Plant Prophets Cannabis Radio

David Miller, Chief Strategy Officer at Flow Gardens, joins host Vern Davis to discuss the challenges and opportunities of operating a cannabis business in Tennessee. They also delve into the current state of cannabis legislation, including the potential rescheduling of marijuana and the impact of the Farm Bill. David shares insights into the brand-building strategies of Flow Gardens, emphasizing the importance of customer service and quality assurance. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the growing trend of cannabis-infused beverages and their potential in the market.

Seth Yakatan, co-founder and partner of Yakatan Associates International, shares his journey into the cannabis industry and why he is passionate about working with early-stage startup businesses. He discusses the importance of innovation and the potential for growth in the cannabis sector. Seth also provides insights into the current state of the industry and his optimism for the future, highlighting the need for regulatory changes and the potential for significant investment opportunities.

Kris Krane, the Director of Cannabis Development at KCSA Strategic Communications, shares his journey in the cannabis industry and discusses the challenges faced by social equity licensees. He emphasizes the importance of making banking and traditional lending available to these licensees to ensure their success. Kris also highlights the impact of 280E, a tax code that prevents cannabis businesses from deducting standard business expenses, and the need for states to ease the tax burden on these businesses. He concludes by discussing the role of KCSA in providing public relations and investor relations services to cannabis companies.

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Bill Panagiotakopoulos, CEO of Safe Supply, and Ronan Levy, President of Safe Supply. Safe Supply is a pioneering company that invests in the legal and regulated supply of drugs that were traditionally only accessible through illicit markets. In this thought-provoking conversation, we delve into the complexities of the drug ecosystem, the need for policy reform, and the potential impact of Safe Supply's innovative approach to investing in drugs.

Rob Sechrist discusses the recent achievements of Polaris Equity Group and the Polaris Fund, including obtaining the highest credit rating ever issued in the cannabis industry and completing the first securitization in the sector. He also shares his insights on the potential rescheduling of cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug and the impact it could have on the industry. Sechrist believes that the Biden administration wants this to happen by next year to gain political support. He also mentions the possibility of the Safe Banking Act being passed in 2024, as there are indications that there are enough votes in the Senate to support it.

Banking challenges faced by the cannabis industry are an extremely important topic especially with how much the cannabis industry is growing. To better understand this we sat down with Jontae James, The Cannabis Banker at Greenbax Marketplace. Jontae explains how working with influential individuals, including athletes and entertainers can help with financial literacy programs in disadvantaged communities.