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: Sam Brill, CEO of Ascend Wellness Holdings
The Ganjapreneur Podcast
54 minutes 35 seconds
3 months ago
Highly Enlightened: Sam Brill, CEO of Ascend Wellness Holdings
In this episode of Highly Enlightened, host Jon Purow connects with Samuel Brill, CEO of Ascend Wellness Holdings. Prior to becoming CEO, he he first served as Lead Independent Director and now leads the charge at one of the country’s largest multi-state operators. He is a veteran of capital markets, private equity, and corporate transformation—with nearly three decades of experience guiding businesses through high-stakes moments.
Before stepping into the cannabis space, Sam led private equity efforts at Seventh Avenue Investments, managing the portfolio for a multibillion-dollar single-family office focused on turning around underperforming businesses. He’s also served as CIO at Weismann Capital, overseeing investments across credit, real estate, and structured deals.
Sam’s fingerprints are on a range of industries—from medical devices to distressed debt—and he currently chairs the board of Invacare Holdings while advising companies through his consultancy, S Brill LLC. Across it all, he’s been the steady hand in the boardroom, the turnaround strategist behind the scenes, and the one asked to lead when stakes are highest.
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.
