Another great conversation with Don Fertman as he shares stories about his past struggles with alcohol addiction, providing a framework to talk about cannabis, addiction, and moderation: “I got myself together and got myself to work, but now I felt like even more of a failure. My self-loathing, my self-hatred, my sense of disgust with myself and my drinking, and that fear of impending doom, this constant feeling of like being in a car crash in slow motion, and I know I'm going to my destruction, and I see it happening, and I'm in it, but I'm powerless, I can't do anything about it, it's just happening because I can't stop it, that was all in my brain that day.”
Kayvan Khalatbari joins us and shares how Denver progressed in leading cannabis legalization: "we knew that we had a lot misperceptions and stigmas to overcome and it behooved us before the city and the state were regulating us very strictly, to self regulate, and to put on a good face for the industry. We knew that there were certainly a lot of folks that perpetuated those stigmas and stereotypes we had to overcome, but there also a lot of great operators that maybe weren't willing to step out in front of camera, step out in front of communities and be a face for the industry."
Tulsi Gabbard joins us and shares her views on getting past partisan politics in the federal government: "We would have far more bipartisan and nonpartisan work being done if we set aside the politics and the political interests and actually said, "Hey, here's a challenge that is common to people in my district and people in your district. Let's sit together and bring our different ideas to the forefront and actually figure out how to solve it."
Carlos Curbelo joins us and shares his beliefs on how solving issues regarding immigration can help sort out other legislative problems: "I think that solving immigration is important because as we discussed earlier, we need workers. We need an immigration system that's compatible with our economy. It has to be fair. We've always been a welcoming nation. It speaks to our values. But most importantly, if we solve immigration, that's when we actually start healing our country's politics, healing our society. That not only is healthy, but will make it easier to reach consensus on other issues like cannabis reform, like climate change and what to do about that"
Denver Riggleman joins us and shares his thoughts as to how to advance cannabis legislation by giving the states more power: "I think we need to get in front of this and I think we're to a point now that we need to let the economy work, get the federal government out of the way, and let the states dictate how they want to deal with cannabis."
Charlie Bachtell joins us and shares how Cresco Labs and other medical cannabis providers have to adapt to pass regulation audits: "The objectives of the state are to make sure that you are tracking everything from seed to sale, that you are putting out as consistent and safe of a product as you, possibly, can, every time. While most things are black and white, there's, also, some things that are gray. But, if you're doing it for the right reason, for the right purpose, addressing the intent of that regulator, of that administration, chances are, they're going to be okay or they're going to work with you or they're going to realize that, maybe, they didn't have an answer for that question, yet, and you just gave them the answer that made the most sense."
Ro Khanna joins us and shares his perspective on advancing Cannabis legislature: "Make sure you're picking one or two key bills to rally around, and then talk to legislators to get them onboard."
Paige Figi joins us and shares her views on the shifting perspectives in the cannabis industry: “People are wanting that supply and complaining that there isn't enough and trying to get it, it's those big guys taking control and doing that. So, while we're complaining about it, we're also complaining about the solution. It all has to sort of wash out. It all seems so new.”
Eleanor Holmes Norton joins us and shares her perspective on free speech and advancing the power of the people: "people are used to people like me defending all of us on the right side. But the lesson I'm trying to teach, such as it is, is that we can't have free speech unless they do. It's a pretty simple lesson, and it works for this country."