In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt speaks with Blake Johnson, president of Prairie Island CBH, and Ben Halley, COO and founder of Honest Cannabis. Together, they explore how the Prairie Island Indian Community developed Island Peži, a vertically integrated cannabis enterprise in Minnesota, built on tribal sovereignty, Indigenous values, and regenerative agriculture.
The conversation covers the complexities of launching cannabis programs on tribal land, the importance of community engagement, and the tribe’s decision to invest in a 13-acre cultivation and processing campus. Blake and Ben discuss the intertribal collaboration taking shape in Minnesota, product trends at Island Peži, the tribe’s education and training efforts, and how this model of values-driven development can inform the broader cannabis industry as state markets mature.
All content for The Ganjapreneur Podcast is the property of Ganjapreneur and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt speaks with Blake Johnson, president of Prairie Island CBH, and Ben Halley, COO and founder of Honest Cannabis. Together, they explore how the Prairie Island Indian Community developed Island Peži, a vertically integrated cannabis enterprise in Minnesota, built on tribal sovereignty, Indigenous values, and regenerative agriculture.
The conversation covers the complexities of launching cannabis programs on tribal land, the importance of community engagement, and the tribe’s decision to invest in a 13-acre cultivation and processing campus. Blake and Ben discuss the intertribal collaboration taking shape in Minnesota, product trends at Island Peži, the tribe’s education and training efforts, and how this model of values-driven development can inform the broader cannabis industry as state markets mature.
Damien Cornwell: Leading Through Chaos in New York’s Cannabis Market
The Ganjapreneur Podcast
52 minutes 21 seconds
4 months ago
Damien Cornwell: Leading Through Chaos in New York’s Cannabis Market
In this episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast, Damien Cornwell — President of the Cannabis Association of New York and owner of Just Breathe dispensary in Binghamton — joins host TG Branfalt for an unfiltered conversation about what it takes to survive and lead in New York’s chaotic cannabis landscape. Drawing from his background in logistics, media, and community activism, Damien offers a candid perspective on the state’s troubled rollout, liquidity crunch, and lack of banking access, and why systemic change still feels within reach, despite the obstacles.
Cornwell also reflects on what makes the cannabis space so personal: from his work supporting addiction recovery and affordable childcare to his role as a voice for equity and reason in a deeply fractured market. With wit, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility, he makes the case for solidarity, smarter policy, and not forgetting why many joined the industry in the first place.
The Ganjapreneur Podcast
In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt speaks with Blake Johnson, president of Prairie Island CBH, and Ben Halley, COO and founder of Honest Cannabis. Together, they explore how the Prairie Island Indian Community developed Island Peži, a vertically integrated cannabis enterprise in Minnesota, built on tribal sovereignty, Indigenous values, and regenerative agriculture.
The conversation covers the complexities of launching cannabis programs on tribal land, the importance of community engagement, and the tribe’s decision to invest in a 13-acre cultivation and processing campus. Blake and Ben discuss the intertribal collaboration taking shape in Minnesota, product trends at Island Peži, the tribe’s education and training efforts, and how this model of values-driven development can inform the broader cannabis industry as state markets mature.
