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

A fast, operator focused conversation on turning Metrc requirements into clean daily workflows. Learn how to launch well in your first 30 days, avoid common mistakes, build barcode habits that hold up under pressure, choose integrations that reduce manual entry, stay secure, and keep books clean with a simple month end rhythm.

If this helped, share it with a Minnesota operator who is getting started. Tag your takeaways with #CannaConnectMN and subscribe for upcoming podcasts and panels.

What does a high-end cigar have in common with a premium cannabis bud? More than you might think. In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, host Stephen Eigenmann sits down with Drew Emmer—the man who helped bridge the gap between Boveda’s legendary moisture control and the burgeoning cannabis industry.

Drew shares the origin story of his journey with Boveda, starting in a cigar lounge in Minnetonka, and discusses the brand's evolution into the newly launched Vivi Cure Packs. We explore why moisture isn’t just about weight—it’s about protecting the "Ethic of the Plant" and ensuring that every consumer has an incredible experience, every time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Science of Vivi: How the new Vivi Cure Packs differ from traditional Boveda packs and why they are a game-changer for homegrowers and commercial facilities alike.
• The Philosophy of Branding: Why the best marketing focuses on the feeling of a product rather than the specs.
• Cannabis for Good: Drew’s advocacy for veterans and the power of cannabis as medicine for PTSD and recovery.
• Market Trends: A look at the "Velocity of Vivi," the low-dose market, and the comparison between cannabis and alcohol culture.

Whether you’re a legacy grower or a curious consumer, Drew’s "people-first" approach to the industry offers a refreshing look at where the market is headed in 2026 and beyond.

⏳ Episode Chapters:

• [00:00] Disclaimer & Introduction
• [01:34] Interview Begins: The Boveda Origin Story
• [04:34] The Trifecta: Cigars, Guitars, & Cannabis
• [06:11] The Birth of Vivi: Evolving the Boveda Legacy
• [09:18] Respecting the Ethic of the Plant
• [12:44] Drew’s Personal History with Recovery & Advocacy
• [15:04] Why Quality Control is the Best Marketing
• [22:30] Understanding the "Velocity" of Vivi Cure Packs
• [29:10] The Deep Science: How Vivi Protects Terpenes
• [33:20] Storage Solutions: EVaults and the Future of CVaults
• [41:35] Lessons from the Field: The Woody Nelson Story
• [44:10] If Boveda Were a Car Brand, What Would It Be?
• [52:53] Cannabis as Medicine & Veterans’ Rights
• [57:40] Why the Homegrower is the Heart of the Industry
• [1:01:00] Closing Thoughts & Featured Journalist Rachelle Gordon

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Shop Vivi Cure Packs: vivipacks.com
• Connect with Drew Emmer: LinkedIn
• Subscribe to The Cannaverse: Newsletter Link

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