Flourishin' In Cannabis

Vien sits down with Beck Rouke Mooney, Director of Sales and Operations at Supernaturals New York, a Hudson Valley micro business. Beck shares her unconventional journey from being a middle school English teacher and published young adult author to leading operations at a cannabis company. The conversation explores how her husband's serious illness introduced her to cannabis as medicine, leading to a deep expertise in the plant. Beck discusses the unique experience of New York's Cannabis Grower Showcases, which allowed direct customer interaction and shaped their product line based on real feedback. She reveals the challenges and advantages of being a small 10-person team competing against multi-state operators with massive budgets, emphasizing how authenticity and relationship-building drive their success. Beck also candidly discusses their experience switching away from Flourish Software and why they came back, highlighting the importance of strong customer support in the cannabis industry. The episode covers navigating New York's evolving regulations, the transition from BioTrack to Metrc, and how Supernaturals maintains quality while scaling operations across New York's diverse markets from NYC to Buffalo.Chapters:(00:00:00) Customer-Driven Product Innovation Through Direct Feedback(00:01:33) From English Teacher to Cannabis Operations Director(00:02:56) Navigating Uncertainty in State Cannabis Programs(00:05:03) Building a Micro Business in New York's Evolving Market(00:10:01) Cannabis Grower Showcases: Direct-to-Consumer Insights(00:13:22) Hudson Valley's Small Business Cannabis Community(00:22:14) Breaking Into NYC: Authenticity Over Marketing Budget(00:24:00) Why Small Operators Should Rethink Dispensary Popups(00:27:09) New York's Transition from BioTrack to Metrc(00:28:01) Why We Left Our Software Provider and Returned to Flourish(00:29:23) The Critical Role of Support for Small Cannabis Operations(00:36:49) Cannabis as Essential Medicine: A Personal Journey(00:41:07) Connect with Supernaturals NYLinks and Resources:Supernaturals NY WebsiteFlourish SoftwareBrian Weber on LinkedInThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Flourish in Cannabis? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

Join Vien as he sits down with Ben Wiener and Stacey Shurgin, the dynamic duo behind Hudson Valley Jane, one of New York's pioneering micro cannabis businesses. Ben, a former legacy grower turned general contractor, and Stacey, a real estate developer who discovered cannabis for wellness, share their incredible journey of building a fully vertically integrated operation in just 14 months. From navigating OCM's early regulatory chaos to creating two distinct brands—Bougie Ben for flower and Valley Jane for edibles—they reveal the reality of competing as a small craft cultivator against corporate cannabis. Learn about their farm-to-table philosophy, innovative products like King Palm pre-rolls and Lotus flower cones, and why they believe micro businesses represent the future of artisanal, transparent cannabis. This conversation goes deep into the challenges of compliance, the importance of knowing your grower, and what it truly takes to flourish in New York's evolving cannabis landscape.Chapters:(00:00:00) - From Illegal Warehouse to Legal Pioneer: Ben's Cannabis Origin Story(00:01:00) - The Power Duo Forms: How Ben & Stacey's Partnership Was Born(00:03:00) - Cannabis as Medicine: Stacey's Personal Wellness Transformation(00:06:00) - Two Brands, One Vision: The Hudson Valley Jane Business Model Explained(00:09:00) - Product Innovation Breakdown: Why King Palm & Lotus Cones Are Game-Changers(00:12:00) - David vs. Goliath: How Micro Businesses Compete Against Corporate Cannabis(00:15:00) - Speed to Market Mastery: Building a Compliant Facility in Record Time(00:20:00) - Surviving OCM's Growing Pains: Real Talk on NY's Regulatory Chaos(00:26:00) - The Vertical Integration Playbook: Managing Cultivation, Wholesale & Retail Simultaneously(00:32:00) - The Art of Growing: Why 50 Hand-Watered Plants Beat 500 Automated OnesLinks and Resources:Hudson Valley Jane Website: hudsonvalleyjane.comInstagram: @hudsonvalleyjaneEmail: [email protected] Trinh on LinkedInFlourish SoftwareThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Flourish in Cannabis? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

For cannabis operators, brand leaders, and revenue teams, this episode gets practical about building a resilient business in volatile markets. Vien and Sabrina Naomi Wheeler unpack why AR and cash‑flow risk cripple California operators, how New York’s early credit protections change incentives, and what it takes to scale lean without bloating headcount. Sabrina compares CA vs. NY demand patterns, flags real Metrc bottlenecks that stall inventory, and draws a clear line between compliance tasks and the operational stack required to run the business. She also shares how Greenhouse Agency (HAUS) gives founders sales, trade marketing, and demo coverage on a shared-services model. The conversation closes with Sabrina’s personal connection to the plant and why mission matters when the market gets tough.Key Takeaways - Might be worth using for SEOCalifornia vs. New York are fundamentally different markets. New York is earlier with more upside, California is mature but challenged by AR and taxes.Cash flow and AR risk can sink even strong brands. Not getting paid on time cascades through the entire supply chain.New York instituted credit protections early, a meaningful step that could prevent CA‑style failures.Consumer preference differs: CA leans indica. NY leans sativa, with more professional, function‑driven buyers.Track‑and‑trace (Metrc) is compliance, not operations. Operators still need real ERP to run the business efficiently.Agency model helps brands share sales, trade marketing, and demo resources to scale leanChapters 00:00:00 — Introduction: The challenges of getting paid in cannabis00:00:48 — Meet the guest: Sabrina Naomi Wheeler00:01:17 — Sabrina’s journey in the cannabis industry00:03:20 — California vs. New York markets00:08:04 — Greenhouse Agency’s role00:10:24 — Running operations efficiently00:19:17 — Personal insights and cultural connections00:22:01 — Contact info and final thoughts00:22:47 — When did you fall in love with cannabis?Links and Resources:Sabrina on InstagramSabrina on LinkedInGreen Haus AgencyVien Trinh on LinkedInFlourish SoftwareWe’re glad you joined us for this week’s conversation. To learn more about Flourish Software’s full suite of seed-to-sale solutions, shoot us a DM. Be sure to subscribe to our Flourishin' in Cannabis Newsletter and connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Vien Trinh sits down with Megan Jewett of Florette and True Harmony Company to explore her remarkable journey from pharmaceutical sales to building powerhouse cannabis brands. Megan shares hard-earned lessons from scaling Select during its explosive growth, launching Florette in New York, and now leading marketing and sales for True Harmony’s cutting-edge cultivation facility in Nevada. Together, they dive into the challenges of price compression, sustainability in cultivation, the contrasting dynamics of Nevada and New York markets, and the looming implications of cannabis rescheduling. This candid conversation blends personal stories, market insights, and practical advice for anyone navigating the fast-changing cannabis landscape.Chapters:00:00:00 Pharma to Cannabis Journey00:03:30 Select's Explosive Growth Story00:08:30 True Harmony's Sustainable Cultivation00:11:40 Nevada vs. New York Markets00:15:00 Data Transforming Cannabis Operations00:17:30 Big Pharma's Cannabis Trojan Horse00:20:30 New York Equity Program Issues00:24:00 Nevada Supply Partnership Strategy00:25:10 Meaningful Patient Cannabis Stories00:27:30 Connecting with Megan's CompaniesLinks and Resources:Megan Jewett on LinkedInFlorette CannabisInstagram: @mainstreammaryjaneFlourish YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/gPz-6nhySubscribe to our Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dgYin3TMSpotify: https://lnkd.in/gmFaChEWApple Music: https://lnkd.in/gGUzbbtZ

In this episode, host Vien Trinh interviews attorney and advocate Jeffrey Hoffman, Co-Founder of the Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative.Together, they unpack New York’s messy cannabis rollout from regulations that clash with state law, to the dispensary zoning crisis threatening more than 150 businesses, and a stalled seed-to-sale technology system that has ground progress to a halt.Jeffrey also shares his personal journey from participating in the illicit market during college, to becoming a legal advocate championing justice and equity in cannabis today.Tune in for an eye-opening conversation about policy, advocacy, and the fight to bring fairness to New York’s cannabis industry.Chapters:00:00:00 - Welcome to Flourishin’ in Cannabis Podcast00:00:41 - Meet Jeffrey Hoffman00:01:15 - Getting Started in Cannabis: Jeffrey's Origin Story00:01:25 - Getting High Since Reagan00:02:49 - The Disparity Between Cannabis and Alcohol00:04:00 - Buying and Selling Quarter Pounds00:04:46 - From Dealing to Cultivating00:05:27 - Making Pre-RSO Infused Cigarettes00:07:15 - The Shift to Advocacy and Fighting for Justice00:10:15 - From Pre-Infused Spliffs to Legal Advocacy00:10:57 - New York's Cannabis Market: What Could Be Done Better?00:11:06 - When Regulations Don't Match the Law00:12:05 - The Dormant Commerce Clause Explained00:15:38 - The Dispensary Relocation Issue00:16:24 - Why 150 Dispensaries Must Move: A Regulatory Mismatch00:18:00 - How Cannabis Law Diverges from Alcohol Law00:20:02 - The Political Challenge of Correcting the Law00:23:43 - Tech in Cannabis: The State's Seed-to-Sale System00:24:25 - A Software Rollout Disaster: Customization vs. Adaptation00:26:32 - BioTrack's Partnership with Metrc00:27:40 - The Nightmare Scenario for Cannabis Operators00:29:01 - Jeffrey's Driving Passion for Cannabis Justice00:32:19 - How to Connect with Jeffrey HoffmanLinks and Resources:Jeffrey Hoffman on LinkedInCannabis Justice & Equity Initiative (CJEI)Jeffrey Hoffman & Associates PLLCVien Trinh on LinkedInFlourish Software  📧 Contact: [email protected]🎥 Weekly Ask Me Anything about Cannabis Legalization in New York on Cannabis Legalization in NY — live Wednesdays at 4:20 PM ET on LinkedInWe’re glad you joined us for this week’s conversation. To learn more about Flourish Software’s full suite of seed-to-sale solutions, shoot us a DM. Be sure to subscribe to our Flourishin' in Cannabis Newsletter and connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.