President of ISA & Web3 Expert, Featured in MG Magazine

Jacqueline Rosales shares her insights on crypto and cannabis in leading cannabis industry publication

ISA’s company president, Jacqueline Rosales, has been featured in MG Magazine, a monthly publication covering the adult use and medical cannabis industry. Rosales talks about the intersection of cannabis, crypto, and Web3 and how these industries share similar hurdles.

“Cannabis, Crypto, and Web3 have a lot of the same barriers and problems, like finance, marketing, and operations,” stated Rosales. “When you combine these industries together, they have the potential to solve one another’s problems.”

Rosales addresses the fraud happening in the crypto space by groups who “rug pull” investors. “There has been a lot of fraud. This typically looks like groups raising money for a project that isn’t real and then the people taking off with it,” she explained. She suggests companies who seek funding in the space embrace transparency to build trust with prospective investors. Read more of the article here.

ISA recently emerged as an early leader in primary research for Web3. In March 2022, they announced the official launch of their Web3 division. Since that time, the team has rapidly expanded with the onboarding of a team of Web3 experts to support clients’ growing need for insights and data related to the $25 billion industry. Jacqueline has partnered with clients on projects in entertainment and gaming, bringing her passion for technological innovation and sharing her vision for the possibilities of Web3. To support the expansion of ISA’s Web3 division, three experts: Garry Liu, Garrett Hand, and Craig Wilson have joined the team.

We continue to dive into Web3 and cannabis by hosting events. These events act as a meeting ground for newcomers and enthusiasts to speak to industry experts to learn more about the space and gain insight. We invite knowledgeable speakers that have been making a mark in their industry to come and share their experience and expertise. Our Web3 series is hosted on Twitter Spaces every Tuesday and our cannabis show, CANNAfact Friday Live is on LinkedIn Live.

Find more G2M Web3 strategy information here.

You can learn more ways to gain cannabis insights here.

 

About Jacqueline Rosales

Jacqueline Rosales is a 25+ year veteran of the Insights, Consumer Behavior and Market Research industries and currently serves as the President of ISA, an insights firm based in Los Angeles, CA. She launched the cannabis research division within ISA in 2018 and built the world’s first cannabis research community, The Green Time. Jacqueline has partnered with multiple Fortune 500 companies to help them navigate their go-to-market (G2M) strategy for Web3. She is the resident Subject Matter Expert on all engagements related to Web3 across Material (ISA’s parent company). In addition, Jacqueline is a G2M strategist for GRIPNR (a Web3 tech company), where she leads GRIPNR’s community initiatives and advises on organizational direction and strategic partnerships.

 

About ISA

ISA has emerged as an early leader in Web3 insights, having already partnered with multiple Fortune 500 brands to provide data, insights, and strategic consultation, allowing clients to achieve rapid and sustained growth in Web3. The ISA Group is among the first research firms, if not the first, to pay incentives to respondents in cryptocurrency, as well as among the first to conduct focus groups on Clubhouse.

ISA President To Be Featured at NFT Expoverse in LA

ISA/NFT Expoverse

Jacqueline Rosales, President of ISA, will be speaking onstage about the intersection of cryptocurrency and cannabis

July 20, 2022, Los Angeles, CA —ISA, a Los Angeles based insights firm, announced today that their most senior leader will be featured as a speaker at an upcoming event. The NFT Expoverse, happening in Los Angeles July 29th, 2022 is focused on opportunities in Web3. Jacqueline will share her knowledge of cryptocurrency and cannabis on the Platinum Stage at 11:45 am PST.

“NFT Expoverse has given me the unique opportunity to address investors, business leaders, influencers and creators about two disruptive industries that I feel extremely passionate about,” stated Jacqueline. “Cannabis and crypto coming together provides an opportunity for marginalized groups to be elevated in ways they may not be in traditional industries.”

ISA hosts their own content-focused Web3 events, including a weekly Twitter Spaces panel, which serves as a forum for those who want to learn more about cannabis and Web3 while featuring dynamic speakers and leaders from multiple verticals. It is also a place for people to come together and speak to those who are driving the industry forward.

About Jacqueline Rosales

Jacqueline Rosales is a 25+ year veteran of the Insights, Consumer Behavior and Market Research industries and currently serves as the President of ISA, an insights firm based in Los Angeles, CA. She launched the cannabis research division within ISA in 2018 and built the world’s first cannabis research community, The Green Time. Jacqueline has partnered with multiple Fortune 500 companies to help them navigate their go-to-market (G2M) strategy for Web3. She is the resident Subject Matter Expert on all engagements related to Web3 across Material (ISA’s parent company). In addition, Jacqueline is a G2M strategist for GRIPNR (a Web3 tech company), where she leads Gripnr’s community initiatives and advises on organizational direction and strategic partnerships.

 

Meet ISA’s Web3 Team

ISA onboarded a team of Web3 experts to support clients’ growing need for insights and data related to the $25 billion dollar industry. Jacqueline has partnered with clients on projects in entertainment and gaming, bringing her passion for technological innovation and sharing her vision for the possibilities of Web3. To support the expansion of ISA’s Web3 division, four experts: Garry Liu, Garrett Hand, Hugh Benjamin, and Craig Wilson have joined the team.

ISA’s Cannabis Division Leader Will Moderate Upcoming Web3 Event, Hosted by The Arcview Group

Adriana Hemans will moderate a panel on crypto and cannabis, merging expertise across multiple high-growth categories

 

July 12, 2022, Los Angeles, CA — ISA, a Los-Angeles-based insights firm, announced a collaborative partnership today with Arcview Investment Group, a global leader in cannabis consulting and investment services. Together with Arcview, the head of ISA’s Cannabis Research Division will moderate a virtual event focused on crypto and cannabis.

Adriana Hemans, Vice President of Growth at ISA, will moderate an upcoming live event, hosted by Sarah Falvo, Managing Director of Business Development at Arcview Consulting. “Web3 and Weed – What Are the Opportunities and What to Avoid” will go live on July 14, 2022, at 1 PM PDT. If you’re looking for a better understanding of web3 in the context of your cannabis endeavors, we encourage you to join this truly insightful panel of experts in both spaces by registering here.

Sarah and Adriana will be joined by these amazing speakers:

  • Mary Pryor, Co-Founder of Cannaclusive
  • Liz Wald, Co-Founder of thric3
  • Jarrett Sherman, President & Founder of Fuzerly
  • Liz Udell, Director of Social Media

The audience, comprised of senior business leaders, service providers, entrepreneurs, and investors, will learn about the potential impact of these two disruptive industries colliding.

“We’re seeing so much excitement about the enormous growth opportunities resulting from the intersection of crypto and cannabis. I’m thrilled to be moderating this discussion with a group of speakers I admire greatly – experts in cannabis, marketing and community-building who will help shape the future of these industries,” Adriana stated on the upcoming event.

About The Arcview Group

The Arcview Group blazed the trail for cannabis investments and is the largest and 1st vertically integrated firm servicing the industry. As a trusted global leader and nexus for investors, companies, entrepreneurs, money-managers and community, Arcview provides an expansive ecosystem that delivers a broad spectrum of programs and services to the industry. Arcview is synonymous with best-in-class. By providing the tools necessary and curating top-notch cannabis companies, Investor Members have had the playbook that has enabled them to invest hundreds of millions in more than 300 private cannabis startups. For more information, please visit www.arcviewgroup.com.

About ISA

ISA has emerged as an early leader in Web3 insights, having already partnered with multiple Fortune 500 brands to provide data, insights, and strategic consultation, allowing them to achieve rapid and sustained growth in Web3. The ISA Group is among the first research firms, if not the first, to pay incentives to respondents in cryptocurrency, as well as among the first to conduct focus groups on Clubhouse. To learn more, visit www.isacorp.com.

Meet Our Web3 Team

ISA onboarded a team of Web3 experts to support clients’ growing need for insights and data related to the $25 billion dollar industry. Jacqueline Rosales, President of ISA, has partnered with clients on projects in entertainment and gaming, bringing her passion for technological innovation and sharing her vision for the possibilities of Web3. To support the expansion of ISA’s Web3 division, four experts: Garry Liu, Garrett Hand, Hugh Benjamin, and Craig Wilson have joined the team.

Making an Impact on the Industry

We continue to dive into Web3 and cannabis by hosting groundbreaking events. These events are a forum for those who want to learn more about the cannabis and web3 to gain more insights. It is also a place for us to come together and speak to those who are driving the industry forward. Our Web3 events are hosted on Twitter Spaces every Tuesday and our CANNAfact Friday Live is hosted on LinkedIn Live. For these events, we invite knowledgeable speakers that have been making their mark in the industry to come and share their experience and expertise.

Find more G2M Web3 strategy information here.

You can learn more ways to gain cannabis insights here.

ISA Announces Speaker Lineup for April 29 Edibles Webinar

Industry experts from Undefined Inc, Wana Brands and dreamt will discuss the future of infused edibles

ISA and Vertosa announced today the speaker lineup for their upcoming webinar “Form, Function & Flavor: Edibles for 2021 and Beyond.” Dorian Morris, Founder and CEO of Undefined Inc., Mike Hennesy, Vice President of Innovation at Wana Brands and Carolina Vazquez Mitchell, MS, Chief Science Officer at dreamt will join the live event starting at 2 pm PST on April 29, 2021. This engagement is the second in a series of webinar events stemming from a strategic partnership between ISA and Vertosa, announced in November 2020.

“Our speaker lineup brings together a diverse group of powerful industry leaders, each with their own unique perspective and in-depth knowledge of both the edibles market, and the cannabis industry as a whole,” said Jacqueline Rosales, President of ISA. Jacqueline will moderate the event and lead the conversation about product development in the edibles market and how the products of the future will fit into consumers’ lives. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees can register here.

In 2021, we’ve seen an explosion in new edibles products that address specific needs – sleep, anxiety, creativity, energy, diet support and immune support. Innovative brands are embracing new delivery forms, flavors and functions to meet consumers’ evolving interests.

“With stress at an all-time high, accessibly priced, plant-based solutions are even more important now,” said Dorian Morris, Undefined Beauty Founder and CEO. Morris was recently featured in the Target Takeoff Beauty cohort, in which she discussed her new collection, focused on adaptogenic mushrooms for stressed skin.

MEET THE SPEAKERS
Dorian Morris

Founder and CEO of Undefined Inc. A true champion of inclusivity within wellness, Dorian Morris is a beauty junkie with deep expertise across categories from cosmetics to haircare to skincare to food/wellness. She is the Founder/CEO of Undefined Inc which includes Undefined Beauty, a clean, conscious, inclusive lifestyle brand focused on democratizing wellness and destigmatizing plant magic.

Adriana Hemans

Vice President of Demand at ISA, where she heads up the Cannabis Research Division. She helps cannabis brands build more customer-centric businesses through data and insights. Adriana’s work has been published in numerous industry publications including mg Magazine, Marijuana Venture, and The Cannigma. She has been invited to speak onstage at cannabis events across the country, including NECANN (Northeast Cannabis Business Conference) and the NCIA’s Annual Cannabis Business Conference.

Austin Stevenson

Chief Innovation Officer at cannabis and hemp infusion technology company Vertosa. Austin plays an integral role in the business development of Vertosa, facilitating partnerships with leading brands to produce top quality cannabinoid-infused beverages, topicals, edibles and more. Prior to joining Vertosa, Austin leveraged his bio-tech experience building the regulatory Hemp/CBD testing program for Eurofins – a world leader in food, environment, and product testing services – where he worked with CVS and Walgreens to test and verify the quality of their retail CBD topicals. Austin and the Vertosa team are also committed to community action and industry leadership. He serves as a Member on the City of Oakland’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission, for which he supports the licensing of equity partners and works to break down financial barriers to entering the industry by championing grant funding. He is also an Advisory Board Member on EAZE’s Momentum Program, a business accelerator designed to support and empower underrepresented founders in the licensed cannabis industry, as well as a founding board member of the Cannabis Beverage Association.

Mike Hennesy

Vice President of Innovation at Wana Brands where he oversees their research and development program, new product design, educational training content and growing partnerships with new cannabis technologies. Hennesy led the team in creating Wana’s new Quick line of gummies and tinctures that use innovative encapsulation techniques to increase the bioavailability of cannabinoids that bypass liver metabolism and take effect quickly. He developed Wana’s online interactive training program for budtenders and employees that covers the science of the endocannabinoid system and directed the development of Wana’s vape line, including the line’s unique proprietary terpene blends.

Carolina Vazquez Mitchell, MS

Founder and Chief Science Officer at dreamt. A gifted academic with deep experience in the developing regulatory standards of the cannabis industry. Carolina’s areas of specialty include organic chemistry and biochemistry research, laboratory testing and laboratory practices, quality assurance, and R&D for cannabis products, pharmaceuticals, foods, and beverages. She has more than 10 years’ experience with organic synthesis and extractions and has extracted DNA, RNA, proteins, terpenes, and other pharmacologically active molecules. Carolina is a nationally recognized cannabis scientist, and has been a featured expert in Rolling Stone, HelloGiggles, mg and Forbes, and was named one of Dope Magazine’s “Outstanding Women in Cannabis.”

ABOUT VERTOSA

Vertosa creates industry-leading active ingredients for infused product makers. Their catalog of patented and patent-pending nano-emulsions are carefully designed  for the specific needs of each customer, with pre-suspended aqueous solutions that create incredibly homogeneous and stable products while maximizing bioavailability, clarity, and taste. Vertosa works closely with their lab partners and clients of all sizes throughout the manufacturing process to achieve target potency and successfully bring consistent, reliable, quality infused products to market.  Learn more about Vertosa at vertosa.com.

ABOUT WANA BRANDS

Wana Brands is the No. 1 edibles brand in North America. Wana leads the industry in quality, consistency and potency, providing a range of different options that enable customers to create the specific cannabis experience they want. Wana products offer diverse product forms, four different CBD/THC ratios as well as a variety of different dosages, onset times and duration of effects. The portfolio is designed so products can be used singly or in combination to address specific health, wellness, and recreational needs. Wana products are available in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Arizona, Oregon, and Oklahoma dispensaries, with Massachusetts among the states imminently coming online. Wana Brands is available internationally in Canada. For more information or to subscribe to Wana’s e-newsletter, visit www.wanabrands.com.

ABOUT UNDEFINED INC

Undefined is clean, conscious, inclusive plant magic. We live at the intersection of wellness meets adaptogens (like beautiful CBD) meets purpose-driven conscious capitalism. My mission is to “undefine” and democratize beauty and destigmatize plant-based solutions through an unapologetic, uncompromising, unfiltered approach. Wellness shouldn’t be illusive or exclusive—let’s democratize it.

Undefined Inc partners with BIPOC founded, female-led, LGBTQ+ suppliers from their manufacturing partners to their creative team.

ABOUT DREAMT

dreamt is an award-winning sleep aid made with cannabis. The science-backed formula is a precise blend of THC, CBD, and other sleep-inducing compounds, such as melatonin, valerian root, and L-theanine. This unique formula was created by dreamt’s founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Carolina Vazquez Mitchell, to treat her insomnia during her chemistry PhD at USC.

dreamt is a female and minority-owned social equity business based in Los Angeles.

4/20 Celebrations Rebound After Covid

Poll results from ISA indicate significant boosts in dispensary visits, gifting and trying new products for 4/20/2021

There’s a dramatic shift in the way cannabis consumers across the U.S. will be celebrating the 4/20 cannabis holiday this year, according to poll results from insights firm ISA, a Material Company. This year more consumers plan to host friends at home, visit dispensaries and celebrate in public places, such as live events or restaurants. This comparison is based on survey results from another ISA study fielded in April of 2020.

The percentage of cannabis consumers who say they will celebrate the holiday in some way has now outpaced pre-COVID-19 levels. In 2019, 70% of cannabis consumers said they would celebrate the 4/20 holiday. That percentage has jumped to 78% in 2021.

The most significant variance from 2020 poll results has been among people who say they are planning to celebrate 4/20 with friends at home. In 2019, before the pandemic, 58% of consumers who planned to participate in the holiday said they would celebrate at home with friends. That number dipped to 29% in April of 2020, and has now rebounded to 55%, indicating a return to normalcy for cannabis consumers who celebrate by hosting private events.

The findings could indicate the cannabis industry will experience a significant uptick in sales on and around April 20th, with more people venturing out to their local dispensary. The percentage of cannabis consumers who say they will visit a dispensary to celebrate 4/20 rose from 13% in 2020 to 30% in 2021, coming in slightly above the 2019 percentage of 26%. Additionally, more consumers plan to purchase 4/20 gifts for friends and family in 2021, compared to 2020. The 2021 poll revealed that 37% of consumers who celebrate 4/20 plan to buy gifts for others, while 16% reported doing so in 2020. Another positive sign for dispensaries and cannabis brands is that a significant number of consumers (40%) are planning to try a new product as part of their holiday celebration, up from 21% in 2020.

“The cannabis industry grew steadily throughout the pandemic,” said Adriana Hemans, ISA’s VP of Demand. “What’s exciting about the early poll results from 2021 is that cannabis consumers are coming together again for 4/20, seeking novel experiences with new products. Those products could potentially become part of their regular cannabis routines, providing additional growth opportunities for brands.” ISA will continue to gather data and insights from cannabis consumers in the days leading up to April 20th, providing business analysts, industry experts and media outlets with ongoing updates on consumer behaviors related to the 4/20 holiday. Figures presented in this press release are based on three studies – a nationwide poll of 1,001 cannabis consumers fielded April 26th through April 29th of 2019, with a 3% margin of error at a 95% level of confidence; a nationwide poll of 420 cannabis consumers fielded April 18th through April 20th of 2020, with a 5% margin of error at a 95% level of confidence, and a nationwide poll of 420 cannabis consumers with a 5% margin of error at a 95% level of confidence. To qualify for inclusion in all of these studies, participants indicated that they are over 21 years old and had purchased or consumed cannabis in the last 90 days. Participants in the 2021 study were gathered through ISA’s proprietary cannabis research panel – The Green Time.

 

Cannabis Consumers 4/20 Celebration Plans

SoapBoxSample Will Provide Critical Data for USC-LA County COVID Research Collaboration

LRW’s Access Division, SoapBoxSample will assist USC and Los Angeles County with antibody testing and behavioral surveys of LA residents to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of COVID-19

March 29, 2021, Los Angeles, CA — LRW, a Material company will join forces with the University of Southern California (USC) and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) to conduct the Los Angeles Pandemic Surveillance Cohort Study, which is designed to track changes in residents’ health and wellbeing as well as gauge behavioral effects of the pandemic within the region. The complex study of 3,000 county residents will involve multiple touch points – including COVID antibody testing and re-testing at timed intervals, along with surveys to measure residents’ behavioral patterns and test hypotheses significant to public health.

The collaborative project is an early initiative within the Population Health COVID-19 Pandemic Research Center (CPRC), part of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. It brings together multi-disciplinary thought leaders from medical, health and public policy fields of academic research, LA County medical and public health officials and experts in sampling strategies, analysis and research design from LRW’s Access Divison – SoapBoxSample.  Principle investigators of the Los Angeles Pandemic Surveillance Cohort Study include Professor Howard Hu, MD MPH ScD, of the Keck School of Medicine at USC; Professor Neeraj Sood, PhD, of the Price School of Policy at USC; Rani Kotha, JD MPH, of the Price School of Policy at USC; Paul Simon, MD MPH, of the LACDPH, and Will Nichols, MD MPH, of the LACDPH.

“Our partnership with USC and LA County began last year, when SoapBox was brought on as a partner for the first COVID antibody research in LA County. We will continue to provide critical insights as we strive toward restoring normalcy in LA County,” said Jacqueline Rosales, President of LRW’s Access Division. It’s the most challenging yet rewarding work of my 25+ year career in the data insights industry. ISA has been headquartered in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years, and our deep roots in the community make us uniquely suited for this groundbreaking research engagement.”

SoapBoxSample will recruit a representative sample of 3,000 LA County residents, including 2,000 adults and 1,000 children. Participants will be recruited from neighborhoods with high, medium and low population densities. By including a diverse cross-section of the LA community that represents multiple age groups, socioeconomic strata, genders, and the racial and ethnic makeup of the county, this study aims to shed light on the potentially inequitable impact of the pandemic. The overall goal is to generate data on the “true” prevalence of COVID-19 infections, as well as it’s progression over a defined period of time.

Thus far, SoapBoxSample has assisted with COVID-19 antibody testing for over 5,000 California residents. County-wide testing programs in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County and Stanislaus County have leveraged SoapBoxSample to reach and test representative samples of their populations, empowering health officials to develop public health policies supported by critical data.

“Even as the vaccination campaign proceeds and continuing measures such as masking, social distancing and other guidelines are embraced, it is clear that this pandemic has a long way to go,” said Howard Hu, professor and the Flora L. Thornton Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine. “A rigorous understanding of the pandemic’s ongoing impact will be critical to devising the public health strategies to navigate this current situation and to allow us to return to some form of ‘normalcy’ as quickly and safely as possible.”