The Dime

Much of the licensed cannabis industry is quietly counting the volume it expects to inherit from the federal hemp ban coming this November. ** Now December.

What they may not realize is that the ban could eliminate the full-spectrum therapeutic hemp formulations that helped change America's view of cannabis and are used daily by an estimated 45 million Americans.

The provision was written by two members of Congress, without a conference or regular order, and inserted into a massive spending bill during the longest government shutdown in American history.

What should have been handled with a scalpel was done with a sledgehammer.

This week we sit down with Paige Figi to discuss

• Silence is a position

• The scalpel Congress skipped

• Oval Office, then banned

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the legislative landscape of cannabis

00:21 The impact of Charlotte's story on cannabis perception

00:48 Distinguishing hemp from marijuana in legislation

02:11 The challenges of passing therapeutic hemp laws

02:52 Congress's need for simple, effective regulation

03:48 The slow progress of therapeutic hemp legalization

04:53 The importance of clear plant distinctions

05:56 The November 12 hemp ban and its implications

07:02 The dangers of Franken hemp and synthetic cannabinoids

08:00 The public health emergency posed by recent bans

08:49 The role of science and data in regulation

10:13 The importance of industry and public unity

10:58 How regulations can support medical and adult use

12:06 The impact of federal bans on patients and consumers

13:00 The need for a balanced, science-based approach

14:00 The political landscape and legislative hurdles

14:53 The power of public advocacy and individual action

16:07 The future of cannabis regulation and industry alignment

17:06 How to effectively communicate with policymakers

18:03 The importance of clear, science-backed legislation

19:00 The role of the FDA and federal agencies

20:01 The potential for bipartisan support and progress

21:08 The significance of the November 12 deadline

22:06 The ongoing fight for access and regulation

23:04 The moral and ethical considerations in cannabis policy

23:49 How consumers can influence policy change

24:47 The importance of unity within the industry

25:46 The potential for a balanced, effective regulatory framework

27:06 The role of science and data in shaping policy

28:03 The need for responsible, clear regulations

29:02 The future outlook for therapeutic hemp and CBD

30:02 Final thoughts and call to action

Guest Links

https://www.coalitionforaccess.org/

https://www.instagram.com/paigefigi/

https://realmofcaring.org/about/paige-figi/

Our Links

Bryan Fields on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

Extraction Teams: Want to cut costs and get more out of every run? Unlock hidden revenue by extracting more from the same input—with Newton Insights.

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

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast

The Dime is a top 10 Cannabis Podcast

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

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

https://www.newton-insights.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AI has made software easier than ever to build. That does not mean every internal tool should become the backbone of your business.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Chris Guthrie to break down the growing temptation inside cannabis companies to vibe code internal tools, dashboards, CRMs, ERPs, and operational systems in the name of saving money.

The problem is not the first version. The problem is what happens two months later, when a field does not map, the workflow breaks, the person who built it is unavailable, and a production team is now relying on code nobody fully understands.

Chris explains the difference between a useful AI-built prototype and an enterprise-grade system that can survive real operators, messy data, security needs, compliance, multiple departments, M&A diligence, and future FDA-style requirements.

This conversation covers why descriptive data does not create predictive insight, why Google Sheets to vibe coding can become a path to failure, and why the real AI opportunity starts after the business has clean data, clean processes, and a system strong enough to trust.

This episode covers:

The weekend build that fails

Descriptive data will not predict

Clean books before M&A

Chapters

 

00:00 The Rise of AI in Software Development

03:07 Challenges of Internal Software Development

06:09 Understanding What 'Works' in Software

09:10 The Risks of Vibe Coding

12:05 The Importance of Established Infrastructure

14:58 Cost Considerations in Software Development

17:56 Predictive Insights and Data Utilization

21:13 Defining Core Business Focus

23:17 The Challenges of AI Implementation

27:00 Understanding AI's Limitations

28:58 The Importance of Data Governance

31:11 Navigating Change Management in Cannabis

35:51 Preparing for Industry Evolution

40:09 The ROI of ERP Systems

Our Links:

Bryan Fields on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

Extraction Teams: Want to cut costs and get more out of every run? Unlock hidden revenue by extracting more from the same input—with Newton Insights.

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

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast

The Dime is a top 10 Cannabis Podcast 

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

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

https://www.newton-insights.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cannabis rescheduling is not as simple as “Trump rescheduled cannabis.”

States are interpreting rescheduling completely differently depending on their license structure. These tiny details are widening the gap between potential winners and losers.

In this episode, we break down what actually changed, what is still unresolved, and why rescheduling may already be picking winners and losers.

This week, we sit down with Hirsh Jain to discuss:

• What the April order and June 29 hearing actually mean

• How the DEA registration portal could impact operators

• The three pathways for interstate commerce

• Why state license structure may determine who is positioned for a national market

 

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Cannabis Rescheduling

02:53 The Implications of Medical vs. Adult Use Cannabis

05:48 Navigating Federal Legality for Medical Cannabis

09:03 DEA Registration: A New Era for Cannabis Businesses

11:53 The Complexities of DEA Registration

15:02 Interstate Commerce: The Future of Cannabis Trade

17:46 State Models and Their Impact on Cannabis Regulation

21:02 Winners and Losers in the Cannabis Market

24:04 The Role of Politics in Cannabis Regulation

27:01 The Future of Interstate Commerce in Cannabis

38:15 Understanding the Dormant Commerce Clause

40:46 Interstate Commerce and Political Friction

42:43 Legal Challenges to Cannabis Rescheduling

44:37 The April Order and Its Implications

51:05 Upcoming Hearings and Their Significance

59:22 Emerging Markets in Red States

01:05:34 Cultural Shifts and Legal Implications

01:10:16 Looking Ahead: Signals for Progress

Guest Links:

https://www.anandastrategy.com/

Our Links:

Bryan Fields on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

Extraction Teams: Want to cut costs and get more out of every run? Unlock hidden revenue by extracting more from the same input—with Newton Insights.

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

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast

The Dime is a top 10 Cannabis Podcast 

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

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

https://www.newton-insights.com/

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Predictable cash flow is the whole game. In cannabis, predictable is the one thing almost nobody has.

Organigram CEO James Yamanaka came up over 20 years at British American Tobacco, where that discipline is the entire model. He thinks the opportunity starts there: trim the portfolio, stop chasing every trend, tighten the supply chain, lean on the science, and align operations. Germany's market could nearly double in the next two years, but capturing it will take more than expansion.

This week we sit down with James Yamanaka, CEO of Organigram:

A BAT perspective on cannabis

Why chasing every trend loses money

How the Sanity deal unlocks Germany

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Organigram and BAT's Involvement

05:24 Shifting Perspectives: From BAT to Organigram

09:08 Understanding the Complexity of the Cannabis Market

13:12 Balancing Listening and Leadership

17:24 Data-Driven Decision Making in Cannabis

21:18 Strategic SKU Management and Market Forecasting

24:17 Leveraging BAT's Expertise in Cannabis

30:04 The Strategic Importance of the Sanity Deal

39:57 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in the Cannabis Industry

Guest Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-yamanaka-aaa32a/

https://www.organigram.ca/

Our Links:

Bryan Fields on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

Extraction Teams: Want to cut costs and get more out of every run? Unlock hidden revenue by extracting more from the same input—with Newton Insights.

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

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast

The Dime is a top 10 Cannabis Podcast 

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

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

https://www.newton-insights.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When a regulator asks what the downside is of adding one more testing requirement, what is the downside? Just a little more safe. Just in case. Especially when adding one more item to an already exhaustive testing panel.

That logic is how licensed cannabis markets end up buried under compliance layers copied from other states, calibrated to someone else's problems.

It is also exactly how two adjacent markets with nearly identical consumer bases, Ohio and Michigan, ended up with completely different market structures.

 What they do not share is regulatory philosophy. When one state watches another add a rule and asks itself whether it should do the same, the answer it lands on shapes the entire cost structure of every licensed operator inside its borders. Ohio learned to ask the follow-up question. Most states never do.

Ohio closed the intoxicating hemp loophole on March 20th, ahead of the federal government, and those shops are starting to close. The next unlock may already be here: THC beverages reaching the customers who will never walk into a dispensary, sold at the restaurant down the street.

This week we sit down with Caroline Henry, VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Buckeye Relief.

The regulator FOMO problem

Ohio vs. Michigan: two markets, one lesson

THC beverages as the dispensary gateway

 

 

Chapters

00:00 The Disconnect in Cannabis Perception

03:12 Navigating Stigma and Misconceptions

05:48 Regulatory Challenges and Industry Standards

08:55 Building Relationships with Regulators

11:54 Small Wins in Regulatory Negotiations

15:02 The Impact of Over-Regulation

17:48 Child-Resistant Packaging and Its Irony

25:38 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in the Cannabis Industry

26:00 The Role of Beverages in Reducing Stigma

30:37 Learning from Michigan: Ohio's Cannabis Strategy

39:31 Focusing on Ohio: The Case for Local Expertise

44:00 The Realities of Working in the Cannabis Industry

 

Guest Links

www.buckeyerelief.com

www.amplifydispensary.com

Our Links:

Bryan Fields on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

Extraction Teams: Want to cut costs and get more out of every run? Unlock hidden revenue by extracting more from the same input—with Newton Insights.

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

The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast

The Dime is a top 10 Cannabis Podcast 

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

🎥 YouTube:  The Dime

📸 Instagram:  The Dime

https://www.newton-insights.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.