Episodes

Few singer-songwriters have known such commercial success as Melissa Etheridge. Her decades-spanning career earned numerous awards and accolades while building a cult-like following of fans. She topped the charts with hits like I’m the Only One and Come to My Window, while staying true to her unique style and powerhouse vocals. Etheridge’s activism on behalf of gay rights, breast cancer awareness, and medical marijuana have further cemented her status as an icon and innovator. Now, she’s contin...

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a relatively unknown condition that affects millions of people across the globe. Those afflicted report repeated bouts of severe nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Many doctors believe the symptoms are caused by long-term, heavy cannabis use. For Alice Moon, a former edibles reviewer turned publicist, CHS changed her life. “I passed out in the front yard one day because I was puking so much that I couldn’t cling to the toilet bowl anymore.” Moon desc...

Lulu Tsui worked in technology for 15 years before joining the cannabis sector. She’s putting her skills to work in multiple canna- and alternative-health businesses, each somehow more intriguing than the last. As co-founder and chief experience officer for On The Revel, Tsui curates educational and networking experiences for those interested in the cannabis sector. On The Revel offers both in-person and virtual experiences to help foster an inclusive, informed industry in New York City and othe...

You’ve heard of the metaverse, but what is it? It’s not a specific place or piece of technology — it’s how we interact with technology. It’s a virtual world people can enter using VR, AR, PCs, or smart phones. Once inside, users can buy NFTs with digital currency, attend educational seminars, watch concerts, or chat with other avatars to build a virtual life. Amazon disrupted in-person retail shopping in much the same way technologists predict the metaverse will change the way people live their ...

The legendary guitarist Carlos Santana is renowned for his unique sound and a legacy of best-selling albums. He’s sold over 100 million records since his 1960s debut, winning numerous lifetime achievement awards, Grammys, and accolades. But this soulful musician isn’t resting on his laurels. He continues to tour, create new music, and headline a multi-year residency at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Santana has now expanded his brand to offer Mirayo, a line of...

Do you care if a company pollutes your favorite swimming hole? Does it matter if a corporation abuses its employees? If the answer is yes, you care about corporate social responsibility (CSR). It might sound like a dry topic, but CSR is impacting our lives every day in countless ways. In this episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, we sat down with Curaleaf’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Raheem Uqdah to discover why CSR is important and how corporations big and small are influencing the w...

Digital menu boards seem to be a standard in cannabis dispensaries. Customers can identify what they want, what’s available, pricing, potency, and maybe even some educational tidbits as well — all while waiting in line. Digital signage is more than a digital picture frame, it’s an opportunity to talk to the captive waiting room and tell a story. That story could include advertising, how-to tips, and even customer reviews. It’s an evolving tool to help retailers drive sales and connect with custo...

Building trust around cannabis has been a slow process. The U.S. Government spent billions of dollars over several decades smearing the plant and degrading users. Now it’s up to cannabis retailers and producers to change the narrative. The only way to do that is through transparent practices and education. New technologies are making this easier. In this episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, Isaac Balbin shares how his inventory and compliance software Parsl is using blockchain to create an unchangeab...

Cyber criminals can attack in unexpected ways. That USB charger in your hotel room could be a covert snake into your modem. A mysterious USB drive in the parking lot is more likely to be a hacker's key to your data than a lost drive loaded with bitcoin. Join the conversation as Cannabis & Tech Today managing editor sits down with Violet Sullivan, VP of client engagement at Red Point Cyber. Sullivan reveals concrete steps you can take to protect yourself from cyberthreats and how to respond if yo...

In this special episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, RAW Rolling Papers Founder Josh Kesselman sits down with Cannabis & Tech Today Editor in Chief Charles Warner. Kesselman shares why he’s so passionate about social media, how his papers are born from generations of craftsmanship, and why philanthropy is something everyone should get fired up about. This is one candid conversation you won’t want to miss. Cannabis Tech Talks are brought to you thanks to the support of Polyscience. Discover how Polys...

Fast-acting, consistent, flavorless edible technology exists. The best part? It’s backed by science! Join Cannabis & Tech Today Managing Editor Patricia Miller as she sits down with Ripple Co-Founder and Brand Director Missy Bradley to explore the emerging world of dissolvable concentrates. Bradley reveals why human trials are so rare in the cannabis industry and how Ripple is using data from its experiments to create unique, versatile dissolvables that can turn anything into an edible. Join the...

If used correctly, data analysis is a powerful tool in the retailer's arsenal. But gathering market insights in the cannabis space has historically been a fragmented, slow-moving process. That’s changing. In today’s episode, Cannabis & Tech Today Managing Editor Patricia Miller sits down with Kris Walker, president and chief commercial officer for Hoodie. Walker’s data platform gathers retail information from across the country to deliver next-day insights to its clients. It’s tracking millions ...

If you were launching a dispensary, what would be your primary concern? According to Gary Cohen, CEO of Cova Software, the majority of entrepreneurs are most concerned with compliance. He created Cova to meet that need. His point-of-sale (POS) software is one of the retail cannabis industry’s most popular interfaces. Cohen said his first priority when creating Cova was to provide retailers with a compliance-focused POS system that would be easy to learn and scalable. Along the way, Cohen spoke w...

Iconic boxer, entrepreneur, and cannabis advocate Mike Tyson has conquered the world of boxing, featured in several shows and movies, and launched a successful podcast, among other endeavors. In 2019, he launched Tyson 2.0, his own cannabis brand. In this episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, he and Tyson 2.0 CEO Chad Bronstein sit down with Cannabis & Tech Today Editor-in-Chief Charles Warner and staff writer Aron Vaughan to discuss the company’s product line, the future of the brand, and Tyson’s pas...

In today’s episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, content creator, actor, and comedian Brooke Burgstahler speaks with Cannabis & Tech Today Managing Editor Patricia Miller for the cover feature of the winter 2021 issue. Burgstahler recently launched Budding Mind, a wellness and lifestyle blog focused on holistic health. Cannabis has been a big part of Burgstahler’s journey, but her true passion is acting. As the host of World of Weed, she gets to flex her journalism and acting skills while providing qu...

Josh Koppel is an entrepreneur at the intersection of content and technology. In this episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, Cannabis & Tech Today Managing Editor Patricia Miller sits down with Koppel to discuss cannabis media. Koppel launched Wowee, a cannabis-focused media company in 2021. Wowee is offering a fresh take on cannabis content with shows like The Flower Hour and Sell High. If QVC covered THC products, Sell High would be the result. Koppel discusses why these innovative takes on cannabis ...

Hemp is one of nature’s most versatile plants. It’s food, fuel, fiber, and so much more. In this episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, Nicole “Cole” Mitchell joins Cannabis & Tech Today Managing Editor Patricia Miller to explore the expanding world of hemp textiles. Mitchell is the founder of Urbane Luggage, the first Black-woman-owned hemp luggage and apparel manufacturing brand in the United States. After a semester abroad studying marketing, Mitchell fell in love with travel, hemp, and sustainabili...

In today’s episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, discover the next big thing in cannabis investments. The Arcview Group CEO Jeffrey Finkle joins Cannabis & Tech Today Editor-in-Chief Charles Warner to discuss the evolution of the cannabis sector, what’s smart in investments, and how the industry will change as more markets come online. The Arcview Group is an event management and financial services firm leveraging thought leadership to facilitate growth in several emerging industries. Arcview advisors...

Cultivation and automation are becoming more and more synonymous. In this episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, Cannabis & Tech Today Managing Editor Patricia MIller discusses artificial intelligence, vertical cultivation, and all things soil to oil with Agrify’s Rob McEvoy. As vice president of customer success, corporate development, and government affairs, McEvoy has experience in every aspect of the industry. He explores the impact of machine learning on the agricultural industry and examines how ...

In this episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, PAX Labs COO Steven Jung discusses the intersection between innovation, technology, and customer satisfaction. PAX Labs is a global cannabis brand specializing in award-winning technology. Jung shares how he graduated from West Point and worked in business and technology before finding his footing in the cannabis industry. PAX is pioneering research into cannabis consumption methods and using its findings to create compelling new product lines. Its latest ...

How do cannabis chemotypes shape market access? What’s the FDA’s position on CBD as a consumer product ingredient? Listen in as Dr. Duffy MacKay shares what he’s learned as the senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at CV Sciences, a CBD company available in more than 7,300 retail locations. This business-focused discussion is adapted from a session at the Emerge Virtual Cannabis Conference. Are you still reading? Start listening and join the conversation around hemp-derived ...

There is so much to know about the world of cannabis. To enter this industry requires more than tenacity and passion, it requires an education in a topic that’s widely misunderstood. In today’s episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, Max Simon joins Cannabis & Tech Today Editor-in-Chief Charles Warner to discuss cannabis education. Simon is the CEO and co-founder of Green Flower, a cannabis education and training platform. The company is now working with 23 universities and community colleges across Not...

Michael Kauffman, director of the CLIO Cannabis Awards, leads this conversation with Berner, Killer Mike, and El-P. The prolific rappers and cannabis entrepreneurs explore how the two industries overlap and share some of their earliest cannabis memories. Co-Managers of Run the Jewels Will Bronson and Amaechi Uzoigwe add their insights in this exclusive CLIO Fireside Chat. Listen in to hear about the group’s origins, passions, and their view on the twisted politics of prohibition.

In today’s episode of Cannabis Tech Talks, hear from members of the Last Prisoner Project (LPP) as they explore criminal justice reform. Co-Founder Andrew DeAngelo shares what inspired the launch of LPP. Sarah Gersten, executive director and general counsel for the organization, discusses how legalization is helping advance equity and expungement in the industry. Yet, she notes, there was still a lack of focus on individuals incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis crimes. That’s where LPP found its...