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Tadas Lisauskas is the founder and CEO of San Diego-based Greenbutts. The company has invented a revolutionary cigarette filter material that may well have a shot at eventually displacing the presently used (but environmentally unfriendly) cellulose acetate tow (CAT). The Greenbutts substrate is 100% plastic-free, as it is composed solely of natural fibers and a starch-based binding agent. When immersed in water, Greenbutts completely disintegrates and disperses in 30 days, while on land it takes about 60 days. There are no residues left behind, let alone dreaded micro plastics. Lisauskas talks to Thomas Schmid about the numerous advantages of the...

With increasingly more countries starting to ban disposable vapes, Chinese manufacturers are scrambling to adjust to the fast changing landscape. For some, it will be easier than for others, as they have always put a heavy focus on innovation. Tao Cui is Director of Innovation, Strategy and Compliance at Innokin Technology, one of China’s most progressive vape tech firms. In this podcast episode, he tells the audience what Innokin has up its sleeves, including MeFree, the world’s first metal-free heating coil, EcoDrain, a technology that makes batteries safe to discard, and Trine, a groundbreaking “3-in-1” vape system.

Christian Adi Njoto Njoo is the president of well-known Indonesian leaf merchant, PT. Mangli Djaya Raya. The company recently established a wholly-owned subsidiary, PT. Besuki Raya Cigars, one of Indonesia’s few premium cigar manufacturers. With brands such as El Gaucho, Airlangga, Brawijaya and, oddly, MyLockdown, the firm intends to restore an industry that had withered following Indonesia’s independence in 1945 from Dutch colonial rule and put Indonesia back on international cigar smokers’ radar.

Reimund Ameskamp (Ray) is head of international business at 250-year-old J.W. von Eicken, which is located in the old Hanseatic city of Lubeck, and today is Germany’s last remaining independent cigarette manufacturer. Ray fills us in how his company successfully prevails against the overwhelming competition from multinationals as well as an increasingly difficult regulatory environment, not only at home but also in dozens of countries abroad. While Ray admits that it is not always easy, von Eicken’s eclectic cigarette brand portfolio exclusively “Made in Germany” continues to strike a chord with smokers in many corners of the world.

Delving into worldwide investments in both recreational and medical cannabis, this panel discussion will tackle the complexities of investing across varied regions and sectors, gleaning insights from seasoned cannabis investors around the world.

The panel will unpack international investment nuances and spotlight European-specific hurdles, offering advice for entrepreneurs in search of funding.

The Dutch cannabis experiment started! After years of preparation, the first growers will start supplying cannabis, hash and edibles to the coffee shops in the cities of Breda and Tilburg in Q4 of this year. The other growers and participating cities will follow next year. What is going well, what still needs attention, and what can other countries learn from this legalisation?

Speakers
Thomas Rau (Moderator), CMO Q-Farms, Founder LCC and Cannabisiness
Claas van Os (Speaker), Q-farms - Blowing Minds, CEO & co-founder/ Licensed grower of cannabis for recreational consumption
Kars Van Laarhoven (Speaker), Dutch Leaf, CEO
Patrick Stevens (Speaker),...

At a time of rising market volatility, consolidation, and innovation, finding future-proof decisions is challenging.This panel aims to address the need for an ever-expanding matrix of data for informed C-Suite leaders. From traditional COGS reduction strategies, to doubling down on people, and harm reduction, we’ll hear from today’s impact icons on pathways towards a more sustainable industry.

Language: English

Speakers
Leonid Kotlyar (Moderator), DéWarrior Unlimited B.V., Managing Director
Tjalling Erkelens (Speaker), Bedrocan, Founder and Chairman of the Board
William Muecke (Speaker), Artemis Growth Partners, Co-founder and Managing Member
Jürgen Bickel (Speaker), Storz & Bickel GmbH, Managing Director & Co-Founder
William...

Various differing approaches to cannabis reform are now being developed and implemented throughout the world, from Malta’s cannabis clubs, to Switzerland’s pilot framework, and Germany’s exploration of both. In this panel, we’ll dive into each of these emerging strategies, explore how they are influencing one another, and consider the budding global economic, policy and social trends which are shaping the development of the international cannabis industry.

Langugage: English

Speakers
Ben Stevens (Moderator), Business of Cannabis, Editor
Dr. Bernd Werse (Speaker), Goethe-Universität, Centre for Drug Research, Social scientist (senior staff member)
Carmen Doran (Speaker), Helius Therapeutics, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Pavel...