Meet Michael Marinaro, a seasoned cannabis cultivator, and Tara Hopper, a skilled lawyer. No, Mike didn’t catch another case—together, they’re building a cannabis cultivation business in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. Bada Bloom started as an idea that evolved into a brand, combining Michael’s cultivation expertise with Tara’s legal know-how. We discuss the "right place, right time" moments that brought them together and how they raised funds, turning investors into a supportive extended family.

With a provisional license and construction underway, they’ve had time to observe the industry they’re about to enter. We dive into the challenges they’ve noticed that are holding the industry back, what consumers don’t know, and the limited information available to them about cannabis products. Michael and Tara share their commitment to producing a high-quality product, one they believe will help them stand out in a struggling market. We also explore the current climate for cannabis consumers in Massachusetts and ask the question: do people really know what’s dank?

Meet Yasha Kahn from MCR Labs, the man with the data. In this episode, we discuss how a friend's donation of an HPLC machine, combined with $200 spent on eBay to test weed before legalization, eventually led to the founding of the first licensed cannabis testing lab on the East Coast. Yasha, his brother Mike, and their friend Scott turned that early curiosity into a groundbreaking business.

Yasha shares the journey of building a successful lab, detailing the highs, the lows, and the pivotal events between MCR Labs and the Cannabis Control Commission that pushed him toward a data-driven mission. His goal? To transform an industry plagued by rapid fraud into one where consumers can trust the Certificates of Analysis (COAs) provided by labs. We also dive into the data Yasha obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, which clearly reveals how fraudulent labs operate. He highlights the serious public health risks that come with inaccurate COA reporting and explains the steps he's taken—and continues to take—to urge regulators to enforce testing regulations to protect consumers in Massachusetts.

Sit back, relax, and take a toke of the finest you can find, because we're about to embark on a thrilling journey through drug smuggling, Indy car racing, and the transformation of a life sentence into a powerful story of advocacy and redemption. Randy Lanier shares how he went from being a small-town kid with a modest pot-dealing operation to one of the most notorious cannabis smugglers in U.S. history, moving entire mountainsides of Colombian Gold into the country.

Randy’s story is full of twists and turns, and we get an intimate look at both the highs and the lows. From his rise to becoming Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, to forging unexpected friendships in some of the toughest places, his journey is nothing short of extraordinary. We also dive into his life after prison, discssing the advocacy work he’s passionate about and his involvement with FreedomGrow.Org, a non-profit dedicated to supporting individuals incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses.