Recorded live at ICBC Berlin 2026, Chuck sits down with Rachel Wright of Verdant Strategies to discuss building a sustainable business in an industry defined by constant change.

From navigating regulatory uncertainty and international expansion to creating financial roadmaps that actually work, Rachel shares why strategy, not just growth, is the key to long-term success.

The conversation explores the evolving European cannabis market, lessons learned from years of attending ICBC Berlin, and why companies often fail by scaling too quickly before fixing the fundamentals. Rachel also explains how aligning leadership, sales, operations, and financial goals can help businesses stay focused in one of the world's most dynamic industries.

Whether you're a cannabis entrepreneur, investor, executive, or simply interested in the business side of the industry, this episode offers practical insights on how to build a stronger, more resilient company.

• The evolution of ICBC Berlin
• Why Europe is becoming a major cannabis market
• Supply chain and regulatory challenges
• Building financial roadmaps for cannabis companies
• Common mistakes businesses make when scaling
• Why revenue alone doesn't solve operational problems
• Aligning leadership teams around strategic goals
• The importance of forecasting and planning
• Lessons from consulting cannabis businesses
• Networking and international collaboration

Rachel Wright

Verdant Strategies

🌐 Website: https://verdantstrategies.com

00:17 First Impressions of ICBC Berlin 2026

00:55 Why ICBC Continues to Grow

01:26 Why Berlin Is the Perfect Venue

02:01 Opportunities in Europe's Cannabis Market

02:35 Navigating Supply Chain & Regulatory Challenges

03:13 What Verdant Strategies Does

03:50 Building Financial Roadmaps for Cannabis Companies

04:24 The Importance of Revenue Planning

05:28 Why Every Business Needs a North Star

05:52 Lessons for Entrepreneurs

06:10 Why More Revenue Doesn't Always Solve Problems

07:01 The Biggest Business Lesson from ICBC

07:17 Why Networking Matters

07:50 How to Connect with Verdant Strategies

What's the biggest challenge facing cannabis businesses today?

Is rapid growth worth pursuing if your business fundamentals aren't in place?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

#ICBCBerlin #CannabisBusiness #CannabisIndustry #CannabisConsulting #CannabisFinance

WEBSITE: https://cannatechtoday.com/

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Recorded live at ICBC Berlin 2026, Chuck sits down with Kevin Cederferm & Gustaf Leffler, founders of Ocarena Group, to showcase one of the most innovative dry herb vaporizers on the market.

Built by engineers and creators who were frustrated with existing devices, the Ocarena vaporizer features a seven-chamber magazine, attachable grinder, tool-free battery swaps, modular all-metal construction, and precision temperature control—all designed to make premium dry herb consumption simpler, cleaner, and more enjoyable.

The conversation dives into the engineering process behind the device, why durability and health were central to the design, and how a small startup is using modern manufacturing technology to compete with industry giants. The founders also discuss their strategy for international expansion, premium retail partnerships, and collaborations within the cannabis industry.

Whether you're interested in cannabis technology, hardware innovation, entrepreneurship, or product design, this episode offers an inside look at how great ideas become groundbreaking products.

🔥 Topics Covered

• Building a better dry herb vaporizer
• Engineering a premium cannabis device
• Seven-chamber magazine system explained
• Attachable grinder and modular design
• Easy cleaning and all-metal construction
• Battery swapping and travel-friendly features
• Health-focused vaporizer engineering
• Modern manufacturing for startups
• Scaling a cannabis hardware company
• The future of premium cannabis technology

👤 Guests

Kevin Cederferm & Gustaf Leffler

Co-Founders, Ocarena Group

🌐 Website: https://Ocarenagroup.com

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:55 Why they built a new vaporizer

01:10 Engineering the Ocarena device

01:43 The founders' engineering background

02:33 Customer reactions and company philosophy

02:49 Live product demonstration

03:54 Seven-chamber system explained

04:30 Temperature controls and battery swapping

05:19 Easy cleaning and health-first design

06:06 Premium feel and product philosophy

06:55 Two years of development

07:28 Manufacturing and scaling innovation

08:04 What's next for Ocarena Group

08:50 Retail strategy and partnerships

09:24 Where to learn more

💬 What do you think?

Would you switch to a premium dry herb vaporizer like this?

What's the most important feature you look for in a vaporizer?

Performance, portability, ease of cleaning, or battery life?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

#CannabisTech #DryHerbVaporizer #Vaporizer #CannabisInnovation #ICBCBerlin #CannabisHardware

WEBSITE: https://cannatechtoday.com/

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Recorded live at ICBC Berlin 2026, Chuck sits down with Marianne Cursetjee, founder of Alibi, to discuss how a personal battle with cancer inspired one of the cannabis industry's most respected brands.

From Oregon to New York, Alibi has built a reputation for producing award-winning flower and pre-rolls while staying committed to quality, employee wellbeing, and authentic cannabis experiences. Marianne shares how the company has navigated highly competitive markets, why premium flower matters, and what it takes to stand out in today's rapidly evolving cannabis industry.

The conversation also explores European cannabis regulations, the future of international expansion, why cannabis should be treated as medicine, and the importance of cultivating clean flower instead of relying on remediation technologies.

Whether you're interested in cannabis cultivation, entrepreneurship, premium products, or the future of the global cannabis market, this episode offers valuable insights from one of the industry's most passionate founders.

🔥 Topics Covered

• Building Alibi from a personal healing journey

• Expanding from Oregon to New York

• Winning top cannabis awards in multiple states

• Creating award-winning pre-rolls

• Why premium flower always comes first

• Paying employees a living wage in cannabis

• European cannabis regulations and medical markets

• The debate over cannabis remediation

• International expansion opportunities

• The future of premium cannabis brands

👤 Guest

Marianne Cursetjee

Founder, Alibi

🌐 Website: https://alibicannabis.com/

⏱️ CHAPTERS

01:05 First impressions of Europe's cannabis market

01:40 The story behind Alibi

02:14 Expanding from Oregon to New York

03:05 What makes Alibi different

03:57 Building a people-first company

04:13 Winning Best Flower and Best Pre-Roll

04:29 The secret to award-winning pre-rolls

05:35 Creating a lifestyle cannabis brand

06:24 The future of Alibi

07:41 European cannabis and medical access

08:19 Why remediation concerns cultivators

09:37 New products and fashion collaborations

10:28 Where to learn more about Alibi

💬 What do you think?

Should cannabis brands focus on producing the highest-quality flower, even if it means charging a premium?

And as more countries embrace medical cannabis, do you think the U.S. should adopt more of Europe's approach to patient access?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

#CannabisTech #CannabisCultivation #CannabisBusiness #Alibi #CannabisInnovation

WEBSITE: https://cannatechtoday.com/

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