Best Strageties Podcasts (2025)

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Introducing Singular: How Active's Modular Vape Platform Changes Everything ft. Alex Kwon 44:03

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4d ago44:03

44:03

What happens when years of iteration, engineering, and a unique understanding of the plant align? In cannabis, building hardware is walking a tightrope — precision, timing, and vision all matter. Singular, the latest release from Active710, connects that entire loop. While most will gravitate toward its sleek, modular design, the real story lies in…

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The Lyft Playbook for Cannabis: Building Trust Through Tech ft. Ashwin Raj 48:05

11d ago48:05

48:05

What happens when a Silicon Valley exec who helped Lyft rewrite the rules brings that same playbook to cannabis? This week we sit down with Ashwin Raj, CEO of LeafLink, to break down how disciplined tech thinking and first-principle strategy can reshape a fragmented industry. In this episode: • How Lyft’s regulatory battles mirror cannabis today • …

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Built for Consolidation, Guided by Icahn-Like Discipline, and Poised for Cannabis’ Next Iteration, ft Jared Maloof 46:45

18d ago46:45

46:45

Setbacks early on can reshape everything. They can alter your future strategy, shift your appetite for risk, and — if you’re patient — quietly set you up for success while others chase growth at any cost. As with any company, “figuring it out” is part of the job. And sometimes, that figuring it out happens faster than you’d ever hope. The challenge…

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Chris Ball: Betting It All — What It Really Takes to Build a Brand With Your Name on It: Pain, Patience, and Relentless Faith 56:26

25d ago56:26

56:26

Building something that lasts takes more than money — it takes self-belief, grit, and the willingness to keep pushing forward when easier options present themselves. Putting your name on it only adds to the weight — and the responsibility — to make it work. As with anything worth doing, there are difficult moments along the journey that demand a le…

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$28.4 Billion Dollar Hemp Industry Can’t Be Put Back in the Bottle ft Jim Higdon 47:52

1M ago47:52

47:52

California wants to ban hemp. Texas is protecting it. Spritz and Big Alcohol are lobbying to crush it. The enemy of my enemy is my friend? Not in the cannabinoid space. The hemp industry stands at a crossroads. With federal clarity still missing, states pulling in opposite directions, and Big Alcohol leaning on lawmakers, billions are at stake in h…

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Largest Medical Cannabis & Cancer Study Ever: Can These Findings Push Rescheduling? ft Ryan Castle 48:40

1M ago48:40

48:40

If you were given some of the worst news in the world, wouldn’t you expect your doctors to use every tool available? What if one of those tools could save millions of lives—and the science is already here? The world’s largest medical cannabis and cancer study—10,000 papers, ranked in the top 5% globally—shows overwhelming evidence that cannabis has…

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Strategy Truths & Lies, Mature Industries Already Know ft. Mitchell Osak 56:08

2M ago56:08

56:08

Cannabis is chaotic by design. Vertical integration forces operators to run six or seven businesses at once — then replicate that model across states with different regulations, all without economies of scale. It’s no wonder the industry feels messy. The bigger problem? Too many companies are chasing the wrong metrics and ignoring the lessons other…

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THC Is an Ingredient, Where Pharma, MSOs & Hemp Collide, ft. Zach Edge 43:08

2M ago43:08

43:08

THC is an ingredient. Cannabinoids will be treated like standardized inputs across pharma, licensed cannabis, and hemp—and the future winners are hedging until there’s clarity. What got you here won’t get you there. The next phase needs a new playbook: ops tweaks aren’t enough; strategy has to change. Near term, expect Schedule III to unlock e-phar…

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Sensory Science Unlocked, Beyond THC, Inside True Terpenes ft. Dan Cook 51:32

2M ago51:32

51:32

$8 billion in products hit shelves each year with True Terpenes inside. The real edge? Turning sensory science—backed by data—into products that connect and fill clear gaps in the market. We break down what cannabis can borrow from wine (shared language, guided discovery), where that analogy stops, and why toxicology and standards are the new trust…

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Dr. Greenhouse: The #1 Mistake Killing Your Plants ft. Nadia Sabeh 1:03:19

2M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

What if keeping the room a little too dry is killing your plants? Humidity—and the HVAC that controls it—drives plant health, but air isn’t uniform across the room. The fix isn’t more AC; it’s dialing VPD so humidity, lights, airflow, and irrigation work together. Get it wrong and you lose yield and fail tests; get it right and buds stay sticky, he…

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Richie Proud on the iAnthus Turnaround: Why Selling Arizona Fueled Core-Market Growth 55:05

2M ago55:05

55:05

What if the smartest growth move is cutting—on purpose? Turnarounds aren’t financial stories—they’re operational ones. Growth-at-all-costs is out. The new playbook: prune non-core assets, concentrate resources in high-return states, and speed the path from cultivation to checkout. This week we sit down with Richie Proud, CEO of iAnthus, to discuss:…

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Secrets Behind Failed Cannabis Builds: Where Every Team Needs to Look Now ft. David Fettner 49:36

3M ago49:36

49:36

Most cannabis facilities fail before the first wall goes up. Most assume it’s because of money — but they’re wrong. It’s because no one asked the right questions. The question you need to ask now is: Where should we be looking to set ourselves up for long-term success? Asking the right questions is critical — because decisions made for today can be…

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The ROI of Pre-Roll Automation: Scaling Quality, Reducing Labor, and Hitting 20K+ a Day ft. Shahar Yamay 39:00

3M ago39:00

39:00

Every investment is just an ROI calculator. Automation feels risky—until you run the numbers. It doesn’t kill craftsmanship—it scales it. Growing your pre-roll category usually means balancing sales growth with hand-filling teams to maintain quality. But what if you could do both? What if you could leverage best-in-class automation to hit your numb…

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Keep Your Eye on Ohio: Why California’s Failures Are Michigan’s Success, and the Global Cannabis Landscape ft. Hirsh Jain 56:44

3M ago56:44

56:44

What’s the real goal of a legal cannabis market? If it’s to replace the illicit market, create safe access, and drive tax revenue—then why is California, the world’s 4th largest economy, failing while Michigan is thriving? Despite California’s size and cultural dominance, cannabis sales are shrinking, cities are refusing to opt in, and the illicit …

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The Cannabis Titanic: The Reset Ahead, Matt Karnes on What the Numbers Say 43:04

3M ago43:04

43:04

Debt is coming due — and we’re approaching a point of no return. At this stage, it’s not if there will be fallout — it’s who survives it. The surface-level view of the cannabis industry hides deep financial issues that only become clear when you dig into the numbers. And that’s exactly what Matt Karnes has been doing for years. From cash flow strai…

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Organigram’s Competitive Edge: Paolo De Luca on BAT, M&A Strategy, and the Cannabis Long Game 54:43

4M ago54:43

54:43

Built to last. That’s not just a slogan — it’s a strategy. In an industry driven by short-term survival, the cannabis space often feels like a rollercoaster. Financial pressures and market volatility push companies to chase quarters instead of building moats. But what if you could play the long game? What if you could invest in domain knowledge, de…

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The Michelin-Star Experience? Gibran Washington on What Customers Actually Want 49:52

4M ago49:52

49:52

What if buying cannabis felt more like a Michelin-star dining experience than a traditional retail transaction? Where the staff doesn’t just sell—they guide, educate, and tailor every recommendation to how you want to feel. No guessing. Just clarity, confidence, and trust—rooted in science-backed evidence. That’s the vision behind Ethos Cannabis. W…

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AI in Cannabis Commerce Is Here — But Jane’s Doing It Their Way with Socrates Rosenfeld 50:02

4M ago50:02

50:02

AI is reshaping every corner of commerce — and in cannabis, where the pace is chaotic and change can be difficult, thoughtful integration is even harder. We’re in the middle of a digital transformation as profound as the rise of the internet. In a space where “speed and size” used to win, the new game is endurance. Because to finish first, you have…

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Trump, Texas SB3 & the Rescheduling Timeline: Jim Higdon on What Comes Next 48:46

4M ago48:46

48:46

Prohibition is dead — and Texas just proved it. The recent SB3 vote signaled the start of something much bigger. While hemp and cannabis operate in very different styles, both are ultimately pushing toward the same goal: a sensible framework for a one-plant solution. The how? I’ll leave that to people way smarter than me. But the genie is NOT going…

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The Hidden Weakness in Most Cannabis Operations — What We Heard at Benzinga 43:41

5M ago43:41

43:41

The cannabis shakeout isn’t coming. It’s already here. Operators are bleeding, investors are disappearing, and the old playbook is falling apart. After Benzinga, one thing’s clear: the winners will be the ones who specialize, control every cost, and have visibility into every part of their business in real time. What happens when you pull back the …

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Storytelling Is the Future of Cannabis IR ft Jesse Redmond 54:47

5M ago54:47

54:47

What if the most powerful investor pitch wasn’t a deck or a breakdown of earnings—but a story? Now, the idea of seeds in the ground to thriving plants is a tangible experience—one that finally captures the real narrative. Because in cannabis, the financials don’t always tell the full story. This week, we sit down with Jesse Redmond, Head of Investo…

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Fix the Process: Real Cannabis Manufacturing Tools & Optimization Techniques ft.: Murphy Murri 56:48

5M ago56:48

56:48

Most cannabis operators are reactive—drowning in checklists, flooded with data, and still missing the point. Compliance gets all the attention, while real operational signals—like handling variability and shifting process conditions—lead to execution gaps and reactive decision-making. Extraction process optimization is tricky, but when the actual r…

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Brett Puffenbarger: The Future of Cannabis Will Look Like This… and Yes, It Will Shock You 54:49

5M ago54:49

54:49

What if we told you the future of cannabis looks less like dispensaries... and more like the milk aisle? Everyone’s chasing growth, market share, and the next hot product — but few are asking the deeper question: What will the cannabis industry actually become? While cannabis is certainly disruptive, its future likely follows a few predictable path…

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No Exits, No Capital, No Bullsh*t: Seth Yakatan on Cannabis Reality 45:37

5M ago45:37

45:37

There’s no exits. There’s no cash. There’s no buyers. So what do you do? Batten down the hatches. Crush your market. Squeeze out the little guys who can’t compete — and wait. This week, Seth Yakatan returns to discuss the following: • How he’s seeing the board • Why cannabis can’t hit reset like other industries • What operators need to do right no…

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Where’s the Cash? Visibility, Inventory & Profitable Growth with Tyler Nielsen 54:40

6M ago54:40

54:40

"Cash strapped" might be the most heard phrase in the cannabis industry right now. So… where’s the cash? Without disciplined forecasting and visibility into true costs, growth is meaningless. Most companies aren’t failing from bad ideas — they’re failing in execution. That’s where cash leaks into missed forecasts, bloated inventory, and lost opport…

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Why the Industry’s Premier Brands Choose The Flowery — and What’s Coming Next in New York & Florida ft. Ilya Shmidt 45:00

6M ago45:00

45:00

Florida and New York are massive markets — but they’re still early. Everyone’s fighting for attention, trust, and long-term positioning. So how did The Flowery rise to the top and become the go-to partner for the industry’s premier brands? 710 Labs. Wizard Trees. Preferred Gardens. Doja Pak the list goes on. These brands are some of the most sought…

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Big Tobacco Is Moving on Cannabis, the Global Strategy Is Unfolding, and Deepak Anand Reveals Where’s Next 48:42

6M ago48:42

48:42

Big Tobacco knows cigarettes are dead. They’re sitting on cash, looking for growth — and cannabis is the obvious move. They’re no longer silently watching from the sidelines. They’re investing, expanding — some through public acquisitions, others through quieter plays. But one thing is clear: it’s no secret anymore. Big Tobacco is here, leveraging …

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Secrets Behind World-Class Extraction: How 1% Add Millions ft. Micah Anderson 59:42

6M ago59:42

59:42

Specialization is coming — and surviving will mean doing one thing better than anyone else. But that’s only the beginning. Getting there takes a relentless growth mindset: an obsession with stacking small operational wins — data, tech, genetics, process — to create massive separation over time. Extraction isn’t simple. And in a world of margin comp…

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If You’re Chasing Invoices in Cannabis, Listen to This ft. Brett Gelfand 50:18

7M ago50:18

50:18

You produced the product. They said they needed terms — “as soon as it sells, we’ll pay.” But the days kept going by… and nothing came in. In cannabis, collections are brutally difficult. With limited banking and tight cash flow, cash is king. So how do you know who’s trustworthy? Who’s a repeat offender? And where do you even go to collect? Sadly,…

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How Ayr Wellness Is Resizing for Reality — What Operational Efficiency Really Means ft. George DeNardo 44:30

7M ago44:30

44:30

It’s not about planting flags anymore. It’s about profitability. As the cannabis industry shifts from rapid growth at all costs to operational precision, hard decisions are being made. Which assets are sized properly? Where can we build a well-rounded, potentially profitable business given the realities of today’s market? And how do we make the rig…

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Why Cannabis Companies Must Face Reality, Make Hard Choices, and Follow the Data ft. AnnaRae Grabstein 48:29

7M ago48:29

48:29

While it feels like progress isn’t happening — and that may be true at the federal level — inside the industry, it’s a completely different story. The financial model you built, the regulatory category you operate in, the market dynamics, the consumer behavior — every one of those variables is in motion. Constantly evolving. And new competitors are…

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How Leafwell is Disrupting Healthcare: The Data Doctors Can’t Ignore ft. Emily Fisher & Dr June Chin 45:52

7M ago45:52

45:52

Can cannabis be the key to lowering healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes? Impossible, right? Think again. Leafwell has analyzed millions of data points and uncovered staggering, undeniable results—cannabis patients experience fewer ER visits, reduced prescription drug use, and better health outcomes compared to non-users. These findings …

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The Hard Thing About Hard Things: A Melody of Grit & Fortitude ft. Christina Betancourt Johnson 51:34

8M ago51:34

51:34

“It’s this crazy melody of things constantly happening, and you need an incredible degree of grit and fortitude. Even the best-prepared individuals with meticulous plans have to throw them up in the air like confetti. It’s an intangible feeling—until you get into it, you really don’t know.” This quote from Christina Betancourt Johnson perfectly cap…

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Premium Should Mean Organic: How Jetty Extracts is Leading the Clean Cannabis Movement ft. Ron Gershoni 41:45

8M ago41:45

41:45

Want to know what a company really values? Look at where they spend their money. In cannabis, where cash is a rare commodity, Jetty Extracts is choosing to invest in: Thousands of dollars each month in additional third-party testing that isn’t required OCal-certified cannabis, the cleanest on the market Most companies can’t even consider this level…

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We Don’t Want Legalization—We Want Decriminalization ft. Luna Stower 45:59

8M ago45:59

45:59

Cannabis started as a movement, not just a business. But as legalization expanded, the industry found itself caught between profit and purpose, struggling under massive overregulation and taxation. So how do we get back on track? For over 11 years, Luna Stower has been on the front lines—fighting for safe access, patient rights, and the end of proh…

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China Tariffs & The Next Era of Vapes: Impact on Supply Chains & Brands ft. Nick Kovacevich 52:54

8M ago52:54

52:54

Vaping is more than just oil and hardware—it’s a delicate balance of oil, terpenes, device performance, and supply chain efficiency. When one element is off, consumers notice, and brands suffer. With new tariffs on China and CCELL massive U.S. investment, what does this mean for the future of the vape industry? How do hardware vendors differentiate…

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Ecosystem Secrets: How Premier Cannabis Brands Scale ft. Nate D 43:19

9M ago43:19

43:19

Consumer buy brands. And in cannabis, California brands reign supreme because they uphold the most sacred element in any relationship—trust. Trust isn’t just about marketing—it’s about consistency, quality, and experience. The moment a brand breaks that trust, it loses everything. But expanding a highly trusted California brand into new markets isn…

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Why Cannabis Laws Are a Mess: The Politics and Bureaucracy with Jeff Guillot 52:59

9M ago52:59

52:59

"Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status." — Laurence J. Peter Nowhere is that more evident than in cannabis, where local governments resist change, operators scramble for clarity, and policies shift overnight. The biggest mistake cannabis operators make? Waiting too long to ask for help. Navigating ca…

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Stop Ignoring Germany’s Massive Opportunity – Europe is Coming! ft. Jamie Pearson 48:08

9M ago48:08

48:08

Are you considering expanding to Germany? The answer should be yes. As a brand or retailer, deciding where to grow is critical. California is the ultimate proving ground—fiercely competitive and filled with industry leaders. If you want to be a national player, is this where you make your mark? But what about Germany? A high-potential market, still…

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Navigating the Gray: The Legal Tightrope of Cannabis Risk & Compliance ft. Dan Shapiro 46:08

9M ago46:08

46:08

Everyone can agree—cannabis operates in a legal gray area. For starters, anyone in the industry is technically breaking federal law, as cannabis remains federally illegal. But for an in-house attorney at an MSO, the job isn’t just about navigating federal risk. It’s about understanding where gray meets red, balancing state-by-state regulations, and…

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The COO’s Playbook: Balancing Automation, Quality, and Efficiency Across 14 States at Verano ft. Trip McDermott 51:36

10M ago51:36

51:36

Standard Operating Procedures—every company has them. But how do you maintain consistency when a single change can ripple across 14 states, 15 cultivation sites, and 150 retail locations? Verano faces the challenge of creating continuity across a vast and diverse footprint. Each state presents unique regulations and operational nuances, yet the exp…

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She Hits Different: The Story Behind Cake's Explosive Growth ft. Chloe Kaleiokalani 47:41

10M ago47:41

47:41

Cake is hitting different. A hockey stick chart is every founder's dream—but what looks like overnight success often hides expertise built years behind the scenes. Thriving in California's intense, competitive cannabis market? That’s a different beast altogether. Pink, chrome, fur—Cake's branding immediately resonates with its target audience. A ma…

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How Do We Get to a $100 Billion Market? Growth Predictions, Market Consolidations ft Ben Burstein 1:00:25

10M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

Why does it feel like the hemp industry is exploding while regulated cannabis remains stagnant? The numbers may tell one story, but they don’t capture the whole picture. What would a combined cannabis and hemp market look like if both operated with fewer restrictions, better access to resources, and increased capital? This week, we welcome back Ben…

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Uniform Genetics, F1 Hybrids, Better Yields: New Age Cannabis Cultivation ft. Ralph Risch 46:18

10M ago46:18

46:18

F1 hybrid seeds are the cornerstone of modern agriculture, offering the least expensive and most reliable way to grow uniform plants with predictable traits. In the cannabis industry, however, growing from clones has long been the standard because true F1 hybrid seeds were unavailable—until now. Today, F1 hybrid seeds have arrived in cannabis culti…

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Hard Questions for Cannabis Founders: Tony Schor on Creative Capital and M&A Strategies 54:44

11M ago54:44

54:44

Partnerships are more critical in cannabis than in many other industries. The line between success and failure is razor-thin, and most companies don’t have the resources to recover from a failed “marriage.” One of the unique and beautiful challenges of the cannabis industry is the emotional connection founders have with their businesses. Much like …

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Chris Violas Breaks Down Blaze’s Software Infrastructure 52:02

11M ago52:02

52:02

Software is unique: when it works as it should, no one thinks twice about it. But the moment there’s a hiccup or delay, it becomes an issue. Building software that consistently runs seamlessly, while integrating additional features to create an “all-in-one” solution that’s easy to use? That’s nearly impossible. Kudos to Chris Violas and the Blaze t…

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First Mover Secrets with Colin Keeler: How Kiva’s Edibles Cover 80% of the U.S 44:51

11M ago44:51

44:51

Kiva's products now reach 80% of the U.S. population. Think about that for a second. It’s a testament to how far the cannabis industry has come and the progress being made. But, as with anything in the cannabis space, there are complexities, caveats, and unique challenges. For instance, in some markets, consumers can access products directly throug…

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Inside Curio Wellness with Wendy Bronfein: Maryland vs. Missouri Cannabis Markets and Crohn’s Treatment 44:22

11M ago44:22

44:22

Sometimes, you need to go the extra mile to make a point—like buying every medicine at CVS to show regulators that medicine can, and often does, have flavor. Sensible regulations should be rooted in logic, not outdated prohibition fears or baseless stigmas. If cannabis is legalized, it should be treated like any other industry, not one plagued by f…

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Post-Harvest Cultivation Secrets to Maximize Terpenes ft. Jack Grover 47:44

12M ago47:44

47:44

How many of you know that the post-harvest process is just as critical—or even more so—than cultivation for preserving terpenes and cannabinoids? While cultivation is often in the spotlight, the post-harvest process is essential to maintaining quality in cannabis. This week on The Dime, we sit down with Jack Grover, co-founder of Grove Bags, to exp…

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What is Tissue Culture, Genetic Resets and Breeder Rights Explained ft. Kristian Andreassen 46:46

12M ago46:46

46:46

Clones, tissue culture, gen-zero cloning—cultivation science dictates both the health, effects, and financial return on each cannabis plant. This week, we’re diving deep to understand how these techniques work and why they’re game-changers for the cannabis industry. We sit down with Kristian Andreassen from Conception Nurseries to explore: Gen-zero…