The Guild Brief

Community • Craft • Experience

JULY 2026

 As July begins and we head into Independence Day weekend, I’ve been reflecting on the idea of freedom.

With the World Cup bringing visitors from around the globe to North America, it’s been fascinating to watch people experience our culture through fresh eyes. For many, that means their first introduction to ranch dressing, a walk into a legal dispensary, or seeing cannabis consumed openly and responsibly for the very first time. All pretty exciting!

It’s easy to focus on everything our industry still needs to become. We have real challenges ahead and important work left to do. But it’s equally important to pause and appreciate how far we’ve come.

My Sage Advice? Be thankful for the problems you used to only dream of having.

Many people around the world still don’t have the freedom to access this plant or learn about it in a thoughtful, community-centered way. One of the things I love most about the Ganjier Guild is that we’re able to share knowledge, elevate standards, and build community across borders.

This Independence Day, I’m celebrating with gratitude. My hope is that, together, we continue to demonstrate that education, craftsmanship, and community are the foundation of a thriving industry, and that the freedom to enjoy this remarkable plant responsibly is something worth protecting.

Much Love,
Elizabeth Sage

Executive Director
Ganjier Guild

What We Are Learning

Our Knowledge Building series on retail sparked conversations around burnout, culture, compliance, and customer trust. While products may bring people through the door, sustainable retail is built on people, systems, relationships, and consistency.

Three themes emerged:

• Culture drives performance. Great retail starts with clear expectations and leadership that models them.
• Compliance is a competitive advantage. Strong systems build trust with both regulators and customers.
• Education creates better experiences. Confident, informed staff lead to more confident consumers.

We unpack each of these lessons in our latest blog, along with practical takeaways from the discussion.  We will continue to cover retail in July and will look for insights into profits and expansion as well as future markets.

Do you have insights you want to share with the Community?  Replay to this email.  We are always looking for passionate people to contribute to our continuing education!

On Our Radar: Hash Flight

Last month, we welcomed Dan Braunstein and Tomer Grassiany of Hash Flight for a special Farm Focus conversation exploring the intersection of cultivation, solventless production, hospitality, and community.

We talked about the origins of Hash Flight, the realities of building a values-driven business, and one of the industry’s ongoing challenges: creating thoughtful hospitality experiences in a world where clean air laws and public consumption restrictions often limit what’s possible.

We also discussed the relationship between cultivation and quality. Great hash begins long before harvest. Exceptional products are the result of intentional decisions made at every stage, from genetics and cultivation to post-harvest handling, processing, and presentation.

If you’ve ever wanted a taste of the Northern California Ganjier experience without the pressure of sitting for the exam, their fall Hash Flight tour is well worth exploring. You’ll visit exceptional farms during harvest season, meet the people behind the craft, and experience firsthand how thoughtful cultivation becomes remarkable products.

From the Field: Akira Botanicals

One of the Guild’s core missions is to elevate cultivators who are advancing quality through thoughtful farming practices. That’s exactly why we were excited to partner with Akira Botanicals for our first Farm Focus of the season.

Based in North Carolina, Rand Gifford has spent years cultivating sun-grown, organically grown hemp using regenerative farming practices that prioritize healthy soil, healthy plants, and long-term stewardship of the land. His approach reflects values we believe are essential to the future of the industry: transparency, intention, and respect for both the plant and the people who use it.

Those values carried through to the product our community explored—Akira Botanicals’ Full Spectrum CBD Relief Oil.

Throughout the series, members consistently shared that the tincture provided noticeable relief while allowing them to remain clear-headed and engaged with their daily activities. The thoughtful CBD formulation sparked meaningful conversations about ratioed products, functional cannabinoids, and the versatility of tinctures as a precise, approachable delivery method.

If you missed this Farm Focus, the good news is you can still experience the product for yourself. Akira Botanicals’ Relief Oil is Farm Bill compliant and available nationwide.

And stay tuned to our social channels. Inspired by this Farm Focus, our community is stepping in front of the camera to practice the art of short-form storytelling—creating authentic, educational content that shines a spotlight on the farms, products, and people we believe deserve to be seen. We can’t wait to share what they’re creating.

Coming Up:
Legacy Cup 2026

This fall, the Ganjier Guild is proud to partner with Legacy Cup as we help shape one of the Midwest’s most exciting community events. For the first time, the Guild will help develop the competition’s judging process, train judges, and create educational opportunities that help both participants and consumers better understand the markers of quality.

Building on the success of our activation at NECANN, we’ll once again create a welcoming community gathering space where people can connect, learn, and celebrate exceptional craft. Throughout the weekend, we’ll also host conversations, capture stories, and produce media that highlights the people, products, and passion driving our industry forward.

If you’ve been looking for a way to get involved, this is it. The volunteer team is meeting weekly we are looking for Guild members who want to help educate, welcome guests, support judging, create content, and make this event something our community will remember.

Want to help make history in Minnesota? Join the Guild and be part of the crew.

Join the Conversation

The opportunities ahead are exciting, and they’re too important to build alone. Each month, we host a Community Building Session where curious, community-minded people come together to connect, share ideas, and help shape what’s next for the Guild.

Join us July 12 @ 11amPT / 2pmET to connect with the community, explore upcoming opportunities, and discover how your unique skills and passions can contribute to our mission.

Come as you are. Bring your curiosity. Help us build what’s next. Thank you!

Ganjier Guild is an independent, third-party association. It is not owned, operated, or managed by the official Ganjier Certification Program or Green Flower Media, Inc.