Why Cannabis Companies Must Face Reality, Make Hard Choices, and Follow the Data ft. AnnaRae Grabstein

The Dime

While it feels like progress isn’t happening — and that may be true at the federal level — inside the industry, it’s a completely different story.
The financial model you built, the regulatory category you operate in, the market dynamics, the consumer behavior — every one of those variables is in motion. Constantly evolving. And new competitors are entering, disrupting your playbook from every angle.

Reality is, the shakeout isn’t ending anytime soon. This industry is not for the faint of heart.

The one thing that doesn’t lie? Data.
Ground yourself in it. Use it to make decisions — the hard decisions. Because if you don’t, eventually the market will make them for you.

Yes, it’s insanely difficult right now.
But that’s par for the course in a billion-dollar startup industry with a constantly shifting foundation.

This week we sit down with Annarae Grabstein to discuss the following:

• Why most cannabis financial models were doomed from the start
• The THC beverage boom and what it reveals about consumer demand
• Go Wide vs. Go Deep: A strategy framework to actually survive this market

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Cannabis Industry and Guest Background

03:02 Consumer-Centric Market Dynamics

06:08 Navigating Regulatory Challenges

08:52 The Intersection of Hemp and Cannabis

11:55 Market Realities and Strategic Adaptation

15:00 The Role of Data in Cannabis Operations

17:59 Growth of Cannabinoid Consumption

21:04 Future of Regulation and Market Access

28:08 Defining Objectives for Market Success

29:31 Deep vs. Wide Market Strategies

32:14 Understanding Market Dynamics and Customer Relationships

35:36 The Role of Technology in Cannabis

39:32 Balancing Investment in Technology

42:28 Integrating Data into Business Practices

44:05 Future Trends in the Cannabis Industry

46:45 Qualitative Due Diligence in Investment Decisions

Guest Links:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/
• Instagram (@annarae_g)
• AnnaRae Grabstein (@annarae_g) on X
• https://wolf-meyer.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolf-meyer/

Our Links

Bryan Fields on Twitter

Kellan Finney on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

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