Innovating Cannabis Podcast

Curio Wellness was founded by father-and-daughter team Michael and Wendy Bronfein. Michael built his career in the supermarket industry before launching his own chain of pharmacies, eventually bringing that experience into Maryland's medical cannabis market in 2015. Since then, Curio has grown into a vertically integrated company with GMP-certified operations in Maryland and Missouri, franchise partnerships in New Jersey and Mississippi, and a recent entry into New York through a licensing deal with Vireo Health. The company has distinguished itself through a strong focus on research and development, supported by a team of scientists and a commitment to meeting FDA-level standards across its products, cultivation, and manufacturing. Today, Wendy and her sister, Rebecca Bronfein, are leading the next chapter of Curio Wellness following the passing of their father, Michael, earlier this year. In this episode, I catch up with Wendy and Rebecca to talk about Curio's operations in Missouri, the evolution of the state's cannabis program, and what lies ahead for the company. The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's guest is Dr. Hemant Kumar Bid, a scientist, educator, and consultant at the forefront of biotechnology, medical cannabis, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Bid serves as Program Director for the Master of Science in Biotechnology with a concentration in Medical Cannabis at Morehouse School of Medicine — one of the only programs of its kind offered entirely online. His academic foundation spans biochemistry, pharmacology, and medical science, capped by a PhD in Medical Biochemistry and certifications from MIT in AI and machine learning applications in biopharma — a growing passion he's now weaving directly into his curriculum. With over 15 years in medical cannabis research and education, Dr. Bid has worked across academic, pharmaceutical, and industry settings. He founded and directed a cannabis testing laboratory in Columbus, Ohio, consults for Essentia Scientific — a leader in acidic cannabinoids — and advises a regulatory consulting firm in Atlanta on cannabis policy, SOPs, and compliance. He also teaches at College of DuPage, Olive Harvey College, and St. Louis University, where he developed a pharmacology of cannabis course specifically for physicians and nurse practitioners. Today, we're diving into the connection between AI, biotechnology, and medical cannabis — and what the future of this rapidly evolving field looks like. https://web.msm.edu/online/contact.php https://web.msm.edu/online/biotechnology/msbtcannabis/index.php The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trade show season for 2026 is officially underway. I’ll be heading to MJ Unpacked, taking place May 5–7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I recently sat down with co-founder George Jage—someone many of you already know from his long track record in the trade show world, including his role in helping scale MJBizCon in the early days. In this conversation, we go beyond the typical event preview and dig into what it actually takes to build a meaningful industry gathering in cannabis. George shares how MJ Unpacked is intentionally designed not to be the biggest show, but the most valuable—especially for CPG brands navigating today’s fragmented, state-by-state market. We also get into the challenge of creating a “national” platform in an industry that still operates locally, and why that distinction matters. We talk about the growing importance of visual merchandising at retail, what makes Atlantic City a strategic location for drawing operators from across the tri-state and mid-Atlantic regions, and why the show’s content still resonates beyond those markets. George also offers insights into emerging markets like Missouri, breaks down the thinking behind the MJ Cup awards and their partnerships with Ganjier and Green Flower, and shares what’s next—including his upcoming Hemp Beverage Expo in Austin this June. https://mjunpacked.com/ The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Allison Kirchhofer is the Director of the Cannabis Division at Sax Accounting, where she leads a team of CPAs serving operators across multiple states. She has also worked closely with businesses in New York.s turbulent adult-use rollout, helping them manage compliance, tax strategy, and financial infrastructure in one of the country's most closely watched markets. Prior to joining Sax, Allison served as Controller for Travel Agency, one of New York's first licensed dispensaries, giving her first-hand operational insight into the financial realities of launching and running a cannabis retail business. In today’s conversation, we’ll discuss the financial challenges cannabis companies face, where they can tighten margins, pitfalls and common mistakes, and what businesses need to understand to stay compliant and financially healthy as the market continues to evolve. The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.