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.
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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.
Highly Enlightened: Christine Apple, Founder & CEO of Grön
The Ganjapreneur Podcast
49 minutes 44 seconds
1 month ago
Highly Enlightened: Christine Apple, Founder & CEO of Grön
Christine Apple is the Founder and CEO of Grön, one of the most recognizable edibles brands in the U.S. Before launching Grön from her basement in Oregon, she spent years working with jurisdictions and regulators—experience that gave her an early, practical understanding of cannabis compliance as the industry took shape.
Under her leadership, Grön has expanded its footprint and product range, introducing single-serve edibles with the “Mega” line and developing formulations featuring minor cannabinoids. More recently, the company has leaned into rosin-based edibles, aligning with a broader shift toward plant-forward, connoisseur products.
In this episode of Highly Enlightened, host Jon Purow talks with Christine about her path from architecture to cannabis entrepreneurship, the philosophy guiding Grön’s growth, and how the company balances innovation with regulation. Their discussion also covers shifting consumer trends—from sleep-oriented products to high-dose edibles—and what it takes to build a lasting brand in an industry that never slows down.
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.