The Dime

A 115-year farm discovered that preserving the legacy meant letting a new crop compete with it.Ayrloom reached Beak & Skiff's revenue scale in three years, then forced the family to reallocate capital, people, land, and drying space while cannabis regulation kept the businesses legally separate.The advantage was not cannabis expertise. It was years of beverage manufacturing scars, retail-grade quality systems, and relationships strong enough to survive a crowded New York shelf.This week we sit down with Eddie BrennanCapital behind rapid growthQuality before repeat purchaseDefending premium through compressionChapters00:00 Sharing one farm across two companies02:18 Cannabis versus apples for space04:24 Three-year growth catches a 115-year business07:33 Growth, cash, and what breaks09:52 Why cannabis expertise is overrated12:09 Beverage scars become an operating advantage15:17 Grocery-grade quality control19:10 Consistency wins repeat purchase21:04 Making cannabis approachable23:43 The reverse gateway claim25:29 Where cannabis beverages belong27:22 Regulation and high-dose drinks30:14 Why Ayrloom stays narrow and deep34:22 Price compression and retail health37:05 When an in-house brand outruns co-manufacturing39:39 What changes in a new market42:10 The pressure of a fifth-generation legacy44:35 Where to find AyrloomGuest LinksEddie Brennan - ayrloomOur LinksThe Dime Podcast — websiteBryan Fields on XThe Dime on XThe Dime on YouTubeThe Dime on InstagramNewton Insights — insights for extraction teamsFollow The Dime for more conversations on cannabis business, operations, and international markets.Share this episode with an operator rethinking their edibles. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Federal cannabis reform is supposed to open the same door for everyone. The current market says otherwise.The largest operators do not share one political agenda, and some of the barriers they complain about are also widening their moats. As capital markets, international medical standards, and state regulation collide, the operators built for uncertainty may be the ones hardest to dislodge.This week we sit down with Jay RosenthalLimbo as a moatEU GMP advantageRegulation's hidden winnersChapters00:00 Federal limbo becomes the business model02:17 The reform everyone agrees on03:28 Capital markets and the bigger pond05:35 Six hundred brands and no patience06:55 Why Rochester can move New York09:48 Strong operators become obvious13:40 The cost of crossing state lines16:28 Aurora Curaleaf and scarce EU GMP assets20:26 The Canadian future that did not arrive22:00 What mature industry compliance could bring24:35 Cultivated's nonsecret sauce31:41 Cannabis stigma still follows the operator32:28 Why Cultivated launched membership40:23 Quality media has a real cost41:18 California and New York regulators share a market44:02 Policy goals that fight each other49:06 Competition cooperation and price compression52:25 Where to find Jay and CultivatedGuest LinksJay Rosenthal - Co-Founder and Managing Director of Cultivated MediaCultivated MediaCultivated eventsSign up for the Cultivated Daily newsletterOur LinksThe Dime Podcast — websiteBryan Fields on XThe Dime on XThe Dime on YouTubeThe Dime on InstagramNewton Insights — insights for extraction teamsFollow The Dime for more conversations on cannabis business, operations, and international markets.Share this episode with an operator rethinking their edibles. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fast-acting edibles can command a premium, but labels such as "nano" do not prove the final product works. The larger operating question is whether the formulation improves taste, shelf stability, manufacturing efficiency, and trust at the same time.This week we sit down with Kim Sanchez RaelFast onset economicsThe nano problemScience/ AI and so much moreFast-acting cannabis edibles promise a more predictable experience, but the language on the package does not always tell operators what happens in the final product.Kim Sanchez Rael, President and CEO of Azuca, breaks down what "fast" should mean, why slow-onset edibles still dominate, and how formulation choices affect taste, stability, curing time, shelf life, and production efficiency. She explains why "nano" is often a measurement or marketing label rather than proof of a better consumer outcome, then offers four questions brands should ask any infusion supplier.The conversation also moves beyond formulation. Kim describes the economics behind fast-acting products, the role of supplier behavior when production is at risk, the case for a single regulatory framework for the cannabis plant, and why operators cannot build a business that depends on an unpredictable regulatory change.Topics include:The consumer value of predictable onsetManufacturing tradeoffs in gummy formulationWhat brands should demand from infusion partnersWhy structured quality systems matterHow Azuca uses AI inside its team and customer experienceLearn more about Azuca and TiME INFUSION® at https://azuca.co/.Guest: Kim Sanchez Rael, President and CEO, AzucaHost: Bryan Fields, The DimeChapters00:01 Why slow-onset edibles still dominate01:47 The economics of fast acting03:56 Can brands claim "fast"?05:56 Predictability and consumer trust08:06 The retail education gap10:24 How Azuca licensing works14:44 Formulation, cannabinoids, and flavor15:30 When "fast" does not feel fast18:18 Onset, peak, and duration20:01 Manufacturing efficiency R&D23:14 Validating infusion science24:43 Why "nano" is a buzzword27:38 The operational cost of change28:24 Four questions for infusion suppliers30:00 Supplier behavior as brand experience32:31 The Fourth of July production rescue33:48 What cannabis still gets wrong34:15 The One Plant Solution37:04 Policy resistance and incrementalism38:41 AI and "Kimothy"41:21 Quality systems and sustainable math44:58 The question Kim wishes people asked45:45 Where to find AzucaOur LinksThe Dime Podcast — websiteBryan Fields on XThe Dime on XThe Dime on YouTubeThe Dime on InstagramEighth RevolutionNewton Insights — insights for extraction teamsFollow The Dime for more conversations on cannabis business, operations, and international markets.Share this episode with an operator rethinking their edibles.Guest LinksKim Sanchez Rael — Azuca Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Global expansion is often pitched as an opportunity. For an undisciplined cannabis company, it is an expensive way to expose every weakness at once.International markets reward specific operating capabilities, not ambition alone. Pharmaceutical standards, reliable supply, disciplined data use, and local market fit determine whether an operator can cross borders without compounding its problems.This week we sit down with Jamie PearsonEU GMP's undervalued strategic valueRegulation exposes operating weaknessMatching strength to global marketsOn The Dime, host Bryan Fields speaks with Jamie L. Pearson, President and Founder of New Holland Group, about European cannabis expansion, medical cannabis supply chains, and building operations that can succeed across borders.Key TakeawaysJamie explains why European medical cannabis markets call for pharmaceutical reliability, consistent supply, and a different operating model from adult-use brands.EU GMP (European Union Good Manufacturing Practice) capability can be a strategic asset for cannabis manufacturing and international market entry.Match the company's repeatable strengths to local buyers, regulations, and supply chains before choosing a market.Prove standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality controls in another U.S. state before adding language, currency, and cross-border complexity.The discussion spans the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Portugal, and Brazil, alongside cannabis data and U.S. hemp regulation.Chapters00:00 Regulation is breaking the data layer02:49 Finding trend data upstream06:24 What EU GMP actually demands10:19 Why compliant facilities become strategic assets16:13 Canada-Europe regulatory harmony19:20 Europe is medical first25:28 First-mover advantage vs. disciplined execution27:59 Medical supply rewards repeatability30:48 Weak operations do not travel32:24 Switzerland, Slovenia, and Portugal35:54 Brazil and partner requirements37:07 Practice expansion before global scale40:08 The hidden U.S. hemp market43:29 Turning customers into political force47:10 Directness as respectGuest LinksJamie L. Pearson — official bioNew Holland GroupNew Holland Group on LinkedInRelated EpisodeGermany Is the Engine: What BAT Knows That Cannabis Doesn't ft. James Yamanaka — continue exploring Germany's cannabis market and operational discipline.Our LinksThe Dime Podcast — websiteBryan Fields on XThe Dime on XThe Dime on YouTubeThe Dime on InstagramEighth RevolutionNewton Insights — insights for extraction teamsFollow The Dime for more conversations on cannabis business, operations, and international markets. Share this episode with an operator considering expansion. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.