The Green Rush – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to the Green Rush, a weekly conversation at the intersection of cannabis, psychedelics, the capital markets, and culture, produced by KCSA Podcast Labs. This week, we sat down with Hirsh Jain, Founder of Ananda Strategy. Ananda Strategy is a strategy consultancy advising leading cannabis brands, retailers, technology businesses, and venture capital funds across the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. Ananda Strategy represents many of California’s leading cannabis retailers, helping lead their expansion strategy, competitive licensing efforts, and M&A activity. Ananda also serves operators in the Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Oregon markets, as well as operators in Canada and Western Europe. Hirsh is Vice Chair of the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of NORML California as well as SC Labs, a leading cannabis testing company. He previously held leadership roles at Caliva and MedMen, and worked as the Global Policy Lead at Airbnb, managing public policy in key markets worldwide. Before that, Hirsh was with McKinsey & Company in their Public Sector Practice. Hirsh holds a B.A. in Philosophy from UC Berkeley and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He has a deep commitment to cannabis law reform, having studied the impacts of the War on Drugs. Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/anandastrategy/ https://twitter.com/anandastrategy  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirsh-jain-b896b080/  Other Links/Mentions: Ananda Strategy - https://www.anandastrategy.com/ Ohio adult-use cannabis - https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2024/08/21/adult-use-recreational-marijuana-sales-surge-across-ohio Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, Crista Egger - https://greenrushpodcast.com/crista-eggers-nebraskans-for-medical-marijuana/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Phil Carlson and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director, Shea Gunther, and Executive Producer, Maria Petsanas. Check out our new podcast Alternatively Speaking where our hosts dive into the advancements and challenges surrounding the pursuit of living longer, healthier lives in our first 10-episode series. Visit https://altspeaking.com. You can learn more about how KCSA can help your cannabis and psychedelic companies by visiting www.kcsa.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: X: @KCSAPodcastLabs Instagram: @KCSAPodcastLabs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kcsapodcastlabs/ 

This summer, the Green Rush team is revisiting our extensive archives, curating a selection of over 300 past episodes. This collection will feature memorable moments, insightful interviews, and some of the team's favorite episodes, providing both new listeners and long-time fans an opportunity to explore or rediscover the best of Green Rush. Stay tuned for the upcoming launch of our new podcast in the fall, "Alternatively Speaking." We’re revisiting our interview with Jim Belushi, actor, musician, comedian, all around entertainer as well as cannabis entrepreneur and the founder of Belushi’s Farms. Jim has long been a household name due to his distinguished acting career but he’s also incredibly active in the cannabis community with a nearly 100 acre farm in the heart of Oregon’s beautiful banana belt, he is out there getting his hands dirty and producing some of the most-talked about cannabis in the state. With brands like Captain Jack, The Blues Brothers and Good Ugly Weed and Belushi’s Secret Stash, Jim Belushi’s cannabis products are quickly becoming the most talked about product line across the state. Jim was gracious enough to sit down with our hot Anne Donohoe and guest host Phil Carlson to talk about his cannabis journey and venture into becoming a cannpreneur. In the discussion, Jim dishes on the role cannabis plays in his life, his work with important advocacy organizations like the Last Prisoner Project and why he loves getting into the dirt and actually taking part in the growing of his own plants. This episode was a real treat and something that we hope all of our listeners can enjoy – we sure did! So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Jim Belushi, Hollywood Star and Cannabis Entrepreneur It’s been 12 years since Jim first came to Oregon’s Rogue Valley where his dear friend John has a sprawling property along the Rogue River, one town over in Shady Cove. Their children are the same age and attended classes together in California, so the families gathered for many activities over the years. With Jim’s own family’s experience and numerous others marred by opioids and the stigmatization of cannabis, Jim was incredibly grateful to have been led to the Rogue River where he first envisioned Belushi’s Farm and his own part in the agricultural and healing gift of cannabis. A proud Chicagoan, Jim graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Speech, Education and Theatre before moving on to become a resident member of Chicago’s famed Second City for three years. In 1979, he left for Los Angeles, where he was cast on TV, launching his career as a performer. In addition to starring in a diverse and remarkable list of television and film— movies from Trading Places to Wonder Wheel, working with famed directors like Oliver Stone, Roman Polanski, David Lynch and Michael Mann—Jim wrote and appeared in Saturday Night Live for two seasons. He’s also served as an executive producer, music composer, director, book author, and Broadway star. His own television show According to Jim aired for 182 episodes during eight seasons before the family favorite launched into off-net syndication in 2007. Locally, Jim is actively engaged in several projects benefiting the communities surrounding Belushi’s Farm in Jackson County, Oregon. In Medford, Jim is helping reconstruct the historic Holly Theater to bring the 1930s Spanish Colonial movie palace back to life as Southern Oregon’s largest indoor concert venue. In Eagle Point, Jim’s assisting with the reconstruction of The Butte Creek Mill, destroyed in a 2016 electrical fire, to preserve its heritage, build community, and improve the environment. In Los Angeles, Jim’s a benefactor of the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration, and Stuart House, a program of the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center Rape Treatment Center. Jim’s also a supporter of The Joyful Heart Foundation in New York City, whose mission is transforming society’s response to se...

Welcome to the Green Rush, a KCSA Strategic Communications Production, a weekly conversation at the intersection of cannabis, psychedelics, the capital markets and culture. This week Anne Donohoe sits down with Tim Pickett, CEO of KindlyMD, a patient-first healthcare and healthcare data company uniquely integrating traditional primary care with medicinal cannabis. In our conversation, Anne and Tim explore his professional evolution from being a board-certified physician assistant to founding a medical cannabis business in one of the most conservative states in the union in Utah.   Anne and Tim touch on a number of topics including KindlyMD’s IPO on the Nasdaq, DEA rescheduling and the company’s unique position as the only service provider of its kind that has Medicare, Medicaid and Commercial insurance payer contracts. Tim also gives our listeners insight into the machinations of the Utah cannabis marketplace, how it structurally differs from its neighboring states and how rescheduling or descheduling would potentially impact the market.  If you are interested in learning more about Tim or KindlyMD, visit the links in our show notes. Also, be sure to follow Tim and KindlyMD, across all social platforms. So, sit back and enjoy our conversation with Tim Pickett, CEO of KindlyMD.  Links, mentions, and socials: KindlyMD Website: https://kindlymd.com/   KindlyMD Investors Site: https://investors.kindlymd.com/  Tim Pickett’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/utah/  Utah Marijuana: https://utahmarijuana.org/  KindlyMD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindly.md/  KindlyMD YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kindlymd  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA can help your cannabis and psychedelic companies by visiting www.kcsa.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: X: @The_GreenRush Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast Facebook: facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast  YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

We have another special treat for our Green Rush listeners, courtesy of our friends at MJ Today. Featuring MJ Today host Heather Sullivan and Dr. Jahan Marcu to talk about the latest news in the cannabis industry.  In this episode, Heather and Dr. Marcu discuss the recent bibliometric study on cannabis finding an increase in legal marijuana research as well as the science behind a recent appeals court ruling making Delta 8 THC legal. The  Marijuana Today is a podcast about the business and politics of marijuana. It is a nerdy and in-depth discussion for those who want a behind the scenes look at the latest marijuana news. Every week MJ Today aims to have the highest-level conversation around about the latest developments in the marijuana industry, the politics of legalization, and the effectiveness of public policy.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links and mentions in the show http://mjtodaymedia.com/ https://mjtodaydaily.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts MJ Today Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjtodaypodcast  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Heather Sullivan of MJ Today Media.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush, Anne Donohoe and Sirita Wright are back with a new episode with guest Jim Gilligan, Interim Chief Executive Officer & Chief Scientific Officer of Tryp Therapeutics (CSE: TRYP) (OTCQB: TRYPF), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing psilocybin-based compounds for diseases with unmet medical needs.  Jim Gilligan Ph.D. has over 35 years of experience in the life sciences industry, including R&D, clinical development, international regulatory affairs, and CMC manufacturing. Prior to joining Tryp, Jim helped lead multiple bio-pharma and biotech companies, including Tarsa Therapeutics, Herborium Inc., and Unigene Labs, where he was responsible for the entire spectrum of drug development activities, including pharmacology and preclinical activities, CMC, clinical Phase I-III, as well as US and international regulatory strategies. Jim received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Connecticut and continued his post-graduate education at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology In this episode our hosts explore with Jim how Tryp is working to alleviate the suffering of patients with unmet diseases including, Fibromyalgia and binge eating disorders, the Company’s ongoing clinical trials, drug development pipeline, and what’s next in the psychedelic industry. So sit back and enjoy our conversation with Jim Gilligan of Tryp Therapeutics Links and mentions in the show https://tryptherapeutics.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Tryp Therapeutics Twitter: https://twitter.com/tryptherapeutic Tryp Therapeutics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tryp-therapeutics/  Jim Gilligan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-gilligan-94090211/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Sirita Wright of KCSA Strategic Communications.   Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther and Producer Nick Opich. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

We have another special treat for our Green Rush listeners, courtesy of our friends at MJ Today. Featuring KCSA’s very own Kris Krane alongside Heather Sullivan and  Ben Larson to talk about the latest news in the cannabis industry.  In this episode, Kris, Heather and Ben discuss the recent court ruling finding that Delta 8 THC is legal, the vetoing of legal cannabis by the governor of Delaware, the embrace of legalization by Rhode Island, and a check-in on post-legalization life in New York. The  Marijuana Today is a podcast about the business and politics of marijuana. It is a nerdy and in-depth discussion for those who want a behind the scenes look at the latest marijuana news. Every week MJ Today aims to have the highest-level conversation around about the latest developments in the marijuana industry, the politics of legalization, and the effectiveness of public policy.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links and mentions in the show http://mjtodaymedia.com/ https://mjtodaydaily.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts MJ Today Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjtodaypodcast  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Ben Larson of MJ Today Media.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

We have another special treat for our Green Rush listeners, courtesy of our friends at MJ Today. Featuring Betty Aldworth, Jeremy Berke and Heather Sullivan  to talk about the latest news in the cannabis industry.  In this episode, Betty, Jeremy and Heather discuss the state of unionization within the legal cannabis industry as well as the intersection of medical marijuana and cancer treatments. The  Marijuana Today is a podcast about the business and politics of marijuana. It is a nerdy and in-depth discussion for those who want a behind the scenes look at the latest marijuana news. Every week MJ Today aims to have the highest-level conversation around about the latest developments in the marijuana industry, the politics of legalization, and the effectiveness of public policy.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links and mentions in the show http://mjtodaymedia.com/ https://mjtodaydaily.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts MJ Today Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjtodaypodcast  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Heather Sullivan of MJ Today Media.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on the Green Rush, Anne is joined by guest host Sirita Wright with a new episode featuring Andrés Fajardo, newly appointed CEO of Clever Leaves, a leading multinational operator and licensed producer of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids. Fajardo brings over 20 years of management experience, and as co-founder of the Company, he has led the development of Clever Leaves’ first 18 Hectares of GACP and EU- GMP certified cultivation and post-harvest facilities, the design and construction of a GMP certified extraction and formulation plant, and the creation of a robust pipeline of clients and brands. For the last 6 years, Fajardo has overseen the development, expansion and global marketing plans of the Company as the former president and has now assumed the role of CEO. In this episode our hosts explore with Andrés Clever Leaves current global operations since we last caught up with the company in 2020 and how Clever Leaves has managed to effectively meet the needs and demands of cannabis consumers in various markets all over the world including, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Israel, the USA and Columbia.Through their robust supply chain, strong partnerships, and premium product portfolio, Clever Leaves has continued to demonstrate its ability to grow and potentialize It’s full capabilities. So sit back, relax and enjoy our discussion with Andrés Fajardo.  Links and mentions in the show https://cleverleaves.com  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts Clever Leaves Twitter: https://twitter.com/clever_leaves Clever Leaves LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clever-leaves/ Andres Fajardo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andres-fajardo-3581a5/  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Sirita Wright of KCSA Strategic Communications.   Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

This week on The Green Rush, we have a special treat for our listeners featuring the man behind the scenes who makes this show possible, Shea Gunther, Founder and Producer at MJ Today Media and the producer of this podcast. In this episode, our host Lewis Goldberg sits down with Shea to talk about their origins in the cannabis industry, their thoughts on the development of legal psychedelics, and what it means to be happy with your work.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links and mentions in the show http://mjtodaymedia.com/ https://mjtodaydaily.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts MJ Today Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjtodaypodcast  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications.   Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

We have another special treat for our Green Rush listeners, courtesy of our friends at MJ Today. Featuring Ben Larson hosting this week’s episode talking with some of the most knowledgeable folks in the space about the latest news in the cannabis industry.  In this episode, first-time-guests Sysamone Phaphon, John Farrell, and Niklas Kouparanis sit down with Ben to offer an international perspective and take a look at what the world of legal cannabis looks like in the rest of the world. The  Marijuana Today is a podcast about the business and politics of marijuana. It is a nerdy and in-depth discussion for those who want a behind the scenes look at the latest marijuana news. Every week MJ Today aims to have the highest-level conversation around about the latest developments in the marijuana industry, the politics of legalization, and the effectiveness of public policy.  So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! Links and mentions in the show http://mjtodaymedia.com/ https://mjtodaydaily.com/  Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts MJ Today Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjtodaypodcast  Show Credits: This episode was hosted by  Brian Adams of MJ Today Media.  Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther. You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels: Twitter: @The_GreenRush  Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreenrushpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true