Innovating Cannabis Podcast

Trade show season for 2026 is officially underway.  I’ll be heading to MJ Unpacked, taking place May 5–7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  I recently sat down with co-founder George Jage—someone many of you already know from his long track record in the trade show world, including his role in helping scale MJBizCon in the early days.  In this conversation, we go beyond the typical event preview and dig into what it actually takes to build a meaningful industry gathering in cannabis. George shares how MJ Unpacked is intentionally designed not to be the biggest show, but the most valuable—especially for CPG brands navigating today’s fragmented, state-by-state market.  We also get into the challenge of creating a “national” platform in an industry that still operates locally, and why that distinction matters. We talk about the growing importance of visual merchandising at retail, what makes Atlantic City a strategic location for drawing operators from across the tri-state and mid-Atlantic regions, and why the show’s content still resonates beyond those markets.  George also offers insights into emerging markets like Missouri, breaks down the thinking behind the MJ Cup awards and their partnerships with Ganjier and Green Flower, and shares what’s next—including his upcoming Hemp Beverage Expo in Austin this June. https://mjunpacked.com/ The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Allison Kirchhofer is the Director of the Cannabis Division at Sax Accounting, where she leads a team of CPAs serving operators across multiple states. She has also worked closely with businesses in New York.s turbulent adult-use rollout, helping them manage compliance, tax strategy, and financial infrastructure in one of the country's most closely watched markets.   Prior to joining Sax, Allison served as Controller for Travel Agency, one of New York's first licensed dispensaries, giving her first-hand operational insight into the financial realities of launching and running a cannabis retail business.   In today’s conversation, we’ll discuss the financial challenges cannabis companies face, where they can tighten margins, pitfalls and common mistakes, and what businesses need to understand to stay compliant and financially healthy as the market continues to evolve. The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kema Ogden was one of the early pioneers of Nevada’s legal cannabis industry. In 2015, she helped open one of the state’s first medical dispensaries, laying the foundation for what would become the Top Notch THC brand. Since then, she and her partners have expanded to multiple adult-use locations across Nevada, building a loyal customer base in one of the country’s most competitive cannabis markets. Today, Top Notch THC serves both medical patients and recreational consumers and continues to grow alongside the evolving industry. In this episode, we talk about the Nevada cannabis market, what it takes to survive in one of the nation’s earliest and most established legal markets, and the challenges operators face as the industry matures.   https://topnotchthc.com/ The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

River Falls, Wisconsin, is home to Tattersall Distilling, a nationally recognized craft spirits producer whose portfolio is distributed across 25 states. Known for sourcing locally and crafting spirits infused with botanicals and functional ingredients, Tattersall has built a reputation on flavor innovation and ingredient integrity.  Co-founder Jon Kreidler joins the show to discuss the company's strategic expansion into the fast-growing hemp-derived THC beverage market with Tattersall Functional. Drawing on years of experience working with complex flavor profiles and plant-based ingredients, Jon explains how Tattersall is translating its distilling expertise into this new category.  He also shares insights into Wisconsin's evolving hemp landscape by allowing beverages in liquor stores and restaurants, helping to normalize cannabis. He discusses what it takes to scale a regulated beverage brand across state lines, and how distributors and retailers are preparing for a potential federal hemp ban this November.  https://www.tattersallfunctional.com  https://www.tattersalldistilling.com The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Rawson founded the nonprofit Institute of Cannabis Science while serving as a postdoctoral researcher in chemistry at Harvard University. He conducts scientific research, investigative reporting, and regulatory reviews, and provides subject-matter expertise in cannabis testing.  Jeff serves on the ASTM D37 Committee on Cannabis and is involved with ACIL, which honored him with the 2024 Preston S. Miller Award for extraordinary service.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bard College, a master’s in organic chemistry from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Duke University.  Driven by a passion for improving public health, Jeff applies his analytical expertise to protect cannabis consumers. He founded the Institute of Cannabis Science because, as he puts it, it is the most impactful way to use his chemistry background for the public good.  https://cannsci.org/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-rawson-31b1a724b The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with [email protected]   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.