Beard Bros Media Network’s latest podcast, Big Ideas in Cannabis, launched its inaugural episode, diving deep into trends and challenges shaping the cannabis industry. Hosted by Cassie Tomaselli, founder and creative director of Tomaselli Media, the series promises to explore revolutionary ideas, current events, and technologies with industry leaders.
The premiere episode welcomed Leah Heise, a seasoned cannabis strategist with a storied career in regulation, compliance, and scaling businesses. Heise, who transitioned from prosecuting environmental violations to consulting cannabis enterprises, offered invaluable insights into how the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent overruling of the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council case could reshape the cannabis industry.
A Glimpse into Leah Heiss’s Journey
Leah Heise’s career path is as unique as it is inspiring. A former prosecutor for federal agencies such as NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard, Heise leveraged her legal expertise and personal health challenges to find a second act in cannabis. Diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and reliant on opiates for years, she discovered medical cannabis in 2013, a move that drastically improved her quality of life and sparked her career in the cannabis sector.
From opening a dispensary in Maryland to serving as a compliance and administrative leader for major cannabis corporations, Heise has spent nearly a decade scaling businesses to public exits. Today, she advises companies through Gemini Twin Consulting and Wolfmeyer, focusing on regulatory strategy, operational efficiency, and scaling for strategic exits.
The Chevron Case: Why It Matters
The Chevron ruling established a legal doctrine granting administrative agencies deference in interpreting ambiguous statutes. This allowed agencies to create and enforce regulations with minimal judicial interference. However, the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn this precedent has thrown regulatory processes, including those impacting the cannabis industry, into uncertainty.
“Without Chevron deference, regulatory agencies now face more scrutiny,” Heise explained. “This means slower progress on critical initiatives like rescheduling cannabis, implementing Farm Bill provisions, and navigating labor laws. Agencies must be meticulous in crafting and enforcing regulations to avoid litigation—a process that consumes time and resources.”
Ripple Effects for Cannabis Businesses
The rollback of Chevron is particularly significant for cannabis, a heavily regulated industry influenced by both federal and state laws. The decision adds layers of complexity to processes such as rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I substance and regulating the hemp-derived cannabinoid market.
According to Heise, the change could also lead to more opportunities for businesses to challenge unfavorable regulations. “This new judicial landscape forces agencies to be more cautious, potentially opening avenues for businesses to negotiate or litigate when regulations overreach,” she said.
Looking Ahead
With the Big Ideas in Cannabis podcast, Cassie Tomaselli hopes to equip the cannabis community with knowledge and strategies to navigate a rapidly evolving landscape. “We aim to highlight big-picture trends that businesses might overlook amid day-to-day operations,” Tomaselli shared.
Future episodes promise to tackle topics like hemp market regulation, technological advancements, and emerging business strategies, offering listeners actionable insights from industry thought leaders.
The debut episode is now streaming on Beard Bros Media Network platforms, inviting cannabis professionals to stay ahead of transformative shifts in the industry.
*The above article pertains to one discussion point from Big Ideas In Cannabis, a multi-faceted episode. Subscribe to our Beard Bros Network Media Live Series YouTube Channel. New to this B2B live series? Read more here.
