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In this episode Herb speaks with Axel Bernabe, inaugural Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Director for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. Axel, a partner at Manatt Health in NYC, was health counsel to former NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo. In that role, Axel helped negotiate the groundbreaking Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act with the NYS Legislature.

Our Licensee Highlight segment features Paul Yau, Co-Founder of The Travel Agency (formerly, the Union Square Travel Agency). In partnership with the nonprofit Doe Fund, this Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary is setting the standard for aesthetics, product availability, and delivery services. It is also pioneering a retail branding concept in NYS cannabis.

Further Reading:

• Manatt Expands National Cannabis Practice With New York State’s Top Regulator
• The Travel Agency Cannabis Dispensary Comes to Downtown Brooklyn
• The Travel Agency Arrives on Fifth Avenue

Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with additional production and engineering by Matt Patterson, with Rebecca Malpica producing our digital marketing/social media.

Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.

Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast.

If you’re enjoying the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

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In this episode Herb speaks with Tavian Crosland, New York Director of the Social Equity Empowerment Network. Tavian is an impassioned and thoughtful advocate for ensuring that the path to cannabis legalization and commercialization does not leave behind those communities and individuals who were disproportionately impacted by criminal enforcement. Tavian, a former legacy operator, shares deeply personal insights concerning his own journey with cannabis.

Our Licensee Highlight segment features John Vavalo, CEO of Central Processors New York. John has long been involved in the legal cannabis market and is a leading advocate for processors and cultivators. In this episode we learn about what a processor does, how cannabis flower is turned into the assortment of products found in dispensaries – farm to retail.

Further Reading:

• NY's cannabis equity officer stepping down in wake of investigation (timesunion.com)
• Tavian Crosland | The Nation

Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with additional production and engineering by Matt Patterson, with Rebecca Malpica producing our digital marketing/social media.

Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.

Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast.

If you’re enjoying the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

Send us a text

In this episode Herb speaks with New York City Council Member Julie Menin. Council Member Menin represents New York City’s District 5 which covers the Upper East Side of Manhattan, as well as East Harlem, Lenox Hill-Roosevelt Island, Carnegie Hill, and Yorkville. Council Member Menin’s broad history serving NYC residents as the City’s Census Director, Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, as well as Commissioner of Media and Entertainment, provides Herb the opportunity to have a wide-ranging discussion on the NYC’s efforts adapting to post-prohibition cannabis.

Our Licensee Highlight segment features Sohan Bashar, owner of Silk Road NYC, an adult-use cannabis dispensary in Jamaica, Queens, NY. Sohan shares his deeply personal story as a Muslim, Bangladeshi, husband and father of two. Sohan discusses his path to receiving a New York State Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license; “a dream come true”, giving rise to this episode’s title.

Further Reading:

• Julie Menin Claims Victory In Upper East Side City Council Race
• People to know in NY cannabis: Sohan Bashar
• NYCRA Spotlight: Sohan Bashar of Silk Road NYC Is Ready To Get To Work

Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with additional production and engineering by Matt Patterson, with Rebecca Malpica producing our digital marketing/social media.

Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.

Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast.

If you’re enjoying the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.