First Smoke of The Day

If you feel like you haven’t heard enough about the ins and outs of herb law, you’re in luck, because we had to bring back one of the most pivotal younger figures in the world of California ca**abis legal representation to chop it up about some of his biggest horror stories and dive deeper into his litigation lore.Blackleaf is joined in the FSOTD studio once again by Chris Hickok, aka “Alien At Law,” to further uncork the mysteries and hurdles of operating legally today, some of the legal myths still believed by old-school cultivators, the laundry list of culture-shaping brands that Chris represents, the biggest crash-outs he’s seen between business partners, the craziest ways he’s seen a license get pulled, the importance of having the break-up talk before signing contracts, and so much more.For the uninitiated, Chris Hickok is an attorney based in California who co-founded HK Law and serves as Chief of Legal Compliance at Primary Growth Partners (PGP), where he specializes in boutique regulatory and corporate counsel for 🍃 operators. He has handled over 200 state and local cannabis license applications and previously practiced at Shevin Law Group, a leading Southern California herb law firm.Chris’s clients are definitely a topic of interest during this pod. You’ll find out he’s the current legal counsel for brands like Your Highness, Broken Promises, Smoken Promises, Terphogz, Alien Labs, Connected, The TenCo, Seed Junky Genetics, and many, many, many more. By the end of this episode, you 100% lose count of all the industry legends this guy represents in California.One of the other biggest topics that comes up during this interview is building original IP in the 🍃industry, the dangers of it potentially appealing to children, as well as the regularly occurring trademark infringements across the traditional and legal herb markets. At one point, Chris even weighs in on the Glass House situation, as well as the dangers of posting any type of trapper content on social media or online, especially if your mylars are ripping off trademarked characters from Disney, Nickelodeon, or the like.If you’re looking for insight into the ways that herb businesses can go horribly awry when you’re using someone else’s name on a license, even if it’s your sibling, and some scary stories about that other person coming in and taking over your business, sit tight. Chris tells all in this juicy pod where he eventually points out the biggest red flags you should look for when investing in a cultivation or retail herb business.There’s truly so much your average industry member doesn’t understand about covering their ass legally, and that’s why conversations with legendary lawyers like Chris matter, because he was there fresh out of passing his Bar Exam at the cups in SoCal in 2016 onward, meeting the need for legal represensation very early on for young players that just need someone that they can trust. Strap in for the full pod and take notes, and consider reaching out for a consultation via @alienatlaw on IG.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key figures and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

We’re still striking where the iron is hot in the culture right now with another well-connected and well-respected figure from the Michigan scene, this time to discuss a controversial topic amongst cultivators of all sizes—the utilization (or underutilization) of beneficial predatory bugs, especially in indoor grow spaces.Blackleaf is joined in the FSOTD studio by Nick Zimmer, founder of Plantsman Group, a company breaking the stigma daily on the beneficial bugs needed to keep your grow in a state of utter homeostasis without having to use hardly any chemical pesticides. And don’t worry, the topic of whether you can run a grow chemical and pesticide-free with just beneficial bugs does come up.Our host seriously came with his list of questions this time, certifiably, as no stone is left unturned in terms of topics surrounding ideal cycles for adding beneficial bugs and when to remove them, whether bugs really poop in the buds, best practices so you’re not burning your crop in week 5 or 6, the history of the legacy market in Michigan, using bugs with DWC, dealing with aphids, utilizing nematodes to solve fungus gnat issues, the beneficial bug starter pack, and so much more.For those unaware of the credentials surrounding Nick and Plantsman, here are the cliffnotes. Plantsman Group is a Michigan‑based company offering organic pest‑management solutions tailored for 🍃 cultivators. Founded in 2022 by Nick Zimmer, the company focuses on integrating beneficial insects and preventative care rather than relying on chemical pesticides. Nick Zimmer, a Michigan State University horticulture graduate, transitioned from conventional ornamental growing to pioneering biology‑based integrated pest management in cannabis cultivation, which you’ll hear all about during the pod. Besides the endless free game that is dropped, Nick’s life story will also have you 100% tuned in. He aims to eliminate pesticides across grow facilities by replacing synthetic sprays with natural predators, delivering both products and hands‑on consultation to growers of all sizes. Some of the best parts of this pod are when Nick is regaling our host with his best horror stories from the massive array of grow operations he’s consulted for and helped bring back to pest-free. We’re talking enormous spider mite outbreaks, aphid infestations, and more. One of the other overarching points Nick makes during this conversation is that Plantsman is focused on helping each individual who comes to them tailor-make a solution using their library of predatory bugs. Nick emphasizes reaching out via their site or social media to get a direct response on troubleshooting your issue. Blackleaf begins this episode by asserting that too many growers deal with bug issues, some big, some small, and they all refuse to look into beneficial predatory bugs. But, who doesn’t want to produce the cleanest, most pesticide-free bud possible…right? Hopefully, by the end, you’ll feel a little more inclined to bang Plantsman’s line to see if you can get some further enlightenment and (maybe) finally get rid of those pesky thrips.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

Whoever says that Michigan doesn’t have the fire is about to be proven wrong. Today’s guest is a keeper not only of insane Prop 215 lore, but also one of the real-deal pioneers of the medical and recreational scene in MI, actively setting the standard for A-1 smoke and the right way to get it into the hands of the people 7 days of the week.Blackleaf is joined back in the FSOTD studio by the legend himself, Andrew Thomas, of Exclusive Brands, to discuss the late 90s and early 2000s, bouncing around LA and visiting places like the iconic dab bar at Kind Meds, as well as Michigan’s claims to fame in terms of Chem, OG, and Gas genetics, the prominence of customers driving in from border states like Ohio and Illinois to get MI prices and premium flower options, as well as the future of the industry in terms of interstate commerce, and safe, traditional banking, marketing access, and so much more.For those unaware, Exclusive Brands is a vertically-integrated retailer with (currently) seven shops running across the state including in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Monroe, Muskegon, Lowell, Coldwater, Lapeer, and Gaylord. Their portfolio includes their in-house labels like Concentrate Kings, Strain Kings, Terpene Tanks, Magic Edibles, and more, offering a full range of products from flower and vapes to edibles and concentrates. Exclusive emphasizes quality and transparency with lab-tested products and educates consumers through rewards, weekly deals, and (most importantly) knowledgeable and attentive staff, with an expansive line of merchandise and in-house product. You’ll also get to hear about how they became the first in the state to get the licensing to manufacture and distribute major California stables like Kushy Punch. And even the story about how Andrew's partner eventually even acquisitioning the Kushy Punch brand after it had a very public legal fallout. We’re not joking when we say that this episode is JUICY in terms of free game and crazy stories surrounding partnerships, trapping, building the dream team, expanding into 5+ shops, and how to keep a lid on it with an almost religious connection to customer service paired with aggressively competitive prices. From producing mixtapes with The Game and countless other hip-hop legends as a teenager to diving headfirst into California’s early Prop 215 days to absorb the culture, set up shop, trap it out, and then bring all the knowledge back to Michigan the minute Medical hit, it’s almost impossible not to learn something valuable from this conversation with Andrew if you’re a hustler or even just a passionate fan of the plant. Hit the play button, kick back until the end, and you’ll thank us later. Visit Exclusivemi.com to learn more about everything you’re missing out on in the Michigan scene.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

The FSOTD team is back abroad in Germany for Mary Jane Berlin with this special episode featuring one of the most well-connected and well-respected OGs in the scene, waist-deep in the culture, and deeply embedded in the past, present, and future of the medical, and hopefully someday, recreational herb industry in Deutschland. Blackleaf sits down at the Weekend Club next to Alexanderplatz in Berlin with the legend himself, Massoud Mahgoli of The Kraut Company, and former Bloomwell Group board member, to discuss the politics of the 🍃medical market and overall herb industry in Germany, as well as the strict drug policies across Europe, the shifting focus toward Germany as a new cultural hub for innovators of the plant, Berlin’s reception to the massive Mary Jane expo the past few years, helping to bring Doja Pak into the market, chopping it up with Biggie Smalls’ son, and so much more.Massoud Mahgoli currently drives strategic growth and innovation in the burgeoning medical 🍃market across Germany for The Kraut Co. He previously served as a board member of the Bloomwell Group, contributing to its development and industry influence by helping to bring in key players from overseas (like Doja) in terms of genetics and cultivation styles. Massoud brings a blend of startup energy and corporate insight to his leadership roles that your typical Chads could never remotely imitate. Despite the under hourlong length, don’t be fooled, there are countless gems tucked into this episode. You’ll hear Massoud predict the future of legalization in Germany, as well as make plenty of bold claims including that Germany has (perhaps) recently taken the torch in terms of driving the culture forward, but Spain never really had it to begin with. Massoud also goes into detail about the long history of technological innovation that Germany has been responsible for, and that although they may not have the cultivation space to become the next mecca, they surely can become the next biggest hub for creating what’s next in the space, and breeding innovation that will become the new norm. You’ll hear him highlight the Up In Smoke Cup that he co-founded last year, which wound up acting as a startup accelerator for the medical industry in the wake of last year’s Mary Jane Berlin.Countless inspiration is contained within this pod, and by the end, you’ll understand the storied role that cannabis has played in Germany, and how change is happening before our very eyes, with the potential for legalization looking brighter than ever. Keep your eyes peeled on The Kraut Company for setting the standard of what Deutschland’s herb culture will become.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

DNA Genetics & Bodhi: World Famous Breeders Join Forces, Secret Strains, Rare GeneticsCountless fans of FSOTD flood our DMs and comment sections demanding the return of “the fire,” “real OGs,” “the gas,” and/or classic cultivars from the 90s-2000s, which are the building blocks of the exotics we know today. In response to this demand, we brought on two absolute legends in terms of genetic legacy, preservation, and global recognition for the work they’ve made and continue to make to answer some of these questions.Blackleaf is joined in our LA studio by John of Green Bodhi, and once again, by Don and Aaron of DNA Genetics to discuss everything surrounding classic cultivars that many have assumed gone forever, why purple herb wasn’t and still isn’t fire, how Kenji cracked the original seeds on what would become “Pre-98 Bubba,” what goes into tissue culture and how Phylos is stacking up the world’s genetic library, and so many more stories surrounding legendary cuts such as the lore surrounding DNA’s Banana OG crosses which have literally changed the hash game.Legacy comes up a lot in this podcast, and how you go about achieving it. How do you reach a point where your Strawberry Banana is being used as the base for someone’s pheno hunt intended for washing? You’ll hear Don of DNA Genetics throw around a lot of strong claims during this pod, such as the time to create a true legacy brand being behind us, as well as how hype smokers that only blow Runtz or LCG crosses don’t even know what they want these days.Another prevalent topic throughout this episode is the sheer HEAT of John aka Green Bodhi’s herb on the table, none of which you’ll note is purple, how he grows it in Oregon, and his laundry list of “OG” and/or questionable growing techniques that seem to bring him 100% germination and time-honored yields. His background story is one that you definitely can’t miss, not only in terms of free game, but also sheer intrigue and entertainment. Throughout the episode, you’ll see Blackleaf flash around the extremely limited, yet recent, seed collab between Green Bodhi and DNA Genetics that they both claim you can get from them simply by hitting the DMs. The future is looking bright when you consider that two world-renowned heavyweights of legacy breeding and cultivation are currently joining forces to ensure the classics stay around and that someone keeps breeding new innovations on the iconic cuts that time might soon forget. One thing’s for sure, by the end of this episode, you’ll be fiending for Dog Walker, Chem, Skunk, Kush, Afghani, and Haze crosses like back in the day. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for when John brings up his Tenzen cut, and you won’t be sorry.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

Countless guests who come on our show ask about the landscape of the South American 🍃industry and market, but seldom do we have international interviewees who can actually talk about it firsthand. Not to mention, make a whole documentary on the topic and compare it to the state of 🍃culture and legislation across the world. Blackleaf is joined in the FSOTD studio by Luis Navarro and Pedro, the driving forces behind Ver de Perto, an upcoming documentary focusing on the state of 🍃legislation across Brazil and South America, highlighting the deep historical connection Brazilians have to the plant and the need for change, featuring interviews from across the world. In another podcast first—this is a collaborative episode—with pieces of the interview you’re viewing eventually ending up in the guests’ upcoming documentary, Ver de Perto. Luis and Pedro dive deep into countless burning questions Blackleaf rails off, such as what it’s like picking up herb on the street across Brazil, the legal implications of sparking up, importing, and exporting herb around South America, why “pressed weed” is still a common occurrence if you’re a lower-income citizen trying to pick up. We also get into Luis’ Afro-Brazilian roots and how seeds were originally smuggled into Brazil, and how he fell into the leading role in a Brazilian TV series titled “Joint Venture,” which changed his entire perspective on Mary Jane.Luis Navarro played Biriba, a former drug dealer navigating the (fictional) newly legalized industry in São Paulo on the Brazilian series Joint Venture (originally titled Pico da Neblina), which premiered in August 2019 on HBO Brazil. In the series, Navarro actively adapts to the shifting legal landscape by leveraging his street‑smart background to launch a legitimate 🍃 business. His current focus for the near future is the completion of this documentary, along with a few small stage performances in Brazil. Pedro is one of the most well-traveled international guests we’ve had on in a minute with deep cultivation experience, and he drops some seriously bold claims throughout the pod, as well. Things like the entire European industry (in terms of cultivation, quality, hash production, etc) are currently being led by Italians and ex-pat Brazilians. We also discuss Mary Jane Berlin 2025 and how the European market has made a major shift to Germany. Throughout the pod, Luis and Pedro also discuss how the documentary came about and the community effort that’s been driving it forward.This has to be one of the most interesting episodes we’ve ever had in terms of guests’ knowledge and experiences in life with the plant outside the US. These guys are still living in a country of pure prohibition, but with innovators and disrupters actively pushing the traditional market forward. Learn how Luis has become one of the biggest faces of the movement in Brazil for legalization, as well as the immense knowledge and experience growing industrial hemp and herb across South America and Europe that Pedro drops throughout by tuning in for the entire pod.And of course, be on the lookout for their groundbreaking documentary, Ver De Perto, by following their IG page, @verdeperto.doc!Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

We’ve pulled back the curtain before on some of the insane lore of California’s industry, but never with multiple guests who lived the legacy alongside more recent players that are taking over while paying proper respect to the OGs. This is an extremely rare discussion between big dogs with endless skin in the game and countless adversities faced that drive their success today.Blackleaf is joined back at the FSOTD studio by JD from Trinity Association/Domain Miel, Dustin (once again) from Watson Supply, along with none other than Sha Bud of 707 Seedbank and his partner on Automatic Genetics to discuss the game, talking genetics, pheno hunts, and selections for massive monocrops at length, Autos vs F1s and how to create S5s, as well as the best places to set up shop internationally right now, diving deep into the infrastructure of Colombia, Brazil, and the bubbling hash community in Costa Rica. We seldom get guests in the studio with as much international experience as the 707 Grows team, so you know we had to go global with some of the discussions.707 Seedbank is a 🍃breeding company founded and led by Sha Bud, who launched it after discovering his passion for growing herb at the age of 14. The brand focuses on producing premium, heirloom-quality hybrids that blend old-school pedigree with new genetics stably and consistently. Sha Bud won multiple awards in the mid‑2000s and distributes breeder‑direct seeds that users often describe as mouth‑watering and reliably uniform. He actively preserves and refines his legacy strains like SFV OG and Kush Cleaner to maintain their quality and integrity. With his partner, he’s also started Automatic Genetics, where they focus on streamlining exotic flavors into fast-growing autoflowers.One of the biggest conversations throughout this episode is genetics. Not only in terms of hulking out varieties by producing giant tetraploid plants, the difference between diploid and polyploid genetics, and most importantly, autoflowers. The 707 Grows team delves extensively into the history of why autoflower varieties came about, how they’re even made, and why they’re desirable for big operations that need tons of raw material for distillate or live resin.JD operates Trinity Association and Domain Miel. Trinity is a boutique 🍃cultivation brand founded around 2009, known for its commitment to organic and synganic (mindful) growing practices under mixed-light and greenhouse conditions. They focus on testing rare phenotypes and sharing breeder insights. In this episode, you’ll hear JD exercise a wealth of expertise in genetics, clone management, and super aggressive pheno hunting, we’re talking 500+ plants!JD’s other operation, Domain Miel, operates as a premium, quality-first herb and hash brand with a presence in Oregon, California, and New York. They cultivate exclusive, in-house selected genetics and offer nursery and clone services rooted in organic, soil-grown techniques with over 15 years of owner-operator experience. Notably, Domain Miel has bred strains like "DubPlatez" and "Zalani," showcasing their focus on high THC hybrids. One of the highlights of this episode is JD’s Blue Lobster work, which you’ll see showcased throughout. Finally, Dustin from Watson Supply is a guest we’ve had on before, and if you remember correctly, he’s not afraid to let loose his candor. Dustin founded Watson Supply to spotlight premium, small-batch herb grown in Northern California. He built a close-knit collective that focuses on rare genetics and flavor-driven phenotypes. Their standout strain, Cold Heat, quickly gained attention for its potent terpene profile and reliable performance.

If you’ve been hearing about the industry buzz in Michigan, you heard right. With the lowest tax rates (we’ve ever heard of), deli-style shops, and the nearly unbelievable unlimited purchasing power, cities like Detroit are seated to become more recognizable meccas for the plant within the U.S., especially for product categories like rosin, which Michigan is gaining increasing notoriety for.Blackleaf is live in Detroit, moments before judging the Bring Your Best Bag 2025 competition, sitting down in the middle of the show with several bubbling brand owners in the scene to discuss the state of the industry, what strains and flavors consumers are reaching for these days, some of the biggest hurdles moving from the traditional market into recreational, hardest lessons scaling from basement traps into legit facilities, and so much more.The guests in order are: Chocolate and Mike from Hytek/The Refinery, John, Aaron, and Rob from Eastside Alchemy, Joey from Yeti Stash, Chris from Tip Top Crop, Aaron from Premier Farms, Chris from Ghostbudsters Farm, and Brandon from Voyage Bloom.Some of the hot takes from this pod include the recent customer preference for quality indoor smalls over top-shelf outdoor, how to continue navigating the “Candy Wave,” deciding what strains from your grow should be washed into rosin, what strains should be vaped versus dabbed, and why growing OG cuts like Headband aren’t for the faint of heart, but worth preserving in any legal market if not for Michigan’s deep connection to iconic varieties like Motorbreath. For those that have been curious about what the top players in the Michigan 🍃 industry have been going through, celebrating, cultivating, and looking forward to in terms of hype new strains, you can’t miss a single interview from this historic competition in the Motor City.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.1

From trapping basement grows to legally selling out boutique exotics in Kalamazoo, today’s guests embody the hunger for hunting down the most A-1 premium smoke that can only come from career consumers and passionate stewards of the plant.Blackleaf is live in Detroit, moments before judging the rosin for Bring Your Best Bag 2025, with the Growing Pains team, Jason, Seth, and Tom, to discuss all things that are “actually smoking,” as well as the state of 🍃in Michigan. We cover topics such as why Michigan fell short during the medical boom, iconic strains that Michigan doesn’t get enough credit for, what strains and products consumers in the market are actively purchasing, and so much more.Along the way, you’ll also learn the entire lore of the Growing Pains brand, even how they got their name. Tom dives into a wealth of backstory during this pod, including how he got started maxing out his basement, when he partnered up with Seth during the medical days, and how they’ve brought on Jason recently as their full-time extraction artist to truly elevate their rosin game and product offerings.Growing Pains burst into Michigan’s scene as a boutique, flavor-focused grower, hand-selecting exotic genetics and rigorously testing every batch in their modest warehouse operations. The brand leans into a hands-on, founder-led cultivation process, touting that they personally R&D each batch from seed to harvest, which you’ll learn during this pod is entirely true. Their team actively crafts popular strains such as Pink Pebbles, Crunch Berries, and Zyrup, to deliver consistent, high-terpene flavor profiles in over 50 doors (currently) across the state and through their own owned shops.One of the biggest topics during this pod is not only pheno hunting, but deciding on which batches to send 3k or more into for making hash. Jason, Growing Pain’s extraction artist, goes into deep detail on how he got educated in the field, as well as his preference for using The Osprey machine over washing by hand. He even details the methods for testing out new strains from the grow to see if they’re even worth washing.The other overarching conversation during this pod is the affordability of 🍃in the current Michigan market. These prices are CHEAP CHEAP. Not to mention, Growing Pains’ team also owns a shop where they can take their product straight from packaging to the shelves. You’ll hear about how they bring their staff and local customers in on the fun when it comes to pheno hunting. Additionally, you’ll also find out why the taxes are so low and why so many operators were able to set up shop QUICKLY in the Motor City as soon as legalization turned on by tuning into the full pod.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.