis Founder & entrepreneur Christina Michael joined me to talk all things cannabis retail!  Launching 3 stores in the GVA & 1 in the GTA, Christina should have a huge year ahead of her.  Christina talks about what makes a great shop, how COVID is effecting business & tells a bit of her cannabis story as well. Check them out: marigoldscannabis.com

Scott Riefler, Chief Science Officer of SorSe Technology talks about the good, bad & ugly truths of CBD/THC edible production!   Scott talks about & explains why misleading buzzwords & misleading packaging are bad for consumers!  He talks about why bioavailability should be a primary focus & why it's tricky to create consistent edibles with homogeneity, shelf stability & near perfect dosing.   Great insights, I hope you enjoy! www.sorsetech.com

You ever meet someone for the first time but it feels like you've known them for a long time? That's what it was like talking to Ngaio for this interview. He's just a cool guy with great insights who loves to communicate. Oh.. He's also really passionate about cannabis too! Ngaio talks about his life, his work & how he's felt about the cannabis space over the years. Video version of this interview (which includes comedy clips) can be found on our YouTube Page as well. Follow Ngaio on Insta & Twitter @ngaio420 #176 Weed Comedy & Activism, Int w Ngaio Bealum

Self described "Cannabis Queens", OBGYN Dr Leslie Apgar & entrepreneur/investor Gina Dubbe talk candidly about their struggles getting into the cannabis industry.  Together, they've opened up a legal dispensary called Greenhouse Wellness, they have a growing CBD product line & have coauthored a book about being women & business people in the cannabis space called High Heals. These guys are quite remarkable & tell a great story.  To find out more about Gina & Leslie, check out greenhousewellness.com

Jorge Rubio joined us once again to talk about what's happening in the the world of cannabis legalization in Mexico.  With COVID-19 having an effect on the Mexican Parliament, the bill to legalize cannabis has been delayed.  Jorge also talks about some of the regulations within that bill that will have an effect consumers, patients & business as well. To watch the video version of the interview, check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrDyXDaJaoMtFwsXsHi6xhA?view_as=subscriber

David Hyde & Barry Davidson are two well know & respected security & over all business advisors in the Canadian Cannabis Space.  Now they're on a mission to teach the rest of the world all of the lessons they've learned while being deeply involved in cannabis legalization in Canada.   David & Barry talk about the countries that they're focusing on, some of the lessons they've learned & even have a few laughs too. Don't forget to check out the video version of this interview as well @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrDyXDaJaoMtFwsXsHi6xhA

Darryl is an American cannabis activist who contracted COVID-19 while sharing a joint with friends.  He talks at length about what the early symptoms felt like & how the sickness because the focus of his life for 3 weeks.  While Darryl's story is fascinating, it also serves as a warning to others to be safe.  COVID-19 may change cannabis culture in the future if passing a joint becomes a custom that consumers begin shying away from.   Follow Darryl on Twitter @hemp4victory

Ask any cannabis OG what books inspired them & they'll very likely say "The Emporer Wears No Clothes".  Written by the late & legendary Jack Herer, the book has been read by millions & is just as relevant today as when it was first published in 1995.   Jack's son Dan & his business partner Bruce Dietzen joined me to talk about taking this book from paper to digital for the e-book release.  Originally scheduled for 420, the release has been pushed ahead due to circumstances & is already available on amazon.com. Dan not only talks about why the book still matters but also opens the door to his past, telling stories about his father as well. Classic conversation about a classic  book.  I hope you enjoy.

Trying something a little different!  Nic Nedin, host of The Flower Hour Podcast joined me via Zoom to drop some industry gossip, insights & humour.  We were also joined live from Ryan Roch inside his shop to get the latest on how retailers are staying afloat during the COVID outbreak.  We'd love to get your feedback on this style of podcast too.  Hit myself and/or Nic up & let us know what you thought! @cannupdatepod & @IAMNedin

Normally, when I speak to anyone at Materia Ventures, we talk cannabis & CBD, especially now that they're making a big push into Europe.  For this interview, I spoke with Managing Director Nick Pateras about the COVID-19 situation in the UK & surrounding countries.  Nick graciously spoke to me from his living room, right in downtown London.  We talk COVID, Cannabis & even managed to squeeze a little business chat into the interview. Follow Nick on Twitter @Nick_Pateras 

Kiely Beaudry is a well respected advocate & entrepreneur in the Canadian cannabis space.  She flew to Spain for Spannabis & ICBC knowing that it might be a bad decision but when she left, nothing was canceled.  When she arrived in Spain, everything changed.  Kiely tells her story of being stuck in a foreign country & trying to get home. Follow Kiely on Twitter @kieleybeaudry