From Ice Cream to Cannabis with Shaleen Title + Ben Cohen

Different Leaf: the Podcast

Welcome to spring 2023, and our 100th episode! We're excited to welcome our first guest host, former Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner and social equity champion, and the CEO of the Parabola Center for Law & Policy, Shaleen Title.
In this episode, Shaleen finds out what small cannabis companies can learn from her dream guest, Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and founder of the new cannabis non-profit Ben's Best Blnz.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream has long been famous for supporting causes its founders care about, including cannabis legalization which specifically focuses on equity and justice for communities of color. Last year, Ben continued that mission by starting the Vermont-based nonprofit Ben’s Best Blnz, which specializes in growing cannabis with moderate levels of THC, and gives all profits to the state’s Black cannabis community and groups advocating for criminal justice reform.
Shaleen and Ben discuss how Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Company started, and how it stayed value-driven and community-focused despite going international. Ben opens up about his and Jerry's experience fighting off the wealthy Pillsbury Doughboy back in the 1980s, and he talks about what small cannabis companies today can learn from their success going up against big wealthy corporations.
Ben and Shaleen also discuss how, as massive cannabis companies start to act like they're locally owned, small cannabis companies can stay in business and remain focused on quality and community. They also talk about karma in business, building customer loyalty through aligned values, and their shared vision for the future of the cannabis industry.
Get your Spring 2023 issue of Different Leaf the magazine at DifferentLeaf.com and flip to page 36 to read more on Ben and Shaleen’s conversation, and to enjoy a rare early-day photo of Ben and Jerry from back in the 70s!
Find out more about our guests; Shaleen Title at parabolacenter.com and Ben Cohen at bensbest.com
Follow us on social media @DifferentLeaf and find host Brit Smith @BritTheBritish
Got to DifferentLeaf.com to get your copy of our latest magazine issue.