In this episode of Thinking Outside the Bud, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Jason Ambrosino, founder and CEO of Veterans Holdings. Jason shares his journey from Army officer to cannabis entrepreneur, discussing his personal experience with cannabis as an alternative to VA medications. He delves into the challenges of entering New York's cannabis market, the founding of Veterans Hemp Market, and his company’s mission to provide affordable, accessible cannabis products for veterans. Jason also offers insights into the current state of the New York cannabis industry, its rapid growth, and his strategies for staying competitive and adaptable in a dynamic market.
In this episode of Thinking Outside the Bud, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Max Majot, expert grower at Royal Queen Seeds. Max shares his journey into the cannabis industry, beginning with his early exposure to tribal cannabis cultivation in New Caledonia and his passion for the plant’s therapeutic benefits. He discusses Royal Queen Seeds’ innovative approach to cannabis breeding, particularly their focus on F1 hybrids, which offer greater consistency and quality in cannabis cultivation.
Max explains the challenges of maintaining genetic stability in an evolving market, highlighting the complexity of producing consistent cannabis plants for both medical and recreational use. He emphasizes the importance of technological advancements, like in-vitro storage and breeding programs, in creating standardized plants that meet industry demands.
The conversation also delves into global market trends, with Max comparing the differences between home-growing cultures in Europe and the U.S. He explores the future of the cannabis industry, predicting that research-based breeding will drive the next phase of cannabis cultivation, especially in the medical sector. Max concludes by discussing the shifting consumer preferences in cannabis flavors and aromas and how Royal Queen Seeds is adapting to meet these trends.
In this episode of Thinking Outside the Bud, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews David Kostiner, CEO and Co-Founder of Lumenary, and Robbie Schneider, Inventor and CTO. David and Robbie share the story of their innovative journey in the cannabis industry, highlighting the development of the Beam laser vaporizer—a cutting-edge device that leverages laser technology to offer a purer, healthier vaping experience. They discuss the challenges of pioneering this new technology, the meticulous process of prototyping and perfecting the product, and their strategy to position the Beam as a game-changer in the market. The conversation also touches on their plans for future product developments, the importance of safety in cannabis devices, and how they aim to revolutionize the industry with their technology-driven approach.
In this episode of Thinking Outside the Bud, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Harrison Bard, Co-Founder of Custom Cones USA. Harrison shares his journey from working at Amazon to diving into the cannabis industry, driven by a passion for innovation. They explore the evolution of Custom Cones USA, from its humble beginnings selling custom-branded pre-rolled cones to becoming a leader in the pre-roll and packaging market. Harrison discusses the importance of quality control, compliance, and innovation in creating a wide variety of products for companies of all sizes. He also delves into the technical challenges and advancements in the industry, the growing trend of infused pre-rolls, and the company's approach to developing new products that enhance the consumer experience.
In this episode of "Thinking Outside the Bud," host Bruce Eckfeldt welcomes David Zelinger, a board member at CLS Holdings and founder of Canis Major Partners. David shares his journey from being a chef to working in finance, eventually transitioning into the cannabis industry. He highlights the compliance-heavy nature of both finance and cannabis sectors and discusses the opportunities and challenges in the evolving cannabis market, particularly in New York. The conversation covers the importance of scalable systems and procedures, the volatility of the market, and the strategic positioning within the supply chain to mitigate risks. David also touches on how different states' regulatory environments impact the industry's growth and the potential future federal developments in the U.S. cannabis market.
Kyle Moffitt is the co-founder and CEO of STEM Cultivation. After becoming a medical marijuana patient in 2016, Kyle quickly experienced the pain of high prices, short supplies, and inconsistent quality shared by many patients across the market and realized that the cannabis industry suffered from a broken supply chain.
Steve Loveday, the Product Development Manager for Target Specialty Products, earned his Bachelors of Science from Michigan State University and has worked in the golf industry for the past 25 years. Steve spent 9 years working in golf course management and maintenance prior to honing his skills in plant nutrition, biostimulation and plant defense activation.
Clayton has over a dozen years of working experience with lawyers, engineers, biochemical engineers, investors, financiers, banks and companies for Cannabinoid and Terpene formulations. His skills and history working in distillery businesses has ideally positioned him to work with the largest molecular extraction companies in the world related to the newly expanded worldwide hemp market.
Trent is the CEO of 14th Round, a design and technology company building the best brands in cannabis. 14th Round offers integrated product development, product design, branding and manufacturing plus unrivaled experience in tuning the hardware to each brand’s unique consumable, to functionally elevate the brand while aesthetically differentiating the form factor.
Lisa Buffo is an entrepreneur and marketer with a passion for launching companies with experience in both the cannabis and technology industries. Lisa is the Founder & CEO of the Cannabis Marketing Association, a membership based organization focused on education and best practices for industry marketers with the vision of rebranding cannabis at the national level.
Dr. Jenelle Kim, DACM, L.Ac., is founder & formulator for JBK Wellness Labs. Dr. Kim is carrying on the medical knowledge and wisdom of her lineage. Dr. Kim is the first female in her lineage to hold the treasury of her family’s proprietary Bi Bong® formulas that have been passed down for centuries and the first to share them on such a large scale.
Jessi Rae is COO of CannaConnections and works to provide quality education and networking opportunities for the cannabis community. She believes continued education and research are keys to strengthening the cannabis industry. Jessi currently resides in Eugene, OR, and holds a Bachelors of Arts in History and English from Newman University in Wichita, KS.
Blackbird Founder, Tim Conder, believes that legal cannabis sales shouldn’t be limited to traditional brick and mortar. His company was founded to solve the logistics and supply chain headaches of cannabis companies, and today delivers products to consumers in Nevada and California in two hours or less.
Pelin Thorogood is a tech executive turned social entrepreneur who has made a career out of being at the forefront of emerging business trends and technologies. The potential for CBD-rich therapeutics to deliver significant health benefits has led Pelin to co-found Wholistic Research and Education Foundation, a public non-profit (501c3), dedicated to CBD research, education and advocacy, where she serves as President.
One of the founding partners of FUSE, an independent creative agency based in Toronto, Garo has a history of formulating marketing solutions and programs that deliver impact and results. He has helped lead FUSE to be a leading-edge agency, delivering groundbreaking solutions that exceed expectations of clients such as Ricola, the Las Vegas Convention Authority, the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, Canadian Tire, CIBC, Tim Hortons, Kruger and Tetley.
Joe Dolce was introduced to medical cannabis while writing Brave New Weed (Harper Wave, 2016). The reporting led him into the laboratories and offices of the above mentioned scientists and clinicians. Learning about medical cannabis and the body’s endocannabinoid system caused him to rethink everything he had been taught about the plant in specific and plant medicines in general, and it redirected the course of his working life.
Bill has over 20 years as a creative and business development professional. He is a creative thinker with the ability to see every side of a unique challenge. HIs unique approach allows him to maintain a 360° perspective on strategy, creative and technology. He has successfully applied his skills in pharmaceutical, consumer branding, film, digital, and entrepreneurial endeavors.
Moriah Barnhart is committed to changing state and federal cannabis laws. Moriah’s daughter, Dahlia, was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer at the age of two. Moriah had already been advocating for many years against the drugging of children and for increased parental rights in the care of American children.
NatureTrak, a company that has created a real-time compliance program and risk-free monetary system that is revolutionizing the relationship between the cannabis industry and banking. After being founded by Jontae James, the company is now disrupting the entire industry by being the only compliant banking solution and comprehensive platform.
