Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis

Hosted by Herb Barbot, Esq.

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Joint Session is your go-to source for the latest cannabis news shaping the New York market. Hosted by Herb Barbot, Esq., the first Director of Operations at the NYS Office of Cannabis Management, this podcast delivers expert insights, breaking developments, and in-depth conversations with the industry’s most influential voices. From policymakers and legislators to business leaders, licensees, and advocates, Joint Session brings you exclusive interviews with those shaping the future of cannabis in New York and beyond. Plus, we keep you informed with key national and international cannabis updates. Whether you're an industry professional, an advocate, or just curious about the evolving landscape, Joint Session delivers factual, insightful, and digestible information to help you stay ahead of the curve. Tune in for high-level discussions, straight talk, and expert perspectives you won’t find anywhere else.

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51 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 926 min

The Listen and Learn Tour - Closing the Cannabis Trust Gap

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Lyla Hunt, Director of Public Health and Education at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, to discuss the findings from OCM’s groundbreaking Listen and Learn initiative. Drawing on conversations with more than 450 New Yorkers—including over 300 young people—Lyla shares what the agency learned about cannabis awareness, misinformation, mental health, and the growing need for trusted, evidence-based education. The discussion explores the gap between cannabis normalization and public understanding, why parents remain the most trusted source of information for young people despite often feeling unprepared for those conversations, and how OCM is using community feedback to shape future education efforts. Lyla also offers an inside look at the role of public health in cannabis regulation and explains how New York is working to create more informed, open, and productive conversations about cannabis across generations.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.#Joint Session #NYSOCM #Lyla Hunt #Herb Barbot #NYS Cannabis #Cannabis Education #Listen and Learn

May 5, 2026Episode 837 min

Inside On The Revel: Where New York Cannabis Happens

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Lulu Tsui, co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of On the Revel, to explore how community, culture, and connection are shaping New York’s cannabis industry. Lulu shares her unique journey—from early exposure to cannabis culture in Oregon to working in one of the first regulated markets in Washington State, and now building one of New York’s most influential cannabis event platforms. The conversation dives into the evolution of Revelry and the Buyers Club, the importance of designing experiences that reflect how people actually do business, and why authenticity and human connection matter more than traditional sales tactics in New York. Lulu also offers candid insights on industry challenges, regulatory realities, and what it takes to build something meaningful in a complex, fast-moving market—while sharing her vision for the future of cannabis as a cultural and commercial force.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

April 28, 2026Episode 742 min

Breaking the Stigma: Veterans and Cannabis Healing

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot brings together a powerful panel conversation on veterans and cannabis, featuring Dr. Jaclyn Schneider, former VA physician and palliative care specialist, Ryan “420 Chief” Johnson, a retired Navy chief and founder of Break Stigmas, and Robb Harmon, founder of Veterans Cannabis Care. Together, they explore the evolving relationship between veterans and cannabis—moving from stigma and silence to more open conversations around healing and alternative care. The discussion dives into the realities veterans face with traditional treatments like opioids, the growing role cannabis plays in managing PTSD, pain, and mental health, and the systemic barriers that still exist within federal policy and the VA system. They also highlight the importance of education, access, and community support, while sharing real-world insights on how cannabis is being used as a pathway toward recovery, stability, and improved quality of life for veterans across the country.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

April 21, 2026Episode 619 min

From the Stoop to the Flatiron - Licensee Highlight

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Chris Kuilan, co-founder of Stoops NYC, one of Manhattan’s first licensed social equity cannabis dispensaries, to share his journey from the Bronx to building a community-driven retail experience in the heart of the Flatiron District. Chris reflects on his early exposure to cannabis culture, his time in California’s legal market, and how those experiences shaped his vision for Stoops as more than just a store—but a space rooted in connection, culture, and New York identity. The conversation explores the realities of operating as a social equity licensee, the challenges of New York’s evolving cannabis market, and the importance of authenticity, community, and customer experience in standing out. Chris also shares candid insights on regulation, taxation, and the future of the industry, while highlighting how platforms like social media and grassroots engagement are helping build both brand and opportunity in this new legal era.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

April 20, 2026Episode 534 min

Inside Delaware’s Cannabis Rollout

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Joshua Sanderlin, Commissioner of the Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner, to unpack how Delaware is building its adult-use cannabis market from the ground up. Commissioner Sanderlin shares insights from launching recreational sales, transitioning medical operators, and rolling out a new licensing system designed to balance growth, regulation, and social equity. The conversation explores the realities of operating a highly regulated market, including challenges around local control, illicit competition, and preparing new licensees—many of whom are first-time business owners—for long-term success. Sanderlin also offers a candid perspective on federal reform, the limits of rescheduling versus descheduling, and what it will take to create a sustainable, locally driven cannabis industry in the years ahead.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

April 14, 2026Episode 446 min

The Other Magazine: Capturing the Moment

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Peter Shafran, founder and publisher of The Other Magazine, and Ranch Guerra, its CEO, to explore the intersection of cannabis, media, and culture in New York. They discuss the vision behind building a publication that brings a more sophisticated, lifestyle-driven perspective to cannabis—moving beyond trade coverage and “stoner” stereotypes to position cannabis alongside wine, art, and broader counterculture. The conversation dives into the realities of launching a print media business in a fast-evolving and often turbulent cannabis market, how industry dynamics directly impact media economics, and why print still holds power in a digital-first world. They also explore audience behavior, the importance of budtenders and community, and the role media can play in shaping perception as legalization expands across the U.S. Ultimately, it’s a conversation about storytelling, culture, and why cannabis needs a more thoughtful voice as the industry matures.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

April 7, 2026Episode 31 hr 17 min

Tune up or Overhaul, What’s Next for NY Cannabis - With Axel Bernabe

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Axel Bernabe, former Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Director at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and one of the key architects behind New York’s cannabis regulations. Axel shares a rare insider perspective on how the state’s regulatory framework was built from scratch and how it’s now performing in the real world as the market matures. The conversation explores the original intent behind policies like social equity, the two-tier system, and sole control, and where those ideas are now creating friction for operators. They also dig into the complex realities of ownership structures, passive investment, supply chain challenges, licensing bottlenecks, and the growing need for regulatory clarity as businesses scale. With the OCM entering a new phase of review and stakeholder input, Axel offers a candid and practical look at what needs refining—and why getting the next iteration of regulation right is critical for the long-term success of New York’s cannabis market.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

March 31, 2026Episode 251 min

Seed to Sale Part Deux: Metrc Replaces BioTrack

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Michael Johnson, CEO of Metrc, the leading track-and-trace technology provider for the legal cannabis industry. Michael breaks down how seed-to-sale tracking works in practice, explaining how cannabis is monitored from cultivation through to retail to ensure compliance, transparency, and consumer safety. The conversation explores Metrc’s entry into the New York market replacing BioTrack, a prior vendor, the challenges of implementing a statewide system in a fast-growing and already active industry, and the role data plays in identifying inversion/diversion and protecting the legal supply chain. They also address industry concerns around compliance costs, misconceptions about tracking fees, and the broader importance of building a standardized system that supports both regulators and operators as New York’s cannabis market continues to scale.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

March 24, 2026Episode 141 min

A Fresh Start for Year 5 – OCM’s New Executive Director

In this episode of Joint Session, kicking off Season 3, host Herb Barbot is joined by John Kagia, Acting Executive Director of the NYS Office of Cannabis Management. John discusses the evolution of New York’s legal cannabis market as it moves from its early “startup” phase into a period of rapid growth and maturation, with hundreds of licensed dispensaries now operating and billions in projected sales. Drawing on his background as a cannabis industry analyst, John shares how data, consumer insight, and operational improvements will shape the next stage of the market. The conversation also explores the ongoing effort to shift consumers from the illicit market to the legal system, the challenges and opportunities facing social equity licensees, the role of enforcement and regulation, and why expanding legal access across New York remains a critical priority for the future of the industry.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev Media.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.

September 9, 2025Episode 2652 min

Empowering Cannabis Operators Through Data Insights

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Rick Bashkoff, CEO of Lit Alerts. They discuss the evolution of the cannabis market in New York, the role of data in empowering cannabis operators, and the challenges faced by social equity applicants. He highlights the importance of understanding market dynamics, product preferences, and the impact of the illicit market on licensed operators. The discussion also covers trends in consumer behavior, the significance of price compression, and the future outlook for the cannabis industry in New York.Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis is produced by Herb Barbot, with executive production and marketing by Simlev.Please contact us at herb.jointsession@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments, including topics to cover.Follow the show on Instagram at jointsession.pod, on BlueSky at @jointsessionpod.bsky.social and on LinkedIn at Joint Session Podcast. If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners find the show.