We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kathryn Awada. Check out our conversation below.
Kathryn, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Oh, absolutely. I used to think speed was everything — that moving first meant winning. But in the cannabis industry, speed without strategy is just chaos in a different outfit and slow and steady always win the race.
One of the best decisions I ever made was not launching our multi-state training program the moment it was ready. We were eager to roll it out, but I paused because something felt off — the regulatory language in two key states was shifting, and AI technology was evolving faster than the frameworks were written. Had we acted fast, we’d have had to rebuild everything within months.
That pause became the foundation of our pivot. Instead of pushing another static LMS course, we developed GPT consultants trained on state-specific regulations. Now, CannaLearnOnline doesn’t just teach compliance — it adapts with it. Waiting allowed us to build something more intelligent, flexible, and future-proof.
So yes, I’ve learned that not acting fast isn’t always hesitation — sometimes it’s precision. Especially in a field like cannabis, where the only constant is change, patience becomes a competitive advantage.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! I’m Kathryn Awada, the founder of CannaLearnOnline, which started as an online education platform for responsible vendor training in the cannabis industry and has since evolved into something much bigger — a bridge between technology and compliance.
Today, we’re using AI and GPT technology to create interactive consultants that help cannabis businesses navigate complex state regulations with ease. Instead of digging through endless rulebooks or outdated PDFs, operators can now ask questions specific to their state — and get clear, accurate, and sourced answers instantly.
What makes CannaLearnOnline unique is that we’re not just training people on compliance — we’re actively helping them operate within it. Our GPTs are trained on verified government sources for each state, allowing cultivators, manufacturers, and dispensary owners to stay compliant without needing a legal department.
On a personal note, my journey through this industry has been about resilience and reinvention. I started in cannabis before it was cool — back when compliance meant building the road as you drove on it. I’ve worn nearly every hat in the space, from consultant to system builder, and now I’m focused on using technology to make the industry more transparent, accessible, and ethical.
Right now, I’m working on expanding our library of state-specific GPTs and exploring ways to integrate real-time data, so compliance evolves alongside the law — not six months behind it.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Definitely Scott and Cherie Denholm. They saw me clearly long before I fully understood what I was capable of.
It was the night we were switching our dispensary from medical to adult-use — what we called “the flip.” I hadn’t slept in two weeks, I was managing a mountain of orders, and everything about the new compliance systems felt like chaos wrapped in paperwork. At that time, Scott was helping us with what became METRC, the state’s cannabis tracking system.
I still remember him saying, “You could help the whole industry — you speak the language, and you care.” That hit me. Up until then, I was just trying to keep our shop compliant and functional. But he saw that I wasn’t just running operations — I was building systems that other people could use too.
Even my mom seemed to sense it. Around Christmas, right before legalization officially rolled out, she gave me business cards that said “Operations Consultant.” I laughed at the time — I just wanted cards to hand out for haircuts since I was still a licensed cosmetologist. But looking back, she was naming something I hadn’t seen yet.
It was in those sleepless nights and in that one phone call with Scott that I realized: I didn’t just belong in the industry — I was meant to help shape it.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh, so many times. In the early days, I thought the moments when I wanted to give up meant I wasn’t cut out for this. Now I know they’re just part of the process.
There were nights when compliance rules shifted overnight, when payroll didn’t line up with cash flow, when I’d pour everything into a system or training and watch the regulations change before we could even launch. Those were the moments I questioned everything.
But over time I realized something: in business there really are no mistakes — only opportunities to learn. Every time something “failed,” it taught me how to do it better, faster, or smarter the next time. That’s actually where CannaLearnOnline’s pivot into GPT-based regulatory consulting came from — it was born out of seeing what wasn’t working and creating something new.
Now, when those moments come, I see them as data points, not stop signs. They’re reminders that growth is uncomfortable — but it’s also where the innovation lives.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the cannabis industry tells itself is that “compliance kills creativity.” It’s the opposite. True innovation only thrives inside a system that works — and compliance is that system. It’s the framework that allows the industry to be taken seriously, to attract investors, and to build trust with the public. The problem isn’t compliance; it’s the lack of understanding around it.
Another lie we tell ourselves is that “we’re all in this together.” I love this industry, but it’s also highly competitive, and sometimes ego gets in the way of collaboration. The truth is, the industry can’t move forward sustainably until we stop gatekeeping knowledge and start building bridges — between operators, regulators, and educators. That’s why I built CannaLearnOnline: to democratize compliance knowledge and remove that barrier of confusion.
And maybe the hardest truth? The industry often says “we’re doing it for the plant.” But many aren’t — they’re doing it for profit. And that’s okay, as long as we’re honest about it. The plant deserves transparency, and so do the people. When you lead with integrity and real education, the money follows naturally.
At the end of the day, cannabis isn’t just an industry. It’s a movement — but only if we stop lying to ourselves about what we’re building and why.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I left things better than I found them — the industry, the systems I built, and the lives of the people I crossed paths with.
I don’t want to just be remembered as someone who “made it” in cannabis or tech. I want to be remembered as someone who opened doors, who took knowledge that was locked up in regulation-speak and made it accessible, who showed that you can be ethical and innovative at the same time.
On a personal level, I hope they say I was fearless about reinventing myself, that I didn’t wait for permission, and that I always led with curiosity and care. That I was the kind of person who saw potential in others before they saw it in themselves — because that’s exactly what people like Scott Denholm and my mom did for me.
If my story becomes a model for anything, I want it to be a reminder that no matter how complex the system or how high the barrier, there’s always a way to build something that helps others navigate it — and that your values can be your blueprint.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cannalearnonline.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannalearnonline?igsh=Mjd2bGx5bnk5aDF6&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-awada-84885b7a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
