Author: bfields

“Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way.” — Daniele Vare

Are we underestimating the role cannabis could play in shaping global influence? 

U.S. brands have historically had global appeal, but could cannabis open the door to new trade opportunities and strategic value on an international scale? 

Who will lead these global negotiations when the U.S. is still struggling with a state-by-state approach?

Can state-level influence accelerate global change, and what would the timeline for such a shift look like?

This week, we sit down with Hirsh Jain to explore these critical questions and more.

• Cannabis Shifting Global Policies
• Key Red States to Watch 
• The Role of Soft Power in Shaping International Cannabis Policy

 

Key Topics Discussed:

Hirsh’s background and journey into the cannabis industry (00:02:06 – 00:06:05)

The United States’ potential to influence global cannabis policy and legalization (00:06:41 – 00:14:32)

The importance of state-level legalization progress in the U.S. and its impact on federal action (00:14:44 – 00:18:28)

Predictions on key states to watch for future legalization efforts (00:18:29 – 00:20:01)

The role of hemp products and their impact on the cannabis industry (00:38:22 – 00:45:04)

The responsibility of the cannabis industry and public health authorities to educate on cannabis (00:45:19 – 00:49:10)

Hirsh’s “dream smoking session” with three historical figures (00:49:18 – 00:50:31)

Hirsh’s contrarian view that regulators need to be held more accountable (00:50:37 – 00:51:20)

The potential for the U.S. to leverage cannabis legalization for strategic international alliances (00:51:48 – 00:53:26)

About Hirsh Jain 

Hirsh Jain is the Founder of Ananda Strategy, a strategy consultancy which advises leading cannabis brands, retailers, ancillary technology businesses and venture capital funds in the United States, Canada and Western Europe. Hirsh also serves as Vice Chair of the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, which aims to promote the common interests of cannabis businesses by advocating for sound public policy and facilitating collaborations between cannabis operators. In addition, Hirsh is on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in California, which for fifty years has been working to reform California’s cannabis laws. Prior to working in cannabis, Hirsh was the Global Policy Lead at Airbnb in San Francisco. Before that, he worked as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company in New York City. Hirsh has a B.A. in Philosophy from UC Berkeley, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Guest Links 

• Hirsh Jain (@anandastrategy) on X
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirsh-jain/
• Instagram (@anandastrategy)

Link about Bayard Rustin 

Our Links

Bryan Fields on Twitter 

Kellan Finney on Twitter 

The Dime on Twitter 

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain 

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast 

The Dime has a New Website. Shhhh its not finished. 

The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast 

Sign up for our playbook here:

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

Humbling… How many times have we thought catalysts were on the way, only to find out at the last minute it was just a pawn or a negotiation tactic?

The question remains for optimists like myself: Is the thesis still intact? Yes, but the timing was off. A hard lesson learned—never count on DC for simple, sound decisions on a reasonable timeline.

Let’s revisit the thesis.

Gone are the days of unicorns, but we’re now in a phase where challenges persist, and change could come quickly. Optimist Bryan is still holding on.

How do you balance emotional attachment with a clear perspective on the investment thesis, recognizing these businesses are moving in the right direction and poised to explode?

This week, we sat down with Jesse Redmond to revisit this thesis and explore exactly that.

• Cannabis Investing: A Generational Opportunity?
• Pick & Shovel Strategies vs. MSOs in Cannabis
• Balancing Political Catalysts and Investment Approach

Topics Discussed:

Jesse’s background and path into the cannabis industry (00:02:05)

The current state of the cannabis investment thesis and opportunities ahead (00:06:18)

The potential impact of catalysts like Florida going adult-use and Schedule 3 rescheduling (00:09:37)

The relationship and dynamics between the cannabis and hemp industries (00:18:57)

Strategies for investing in the cannabis space, including ETFs and specialized companies (00:22:03)

The importance of understanding the “why” behind being involved in the cannabis industry (00:59:55)

Jesse’s predictions for the next 12 months in the cannabis market (01:04:14)

About Jesse Redmond is the Managing Director at Water Tower Research where I cover cannabis and natural products. Before this, I founded two hedge funds and a leading California cannabis collective. I began my career at Franklin Templeton, was an early employee of Fisher Investments, and spent a decade co-managing multiple hedge funds. In this role, I allocated more than $1 billion to hedge fund strategies and conducted more than 1,000 due diligence visits around the world.

In 2016, I founded a dispensary outside of Santa Barbara, California, that became number one in its region. In 2020, I founded Higher Calling Consulting, where he helped investors find the best cannabis investments. Through these experiences, I bring a unique perspective to the sectors I cover.

In addition to publishing written research, I’m the co-host of The Water Tower Hour and Higher Exchanges podcasts.

Guest Links 

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseredmond/
• https://www.watertowerresearch.com/sector/12
• https://x.com/jesseredmond
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/higher-exchanges/id1710898583

Our Links

Bryan Fields on Twitter 

Kellan Finney on Twitter 

The Dime on Twitter 

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain 

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast 

The Dime has a New Website. Shhhh its not finished. 

The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast 

Sign up for our playbook here:

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

 

Imagine this…… The sun is shining, you’re lounging on a beautiful beach in Thailand with your partner. 

The kids are with their grandparents when a friendly resort worker approaches with a smile and offers you an edible.

Sounds like a dream of mine, or maybe just another social media fantasy, right? 

Nope, this is reality in 2024.

Kanha is revolutionizing plant medicine with a global perspective, making cannabis edibles an experience to be enjoyed across the world.

This week, we sit down with Cameron Clarke to dive into:

• Kanha’s innovative partnership with Thai beach resorts.
• How close we are to personalized cannabis therapy.
• Kanha’s product strategy for Europe and Asia.”
• and so much more 

Main Topics Discussed:

• (00:01:53) Origins of Kanha – Cameron’s background in biotech and how he got into the cannabis industry
• (00:03:33) Early product development – Starting with extraction, then moving into edibles and tinctures
• (00:05:46) Consistency and quality focus – Ensuring accurate labeling and potency
• (00:09:26) Addressing onset time with nanotechnology
• (00:13:08) Extraction methods and their impact on end products
• (00:15:47) R&D process and new product development
• (00:18:23) Launching products in new states and managing expansion
• (00:20:31) Challenges of operating in a state-by-state regulated market
• (00:21:12)Kanha expansion into Thailand
• (00:27:49) Personalized cannabis and the role of genetics/endocannabinoid system
• (00:35:33) The future of cannabis in health and wellness

Guest Links

• https://kanhatreats.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/kanhabliss/
• https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kanhabliss/
• https://x.com/kanhahighlife
• https://kanhahemp.com/

The KANHA Story

Our founders embarked on a journey to seek greater balance in their lives that took them from the Amazon rainforest, to the jungles of West Africa, to the ancient cultures of Asia, including transformational lessons from a respected spiritual guide in India. 

This spiritual journey profoundly impacted them and taught them how people from different cultures have learned to live in harmony with the world and how plant based medicine like cannabis can lead to a life of optimal wellness. 

KANHA reflects the way we see cannabis and its role in connecting the world around us, serving as a metaphor that expresses how cannabis offers a better life and a stronger community through your own personal journey to happiness. KANHA strives to lead you on a joyful journey with delicious, reliable edibles. As a leading edible brand in the nation, KANHA delivers delectable gummies in an incredible variety of dosages, effects and flavors — so that consumers can taste the bliss at every step of their journey. 

We’re dedicated to carefully crafting our wide range of products using only all-natural ingredients and premium cannabis oil extracted from pesticide-free flower, resulting in a perfectly consistent, accurate and delicious dose every time. 

Our Links 

Bryan Fields on Twitter 

Kellan Finney on Twitter 

The Dime on Twitter 

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain 

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast 

The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast 

Sign up for our playbook here:

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

Hemp beverages have exploded over the last 24 months, and they are likely the tip of the spear for broader cannabis reform, helping to normalize cannabis through a familiar form factor.

The opportunity to produce hemp-based products in a single facility and distribute them across state lines offers benefits throughout the supply chain, providing consumers with more cost-effective products—much like how global giants like Coca-Cola operate. However, the rules governing this are still very grey.

In contrast, regulated markets require brands like Keef to establish individual operations in each state, leading to massive capital expenditures and challenging returns, especially when confined to a single state’s population. Now, Keef sometimes finds itself competing with others—or even itself—as those who can distribute more broadly enjoy better unit economics without the burden of regulatory headaches and infrastructure costs.

Balancing these two models—considering the investments, the state of the market, and the opportunities at hand—is far from simple. Especially when you consider that Keef has been pioneering cannabis beverages for the past 14 years.

This week, we sit down with Erik Knutson to discuss:

• Building a beverage brand in 2010
• The differences between the regulated cannabis market and the hemp-derived market
• Key manufacturing and strategy decisions
• And much more

Chapters:

1. Introduction and Background (00:00:00) – The hosts introduce their guest, Eric Knutson, co-founder of Keef Brands, and discuss his early introduction to the cannabis industry in Colorado.
2. Keef Brands Origin Story (00:01:28) – Eric shares the story of how Keef Brands was founded, starting with their initial focus on cannabis-infused beverages and the challenges they faced in developing the manufacturing process.
3. Navigating Expansion and Licensing (00:07:46) – Eric discusses Keef Brands’ expansion efforts, the challenges of licensing their brand in different states, and the importance of vetting partnerships.
4. Regulated vs. Hemp-Derived Markets (00:27:26) – Eric explains the differences between the regulated cannabis market and the hemp-derived market, including the regulatory landscape, supply chain considerations, and Keef Brands’ approach to each.
5. Planning and Forecasting in a Rapidly Changing Industry (00:42:32) – Eric shares insights on the challenges of planning and forecasting in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for flexibility and caution when it comes to investments and production.
6. Advice and Closing (00:46:01) – Eric provides advice for first-time cannabis beverage consumers and shares where listeners can find more information about Keef Brands.

Guest Links:

• https://keefbrands.com/
• https://x.com/keefbrands

About Keef Brands:

Born in Boulder, Colorado in 2010, Keef Brands is a leader in the cannabis beverage space with a suite of products that offer a new generation of consumers an alternative to alcohol and an innovative new way to celebrate, have fun and enjoy life.

Our Links

Bryan Fields on Twitter 

Kellan Finney on Twitter 

The Dime on Twitter 

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain 

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast 

The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast 

Sign up for our playbook here:

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

 

What is Bank Secrecy, and why are cash-heavy businesses like cannabis dispensaries, casinos, and laundromats treated the same?

Did regulators understand that they forced cannabis businesses were once forced into “criminal” banking practices?

Banking is available to the cannabis industry, but what are the differences?

We discuss the complexities of navigating federal and state regulations, the impact of the SAFE(R) Banking Act, and the differences between state-chartered and federally-chartered banks in handling cannabis-related transactions. Sundie also discusses the challenges of credit card processing for cannabis businesses and the emerging issues around hemp derivatives. Get a firsthand look at the strategies behind vetting and managing risky clients and what the future holds as the cannabis industry matures and evolves. If you’re interested in the intersection of finance, regulation, and cannabis, this episode is packed with valuable insights and industry expertise. Perfect for cannabis entrepreneurs, banking professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the rapidly changing landscape of cannabis finance.

We sit down with Sundie Seefried to discuss the following:

• Explaining Bank Secrecy
• Differences in Banking Hemp vs. Cannabis
• Visa/MasterCard:  What is needed?
• And so much more 

Topics and Timestamps 

• Sundie’s background and how she got into the cannabis banking space (00:00:46 – 00:01:49)
• The challenges of banking cannabis businesses and the “criminal” practices they were forced into prior to Safe Harbor (00:01:49 – 00:03:55)
• Navigating regulations and relationships with state/federal regulators to establish a compliant cannabis banking program (00:03:55 – 00:07:07)
• Differences between state-chartered and federally-chartered banking institutions when it comes to cannabis (00:07:07 – 00:08:01)
• The impact of the SAFE Banking Act and the limitations it may have (00:08:32 – 00:10:05)
• Challenges with credit card processing and merchant services for cannabis businesses (00:10:16 – 00:11:33)

Guest Links

• https://shfinancial.org/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sundie-seefried-748194130/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/safeharbor-financial/

About Sundie Seefried:

Safe Harbor Financial is the brainchild of Sundie Seefried. A 35-year veteran of the credit union industry, in 2014, she saw that CRBs needed financial services and that Colorado communities would be safer if the new industry had access to banking solutions.

A 39-year credit union industry veteran, Seefried was the former CEO of Partner Colorado Credit Union (PCCU). Established in 2015 by PCCU, Safe Harbor was formed to provide an unmet need – compliant banking and financial services to the rapidly growing U.S. cannabis industry. Seefried designed a full scope Cannabis Banking Program for PCCU known as the Safe Harbor program, which has withstood the scrutiny of 16 federal and state exams to date. Now in its 8th year, Safe Harbor has grown to nearly 600 accounts spanning 20 states, and processed over $12 billion in cannabis-related transactions.

Seefried regularly provides cannabis banking education and expertise to legislators, regulators, attorneys generals, state officials, and financial institutions. She is on a mission to normalize banking for the cannabis industry, while assisting law enforcement and federal agencies to be more effective at combating illicit activities and protecting the financial system.

To share her knowledge, Seefried authored the book ‘Navigating Safe Harbor – Cannabis Banking in Uncertain Times’ in 2016, as well as contributed a chapter on cannabis banking in the university textbook ‘The Politics of Marijuana: A New Paradigm’ by Timothy McGettigan.

Follow us: Our Links.

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain 

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast 

The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast 

Sign up for our playbook here:

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

Connected is one of the most influential cannabis brands in the world, renowned for its best-in-class genetics and highest-quality flower. But it’s their unmatched R&D, breeding program, and bold appetite for pushing boundaries that truly set them apart.

To understand how Connected became the powerhouse it is today, we delve into the origins of its journey, including the story behind the naming of Biscotti. In this episode, Caleb Counts breaks down how much Connected invests in R&D and offers an inside look into their renowned breeding program. He shares insights on how decisions are made, the process of crossing strains, and how they’re revitalizing sativas. Caleb also discusses their pre-launch program, why Connected has been mentioned in hundreds of rap songs, and how they’ve designed a system that ensures they continue to deliver on the trust that’s nearly impossible to build in this industry.

This week, we sit down with Caleb Counts to discuss:

• In-depth details on their extensive Breeding Program
• The Sativa Revival Project, featuring strains like Tropical Z & Silver Spoon
• How Connected strains consistently get mentioned in songs
• And much more!

Guest Links 

• https://connectedcannabisco.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/connected.california/
• https://www.instagram.com/counts/

Our Links 

Bryan Fields on Twitter 

Kellan Finney on Twitter 

The Dime on Twitter 

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain 

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast 

The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast 

Sign up for our playbook here:

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime