Talking Hedge

The Talking Hedge

About

Host:
Josh Kincaid, Capital Markets Analyst & host of your cannabis business podcast.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkincaid/

The Talking Hedge:
Your cannabis business podcast covering cannabis products, business news, investments & events.
https://www.theTalkingHedgepodcast.com

Available on

Community

1088 episodes

What Makes a Favorite Cannabis Dispensary?

In the 2022 midterm election, Maryland and Missouri have regulated cannabis via the ballot box. As of now, this means that cannabis will be legal in 21 states and the District of Columbia. There are currently 37 states that have medical marijuana laws, including all that allow adult use. This is the perfect time to figure out how to become a consumers’ favorite place to shop for cannabis. The holidays are a hectic time for all, and yet cannabis sales in some US markets have been slowing down even as prices drop. Price compression is being driven by an increase in average retail discounting. Over the past 12 months, dispensaries average discount has increased in all markets, but there are some drastic differences between states. This Headset report examines cannabis sales during Thanksgiving and Christmas, paying close attention to sales and discounts, category trends, and hourly transaction volume. Episode 1080 The #TalkingHedge... https://youtu.be/Ca9rVdM2IZc

12m
Jan 09, 2023
Cannabis Sales Data & Trends 2022 Recap

The past year has been a tumultuous time in the cannabis industry, with slowdowns in topline sales and uncertainty in the market. Due to historically large increases in inflation, pricing has been a popular topic of conversation throughout the year. In the cannabis industry, however, prices are moving in the opposite direction. Prices in the US have been decreasing steadily, dropping -13% since November 2021. In Canada, the decrease in price has been less steady, but average item prices in November 2022 are 5% lower than in November 2021. Most Canadian markets saw positive growth while Ontario, the largest province by population and total cannabis sales, was completely flat. In the US, a general trend emerged: younger markets tended to grow while older markets tended to see sales retractions. Both Infused and Mixed Strain Pre-Rolls have performed incredibly well in both the US and Canada. In both countries, the Connoisseur/Infused segment is now the second largest within the Pre-Roll category, and appears to be on track to overtake Hybrid - Single Strain for the number one spot. This report will examine the broad changes among the most key cannabis sales metrics that Headset tracks such as pricing trends, shifts in cannabis product categories, and demographic preferences. Episode 1,100 of The #TalkingHedge with Jesse Redmond, Managing Partner at Higher Calling, LLC... https://youtu.be/6qTk-mImVkY

28m
Jan 06, 2023
Cannabis POS Technology Solutions

Kai Kirk, CPO, is a data savant who sold his Rich Global hemp operation to BLAZE and who uses dispensary sales data to drive deep narrative stories about consumer engagement, product dominance (or not), consumption trends, and inflation impact. BLAZE powers the cannabis industry with intuitive technology solutions. Founded in 2017, the BLAZE software suite fully supports vertically integrated operations, standalone dispensaries, and delivery services. The platform’s point-of-sale software and apps enable cannabis operators to easily automate compliance across the board. The BLAZE POS platform centralizes operations and combines efficient online ordering, inventory management and payment processing while offering full APIs and seamless integration with over 60 cannabis tech platforms. Episode 1099 The #TalkingHedge chat with Kai Kirk, Chief Product Officer, BLAZE at #MJbizCon... https://youtu.be/hNkGKPrBrS4

16m
Jan 05, 2023
Cannabis Insurance

Since 2008, CannGen Insurance Services, LLC “CannGen” has been providing comprehensive insurance coverages for the cannabis, CBD, and hemp industry nationwide. CannGen is the first Managing General Underwriter (MGU) exclusively focused on the legal cannabis industry and a pioneer in analyzing the unique exposures faced by the wide range of business operations in the space. EPISODE 1098 THE #TALKINGHEDGE TALK TO CHARLES PYFROM, CMO OF CANNGEN INSURANCE SERVICES AT #MJBIZCON... HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/5LIG_WCODB0

12m
Jan 04, 2023
Cannabis Commercial Real Estate Lending

Leading provider of commercial real estate loans for the cannabis sector and the longest running fund in the space. Last year, Pelorus Equity Group, saw 434% growth YoY. $200M in equity – more equity than any other privately held or publicly traded commercial real estate lender in the cannabis space. Since 1991, Company’s principals have participated in more than $1B of real estate investment transactions – more than 5,000 transitions of varying size and complexity – using both debt and equity solutions. The #TalkingHedge sits down with Rob Sechrist, Co-Founding President of Pelorus Equity Group at #MJbizCon... https://youtu.be/uQW68ynd_k0

15m
Jan 03, 2023
Top News Stories of 2022 in the Cannabis Industry

The Green Rush is a cannabis business talk show produced by Pro Cannabis Media discussing news issues in the cannabis market and each week conducts a deeper dive into specific topics of the industry. This week we take a look at the top cannabis news stories of the year. Episode 1096 The #TalkingHedge... https://youtu.be/rSmhAz4JDGY

26m
Dec 30, 2022
Top Cannabis News Stories of 2022 (vol. 1 - 4)

The Green Rush is a cannabis business talk show produced by Pro Cannabis Media discussing news issues in the cannabis market and each week conducts a deeper dive into specific topics of the industry. This week we take a look at the top cannabis news stories of the year. Episode 1095 The #TalkingHedge... https://youtu.be/yilP_Xdu63I

19m
Dec 29, 2022
2022 Cannabis News Stories of the Year (vol. 1 - 4)

The Green Rush is a cannabis business talk show produced by Pro Cannabis Media discussing news issues in the cannabis market and each week conducts a deeper dive into specific topics of the industry. This week we take a look at the top cannabis news stories of the year. Episode 1094 The #TalkingHedge... https://youtu.be/EXHCT30R5zk

29m
Dec 28, 2022
Recap of 2022's Best Cannabis News Stories

The Green Rush is a cannabis business talk show produced by Pro Cannabis Media discussing news issues in the cannabis market and each week conducts a deeper dive into specific topics of the industry. This week we take a look at the top cannabis news stories of the year. Episode 1093 The #TalkingHedge...https://youtu.be/GvlEOC3lukA

34m
Dec 27, 2022
Cannabis Arbitrage

In 2021, the price of dried flower reported by consumers in Washington was only $7.38, lower than the US average of $9.17. This can create diversion, especially during difficult economic times. An investment strategy known as Arbitrage is when an investor simultaneously buys and sells an asset in different markets to take advantage of a price difference and generate a profit. Arbitrage is commonly used by hedge funds and other sophisticated investors. While price differences are typically small and short-lived, the returns can be impressive when multiplied with enough volume or frequency. For example, arbitrage is when cannabis is bought in WA for $7.38 and gets diverted to NY for $9.94 Episode 1092 The #TalkingHedge... https://youtu.be/IvrrEWY6SzY

3m
Dec 26, 2022
Cannabis' B2B Marketplace

James Yi, CEO and Founder, of Leaf Trade had previously helped launch several dispensaries in the early stages of Illinois’ legal market Leaf Trade provides a fully compliant B2B marketplace connecting licensed wholesalers of cannabis products to dispensaries in regulated markets. Retail dispensaries experience all of their shopping on a single, legally compliant B2B marketplace. Cultivators and processors can manage the status of incoming orders and collaboratively streamline the fulfillment of the orders by using Leaf Trade’s enterprise tools. Episode 1091 The #TalkingHedge talks to James Yi , Founder/CEO @Leaf_Trade on the inefficiencies of the supply chain that Leaf Trade aims to correct... https://youtu.be/cKSWb7bmfRQ

14m
Dec 23, 2022
Cannabis Supply Chain Visibility

Cannabis Supply Chain Visibility Michael Johnson is the CEO of Metrc, provider of cannabis regulatory systems. He talks to us about CannabisTech and tracking cannabis from growth, harvest, and processing to testing, transport, and sale. Episode 1090 The #TalkingHedge chats with Michael Johnson, CEO of Metrc about cannabis supply chain visibility...https://youtu.be/9H8qRiRhHwo

12m
Dec 22, 2022
Cannabis Banking

The #cannabisindustry is still relatively new, and it is impacted by constantly evolving state and federal regulations, many of which govern the administration of financial services. It’s crucial that cannabis businesses work with a service provider who possesses the specialized industry expertise necessary to ensure you remain compliant with these changing financial regulations. Sundie & Dan of Safe Harbor Financial discuss how SHF has been providing industry-leading #cannabisbanking services since 2015 and what the impacts of the #BankingAct would be. Episode 1089 The #TalkingHedge talks with Dan Roda and Sundie Seefried, CEO/President at Safe Harbor Financial about cannabis banking... https://youtu.be/aXP8lz-mbiE

15m
Dec 21, 2022
Cannabis Decontamination Technology

Jill Ellsworth started Willow Industries in 2015 with one simple principle: cultivators should be equipped with resources to provide patients and consumers with consistently safe cannabis. Willow Industries is the industry leader in cannabis kill step and post-harvest microbial decontamination technology. They employ an organic, ozone-based technology, ensuring cultivators employ best practices and quality control from start to finish. Episode 1088 The #TalkingHedge sits down with Jill Ellsworth, Founder & CEO, Willow Industries about cannabis decontamination technology... https://youtu.be/qc4K5slejgs

9m
Dec 20, 2022
Weed Talk News

Presentations on public health surveys by researchers from Canada & Oregon gave the LCB insight into how Washington’s system compared to other legal cannabis jurisdictions So what happened? Dried flower is the most commonly used product, with 71% of consumers preferring flower. Edibles came in 2nd, with 64% of survey respondents citing edibles as their go-to cannabis product. Rounding out #3 is Vape carts at 46% Significance It probably doesn’t help farmers' cause claiming high taxes, since the price in Washington is 25% lower than the legacy market. In 2021, the price of dried flower reported by consumers in Washington was only $7.38, lower than the US average of $9.17. Impact This can create diversion, especially during difficult economic times. An investment strategy known as Arbitrage is when an investor simultaneously buys and sells an asset in different markets to take advantage of a price difference and generate a profit. While price differences are typically small and short-lived, the returns can be impressive when multiplied with enough volume or frequency. Arbitrage is commonly used by hedge funds and other sophisticated investors. In this example, arbitrage is when cannabis in bought in WA for $7.38 and gets diverted to NY for $9.94 Maybe the presentation to Washintion’s regulators should have been the importance of legalizing interstate commerce, before incentivising coast-to-coast cannabis arbitrage.

24m
Dec 19, 2022
Cannabis Regulatory and Operational Software

Brooke Butler is the VP of Partnerships at Simplifya, the leading regulatory and operational compliance software platform serving the cannabis industry. Simplifya is the cannabis industry’s leading regulatory and operational compliance software platform. Episode 1087 The #TalkingHedge chats with Brooke Butler, VP of Partnerships, Simplifya about cannabis regulatory and operational software... https://youtu.be/Oa5S3AuO2WI

15m
Dec 19, 2022
Automated PreRoll Machines at MJ Biz Con 2022

Pre-Rolls are now the second largest category in Canada and the third largest in the US during 2022. These prerolls aren't usually made by hand anymore, but not all #joint rolling machines are created equal! Some twist the tops, others fold them. Some preroll machines offer different sizes, a tamper, or build in check-weigh system. Others have an accuracy of .01g and can work continuously as long as it's supplied with enough ground cannabis. One of the preroll machines at #MJbizCon 2022 sucks! There are many choices when it comes to purchasing cannabis pre-rolls, but how are #prerolls sold? The top #preroll product has been "Hybrid - Single Strain" every year since Headset began tracking sales data. Pre-Rolls make up 12.6% of all cannabis sales, growing over 2% from the same period last year. Infused #prerolls rose from 12.7% of all pre-roll sales in 2018 to 41% of all pre-roll sales in 2022. Another trend is that consumers are buying multi-pack products rather than single pre-rolls. Sales of multipack pre-rolls grew by 69.4% from February 2020 to February 2021, while single pre-roll sales only grew by 18.1% over the same time period, according to the survey. In Canada for example, the most popular package sizes of Multi-Packs are the 3-packs (36%) and 10-packs (27%). In the US however, consumers are purchasing 5-packs (37%) and 2-packs (14%) the most, with 10-packs of Pre-Rolls making up 13% of the market. Through the first six months of 2022, consumers in the US and Canada have spent over $752M and $402M CAD, respectively, on Pre-Rolls. Canadian consumers are especially enthusiastic about this category, as Pre-Rolls made up nearly a quarter of all cannabis sales from January through June 2022, second only to Flower (42.6%). In order to satiate this demand, manufacturers of prerolls, joints, & blunts will need to invest in automation, likely one of the machines featured in this episode. Episode 1084 of The #TalkingHedge at #MJbizCon looking at automated joint rolling machines... https://youtu.be/CiUVZ2W9lY8

7m
Dec 16, 2022
Cannabis Advertising

PodConx's network of industry-specific podcasts connects to more listeners everyday than any single podcast. Podcasts are a great way to share your message with the world and the Podconx team of industry veterans has helped more businesses help spread the word via a network of over 50 cannabis podcasts. Episode 1085 The #TalkingHedge chats with Dan Humiston, founder PodConx... https://youtu.be/h7HspK6Vsfk

18m
Dec 16, 2022
Sustainable Development in the Cannabis Industry

At Regennabis, they believe that there is a need to create a disruptive and innovative community driven by exponential actions – in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - to deliver both increased brand value and at the same time, provide solutions to many of the world’s biggest challenges and build a better future for ALL in the Cannabis Industry - to lead, learn, connect and innovate breakthrough solutions around humanity’s greatest challenges and deliver “Impact Alpha” for ALL stakeholders. Episode 1083 The #TalkingHedge chats with Geoff Trotter, Regennabis... https://youtu.be/_epEOggVsKg

17m
Dec 15, 2022
PreRoll Manufacturing

PreRoll-Er specializes in the manufacturing of validated solutions for your pre-rolls or any other cannabis products. Episode 1082 The #TalkingHedge chats with Patrick Grenier, PreRoll-Er... https://youtu.be/a0_TIXIXcPc

13m
Dec 14, 2022
Cannabis Risk Management Solutions

Operational Security Solutions (OSS) offers its “Full-Spectrum” risk management solutions founded upon proven security protocols, practices and standards designed to anticipate and mitigate the widest scope of potential threats which could result in loss of any kind. Episode 1081 The #TalkingHedge chats with Scott Solomon, CEO, Operational Security Solutions... https://youtu.be/n2yx8t-p1bA

10m
Dec 13, 2022
Weed Talk News

A New ‘Indigenous Cannabis Association’ Aims To Unite America’s Tribes Around Cannabis So what happened? Many of the 574 federally recognized American Indian tribes are re-recognizing the plant’s medicinal healing powers. 21 of the state’s 27 tribes have a cannabis compact with the governor. Some tribes are only cultivating, some have fully integrated dispensaries. Some tribes just have farmers, some, retail storefronts. Personally, I’m hoping they make some blunts! Significance Tribes are sovereign nations, meaning that their surrounding states’ cannabis policies don’t apply. So, even in remote rural areas, tribal-owned smoke shops can do quite well, selling to tribal members and outsiders alike and having to comply only with compacts made with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state authorities. Impact Then there is the social good such revenues can do: In Washington State, the Puyallup Tribe are putting revenues into clinical cannabis medical research, partnering with academic institutions, as well as building housing for the tribe’s homeless and addressing their local opioid crisis. Episode 1078 The #TalkingHedge... https://youtu.be/94gVvxG5S8s

30m
Dec 12, 2022
Cannabis Tech: Weedmaps

Weedmaps (NASDAQ: MAPS) is a leading cannabis technology platform providing integrated solutions for cannabis consumers and businesses. Episode 1079 The #TalkingHedge chats with Greg Stolowitz, Corporate Development, Investor Relations and Treasury, Weedmaps... https://youtu.be/2Dh7v41ThoI

12m
Dec 12, 2022
Cannabis Social Equity Program in Washington

Washington Establishes Social Equity Support Programs So what happened? The state’s new Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force and the Social Equity in Cannabis Technical Assistance Program were created to reduce barriers to entry to the cannabis industry for individuals and communities most impacted by the war on drugs. Significance The Task Force will allow approximately 40 additional cannabis retail licenses to be issued for social equity purposes, according to a release. Those licenses will replace the approximately 40 licenses that were canceled, forfeited, revoked or never issued in specific jurisdictions across Washington. Separately, the Washington Department of Commerce partnered with the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) and Make Green Go!, a cannabis business development consulting company, to create the Social Equity in Cannabis Technical Assistance Program. Impact The program includes one-on-one mentoring for social equity applicants seeking retail licenses, as well as an online learning module to help educate operators on a range of business development topics such as accounting, finance, market research, strategies and more. Episode 1076 The #TalkingHedge... https://youtu.be/Qc_k74YvA1Y

1m
Dec 09, 2022
#Cannabis Odor Control during #MJbizCon

The #TalkingHedge chats with Tim Coffey, Director of Communications at OMI Industries (Natural Odor Control)... https://youtu.be/aca_2ZD75x4

12m
Dec 09, 2022
Cannabis Real Estate Investing

NewLake is a leading provider of real estate capital to state-licensed cannabis operators through sale-leaseback transactions and third-party purchases, as well as funding for build-to-suit projects. I spoke with their CEO about the future of cannabis, new markets, commercial real estate investment, and more. Episode 1076 of The #TalkingHedge talks with Anthony Coniglio, CEO, NewLake Capital Partners at #MJbizCon... https://youtu.be/Bp4GXI83SV0

13m
Dec 08, 2022
Interview w/ Maryland Cannabis Dispensary Owners

There’s a unique market in Maryland with only approximately 17 cultivators/growers. The retail outlets are selling a lot of the same products. This leads to price compression happening more quickly than non-limited license markets. “We see our ‘Nordstroms’—'store-within-a-store’ model as a way to counteract this phenomenon,” said Remedy Co-Founder, Mitch Trellis. Episode 1074 The #TalkingHedge talks with Mitch Trellis & Brandon Barksdale, Co-founders at REMEDY at #MJbizCon... https://youtu.be/eE8TsiG10fw

17m
Dec 07, 2022
The 420 Hotels

The 420 Hotels will be amongst the nation’s first hotel chains where guests will be able to consume cannabis onsite in legally licensed lounges. The idea is to convert intimate boutique hotels into high-end, members only cannabis consumption clubs merged with luxury overnight accommodations. The #TalkingHedge chats with Chris Chiari, CEO, 420 Hotels at #MJbizCon... https://youtu.be/UIvsL4nb88I

14m
Dec 06, 2022
Cannabis Beverage Report

While a small category, Beverages have significant potential for growth. Beverages are more popular in Canada than in the US. On average, Beverages make up 2.1% of total sales in Canada and 1.1% in the US. Seasonality is a significant factor. Beverage sales have spiked in the last two summers in both Canada and the US, as well as on popular US holidays such as 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Industry excitement may be exceeding customer demand. Since January 2021, the Canadian market has seen a 300% increase in brands. Beverage brands grew 65% in the US over the same time period. This flood of new brands and products into the market could be exceeding demand and contributing to price compression within the category. Episode 1073 The #TalkingHedge dives into Headset's report... https://youtu.be/rVD1Z7e_q9k

12m
Dec 06, 2022
Cannabis Private Equity Investing at #MJbizCon

Episode 1071 of The #TalkingHedge chats with Dr David Cunic, CEO at U.C.S. Advisors and Investor Relations at #MJbizCon... https://youtu.be/jMOxRINMKcM

13m
Dec 05, 2022