Luke McCapes has been part of Canna Connect since January 2024, when he first connected with Stephen about the need for cannabis education and event programming in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Born in California and a proud graduate of Brainerd High School and the University of Minnesota Crookston, Luke brings a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a passion for people, compliance, and community building. As Canna Connect’s Event Director, he helps shape inclusive events, strengthens partnerships, and represents our mission across Minnesota.

In this episode, Luke opens up about his story, his evolving relationship with alcohol, how cannabis became medicine for him, and why accessible education matters. Stephen shares field insights from product research and testing, and the two dig into homegrow, compliance, low-dose edibles, and how acceptance is growing across the state.

Connect with Luke

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-mccapes-85024b249/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luke.mccapes

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Disclaimer
This content is for adults 21+ and educational purposes only. Nothing here is medical, legal, or financial advice. Always follow local laws and regulations.

In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, host Natalie Campion sits down with the legendary Cat Seven, also known as Cat Franklin—globally recognized as the Godmother of Gorilla Glue #4.

Cat shares the true, accidental origin story behind one of the most famous strains in cannabis history, including how a sticky phone call led to a cultural phenomenon—and eventually, a high-stakes federal trademark lawsuit. From there, the conversation widens into Cat’s 30-year journey through cannabis: operating in the underground market, leading licensed facilities as a Director of Operations and CEO, and navigating the realities of scaling cannabis businesses in highly regulated states.

Now back in her home state of Minnesota, Cat is focused on normalization, education, and building sustainable operations through Süga Canna Co. She breaks down what actually separates strong operators from struggling ones, the differences between medical and adult-use markets, and what Minnesota must get right as the industry continues to take shape.

This episode is a must-listen for operators, legacy growers, and anyone interested in how cannabis moves from the shadows into legitimate, compliant, and scalable businesses.

On this episode of The Canna Connect Show, host Stephen Eigenmann sits down with Andrew Johnmeyer of Green Machine Farm for a wide-ranging, deeply personal conversation about cannabis, agriculture, and what really happened during Minnesota’s cannabis rollout.

Andrew’s story begins long before legalization headlines. As a farmer, activist, and home grower, he traces his journey from Minnesota’s early medical cannabis days to becoming a hopeful applicant in the adult-use market—only to watch the system shift beneath his feet. This episode captures the growing disconnect between state-level policy decisions and the realities faced by farmers, small cultivators, and rural communities.

Throughout the conversation, Stephen and Andrew unpack:

• Andrew’s activist roots and early exposure to cannabis policy
• Minnesota’s medical cannabis beginnings and the promise of legalization
• Red flags for small cultivators as rules and taxes changed mid-process
• Cannabis as medicine, cannabinoids, terpenes, phenohunting, and home-grow genetics
• The social equity license program and microbusiness restrictions
• Local government resistance, county-level ordinances, and agricultural conflicts
• The role of the League of Cities and breakdowns in county communication
• When and why Andrew ultimately walked away from pursuing a Minnesota license

This episode is not about hype or shortcuts. It’s about documenting lived experience, understanding how well-intentioned policy can create unintended harm, and preserving the voices of those who felt excluded from shaping Minnesota’s cannabis future.

If you care about cannabis policy, agricultural inclusion, or the long-term health of Minnesota’s legal market, this is a conversation worth hearing.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

0:00 – Disclaimer
0:45 – Welcome & episode preview
1:30 – Interview begins
2:05 – Andrew’s activist beginnings
2:55 – Minnesota’s medical cannabis beginnings
4:38 – Farming background: livestock, chickens, eggs
9:00 – Red flags for small cultivators
13:20 – The tax jump from 10% to 15%
14:45 – Understanding cannabinoids
16:55 – Home growing process
18:25 – Cannabis as medicine
19:59 – Terpenes
20:38 – Access to cannabinoids over time
21:11 – Phenohunting
22:35 – Creating new genetics & regional growing conditions
23:27 – Minnesota’s social equity license
24:55 – When things changed as an applicant
28:00 – Microbusiness restrictions
30:30 – Social equity lottery delays
35:10 – Local government regulation challenges
40:00 – Goodhue County communication issues
41:45 – League of Cities involvement
44:00 – Anti-agriculture outcomes of county statutes
45:25 – OCM formation amid medical & hemp market imbalance
46:16 – Walking away from licensure
49:11 – Speaking directly to county government