The CannaBS Detector Soil To The Oil Media

Have you ever wondered how legit an associating business is, or the people within it? Are you investing into a business with someone you aren’t entirely sure of? Well, lucky for you, we’re speaking with Tanya Hoke, a due diligence investigator.
Tanya has 6 years of experience managing investigative due diligence for clients in the cannabis industry. What does that mean exactly? It means that Tanya will investigate specified associates for you to confirm facts or details of a matter under your consideration. She’ll figure out their detailed history to determine if they’re a reliable associate to go into business with. Not only that, but she’s also a certified fraud examiner, a certified anti-money laundering specialist, and a licensed private investigator in Massachusetts and Colorado.
4 Lessons Learned:
There are different levels to due diligence. Dependent on the context and the regulations surrounding the situation, there are different regulatory guidelines you are allowed, depending on what the situation of your client. A lot of people don’t think to investigate into their associates or business partners histories. But, why? A lot of investors in our industry either have friends involved in the investment so they feel more secure or they have trusted their gut in past successful endeavors and plan on doing so again. Compliance is everything in the cannabis industry. If a company doesn’t have a specified employee or team that is focused solely on compliance and regulatory changes, such as a Chief Compliance Officer, then chances are they aren’t going to be as successful as the companies that do. Especially in an industry where our regulations change at the drop of a hat. Impressive faces on a board of directors does not mean a successful company. Most likely, it’s just a play for increase in their investor’s trust. List of Topics/subjects discussed:
Investigative due diligence within the cannabis industry Tanya’s expectations upon entering the cannabis industry and what she discovered The Fair Credit Reporting Act The different regulations within the Fair Credit Reporting act and how it differs depending on the context of the situation Pre-investment regulations VS. pre-employment regulations Kristen’s experience with background checks within her career The time crunch with due diligence in the cannabis industry Tanya’s personal experiences working with the CBD industry specifically Assumptions that came with the Farm Bill Tanya’s first OSHA complaint - how did it end up? The shady businessmen joining the industry from outside of Cannabis Googling VS. Tanya Hoke What you can do to ensure you’re making the right business decision? Legacy farmers and investors An ‘unprofessional industry’ The financial risks you take with not investigating your business associates Links to Referenced News Articles from interview:
Interested in doing some research like Tonya? Use her recommendations to try out the basics for yourself and your business.
https://www.glassdoor.com/
Interested in checking out the mentioned podcast American Scandal? Link below for the referenced episode
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/enron-a-sense-of-urgency/id1435516849?i=1000447908889 
Did you learn something new about the cannabis industry today? If so, let me know in the comments below!
Guest Bio and Social Media Links:
Tanya Hoke | Founder & Managing Director Tanya has more than a dozen years of experience managing investigative due diligence for clients in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and manufacturing to financial services and consulting. She has been advising investors in the cannabis industry since 2015.
Tanya has led hundreds of due diligence investigations into management teams, helping clients to identify business, legal, and reputational risks prior to proceeding with high-value transactions. She was previously a Senior Consultant in Corporate Investigations at Control Risks Group

We are back at it today, speaking with Chris Tenaglia of Valiant Group America, as he brings his unique experience of the construction side of the cannabis industry to light. Valiant is a vertically integrated team, meaning they have professionals from all aspects of the construction industry, in-house. This eases confusion throughout the entire process, and makes for great communication throughout the company and for the client. Chris, the chief operating officer of Valiant, speaks with us today about his experiences at Valiant and calls out the b******t he’s had to deal with throughout his time in the industry.

3 Lessons Learned:
The expense differences and effects of growing cannabis in different climates, specifically the NorthEast. With drastic changes in humidity and temperature throughout the year in the east, compared to the dry, sunny climate in the west, east coast facilities usually have to double up on most of their supplies and equipment. Massachusetts has one of the highest percentages of testing regulations for mold in the cannabis industry. This is due to the area’s high humidity. Vet whoever you are hiring in this industry - especially as a consultant. The wrong advice will cost you millions in this industry, as Chris and I have seen from firsthand experience, and you need to make sure your employees and associates are legitimate, with real experience that is backed up by a reference/  
List of Topics/subjects discussed:
Valiant Group and their vertically integrated team. What do they do? Difficulties with growing in different regions throughout the United States, specifically in the northeast and how that effects cost Compliance and regulatory changes on the east coast as compared to the west coast Valiant Group’s partnership with Agrify Agrify’s vertical farming unit (VFU) and how it can benefit you in the long run. LED vs. HPS Lights In Valiant’s customer base, how many are people fixing their mistakes compared to people starting off on their company on the right foot? What is the easiest state to grow in? Lighting and regulations specifically with electricity. The difficulty of licensing on the east coast, especially when entering the market (if you can) Cannabis cultivation is not a normal construction build. Why? Issues between growers and owners when building a facility and their lack of understanding. The importance of recognizing con-consultants and vetting out your potential employees. Valiant’s experiences with companies Guest Bio and Social Media Links:
Valiant is a leader in development, management, consulting and general contracting.  With past experience in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and other industrial buildings, Valiant’s newfound success follows a decade-long specialization in commercial development of cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries. The construction giant’s claim to fame is their vertically-integrated trades structure. The structure allows Valiant to train all of their own employees instead of hiring subcontractors.  This maximizes quality of work and minimizes the timeline of each project. Most recently, Valiant was selected as the primary distributor and installer for Agrify, a high-tech firm specializing in state-of-the-art, software-controlled cannabis vertical farming units and modular containers.
Christopher Tenaglia, Chief Operating Officer of Valiant, has extensive leadership experience over various industries including finance, production and construction. His relevant qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Colby-Sawyer College, an unrestricted construction supervisor license, a Class A commercial driver’s license, and OSHA 30. Christopher regularly manages teams of over 100 employees and has owned and managed several companies over the past 10 years.  Across all of the multi-million dollar Valiant projects, Chris is a driving force in the field as a coordinator with all company person

Today we’ll be rolling through the topics and facts that stoners try to sweep under the rug. From CHS to drug interactions to the compounds in your concentrates, why do stoners avoid these topics? No cannabis users want to talk badly about cannabis, especially with its historical stigma surrounding the plant. But whether you like it or not, there is more research needed on cannabis, and a good start is being honest about its risks and effects and how we discover them.
Emma Chasen, co-owner and operator of Eminent Consulting, a cannabis consulting business, comes in hot to break the Sativa/Indica binary and some popular myths in cannabis. Backed with years of experience and a degree in Medicinal Plant Research, Emma is passionate about educating others on cannabis. What people don’t know, does hurt them and as advocates, it’s our job to educate those around us. Knowing what is in your cannabis and how these compounds effect you is important, no matter who or where you’re buying from.
After listening, what experiences have you had with different kinds of cannabis? Have you or a friend/ family member ever experienced CHS? How do you feel about the Indica/Sativa binary? Let me know in the comments below!
3 Lessons Learned:
RSO is the only concentrate with scientific evidence to backup its medicinal properties in high dosages. Cannabis and hemp are bio-accumulators, meaning that they are a plant that gradually absorbs substances that are in the ground they're growing in at a faster rate than the substance is lost or metabolized by the plant. Because cannabis is not federally legal, there are no set lab procedures in place for analytical testing of cannabis. When Oregon tested the variances of all their labs within the industry, they found a 10% variance across the board, showing the need for consistent regulations for testing in the cannabis industry. List of Topics/subjects discussed:
The lack of scientific data backing Indica/ Sativa differences The high variability of cannabis between users Manipulative marketing within the cannabis industry How to find the good companies to support How the industry can better predict the effects and experiences of specific strains Oklahoma and how their licensing will in turn effect their market Craft cannabis and its future Concentrates and it’s potency and legitimacy in the medical market Personal experiences with concentrates Additive terpenes and the effects Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Esters: What are they? Where are they? Epidiolex Trials Lab testing in the cannabis industry and why it differs Titration of dosing, macrodosing and their therapeutic value Bad drug interactions with CBD and THC How to buy cannabis the right way. Links to Referenced News Articles from interview:
https://www.epidiolex.com/about-epidiolex
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7053164/
https://cbdhealthandwellness.net/2020/08/09/did-cbd-cause-a-case-steven-johnson-syndrome/
Vocabulary:
Bio-accumulation: The gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism. Bio-accumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a substance at a rate faster than that at which the substance is lost or eliminate.
Esters: Volatile flavor molecules/ a chemical compound derived from substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.
Guest Bio and Social Media Links:
Emma Chasen has a mission to educate people on the science behind Cannabis so that they may take charge of their own healing.  After graduating from Brown University in 2014 with a degree in Medicinal Plant Research, Emma went on to coordinate Clinical Oncology trials with the Brown University Oncology Research Group. When her supervisor refused a Cannabis trial in favor of another expensive pharmaceutical drug, Emma quit and headed across the country to Portland, OR. She found her way to Farma, the popular Portland dispensary that takes a more scientific approach to Cannabis; rejecting t

Continuing the conversation from Part 1, my good friend and experienced advocate, Brad Slaughter of Nature’s Secret Holdings, joins us once again to dive into the reality of what will follow post-legalization. What will regulations look like in the future, compared to the past? Will we learn from our mistakes to create a better system?
Our past with cannabis is complicated and repetitive. With progress and advocacy for cannabis sparking up in the 1970’s, our fight for the plant started long before that. General misinformation and a lack of understanding surrounding cannabis has troubled its image throughout time and remains to do so to this day. Education is needed to prepare us for legalization. Listen in to learn about what’s going on in today’s industry, and how that will effect the future of cannabis.
What do you think about cannabis legalization on a federal level? Did you learn anything new? If so, let me know in the comments below!
3 Lessons Learned:
There were reports as early as 1944 that supported the fact that cannabis has medicinal properties. Taxation on legal cannabis drops down to the end user, pushing consumers towards the illicit market because of the affordability. The perfect example is California, where the black market is 3x the size of the legal market. The state (like in California) wouldn’t have to enforce your regulations with law enforcement if 2/3 of the state didn’t opt out of commercial cannabis sales. The tax money from that 1/3 of the state will not cover enforcement costs. List of Topics/subjects discussed:
The need for cannabis regulations Cannabis reparations moving forward Decriminalization vs. Legalization and the longevity of each The 1970’s movement and it’s history Decriminalization in the past Tax code 280E and it’s effects post-legalization The IRS and it’s interactions with the cannabis industry The Safe Banking Act The findings of the 1944 La Guardia Report The threat of cannabis to Big Pharma The possibility of ATF controlling and regulating cannabis post-legalization Vape safety regulations and common misconceptions General lack of information around cannabis in the government Los Angeles and the corruption within the cannabis industry there  
Links to Referenced News Articles from interview:
http://rodneybarnett.net/PDF/Laguardia%20Report%201944.pdf
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-should-we-pay-cannabis-reparations-brad-slaughter/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/perspective-view-cannabis-re-scheduling-brad-slaughter/
Guest Bio and Social Media Links:
Brad Slaughter, Co-Founder and President of Nature’s Secret Holdings, joins us to discuss the oncoming issues that cannabis legalization will lead to and to identify the victims that will feel these adverse effects. Brad specializes in business development, marketing, and networking within the Cannabis and CBD industry.. As a long time cannabis and CBD advocate and educator, Brad has had extensive experience in the industry and with fighting for consumer rights within the industry. He previously worked as a CFO for California Weed Blog, a guide to cannabis culture in California and now continues his advocacy for consumers as a board member of the CBD Consumer Protection Task Force and also as a speaker/moderator for CBD Expo.
https://www.naturessecretholdings.com
https://www.cbdspa.us
https://www.cbdpatriot.us
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-slaughter/
https://californiaweedblog.com
 
Credits:
Audio Editing - Seth Cross - Frontal Lobe Productions
Intro/Outro - Jef Judin
Music - The Master by Flashing Lights
Show Notes – Henley Beall
Podcast Links:
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Please leave a review if you enjoyed the show, it helps bring in more listeners!
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Today, with recreational states like California failing to keep their regulatory standards consistent and stable, companies in the industry stand to loose thousands of dollars in an attempt to be compliant. So, what do we expect legalization on a national level to be like? Certainly not any better.
Everybody seems to want legalization on a federal level. It’s a hot topic in the industry, especially with a new democratic president and the aftermath of COVID-19 slowly starting to show it’s face. But what are the impending consequences of legalization? Who will be the ones most drastically effected? Will it effect cannabis culture and the people within it?
My good friend and experienced advocate, Brad Slaughter of Nature’s Secret Holdings, joins us on today’s episode to answer these questions as we discuss the victims of cannabis legalization and how it’ll change the industry in its entirety. Check it out, and see if you’ve thought of these ramifications of legalization.
Did you change your mind on national legalization throughout the episode? Do you have any questions? If so, let me know in the comments below!
3 Lessons Learned:
Read the fine print of legislature being pushed in your state – I guarantee it’s not as great as it sounds. The cannabis industry is not a meritocracy. Especially once national legalization comes around. Question the motives of CEO’s who are preaching for national legalization - are they doing this for the consumer’s best interest, or is it for their pockets? 40/58 counties in California have banned commercial sales of cannabis. What makes us think national legalization would be any different?  
List of Topics/subjects discussed:
How national legalization will lead to globalization. What’s going to happen to the culture of the industry. The history of cannabis legalization in the past, specifically in California. The constant regulatory and compliance changes that cannabis companies have to endure. The BCC and how it regulates under state control. Acreage Holdings and Canopy Growth’s rumored buyout post-legalization Big corporations advocating against home grow Dosage of edibles before and after regulations in California The difference between legalization and de-scheduling cannabis. Decriminalization in the 1970’s The future of medical programs vs. recreational programs and the difference in dosage between products that will be sold in each. The cost difference for growing cannabis in different climates within the United States Guest Bio:
Brad Slaughter, Co-Founder and President of Nature’s Secret Holdings, joins us to discuss the oncoming issues that cannabis legalization will lead to and to identify the victims that will feel these adverse effects. Brad specializes in business development, marketing, and networking within the Cannabis and CBD industry.. As a long time cannabis and CBD advocate and educator, Brad has had extensive experience in the industry and with fighting for consumer rights within the industry. He previously worked as a CFO for California Weed Blog, a guide to cannabis culture in California and now continues his advocacy for consumers as a board member of the CBD Consumer Protection Task Force and also as a speaker/moderator for CBD Expo.
“It’s not about the profit, it’s about the people”
https://www.naturessecretholdings.com
https://www.cbdspa.us
https://www.cbdpatriot.us
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-slaughter/
https://californiaweedblog.com/
 
Credits:
Audio Editing - Seth Cross - Frontal Lobe Productions
Intro/Outro - Jef Judin
Music - The Master by Flashing Lights
Show notes: Henley Beall
Podcast Links:
Click on the podcast hosting site you use below to subscribe to this podcast!
Please leave a review if you enjoyed the show, it helps bring in more listeners!
Itunes
Spreaker
Google Play
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Join and Like our Facebook Page!

Every type of battle an industry can face has occurred in the cannabis industry. From insane taxes and regulations, to rampant corruption and shady business practices. However, NOTHING compares to the challenges Covid 19 poses. 
The publicly traded cannabis industry ended 2019 with a capital crash. Now, thanks to Covid-19, cannabis has entered into yet another unknown territory. Early investors and small business owners are now finding themselves with very few options, leaving all of us to wonder - who will survive, who will sell out, and who will close permanently?
The philosopher, Heraclitus, comes to mind when describing the cannabis industry - “the only constant is change”. 
There is one thing we can be sure of, our industry and our world will never be the same again. 
3 Lessons Learned
There is a playbook to weathering financial crises: Fiscal Response Monetary response Health response Take this time to get your game plan straight and start seeking investment again – it may sound counter-intuitive, but the goal is to be top of mind when the spigot turns on
As the old adage goes: When everyone is greedy, be fearful, when everyone is fearful, be greedy  Guest Bio and Social Media Links
Colby is a 22 year veteran of the financial services industry working with many of the largest institutional and private investors.  As CEO of Quiver Holdings LLC Colby has provided strategic guidance to private companies throughout their capital raising campaigns. Colby has been educating and managing investors and entrepreneurs on all subjects related to finance and investing.   Prior to Colby's focus on investment banking and corporate structure he was a top producing branch manager for some of the largest regional and independent broker dealers with an emphasis on branch expansion and post merger integration. 
Colby Mcfadden Linkedin
Credits: 
Audio Editing - Seth Cross - Frontal Lobe Productions
Intro/Outro - Jef Judin
Music - The Master by Flashing Lights
Podcast Links:
Click on the podcast hosting site you use below to subscribe to this podcast! 
Please leave a review if you enjoyed the show, it helps bring in more listeners! 
Itunes
Spreaker
Google Play
Stitcher
Tunein