Weed Wonks

In the latest Weed Wonks, Jordan Wellington and Mason Tvert of Strategies 64 host NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano for a look back at the last few decades of cannabis politics and policy reform and what it took to get where we are today. The three cannabis policy veterans discuss the subjectivity of marijuana’s “potential for abuse,” the critical role played by public perception, and why cannabis rescheduling would be the biggest shift in cannabis policy — ever.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In the latest Weed Wonks, Jordan Wellington hosts top Colorado marijuana regulator and CANNRA President Dominique Mendiola for an in-depth talk about the long and winding road of cannabis policy, how policy has been shaped by the past decade of legal cannabis, how policymakers have become more data-driven, and how the experience of legal cannabis policy is shaping the state’s alternative medicine initiative.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The agency in charge of regulating cannabis in Massachusetts is facing heightened scrutiny from the media and the governor. Weed Wonks host Jordan Wellington is joined by attorney Adam Fine of Vicente LLP’s Boston office for a discussion about the criticism levied at the Cannabis Control Commission, the firm’s successful lawsuit to allow maritime transport of legal cannabis, and why regulatory agencies shouldn’t be afraid to fail and make big moves.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In the second half of a two-part Weed Wonks episode ahead of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s annual Cannabis Law Institute conference, Jordan Wellington hosts INCBA Board Member Amber Littlejohn, who is of counsel at Ice Miller, and Mitzi Vaughn, shareholder at Karr Tuttle Campbell, for a talk about the policy implications of rescheduling, why incremental process is so important for cannabis legalization and normalization, and the difference between cannabis policies that sound good and those that will actually be effective.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In the first of a two-part Weed Wonks episode ahead of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s annual Cannabis Law Institute conference, INCBA Board President Jason Horst and 1906 Chief Legal Officer Shabnam Malek discuss the legal complexities of a federally illegal industry, trademark law in the cannabis sector, and what it means when lawyers “find their tribe” in the cannabis space.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Earlier this year, Germany became the first European country to legalize cannabis for adult use, sparking excitement across the continent and around the cannabis world. What will legal marijuana look like in Europe's largest economy? And how will it compare to legalization in the U.S.? Jordan Wellington hosts Lewis Koski, Chief Strategy Officer at Metrc and a former Colorado cannabis regulator, for an in-depth talk about what cannabis regulation will look like in Germany, how German cannabis cultivation clubs will work, and what the country can learn from Colorado and other states that have already legalized.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The promise of marijuana tax revenue was a key selling point for legalization, and it continues to be a major policy issue for the regulated cannabis industry. It is also a pain point for many businesses, as well as the consumers they serve. In this Weed Wonks episode, Jordan Wellington hosts Nick Richards, Partner at Greenspoon Marder LLP for a deep dive into the tax policies surrounding cannabis and what a lack of guidance and no shortage of trial and error has meant for the cannabis industry.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What can the cannabis world learn from U.S. federal regulation of the e-cigarette industry? In this episode of Weed Wonks, host Jordan Wellington talks with Douglas Fischer, general counsel for Advanced Vapor Devices, about regulatory challenges the e-cigarette industry has faced and what they may portend for the cannabis industry following federal legalization. They also discuss the importance of sensible federal oversight and how regulatory failure can lead to market failure. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, Jordan Wellington hosts Kimberly Roy of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission for a talk on how the state is educating veterans and other consumers, both young and old, about cannabis. They also discuss the recent state-issued pardons for cannabis offenses, efforts to “keep things honest” when it comes to cannabis testing, and the steps being taken to level the playing field for legal cannabis in the Commonwealth.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For nearly a decade, VS Strategies has been a top consulting firm in the cannabis space and home to some of the utmost experts on cannabis policy, including Weed Wonks host Jordan Wellington. In this special bonus episode, Jordan and fellow VSS partners Christian Sederberg and Mason Tvert discuss the firm’s new name, Strategies 64, and how Colorado’s historic marijuana legalization initiative, Amendment 64, served as a major nexus for the company and its leaders.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to produce the lab results that appear on your favorite cannabis products - and what they mean - this is the episode for you.Hear Jordan Wellington and Stephen Goldman, Chief Science Officer at Kaycha Labs discuss the big questions that surround cannabis testing, what the data tells us about cannabis product safety, and what it takes to establish the safety of consumer products in an industry that lacks universal standards.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It has been two years since the Mississippi Legislature approved the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act (SB 2095), establishing a legal medical cannabis market in the Magnolia State. In this episode, Jordan Wellington hosts Henry Crisler, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association (3MA) for an in-depth talk on patient access and the obstacles cannabis companies face in Mississippi. They also discuss how the state is dealing with intoxicating hemp products and the devastating testing crisis it faced when one of its two licensed cannabis testing labs was suspended in January. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In the second half of our two-part series on cannabis legalization in Ohio, Cincinnati native Brian Vicente of cannabis law firm Vicente LLP discusses the “absolute landmark event” that is legalization in the bellwether state of Ohio. Brian and Jordan get into the details of what will be allowed under cannabis legalization in Ohio, how many recreational dispensaries and cannabis grows will be permitted in the state, how the lottery for adult-use cannabis dispensaries works, and the emphasis the state is putting on social equity.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In the first installment of a two-part Weed Wonks episode on legalization in Ohio, Brandon Lyndaugh, managing partner of Strategic Public Partners and a leader of the Issue 2 campaign, discusses the initiative’s passage and efforts currently underway to implement the measure and establish the state’s legal cannabis market. Brandon and host Jordan Wellington also dive into what it’s like to run a legalization campaign, the roles played by polling and technology, and why voters’ political leanings are not always an indicator of their support for reform.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

From coast to coast in the U.S. and across the pond in Europe, 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting years ever for cannabis policy. In this episode, Jordan Wellington hosts Dan Smith of VS Strategies for an in-depth look at what we can expect in newly legal states like Minnesota and Ohio, what could happen with legalization in Europe, and the pros and cons of state-run cannabis stores. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.