HITR #29: Nikki Lawley on wholesale minimums and medical use
In this episode, KymB speaks with Nikki Lawley
What’s in this episode?
- Talking about the whole plant
- Medical cannabis
- Wholesale minimums
- Stocking your dispensary at startup
Tag: HITR
HITR #28: Anthony of 40 Tons on Advocacy and CA and NY Markets
In this episode, KymB speaks with Anthony of 40 Tons Brand about advocacy and the CA and NY markets. 40 Tons is a brand that’s making real change by advocating for diversity, inclusion, and second chances for those impacted by past cannabis convictions.
What’s in this episode?
- The story behind 40 Tons – how it started and the powerful meaning behind the name.
- Breaking the stigma – how the cannabis industry is evolving and what we can do to drive real change.
- What’s in and what’s out for 2025 – hear Antony’s take on the trends shaping the future.
- California vs. New York cannabis – Antony weighs in on which market reigns supreme.
HITR #27: Luna Stower, Plant Medicine Advocate, OG of Cannabis
In this episode, KymB meets with Luna Stower, Plant Medicine Advocate, and an Original Queen (OQ) of cannabis.
What’s Hot in Cannabis Right Now?
- Signing Contracts – Businesses are getting things in writing to avoid legal battles
- New York City
- Advocating for the Plant and Mother Earth
What’s Out – OR SHOULD BE OUT
- Corporate Greed
- Lack of Authenticity
As a cannabis executive, educator, and advocate, Luna has played a key role in developing and expanding leading cannabis brands. She’s passionate about social justice, community empowerment, and cutting through corporate greed to create a more authentic industry. She is also a powerful plant medicine advocate.
A strong proponent of trade shows, Luna believes that brands need in-person venues to engage and grow their businesses.
Luna is also a fan of New York City, New York Culture and the New York marketplace, and she is excited to be at the CMB in June. Hear her take on what makes New York the hottest place to be.
HITR #26: Christine Ianuzzi, Be in the Right Room, CMB
In this episode, KymB sits down with Christine Ianuzzi, CEO of Cannabis Means Business (CMB), to get the blunt facts on the state of cannabis today and the upcoming CMB Conference in NYC.
What’s Hot in Cannabis Right Now?
- The push for nationwide legalization – Over 70% of Americans support it!
- Entrepreneurship – Breaking into the industry and making it work
- Branding – Standing out in a competitive market is more important than ever
What’s Out?
- Unhealthy, low-quality products
- Negativity – Cannabis is about community, business, and lifestyle
CMB is More Than a Trade Show – It’s a Movement!
Christine and KymB talk about why CMB, formerly CWCBExpo, is getting back to its roots and why being in the right room matters. NYC and CMB are where business happens!
HITR #25: Patty Roe, Community Building, Pink Sesh, PS Society
Patty Roe, Founder of Pink Sesh and the PS Society
From Passion to Purpose: How Patty Roe Built a Community for Women in Cannabis.
In this episode, KymB sits down with Patty Roe, founder of PS Society, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting, elevating, and empowering women in the cannabis industry. Discover how Pink Sesh evolved into PS Society, fostering a powerful community of women leaders. Beyond the cannabis industry, PS Society empowers women across various fields, offering programs that combat loneliness and isolation, creating connections that uplift and inspire.
Learn how Patty’s journey took her from California to Michigan, navigating the cannabis space, overcoming challenges, and building a thriving, mission-driven organization. Gain valuable insights and advice on breaking into the industry, including the challenges of letting go of what isn’t working and the courage it takes to start something entirely new.
Listen now and be inspired by a pioneer in cannabis entrepreneurship and community building.
HITR #24: Kristin Jordan, on Cannabis Commercial Real Estate
This week on The Highest: In the Room, KymB sits down with Kristin Jordan, Founder and CEO of Park Jordan Real Estate, for a dynamic conversation about the ever-evolving cannabis industry.
What are the biggest ~avoidable~ pitfalls to navigate in commercial cannabis real estate? Tune in to find out.
The latest episode of Highest In The Room covers real estate challenges and success strategies, while Kristin also shares her insights on what’s trending “in” and what’s falling “out” as cannabis transforms into a lifestyle integrated into everyday living.
Recognized by Forbes as one of “Fifteen Powerful and Innovative Women in Cannabis Right Now,” Kristin founded Mannada Events and is also a professor in LIM College’s Cannabis Business programs.
HITR #24: Charles Warner, Cannabis & Tech Today
Highest in the Room with KymB
Get ready for a dynamic conversation with Charles Warner, CEO of Innovative Properties Worldwide, the powerhouse behind Cannabis & Tech Today, and CMO of STM Canna, pre-roll automation technology company.
Based in Denver but with roots in Washington State, Charles shares his passion for innovation and collaboration in the cannabis space.
• Discover the art and tech behind award-winning pre-rolls and why Charles believes a blend of human touch and automation is key to scaling production.
• Hear how having a good company story is integral to successfully marketing your business.
• Learn about Cannabis & Tech Today’s upcoming women-focused issue, created by women, for women, and spotlighting their unique stories in the industry.
• Explore Charles’s take on bridging the divide between cannabis and hemp—because supporting each other is how we grow stronger.
This episode is packed with insights on marketing your business, pre-roll technology, and the importance of consistency in your products and stories in cannabis. Don’t miss it!
HITR #23: Justin Johnson, Budsfeed & Chill Steel Pipes
In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation with Justin Johnson, founder and CEO of BudsFeed, an online community platform launched in 2019 that connects people around their favorite cannabis-related products and services.
Justin is also the co-founder and CEO of Chill Steel Pipes; makers of the world’s first double-wall vacuum insulated smoking apparatus.
He shares how he got his start in cannabis, what’s trending in cannabis media, and much more.
Justin says that you have to market your products every day and can’t take for granted that people know what you have.
Kym B asked: “Where do you get the most of your newsletter sign-ups from?”
“I would say the majority of it was the site. So I was driving people to sign up for the site either to vote on products or contribute their own products and by default you got signed up for the newsletter. Second was probably LinkedIn, and pro-active B2B outreach and trying to get people to sign up and learn. Instagram, I’ve definitely gotten some sign-ups from that, but really what I’ve found was there are people that read newsletters and there are people that look at pictures, and my Instagram strategy was more so a means of allowing them, other people, to get that content without having to subscribe.”
Don’t miss this discussion about cannabis marketing.
HITR #22: Lauren Mundell, Hi-Curious
In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation with Lauren Mundell, author and creator of the Hi-Curious app and content marketplace.
The Hi-Curious app is designed to help wellness consumers explore cannabis without fear of stigma. It connects users with advocates, experts, brands, and like-minded individuals in a safe space.
Mundell is also founder of the Hi-Curious content market place, an on-line portal to find the influencers and ambassadors to build your brand. Find out what makes a good brand ambassador and how influencer marketing can help your business. Get tips on selecting the brand ambassador that’s right for you.
Don’t miss this discussion about cannabis brand building.
HITR #21: Ramon Reyes, Happy Munkey
In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation with Ramon Reyes, co-founder of Happy Munkey.
Ramon tells how he, along with Vladimir Bautista, founded Happy Munkey, a lifestyle brand and underground cannabis institution that has recently evolved into two culture-forward legal cannabis dispensaries in upper Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Ramon describes the uniqueness of New York City’s cannabis culture, where “flower is still king.” He says local weed quality has improved rapidly since last year, as new indoor strains are being developed. Ramon sees New York as leading cannabis in “every aspect, because it’s just getting better. It just started three years ago, and it’s just getting better.”
Listen as Ramon describes the keys to Happy Munkey’s success, which include creating venues where all people feel they are VIPS, feel they are safe, and can just be themselves.
Don’t miss this discussion of New York City vibes, culture and business.
