Ep. 66 Jake Hill, serial cannabis entrepreneur and CEO of Grow Automations

In the latest in our Fresh Faces series, today we meet serial cannabis entrepreneur Jake Hill, who not only produces a myriad thc/cbd/hemp products, but also markets a CBD Delta-8 seltzer here in Texas (and a plant-growing automation system).  Jake joins Harry and beer editor Jordan Driggers as we explore this nascent and adjacent industry.   Ed. Note:  The internet connection was not ideal -- apologies for the audio occasionally cutting out.  ---- time-stamped contents ---- 00:00 Intro - hilarious banter, introducing Jake Hill.  03:30 describing the different types of cannabis products (cbd, hemp, thc, turpines, delta-8, etc.).  04:20 how hemp-derived delta-8 became legal in texas. 05:20 the federal financial drag.  07:10 Oregon vs Texas businesses.  08:30 leaning into cbd bevs.  10:00 scaling and managing inventory.  10:50 smokable pre-rolled hemp cbd cigs.  11:25 jake also runs automation for larger growers.  11:40 big co. playbook features drinks, higher production barriers to entry vs flower/tincture.  12:20 heavy relative to how much cbd/thc you get, but unique.  13:50 jake breaks down the math and relative of cbd bevs vs tinctures.  16:30 canna-bevs in oregon vs texas.  18:30 huge demand for thc bevs. always sold out.  20:00 grokking the brand cann.   20:20 cali tough market.  22:00 lots of big cos losing money. 23:00 grokking valuations. 24:00 pharma/med cos getting into it, standardizing processes. 25:30 importance of branding.  26:45 companies mastering different components: cookie in retail.  27:40 huge carbon footprint challenge of indoor growing.  28:20 jake walks us through differences in indoor vs outdoor growing.  29:00 some will grow massive amounts outdoor for pure thc.  32:00 jake shares how their automated AI growing system works. (vid important here).  36:40 managing growth of plants and matching with demand.  38:50 climate change, environment, farmers aging out, other challenges.  40:00 wonderful world of hermaphroditing plants. one male plant ruins the room.  42:00 cannabis industry AI-driven grow tech can be used for food production.  44:00 staying ahead of the curve on managing energy consumption.  47:45 biggest challenge: legislators making laws that allow black market to thrive, and make it hard for legit co's to make a profit.  why put daily limits on legal taxed sales, for example? ---About--- Beer Business Daily publisher Harry Schuhmacher joins his editors and other guests once or twice a week as they grok the industry issues of the day.   -Podcast Hotline: Text or call Harry in confidence at:‪ (262) 345-2501‬ -Audio/Video feeds at HarrysPod.com -Articles referenced at beernet.com -Twitter / IG / TikTok:  @beerbizdaily