Latest CannaInsider episodes

Banking is one of the thorniest problems for the cannabis industry in the US. Here to tell us how he’s creating a solution to this problem is Dan Roda of Abaca. Learn more at https://www.goabaca.com  Key Takeaways: Dan’s background in law and how he came to start Abaca An inside look at Abaca and how it's providing a safe banking platform for US cannabis businesses  What dispensaries can expect when using Abaca The current state of merchant processing in cannabis and how Dan believes that will evolve over the next few years The most common questions clients ask Dan States that Abaca is currently operating in and where Dan sees the company expanding Abaca’s capital-raising process Where Dan sees the cannabis financial services market heading in the next 3-5 years and some emerging trends to keep an eye on

While hotels have prohibited cannabis use for years, it’s now considered a benefit many guests are demanding. Here to tell us about it is Matthew Singer of tökr, an app that creates a personalized cannabis experience based on individual preferences. Learn more at https://www.trytokr.com  Key Takeaways: Matthew’s background in cannabis and how he came to start tökr  An inside look at tökr’s premium cannabis delivery marketplace How COVID-19 is affecting the cannabis environment in California and beyond How the hotel industry’s stance on cannabis use is changing in the US Ways in which boutique hotels are leading the charge for on-site cannabis use from trusted vendors Cannabis consumer behavior in hotels and what’s trending right now Matthew’s opinion on California’s black market problem and what needs to be done to fix it Why brands have a hard time telling their story in dispensaries and how tökr is working to solve this Where tökr currently is in the capital-raising process

It’s no secret that achieving a truly targeted effect is the holy grail of the cannabis industry, but how close are we to making this a reality? Are designer cannabis products on the horizon?  Here to help answer this is Chris Emerson, co-founder and CEO of a unique company known as Level that’s working to disrupt the cannabis industry with products precisely tailored to every individual and every occasion. Learn more at https://www.levelblends.com  Key Takeaways: Chris’ background in chemistry and how it led him to the cannabis space An inside look at Level and its mission to provide a tailored cannabis experience to every patient and consumer How Chris’ extensive background in science allows him to think about cannabis products differently than most entrepreneurs in the industry Why Level sources its oils from strains high in CBD, CBG, and THCV and how this enhances the overall effect for consumers Chris’ efforts to find rare and unique cannabinoids for Level’s products and his discoveries to date A deep dive into Level’s tablinguals and pax vaporizer pods Chris’ work at Level determining new uses for cannabinoids, including everything from stimulants to hangover cures New and exciting initiatives at Level and Chris’ insight on what the cannabis industry will look like in the next 5-10 years

Is speed paramount when it comes to a good cannabis delivery service? Not according to Sava founder Andrea Brooks, who shares with us how she’s gained more customer satisfaction and larger order sizes than her much faster competitors. Learn more at https://www.getsava.com  Key Takeaways: Andrea’s background in cannabis and how she came to start Sava An inside look at Sava and its mission to provide the highest quality cannabis products for delivery in the San Francisco Bay Area How Andrea won the AVG Best Pitch Award and what about her presentation resonated most with investors What investors need to know about unit economics and basket size Common obstacles in cannabis delivery and how Sava has overcome these to get ahead of other services like Ease and MedMen Ways in which Sava has gained so many repeat customers Sava’s generous compensation for drivers and how this impacts the company’s overall success Where Andrea sees the cannabis drink category heading in the next few years Andrea’s conservative approach to growth projections and meeting investor expectations Where Sava currently is in the capital-raising process and Andrea’s goals for the years ahead

What will the cannabis industry look like in the next five years? CannaInsider host Matthew Kind reviews his past predictions and forecasts the five disruptive changes that will take place in the years to come.  Considering how many Matthew got right in 2017, you don’t want to miss this. Key Takeaways: Review of Matt’s previous forecasts from 2017 Trend 1: AI-assisted product selection to improve significantly Trend 2: Fintech meets Cannabis Trend 3: Cannabinoid drinks put a double-digit dent in the alcohol market share Trend 4: Cost of cannabis flower decreases 50 to 80 percent  Trend 5: Autonomous car delivery with biometric verification

Making dispensary customers feel welcome and informed the moment they walk into the store is vital, and the company that knows how to do this best is Seed Technology. Providing dispensaries with educational kiosks that help inform customers, Seed helps to achieve a customer experience that results in bigger purchases and repeat buyers. In this episode, Seed CEO Matt Cutone shares with us the incredible return on investment Seed is providing dispensaries across the US and gives us his insights on the future of interactive kiosks. Learn more at http://www.getseed.io Key Takeaways Matt’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Seed Technology An inside look at Seed, including how the company’s in-store displays work and the experience they provide for the customer How Seed helps dispensaries integrate interactive kiosks and the customization required Ways in which Seed ensures an engaging customer interaction with little drop-off Mistakes Matt sees dispensaries make with their interactive kiosks and how to avoid them How Seed’s kiosks lead to larger purchases and more loyal customers Matt’s insights on the future of AI and how it will improve educational kiosks with greater customization

With cannabis legalization in full swing, it’s easy to forget there’s a big difference in how legalization is unfolding between US states and countries around the world. Here to help us contextualize the difference between markets is Michael Mayes of Quantum 9, an expert cannabis consulting firm with one of the highest success rates in the industry. Learn more at https://quantum9.net  Key Takeaways: Michael’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Quantum 9 An inside look at Quantum 9 and its mission to help maximize the potential of cannabis cultivation, control, and dispensary businesses Tips on how to successfully pursue a cannabis brand license and the common misconceptions Michael sees among new clients Exciting new developments taking place in the Michigan and Illinois markets Illinois’ social equity program and what it means for cannabis businesses How Michael believes cannabis will affect alcohol market shares over the next few years How Michael is working to help states create systems that help both businesses and patients Where Michael sees cannabis heading in Illinois and beyond over the next 3-5 years

A big problem for cannabis retailers is how to re-engage once enthusiastic customers. CEO of Happy Cabbage Andrew Watson tells us how dispensaries are using his platform to rekindle customer relationships. Learn more at https://www.happycabbage.io  Key Takeaways: Andrew’s background in cannabis and how he came to start Happy Cabbage An inside look at Happy Cabbage, a data analytics and insights platform for the cannabis industry Ways Happy Cabbage re-engages previous dispensary customers with highly targeted, personalized messaging Analytic tools Happy Cabbage provides dispensaries that enable them to measure the success of their campaigns Generating customer excitement through experiential events Similarities between stripper economics and the economics of dispensary product placement Dispensaries currently working with Happy Cabbage and how they’re using the platform to re-engage their customer base Andrew’s experience with CanopyBoulder, a business accelerator and venture capital fund for the cannabis industry

If you’re concerned about the wildly fluctuating cannabis stocks, you’re not alone. But could there be a light at the end of the tunnel? Here to answer this is returning guest Alan Brochstein, founder of New Cannabis Ventures and 420 Investor. Learn more at https://www.newcannabisventures.com Key Takeaways: Alan’s background in the cannabis stock space and how he came to start New Cannabis Ventures and 420 Investor A 10,000 ft view of the cannabis stock space and Alan’s predictions for the future The meteoric rise and fall of cannabis and pharmaceutical company Tilray Stocks Alan is asked about most and where he sees them heading Companies creating shareholder value and how that can set them apart Popular challenges and opportunities discussed among cannabis executives Alan’s views on sovereign debt, class warfare, and other issues threatening the economy Where Alan sees hemp and cannabis laws heading in his home state of Texas