What are some of the challenges and opportunities facing US Multi-State Operators in 2020?

This week we’re joined by Beth Stavola, an accomplished entrepreneur and senior executive within the Cannabis space. Beth is Chief Strategy Officer at iAnthus, a US MSO, and Co-founder of CBD For Life - a CBD based beauty and health brand.

This week we explore how federal restrictions influence multi-state operators within the USA, alongside their influence on business expansion and operations.

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About Beth

Beth is a leading cannabis entrepreneur. She was formerly the Chief Operating Officer, President of US Operations, and Board Member of MPX Bioceutical Corporation, and now takes on the role of Chief Strategy Officer and Director for iAnthus.

Beth is also the founder of the top CBD beauty and wellness brand, CBD For Life. CBD For Life provides customers with the benefits of cannabinoids while avoiding unwanted psychoactive effects. Previously, Beth worked on Wall Street with Jefferies and Company, rising to the position of Senior Vice President.

She is actively involved in organizations that promote women in the cannabis industry and in 2014 was named as one of the leading medical cannabis entrepreneurs by Congresswoman Dina Titus, on the floor of the House of Representatives. In 2017 Cannabis Business Executive named Beth #3 on the “CBE 75 Most Important Women In Cannabis" list.

Episode Summary

Beth spent the majority of her career on Wall Street, working in investment banking.

Once Beth’s family started growing, she quit working in New York City and started making her own personal investments, one of which was into a medical cannabis business in Arizona.

A few years later, she found herself opening a dispensary in Douglas, Arizona - the town famous for El Chapo’s tunnel. Over the next few years, Beth expanded her business (MPX Bioceutical Corporation) into Nevada, Maryland and Massachusetts. Her business now operates in 11 states.

In 2015, Beth launched CBD For Life, a wellness and self care brand rooted in the cannabis industry.

CBD For Life’s CBD is grown from hemp grown in Colorado at a farm using organic and sustainable farming practices.

Beth’s company iAnthus was the first multi-state operator in the US to go public and raise money in Canada.

iAnthus’operations encompass the full spectrum of cannabis enterprises, from cultivation to processing to retailing.

One of iAnthus’ goals for 2020 is to expand brands nationally across the USA, at the moment it is hard for brands to expand due to federal laws permitting criminalising the transportation and sale of marijuana across state lines. Hemp and CBD products are excluded from these laws.

CBD For Life currently sells in 50 states and are currently working on expanding into other markets including Europe.

Beth is an advocate for the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits of CBD beauty products.

Studies show that the amount of cannabis use by females and men is equal, whereas a majority of products within the cannabis industry are geared towards men.

Beth initially found the transition into cannabis difficult - coming from a Catholic family. Nowadays her family are on board and are celebrating her successes.

Resources

Join Beth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethstavola/

CBD For Life Website: https://cbdforlife.us/

iAnthus Website: https://www.ianthus.com/

About Me

I'm Anuj Desai - a lawyer turned cannabis entrepreneur and investor.

Alongside hosting The Cannabis Conversation podcast I am a founding partner in New Leaf Insights - a strategic advisory firm, helping companies and investors understand, enter and succeed in the cannabis space.

New Leaf Insights offers expert intelligence, research services and consultancy services to a range of market participants. With an insider’s view of the space, analysis on opportunities and risks and opinions on projects, we turn grey areas green.

www.newleaf-insights.co.uk



