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.
Rob Mejia is an experienced brand and merchandise licensing agent, an Adjunct Professor at Stockton University in the Cannabis Studies Department, and the author of The Essential Cannabis Book: A Field Guide for the Curious and The Essential Cannabis Journal: Personal Notes from the Field. Rob has appeared on a number of podcasts and is a popular community presenter.
Brent leads the Scynce LED team focusing on marketing, brand building and achieving Scynce’s corporate vision. He joined the company in 2017 to compliment the strong engineering team that was already in place. Prior to that, starting in 2011, Brent was President of Noraxon, a biotechnology firm focused on improving human movement.
Carl Izzi is the Founder & Managing Director of ARSENL, a Miami-based agency focused on online marketing and ecommerce. ARSENL has helped cannabis brands including Mary’s Nutritionals, Mary’s Medicinals, Healthy Market, MD Natural Health and others build brand and ecommerce sites and run successful digital advertising campaigns across the U.S.
Born and raised in Hamilton Heights, NYC, Vladimir Bautista is a formidable advocate and leader in the cannabis space. He is the co-founder and managing member of Happy Munkey LLC, an internationally-known NYC lifestyle company that is synonymous with cannabis culture. Vlad is widely recognized for his deep relationships with the international cannabis elite and his successful experience in music, hospitality and event production.
Although his exciting career has led him to be involved in the fast-paced worlds of international real estate development, high-level banking, and cutting edge tech-investing, it is the cannabis space where Michael Sassano has always shined the brightest. Michael is well known as one of the original movers and shakers in this sector, celebrated prominently in both mainstream business and cannabis media for his contributions to cultivation technology and as an industry futurist with a proven track record of successfully predicting trends and policy directions.
Christine spent 20 years as a systems and database architect in tech before coming to cannabis. She is a social entrepreneur who has spent most of her adult life building businesses that creatively engage and employ the local communities that surround them. A history in technology, business consulting and entrepreneurship were part of the trajectory that led to co-owning cannabis businesses in both California and Oregon.
Jacob Dunn has over 15 years of experience in the cannabis space, ranging from cultivation to manufacturing finished products. He is the co-founder of Sow Eden Organics, a boutique CBD brand out of the greater Los Angeles area. Sow Eden is focused on creating small-batch, organic, high quality CBD products, including sublingual tinctures, luxurious topicals and facial products.
Lauren Forsch is the Founder & CEO of Popped.NYC, a startup that makes handmade, all-natural CBD body butter with a free side of plant education. Forsch is a member of Women Grow and creator of Cannabis Un-Anonymous, a NYC social club for members to speak freely about their health and their cannabis use without fear of judgment. She runs her business in LES where she resides with her husband, 2 sons and fur baby Lola, oh my!
