I have to confess: I’m not only a Netflix binge watcher, but truth be told, I’m also a binge podcast listener. My most recent obsession was “S-Town,” an investigative journalism podcast created by the producers of “Serial” and “This American Life.” Incredibly, “S-Town” was downloaded 10 million times over four days. That’s a lot of downloads. And, a record!

When it comes to cannabis, there are a lot of great podcasts: from “Cannabis Confidential with Dr. Dina” and “Good News with Nurse Heather” to “The Marijuana Agenda with Russ Belville. There’s even a podcast network — Cannabis Radio —  dedicated exclusively to bringing great voices in cannabis to the public.

(For the uninitiated, a podcast is a digital audio production — much like a radio show — designed to be consumed on your mobile device. Popular networks like iTunes, Stitcher, and Spreaker host thousands of different podcasts on virtually every topic.)

HealthLab by Zana Medical Blends High Production Values With Compelling Story Telling

But, what we haven’t had yet in the world of cannabis is a podcast that follows in the footsteps of shows like “Startup” and “This American Life,” that weave personal stories with inquisitive and insightful commentary. That shouldn’t be a surprise — producing those shows are no easy feat. It took producer and investigative reporter, Brian Reed (and a large production team) nearly three years to bring us “S-Town!”

Well, the ganja gods must have been listening. And, we now have a cannabis-focused podcast that would feel right at home on NPR. Zana Medical’s Zana HealthLab “Eyes Wide Open Podcast, a Podcast About Cannabis and Insomnia” blends foundational knowledge on the clinical side of cannabis, interviews with recognized experts with compelling personal stories from patients.  

What I like most about the Zana HealthLab podcast — aside from the high production values and original music — is the dynamic between hosts Seth Lorinczi and Jeremy Kossen. Seth has a breezy, informal style that gives us a peek into cannabis from the perspective of a layperson. Science writer and Zana Medical’s research director, Jeremy Kossen, provides the essential foundational knowledge breaking down the science.

Seth never lets Jeremy get too nerdy, and keeps the podcast from diving too deep into the intricacies of our endocannabinoid system. The duo has great chemistry; and keep the show (which averages 45 minutes per episode) moving along so quickly, by the end of each episode, I was more than ready to hop right on to the next episode!

Zana HealthLab’s “Eyes Wide Open: A Podcast About Cannabis and Insomnia” comprises season one. An episodic series that unfolds over five episodes, episodes two through four focus on specific cohorts — women, veterans, and seniors. Episode one sets up the season by providing foundational knowledge on clinical cannabis with interviews from top researchers like Harvard-trained Nick Jikomes, Ph.D., cannabis science lead at Leafly, and Dr. Kimberly Babson, who’s authored numerous scientific papers on insomnia and cannabis.

One of the most interesting episodes — S01E03 Cannabis, Veterans, & Insomnia — features Roger Martin. Martin seems an unlikely candidate for clinical cannabis. A veteran of the Army, and a retired police officer, Martin admits he was hesitant to try cannabis. But, after years of being medicated by his doctors with a brutal cocktail of prescription drugs, from Ambien to OxyContin, he had enough. But, his first foray into cannabis was anything but seamless. I won’t drop a spoiler on you, but his story is both funny and heartwarming.

An Episodic Series

Co-host Jeremy Kossen describes their goal in producing a podcast exploring the clinical side of cannabis:

“With medical marijuana now legal in 28 states, Washington D.C., and Canada, over 230 million people in North America live in states or provinces where cannabis is legal is various forms,” said Jeremy Kossen, co-host of Zana HealthLab. “Our goal for the Zana HealthLab is to provide a critical and objective view of cannabis a potential treatment option. By featuring a broad cross section of patients, physicians, and scientists, our goal is for patients to be able to make informed decisions about their health.”

You can subscribe to the podcast on your preferred network, iTunes, Stitcher, or Spreaker. Or, binge listen to them on HealthLab Radio by Zana Medical:

• S01EO1: Foundational Knowledge: Insomnia, Health Sleep & Cannabis
• S01E02: Cannabis, Women & Insomnia
• S01E03: Cannabis, Veterans, & Insomnia
• S01E04: Cannabis, Seniors, & Insomnia
• S01E05: Cannabis & Insomnia: Putting It All Together

 Zana HealthLab “Eyes Wide Open, a Podcast About Cannabis and Insomnia,” was produced by Zana Medical, an online clinical cannabis guidance company that delivers personalized cannabis treatments by combining advanced guidance and assessment tools with support from expert clinicians and coaches.

The post Podcast Review: Zana Medical Tackles Cannabis and Insomnia with a Binge-Ready Podcast appeared first on .

One of the best questions to ask an entrepreneur is, “What’s the last great book you read?”

Whether on audiobook, ereader or tablet, or even on the ancient medium of paper, books offer a path to escape one’s own worldview and learn through the words and experiences of the author, making them a standard item in any forward-thinking entrepreneur’s home or laptop bag.

Through talking with some of the cannabis industry’s top leaders, Cashinbis gets a lot of amazing book recommendations – some of them are cannabis-specific, and others are just great business books.

No matter your stage in the game, we hope you enjoy the following suggestions for a stellar holiday reading list.

Zero To One

by Peter Thiel

A startup-focused book by the PayPal co-founder and early Facebook investor.

Recommended to us by Kyle Sherman of Flowhub

The Hard Thing About Hard Things

by Ben Horowitz

A brutally honest take on running a business, from a technology entrepreneur and venture capitalist.

Recommended to us by Kyle Sherman of Flowhub

Cannabis Manifesto

by Steve DeAngelo

The founder and CEO of the United States’ largest dispensary, has a wealth of knowledge about the cannabis movement as a whole.

Recommended by Steve Berg, CFO of O.PenVape

Big Weed

by Christian Hageseth

Follow the entrepreneurial journey behind Colorado’s upcoming “Weedery” and the Green Man Cannabis brand.

Recommended by Mike Julian of MPSI Security

Marijuana Millions

an eBook by Alexa Divett of Maya Media Collective

“The Foundation of Success” for anyone looking to start a cannabis brand, with insight into the world’s most diverse and devoted customer base.

Windowsill Weed

by Percy Grower

This author was so kind as to dedicate Windowsill Weed to the Cashinbis team for giving him the inspiration to complete his book, all about small-space cannabis cultivation. Now that’s a cannabis entrepreneur success story.

What book do you think every entrepreneur should read? Why? Join the conversation and comment below – perhaps we’ll pick up your favorite for our next reading list!

The post Holiday Reading List for Cannabis Entrepreneurs appeared first on .

California, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area, has become known in recent years for cultivating some of the world’s most innovative technology companies. And, with the “Uber-ization” of products and services comes valid questions for the future of the cannabis industry.

Three companies have really taken charge of the on-demand medical cannabis delivery market in California, and of course, the only way to find out what they’re all about is to try them.

As a longtime medical cannabis patient, I did the dirty work of trying out each service so you don’t have to. For controlled objectivity, I ordered ⅛ of flower from each app for delivery to the same address each time.

Eaze

How it works: In addition to getting medicine delivered quickly by Eaze, patients can also acquire a valid California physician’s recommendation via video conference with the EazeMD web app. “Telehealth” has been a standard in the recommendation scene here for some time, but never with the mobility and ease offered by EazeMD (pun intended, we’re sure). The delivery app itself partners with a nearby dispensary to provide local selections, but they don’t tell you which dispensary it’s coming from.

Honest review: Since it was the first one I tried, I gave Eaze several chances, but ultimately, I would not recommend this app to my friends or family. Several times, the delivery driver refused to come to my door, and called me asking me to come outside and find them in the rain, or worse, in the dark. On the last occasion, the driver became frustrated and drove away without delivering the order. It could just be that the organizers in my area are having trouble managing the process and training their drivers. When I contacted customer service to try and advise them of the major issues I had, they simply threw money at me in the form of $5 discount codes. No thanks, I’d rather have a quality delivery, and I think most patients would agree.

If you run a delivery service, remember – you never know who the patient is that you’re delivering to. He or she could be in a wheelchair or have other mobility problems that require you to bring the medicine directly to the door, and not the street or parking lot. Or, he or she could be a member of the cannabis media who is going to review your service.

Meadow

How it works: Like Eaze, Meadow partners with a local dispensary in each area, and they tell you who they’re working with in case you want to contact them directly. Orders through the Meadow website get dispatched to the appropriate local delivery service, who then brings the meds to your door. The company is also Bay-Area based.

Honest review: The delivery associate and the flower quality were both great, but I have to critique the technology a bit as there was a hiccup with my order. I used a Meadow promo code I’d gotten for referring a friend (a popular user acquisition tactic for these types of apps), but the promo code discount never actually made it from the Meadow app to the dispensary. Though he honored the donation discount shown on my phone screen, of course I still felt badly that the delivery guy was leaving with less money than he came there for. I never heard anything back from them about the order, but hopefully they’ve gotten this bug fixed. Other than that, I enjoyed the experience and would recommend Meadow to other patients.

When developing an app that works with several different affiliates, avoid customer confusion by ensuring that all necessary pieces of communication reach the affiliate from the app.

Grassp

How it works: It’s the same concept as the other apps, with an added layer of security. Though Grassp is the relative newcomer to the on-demand cannabis scene, the Southern California-based company has gone the extra mile to ensure compliant cannabis delivery. Prior to launching the app, the company made themselves known to all relevant local government agencies, and even got the San Diego Sheriffs’ Department to approve and fingerprint all of their delivery drivers, so you know they’re legit and well-trained.

Honest review: For those who understand the environment here in San Diego, you know that medical cannabis gets complicated. Restrictive municipal codes and zoning requirements mean that most dispensaries have been forced to close and reopen in a different location, often overnight, and often a few times per year to avoid closure and/or prosecution. The fact that Grassp works with one of the only licensed dispensaries in the county, Outco Labs, is comforting because you know they will always be there. And, their law enforcement-approved driver was smart, friendly, timely, professional, and trustworthy to boot.

Though the prices are high to provide you a quality delivery, the flower quality is there, and I would definitely recommend Grassp to any of my patient friends and family once they start expanding their operations statewide.

What’s important in a delivery service? Timeliness, professionalism, consistency, and quality. More and more on-demand medical cannabis services are sprouting up in legal states, and as long as they keep these qualities in mind, they’ll see huge success as more consumers come around to trying cannabis for the medical benefits.

The post Cannabis On Demand: Reviewing California’s Top Medical Marijuana Mobile Delivery Apps appeared first on .

The legal cannabis and medical marijuana industry is the fastest growing industry in the country. The growth has spawned what many call the “Green Rush,” and with any emerging industry experiencing rapid growth, it attracts a lot of subpar “wannabes” who simply want to capitalize on an exciting industry in which they think they can make a “quick buck”.

Hire a security company with extensive security experience in the legal cannabis and/or medical marijuana industries, yet can also provide comprehensive services

Experience speaks volumes. We’re dealing in a “high-risk” industry, and you don’t want to hire a security company that needs “on-the-job” training.

Bottom line: Hire a security company with extensive security experience in legal cannabis and/or medical marijuana.

A nationally recognized leader in cannabis security, Tony Gallo, senior director of Dallas-based, Sapphire Protection, agrees on the importance of hiring a company with extensive experience in legal cannabis. Gallo has decades of experience in loss prevention, audits, safety, and risk/emergency management in both a strategic and tactical capacity.

Gallo offers these words of advice, “Don’t let companies with limited Cannabis security experience learn their mistakes from on your dime.”

To determine if your prospective security company has the right experience, make sure to ask them the right questions:

• How many clients in the legal cannabis industry do you have?
• Have any clients terminated their relationship with you? If so, why?
• Do you require all the guards who would be protecting our facility to be held to the [State] Law Enforcement Standards and Training qualifications? Or, have they all gone through military and/or law enforcement training?
• Do you require that your guards go through ongoing training that specifically addresses the unique requirements of the legal cannabis industry? Do they take “refresher” type courses to maintain their skills?
• What makes your officers uniquely qualified and knowledgeable to protect our facility?

Hire a company that can provide comprehensive services.

While not always possible, it can be ideal if you can hire a company that can manage most of your security needs. Some companies will procure equipment, supervise construction, install alarm and CCTV monitoring, support hiring processes, perform employee surveillance and investigations, procure insurance, provide 24/7 response coverage, training logistics, transportation of cash and product.

Avis Bulbulyan, founder and CEO of Bulbulyan Consulting Group, agrees, although, he also offer a few words of caution. While offering comprehensive services can be cost-effective and convenient, “You don’t want one company with too much power without a check and balance. If one company is controlling everything without oversight, that’s a security concern as well.”

• To learn more about Bulbulyan Consulting and Avis Bulbulyan, visit Bulbulyan Consulting Group.
• To learn more about  Sapphire Protection and senior director Tony Gallo, visit  Sapphire Protection.

Are you involved in the Cannabis Industry — as a business or a patient/consumer? If so, do you have a story idea or want to be interviewed for a future column? Email Jeremy Kossen at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @CannaAuthority.

The post Cannabis Dispensary Security Hiring Best Practices, Part 2: Experience Matters appeared first on .

Starting in November of 2015, we asked the cannabis community to nominate and vote for their favorite individuals, products, and organizations in the field for the inaugural Laurel Awards.

We weren’t sure what to expect, but we quickly took stock of the major players in the industry as more than 1,100 initial nominations and well over 7,500 official votes were submitted. The top winner by people’s choice in each of the ten categories will hold the honor for one year.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Winner of the Laurel for Most Influential Cannabis Industry Advocacy Group

It’s no surprise that this organization still holds relevance with the cannabis community. NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, is the longest-running and largest cannabis advocacy group in the world. The group focuses specifically on working to change cannabis and hemp laws at the local, state, and federal level.

Last year, NORML was involved in or closely followed several landmark reforms and upsets that influenced the cannabis community, bringing much-needed information from the front lines of the courts and legislature to the masses.

Keith Stroup, an Illinois attorney, founded the organization in the 1970s after being inspired by Ralph Nader’s fundraising prowess. Stroup’s work laid the foundation for cannabis activists for years to come, and the organization has grown to include nearly 200 of chapters worldwide. He still does advocacy work and blogs for the organization.

NORML is now headed by Executive Director Allen St. Pierre, with headquarters and staff in the Washington, D.C. area.

The nonprofit consists of several subsidiaries, including NORML PAC, NORML Foundation and NORML Business Network, all working to fund and tackle cannabis reform in different ways. The organization’s advisory board consists of celebrities and public figures who support legalization and advance the message in the media.

Though local chapters of any national organization are bound to experience flux and tension over time, NORML has been a steadfast resource for the community for longer than many of us have been around, and in an industry that is constantly changing and evolving, there’s something to be said for that.

To get involved, visit NORML.org.

The post NORML Takes Laurel Award for Advocacy appeared first on .

Today, Upscale Media released Upscale TV, a brand new weekly web series documenting news and issues in the legal cannabis and hemp industries.

The weekly 30-minute show is free for the public to access, and is hosted on the company’s website, Upscale.Media.

Something Different

Unlike many other TV and web series involving cannabis, this show will feature zero depictions of the herb itself – or anyone smoking it, for that matter. Upscale TV takes pride in covering the business niche of the cannabis movement in the most tasteful and professional manner possible.

Featuring exclusive industry panels, interviews with CEOs and top advocates, behind-the-scenes cannabis trade show footage, political commentary, technology, product features, and discussion of the real issues facing the cannabis and hemp communities, this series is the first of its kind in a movement rife with derogatory counter-cultural references and seeking legitimacy as policy shifts both in the U.S. and globally.

Taking Charge

With the launch of Upscale TV comes a few role changes at the company. Cashinbis Co-Founder Guillermo Bravo is taking the reins as Upscale Media’s CEO, bringing a technology background to the emerging cannabis media space with more than 10 years experience in web development, online marketing, and social media strategy.

Another new role was created for Tim Strombel, now the President of Upscale TV. Formerly, Tim worked in sports broadcasting for ESPN Radio prior to developing the Cashinbis brand as Head of Media. With a budding side career in stand-up comedy, Strombel proves an engaging and educated host of the new Upscale TV series.

“I couldn’t be more excited and proud to be part of this project. Upscale TV provides a business-minded, professional look into one of the toughest industries to operate in that America has ever seen. Engaging interviews and informative weekly segments will provide cannabis industry entrepreneurs and hopefuls a blueprint to navigate this difficult landscape. We will even appeal to the mainstream, non-cannabis advocate on a business level. After all, if you can successfully operate in the legal cannabis industry, you can successfully navigate any industry.” -Tim Strombel, President of Upscale TV

What About Cashinbis?

Originally known for the Cashinbis digital publication, which will continue operating as a finance and investing information hub under the company umbrella, the new Upscale platform now hopes to draw a distinction between the complex and heavily regulated business environment where the industry takes place, and the positive, healthy and successful lifestyles that cannabis entrepreneurs and enthusiasts are currently living.

“Our original aim with Cashinbis was to showcase how lucrative cannabis is as a business, but what we learned is that a strong sense of success runs deep throughout this culture, be it in discussions of politics, business and finance, or of one’s personal health and the products they like to surround themselves with. Being a cannabis professional – being an educated professional in any field who uses and supports cannabis, and can say that proudly – this is the new cultural paradigm that Upscale TV represents.” -Roni Stetter, Director of Communications & Community Relations, Upscale Media

Look out for new episodes of the show every Wednesday on Upscale.Media, and individual show segments which will be released on the Upscale Media Facebook page.

The post Upscale TV Web Series Launches To Inform & Entertain the Cannabis Community appeared first on .

Three years ago this month Colorado residents voted to legalize recreational cannabis. The industry as a whole has come a long way since then. However, people who are unfamiliar with cannabis may have misconceptions about the industry. Some may think that an industrial cannabis garden would mirror a scene from the Showtime television series “Weeds.” Instead, it is closer to your grandmother’s greenhouse, magnified to the size of a Home Depot.

Terrapin Care Station in Denver stands out as the first grow house to offer free public tours in Colorado in an effort to educate the public on cannabis commercial production. Other dispensaries also use their grow houses to offer tours, but for a hefty price tag with private or restricted admission only. Terrapin Care’s recreational grow house has only been open since May 2015 for tours.

The dispensary and grow house owners are grappling with being both shunned and sought after simultaneously.

The promotional video shown at the beginning of the tour depicts Terrapin Care’s owner Christopher Wood saying that family ethos is Terrapin’s objective. Terrapin Grow Station has a total of four dispensaries, in Colorado, but only their northern Aurora location shares the same site as their grow house, where the tour takes place. Attendees must be aged 21 and over for access to the tour.

“We like money, but we love cannabis,” said David Cheslin, a supervisor at Terrapin’s Aurora grow. “Education is half the battle for both.”

Upon walking through the front door into the waiting room for the tour, a security officer asks each person for their identification to verify their age as at least 21. This is required for entry into any Colorado retail dispensary.

“I was not expecting a third-party, armed security officer,” said tour goer Judy Phelps, 69, of Montana. “But some Rastafarian who was maybe friends with the owner.”

Cheslin, the tour director for the overbooked group of eight, had a character closer to that of a grass-roots horticultural enthusiast than that of a former Grateful Dead follower or a drug lord. Following him within the boundary of a yellow tapped path lead the attendees to the 13,000 square foot warehouse, located behind the retail storefront. 

In front of 20 rows of potted cannabis clones, separated by height, the flower cultivation process was chronologically described. A blue tag, called a radio frequency identification technology or RFID tag, hung around the stalk of every plant. 

The state of Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) mandates that every grow house fuse this labeling method in order to track the cannabis plant from seed to sale. For a grow house to stay operational, all MED regulations must be met. This was a constant point made on the tour, and efforts to stay compliant were very noticeable.

We like money, but we love cannabis. Education is half the battle for both.

Cheslin offered details on the types of light waves, the voltages used as well as the duration that the plants are exposed to light. Cheslin was also forthcoming on the present day, hot-button issue, on the use of pesticides. Terrapin grow uses only all natural pesticides in their production: neem, citrus and mineral oils. These ingredients can be found on the side of every package sold, another regulation that must be met for operation.

Since the Colorado residents voted to allow commercial production and sales of recreational cannabis, a major drive for Colorado businesses has been tourism.

A 2014 study by the Colorado’s revenue department concluded that 44 percent of cannabis sales in the Denver metropolitan area and up to 90 percent of sales in Colorado’s mountainous areas are from out-of-state visitors.

The dispensary and grow house owners are grappling with being both shunned and sought after simultaneously. Most have combatted this duality in the public by simply ignoring those who oppose them.

“This company aims for education, otherwise, we would have people coming from all over and not knowing anything,” said Sarah Bacon, Supervisor at Terrapin’s northern Aurora storefront.

44 percent of cannabis sales in the Denver metropolitan area and up to 90 percent of sales in Colorado’s mountainous areas are from out-of-state visitors.

Every grow house has their own technique. In an industry where most operational information is sealed off from all others, Cheslin said, “Nothing in Terrapin Care Station is proprietary.”  

Terrapin Care Station challenges the dialogue of the economically rich community that it is immersed in. The presentation of the information illustrated an experience that you would enjoy on a wine tour or beer factory, only without the samples. There is no shack run by thugs, but rather a state-of-the-art large agricultural warehouse governed by strict compliance laws.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect at all, but this tour was really informative,” said Candice Thurlow, 34, a Colorado native. “Hopefully, other grows will follow suit.”

What do you think about the Colorado dispensary and cultivation systems? Would you like your state to operate the same way? If not, what changes would you make? Join the conversation and comment below!

The post Colorado Cannabis Cultivation: Free Dispensary Tour Review appeared first on .

Israel does not have the luxury of a large domestic market, a population of 8 million does not make a billion dollar business. Israel does not have the luxury of free, fair and balanced open trade with the world.

What Israel does have, is an impressive track record of creating something special from nothing. Israel has an impressive roster of innovative companies, individuals, and opinion leaders. Israel has particular successes is Agtech, Hitech, Medtech, Fintech, Foodtech and all the other ingredients required to create something great from something as natural as the cannabis plant.

Much of the world is moving faster towards social cannabis acceptance, in most cases countries have forged fledgling medical cannabis programs and are busy watching and waiting for early data to come in.

In the past, cannabis culture has generally been recognized as that of the stoner community, the young student hippie types that waste their lives in a cloud of sweet smelling smoke. The counter-culture that attaches itself to icons such as Bob Marley, Che Guevara, and Cheech & Chong is the same anti-establishment rebellious community that has, for decades, been unable to convince the world of cannabis’ peaceful relationship with the planet.

However, cannabis culture has changed. Leading entrepreneurs, CEOs and politicians are less afraid of admitting their own cannabis past, especially with a new understanding and opportunity to embrace the therapeutic aspects of cannabis.

With the United States blazing a cannabis legalization trail, it’s no surprise the smart money is heading into the sizable recreational market that will be born from full legalization.

In Israel, the plant is still illegal. Medical cannabis patients do not receive a prescription. Instead, they are issued a certificate to possess an illegal substance. In Israel, like with most other industries, entrepreneurs, scientists and investors are seeking out new ways to innovate within the next big global economy, specifically focusing on the plant’s use and potential.

As a nation of only 8-million people, the prime objective of almost every Israeli business is to target overseas markets. These businesses understand the value in creating a monetizable solution over a mass market product.

Israel’s start-up national culture is a defacto result of our geo-political landscape. The need to think quick and execute faster, only pausing for a brief assessment before resuming full speed, has created a climate where failure in one venture is not only acceptable, it’s respected.

Mankind learns best from its own mistakes. In other cultures, the pressure on entrepreneurs can be so immense, it can actually be debilitating. Israel operates in quite a different way in that you’re not successful until you’ve overcome adversity.

The Israeli approach to any new concept, innovation, market or opportunity is a cautious one, but never with a dismissive attitude. Once caution has been removed through satisfactory discussion and research then the real innovation can begin.

As a nation of only 8-million people, the prime objective of almost every Israeli business is to target overseas markets.

Israeli’s will often not over-think the needs of the end-user. The main question we ask ourselves is simply ‘how can we make this better, more efficient, more effective, faster, smaller, more dynamic’.  In some cases, it may be an intuitive re-engineering of an existing solution. In other cases, it will be a radical ‘back to the drawing board’, resulting in groundbreaking technologies.

Today in Israel, entrepreneurs are asking themselves 2 cannabis business questions.

1. What exists for other products that can be optimized for cannabis?
2. What can we learn about the plant to help us create something new?

When cannabis innovation is examined, all business will fall into one of these two categories. All over Israel, the buzz is building and discussions happening. People are coming together to answer tough questions and to ask even tougher questions of themselves.

The long journey of education and knowledge is underway and Israel has the real potential to have a big voice in the future of the cannabis plant. The first step of this journey is building the cannabis innovation ecosystem, a platform where every stakeholder can share and collaborate together. Once we accomplish this, the sky is the limit.

What do you think about Israel’s innovative climate? How do you see companies outside the United States impacting the global cannabis culture? Join the conversation and comment below!

The post Israel’s Cannabis Culture is Focused on Innovation appeared first on .

Over 200 members of the cannabis business community offered up their nominations for the first-ever Laurel Awards by Cashinbis. These organizations, people, and products represent the very best of 2015 in the world of cannabis – selected solely by industry insiders. 

Read on to learn about each nominated organization (in alphabetical order), and vote for your favorites here.

ArcView Group

style="font-weight: 400;">

Best Enterprise Software

CannaScore is the cannabis industry’s first auditing and compliance software that provides real-time scoring and analysis for the overall health of any recreational or medical cannabis dispensary, grow facility, or manufacturer.

California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA)

Most Influential Cannabis Industry Advocacy Group

CCIA was formed to unite the cannabis industry in California and to allow it to speak with one voice at the state and local levels. The group strives to educate and act as a resource to lawmakers regarding all areas of the cannabis industry, and is also dedicated to addressing issues related to driving under the influence, unlawful diversion to minors, and substance abuse.

CMW Media

Best Creative/Media Agency

CMW Media is a full-service public relations firm specializing in promoting innovative businesses from a broad spectrum of industries. Our clients range from publicly traded companies to those in emerging markets, with a special focus on the global cannabis industry.

Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo (CWCBExpo)

Best Cannabis Trade Show

The CWCBExpo is one of the definitive business events for the cannabis industry, held biannually in New York City and Los Angeles. Exhibitors and sponsors bring cutting-edge solutions to owners and managers of businesses in this fast-growing industry, and a wealth of opportunity and knowledge to those looking to enter the market with potential partners and investors. The expo floor features the latest technologies, solutions and resources for cannabis-related companies.

CannaBrand

Best Creative/Media Agency

Best Infused Product Brand

Located in Denver, Dixie Elixirs & Edibles has been producing award-winning THC-infused products since 2009. What began as a single flagship product, the Dixie Elixir (a THC-infused soda), has now expanded to over 30 different products, representing the industry’s finest edibles, mints, energy shots, tinctures, and topicals.

The Emerald Cup, Sonoma County

Best Cannabis Trade Show

The Emerald Cup is celebrating 12 years as California’s preeminent, outdoor, organic, medicinal cannabis competition. With one of the nation’s finest sampling areas, The Emerald Cup has become known as the premier destination and showplace for both cannabis tourists and Northern California organic and sustainable product brands, with many companies on-hand to discuss the latest in hemp and medical cannabis.

Flowhub

Most Disruptive Technology / Best Enterprise Software 

Cannabis Product of the Year / Cannabis Company of the Year

Cannabis Entrepreneur of the Year: CEO Kyle Sherman 

Flowhub has developed the next generation of seed-to-sale software for the legal cannabis industry, enabling growers and dispensaries to streamline their operations and optimize their profit margins. Professional cultivators can use the NUG mobile scanning device to scan plant tags and carry out daily operations within the grow, then use the web or mobile application to confidently oversee every plant and every move that was made using the NUG.

Check out our feature on Kyle Sherman, the company’s Co-Founder and CEO, up for Entrepreneur of the Year.

Freedom Enterprises (Hashman Infused)

style="font-weight: 400;">

style="font-weight: 400;">

style="font-weight: 400;">

style="font-weight: 400;">

Best Infused Product Brand / Cannabis Product of the Year

IVXX is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Terra Tech Corp that produces medical cannabis extracted products for regulated medical cannabis dispensaries throughout California.

Keef Cola

style="font-weight: 400;">

ancial

Best Enterprise Software / Cannabis Entrepreneur of the Year: CEO David Dinenberg

Cannabis Product of the Year / Cannabis Company of the Year

KIND provides financial technology solutions for cultivators, dispensaries, and regulatory agencies in the cannabis industry to facilitate safe and secure transactions that are in compliance with the rules, regulations, laws and guidelines governing cannabis-related businesses.

KIND’s seed-to-sale cannabis tracking and compliance platform, Agrisoft, integrates seamlessly with Kind’s cash-management and order-taking kiosk as well as KIND Pay – KIND’s convenient and secure platform for cash-free mobile payments and customer loyalty programs. Together, the KIND platform provides an end-to-end solution to close the loop between cannabis-related businesses and financial institutions.

Check out our feature on David Dinenberg, the company’s Founder and CEO, up for Entrepreneur of the Year.

Kush Bottles

style="font-weight: 400;">

Best Consumer App

Leafly is a leading online information and education resource for cannabis consumers. Through Leafly, millions of visitors per month research strains of cannabis that will best meet their needs, access user-generated reviews of more than 800 cannabis strains and thousands of dispensaries, and follow news and culture content intended for everyone from beginning medical cannabis patients to the sophisticated connoisseur.

Loud Cannabis

Best Consumer App

One of the Green Exchange, Inc.’s latest developments, Loud Cannabis, is the world’s first HIPAA-compliant mobile app that connects cannabis growers directly to patients in order to facilitate delivery of farm-to-table fresh medical cannabis. This newcomer takes the “Uber-ization of cannabis” to a new level by allowing cultivators to get in on the growing on-demand consumer market.

Mary’s Medicinals

Best Infused Product Brand

Mary’s Medicinals is a wellness company innovating at the intersection of engineering and horticulture. Best known as the developer and exclusive distributor of the award-winning Transdermal Cannabis Patch, Mary is transforming how people view and utilize cannabis, developing products that maximize the benefits of cannabinoids, terpenes and other plant nutrients for optimum patient care.

MassRoots

style="font-weight: 400;">

Most Disruptive Technology / Best Enterprise Software

Best Consumer App / Cannabis Company of the Year

Meadow Care has created an on-demand delivery platform that allows California patients to shop online for medical cannabis from the comfort of home. Patients place an order via mobile device and receive a delivery from a top-tier, compliant dispensary within one hour.

MJ Business Conference & Expo

Best Cannabis Trade Show

Produced by Marijuana Business Daily, the Conference is both the oldest and largest national event for the now $3 billion cannabis industry. This year’s expo in Las Vegas marked its 4th year in operation.

MJ Freeway

style="font-weight: 400;">

Cannabis Product of the Year: Real Scientific Hemp Oil (RSHO)

Real Scientific Hemp Oil is an award-winning, concentrated, natural hemp oil derived from non-GMO hemp plants grown on family farms, made by Medical Marijuana, Inc., the first publicly held company vested in the cannabis and industrial hemp space in America. The company was the first to develop a significant standardized manufacturing pipeline for CBD-containing products. It was also the first national and international distribution company fully focused on cannabis, and now ships to more than 45 countries through its subsidiary HempMeds.

National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)

Most Influential Cannabis Industry Advocacy Group / Best Cannabis Trade Show

NCIA is the only national trade association advancing the interests of the legitimate and responsible cannabis industry. Our industry supports tens of thousands of jobs, tens of millions in tax revenue, and billions in economic activity in the United States. NCIA is leading the unified and coordinated campaign to ensure this emerging sector is treated fairly under federal law.

New West Summit

Best Cannabis Trade Show

Dubbed the “TechCrunch Disrupt” of the cannabis industry, New West Summit’s expertly curated, two-day, 15-panel conference and exhibition included over 30 exhibitors, 50 speakers, and 1,000 attendees. The Summit forecasted legalization in 2016, funding trends, the next crop of mobile apps, the technologies disrupting cultivation, extraction and vaporization, intellectual property, media and marketing, and more.

National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Most Influential Cannabis Industry Advocacy Group

NORML’s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable.

PAX 2 Vaporizer

Cannabis Product of the Year

Founded in 2007 by two Stanford Design Masters program graduates and headquartered in San Francisco, PAX Labs fuses applied design principles with technology, producing innovative premium vaporizers that provide a cleaner, modern alternative to smoking. PAX 2 is one of the most pocketable and premium loose-leaf vaporizers on the market, revolutionizing the vaping industry and offering consumers a simple smoking alternative.

Potbox

Cannabis Product of the Year

Founded in 2015, Potbox is a premium, subscription-based service that delivers the highest-quality, most ethically-grown cannabis to registered patients in the Bay Area and Los Angeles on a monthly basis, complete with suave, high-end packaging.

Sage Analytics Luminary Beacon

Most Disruptive Technology

The Luminary Beacon by Sage Analytics is a potency measurement system that enhances the current state of potency profiling of Total THC, THCA, Total CBD, CBDA and CBD content by providing rapid, accurate measurements, field portability, convenience and affordability to the entire cannabis ecosystem. This desktop device mitigates inconveniences of potency testing by delivering accurate, spectroscopy-based measurement for real-time, on-site use.

Stock Pot Images

Best Creative/Media Agency / Cannabis Company of the Year

Stock Pot Images is the first stock photo agency to specialize exclusively in cannabis-related imagery, featuring rights-managed and royalty-free photography and illustration. The company’s selection reaches far beyond the small number of stereotypical images currently offered by major stock agencies. Stock Pot Images targets healthcare, ad and branding agencies, as well as corporate and emerging industries that will soon need cannabis images to service a new market of users.

Terra Tech Corp

style="font-weight: 400;">

Cannabis Entrepreneur of the Year: CEO Ethan Ruby / Cannabis Company of the Year

Theraplant is a Connecticut State-licensed medical cannabis producer, dedicated to helping the state’s qualifying patients live and feel better through the wholesale production of medical cannabis products of the highest quality.

In 2000, Theraplant’s CEO and founder, Ethan Ruby, was struck in a crosswalk by a car that ran a red light, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. Despite numerous surgeries and intense rehabilitation, he continued to suffer pain and complications, and was prescribed numerous prescription drugs, leading to undesirable side effects and the risk of physical addiction. After thought and consultation with his father, a pediatrician, and his mother, a physical therapist, Ethan finally decided to try medical cannabis, with life-changing success. Ethan has made it his life’s work to help ensure that the unique benefits of medical cannabis are made accessible to other qualified patients like himself.

Jane

Most Disruptive Technology / Best Consumer App

Jane is a complete cash management solution for medical and recreational cannabis retailers. The company’s mission is to empower cannabis retailers with the financial services tools they need to grow their business, while fulfilling the desire of today’s consumers for greater control over their shopping experience. The Jane self-service kiosk was developed by a team with over 75 years of combined experience in payments, kiosks and cannabis to bring financial maturity to the marijuana industry.

Wana Brands

style="font-weight: 400;">

style="font-weight: 400;">

Don’t forget to vote for your favorites here by December 31!

The post #Laurels2015: Meet The Nominees appeared first on .

Anyone ‘truly’ familiar with Israel and the Israeli startup culture will know that very little innovation birthed in the holy land actually reaches success. There are no shortage of success stories and poster children that showcase the depth and breadth of Israel’s ingenuity and creative commercialization.

The reality is very different. More startups fail in Israel than in any other country in the world…

In a country where every man and his dog is working on or talking about their idea for the next Waze, Wix or Mobileye the number of failures is going to be high. Many failures happen early, learning curves are learned and entrepreneurs pivot into another venture headed to be the next big thing.

6 entrepreneurs raised private angel club investments totaling $15 million dollars.

It’s a matter of statistics and courage. Both of which Israel does well.

As in every industry, there’s much that goes on behind-the-scenes. Conversations and relationships are nurtured that eventually blossom (or die) and all too often deals are done that need to be rewritten before the ink is dry in order to account for another brainstorming session or introduction over a street-side coffee & humus.

This week in Israel, 2 cultivators almost completed what would have been game changing strategic alliances. It didn’t happen and you’ll never hear about it.

Read more: Israel Holds Its Place in the Emerging Global Cannabis Market

This week in Israel, 6 entrepreneurs raised private angel club investments totaling $15 million dollars. The companies are in stealth mode and the investment is not worthy of a TechCrunch article.

2 cultivators almost completed what would have been game changing strategic alliances. It didn’t happen and you’ll never hear about it.

This week in Israel, over 100 innovators and entrepreneurs meet informally, formally and by chance. Opinions were shared, visions illuminated and synergies found.

There is a lot happening this week in Israel. Next week we already know what’s happening.

Dr. Deborah Malka is here in Israel to keynote at iCAN’s Cannabis 101 education symposium.

Dr. Malka served as Medical Director of MedCann Inc, a group of 30 cannabis clinics throughout California that serve upwards of 300,000 patients, and Chaired the Education Committee for the Society of Cannabis Clinicians.

It was a busy week in Israel this past week and if this latest news is any indication, next week and the weeks beyond should be just as busy.

What questions do you have about cannabis culture or business in Israel? Join the conversation and comment below!

The post Israel This Week: Cannabis News You Didn’t Hear About appeared first on .

Israel is progressing towards dispensing medicinal cannabis through the regular pharmacy supply chain. At first I was against this in practice but over the last few months I have done an 180-degree turnaround. Let me explain:

Cannabis is a Schedule 1 controlled substance in most countries and Israel is no different. Patients who qualify for a license according to a list of conditions can get a “prescription” and their cannabis (either flowers or oral liquids) is supplied currently directly from the grower. There are 8 growers currently in Israel and another 16 planned grow licenses being allocated in 2016. Israel currently has over 22,000 patients registered and many are waiting for the regulations to be broadened.

So why move to pharmacies dispensing medical cannabis?

Let’s look at the alternatives:

1. Reschedule cannabis as a medication. ­
   1. This means that FDA rules and regs now come into play and getting a new medication to the market requires millions of $$ and 10+ years of time. Yikes !

2. Reschedule cannabis to an herbal medicine.
   1. This is a better option, but no government is moving in this direction.

3. Legalize and establish a monitored dispensary system.
   1. This seems to be working in the USA. ­However, governments move slowly and in order for this to happen on a large scale, the overall attitude and skepticism towards cannabis as a medicine would have to change.

So on one hand there are models being tested now all over the world, from free access in places like Ecuador and Spain to medical marijuana programs opening up in the Czech Republic, Italy, Croatia, and Australia just to name a few.

BUT there are patients who need cannabis for conditions like epilepsy and Crohn’s who need it now. Again, governments move too slowly.

Israel has taken a novel approach. ­One that will answer most of these concerns. Pharmacies are a known entity with established protocols and regulated supply trains. Cannabis is a scheduled drug ­just like morphine and Oxycontin. Why reinvent the wheel? Supply it as a controlled drug and boom! Patients get access, Doctors can prescribe it and governments can regulate it.

Add into the mix a requirement to educate doctors and pharmacists while encouraging medical research and you have a quality, workable system that can supply cannabis to patients fairly quickly and efficiently. This is what the IMCA – Israel Medical Cannabis Agency (a part of the Ministry of Health) is planning.

Step 1

Educate doctors and pharmacists while allowing certified doctors to prescribe medical cannabis for a list of conditions including:

• Oncology Patients
• Chronic Pain
• Crohn’s Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• HIV/AIDS
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Terminally Ill Patients
• Post­ Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Step 2

Standardize the strains available based on THC/CBD/Terpene profile so that there are 8 registered products from the many growers who are able to uphold these conditions. In addition, standardize the names of these strains so that there is less confusion for the patient.

Step 3

Allow broad scientific research in order to expand the list of conditions and delivery methods. So, with minimal government change,­ patients will have access to medical cannabis through a regulated and monitored system, with a growing list of conditions, all in around 6 months­.

Not bad for government. Right?

As a model to introduce a functioning and realistic medical cannabis program into a country, this seems to be the fastest route, and theoretically the path of least resistance.

What do you think about Israel’s plan to distribute medical cannabis through their present pharmacy system? Join the conversation and comment below!

The post Is Israel Cannabis System Path Of Least Resistance? appeared first on .

It’s the winter of 2015, and four states have now legalized adult cannabis use, along with Washington, DC. There are 23 states that allow patients to access some form of medical cannabis, and dozens more campaigns ramping up for the General Election season.

Legalization is on the horizon, giving those in the cannabis movement a chance to reflect this holiday season on all the amazing advances that have been made in the industry.

Here at Cashinbis, we’re thankful to have educated thousands on the cannabis business universe, and that great companies and leaders like these exist in our multifaceted space.

Read on for a collection of quotes from cannabis industry CEOs, explaining why each one is thankful for progress in cannabis legalization.

“While the cannabis industry is one full of exciting opportunities and innovations that can benefit society, legitimization is needed to ensure that best practices (such as using sustainable energy, securing proper approval for crop distribution, and maintaining low barriers to entry) are carried out. I’m grateful to states that have legalized cannabis, so that patients, consumers, and business owners in the space can reap their rewards while also contributing to their communities through these best practices.”

-Eli Bilton, CEO of the Attis Group

“When a state legalizes cannabis, it creates a new and relatively stable micro-economy with a plethora of diverse job opportunities.  Since each state’s cannabis program is bound by state lines they must employ local citizens for everything from dispensary owners, to growers and cultivators, consultants, sales associates, bud tenders and more.  Legal cannabis allows for a high degree of flexibility and quality in one’s employment options and I’m grateful to the industry for allowing individuals to find work that they not only need, but also enjoy.”

-Derek Peterson, CEO of Terra Tech Corp.

“Without permission to conduct research regarding the utility of medical marijuana, patients suffering from chronic and terminal conditions inevitably suffer through no fault of their own. The movement to legalize cannabis continues to provide benefits in the form of increased access to and development of medical marijuana for those that need it most. It’s for this reason that I’m beyond grateful to states that have decided to legalize cannabis.”

-Seth Yakatan, CEO of Kalytera

“I’m grateful for the fact that we live in an age where the laws are going in the right direction, allowing me to do something I’m passionate about without it being seen as ‘taboo’ by the general public. Our generation is more open minded and accepting of people’s beliefs and choices, and the fact that lawmakers are following suit is a great thing not only for the cannabis community, but society in general.”

-Jamie Rosen, Founder and CEO of Dr. Dabber

“I am grateful for cannabis legalization because it is the next Great American Industry, men and women will soon be able to avoid incarceration for something that is considered medicine for others, and that we can overcome propaganda, explore and celebrate the truth about cannabis, as one nation.”

-Ralph Morgan, CEO of O.penVAPE

“For cannabis professionals like myself, the tide of legalization presents myriad opportunities to innovate within one of the most dynamic industries in the world. More significantly, GreenRush’s constituents, cannabis patients and the delivery dispensaries that serve them, are the primary beneficiaries of legalization: patients who are no longer required to hide their relief from cannabis medication, and delivery dispensaries who are able to openly, proudly provide medicine delivery to the chronically ill, homebound and elderly. Legalization represents authentic, holistic healing for cannabis patients, those who serve them, the cannabis industry, and society as a whole.”

-Paul Warshaw, CEO of GreenRush

We can’t wait to announce what’s in store for 2016 and hope our readers enjoy Thanksgiving with friends and family.

The post Six Reasons Cannabis Industry Leaders are Thankful for Legalization appeared first on .