Topic · 38 Episodes

Retail & Dispensary Operations

Analysis on Retail & Dispensary Operations

The Payment Problem I Still Can't Explain

Cannabis banking's hardest problem: compliance does not equal permission. Every payment solution runs on the card brands' tolerance.

First Principles · April 13, 2026

Your Marketing Isn't Broken. The System Is. Here's Why

Cannabis marketing doesn't create value, it distributes it. If you doubled spend tomorrow, would returns scale or just expose what's broken?

First Principles · February 5, 2026

There Is No Playbook for New York Cannabis

Jaunty's hockey stick in New York was never luck. New York punished assumptions fast, and what looks like momentum now is really accumulated lessons.

First Principles · January 19, 2026

The Lyft Playbook for Cannabis

Taxis didn't want rideshare. The world did. Every emerging industry has to earn its right to exist, and cannabis is living a version of the same story.

First Principles · October 23, 2025

Ed Rosenthal and Greg Baughman: You're Still Growing Cannabis Wrong

Ed Rosenthal & Greg Baughman

The Legal Market Was Never Built for Payments, Why Cannabis Still Breaks the Rules ft. Aubrey Amatelli

Aubrey Amatelli

JB (Cheech & Chong CEO): Building a National Cannabis Brand Through Trial, Error & Partnership

Most Cannabis Marketing Fails Because It Is Asked to Solve the Wrong Problems ft. John Shute

The Amazon of THC, How Edibles.com Will Take Cannabis National, ft. Thomas Winstanley

Thomas Winstanley

Built for Consolidation, Guided by Icahn-Like Discipline, and Poised for Cannabis’ Next Iteration, ft Jared Maloof

Richie Proud on the iAnthus Turnaround: Why Selling Arizona Fueled Core-Market Growth

The Michelin-Star Experience? Gibran Washington on What Customers Actually Want

Gibran Washington

AI in Cannabis Commerce Is Here — But Jane’s Doing It Their Way with Socrates Rosenfeld

Socrates Rosenfeld

Where’s the Cash? Visibility, Inventory & Profitable Growth with Tyler Nielsen

Why the Industry’s Premier Brands Choose The Flowery — and What’s Coming Next in New York & Florida ft. Ilya Shmidt

If You’re Chasing Invoices in Cannabis, Listen to This ft. Brett Gelfand

How Ayr Wellness Is Resizing for Reality — What Operational Efficiency Really Means ft. George DeNardo

We Don’t Want Legalization—We Want Decriminalization ft. Luna Stower

Why Cannabis Laws Are a Mess: The Politics and Bureaucracy with Jeff Guillot

The COO’s Playbook: Balancing Automation, Quality, and Efficiency Across 14 States at Verano ft. Trip McDermott

She Hits Different: The Story Behind Cake's Explosive Growth ft. Chloe Kaleiokalani

Chloe Kaleiokalani

Chris Violas Breaks Down Blaze’s Software Infrastructure

How Leafly’s Feedback Loop Predicts the Next Big Thing in Cannabis ft. Yoko Miyashita

Caleb Counts Details Connected's $3.5 Million R&D Breeding Program and Best-in-Class Genetics That Continues to Deliver Hitters

If You Like Flavors, Come to Traders ft. Founders of Trade Roots

Carl Giannone & Jesse Pitts

Under the Hood of Cresco Labs: AI, Tech Integration, and Custom Retail Solutions ft. Zach Marburger

The Hidden Benefits of Fractional Marketing for Cannabis Companies ft. Brandon Bobart

Rama Mayo: Hall of Flowers, The Big Reveal - Disney World of Cannabis Experiences

New York's Broken Cannabis Program: What Happened and How to Fix It ft. Neil Kaufman

Krista Raymer: Pricing, Promotion & Strategy Tips for Profitable Cannabis Retail

Rick Bashkoff: Why Cannabis Needs Unique Software Solutions

House of Puff Evolves: Introducing The Spritz

Gabe Mendoza: Driving 4Front Ventures Revenue Growth through Innovation from Ideas to Opportunities

Cookies: The Only Global Cannabis Brand Ft. Crystal Millican

Crystal Millican

First-time Dispensary owner details his experience with the NY CAURD Program ft. Markel Bababekov

Markel Bababekov

Paul Weaver of Boston Beer Company on Big Alcohol's Cannabis Strategy

Charlie Bachtell: The Inside Story of Cresco Labs & Impact of Rescheduling

Charlie Bachtell

Tony Verzura Innovating with Authentic Cannabis-derived Terpenes & Deconstructing Extracts

Lulu Tsui: Applying West Coast Lessons on the East Coast & Hard Truths in the Cannabis Industry

All-in-One Dispensary Solution ft. Anne Forkutza

Cannabis Ecommerce will be ~$9 Billion Dollars in 2023 ft. Jeremy Johnson

Switching Spirits for Strains: Cannabis a Substitute for Alcohol ft Dr. Amanda Reiman

Dr. Amanda Reiman