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.
Jeffrey is a cannabis attorney and legalization activist with over 25 years of experience starting, operating, advising, and selling businesses. He is a leader in promoting pro bono advocacy for the rights of those impacted by anti-cannabis enforcement in the United States. Jeffrey holds a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a BA in Russian and East European Studies from the University of North Carolina.
Making Gourmet Cannabis Approachable. As a veteran laboratory researcher and passionate cannabis advocate with a family background in food and hospitality, Peter is the founder of Cardoz Blended Gourmet, a unique cannabis and hemp company that looks to demystify cannabis cooking. He recently released the first line of hemp derived live resin infused culinary oils and was a competitor on America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation Season 1.
Ben Burstein is LeafLink’s Strategist, helping manage industry research, mergers & acquisitions, and strategic partnerships for the company. He’s been featured as an industry expert both on-air (ABC, FOX, NPR) and through digital channels (Cannabis Business Times, MJBizDaily, St. Louis Business Journal, Santa Fe Reporter). Prior to LeafLink, he worked at Citi Equity Research and Tuatara Capital. Ben is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
After closing his award-winning nightclub INSERT COIN(S), Chris founded RESET, a consulting firm focused on innovation in entertainment and nightlife in Las Vegas. He was asked to lend his operational insights into the development of regulations for consumption lounges in 2017. After five years of working with multiple jurisdictions, government officials, and local stakeholders, Nevada passed AB341 allowing for the development and operation of cannabis social-use lounges. Today, partnered with THRIVE CANNABIS MARKETPLACE, Chris looks to expand the reach of the cannabis industry with a food and beverage driven entertainment venue attracting non-endemic markets from 40M tourists visiting Las Vegas annually.
Sean Yoder is the co-founder of Aldertine Cannabis CFOs, providing world-class accounting management to the cannabis industry. He has more than 30 years of accounting experience, was a successful music industry entrepreneur in Los Angeles, and founded a successful non-canna accounting management firm in 2017.
Adam has 30 years of business, strategy and leadership experience in both Private and Public Companies. In 2021, Adam believed the timing and opportunity was right for him to bring his passion for business, innovative financing and entrepreneurial spirit to the Cannabis sector by creating funding products for all areas of this early stage, growth industry by founding FundCanna. FundCanna provides short term funding to all areas of the sector; cultivators, manufacturers, vendors, suppliers, distributors and retailers. In just its first year, FundCanna has underwritten roughly 500 files and funded approximately 250 unique files bringing much needed liquidity and financing solutions to the legal Cannabis industry.
Socrates Rosenfeld is the Co-Founder and CEO of Jane Technologies. After leaving active duty in 2011 as a U.S. Army veteran and Apache helicopter commander, Socrates turned to cannabis to re-acclimate to civilian life. Because cannabis wasn’t legal at the time in Massachusetts where he lived, he was forced to rely on the black market, where he couldn’t be sure about the quality of the cannabis he was buying. The frustration of that experience, coupled with the lack of access to cannabis for his fellow vets, led Socrates to co-found Jane Technologies with his brother Abraham.
John McLeod is the co-founder of Cloud Cannabis, the leading vertically integrated Michigan operator that curates high-quality cannabis products to help customers live healthier, happier and higher lives. Since launching in 2020, John has been instrumental in developing and opening Cloud’s nine retail stores throughout Michigan, and he continues to spearhead growth into new markets. In addition to retail, John plays a direct role in the licensing and expansion of Cloud’s 70,000-square-foot commercial grow facility in Kalamazoo and the 15-000-square-foot processing facility.
Daryl is a CPA that brings 30 years of multistate and local tax experience to the cannabis industry. In addition, he assists all hemp and cannabis vertical clients throughout the country with capital raise by preparing pitch decks and financial accounting. As Managing Director of Green Rush Accounting & Tax, Daryl's focus is on maximizing company profits while minimizing tax liabilities.
Wendy Bronfein is Co-Founder, Chief Brand Officer and Director of Public Policy at Curio Wellness. As a member of the executive leadership team, Bronfein drives the company’s legislative agenda across multiple states, oversees the Curio brand, and all corporate communications. Under her leadership, Curio Wellness has become Maryland’s leading medical cannabis company, securing 90% brand awareness within the first year of operations.
