"Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way." — Daniele Vare

Are we underestimating the role cannabis could play in shaping global influence?

U.S. brands have historically had global appeal, but could cannabis open the door to new trade opportunities and strategic value on an international scale?

Who will lead these global negotiations when the U.S. is still struggling with a state-by-state approach?

Can state-level influence accelerate global change, and what would the timeline for such a shift look like?

This week, we sit down with Hirsh Jain to explore these critical questions and more.

• Cannabis Shifting Global Policies
• Key Red States to Watch
• The Role of Soft Power in Shaping International Cannabis Policy

Key Topics Discussed:

Hirsh's background and journey into the cannabis industry (00:02:06 - 00:06:05)

The United States' potential to influence global cannabis policy and legalization (00:06:41 - 00:14:32)

The importance of state-level legalization progress in the U.S. and its impact on federal action (00:14:44 - 00:18:28)

Predictions on key states to watch for future legalization efforts (00:18:29 - 00:20:01)

The role of hemp products and their impact on the cannabis industry (00:38:22 - 00:45:04)

The responsibility of the cannabis industry and public health authorities to educate on cannabis (00:45:19 - 00:49:10)

Hirsh's "dream smoking session" with three historical figures (00:49:18 - 00:50:31)

Hirsh's contrarian view that regulators need to be held more accountable (00:50:37 - 00:51:20)

The potential for the U.S. to leverage cannabis legalization for strategic international alliances (00:51:48 - 00:53:26)

About Hirsh Jain

Hirsh Jain is the Founder of Ananda Strategy, a strategy consultancy which advises leading cannabis brands, retailers, ancillary technology businesses and venture capital funds in the United States, Canada and Western Europe. Hirsh also serves as Vice Chair of the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, which aims to promote the common interests of cannabis businesses by advocating for sound public policy and facilitating collaborations between cannabis operators. In addition, Hirsh is on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in California, which for fifty years has been working to reform California's cannabis laws. Prior to working in cannabis, Hirsh was the Global Policy Lead at Airbnb in San Francisco. Before that, he worked as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company in New York City. Hirsh has a B.A. in Philosophy from UC Berkeley, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Guest Links

• Hirsh Jain (@anandastrategy) on X
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirsh-jain/
• Instagram (@anandastrategy)

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Our Links

Bryan Fields on Twitter

Kellan Finney on Twitter

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