Everyone in cannabis talks about effects-based products — almost no one can deliver them consistently. Repeatable experiences require precision and formulation discipline that looks a lot more like pharma than cannabis. And here’s why: most operators don’t treat in-house analytics as essential. But that’s the mistake. Process control isn’t optional — it’s the foundation for delivering the same experience every single time. This week we sit down with Chris Emerson, Founder of LEVEL, to break down:• How true effects-based products are actually built• The analytics and standardization required for repeatability• Why most teams can’t achieve consistency — and what it takes to fix it Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Chris Emerson and Level 03:07 The Journey into Cannabis and Product Development 06:02 Challenges in Consistency and Formulation 08:48 Navigating the Market and Consumer Education 12:05 The Role of Cannabinoids and Future Innovations 14:56 Expanding Beyond California: Challenges and Strategies 27:32 The Importance of Consistency in Product Quality 29:51 Navigating the Medical vs Recreational Cannabis Landscape 33:03 Advanced Analytics in Cannabis Production 36:02 Innovations in Product Formulation and Consumer Experience 39:56 Strategic Approaches to Hemp and Cannabinoid Research 45:00 Exploring the Future of Cannabinoids and Consumer Education Summary In this conversation, Chris Emerson, founder of Level, shares his journey from academia to the cannabis industry, discussing the challenges and innovations in product development. He emphasizes the importance of effects-based formulations, consistency in product quality, and the need for consumer education in a rapidly evolving market. The discussion also touches on the future of cannabinoid products and the strategies for expanding into new markets while maintaining quality and consistency. In this conversation, Chris Emerson discusses the complexities of cannabis production, emphasizing the importance of consistency and advanced analytics in ensuring product quality. He explores the challenges faced by the medical cannabis market as it competes with recreational use, and shares insights on the evolving landscape of cannabinoid research, particularly focusing on the Varin class and acidic cannabinoids. The discussion also touches on strategic approaches to hemp and the significance of consumer education in navigating the cannabis industry. Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-emerson-ph-d-464b245a/ https://www.instagram.com/level.experience https://www.linkedin.com/company/levelexperience/ https://levelexperience.com/ Our Links: Bryan Fields on Twitter Kellan Finney on Twitter The Dime on Twitter Extraction Teams: Want to cut costs and get more out of every run? Unlock hidden revenue by extracting more from the same input—with Newton Insights. At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry. 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. 🎥 YouTube: The Dime 📸 Instagram: The Dime https://www.newton-insights.com/
Everyone in cannabis talks about effects-based products — almost no one can deliver them consistently.
Repeatable experiences require precision and formulation discipline that looks a lot more like pharma than cannabis.
And here’s why: most operators don’t treat in-house analytics as essential. But that’s the mistake.
Process control isn’t optional — it’s the foundation for delivering the same experience every single time.
This week we sit down with Chris Emerson, Founder of LEVEL, to break down:
• How true effects-based products are actually built
• The analytics and standardization required for repeatability
• Why most teams can’t achieve consistency — and what it takes to fix it
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Chris Emerson and Level
03:07 The Journey into Cannabis and Product Development
06:02 Challenges in Consistency and Formulation
08:48 Navigating the Market and Consumer Education
12:05 The Role of Cannabinoids and Future Innovations
14:56 Expanding Beyond California: Challenges and Strategies
27:32 The Importance of Consistency in Product Quality
29:51 Navigating the Medical vs Recreational Cannabis Landscape
33:03 Advanced Analytics in Cannabis Production
36:02 Innovations in Product Formulation and Consumer Experience
39:56 Strategic Approaches to Hemp and Cannabinoid Research
45:00 Exploring the Future of Cannabinoids and Consumer Education
Summary
In this conversation, Chris Emerson, founder of Level, shares his journey from academia to the cannabis industry, discussing the challenges and innovations in product development. He emphasizes the importance of effects-based formulations, consistency in product quality, and the need for consumer education in a rapidly evolving market. The discussion also touches on the future of cannabinoid products and the strategies for expanding into new markets while maintaining quality and consistency. In this conversation, Chris Emerson discusses the complexities of cannabis production, emphasizing the importance of consistency and advanced analytics in ensuring product quality. He explores the challenges faced by the medical cannabis market as it competes with recreational use, and shares insights on the evolving landscape of cannabinoid research, particularly focusing on the Varin class and acidic cannabinoids. The discussion also touches on strategic approaches to hemp and the significance of consumer education in navigating the cannabis industry.
Guest Links:
Our Links:
Extraction Teams: Want to cut costs and get more out of every run? Unlock hidden revenue by extracting more from the same input—with Newton Insights.
At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.
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.
🎥 YouTube: The Dime
📸 Instagram: The Dime