Stop Ignoring Germany’s Massive Opportunity – Europe is Coming! ft. Jamie Pearson

02/06/25 • 48 min

Are you considering expanding to Germany? The answer should be yes.

As a brand or retailer, deciding where to grow is critical. California is the ultimate proving ground—fiercely competitive and filled with industry leaders. If you want to be a national player, is this where you make your mark?

But what about Germany? A high-potential market, still in its early stages, with adult-use legalization on the horizon. The demand for U.S. brands is clear, but how will regulations unfold, and what hurdles lie ahead?

This week, we sit down with Jamie Pearson to break it all down:

Which companies should be thinking about Germany now
Opportunities, risks, and how Germany compares to the U.S.
How to get started and navigate regulations
The sleeper market no one is talking about

Key Topics Discussed:

⏱ [00:00 - 03:00] Introduction & Jamie Pearson’s Background

Jamie’s journey into cannabis
Why cannabis is harder than any other industry

⏱ [03:01 - 10:30] The Challenges of Running a Cannabis Business

The legal vs. illegal market dilemma
Why cannabis operators face unique financial struggles

⏱ [10:31 - 18:45] Raising Money in Cannabis: A Losing Battle?

How funding works without traditional banking
The risk investors take in the cannabis space

⏱ [18:46 - 25:30] Cannabis Brand Loyalty & Why It’s Different

What makes a cannabis brand succeed
The fine line between success & failure in branding

⏱ [25:31 - 32:15] Why the Next 5 Years Will Decide Everything

The future of cannabis legalization & federal reform
Who will survive, and who won’t in this industry

⏱ [32:16 - 38:50] Final Thoughts & Advice for Cannabis Operators

What Jamie wishes more people knew about cannabis
The one thing every entrepreneur in this space needs to prepare for

Guest Links:

https://thetalmangroup.com/talman-house/
https://internationalcbc.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamielpearsonnhg/
https://www.instagram.com/jboogie.22/
https://x.com/jboogie5000
https://www.linkedin.com/company/newholland-group/

Our Links:

Bryan Fields on Twitter

Kellan Finney on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain

The Dime is a top 5% most shared global podcast

The Dime has a New Website. Shhhh its not finished.

The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast

🎥 YouTube: The Dime

📸 Instagram: The Dime

Are you considering expanding to Germany? The answer should be yes.

This week, we sit down with Jamie Pearson to break it all down:

Which companies should be thinking about Germany now
Opportunities, risks, and how Germany compares to the U.S.
How to get started and navigate regulations
The sleeper market no one is talking about

Key Topics Discussed:

⏱ [00:00 - 03:00] Introduction & Jamie Pearson’s Background

Jamie’s journey into cannabis
Why cannabis is harder than any other industry

⏱ [03:01 - 10:30] The Challenges of Running a Cannabis Business

The legal vs. illegal market dilemma
Why cannabis operators face unique financial struggles

⏱ [10:31 - 18:45] Raising Money in Cannabis: A Losing Battle?

How funding works without traditional banking
The risk investors take in the cannabis space

⏱ [18:46 - 25:30] Cannabis Brand Loyalty & Why It’s Different

What makes a cannabis brand succeed
The fine line between success & failure in branding

⏱ [25:31 - 32:15] Why the Next 5 Years Will Decide Everything

The future of cannabis legalization & federal reform
Who will survive, and who won’t in this industry

⏱ [32:16 - 38:50] Final Thoughts & Advice for Cannabis Operators

What Jamie wishes more people knew about cannabis
The one thing every entrepreneur in this space needs to prepare for

Guest Links:

https://thetalmangroup.com/talman-house/
https://internationalcbc.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamielpearsonnhg/
https://www.instagram.com/jboogie.22/
https://x.com/jboogie5000
https://www.linkedin.com/company/newholland-group/

Our Links:

Bryan Fields on Twitter

Kellan Finney on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain

The Dime is a top 5% most shared global podcast

The Dime has a New Website. Shhhh its not finished.

The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast

🎥 YouTube: The Dime

📸 Instagram: The Dime

Previous Episode

Navigating the Gray: The Legal Tightrope of Cannabis Risk & Compliance ft. Dan Shapiro

Everyone can agree—cannabis operates in a legal gray area.

For starters, anyone in the industry is technically breaking federal law, as cannabis remains federally illegal.

But for an in-house attorney at an MSO, the job isn’t just about navigating federal risk.

It’s about understanding where gray meets red, balancing state-by-state regulations, and ensuring compliance across an industry with ever-changing rules—especially for a publicly traded company.

This week, we sit down with Dan Shapiro, EVP of Ascend Wellness, to break down:

Understanding the legal gray areas in cannabis
Shifting regulations, the Farm Bill, and Schedule 3
Balancing legal risk and business strategy in a fragmented industry

About Ascend Wellness

AWH is a vertically integrated multistate cannabis operator with licenses and assets in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. AWH owns and operates dispensaries and seven state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products for retail and wholesale customers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Simply Herb, Ozone, Common Goods, Effin' and Royale branded products. AWH also produces and distributes products on behalf of its brand partners including Miss Grass, Lowell Smokes, Flower by Edie Parker, 1906, and AiroPro. For more information, visit www.awholdings.com.

Guest Links:

Key Topics Discussed (AI Generated)

⏱ [00:00 - 03:00] Introduction & Dan Shapiro’s Background

Dan’s journey from law school to the cannabis industry
His experience in highly regulated industries like aviation, insurance, and sports

⏱ [03:01 - 10:30] The Role of an In-House Attorney at an MSO

Balancing legal risk vs. business strategy
How MSOs structure legal teams and compliance
The complexities of managing multiple state regulations

⏱ [10:31 - 18:45] Navigating Cannabis’s Legal Gray Area

Why cannabis law lacks case precedent compared to other industries
The challenge of interpreting regulations that are themselves unclear
How MSOs make decisions with legal uncertainty

⏱ [18:46 - 25:30] Federal Illegality & The Risks It Poses

The reality of operating in an industry that is still federally illegal
How rescheduling (Schedule 3) could impact MSOs
Banking & financial hurdles in cannabis

⏱ [25:31 - 32:15] The Farm Bill & The Hemp vs. Cannabis Debate

How hemp-derived products challenge the traditional cannabis market
The regulatory gaps between Farm Bill hemp and state-regulated cannabis
How MSOs view hemp expansion

⏱ [32:16 - 38:50] State-by-State Regulations & Compliance Challenges

Why no two states regulate cannabis the same way
How MSOs strategize around shifting laws
Scenario planning for regulatory changes

⏱ [38:51 - 45:00] Creative Legal Solutions in Cannabis

How MSOs navigate ambiguous rules
Balancing aggressive vs. conservative legal approaches
Why legal teams in cannabis must be flexible

⏱ [45:01 - 50:00] Future of Cannabis Law & Final Thoughts

Predictions for Schedule 3 and federal reform
Why the industry needs more alignment for real progress
Dan’s dream smoke session: Thomas Jefferson, Elvis Presley, and Tiger Woods

Our Links:

Bryan Fields on Twitter

Kellan Finney on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.

8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain

The Dime is a top 5% most shared global podcast

<...

Next Episode

Why Cannabis Laws Are a Mess: The Politics and Bureaucracy with Jeff Guillot

"Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status."
— Laurence J. Peter

Nowhere is that more evident than in cannabis, where local governments resist change, operators scramble for clarity, and policies shift overnight. The biggest mistake cannabis operators make? Waiting too long to ask for help.

Navigating cannabis regulations isn’t just about compliance—it’s a high-stakes game of politics, timing, and strategy. This week, we sit down with Jeff Guillot, Managing Partner of MAD Global Strategy, to expose the backroom battles.

The biggest misconceptions about how cannabis laws are actually made
Why local governments resist cannabis businesses (and how to change their minds)
How lobbying really works—and who actually needs it in cannabis

Links