The Dime

Brett Puffenbarger: The Future of Cannabis Will Look Like This… and Yes, It Will Shock You

Episode Summary

What if we told you the future of cannabis looks less like dispensaries... and more like the milk aisle? Everyone’s chasing growth, market share, and the next hot product — but few are asking the deeper question: What will the cannabis industry actually become? While cannabis is certainly disruptive, its future likely follows a few predictable paths — built on established infrastructure where companies must choose: go big, go niche, or get squeezed out. This week we sit down with Brett Puffenbarger, founder of Good Highdeas, for an unfiltered look into where cannabis is heading — and why most operators aren’t ready for what’s coming. Why small brands need to niche down fast The “hourglass” market effect no one is talking about What the "milk aisle model" means for the future of weed Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Cannabis Journey 01:39 Early Days in the Cannabis Industry 04:02 Entrepreneurial Spirit and Military Influence 06:18 Challenges in the Cannabis Business Structure 09:16 The Role of Leadership in Cannabis Companies 12:40 Navigating Growth and Sustainability 15:00 Identity Crisis in the Cannabis Industry 19:12 Future of Cannabis: Specialization and Market Dynamics 23:25 Challenges in Cannabis Beverages and Market Entry 26:54 Navigating the Cannabis Market Landscape 30:10 The Future of Cannabis: International Perspectives 31:43 Building for the Future: Infrastructure and Market Positioning 34:17 Understanding Consumer Needs in B2B and B2C 37:47 Identifying Opportunities in the Cannabis Industry 40:00 Cultural Shifts and Consumer Perceptions of Cannabis 42:07 Business Fundamentals: Delight Your Customer 46:10 Positioning for Future Growth in Cannabis Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodhighdeas/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettpuffenbarger/ https://www.goodhighdeas.net/ Our Links Bryan Fields on Twitter Kellan Finney on Twitter The Dime on Twitter At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry. 8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain The Dime is a top 5% most shared global podcast The Dime is a top 10 Cannabis Podcast The Dime has a New Website. Shhhh its not finished. Sign up for our playbook here: 🎥 YouTube: The Dime 📸 Instagram: The Dime

Episode Notes

What if we told you the future of cannabis looks less like dispensaries... and more like the milk aisle?

Everyone’s chasing growth, market share, and the next hot product — but few are asking the deeper question:

What will the cannabis industry actually become?

While cannabis is certainly disruptive, its future likely follows a few predictable paths — built on established infrastructure where companies must choose: go big, go niche, or get squeezed out.

This week we sit down with Brett Puffenbarger, founder of Good Highdeas, for an unfiltered look into where cannabis is heading — and why most operators aren’t ready for what’s coming.