In this episode we are joined by Sayshu who has extensive experience in private and public markets.  We discuss how capital flows impact valuations, funding and investor mentality across all sectors with a particular focus on how SAFE Banking may benefit cannabis in the short and long run.  Thanks to Sayshu for joining us and sharing his insight Follow Sayshu on Twitter - https://twitter.com/sayshu_mm

In this episode we are discussing all things political & SAFE Banking - Election Results and what this means for Cannabis - SAFE Banking in Lame Duck - Broader Market predictions for 2023 - Strategies around SAFE and risk management

In this episode we are joined by Will Muecke who is Co-Founder and Managing Member at Artemis Growth Partners. Artemis Growth Partners is one of the largest and most active private investors in cannabis with $350M+ under management exclusively in cannabis. Will and his team have invested throughout the cannabis value chain including MSOs, Brands and producers in Europe. In this episode: - Getting started in Cannabis: Will's personal connection to the medical market - Early Deals: Green Thumb (GTI), Lord Jones, Clever Leaves and more - What does Artemis look for in Cannabis Investments? - Germany: Deep Dive into proposed regulations and opportunities - Capital Markets and the first German Cannabis Pubco - US Cannabis Investing: What are the most interesting opportunities? - Some of Artemis' Favourite Cannabis Companies Thanks to Will for joining us! Connect w/ Will:  Website: www.artemisgrowth.com LinkedIn (corporate): https://www.linkedin.com/company/artemisgrowth/ LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmuecke

Happy Election Day! In this episode we discuss recent deals, what we're watching for in the Midterms and how Cannabis & Tech are affected by changing attitudes of Regulators. Topics Covered: 1. P Diddy & Cresco Labs Deal 2. Key Election Ballots & Races to Watch 3. Elon Musk, Twitter & Verano + Vireo 4. Secular Rotation out of Technology Video - Cramer Melting down re: META - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er_9ZjiJD5Y&ab_channel=CNBCTelevision 5. Canopy Growth USA Thread re: is this a new mechanism? - https://twitter.com/LogicPrevails_/status/1585288412671737857 6. Germany's Legalization Plans 7. Macro Theory - Labour <> Housing <> Consumer Spending

In this jam packed episode we catch up on several key developments in the sector and share why we think US Cannabis has re-rated upwards into 2024 (but also discuss the challenges we face in getting there). We also make several predictions about the future of the industry. We Discuss: 1. Biden's Executive Actions - Why did he do this and what it means for the future - 2024 Predictions for further actions - How this changes the calculus for other politicians - Booker, Schumer & SAFE Banking Link: Politico Spaces on Rescheduling - https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1vOxwMLjgOgGB?s=20 2. Green Thumb & Circle K - What this deal means for the industry - How Biden's actions paved the way for this deal  - What's next? - Is the deal happening? 3. The Road to 2024 - Challenging fundamentals, sentiment & macro - Comparisons to the down cycle of late 2019 - Predictions for how big brands and US companies will get involved

In this episode we are joined by a special guest who brings a technical perspective. Charting Man Dan of The Chart Guys is a well known cannabis personality who specializes in technical analysis and chart reading. Dan is a veteran cannabis trader but also regularly trades broader indices and crypto. Dan is a wealth of honest information and brings an unbiased perspective on the charts. In this episode we discuss: - What does Biden's executive action mean for the market? - How can Cannabis Stocks break their current slump? - Supply & Demand - Where are we and how can we change that? Thanks to Dan for joining us and sharing his perspective. Please check out his links below for great free content Follow Dan / The Chart Guys On Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChartGuys The Chart Guys on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnqZ2hx679DqRi6khRUNw2g Free Intro to TA course: https://www.chartguys.com/trading-courses/7/technical-analysis

In a follow up to last week's bleak outlook on the industry we discuss thoughts on valuing the cannabis industry.  Some key topics discussed: 1. Fundamentals - how the headwinds of price compression make it difficult to value companies 2. Macro Factors - we are still negative but hearing some interesting mixed signals - Video Mentioned: Eric Johnston of Cantor on CNBC 3. Federal Legislative - the difficult of predicting SAFE+ - Video Mentioned: Cory Booker on SAFE Banking

In this episode we dig deep into the fundamentals and narrative surrounding the industry, analyzing the past and making some somber predictions for the future. We break our discussion into several parts: 1. History - how we got here and what we learned 2. The Transitional Phase we are currently in 3. Looking Forward - how we see the industry progressing from here We look at cannabis fundamentals in relation to capital availability, macro conditions and supply side considerations.

We are back! In this post-summer episode we discuss a topic that's often missing in investing discussions - when to sell your stocks. We discuss a recent loss and how it influenced thinking about cutting your losses. We view this topic through the lens of Macro, Sector and Company analysis. Thanks to Sayshu for joining us for a great conversation. Follow Sayshu on Twitter - https://twitter.com/sayshu_mm

We're back! In this market update we cover a wide variety of topics including: - Broader Market Rally (or headfake?) (Recession meme link) - Consumer Spending & Inflation - Short term market strategy - Cannabis Q2 earnings - SAFE Banking and Political Winds shifting - Brittney Griner and Biden's Hypocrisy  - Florida Rec 2024 Campaign

We're back with a double stacked episode! Our good friend Nick Gastevich joins us for the Q4 2021 + Q1 2022 quarterly review of all the big 5 MSOs. We discuss the overall cannabis market then dive into quarterly results plus strengths of weaknesses of each company and analysis of which is the most attractive at today's prices. We also discuss how well positioned each of these companies is for the current phase of our industry and where we see them going in the future. Thanks to Nick for another great and extensive review Connect with Nick: Twitter - https://twitter.com/CannaVestments LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-gastevich-75841346/ Family Office Website - https://www.vginvests.com/ 

In this episode the boys are back to discuss the macro picture, interest rates, inflation and the importance of recalibrating expectations. We discuss strategy, outlook and why we think cannabis is actually looking pretty good in comparison to other parts of the market.

In this episode we are joined by Kim Rivers who is CEO, Founder and Chair of Trulieve Cannabis Corp. Kim is one of the industry's most well known and respected executives. She has deep operational knowledge and a keen eye for detail. In this episode we discuss: - Doubling Down in Florida since 2019: what others missed - Customer Obsessed: How data drives high per store sales - The importance of Scale - Operations: What is Trulieve doing differently? - 2 big limiting factors in Cultivation Construction - Using automation to drive efficiency and stay flexible - Investments in robotics to “bring the plant to the worker” - Florida Adult Use: how big could the market be? - Milestones to getting rec on the 2024 ballot - Divestitures, Convertibles & Warrants…how to spot a shakeout - M&A: How Trulieve is positioned for the future A big thank you to Kim for joining us for a highly informative chat. Follow Kim on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rivers_kim

Whitney Tilson is a well known value investor with a long and varied past in financial markets. He joins us to discuss markets, value investing and how he got interested in cannabis stocks. We discuss: - How Whitney got started in investing - Being a Late 1990's "Bull Market Genius" - How that Bull Run compares to Today's - Getting religion by learning about Buffett and Value Investing - The Ups and Downs of starting his own hedge fund  - Market Timing: Indicators that Whitney looks for - What attracted Whitney to the Cannabis Sector - How the current rout in Cannabis compares to Tech in 2000 - The 3 things Whitney looks for in a winning company Thanks to Whitney for joining us for this fun and wide ranging discussion Sign Up for Whitney's Free Newsletter: https://empirefinancialresearch.com/newsletters/whitney-tilson-daily Follow Whitney on Twitter: https://twitter.com/whitneytilson

In this episode we are joined by Frank Perullo of Ascend Wellness. Frank is a Co-Founder of AWH and currently serves as President and Chief Strategy Officer. We Discuss: - Frank’s Background in Regulatory Affairs - Early Days of being a Cannabis Consultant in MA - Working with GTI, Tilt, Ianthus, Acreage along with mom & pop operators - Why is it so Difficult to Open a Dispensary in MA? - Genesis: Meeting Abner and Creating Ascend - Moving Fast: Why Ascend was able to win the Friend St Store in Boston - IL: Buying a Distressed Cultivation Asset - Deciding to Double Stack to be ready for Adult Use - NJ: Doing a Deal after Everyone Had Looked at it - Ground Game: Finding Great Retail Locations by Knocking on Doors - How’s the New Jersey Market? - Changing Canopy Sizing based on Projected Supply - Entering PA via acquiring a CR license - Second Mover Advantage - Customers: Value vs Premium and Inflation Pressures - Why Should Investors choose Ascend? Thanks to Frank for joining us for this very fun and informative interview

In this episode we discuss the complexities of investing across any asset class right now. From commercial real estate to cannabis, investors are facing tough questions about the future, especially in the context of inflation and rising interest rates. As delve into some of the uncertainties and examine reasons why Q4 and Q1 were so tough for operators.

In this episode we update our Fed Party analogy to ask: where are we now? What's next? Where is the opportunity? As the broader market gets crushed we discuss what is happening, how stocks are being repriced and how cannabis will look in comparison.  Link: The Fed on Inflation & Rates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugBKSiTL0IU&ab_channel=BloombergMarketsandFinance

We're back! After a long road trip we share our thoughts, takeaways and changes in strategy after a very productive Benzinga. What did we see? What did we learn? What are the best investment opportunities right now?

In this week's episode we discuss Burn Out. As sentiment continues to be depressed and the macro environment looks ugly it is easy to feel down and out on cannabis. In this episode we discuss ideas and strategies for handling and avoiding burn out.

In this episode we discuss balancing short term catalysts for cannabis with an ugly macro picture. We also look out to 2024 and discuss how the industry will look, with multiple attractive markets open and a presidential election approaching. Videos mentioned: Fed will Crush Stocks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fiiib9oqTB0&t=1s&ab_channel=BloombergMarketsandFinance 

In this weeks episode we do a market update on: - the MORE act passing the house (again) - Mainstream recognition and momentum building - CAOA and SAFE possibilities - New Mexico starting legal sales with a bang - Listener Question re: Schwazze  - Cresco x Columbia Care Merger thoughts We also discuss how the macro effects of inflation, supply chain issues and accelerating rate hikes might break the economy. We talk through how cannabis might behave in a recession and why it may not be all bad for the industry.

In this episode we go back to where it all started – the Canadian cannabis market! We are joined by Everett Knight who is Executive Vice President at the Valens Company. Everett has a very interesting background as he was an institutional investor in Cannabis as early as 2013. He has toured over 200 cannabis facilities between the US and Canada, investing on both sides of the border. He experienced significant investment success in the early days before deciding to “get in the game” by join Valens. Because Everett has experience on both sides of the fence he has a unique perspective - the ability to think through the investment implications of the industry but have a view to the inner operational side of the business. Similarly, Valens has operations in both Canada and the US (including a new NASDAQ listing).  We have a very honest conversation about:  - what Canada looked like early on - why Canada is so challenging as a market - how Canada compares to California (and other unlimited license states) - Valens financial performance and outlook for 2023 - what will happen to Canada over the next 2 years? Thanks to Everett for joining us. You can follow him @ https://twitter.com/smallcapfund or contact Valens IR @ https://thevalenscompany.com/contact/

In this episode we discuss 3 categories of upcoming catalysts which could help propel the cannabis sector out of its current slump We break out these potential catalysts into state level changes, federal changes and potential M&A. We also discuss which changes will have a long term impact and which could be have short lived benefit. 

In this episode we dig through our listener mailbox to answer some wide ranging questions including: - New York giving first 200 retail licenses to Social Equity - Canadian LPs rapidly losing share to smaller producers; what does this mean for the US? - How do we like Curaleaf at these prices? - How will low share prices affect M&A? - When to sell your holdings? - What do we think about the Ancillary plays? - Why is this still an attractive industry? - How much upside is there in any one cannabis name? Thanks for the great questions and please keep sending them in! References: Trump vs Nancy Mace: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/11/us/politics/nikki-haley-trump.html Nancy Mace Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAKwodshrxU&t=183s&ab_channel=mindsetcapital 

As markets continue to give everyone heart burn we try to take a sober look at: 1) Emotions - how it feels to live through volatility 2) Risks to Limited License Operators - some negatives we are seeing 3) Fundamentals - why the thesis still makes sense, but how we are underwriting more conservatively

In this episode we dig into potential downside risks to the long term thesis of our cannabis holdings including interstate commerce, federal regulations, state regulations and price volatility. We also spend some time discussing why its so important to think about downside risk in this industry and sizing your portfolio appropriately.  Links / Articles Discussed: 1)The Cannalysts Hot Dog Stand Analogy: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheCannalysts/comments/st9a7l/the_hot_dog_stand_an_analogy/ 2) Oklahoma is a Cannabis Boom State: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/29/us/oklahoma-marijuana-boom.html

In this episode we are joined by a special guest who brings a different perspective. Charting Man Dan of The Chart Guys is a well known cannabis personality who specializes in technical analysis and chart reading. Dan is a veteran cannabis trader but also regularly trades broader indices and crypto. In this episode we discuss: - What is technical analysis? - Why is technical analysis useful? - How does trading on the OTC differ from Higher Exchanges - What are Dan's personal strategies with regards to cannabis trading - How does Dan decide to buy or sell a stock - Why does Dan think we are at the bottom of a cycle and what would change his mind Thanks to Dan for joining us and sharing his perspective Contact / More Information: The Chart Guys - https://www.chartguys.com/  Dan's Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChartGuys/videos

In this episode, we are joined by Hirsh Jain of Ananda Strategy. Hirsh does a deep dive on the Arizona market, which implemented its adult use program in a record 2.5 months after legalizing cannabis through a state ballot initiative in November 2020, generating more than $1.35 billion in sales in its first year. Hirsh walks through some of the reasons Arizona's program has had success, including its licensing structure, favorable tax climate and a high level of cooperation between state regulators and the industry. We also discuss what other states may be in a position to learn from Arizona's example, and implement successful adult use programs in the near future.

It's been only 2 weeks since our last market update and we have seen a very rough market shakeout. As we face down a volatile equity market we find ourselves asking fundamental questions about investing: Why is the market behaving so wildly? Where should we invest? What sectors will do well? How will cannabis weather the storm? We talk about key macro considerations like inflation and interest rates and discuss wheher they should factor into our investing decisions. We talk through our reasoning on why investors should still be interested in equities and why cannabis equities in particular are attractive. However, the increased volatility we are seeing means we may want to change strategies, allocations and cash balances going forward.

In this episode we are delighted to bring back our unofficial political correspondent, Jason.  Jason has extensive experience working on the ‘Hill’.  He was a member of 2 lobbying groups that advocated for safe and fair-trade issues and economic investment in American cities.  As well, he worked for an appropriations chairman who focused on financial services and trade issues. Jason recently wrote a detailed post on reddit titled ‘Understanding Washington: 2022 The Year Ahead’.   The post is well written with one of the main themes being: We must see the whole board and understand the position that our legislative agenda fits into the broader picture.  This is an important perspective when considering the impact politics plays in Cannabis.  We discuss this these along with the following topics: What events occurred that led to the removal of SAFE from the NDAA Money in the politics and where to look How the political catalyst landscape looks for 2022 What, if anything, we can predict about the years beyond this November’s election. The 3 Political Tests you should do to prevent getting caught up in the hype: (1) Political Test: Democratic Leadership is comfortable with a vote (2) Practical Test: There are a majority of votes in Congress (3) Bi-Partisan Test: there are votes from both sides of the aisle. Links: https://www.opensecrets.org/ Jason's Article - Understanding Washington: 2022 The Year Ahead (Click here for the article). As always, we hope you enjoy this episode.

In this 2022 Market Update we discuss the theme that "nothing has changed" since late last year and why that is both positive and negative for the cannabis industry. In particular we discuss macro factors such as raising interest rates and how that sets up a difficult investing environment for 2022. We also discuss industry specific issues and give some predictions for how they may play out. Read JP's outlook for SAFE banking - https://www.reddit.com/r/weedstocks/comments/s2cw14/understanding_washington_2022_the_year_ahead/ 

In this episode of our executive series we are joined by Greg Butler of Cresco Labs. Greg is Cresco's Chief Commercial Officer and has a wide ranging background including pharma, private equity and alcohol.  In this interview we discuss: - Greg's Origins: How he got started in cannabis and why he chose Cresco Labs - Alcohol vs Cannabis: how the industries are different and how they are similar - Competitive Threat: How Big Beer is tracking the cannabis industry - Industry Evolution: how cannabis is changing as it gets more competitive - Building a Cannabis Brand: what it means, what matters and what's changing - Financials: What will drive growth ahead for Cresco - Being the "Partner of Choice": How Cresco is positioning itself for the future of the industry - Investment and Acquisitions: What big CPG will look for when it comes time to partner with an MSO Thank you to Greg for joining us for this interview!

Welcome to 2022! As we ring in the new year we look forward and shares some of our predictions of what is to come this year. We discuss upcoming catalysts to get excited about, headwinds to be cautious about and discuss potential wild cards that could upend the market. If 2021 taught us anything it was that "Nobody Knows" and "Expect Volatility Ahead". PS - as we start a new year we are looking to hear your suggestions for what topics you'd like to hear about! Please email us your thoughts

Recapping the rollercoaster of the year that was 2021. Cannabis investors were hoping 2021 would be “The Chosen Year” with potential for significant federal change in the US. Instead we got whiplash and a lesson in humility. In this episode we rewind to the start of the year and discuss how key events played out. The end of the year is a great time to do some sober reflection on what we got right, what we got wrong and what lessons we can take to (hopefully) improve our game in the future. Some Key Topics: - Nobody Knows: the importance of humility and staying nimble - Everyone is Retail: how price action drives investor mentality - The Quiet Role of Short Sellers and their impact on cannabis - Increased Competition across key markets - SAFE Banking and betting on federal change We also discuss how the industry has evolved in 2021 and how we are thinking about our investments heading into next year. Thank you to everyone for listening and sending in great questions! We will see you all in 2022

In this episode we are joined by special guest Hirsh Jain.  Hirsh is the founder of Ananda Strategy, a consultancy that works with many of California's leading cannabis brands and retailers and has helped its clients operationalize some of the most successful cannabis facilities in the state. We unpack what’s changed since Hirsh’s last appearance.  We address the elephant in the room which is the carnage that’s happening to California operators and why the top MSO’s have shifted their posture to a wait and see strategy vs looking to establish a footprint in the golden state.  Although there is no optimistic sheen to put on California, there are certain steps the companies and municipalities are taking to defend the industry as well as attract investments.  During the second half of the episode, we look at what new states could learn from California to make their regulated cannabis roll out more efficient. As always, if you have any questions for our guest Hirsh, please reach out to him at  [email protected] or any questions for us please email us. Connect with Hirsh: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirsh-jain-b896b080/ Ananda Strategy - http://anandastrategy.com/

In this episode we are joined by Jarrett Annenberg of Newlake Capital Partners. NLCP is a new OTC listed public cannabis REIT who owns dispensaries and cultivation facilities across the US. Their largest tenants include Curaleaf, Cresco, Trulieve, Columbia Care and other single and multi-state operators. We touch on a wide variety of topics including: - Why a delayed SAFE banking will help Newlake grow its portfolio - History repeating itself: how expectations of SAFE in 2019 are similar to 2021 - The $3B capital opportunity and where Sale-Leaseback fits into the equation - Origins of Newlake: how the company got started by raising $90M in 2019 - Scaling up by merging with Green Acreage REIT - How NLCP raised $100M to go public in a soft equity market - "A Safer Way to Play Cannabis" - why larger investors liked cannabis REITs - Why investors should be excited about NLCP and its opportunity for capital appreciation Thanks to Jarrett for joining us! Jarrett on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrett-annenberg-8584474/ Newlake Investor Deck - https://ir.newlake.com/company-information/presentations

In this episode we are joined by Alan "The Maven" Brochstein. Alan is an extremely experienced cannabis analyst who has been covering the sector since 2014. He is co-founder of New Cannabis Ventures and founder of 420investor.  In this wide ranging conversation we discuss many different topics including: - State of the market: how AB sees the cannabis stock action compared to previous years - Cyclicality of Cannabis Stocks: How the pendulum swings to the extremes - Staying flexible: the importance of combining trading and investing mentality - Altria & Cronos: Why Alan thought (and still thinks) Altria should buy Cronos - Interesting opportunities in the market right now, especially with newer issues Thanks as always to Alan for joining us to share his insights Connect with Alan: Twitter - https://twitter.com/Invest420 420investor - https://marketfy.com/product/420investor/

In this mega-episode our good friend Nick Gastevich joins us for the Q3 2021 quarterly review of Cresco, Curaleaf, Trulieve, Green Thumb, and Verano (in that order). We do a deep dive into profitability, cash flow, brands, valuation and how we see the strengths and weaknesses of each company. We discuss how well positioned each of these companies is for the current phase of our industry and for the future post-uplisting. Thanks to Nick for another great and extensive review Connect with Nick: Twitter - https://twitter.com/CannaVestments LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-gastevich-75841346/ Family Office Website - https://www.vginvests.com/ 

What a difference 2 weeks makes! In this episode we discuss a few key themes around the biggest issues we are seeing in today's market 1) Narratives vs Reality - how the divergence creates opportunity for investors 2) Nancy Mace Legalization bill - what this really means and the effect its having on the market 3) $MSOS huge cash inflows and how we expect this to impact the cannabis stock market short term 4) Strategy - ideas on position your portfolio to play the ups and downs of cannabis volatility

In this episode (which was recorded on Fri Nov 5th) we discuss the rapid sentiment shift from "Depression" to "Euphoria" and why it is an excellent real-time example of the inefficiency of the cannabis investing market. We often discuss how our market behaves irrationally but in this episode we delve into the reasons why it is that way, examples of irrational behaviour and strategies to take advantage of these swings.

This week we are joined by fan-favourite Nick Gastevich (aka CannaVestments). Nick is an OG cannabis investor whose family office invested in GTI's first round in 2014 (and again in subsequent years).  In this episode we discuss: - General negativity in the cannabis sector - Schumer, SAFE, NDAA and federal politics - Q3 financial softness in key markets of PA/FL - Other headwinds which can make the short term choppy - Positive catalysts being overlooked including potential 2022 legalization in PA/OH/MD/MO/AK - Re-allocating your portfolio to account for tax loss harvesting - Owning smaller companies vs the biggest MSOs - Strategizing for SAFE vs no-SAFE banking Thanks to Nick for a great episode as usual.  Connect with Nick: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-gastevich-75841346/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/CannaVestments Family Office Website - https://www.vginvests.com/

In this (slightly late) episode we debrief a phenomenal MJ Biz conference including our takeaways, the negatives, the positives and our strategies for the coming quarters. JP October SAFE/NDAA Update - https://www.reddit.com/r/weedstocks/comments/qc4h27/understanding_washington_october_updates/ 

In this episode we talk about how we can "sharpen our swords" and focus on improving our investing abilities. We talk about mistakes we've made (and re-made), what we've learned and some of the easiest ways to work on your cannabis IQ, investing knowledge and research capabilities in order to (hopefully) reach better outcomes.

In this episode we’re joined by Sayshu Medicherla (@Sayshu_MM), the Founder/CIO of MM Fund.  He has extensive experience investing professionally across a variety of asset classes and strategies including public equities, venture capital, private equity, and credit. We cover two major topics today: First, we discuss different ways to approach investing in cannabis and why it’s important to ‘know what you own’ and understand that the people you’re following throughout various media outlets may not necessarily have the same investment style as you.  Sayshu also provides his insights on how he views investing through an institutional lens and how risk comes in various forms whether it’s liquidity, valuation, narrative shifts etc. We also discuss how he thinks about valuations in both a public and private market context. Second, we discuss the evolving brand story in US cannabis. The story so far has been one of ‘if you can grow weed, you can sell weed’ and the top operators have proven they can run profitable businesses.  However, as we look out a couple years, we look at what we feel will be the next battleground for cannabis companies, the battle of the brands.  Sayshu explains why he thinks this is a relevant topic for investors today, and how he’s trying to understand the brand strategies of the top companies. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email us. If you have any questions for Sayshu please feel free to DM him on twitter @Sayshu_MM.

In this episode we are joined by George Archos who is CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder of Verano Holdings.  In this interview we discuss: - Background: How George got started in the restaurant industry - What makes a restaurant successful and why its a good training ground for the cannabis industry - Verano Orgins: How the company got started by winning an IL cultivation license - Expansion Years: Building the base of assets rapidly over 3 years in MD, OH, NJ and NV - Importance of Culture: How George brought in highly motivated people from the restaurant industry to win in cannabis - 2018: Consolidation, Raising Capital and a false start in Florida - Legislative Change: Why George is focused on State level changes over Federal - The Harvest Merger: How this transformational M&A side tracked the company and hurt their footprint - First Mover Advantage: Why Verano staked its name on high quality indoor flower - Florida: Why Altmed was a great fit and why they choose to avoid participating in Florida's price war - M&A: Why Verano was so aggressive in AZ and PA to expand the footprint - Financial Performance: What happened to EBITDA margins from Q1 to Q2 and what we can expect longer term - Running Lean: Why 2008 was a key learning lesson that influence's the company to this day - The Future: Expanding the footprint, functioning like CPG - Buying vs Building Brands: Where the company is focusing its energy today Thanks to George for joining in for this in depth interview! Connect with George on Twitter: https://twitter.com/georgearchos 

In this episode we discuss the importance of admitting "I don't know" when it comes to investing in this sector.  We discuss how "I don't know" can be helpful for: - Taking a more cautious approach to building your portfolio - Federal change, the SAFE act and NDAA news - Selecting which markets are attractive - Evaluating headlines and social media - Managing your cash position  - Buying individual stocks vs the MSOS ETF We also discuss having a CIN meet-up at the upcoming MJ Biz conference in October The theme of this episode was inspired by a recent episode of Howard Mark's podcast the Memo which you can listen to here: https://www.oaktreecapital.com/insights/podcasts/the-rewind-us-and-them

In this episode we are joined by special guest, Jason, who worked in Washington D.C. for a House Appropriations Chairman and focused on financial services and trade issues. During his career in D.C., he was an integral member of two lobbying groups that advocated for safe and fair trade issues and economic investment in American cities.  He is still heavily involved in the political world and currently manages a program that focuses on developing unique financial products to support the development of infrastructure and investment in cities. Given his extensive experience on “the Hill’, Jason provides a political perspective on why he feels collective wisdom pertaining to federal cannabis reform may be misguided.  He explains why he remains bullish but with hesitation and why investors should proceed with caution as they try to unravel political lingo and process. We discuss at length the process of getting different types of bills passed into law, the recent addition of SAFE into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and finally the Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act (CAOA).  Jason explains why he feels the Democrats are more likely to stick to a social justice agenda when it comes to cannabis and will not give up the capital markets issue without getting social justice measures in whatever legislation moves forward. In short, this could go from a quick and easy protection for banking to a controversial package with many moving parts. We hope you enjoy this episode and as always if you have any questions feel free to contact us or Jason on reddit at CMDR1305 (https://www.reddit.com/user/Cmdr1305/). 

In this episode, we are joined with the guru of the golden coast Hirsh Jain! Hirsh is the founder of Ananda Strategy, a consultancy that works with many of California's leading cannabis brands and retailers and has helped its clients operationalize some of the most successful cannabis facilities in the state. In this action packed episode we try to further understand the California cannabis landscape and as always we look at both sides of the coin, the challenges and the catalysts.  Many of us understand the California cannabis market is ‘fragmented,’ but what does this truly mean from an investment perspective?  What are some of the major risks and challenges facing the cannabis investment landscape in California? How is a dialed in professional like Hirsh navigating the state and helping his clients avoid possible pit falls? What are the upcoming catalysts and how can we appropriately position our portfolios to win in this state?  Find out the answers to these questions and more in this episode. As always, if you have any comments or questions feel free to contact us at [email protected].  We love hearing from you and so do our guests.  Please feel free to contact Hirsh at [email protected] if you have any specific questions regarding California. Connect with Hirsh: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirsh-jain-b896b080/  Ananda Strategy - http://anandastrategy.com/