Alien Labs & Connected: They Got Denied Four Times And Still Built The Dopest Spot In NYC

First Smoke of the Day pulls up to a secret location in Detroit with Travis from North Coast, Mike the hashmaker from Fathead Farms, and Zoot from Zoot Rolls. While the chefs cook dinner and we work through the Z Olympics LA box, we get into one of the most real conversations about building a brand, why big names fail in Michigan and what it actually takes to make hash worth smoking.We get into why Cookies showed up with wet weed and got sent home. Why only 4 to 5 percent of cannabis on the market is actually top shelf. The post harvest secrets most growers ignore that destroy your hash before you even start washing. How one joint at a Christmas party opened every door Travis ever walked through. And what makes Michigan cannabis culture completely different from anywhere else.This one is for the growers, the rollers and the hashmakers.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture and the realest conversations in the game.Chapters:0:00 - Welcome To The Secret Location8:20 - Why Big Brands Fail In Michigan22:45 - The Z Olympics Box36:10 - Building North Coast52:30 - Hash Secrets And Post Harvest1:06:15 - The Christmas Party Story1:18:40 - Michigan Culture And Shout Outs#NorthCoast #ZootRolls #MichiganCannabis #MichiganHash #FSOTD #FirstSmokeOfTheDay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michigan hash is not playing around anymore. And this event proves it.First Smoke of the Day pulls up to Bring Your Best Bag and Bring Your Best Dab in Detroit for a two day live event featuring some of the best hash, flower, edibles and cannabis innovation in the Midwest. This is not a West Coast thing anymore. Michigan is in the conversation and everyone in this room knows it.We sat down with four different brands and operators that each represent a completely different side of what Michigan cannabis is building right now.Michigan is building cars and filling carts with rosin. Both at the highest level.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, growing conversations and the realest voices in the industry.#BringYourBestDab #BringYourBestBag #MichiganCannabis #MichiganHash #FSOTD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He got kicked out for smoking weed. He quit. Now he spars with UFC champions.Bryce from Up The Hill is back on First Smoke of the Day three years after his first episode. When we first met he was running loads up and down the state. Now he owns one of the top cannabis brands in California, just made his pro MMA debut in front of 21,000 people, and is training alongside Khamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan.This is what three years of full send actually looks like.This one is for the fighters, the growers, the brand builders, and anyone who has ever decided to go all in on something that mattered.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, strain drops and the realest conversations in the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cali weed is now on a shelf in New York City. And we were there for it.First Smoke of the Day pulled up to Torches by Palanco Brothers on 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan for 420 weekend. Right above us, Alien Labs and Connected flower legally sitting on a shelf in one of the most historic buildings in New York City. A 100 year old cigar lounge where Frank Sinatra, Giuliani and every major hedge fund in New York once had a box. Now it belongs to the culture.We sat down with Ted from Alien Labs, Malik the product brand manager at Connected and Alien Labs, and the Palanco Brothers Jose and Santana who fought for over a year just to get this location approved and got denied four times before they made it happen.This is history. First time. New York City. 420 weekend. Alien Labs. Connected. Torches. All in one room.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, strain drops and the realest voices in the industry.Brands we trust:HGV Elevated — https://hydrobuilder.com/pages/fsotdFaven Lighting — https://favenlighting.com/RAW Rolling Papers — https://rawthentic.com/SlapHub LA — https://www.slaphub.la/Chapters:0:00 - Welcome To Torches6:30 - Meet The Team14:20 - Building The Menu24:45 - The Fight To Open36:10 - Cali Weed In New York48:30 - The NYC Consumer58:15 - Favorite 420 Memories1:08:40 - Best Munchie Spots Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You are probably doing it wrong every single time you get pulled over.The Pot Brothers at Law are back for Part 2 and this one could literally keep you out of handcuffs. Whether you are driving through a legal state, crossing state lines, heading to a 420 event, or just going about your day with weed on you, this conversation covers everything you need to know right now.Most people think cannabis is legal so they are protected. It is not fully legal. It is semi legal. And the moment you open your mouth to a cop, you are doing their job for them.This is required watching before 420. This is required watching before you ever drive with weed again.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, legal education, growing conversations and the realest voices in the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody knew his name. Now everyone wants his pack.Ron from Elusive has been one of the most quietly influential figures in the Los Angeles cannabis market for years. Growing for some of the biggest names in the game, hunting strains that move markets, and building a facility that cost seven figures to get right. This is the full story and it has never been told like this before.From buying a dispensary with fake paperwork, getting robbed by the same two cops every single month, blowing the power on a seven figure rebuild, to paying fifty thousand dollars for a single cut that changed everything. Ron has been through every version of this industry and came out the other side with one of the most respected brands in Los Angeles.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, growing conversations, strain drops and the realest voices in the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is 420. Mendo Dope is here. And they brought 10 year old hash made with Frenchy Canoli.This is the 420 special First Smoke of the Day has been waiting to do. Mendo Dope pulls up on the most important day of the year with their brand new album Censored dropping today, the first episode of Battle of the Trees Season 2 dropping today, and a jar of hash made a decade ago under the moonlight with the legendary Frenchy Canoli. Triple drop on 420. This is what it looks like when the culture shows up for itself.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, growing conversations, and the realest voices in the industry.Early access and unreleased content at fsotd.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The man who built the Secret Cup, launched Chalice, and has been at every major hash competition in the world sits down with Lance to judge the American Autoflower Cup live and he doesn't hold back.Jeremy breaks down the real history of hash competitions, why he thinks rosin ruined the BHO market, and what autoflower is about to do to the entire cannabis industry. Plus — live judging on camera. Watch him go through the entries in real time.Whether you're a grower, a hash maker, or just love the culture, this one's for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one’s different.Episode 200 and we had to bring in someone who’s been moving behind the scenes long before most people were paying attention.G PUT isn’t just part of the culture, he’s helped build it.From streetwear to cannabis, music, branding, and real business moves, this episode breaks down what most people never see:• The real power of teams• How brands actually get built• Why relationships hype• And how to turn passion into something that paysThis isn’t surface-level talk.This is about longevity, legacy, and knowing your lane, then mastering it.If you’re building something, trying to break in, or figuring out your next move…This episode is for you. Tap in. Roll up. Episode 200. 💨Chapters:00:00 – Episode 200 Intro + G PUT Introduction 02:15 – From Streetwear to Cannabis: The Real Origin Story 08:40 – Working with Major Brands & Building Behind the Scenes 15:20 – Music, Culture & Cannabis Colliding 24:10 – How to Build a Brand That Lasts 34:30 – The Power of Teamwork & Finding the Right People 45:50 – Monetizing Your Passion (Real Talk) 56:20 – Final Advice: Purpose, Timing & Staying Real #fsotd #firstsmokeoftheday #cannabisculture #cultivation #GPUTT #streetwear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of First Smoke of the Day, we sit down with Robertson Glass, one of the most respected glass artists in the cannabis industry.From building high-end custom glass pieces to navigating the evolution of glass rigs, tips, and smoking culture — Robertson shares his full journey. We get into how the glass industry grew alongside cannabis, what makes certain pieces worth thousands, and how innovation like glass tips is changing the game.He also breaks down the business side of glass blowing, global demand, collaborations, and the reality of selling luxury functional art in today’s market.This episode dives deep into:The connection between cannabis culture and glassThe rise of high-end glass pieces and collectorsHow glass artists develop their style and brandThe future of glass tips, rigs, and smoking accessoriesReal stories from the early days of the industryIf you’re into cannabis culture, glass art, or the business behind it — this one is packed with insight.Tap in and see how the glass world really moves.Chapters:00:00 Introduction & Glass Culture Origins03:45 First Glass Pieces & Early Cannabis Influence10:20 How the Glass Industry Evolved18:10 High-End Glass & Pricing Explained27:30 Glass Tips & New Innovations36:40 Business, Collabs & Global Market47:50 The Future of Glass & Closing Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.