Cocktail Whisperer
December 20, 2019 – BOSTON, MA – Ascend Wellness Holdings (AWH), a multi-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator, today announced that the company raised $28.2 million in a new and distinct round of financing from anything announced previously. The investment round was led by four U.S. cannabis sector funds, a large European based investment fund, a collection of private ultra-high-net worth individuals, and other strategic investors.
John Moynan, General Counsel for SLANG Worldwide
Warren Bobrow: Where are you from? Why cannabis? Did you go to law school? Who is your mentor?
John Moynan: I’m originally a Southern California guy, but Colorado has been my home since I moved to Boulder to attend the University of Colorado School of Law in the summer of 2013. The first ever recreational marijuana sales occurred about six months later. At that point, there was a palpable buzz about the industry and its potential throughout Colorado. However, most seasoned lawyers and firms were reluctant to start representing cannabis clients. That summer, I was in need of an internship and the industry was in need of people with a legal skillset. Fortunately, I was matched up to work with the General Counsel for O.penVAPE, who at that time may have been the first ever GC in the adult use cannabis industry. He was not only my first professional boss, but also my first legal mentor. My favorite bit of advice from him has been “good lawyers negotiate points, great lawyers align incentives.” I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by a handful of professional mentors along the way that have helped me define my career path and shape my skill set. Much of that has been by way of legal mentorship, but I’ve also been extremely fortunate to partner with a group of amazing entrepreneurs through my career, many of whom are still with or around the company, and continue to facilitate my growth as an executive on a daily basis. One of the great things about working at SLANG, is our cultural commitment to mentorship– from the c-suite to customer service, we’re all mentors and we strive to raise one another up.
I’m glad to have spent some dining-time with Brian Mitchell and his Chief of Communications, Daniel Yi recently to learn that Brian is one of those people who you enjoy being with. Brian just has a way about him that creates happiness and ambitious thoughts. I wanted to spend hours listening to all the cool things he’s already done and the plans he has for global domination of the cannabis space. Ok, so maybe he doesn’t want to conquer the entire globe just yet, but let me be the first person to say, Brian is going to do it out of sheer passion. He’s the kind of man who has stories to tell. Some of these stories have manifested themselves in his high quality product line-up. Other stories are told by his deep humility. All these stories make up the man who I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about. It’s my pleasure to share with you my lunch companion and one of the most interesting people in the cannabis world, Brian Mitchell, CEO of the Shryne Group. (I’ll bet you’ve never heard of them, as I hadn’t. Now I feel more worldly, intellectual. Smart.) Enjoy!
Background Information About Veriheal:
Veriheal is an innovative cannatech platform that connects prospective patients with licensed doctors that will approve them for their state’s medical cannabis program. Veriheal aims to educate the public about cannabis and is eager to encourage them on their path to healing. Thus, they are willing to take it to the next level by introducing a new state of the art service you won’t be able to find elsewhere.
Why should you spend the hundred dollar or so to purchase a new Omura Vaporizer? Perhaps it would lessen your carbon footprint over smoking? Or, not assail your neighbors with the rich texture and deeply infuriating *to some* odor of cannabis smoke? Would it be the pleasurable draw that actually tastes like the finest herbs, instead of burnt ashes? You’re in the right place, so sit tight for a moment. It will be worth it in the end.
ABOUT GINA DUBBÉ
Gina Dubbé is a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Currently, she serves as the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Greenhouse Wellness, an award-winning dispensary in Maryland, and is also Co-Founder of Blissiva, a female-focused cannabis line. Dubbé was also the Co-Founder of TheraPearl, a revolutionary hot and cold compress. Her work with TheraPearl led the company to rank on the Inc. 5000 list and she received accolades, including Forbes Magazine’s Women Who Built Outstanding Companies.
ABOUT DR. LESLIE APGAR
Dr. Leslie Apgar is a board-certified OB GYN with 17 years of experience in direct patient care. She is also the Co-Founder and Medical Director of Greenhouse Wellness, a medical cannabis dispensary, as well as Co-Founder of Blissiva, a female-focused cannabis line. Dr. Apgar is also the Founder of PuraVida, a Maryland-based cosmetic spa and laser center, which continues to thrive well into its tenth year of operation.
I bought the first incarnation of the DaVinci last year and found it to be much different from the competition. First of all, the heating time was much shorter with my original DaVinci and the all important clean-up is even simpler than I could imagine. Although I don’t use the first incarnation of the DaVinci any longer (I now use the newest version, the IQ2). The IQ2 makes the job of vaporizing my medicinal herbs a true pleasure. The flavor from the newer IQ2 is full and robust and it is never harsh, nor is it ever hot on my tongue.
Her Highness
I love Her Highness. Why should men have all the fun in gourmet-read:luxury cannabis? Her Highness celebrates her love of her plant! Our plant, if you are overly sensitive, that is true but know that I deeply appreciate the female aspect to this interview for my column at Forbes Vices. It means something. I love that these two brilliant native New York women are both destigmatizing cannabis with their own unique brand of cannabis products, both THC and CBD based, where legal of course. Not the man’s brand or a his/her identity, but their own. Big distinction here. It’s Her Highness, not His Highness, see what I’m saying? It’s theirs! Get it? Good. Be nice, mind your manners and you might share in her pleasure.
WB: Please tell me about your company? What do you do? What is your role?
Sam Collins=SC: I’m the Chief Marketing Officer of Bhang, Inc. Bhang started 10 years ago as one of the first medical cannabis chocolate companies and we were the first to have product liability insurance, verified potency, and a nutritional fact panel. Now, we are expanding into new states and working on our hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) business, creating edible and topical products that fit a variety of consumer wants and needs. I wasn’t always focused on cannabis — most of my career has been in the wine and spirits industry. My friends joke that I cover the “vices”. Before Bhang I worked for companies like Diageo and Treasury Wine Estates doing brand marketing, trade marketing and sales. I have a real passion for wine and spirits, the process of fermentation, distillation and aging are all fascinating to me. I love the concept of terroir and I think it applies to sun-grown cannabis as well. When I got the call from a recruiter about the Bhang opportunity I thought, “Wow, that is really an iconic brand in the edibles space.” I was excited to work with a brand with its’ legacy.
I first discovered Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap as a film student at Emerson College in 1981. I was probably under the influence of some kind of controlled dangerous substance at the time, something from the recombinant DNA students at MIT, if I can remember back that long. There was a fresh bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap in my shower in my apartment up on Beacon Hill. I had just purchased it at Erewhon on Newbury Street (Erewhon spelled backwards is nowhere?) As I turned on the plentiful hot water the distinctive peppermint aroma filled my brain. The fragrance and pure-gentle cleaning power swirled on me, over me and through my very chi. The familiar blue bottle with learned teachings printed all over the label helped me to know nothing as the words flew off the bottle and over my head. These teaching words were written by David Bronner’s grandfather, the soap man himself, Dr. Bronner. As my ego was shattered and burst through the steam with each tingling drop of the peppermint soap, I would in later years, go on to utilize Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap in my own mantra for deep enlightenment.
And David Bronner’s sun-grown cannabis? It is equally as ego busting as that day I metaphorically rode a bicycle with the benefit of his grandfather’s soap. Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap to be exact.