The Cannabis Conversation Podcast

Lumino

The Cannabis Conversation is the leading English-speaking podcast exploring the legal cannabis industry from a European perspective.Founded in 2019 by commercial lawyer Anuj Desai, the show has spent six years bringing together the people shaping this industry - operators, scientists, investors, clinicians, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, for honest, evidence-based conversations that go beyond the headlines.With 194 episodes, The Cannabis Conversation has become a trusted resource for professionals navigating one of the world's fastest-moving sectors.In late 2025, Anuj passed the reins to Nikita Cretu & Thomas Gray from Lumino - Europe's leading cannabis recruitment agency, who have taken stewardship of the podcast's next chapter. Powered by the belief that an industry is only as good as the people in it, the show continues its mission: to illuminate the industry by bringing the right voices into the seat.Guests span the full spectrum, from founders and operators deep inside the cannabis world to leaders from other highley regulated markets like pharma, Tobacco, Alcohol, and beyond who are paying close attention.

  1. From Startup to Global Acquisition: How Sanity Group Was Built to a €250m Valuation🟢 Finn Hänsel

    Jun 3

    From Startup to Global Acquisition: How Sanity Group Was Built to a €250m Valuation🟢 Finn Hänsel

    In this episode of The Cannabis Conversation, we sit down with Finn Age Hänsel, Founder and Managing Director of Sanity Group, one of Europe's most influential cannabis companies. Finn shares the remarkable journey behind building Sanity Group into a leader in the European cannabis market, from raising some of the industry's largest investment rounds to navigating Germany's rapidly evolving medical cannabis landscape and ultimately securing a strategic investment from British American Tobacco (BAT) and a landmark acquisition by Organigram. We discuss: 🌿 How Finn built his entrepreneurial skillset through consulting, startups, and venture-backed businesses 🌿 Why Sanity chose an asset-light strategy instead of building cultivation facilities 🌿 Lessons learned from the rise and collapse of the CBD market 🌿 The behind-the-scenes story of how BAT first approached Sanity Group 🌿 Why honesty helped Sanity stand out from other cannabis companies 🌿 The future of medical cannabis in Germany and across Europe 🌿 Cannabis M&A, investment trends, and industry consolidation 🌿 Why political engagement is critical for cannabis businesses 🌿 The role of research and data in shaping cannabis policy 🌿 The opportunities Finn sees in Germany, the UK, Switzerland, and beyond Finn also shares his views on vertical integration, cannabis branding, patient growth, telemedicine, pilot projects, and what cannabis companies should be doing today to prepare for the next phase of industry growth. Whether you're a cannabis operator, investor, entrepreneur, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of the European cannabis industry, this episode is packed with valuable insights from one of the sector's most influential leaders. ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant-Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc

    1h 17m
  2. What’s Next for German Cannabis? (The Data Might Surprise You..) 🟢 Alfredo Pascual

    May 6

    What’s Next for German Cannabis? (The Data Might Surprise You..) 🟢 Alfredo Pascual

    We've all been holding on to the edges of our seats to see how the situation in the German cannabis market unfolds. Today, we have the pleasure of having a conversation with Alfredo Pascual, CFA who is renowned as one of the "voices of reason" in the cannabis industry, wherein we go deep into the possible outcomes of the recent regulatory changes. We're sure this episode will be a treat for many. Alfredo Pascual, CFA, is Head of Strategy & Corporate Development at Cannamedical, one of Europe's leading independent medical cannabis companies. He brings a decade of experience in investment analysis, capital allocation, and market and regulatory intelligence within the cannabis industry, having previously served as Executive Director of Seed Innovations Ltd (LON:SEED), on the Supervisory Board of Avextra, and as International Analyst at MJBizDaily. Alfredo is also a CFA Charterholder with an MA in Governance and Public Policy from Universität Passau and a BBA from Universidad Católica del Uruguay, complemented by certifications in pharmaceutical drug regulation. --- Resources Mentioned in the Video: • FAZ article • another FAZ mention • Parliamentary inquiry response • EKOCAN reports • EU Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA of 25 October 2004 • German medical cannabis applications for insurance reach 100,000: MJBizDaily ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant-Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc

    1h 22m
  3. How He Went From Lighting to Fixing Global Cannabis Supply Chains 🟢 Timo Bongartz

    Apr 23

    How He Went From Lighting to Fixing Global Cannabis Supply Chains 🟢 Timo Bongartz

    In this episode, COO of Lumino recruitment and show host, Nikita Cretu, sits down with Timo Bongartz for an in-depth conversation recounting how Timo convinced a global lighting giant to make its entry into the cannabis industry, his journey into cannabis, what he is up to in his new role at Kündig, his philosophy for building a close-knit, high performing team, and discussing bottlenecks in the global cannabis supply chain. We're sure this episode will be a treat for many. Timo Bongartz is the Managing Director of Kündig Pharmaceutical Solutions (KPS), a GMP-certified contract processing unit within the Kündig Group serving the medical cannabis and pharmaceutical supply chain. With over 15 years of experience in business transformation, corporate strategy, and venture building, Timo has shaped companies at the intersection of technology, cultivation, and life sciences. His career spans leadership roles as CEO of Cannavigia and General Manager at Fluence, where he helped cultivators scale through software, data, and advanced lighting technology. ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant-Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc

    1h 2m
  4. Aufbau einer Cannabis-Marke in Europa, als es noch kein Marketing Playbook gab 🟢 Tobias Bosse

    Apr 8

    Aufbau einer Cannabis-Marke in Europa, als es noch kein Marketing Playbook gab 🟢 Tobias Bosse

    In dieser Episode haben wir das Vergnügen, Tobias Bosse zu begrüssen, mit dem wir erkunden, wie man eine Marke in einer Branche wie Cannabis aufbaut, in der die konventionellen Regeln oft nicht gelten. Tobias Bosse ist derzeit CMO der Grünhorn Group und Geschäftsführer bei CanDoc. Mit einem Hintergrund im Online-Marketing hat er seine Erfahrung in stark regulierten Märkten aufgebaut — sowohl aus einer B2C- als auch aus einer B2B-Perspektive. Er studierte Angewandte Ökonomie und Pädagogik und gründete während seines Studiums ein Online-Medienunternehmen, das er innerhalb von drei Jahren skalierte und verkaufte. Nach einer Ausbildung zum Redakteur bei der Funke Mediengruppe und mehreren Jahren im Journalismus wechselte er ins Marketing — zunächst in einer Agentur, dann in einer Inhouse-Position. Seitdem baut und skaliert er Marken mit kleinen, engagierten Teams. --- ❇️ Kontakt: https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Vernetze dich mit Tobias Bosse auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-bosse-547515147/ Vernetze dich mit Nikita Cretu auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Vernetze dich mit Thomas Gray auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation wird unterstützt von Lumino – Europas führender HR- und Recruiting-Agentur, spezialisiert auf den Aufbau leistungsstarker Teams in der legalen Cannabisindustrie. Das Unternehmen arbeitet in drei Hauptbereichen: Commercial, Medical und Plant-Facing. Von HR-Beratung und Executive Search bis hin zur Unterstützung bei Festanstellungen, Freelancern oder Vertragskräften hat Lumino bereits Hunderten von Unternehmen jeder Grösse geholfen, durch die richtigen Talente nachhaltig zu wachsen. 🌱 Brauchst du Unterstützung dabei, die richtigen Talente zu finden, um dein Unternehmen zum WACHSTUM zu bringen? Buche ein Gespräch mit unserem Recruiting-Team: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc --- Tritt unserem WhatsApp-Kanal bei, damit du keine zukünftigen Episoden verpasst! ✳️ https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7Q7Ra2phHPbNLtc12q ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant-Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc

    53 min
  5. Top Grower's Tips for Success in Cannabis Cultivation & Debunking Popular Myths 🟢 Dr Nigel Gale

    Mar 25

    Top Grower's Tips for Success in Cannabis Cultivation & Debunking Popular Myths 🟢 Dr Nigel Gale

    Chatting in-depth with Dr. Nigel Gale about EU-GMP cannabis cultivation best practices, what led to his latest success, debunking some popular cannabis cultivation myths, building happy & high performing cultivation teams, and more. Dr Nigel Gale is the Director of Grow and Production at Nova Soma, an EU-GMP certified cannabis facility in Sintra, Portugal, operating under SOMAÍ. He oversees cultivation, production, post-harvest, engineering, warehouse, and supply chain operations across multiple export markets including Germany, the UK, Australia, and Switzerland. Nigel holds a PhD in Plant Physiological Ecology from the University of Toronto and has spent a decade leading cannabis operations across Canada and Europe, from large-scale indoor facilities managing hundreds of staff to early EU-GMP export programmes shipping flower to the UK and Germany. He has published 24 peer-reviewed papers with over 1,100 citations and brings an ecosystem-first approach to how cannabis facilities are designed, run, and scaled. ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.eu Connect with Dr. Nigel Gale on Linkedin:   / nigelgale-1188  Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn:   / nikita-cretu-b24b83a8  Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn:   / thomas-c-s-gray  🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant-Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc

    1h 2m
  6. EP #195 The Cannabis Conversation Returns with BIG News • Anuj Desai, Thomas Gray & Nikita Cretu

    Mar 4

    EP #195 The Cannabis Conversation Returns with BIG News • Anuj Desai, Thomas Gray & Nikita Cretu

    On the latest episode of The Cannabis Conversation, our host, Anuj Desai, speaks with Thomas Gray & Nikita Cretu, the co-founders of Lumino, Europe's leading recruitment agency for the legal cannabis industry. We explore the history of the podcast, delve a little bit into Anuj's story, and share the big news on the podcast's future going forward. ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.eu Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn:  /thomas-c-s-gray Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn:  /nikita-cretu-b24b83a8 --- You can also listen in via: 🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3XYFUEM... 🟢 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... --- Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the EU cannabis industry and recent developments 01:31 - The Origins of The Cannabis Conversation podcast 05:08 - Anuj's favorite TCC episodes 08:36 - Lumino’s global operations in cannabis recruitment 09:35 - Past & present of the Cannabis Industry 13:08 - Misconceptions about Investing & Starting a cannabis business 15:12 - Future of the cannabis industry 17:27 - TCC's BIG announcement 22:14 - Where has Anuj been? 23:49 - On podcasting, the industry & risk-taking ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant-Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc

    30 min
  7. EPISODE #194 Examining Medical Cannabis in Practice with Franjo Grotenhermen, M.D., Chairperson at IACM

    11/16/2023

    EPISODE #194 Examining Medical Cannabis in Practice with Franjo Grotenhermen, M.D., Chairperson at IACM

    On the latest episode of The Cannabis Conversation, we speak with Dr. Franjo Grotenhermen, Chairperson at the International Association of Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM). We explore his journey into cannabis medicine, its diverse uses, and the challenges of its regulation. Together, we look at the importance of patient experiences and the need for a balance between clinical trials and real-world experiences. We also examine the risk profile of cannabis, potential side effects, contraindications, and interactions with other medications.  The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing. Get in touch at www.luminorecruit.com/ About Franjo Grotenhermen M.D. Franjo Grotenhermen graduated in medicine and received his doctorate in Cologne. His fields of practice included internal medicine, surgery and naturopathy. He is head of the Centre for Cannabis Medicine in Steinheim (NRW) with a focus on therapy with cannabis and cannabinoids. Grotenhermen is Executive Director of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Cannabis als Medizin e.V. (ACM) (since 1997), Executive Director of the International Alliance for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM) (since 2000) and author of the IACM-Bulletin, which is published fortnightly in several languages on the IACM website. Grotenhermen is an employee of the Cologne-based nova Institute, co-owner of Endoxo GmbH (founded in 2019), a company that produces CBD and other hemp products. He is a lecturer at Dresden International University. He is Chief Medical Advisor of canncura, an internet platform for telemedicine in the field of cannabis and cannabinoids. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the journals Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, edited by Prof. Daniele Piomelli at Mary Ann Liebert Publishing. He received the following awards: Hanf-Preis 1999 of Cannabusiness, IACM 2011 Special Award, ICBC 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award, Robert Newman Memorial Award 2018 of Akzept e.V., Honorary Award GFS-Award 2021 of Gemeinnützige Forschungsvereinigung Saluplanta e.V. Resources Connect with Franjo on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/franjo-grotenhermen-65624b19b IACM’s Website: https://cannabis-med.org/ ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant-Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc

    34 min
  8. EPISODE #193: Investment in the European Cannabis Industry with William Muecke & Daniel Grözinger

    10/03/2023

    EPISODE #193: Investment in the European Cannabis Industry with William Muecke & Daniel Grözinger

    On the latest episode of The Cannabis Conversation, we speak with William Muecke of Artemis Growth Partners & Daniel Grözinger of Park Lane Capital. We look at the European Cannabis Industry from an investment perspective, including the benefits of the legal cannabis market in Germany and France, the potential for mergers and acquisitions in Europe, and Will and Daniel’s thoughts on what’s needed to succeed in this sector in the next few years. The Cannabis Conversation is sponsored by Lumino - a boutique HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the European Cannabis Industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant Facing. Get in touch at www.luminorecruit.com/ About William Muecke Will Muecke is the Managing Member at Artemis Growth Partners, a private equity firm with $390 million in assets, specializing in ESG and impact investments within the global cannabis industry. He also co-founded CoreCo Private Equity, an ESG-focused fund, recognized as a "Best for the World" fund in 2017, with backing from institutions like the IFC/World Bank and European family offices. Previously, he served as global co-head of healthcare services at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York, with extensive networks across Europe, the United States, and Latin America.  Currently, he holds the position of Chief Investment Officer at Artemis Growth Partners in London. About Daniel Grözinger Daniel Grözinger, a Partner at Parklane Capital in Germany, is a seasoned M&A expert with a focus on the tech sector. In 2021, he expanded his expertise into the cannabis market and played a pivotal role in the sale of Four 20 Pharma to Curaleaf in 2022. With a background in over 75 M&A deals, Daniel is also a serial entrepreneur. Notably, he co-founded getgo.de, an online ticketing industry leader, and sold it to CTS Eventim AG. He then managed two business units at CTS, generating over 500 million EUR in revenue. In 2003, he founded uniquedigital, a top-ranked online marketing agency, later acquired by Syzygy AG in 2008. Daniel has a history of founding and building customer-focused companies, including verwandt.de, Farbflut Entertainment, Emporis, and Animod, among others. He has also invested in various internet companies and startups as a business angel, including Prezi.com and Fiverr, before joining Parklane Capital in 2014. Resources Connect with William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmuecke Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/groezinger/ Artemis Growth Partners’ Website: www.artemisgrowth.com Parklane Capital’s Website:  ❇️ Get in touch at https://www.thecannabisconversation.co.uk Connect with Nikita Cretu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-cretu-b24b83a8/ Connect with Thomas Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-s-gray/ 🔋 The Cannabis Conversation is powered by Lumino - Europe's leading HR and Recruitment Agency specialising in building high performance teams for the legal cannabis industry. They work in three main verticals: Commercial, Medical and Plant-Facing. From HR advisory and executive search services to hiring support for full-time placements, consultants, or contract staff, Lumino has helped hundreds of companies of all sizes in the industry scale sustainably through the right people. 🌱 Need support finding the right talent to GROW your business? Book a call with our recruitment team at: https://calendly.com/d/zvg-y2d-tgc

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

The Cannabis Conversation is the leading English-speaking podcast exploring the legal cannabis industry from a European perspective.Founded in 2019 by commercial lawyer Anuj Desai, the show has spent six years bringing together the people shaping this industry - operators, scientists, investors, clinicians, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, for honest, evidence-based conversations that go beyond the headlines.With 194 episodes, The Cannabis Conversation has become a trusted resource for professionals navigating one of the world's fastest-moving sectors.In late 2025, Anuj passed the reins to Nikita Cretu & Thomas Gray from Lumino - Europe's leading cannabis recruitment agency, who have taken stewardship of the podcast's next chapter. Powered by the belief that an industry is only as good as the people in it, the show continues its mission: to illuminate the industry by bringing the right voices into the seat.Guests span the full spectrum, from founders and operators deep inside the cannabis world to leaders from other highley regulated markets like pharma, Tobacco, Alcohol, and beyond who are paying close attention.

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