Grow Sessions TSRgrow

On the latest episode of Grow Sessions, Brian Anderson of Anderson Porter Design, a renowned expert in designing cannabis facilities, joins us for an insightful discussion on creating sustainable and profitable cannabis facilities in an episode titled, "Designing for Sustainability and Long-term Success."  This episode delves into the concept of Environmental Responsibility, Sustainability and Governance (ESG), an essential consideration when building with sustainability in mind.


Topics in this episode include cannabis facility design, renewable energy sources, site selection, compliance, and how sustainable design can impact a cannabis operation's profitability. Brian's expertise and passion for ESG principles are evident throughout the episode, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter or enhance their presence in the legal cannabis market. 

Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about this important subject.
About Brian Anderson
Brian Anderson is the founder and CEO of Anderson Porter Design, a leading architecture firm in the cannabis industry. He is a highly experienced architect with a passion for creating innovative and beautiful spaces. He believes that good design is the result of a collaborative process that involves the client, designers, consultants, and contractors. Anderson Porter Design has been increasingly involved in the cannabis industry, designing dispensaries, grow facilities, and other projects. Brian is an expert in this field, having developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and needs of the industry. He is experienced in working with local, state, and federal regulations to ensure that projects are built to the highest standards and compliant with all applicable laws.  
 
Brian is a visionary who has made sustainability a guiding principle in his work. He actively promotes ESG, Environmental, Social, and Governance, to guide business in making sustainable choices. He understands that every decision has an environmental and social impact, and actively educates clients on how to integrate sustainability into their design processes. His goal is to create innovative solutions that will pioneer a sustainable future for the industry. 
 
Risk mitigation in facility design is achieved through compliance. Brian helps investors and operators ensure operational safety and economic success through compliance. This not only minimizes legal risks, but increases the potential for long-term success and profitability. He is uniquely positioned to guide clients through the complex process of designing and operating a facility to meet federal, state, and local regulations.  
 
As a true advocate for sustainability and best practices, Brian contributes with SCC, RII, NCIA, ASTM and NFPA. At the NCIA he founded and is the chair emeritus of the Facilities Design Committee. He currently serves on the retail design committee. With RII he is in the founder's circle as a subject matter expert providing peer review for USDA sponsored CEH best practice guides. He is a voting member of ASTM International’s D37.09 sub-committee for cannabis facility sustainability. 
 
Brian has worked in the cannabis space for almost a decade designing upwards of 45 cultivation facilities and 35 retail stores in 23 states. He has a master's from Harvard  BFA and B.Arch from RISD. He speaks at conferences, webinars, and panels at a national level, addressing sustainability, efficiency, and best practices.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/anderson-porter-design-inc./
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdanderson
andersonporter.com
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On the latest episode of Grow Sessions we welcome DiAnA McElroy of Higher High, LLC for an informative discussion about the current state of New Jersey cannabis in an episode entitled, “What’s Next for the New Jersey Cannabis Industry.”
Topics in this episode include what has been happening since New Jersey went Adult use in 2022,  what's next, positive and negative developments in the industry, changing the stigma in communities by keeping lines of communication open, why the medicinal side of the industry is so important, how federal legalization will impact the industry and so much more.
 If you work in the cannabis industry or are an advocate of cannabis, you won't want to miss this episode.
About DiAnA McElroy and Higher High, LLC
DiAnA McElroy is the Founder and CEO of Higher High, LLC a consulting firm focused on the needs of new startups.
 
DiAnA was the Community Outreach Specialist for TerrAscend New Jersey. She is a well-respected cannabis professional who had split her time between the Apothecarium dispensaries and the grow facility in Boonton township. Her role within the organization was to be a bridge between the community and the company, as well as liaison with various media outlets. She has served on multiple advisory boards and as the SME for local police departments on the ever-changing legal landscape.

DiAnA believes that education and open and honest conversations are the only way to remove the stigma and misinformation around cannabis, so that qualified patients can find the right medication.

To learn more about DiAnA McElroy and Higher High LLC, please visit her on LInkedin or email: info.higherhigh@gmail.com.
 
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On today’s episode of Grow Sessions, we speak with Derick Carver about his journey from U.S. Army Lieutenant to injured veteran and beyond. In an episode titled, “Empowering Our Veterans to Use Alternative Therapies,” we also learn about Derek’s work as VP of the Balanced Veterans Network which advocates for alternative therapies including plant medicine to combat veteran’s issues.
Derick was serving in Afghanistan when his platoon was ambushed in an attack, which left him severely injured, including the complete loss of his left leg. This caused him to suffer from PTSD and pain issues, issues he still struggles with to this day. Topics in this episode include opioid addiction in the veteran community, how fitness, therapy and plant medicine are helping veterans move forward and how the Balanced Veterans Network is helping build partnerships to help benefit veteran’s lives helping them with access to plant medicine and other therapies.
You won’t want to miss out on this episode as Derick tells his incredible story. 
About Derek Carver
On the morning of January 19, 2010, while serving in the Arghandab River Valley outside of Kandahar, Afghanistan, U.S. Army Lieutenant Derick Carver, and his unit met with local teachers and elders to discuss reopening a school that the Taliban had rigged to blow with IEDs. Along with the Afghan Army, LT. Carver and his platoon moved forward to establish themselves in the school for clearance operations to prevent further targeting. However, on their way to the school, the Taliban launched a complex ambush using a daisy-chain of 107mm rockets and homemade explosives. 
Derick suffered multiple injuries including the loss of most of his right thigh, multiple fingers becoming fused or partially amputated, and the amputation of his left leg. The attack also resulted in PTSD and recurring complications. After multiple initial life-saving surgeries, Derick was finally transported to Walter Reed Medical Center, where he spent the rest of his 13-month recovery. During this time, Derick underwent over 60 surgeries, over 50 blood transfusions, and five plasma transfusions, later opting for active recovery. 
Following inpatient recovery, Derick returned to duty and assumed the role of AS-3 for the 4th Ranger Training Battalion, becoming the "1 legged Ranger Instructor" before retiring in 2012. Derick was born in Millington, Tennessee, but spent most of his childhood in Southern California. Raised by his mother, Derick was very active in high school sports, where he played baseball, football, and track and field. As the first in his immediate family to attend college, Derick went to Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, before transferring to Eastern Michigan University. In 2007, Derick was commissioned into active duty, spending years training in various courses such as Officer Basic Course II, Infantry Officer Basic Course, and Mechanized Leader Course, until his deployment in 2009. 
Since his injury in 2010, Derick has stayed active competing in CrossFit competitions and winning the U.S. and World's Strongest Disabled Man in 2016. Derick has competed in the Arnold Sports Classic, where Arnold named him the "most inspiring Veteran" he has met.
To learn more, visit: www.balancedveteransnetwork.org or follow Derek Carver on Instagram @derick_carver. 
 
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On our latest episode of Grow Sessions we chat with Mark Doherty, COO of Dual Draft about the benefits of vertical farming and the problems associated with airflow in a cultivation facility in an episode entitled, “The Impact of Air Flow in Your Vertical Farm.”
The passage of air in and over each rack in a vertical farm provides unique obstacles. Poor airflow in a grow room can result in poor quality crops and result in low yields. Air flow also controls other environmental conditions like temperature and humidity.

Join us today for an educational discussion on the benefits of vertical farming and the problems associated with it. Topics in today’s episode include microclimates, drainage issues, understanding HVAC and dehumidification, the importance of choosing your cultivation equipment early in the build out of your facility and how Dual Draft’s integrated airflow solutions can help growers increase profitability and decrease crop loss in their vertical farm. These are just a few of the topics in today's discussion.
If you are a cultivator, owner of a facility or thinking of opening your own cultivation business, you don’t want to miss this episode. 
About Mark Doherty
Mark Doherty is Chief Operating Officer of Dual Draft, facilitating the new era in controlled environment agriculture. His expertise spans over a decade of hands-on facility management for vertically grown hydroponic crops such as cannabis, lettuce, herbs and tomatoes, among others.
To learn more, visit:  www.dualdraft.ag or contact Mark at mark@dualdraft.ag
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On our latest episode of Grow Sessions we speak with Shari Berman, patient advocate, cannabis educator and two-time cancer survivor about her experience with cannabis as a patient and the lack of education available to consumers looking to cannabis as an alternative therapy. Join us for an episode titled, “Learning About Using Cannabis as an Alternative Therapy.”

During Shari’s journey through cancer treatments, she looked to healthcare professionals to help with side effects. When she couldn’t find much needed support, she wrote an article titled, “I wanted to try medical marijuana. Why couldn’t my doctors help me?” The article not only went viral but was published by STAT News and the Boston Globe. This was the beginning of Shari’s journey through patient advocacy and consulting.

Join us for an important discussion on the need for education in the cannabis space and how consumers can use cannabis safely and responsibly. Topics include tips on navigating cannabis products, guiding patients on how to use cannabis for symptom management, removing the stigma associated with cannabis use, providing education and resources on dosing, drug interactions, products, and delivery methods, how cannabis effects your endocannabinoid system, how to get the most from the products available and much, much more.
If you are new to cannabis or interested in learning more about the health benefits and effects of cannabis on your body, you don’t want to miss this episode.

About Shari Berman

Shari Berman is a patient advocate and cannabis educator. A two-time cancer survivor, Shari led the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Patient Family Advisory Council for six years to improve the overall experience for cancer patients. She moved on to national work advocating for patients working with the National Academy of Medicine and is currently leading a patient experience policy group with hospital administrators from medical centers throughout the country. Shari believes in holistic care and empowering patients to take control of their health including exploring the use of alternative/complimentary therapies, including cannabis.

Shari is a national speaker and writer discussing cannabis as medicine. “I wanted to try medical marijuana. Why couldn’t my doctors help me?” her article published in STAT and The Boston Globe, gained national attention. She has spoken on podcasts, NBC News and presented her patient perspective at the FDA conference on CBD and other cannabinoids. Recently, she started a business called Canna Healing Consulting to both educate and coach people on how to best use cannabis to improve wellness and as a complementary therapy. Shari educates people on cannabis in a credible and balanced way to ensure people use it safely and effectively.

Shari holds a B.S. in Economics from Cornell University and an M.S. in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy.

To learn more, visit:  www.cannahealingconsulting.com
 
 
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On our latest episode of Grow Sessions we chat with Isaac Liebes of Greenlight Energy Conservation about the process of helping cannabis cultivators get reimbursements for utility billing errors in an episode entitled, “How to Take Control of Rising Energy Costs.”


Anyone working in commercial cultivation has dealt with increasing energy costs, but did you know there is a way to be reimbursed for utility billing errors? Join us for an interesting and informative discussion about high energy costs in the cannabis industry and how cultivators are finding ways to save. Topics include procuring rebates on energy efficient projects, the cost of energy in the cannabis industry, the future of energy audits, educating cultivators on the technologies available and much, much more.


If you are a cannabis grower, owner of a facility or thinking of opening your own cannabis business, you don’t want to miss this episode. 


About Isaac Liebes


Isaac runs the cannabis consulting division known as Green Utility Auditors at GreenLight Energy Conservation. In his spare time, he plays a subpar shortstop in a slow pitch softball league and daydreams of one day seeing the world where #Wawa coffee is available in all states he travels to. He can be reached by sliding into his #LinkedIn DMs at Isaac Liebes.


About GreenLight Energy Conservation


GreenLight Energy Conservation is dedicated to assisting clients through reducing their electricity, fuel, and water consumption. GreenLight will equip your company with a comprehensive strategy that includes engineering analyses and design, project management and installation, and obtaining rebates from utility companies and government agencies.


GreenLight’s clients experience a secure return on investment, enhanced financial stability, and attainment of corporate sustainability and carbon footprint goals. To learn more, visit them at www.greenlightec.com.


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