Smells Like Business

On this episode, Tom chats with Ben Arn, the CEO of the Cannabis Business Company (CB Events). Ben shares his roots in cannabis activism and how that got him into the cannabis industry, as well as what the different CB events have to offer.

They also dive into some of the big topics that will be discussed at the upcoming event, like the changes in cannabis rules in Germany, questions about CBD, and where cannabis laws are heading globally. Tom will be a panelist at the next conference and his panel discussion is sure to be a highlight, alongside names like Carmen Doran from Helius Therapeutics and Ben Stevens from Business of Cannabis.

So if you’re curious to learn more about how the cannabis industry is evolving (especially in Germany and the rest of Europe) then give this episode a listen.

Links:
www.smellslikebusiness.com
www.cb-expo.com

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Alex Rogers, the Founder and CEO of the ICBC (International Cannabis Business Conference). The flagship b2b event takes place on the 29th and 30th of June and consists of both an expo and conference section. For more information check the links below.

This episode Alex and Tom discuss Legacy vs Legal, and how Europe should address this issue. Alex has a great perspective on the topic as he is an American who grew up in the states when the legacy market was booming. He also played a pivotal role in helping activists, such as Jack Herer and Denis Perone, move cannabis policies forward on the West Coast, but he also runs cannabis business events here in Europe. As a result, Alex is in a good position to discuss Legacy vs. Legal, how Europe should tackle this issue, and what we can learn from what the US did right and did wrong.

Links:
www.smellslikebusiness.com
www.internationalcbc.com

Related podcast episodes:
#58 - ICBC: Bringing cannabis businesses together in Europe
#69 - What is the ICBC getting up to in Slovenia?

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Lukas Hurt, who is a chief publisher at Magazine Konopi and Cannabis Therapy Magazine in Czechia, and he is also the manager at CzecHemp. As a result, he has his finger on the pulse when it comes to everything and anything related to cannabis, CBD and hemp in Czechia.

Lukas explains the historical and cultural relationship Czechia has with cannabis, as well as what the current situation looks like. Unfortunately, everything is not moving forward as smoothly as it may seem from the outside, and Lukas explains why. But there is still hope if the current government decides to act fast.

So if you're curious to learn more about the current state of cannabis Czechia and how full legalisation is coming along in the country, then give this episode a listen.

Links:
www.smelllslikebusiness.com
www.cannathemag.com
www.czechemp.cz

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Fleta Solomon, the CEO of Little Green Pharma, Australia's leading medical cannabis producer. This Perth-based company is the only producer in Australia with locally-grown products that could pass all the mandatory testing required. Over the last few years, Little Green Pharma has grown significantly, making it "not so little" anymore. 

A big topic discussed in this episode is their relatively recent move to Europe, where the company has set up its European base of operations just outside Odense, in Denmark. Tom had the pleasure of visiting the facility in February, which is currently the largest medical cannabis production facility in Europe. 

Fleta shares her personal story of how she ended up in the medical cannabis space and how Little Green Pharma grew from humble beginnings in Perth to a global production powerhouse in a relatively short period of time. Fleta also discusses some of the company's growing pains, how the board has implemented ESG practices, and what the future may hold for Little Green Pharma. 

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

Little Green Pharma - www.littlegreenpharma.com

Related podcast episodes:

#61 - Does The Cannabis Industry Need ESG? - Leonid DeWarrrior from DeWarrior Unlimited

#65 - Will Denmark Be The Medical Cannabis Hub of Europe? - Lone Knudsen Krogsbøll 

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Pia Meyer and Phillipp Hagenbach from Cannavigia. Pia is the product manager and Philipp the COO of Cannavigia, a Swiss company that creates compliance software solutions for the cannabis industry, with a strong focus on track and traceability.

If you want to learn more about the company then give Episode 51 of Smells Like Business a listen, where Tom interviewed Luc Richner (the CEO of Cannavigia).

This episode, however, we focus the discussion around the Swiss pilot program called WEEDCARE. The pilot program is the first recreational cannabis pilot program in Europe and started in Basel on the 30th of January this year (2023). Cannavigia is working closely with the Swiss government by providing the software for the pilot program.

Pia and Philipp are the two responsible for making this happen so give this episode a listen if you want to find out more about Europe's first recreational cannabis pilot program and how Cannavigia got involved.

Links:
www.smellslikebusiness.com
www.cannavigia.com
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business
LinkedIn - Cannavigia

Related Episodes:
#51 - Transparency and Traceability in the European Cannabis Industry - Luc Richner from Cannavigia

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Xavier G. who is the Head of EU Sales for Klonetics, a Canadian licensed cannabis nursery offering ready-to-flower clones and having the largest breeder-backed global catalog in the industry. 

Xavier explains the benefits of using clones, the complicated science behind them, and how Klonetics is working with some of the best breeders in the world. The company has also recently partnered up with a Portuguese cannabis production facility to provide more clones to the growing European medical cannabis market.

So if you want to learn more about clones and legacy breeders this is the episode for you.

Links:
www.klonetics.com
Instagram - Klonetics
LinkedIn - Klonetics

www.smellslikebusiness.com
Instagram - Smells Like Business
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business

Related Podcast Episodes:
#68 - Discovering “Cannatonic” and the Modern Origins of the CBD Movement

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Alex Rogers, the founder and CEO of The ICBC (the International Cannabis Business Conference) which organises B2B cannabis events in Europe. 

The ICBC flagship event is in Berlin every summer and if you want to learn more about that you can listen to episode 58 of smells like business, where Alex and Tom discuss the event in great detail. Alex also shares his personal and professional story into the cannabis space. 

This episode focuses on the partnership ICBC has with Spannabis (the largest B2C cannabis event in Europe), which happens takes place in Barcelona. 

However, the main portion of this episode is based around why Alex has moved to Slovenia, what he’s getting up to there, with ICBC and otherwise, as well as what Slovenia’s current attitude towards cannabis looks like and how Alex is trying to push legislation forward there.

Links:
www.smellslikebusiness.com
www.internationalcbc.com
Article - "Europe's Most Cannabis-Friendly Country"

On this episode Tom is having a chat Xavier G, who is the managing director for Resin Seeds, a Spanish Seed bank that specialises in CBD rich genetics. Xavier is also the Head of EU sales for Klonetics, a Canadian nursery cultivar, offering ready-to-flower clones and having the largest breeder-backed global catalog in the industry.

But we’re going to save Klonetics for another episode. On this episode it's all about Resin Seeds, and how Xavier developed his cannabis career over the last 20 years, after having moved to Barcelona. 

Fun fact, Resin Seeds created "Cannatonic", one of the first CBD-rich strains to hit the market. Since then, the company has been working hard at creating more CBD-rich genetics to help supply the growing demand.

Links:
www.smellslikebusiness.com
www.resinseeds.net

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Gilberto Cannarozzi, a multidisciplinary artist. about tattoos and cannabis. Gilberto and his good friend Samuele Salvadori, a tattoo artist who goes by the name of Sam Boy, have created a book called 'Stay Stoned'.

The book has a variety of cannabis themed tattoo flash and illustrations, all designed by different tattoo artists from around the world. Gilberto shares how they came up with the idea of bringing these two subcultures together, and how they ended up collaborating with the Hash, Marijuana and Hemp Museum in Amsterdam.

So if you're into tattoos and weed, then 'Stay Stoned' might be just for you.

Links:
www.smellslikebusiness.com
www.staystonedpress.com
Instagram - @stay_stoned_book

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with you! Tom summarises some of the important developments that have happened in 2022 regarding cannabis in Europe. He discusses what steps different European countries have taken towards legalisation, both medically and recreationally. 

With so many exciting developments having occurred this past year, Tom has a lot to discuss. But one thing is for sure, the future of cannabis in Europe looks very bright!

So if you’re curious to have a 2022 recap of cannabis in Europe, this episode is just for you.

Topics discussed:

• How many people in Europe have access to medical cannabis?
• Is it difficult getting a medical cannabis prescription in Europe?
• Why is it so hard to get a medical cannabis prescription in the UK?
• How is Germany moving along with full cannabis legalisation?
• What is the new approach to the EU drug policy?
• Is Czechia legalising cannabis?
• Will Czechia legalise cannabis for adult use before Germany?
• Is Denmark the medical cannabis hub of Europe?
• Is Juicy Fields the largest scam in the cannabis industry?
• What is Dispenseroo?
• How is France supporting the French hemp industry?
• Is Ireland decriminalising marijuana?

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

Related podcast episodes:

#31 - What is Cancard? - Carly Barton from Cancard

#48 - For A Free Cannabis Market In France - Daniel Kaddik from ELF

#60 - JuicyFields: The World's Biggest Cannabis Scam Explained - Ben Stevens from BusinessCann

#65 - Will Denmark Be The Medical Cannabis Hub of Europe? - Lone Knudsen Krogsbøll 

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Lone Knudsen Krogsbøll, an Investment Manager for the city of Odense. The conversation took place at the Symposium for Medical Cannabis in Copenhagen, where academics, doctors and businesses converged to discuss, network and learn more about where this industry is heading in Denmark.

Lone shares how Odense is going the extra mile and taking all the necessary steps to ensure that Fyn, the island it sits on, becomes the centre of medical cannabis in Denmark (if not all of Europe). By investing in lab-testing facilities that can provide EU-GMP certification and greenhouses retrofitted for medical cannabis production, the country is attracting both big companies and startups. QNTM Labs, Aurora Nordic, and Little Green Pharma are just some of the companies that have recently set up operations on Fyn.

Lone explains how Denmark promotes collaboration between the private and public sectors and how this brings new and much-needed innovations to the medical cannabis industry. Universities and other educational facilities are also partnering up with companies to help find new medical cannabis solutions.

So if you’re interested in discovering this little country’s big plans for the medical cannabis industry here in Europe, then this episode is for you.

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

City of Odense - www.investinodense.dk

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/loneaaknudsen/

Related podcast episodes:

#31 - What is Cancard? - Carly Barton from Cancard

#35 - Medical Cannabis in Denmark - Dr. Julie Moltke from Clinic Horsted

#43 - Bringing Danish Design to Cannabis Consumers - Simon Villum Folmann from HØJ

#54 - TechforCann Accelerator: How to Get Your Cannabis Startup Into the Program - Lilac Mandeles

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Sergiy Kovalenkov. He is the Founder and CEO of Hempire, an award-winning company dedicated to bringing hemp-building innovations into the construction industry. The company was founded in 2015 in Ukraine, but they now have offices in Ukraine, Poland, and the USA. Hempire has worked on projects in over 20 different countries. 

Sergiy shares how he stumbled upon hemp and its use in construction and why he started his company, Hempire. He also talks about the difficulties of bringing hemp into the mainstream of the construction industry and what it’s been like to run a company in a war-torn country. 

So if you’re interested in construction, love hemp and maybe want to build a house with it one day, this is the episode for you.

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com
Hempire - www.hempire.tech
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/hempireint/

Related podcast episodes:

#16 - Life of a Swedish Hemp Farmer - John Hedström from Hooly Hemp
#23 - Photographing Hemp Projects Around the World - Maren Krings
#53 - Caring With Cannabis and Helping With Hemp - Simon Blackwell

On this episode Tom is having a chat with the late Frenchy Cannoli, who was a master hashishin. By sharing his life story and cannabis experiences, Frenchy explains why hash played such an important role in his life. He also gives tips on what you can do to stay relevant in the cannabis industry and have an upper hand over the cannabis industry giants. 

Other topics discussed:

• What is the difference between hash-making in India and in the Middle East? 
• Why is the process of making hand-rubbed hash so magical?
• How did the Frenchy Cannoli Brand come to life?
• How did Frenchy manage to gain access to the Emerald Triangle?
• Why is  the Emerald Triangle so special?
• What is the purpose of Frenchy’s “Lost Art of the Hashishin” workshops?
• How to make apparition work in the cannabis world?
• Can Northern California become the Bordeaux of cannabis?
• How important is tradition in hash making?
• How is science helping Frenchy?
• What will the cannabis industry look like when Europe legalizes?
• How can you make yourself relevant in the cannabis industry?

Links:

• Frenchy Cannoli - www.frenchycannoli.com
• Frenchy Dreams of Hashish (Documentary) - www.frenchydreamsofhashish.com
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frenchycannoli/?hl=en
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgeIHacD5YcF8DISyGrDr6g
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frenchy-cannoli-146175118/

Similar Episodes:
#17 - The Importance of Activism in The Cannabis Industry - Mike Wise
#26 - Cooking With Cannabis and Other Psychoactive Ingredients - Noah Tucker from High Cuisine
#42 - What Does a Ganjier Course Look Like? - Max Simon from Green Flower

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Brian Hart. He is a financial and business specialist in the cannabis industry and has a consulting firm called The Hart Group. Brian is also a project manager at Canna Advisors, a cannabis business consulting firm that has been leading the cannabis industry in the US since 2013 and is one of the industry’s most recognised and trusted consultancies. They help guide entrepreneurs and startups trying to enter the cannabis industry, as well as existing companies trying to expand and grow their businesses.

Brian grew up in the states and is half American and half German. He did his masters in Germany and wrote his thesis on how the German cannabis industry might develop in comparison to the US, using different models.

We discuss a whole range of topics regarding the cannabis industry. But, the overarching theme is the comparison between the current cannabis market in the US and the up-and-coming cannabis market in Germany. 

Brian, being both American and German, is in the unique position of understanding the society, the culture, and the situation in both places in regard to cannabis, as well as their pros and cons and what the future of cannabis in Germany might look like.

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

Canna Advisors - www.thinkcanna.com

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hart-23754914/

Related podcast episodes:

#45 - Will Germany Legalise Cannabis in 2022? - Marguerite Arnold

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Leonid Kotlyar. He is the Managing Director of DéWarrior Unlimited, a seed-to-IPO management consulting firm dedicated to the cannabis (and hemp) industry. He leads a team of strategy and management advisors focusing on creating a sustainable and regenerative cannabis industry.

The main topic of this episode is ESG and how the cannabis industry can benefit from it. ESG (an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Governance) is becoming ever more critical in all types of industries. So why should the cannabis industry be any different? Fortunately, some companies, such as DéWarrior Unlimited, promote sustainable and regenerative business practices. And they are doing great things in the cannabis and hemp space. By being intensely data-driven and using their proprietary methodology, Leonid and his team can drive advanced ESG+ compliance and recognition for all types of engagements.

So if you’re interested in learning how the cannabis industry can benefit from ESG or how to integrate more sustainable practices into your business model to help generate more profit, then give this episode a listen.

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Ben Stevens, the Chief Reporter and Editor at BusinessCann, a European online media news platform providing cannabis business news. BusinessCann is one of the brands of Prohibition Partners, which is a British company providing in-depth reports and statistics on different cannabis markets across the globe, with a strong focus on Europe. They also run a cannabis conference in London called Cannabis Europa.

Ben explains how he got into the cannabis industry and what different topics in the cannabis space BusinessCann covers. However, the main topic of this episode is JuicyFields. Everyone in the industry is talking about it and Ben wrote a whole article on the matter. So we thought it would be great to get him on the show, to let him explain to us what really happened and how the whole thing is still unravelling.

On this episode, Tom shares his thoughts on the ICBC (International Cannabis Business Conference) and HamCan, two b2b cannabis events taking place in Berlin and Hamburg, respectively. Smells Like Business had the pleasure of being a media partner for both. Unfortunately, due to Covid, Tom could not attend HamCan but got feedback from others in the cannabis community who did attend and from Lenny Roots (the founder himself). 

Fortunately, Tom recovered in time for the ICBC in Berlin, the largest b2b cannabis event in Europe and one of the largest in the world. He explains what it’s like to attend such events, what you can expect to get out of them, and (ultimately) if it is worth spending the money to participate. The short answer is, yes, it most certainly is. But, come prepared and try to set up as many meetings beforehand as possible. If you want to hear the long answer, then listen to the episode. 

Other topics discussed:

• What were the conferences like at ICBC?
• How prepared should you be for a cannabis conference?
• Is it worth attending other events and parties that are organised around ICBC?
• Are cannabis events great for networking?
• Is there a big difference between b2b and b2c events?
• Was this the first edition of HamCan?
• Does the ICBC have an expo?
• Who is Ben Dronkers?
• Who is Frenchy Cannoli?
• What is Ispire?
• Who is Marguerite Arnold?

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com
HamCan LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/hamcan/
ICBC LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/internationalcbc/ 

Related podcast episodes:

#58 - ICBC: Bringing Cannabis Businesses Together In Europe - Alex Rogers
#56 - HamCan: The First Cannabis Conference in Hamburg - Lenny Roots
#04 - The Story of Frenchy Cannoli - Frenchy Cannoli

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Alex Rogers, the CEO and owner of the ICBC - International Cannabis Business Conference. The ICBC produces the largest cannabis B2B event in Europe and is attended by cannabis executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers from over 80 different countries, who are looking for world-class networking and investment opportunities. Alex explains what is on the ICBC agenda and what you can expect to gain as an attendee.

Alex also shares some stories from his colourful cannabis past where he was at the forefront of the cannabis movement in the US, sharing ideas and working with Jack Herer, Denis Peron and many more.

So if you’re in the cannabis industry (or looking to enter it) and want to learn more about how the European cannabis industry is developing, then this episode is definitely for you!

 Other topics discussed:

• Who will be speaking at the ICBC Berlin event?
• What does the ICBC agenda look like?
• What kind of different events does the ICBC organise in Europe?
• Why should cannabis businesses attend the ICBC?
• How many people attend the ICBC?
• What was it like working for the High Times in the 90’s?
• What is the Cannabis Cup?
• How will Germany move forward with full legalisation?
• Why did Alex move to Europe from the USA in the 90’s?
• Why has Alex recently moved all his business to Europe?
• Who is Jack Herer?
• Who is Denis Peron?
• Who is Ben Dronkers?
• Who is Burkhard Blienert?
• What was it like to tour with Cypress Hill as a hemp activist?
• Why is it important to acknowledge the pioneers of the cannabis and hemp movement?
• How important is it to be a cannabis advocate if you want to succeed in the cannabis industry?

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

ICBC - www.internationalcbc.com

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/internationalcbc/

Instagram - @internationalcbc

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Elana Goldberg who is the CEO of The Cannigma, an online media that takes an evidence-based approach at answering all cannabis and cannabis related questions. The topics range from cannabis 101’s like how to roll a joint and how to cook with cannabis, to more in-depth scientific topics such as cannabis and cognition and CBD and superbugs, and everything in between. 

Elana shares her story of how she moved from the world of journalism to cannabis and how she transferred the skills and knowledge she learnt along the way and applied them to the cannabis industry, and more specifically The Cannigma. Tom and Elana also discuss the importance of good cannabis education, and its role in helping move cannabis legislation and the industry (as a whole) in the right direction. 

So if you feel like being educated on the importance of education in the cannabis space, then this episode is definitely for you! 

Other topics discussed:

• Why was The Cannigma created in the first place?
• Who are the founders of The Cannigma?
• How does creating content help bring online audiences together?
• What is digital content and digital journalism?
• Why is journalism so fast paced in the digital age?
• How difficult is it to find credible information on cannabis online?
• Why are so many new cannabis markets opening up? (Maybe)
• What was it like working for the Jerusalem Post?
• How did the pandemic affect the company?
• What range of cannabis topics does The Cannigma cover?
• How many users does The Cannigma website have?
• What is the business model of the company?
• Why is it so difficult for cannabis companies to promote their products?
• How important is it to be creative with so many cannabis marketing restrictions?
• Who is part of The Cannigma team?
• How do you manage a global team of employees?
• Who is Codi Pedersen? 

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com
The Cannigma - www.cannigma.com
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/thecannigma/
Facebook - www.facebook.com/thecannigma
Instagram - @thecannigma

Related podcast episodes:

#38 - A Writer's Tale and the "Weed of Wonder" - Jules Marshall

#42 - What Does a Ganjier Course Look Like? - Max Simon from Green Flower

#55 - Leafwire: The B2B Network for the Cannabis and Hemp Industry - Peter Vogel

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Lenny Roots, the Founder of (and mastermind behind) HamCan, Hamburg’s first and only cannabis conference and expo. HamCan will have its inaugural edition this summer, and Lennart shares why he decided to create a cannabis event in Hamburg and how he is managing to bring it all together. Lennart also shares how he initially got into event management, which is quite the tale in itself. All we will say is that it involved living in Jamaica and managing some pretty epic Reggae artists. 

HamCan takes place on the 9th and 10th of July in Hamburg and will consist of an expo and a conference. The expo part of HamCan will be free for everyone and will have different exhibitors and lots of entertainment. The conference will have many interesting speakers from Germany, Europe and the US who are experts in various sectors of the cannabis industry. If you’re interested in learning more about the German cannabis industry and would like to make some b2b connections, then make sure to check out HamCan’s website to learn more.

Other topics discussed:

• How much work does it take to create a cannabis event?
• How important is it to have a solid team behind you?
• Why is Hamburg a good city for a cannabis event?
• Who will be speaking at the HamCan conference?
• What can attendees expect to gain from HamCan?
• How is Germany moving forward with cannabis legalisation?
• What was it like living in Jamaica and working with Reggae artists?
• How can HamCan help move the cannabis industry forward in Germany?
• Will there be international speakers?
• How easy or difficult is it to book speakers for a cannabis event?

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

HamCan - www.hamcan.de

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/hamcan/

Facebook - www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078781396721

Instagram - @hamcan_germany

Related podcast episodes:
#23 - Photographing Hemp Projects Around The World - Maren Krings
#03 - How To Start a Cannabis Expo in Europe - Kevin Rebelo Lopes