Gibran is a high-velocity venture builder and multi-industry expert who brings a rich, rare mix of operational expertise, a personal connection to the plant, and deep respect for cannabis culture. 

Before joining Ethos, he built his career across food and beverage, hospitality, airport operations, restaurants, and multi-unit retail. He has a deep breadth of experience that prepared him to lead in one of the most complex, fast-moving industries in the country.

In this episode, Gibran dives into:

• Why Ethos positions itself as a craft cannabis company rooted in research, education, and medical efficacy
• What experienced executives from other industries need to understand before jumping into cannabis
• How cannabis culture differs across Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
• Why Ethos made the bold decision to close retail on 4/20 
• What Pennsylvania needs to do to move adult-use cannabis forward
• Why cannabis M&A is still difficult
• Why attitude, curiosity, and passion for the plant matter more than cannabis experience alone when hiring

As someone who spent years championing the legislation that ultimately made medical cannabis legal in KY, Rachel is uniquely positioned to know what building an industry from zero really looks like. She dives into:

• The unexpected KY political dynamics that made medical cannabis possible in one of the most conservative legislatures in the country
• What the first 16 months of a brand-new state program actually look like on the ground
• The hidden barriers keeping patients out, and how KCIA is fighting back
• Why well-intentioned regulations are creating unintended problems for operators and patients alike
• What Kentucky’s timeline looks like for adult-use, and why the window may be shorter

After a short pause, the iconic brand is back. And Episode 2 of Talent in Cannabis goes straight to the source with Matt Stang, Partner and Chief Revenue Officer at High Times.

Matt’s story is pure cannabis industry lore. In 2002, he reached out to High Times for a quote for his senior thesis. They were so impressed, they offered him an internship — kicking off a 25-year run at the center of cannabis media, events, and culture as the industry evolved from legacy to corporate.

In this conversation, Matt breaks down what most people miss about the business behind cannabis media and the operational reality of producing major events. Plus, learn why the next era of High Times is all about community, quality storytelling, and independent journalism.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Matt’s career in cannabis started – and how it scaled
• How High Times went from print to digital – what changed, what stayed, and what media disruption forced High Times to rethink
• The real complexity behind producing cannabis events at scale
• How the Cannabis Cup in New York ignited its comeback
• Why the transition from legacy to corporate cannabis is messy and why it matters
• The parallels between psychedelics and cannabis, and the regulatory reality holding psychedelics back
• What entrepreneurs need to be ready for if they want a real shot in this industry
• Where High Times is heading next and what they’re building toward

Chapters

00:00

The Journey Begins: From Caregiver to Cannabis Advocate

03:15
Overcoming Adversity: The Birth of Redemption Cannabis

10:09
Giving Back: The Mission of the Redemption Foundation

16:20
Navigating the Cannabis Landscape: Michigan's Evolution

22:04
Strategic Partnerships: Expanding Redemption's Reach

34:12
Future Outlook: Rescheduling and Market Strategies