Imagining a Post-COVID-19 World

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an uncertain and scary reality for us all. On many levels, our global society is being dramatically altered during this public health crisis. As many of us wait for things to “go back to normal,” the question remains: “what will the new normal be?” The coronavirus pandemic will undoubtedly change […]

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8 Key Drivers of Cannabis Industry Growth in 2020

The cannabis industry has been regarded, for good reason, as one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. And while the potential for this fledgling industry remains immense, it met some significant challenges in the second half of 2019. A problematic Q3 and Q4, which saw a significant correction for publicly traded cannabis companies, resulted in […]

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NYS Regulatory Cheat Sheet

One of the great things about a member-managed fund is the contribution of great members. Our amazing, and newest member, Liz Wald, put tother this cheat sheet of the key issues being debated in NYS/NYC about adult-use cannabis. This information is culled from the bills themselves as well as summary articles and, of course, is […]

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The Cause of Gun Violence in America

As some of you know, I’ve served on the board of WellLife Network for the past twelve years, the last three as Chairman. WellLife is one of NY’s largest behavioral health agencies, providing residential and day programs for over 5,500 individuals dealing with behavioral issues, substance abuse, or developmental disabilities. The Agency is funded by […]

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Team vs. Timing as a Predictor of Startup Success

I don’t love the title of this post. Because, it’s not either/or, as vs. implies. It’s both and more. However, on just about every panel I sit on, invariably, the question comes up, “What is the most important thing you look for when evaluating a company?”   Overwhelmingly panelists answer team. Team is essential for […]

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The Next Wave of Investor Wealth Creation in the Cannabis Industry

Investment in the cannabis industry continues to flow. According to the Viridian Deal Tracker, during the first 19 weeks of 2019, approximately $5.65B in equity and debt capital was invested in both public and private cannabis companies, an increase of +87% over the $3.01B for the same period in 2018. Not surprisingly, Cultivation & Retail […]

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REGULATORY UPDATE – 4/5/19

It’s been a busy few weeks in the cannabis industry with significant developments coming from Washington D.C. A pair of high-powered bills are churning their way through the halls of Congress that could vastly improve things for the cannabis industry. Here’s a look at some of the recent developments in the nation’s capital and what […]

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The Pace of Social Change and What it Means for the Legalization of Cannabis

  One of my favorite slides in my investor deck is titled “The Pace of Social Change” which features a great graphic from Bloomberg, that is pictured above in edited form. While it’s common knowledge that government policy follows public opinion, it’s also often the case that federal laws don’t change until the states themselves […]

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CBD: Still A Restricted Substance

On December 20th the 2019 Farm Bill was signed into law by President Trump, with overwhelming bipartisan support from both the House (386 to 47) and the Senate (87 to 3). This $867 billion bill will provide needed subsidies for American farmers, strengthens the food stamps (SNAP) program, and, most importantly for the cannabis industry, […]

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How to Avoid Investor Disconnect When Pitching

  I recently was asked to judge a pitching competition for CannInvest NJ. The format was familiar; each participant was given eight minutes to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges and an audience of on-lookers. The judges gave feedback and voted to determine a winner. Most of the presentations missed the mark. […]

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