Much of the complexity of the cannabis plant stems from its aromatic compounds beyond terpenes, such as sesquiterpenes, aldehydes, esters, and ketones, and sulfur compounds, which are difficult to preserve during cultivation and extraction.

In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Cook, CEO of True Terpenes, to discuss the company's Headstash product line and its ability to preserve volatiles and restore a strain's true expression.

We also discuss the future of sensory science in cannabis, the need for a shared language around aroma and flavor.

Cook shares his perspective on the future of cannabis beverages, global markets, and how better understanding the plant's complexity could shape the next phase of cannabis innovation.

https://trueterpenes.com

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal.

Get in touch with pam@InnovatingCannabisPodcast.com.

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Is Peru the Next Hot Market for US Cannabis Brands?

If you work with hemp, the market is about to open for import/export operations.

Peru's medical cannabis framework dates to 2017, when cannabis was legalized for medicinal use, scientific research, and pharmaceutical production. Patient associations gained cultivation rights in 2021, though the market remained limited — by mid-2025, official records showed just 27 cannabis-related marketing authorizations, most for natural products rather than medicines.

That's changing. A new law passed in December 2024 established the legal basis for industrial hemp below 1% THC. The draft regulation specifically addresses hemp derivatives in processed foods, beverages, supplements, and additives — with hemp edibles and beverages expected to be permitted as regulated food products.

Today, we meet José Escalante, co-founder of Organnical, a telehealth platform, who has been working directly with Peruvian lawmakers to help shape the emerging framework.

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal.

Get in touch with pam@InnovatingCannabisPodcast.com.

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New York retailers have been among the most vocal critics of METRC's required Retail ID tags — another layer in the state's track-and-trace system that adds real labor and cost burdens for operators.

QRLogix, a labeling software company with roots in the medical industry, has adapted its technology to work within the METRC framework and eliminate that burden.

Here to explain how it works is David Carson, CEO of QRLogix.

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal.

Get in touch with pam@InnovatingCannabisPodcast.com.

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District Cannabis was founded in 2015 as a cultivation company and has steadily expanded its footprint over the past decade, adding manufacturing capabilities and building one of the region's most sustainable cannabis brands.

In 2024, the company completed a major expansion, launching a retail location in Washington, D.C., while also growing its cultivation, manufacturing, and retail operations in Maryland.

Today, we're joined by Grace Hyde, Director of Operations at District Cannabis. Grace is deeply involved in the day-to-day realities of the D.C. cannabis market and brings a unique perspective on how the industry is evolving as it continues to establish itself. In our conversation, she shares insights into the opportunities, challenges, and market dynamics shaping cannabis in the nation's capital.

https://districtcannabis.us

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal.

Get in touch with pam@InnovatingCannabisPodcast.com.

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Episode 195_ Inside the Bellrock Turnaround with Joe Bayern

Before entering cannabis in 2019, Joe Bayern spent more than 25 years in C-suite leadership across some of the biggest names in beverages, helping drive major turnarounds, global strategy, and brand-building at Snapple, Cadbury Schweppes, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, and Voss Water.

He entered cannabis after recognizing the potential of early CBD beverage trends, initially helping take a California operator public before joining Curaleaf, where he led the company through explosive expansion from roughly $250 million in revenue to more than $1.2 billion in just over two years.. After leaving Curaleaf, Bayern set out to pursue what he sees as cannabis's long-term future: an asset-light, brand-focused business model.

Most recently, he brought BellRock Brands out of receivership and is now leading its revival.

Today, we talk with Joe Bayern about how he plans to bring legacy brands like Mary's Medicinals and Dixie Elixirs back into the marketplace.

https://www.mmbrandsinc.com

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal.

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Understanding the true cost of cultivating and manufacturing a cannabis product is incredibly difficult without the right tracking tools.

Labor, yield loss, compliance, packaging, and processing inefficiencies can all quietly erode profitability without operators ever fully realizing it.

That lack of visibility creates major challenges not only for manufacturers trying to scale efficiently, but also for brands entering white-label partnerships without a clear understanding of what their products actually cost to produce.

Today, we’re joined by Clark Charlton, co-founder of BatchNAV, who is working to change that by giving cannabis operators a clearer picture of their true COGS—helping cultivators, manufacturers, and brand partners make smarter, data-driven decisions in an industry where margins are tight.

In this conversation, we’ll explore why so many cannabis businesses misunderstand their real costs, where hidden expenses are buried, and how better cost intelligence could reshape profitability across the entire supply chain.

https://batchnav.com

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal.

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Georgia legalized medical cannabis in late 2015, but the market itself didn't officially launch until around 2020. As a highly restricted, limited-license state, Georgia allows only six vertically integrated operators.

What makes Georgia especially unique is its distribution model: patients can access products not only through dispensaries, but also through pharmacies—an approach similar to the European model.

Today, we're joined by Gary Long, CEO of Botanical Sciences and one of just six license holders in Georgia. Gary has played a key role in guiding his company through the state's complex legalization and rollout process and in educating lawmakers as Georgia's medical cannabis framework took shape.

https://botanicalsciences.com/

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal.

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India has one of the longest and most deeply rooted relationships with cannabis of any culture, and is home to some of the most prized landrace cultivars in the world.

Vikramm Mitra, the co-founder of Delta Botanicals, is working to preserve that legacy and bring India into the global cannabis market.

In January, Delta Botanicals received the first agricultural grant ever awarded by the Indian government to grow and research cannabis varieties for industrial and medical purposes. They've partnered with three of India's top universities, one of which is focused on identifying, cataloging, and preserving India's irreplaceable landrace genetics through a tissue culture program.

Vikramm also walks us through the Ayurvedic herbal pathway — a regulatory loophole not unlike our own hemp laws — and how cannabis products have made their way onto store shelves across India.

While India already has a robust cannabis market operating in plain sight, the government will have to address the will of the people at some point.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikramm-mitra

The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal.

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