What role does packaging play in the future of cannabis?

In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Steven Eigenmann sits down with Mark Carlson of The John Roberts Company to talk about the intersection of packaging, branding, entrepreneurship, and Minnesota cannabis culture.

After decades working in printing and packaging across markets like Colorado, California, Oregon, and Washington, Mark witnessed firsthand how cannabis evolved into a billion-dollar industry and how packaging became a major part of compliance, branding, and customer experience.

The conversation explores:

• Cannabis packaging and compliant branding
• Minnesota’s growing hemp-derived THC beverage market
• Why packaging matters in a competitive cannabis industry
• Leadership lessons from athletics and business
• Mentorship, trust, and relationship-building
• Supporting small cannabis businesses
• The evolution of print and packaging technology

Mark also reflects on his time at the University of Minnesota, learning from leaders like Tony Dungy and Mike Shanahan, and why trust remains the foundation of both business and leadership.

The Canna Connect Show highlights the builders, innovators, and community leaders helping shape Minnesota cannabis from the ground up.

Chapter Markers

00:00 Disclaimer
00:45 Introducing Mark Carlson of The John Roberts Company
01:00 Minnesota Cannabis Growth & Hemp Beverage Packaging
02:55 Early Exposure to Cannabis Packaging Through Heidelberg
04:20 Watching Cannabis Markets Grow Across the U.S.
05:40 Why Packaging Matters in Cannabis Branding
06:35 Supporting Cannabis Businesses Through Print & Packaging
07:45 Joining The John Roberts Company After 34 Years
09:25 Growing Up in Chicago & Winning a State Championship
11:20 Leadership Lessons from Sports & Business
12:00 Tony Dungy, Recruitment & the Big Ten
14:25 Mike Shanahan & Coaching Leadership
16:30 Athletics, Business & Life Lessons
18:20 How Printing & Media Have Changed
19:00 Leadership, Mentorship & Building Trust
22:00 75 Years of The John Roberts Company
23:00 Packaging for Minnesota Cannabis Brands
24:00 Why Customer Service Still Wins
25:00 Hemp Beverages Are Exploding in Minnesota
25:30 The Future of Cannabis Packaging & Regulation

What does it actually take to bank a cannabis business in Minnesota?

In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann talks with Brandon Padget, Chief Deposit Officer at Union Bank & Trust, about the realities of cannabis banking and the infrastructure needed to support a growing legal market.

Brandon shares the story behind Union Bank & Trust’s approach to cannabis, why their team believes banking should be accessible for entrepreneurs, and how thoughtful financial systems can help businesses grow sustainably.

The conversation explores:

• Cannabis banking compliance
• Supporting cannabis entrepreneurs in Minnesota
• Banking fees and financial accessibility
• Workforce development and union values
• Building long-term cannabis careers
• The role of community partnerships
• Cannabis as a professional and skilled industry

This episode offers an inside look at one of the least understood but most important parts of the cannabis industry: access to financial services and the people working to make that access better.

The Canna Connect Show highlights the builders, advocates, entrepreneurs, and organizations shaping Minnesota cannabis culture from the ground up.

#CannaConnectMN #MinnesotaCannabis #CannabisPodcast #CannabisBanking

The cannabis industry in Minnesota is evolving quickly, and behind every cultivation facility is a major conversation about energy, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.

In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann is joined by Tony Beman of the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) to explore how cannabis businesses can reduce costs through lighting rebates, energy-efficient systems, and smarter facility planning.

Tony shares insights on:

• LED lighting rebates for cannabis businesses
• Why energy infrastructure matters more than most operators realize
• Real estate challenges facing Minnesota cultivators
• The economics of cannabis cultivation
• How Xcel Energy programs support microbusinesses
• Long-term planning for cannabis entrepreneurs
• Why efficient grow design can dramatically improve runway and profitability

This conversation offers a practical look at the business side of cannabis and the systems helping shape Minnesota’s emerging market.

The Canna Connect Show highlights the people, businesses, and conversations building Minnesota cannabis culture from the ground up.

#CannaConnectMN #MinnesotaCannabis #CannabisPodcast