The Elevated Businesses podcast is a behind-the-scenes look into the legal cannabis industry. BriAnne asks the tough questions while diving deep into cannabis operations, compliance, and technology. Join licensed operators, ancillary businesses, and cannabis technology entrepreneurs to discuss their challenges, solutions, and hopes for the future of the flourishing cannabis industry.
Who is the host?
BriAnne is the founder of Rocky Mountain Cannabis Consulting (RMCC), a woman-owned cannabis compliance education company that focuses on obtaining, building, and scaling cannabis businesses. RMCC was established in 2017 after BriAnne identified a need for support to develop and scale a compliant cannabis business. BriAnne is an industry veteran that oversaw 20+ cannabis licenses and served as a compliance officer for the leading point-of-sale system during the infancy of the adult-use legal market.
Entrepreneurship & Women in Cannabiz w/ Desiree King of DK CannaConsulting
Raised within the cannabis community on the hippie communal plant life path. Desiree’s mother was an advocate and educator of plant medicines. Her father was a skilled craftsman in addition to cultivating both hemp and cannabis. Desiree was your typical hippie GenX stoner youth - traveler, followed "The Dead", trim-igrated around the Northwestern region until she finally pursued a business degree to engage in the average 9-5 grind in such industries as Commercial Development and Renewable Energy. And then Desiree was diagnosed (and beat) cervical cancer. For years, she lived a double life working a corporate, non-cannabis job and her off-hours paving my path into the 215 medical cannabis landscape. As a relentless cannabis advocate for others, she found herself advocating for her own life. Desiree’s experience within the Renewable sector birthed the fondness she now has for legislative bodywork and the commencement of laws for Cannabis within the State of California. As a Cannabis Compliance and Operational Analyst Specialist, she bridges compliance, systems, and processes through her intuitive approach to culture, technology, and cannabis governess. From evaluating and condensing operational overhead to regulatory body compliance framework and policy-making, Desiree drives home compliant operational success in an often complicated cannabis business landscape.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
12:00 Medical to Adult Use Transition
15:40 Challenges in Starting A Cannabis Consulting Business
18:30 SOP vs Playbooks: What’s The Difference?
26:20 Steps to Begin Your Cannabis Consulting Business
45:00 Unpacking California Cannabis Challenges
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmcc_cannaconsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-cannabis-consulting
Subscribe to Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TaI1xJHpRgvTXT92Jfv4W?si=HTTsEiO3Tq6FdhBlWju9Uw
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw
Learn More RMCC's Certification: https://academy.rmcc.io/certification
9 Jun 2022
Internal CannaTech & Building a Massachusetts Vertically Integrated Cannabis Company with Gregg Weiss of Happy Valley
Gregg Weiss is the VP of Technology and Strategic Growth at Happy Valley, a vertically integrated cannabis company in Massachusetts. Gregg has been involved in the cannabis industry since 2016 and has lived in Florida and Colorado. He previously started and sold a mobile app development company and has been involved in several start-ups.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmcc_cannaconsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-cannabis-consulting
Subscribe to Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TaI1xJHpRgvTXT92Jfv4W?si=HTTsEiO3Tq6FdhBlWju9Uw
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw Learn
More: RMCC Compliance Operations Certification https://academy.rmcc.io/certification
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
8:00 Challenges in Cannabis Technology Evaluations
19:25 Happy Valley's In-House Custom App
23:50 Unique Features in Happy Valley's Custom App
27:25 Lack of Consumer Education
32:40 Passion For Solventless Hash
40:28 Words Are Important
44:00 Gregg's Hopes For The Future
2 Jun 2022
Winning A New Jersey Cannabis Business License with Michael McQueeny of Foley Hoag LLP | Elevated Businesses #8
As counsel in Foley Hoag’s national Cannabis Practice, Mike has provided trusted counsel to start-ups and multi-state operators alike on issues associated with legislative/regulatory development and compliance. Michael has assisted clients in drafting and securing competitive state cannabis permits, having worked on winning applications in multiple states. Michael counsels clients on complex issues of regulatory compliance, including advising companies on regulatory considerations associated with anticipated mergers and acquisitions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmcc_cannaconsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-cannabis-consulting
Subscribe to Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TaI1xJHpRgvTXT92Jfv4W?si=HTTsEiO3Tq6FdhBlWju9Uw
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw
Learn More RMCC's Certification: https://academy.rmcc.io/certification
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
5:10 Attorney Advice TransitioningTo Cannabis
13:30 New Jersey Cannabis Regime
18:50 Product Diversity & Retail Square Footage
25:40 Breaking Down The NJ Licensing Process
35:00 Licensing Process As A Beauty Contest
53:00 NJ Licensing Recap
26 May 2022
Cannabis, Leadership, The Military, & Extreme Ownership with KJ Saffold of Red Ball Express
KJ Saffold is a decorated US Army Combat Veteran, a graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a Georgia Tech EMBA candidate. KJ brings high-level executive leadership, strategic planning, distribution logistics, IT management, and proven operational excellence to the cannabis industry. In addition, he is a fierce advocate for social justice, social equity, and veteran medicinal cannabis use. In August 2021, Illinois awarded his company an adult-use dispensary conditional license.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmcc_cannaconsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-cannabis-consulting Subscribe to
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TaI1xJHpRgvTXT92Jfv4W?si=HTTsEiO3Tq6FdhBlWju9Uw
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw
Join RMCC's Social Equity Incubator Program: https://academy.rmcc.io/social-equity-incubator-by-rmcc
Timestamp
0:00 Intro
14:00 The Start of the Cannabis Journey
17:50 Leadership is a Philosophy
33:04 Obtaining a License in Illinois & Michigan
48:31 Improving Social Equity Programs
56:15 KJ's Wishes For The Future of Cannabis
12 May 2022
Standardize & Scale Through Compliance Software w/ Dede Perkins of ProCanna
Dede Perkins, Co-Founder and CEO of ProCanna, joined the cannabis industry in 2013 as a member of the application team that won one of the first competitive vertically integrated applications in Massachusetts. After that, she helped win cannabis licenses in New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Arkansas, North Dakota, and Nevada. A regulatory specialist, Dede is passionate about combining compliance with operational excellence; safe, standardized products; empowered employees; strong company culture and brands.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
6:03 Solutions ProCanna Solves
13:20 How RMCC & ProCanna Work Together
15:05 QR Codes & Record Retention
21:35 Best Practices For Staying Update On Regulations
32:02 Inconsistency between Medical & Adult Use Programs
38:37 Dede’s Wishes For The Industry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmcc_cannaconsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-cannabis-consulting
Subscribe to Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TaI1xJHpRgvTXT92Jfv4W?si=HTTsEiO3Tq6FdhBlWju9Uw
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw
Free 40-minute compliance operations masterclass: https://academy.rmcc.io/audit-workshop
5 May 2022
Solving Complex Compliance Problems with Rose Elliott of Komplyd
Rose Elliott is the co-founder and CEO of Komplyd, an API-first cannabis compliance-as-a-service platform. With over two decades in engineering and product, she is bringing her experience of delivering large scale platforms and complex compliance initiatives at companies such as PayPal, Netflix, UpWork, and Tenable to the cannabis industry. Her passion for health and wellness led her to the cannabis plant and ultimately to the industry where she is committed to making cannabis compliance work.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
4:20 Cannabis The Disruptor
6:10 Komplyd Solving Complex Problems
10:25 What is an API?
18:32 Compliance Teams in Mature Markets
22:58 Increase Complexity With Federal Legalization
28:00 POS Payment Systems Risks
37:00 HIPAA Requirements Dispensaries Must Know
40:20 Komplyd Solving Complex Problems
44:42 Rose’s Hopes For The Industry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmcc_cannaconsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-cannabis-consulting
Subscribe to Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TaI1xJHpRgvTXT92Jfv4W?si=HTTsEiO3Tq6FdhBlWju9Uw
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw
Free 40-minute compliance operations masterclass: https://academy.rmcc.io/certification
BriAnne Ramsay invites guests each week to bring you the latest news in cannabis while diving deep into operations, policy reform, compliance, and technology.
28 Apr 2022
Making It In The Emerald Triangle with Brittany Massaro of Humboldt Logistics
Brittany Massaro is the Compliance Director for Humboldt Logistics, representing 45 farms around Northern California, including some distributors, manufactures, and retailers. She is transitioning into an ownership position in a vertically integrated distribution and cultivation center throughout the State of California, and is based in Humboldt County and Los Angeles.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmcc_cannaconsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-cannabis-consulting
Subscribe to Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TaI1xJHpRgvTXT92Jfv4W?si=HTTsEiO3Tq6FdhBlWju9Uw
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw
Free 40-minute compliance operations masterclass: https://academy.rmcc.io/audit-workshop
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
5:23 What was Prop 215?
7:38 Transitioning from Prop 64 to Prop 215
10:26 Unique challenges in Humboldt
12:00 Free the Plant
13:47 Cannabis Appellations
15:11 Consumer Education with Sungrown
16:20 Quality Will Survive
19:45 Consultant’s Responsibilities to Clients
20:25 California Distributor Problems
27:54 Changes Are Coming
29:00 Stopping Cannabis Taxes
35:32 Conflict of Local Govnorence
39:23 Farmers Turning in Their LIcenses
41:28 Humboldt Satellite Surveillance Program
43:30 Regulate Cannabis Tomatoes
47:00 Britt’s Wishes for the Industry
21 Apr 2022
Launching Colorado's First Delivery License with Ari Cohen of Doobba
Happy 420! In this special episode, BriAnne has a conversation with Ari Cohen, a Cannabis Operations Executive & Entrepreneur, Co-Founder at doobba - Colorado’s 1st Social Equity Business & Cannabis Delivery Company.
Ari brings in-depth knowledge from his global executive experience in Cannabis, Restaurant, Bakery, Retail, and Airport industries. He has held leadership roles at BellRock Brands, Dixie Brands, Le Pain Quotidien, OTG Management, and Danny Meyer’s Union Square Café and launched infused product manufacturing operations in Canada and 6 US states.
If you are dreaming of starting your own cannabis delivery business or seeking a social equity license in your state. You don't want to miss this episode.
Apply for RMCC's Social Equity Incubator Program: https://academy.rmcc.io/social-equity-incubator-by-rmcc
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:32 Innovation as a Weapon
4:49 Launching Doobba
7:15 Nuances in Colorado Delivery Model
14:40 Licensing Fees
16:13 How to Qualify for Social Equity
23:45 Preparing for 420 & Partnerships
26:15 Future Expansion
28:07 Ari’s Hopes For The Cannabis Future
30:55 Applying Global Experience to Cannabis
34:20 Building Operational Standardization
37:42 Collaboration Over Competition
41:00 Fearful Decisions
47:00 Building Customer Loyal Brands
14 Apr 2022
Security Risks & Solutions with Chris Eggers of CC Security Solutions
Chris Eggers, Founder & CEO of CC Security Solutions is an experienced former law enforcement officer with the Oakland and San Francisco Police Departments. He has a deep understanding of cannabis compliance, and law enforcement operations and capabilities. Mr. Eggers is an increasingly relied upon and trusted resource within the cannabis community and contact for various California and national media outlets on cannabis industry security matters.
Learn more about RMCC:
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw
Free 40-minute compliance operations masterclass: https://academy.rmcc.io/certification
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
4:31 Cop to Cannabis Security
7:08 Reputation is Currency
11:23 Trust a Cop?
14:59 Local Law Enforcement & Cannabis Knowledge
17:40 Cannabis is Not the Gateway Drug
21:41 Security Problems & Solutions
24:37 Is Insurance Your Blind Spot?
34:52 Legacy Risk vs Licensed Risk
38:44 Sergeant Says No to Cannabis Businesses
41:36 Surveillance Requirements
42:00 Transportation Security
50:00 When to Implement Proactive Measures
54:53 Chris’s Hope for the Industry
5 Apr 2022
Maine Operators Fighting Back in Policy Reform with Matt Bayliss of Garden of Gelle
Matt Bayliss is the Founder and CEO of Gele, a licensed adult-use brand, currently cultivating 800 square feet of canopy in the great state of Maine. Matt has been an active participant and advocate of cannabis culture since 1992, and has been cultivating in regulated markets for over ten years. BriAnne and Matt unpack how unique the state of Maine is in their cannabis policy, the hurdles Matt has overcome in becoming a licensed operator, and what Matt hopes for the industry going forward. Matt mentioned the advocacy group he is a part of, the Maine Cannabis Industry Association, learn more here: https://www.mainecannabisindustry.com/
Learn more about RMCC:
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBysW0XMCO5lUvgy1xk2RYw
Free 40-minute compliance operations masterclass: https://academy.rmcc.io/certification
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to Matt
2:13 The Writing on The Wall
5:07 Caregiver vs Licensed
7:00 Scaling with Quality
9:43 Policy Work in Maine
14:50 Metrc is Not Synonymous with Quality
20:05 Strategies to Improve Policy Work
29:37 Matt’s 3 Wishes for The Industry
37:42 Is Interstate Commerce the Solution?
42:00 Matt’s Life Philosophy with the Plant
47:00 Closing Hopes for the Industry
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