About Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis
Joint Session is your go-to source for the latest cannabis news shaping the New York market. Hosted by Herb Barbot, Esq., the first Director of Operations at the NYS Office of Cannabis Management, this podcast delivers expert insights, breaking developments, and in-depth conversations with the industry’s most influential voices.
From policymakers and legislators to business leaders, licensees, and advocates, Joint Session brings you exclusive interviews with those shaping the future of cannabis in New York and beyond. Plus, we keep you informed with key national and international cannabis updates. Whether you're an industry professional, an advocate, or just curious about the evolving landscape, Joint Session delivers factual, insightful, and digestible information to help you stay ahead of the curve. Tune in for high-level discussions, straight talk, and expert perspectives you won’t find anywhere else.
New York Cannabis: The Gloom, the Boom, and What’s Next
In the Season 3 finale of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot welcomes back Rick Bashkoff, CEO of Lit Alerts, to take a data-driven look at how New York’s cannabis industry has evolved over the past year. With cumulative sales surpassing $3 billion and the number of licensed dispensaries more than doubling year over year, Rick examines the progress behind the headlines and the challenges emerging as the market matures. The conversation explores shifting consumer preferences, price compression, the rise of micro-cultivators, the struggles facing social equity operators, and the continued decline of New York’s medical cannabis market. Rick also discusses the growing pressure on retailers, difficulties attracting investment, the persistent threat of illicit competition, and why stronger business operations are becoming essential for survival. Drawing on Lit Alerts’ market intelligence, he explains how data is helping operators make smarter decisions while highlighting the opportunities and risks ahead. It’s a fitting conclusion to Season 3, replacing speculation with data to examine where New York cannabis stands today and what comes next.
Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.
Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.
Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast.
If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.
#nycannabis #cannabisindustry #mrta #nysocm
15 Sept 2026
Cannabis Beyond the High: Genetics, Scent & Culture
In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by cannabis husband-and-wife team Mario Guzman and Victorine Deych, co-founders of Voice of the Plant. Better known as Mr. Sherbinski, Mario shares the story of how he went from cultivating cannabis in a San Francisco garage to creating iconic genetics including Sunset Sherbert and Gelato, while Victorine explains how her background in natural perfumery and heightened sense of smell led her to explore cannabis terpenes and eventually bring the worlds of fragrance and cannabis together. The conversation explores the art and science of cannabis breeding, what Mario looks for when developing new genetics, and why protecting the authenticity and intellectual property of legendary strains remains such a challenge. They also discuss bringing their genetics to New York, the sophistication of the state’s cannabis consumers, and the vision behind Voice of the Plant as a platform spanning genetics, art, food, music, education, and community. Mario and Victorine also look ahead to new genetics and extraction projects while making the case for protecting breeders and preserving the culture, quality, and authenticity at the heart of cannabis.
Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.
Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.
Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast.
If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.
#sherbinsky #sunsetsherbert #gelato #nycannabis #cannabisindustry #cannabisgenetics
8 Sept 2026
How a Moment in Vegas Led to Cannabis Advocacy
In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Nikki Lawley, a former nurse, traumatic brain injury survivor, cannabis advocate, invisible illness educator, and founder of Nikki and the Plant. Nikki shares the deeply personal story of how a workplace brain injury transformed her from healthcare provider to patient, leaving her with chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms while conventional medicine struggled to provide answers or relief. After cycling through dozens of doctors and medications, an unexpected encounter with medical cannabis in Las Vegas changed the direction of her life and ultimately turned her into a passionate advocate for the plant. The conversation explores the stigma Nikki faced from the medical community, the challenges patients encounter navigating different cannabis laws across state lines, and why education remains essential for both patients and healthcare professionals. Nikki also discusses social media censorship, the decline of New York’s medical cannabis program following adult-use legalization, and her belief that medical guidance needs to remain an important part of the cannabis ecosystem. It’s a powerful conversation about invisible illness, patient advocacy, and how one life-changing experience with cannabis became a mission to help others find relief.
Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.
Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.
Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast.
If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.
#medicalcannabis #nikkiandtheplant #cannabisindustry #nycannabis
Who has been a guest on Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Rick Bashkoff
Joshua Wilson
Marc Shepard
Beck Hickey
Erin Thurmond
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 16 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
13
Social presence
91
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Contact Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis
Who hosts Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis?
Herb Barbot and Herb host the show. Published by Herb Barbot, Esq..
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
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