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.

Kema Ogden was one of the early pioneers of Nevada’s legal cannabis industry. In 2015, she helped open one of the state’s first medical dispensaries, laying the foundation for what would become the Top Notch THC brand. Since then, she and her partners have expanded to multiple adult-use locations across Nevada, building a loyal customer base in one of the country’s most competitive cannabis markets. Today, Top Notch THC serves both medical patients and recreational consumers and continues to grow alongside the evolving industry. In this episode, we talk about the Nevada cannabis market, what it takes to survive in one of the nation’s earliest and most established legal markets, and the challenges operators face as the industry matures. https://topnotchthc.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.

River Falls, Wisconsin, is home to Tattersall Distilling, a nationally recognized craft spirits producer whose portfolio is distributed across 25 states. Known for sourcing locally and crafting spirits infused with botanicals and functional ingredients, Tattersall has built a reputation on flavor innovation and ingredient integrity. Co-founder Jon Kreidler joins the show to discuss the company's strategic expansion into the fast-growing hemp-derived THC beverage market with Tattersall Functional. Drawing on years of experience working with complex flavor profiles and plant-based ingredients, Jon explains how Tattersall is translating its distilling expertise into this new category. He also shares insights into Wisconsin's evolving hemp landscape by allowing beverages in liquor stores and restaurants, helping to normalize cannabis. He discusses what it takes to scale a regulated beverage brand across state lines, and how distributors and retailers are preparing for a potential federal hemp ban this November. https://www.tattersallfunctional.com https://www.tattersalldistilling.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.

Jeff Rawson founded the nonprofit Institute of Cannabis Science while serving as a postdoctoral researcher in chemistry at Harvard University. He conducts scientific research, investigative reporting, and regulatory reviews, and provides subject-matter expertise in cannabis testing. Jeff serves on the ASTM D37 Committee on Cannabis and is involved with ACIL, which honored him with the 2024 Preston S. Miller Award for extraordinary service. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bard College, a master’s in organic chemistry from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Duke University. Driven by a passion for improving public health, Jeff applies his analytical expertise to protect cannabis consumers. He founded the Institute of Cannabis Science because, as he puts it, it is the most impactful way to use his chemistry background for the public good. https://cannsci.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-rawson-31b1a724b 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, we examine the Ohio cannabis market with our guests, attorneys John Oberle and Greg May from Ice Miller. We discuss the latest referendum effort led by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, which seeks to repeal key components of a bill the governor recently signed to scale back the state's voter-approved cannabis law and ban the sale of consumable hemp products outside of licensed cannabis dispensaries. We also explore opportunities for new businesses entering the Ohio market and what they need to know before getting started. https://www.icemiller.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.

Clint Kellum brings nearly 20 years of public service experience with the State of California, where he specialized in budget and policy work at the California Department of Finance. He joined the California Dept of Cannabis Control about five years ago as Chief Operating Officer, and was recently appointed Director, where he now leads the agency’s operations and helps shape the future of cannabis regulation in the state. We discuss his goals and vision for stabilizing California’s cannabis market and what it will take to turn things around for operators struggling to survive ongoing turbulence and uncertainty. 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.

Josh Kaplan is the Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at Western Washington University. His research focuses on optimizing CBD-based medicine for pediatric conditions (e.g., epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, exposure to early life stress). They use mouse models to probe the effects of CBD and terpenes at the behavioral, molecular, and electrophysiological levels. They can observe the effects of this medicine unfold in real time through an animal's actions, take pictures of its effects on proteins and other chemicals, and listen to how it impacts brain cell communication patterns. They aim to provide a comprehensive picture of CBD's effects that will translate more effectively to humans. Josh shares the findings from his latest research. 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.

Dr. Julian Wichmann is a board-certified radiologist and the co-founder and CEO of Bloomwell,the first cannabis telemedicine platform to launch in Germany—and a model the U.S. should pay close attention to. We dive into the current state of Germany’s cannabis market, the challenges of building a telemedicine blueprint from the ground up, how medical cannabis is revitalizing German pharmacies, and the role telehealth plays in connecting doctors, pharmacies, and patients. The conversation offers valuable insight into how Germany is structuring medical cannabis at scale. https://bloomwell.de 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.

Ernest Toney joins us today. He is the founder of BIPOCANN, a Colorado-based nonprofit that provides business guidance to social equity entrepreneurs looking to start and scale cannabis businesses.According to a survey released by economist Beau Whitney, only 27.3 percent of U.S. cannabis businesses are profitable. Another 40.6 percent are breaking even, while 32.2 percent are operating at a loss. Those profitability gaps are even more pronounced along racial lines: 33.7 percent of white-owned cannabis businesses reported being profitable, compared to just 17.5 percent of non-white-owned operators.Ernest Toney is working to change those numbers by offering mentorship and incubator-style programs designed to give new entrepreneurs a real leg up in the industry. Join me to learn more about the good things Ernest is doing with the BiPocann mentorship program.https://bipocann.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.

Today, we are joined by Chris Emerson, who earned his PhD in small-molecule chemistry and completed his postdoctoral research at Stanford University before bringing his scientific rigor to the cannabis industry. He’s now the CEO and Chief Scientist of Level, and was one of the first to introduce cannabis in a precise, pill-based format.At Level, the team is laser-focused on developing effect-based formulations—using unique cannabinoid combinations and custom ratios designed to deliver real therapeutic value. Chris is especially interested in working with acidic cannabinoids along with lesser-known minor cannabinoids—pushing beyond the usual THC-CBD playbook. Research seems to be increasing in the area of acidic cannabinoids since there is evidence that they provide stronger effects than their converted forms, such as THC and CBD.In this episode, we dig into his approach to formulation science, what truly differentiates Level from other edibles, how he manages manufacturing and distribution partnerships, and the challenge of maintaining quality and consistency across state lines.We also talk about what’s next, including plans to expand Level into the hemp market.https://levelexperience.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.

Joining the show today is Katherine Golden, a Colorado-based cannabis nurse who has been doing some of the industry's most important work behind the scenes.Katherine has been working with the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation to help build a cannabis reimbursement framework for workers' comp — a model that other states can use to process claims and ensure patients receive proper guidance and support.She's also the founder of Leaf411, a nonprofit national cannabis nurse helpline where people can literally "call a nurse" for advice on using cannabis as medicine.In this episode, we talk about what it takes to establish both programs at the national level and the challenges that come with bringing clinical credibility and patient protections into the cannabis space.https://leaf411.org 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.