Send us Fan Mail What should you know before starting a cannabis business in Minnesota? Recorded live at CannaCon Midwest 2026 in Saint Paul, this episode of The Canna Connect Show brings together four people with firsthand experience building, operating, and supporting cannabis businesses: Jonathan Hunt, Leech Lake Cannabis Company Jacob Affeldt, Frostbite Dispensary Brytany Melville, Forte Ops Munir Haque, Cure8 The conversation starts with one of the simplest and most important lessons for anyone entering Minnesota cannabis: vet the people you work with. Minnesota may be a new adult-use market, but the regulated cannabis industry isn't new. The panel discusses why entrepreneurs should learn from operators in mature markets, ask vendors for references, understand exactly what they're buying, and avoid assuming every person selling services to the cannabis industry has actually done the work. Jonathan Hunt brings the cultivation perspective from Leech Lake Cannabis Company, taking the conversation inside the realities of commercial cannabis production. He discusses seed-to-sale compliance, scaling cultivation, maintaining quality, genetics, Minnesota's developing supply, and the challenges that come with operating in a regulated market that is still taking shape. Jacob Affeldt shares what he and his wife learned while building Frostbite Dispensary, including years of business planning, controlling buildout costs, understanding their local customer, navigating banking and payment processing, working with Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management, and competing with the legacy market. Brytany Melville brings the operational perspective, digging into the systems behind a successful dispensary. The conversation covers technology selection, marketing, employee training, SOPs, retention, margins, and why operators should think carefully before expanding simply for the sake of growth. Munir Haque of Cure8 takes the conversation into cannabis technology, security, and infrastructure. He explains why IT, cybersecurity, cameras, access control, networking, electrical planning, and construction need to be considered together, especially before a facility is already built. The final stretch looks beyond opening day. What happens when prices fall? What happens as Minnesota's regulations evolve? How should operators protect their margins and employees? Will consolidation eventually reshape the market? And what could Minnesota cannabis look like five years from now? This isn't a conversation about simply getting a cannabis license. It's about building a business capable of surviving what comes next. Recorded live at CannaCon Midwest 2026 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Canna Connect Show shares conversations with the entrepreneurs, operators, cultivators, and professionals building Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit www.cannaconnectmn.com for more episodes, events, Community Spotlights, and opportunities to connect with Minnesota's cannabis community. Become Part of the Canna Connect Community Network Every episode, Community Spotlight, and partner profile helps connect Minnesota's cannabis industry. Visit CannaConnectMN.com to explore interviews, resources, events, and the trusted organizations helping shape the future of cannabis in Minnesota.
