We were lucky to catch up with Anthony Riley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Anthony, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
My journey into building Ohio Cannabis Live and organizing the Ohio Cannabis Expo really started with a mix of personal hardship and a realization that something important was missing in Ohio. When Ohio first legalized medical cannabis, there was very little clear, real-world information available for patients. At the time, I was dealing with serious health challenges and chronic pain, and cannabis was one of the few things that actually helped me. But navigating the system was confusing. Patients didn’t know the rules, the products, or even where to start. I realized that thousands of people were in the same situation.
So I started Ohio Cannabis Live in 2019 with a simple idea: create a platform where people in Ohio could actually learn about legal cannabis from someone living through it. I began making videos, attending industry events, interviewing people in the community, and breaking down complicated regulations into something everyday people could understand. Over time, the audience grew far beyond what I expected. The platform now has over a thousand videos and more than a million organic views across social media, which showed me there was a real demand for trustworthy, local cannabis information.
What excited me most was realizing that this wasn’t just content—it was community. Ohio’s cannabis industry was growing fast, but the different parts of it weren’t always connected. Patients, consumers, licensed businesses, advocates, and lawmakers were often operating in separate spaces. That’s where the idea for the Ohio Cannabis Expo came from. I wanted to create a place where all of those groups could come together for education, networking, and honest conversations about the future of cannabis in Ohio.
The logic behind it was simple: when you bring the right people into the same room, opportunities happen. Businesses find partners, patients find resources, and policymakers hear directly from the people affected by their decisions. My goal has always been to build something that benefits the entire ecosystem, not just one segment of the industry.
At the end of the day, this work is deeply personal to me. I started Ohio Cannabis Live because I wanted to make sure patients and consumers had access to accurate information and a voice in the conversation. Seeing the community grow, seeing people learn, connect, and find opportunities—that’s what keeps me motivated and reminds me that this was absolutely a worthwhile endeavor.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Anthony Riley, also known as Mastamynd, and I’m the founder of Ohio Cannabis Live and the organizer of the Ohio Cannabis Expo. My journey into this industry is very personal. When Ohio legalized medical cannabis, I was already dealing with serious health challenges and chronic pain. Like many patients at the time, I found that cannabis provided relief when other treatments didn’t. But what I quickly realized was that there was very little reliable, Ohio-focused information available for patients or consumers trying to understand the program.
In 2019, I launched Ohio Cannabis Live as an independent media and education platform to help fill that gap. The goal was simple: provide clear, honest information about legal cannabis in Ohio and give people a place where they could learn about the industry directly from someone who was actually living through the patient experience. I began producing videos, interviews, industry coverage, and educational content explaining how the program works, how products differ, and how laws and policies affect real people. Over time the platform grew significantly. Today Ohio Cannabis Live has produced over a thousand videos and has reached more than a million viewers organically across multiple social media platforms.
Beyond content creation, my work focuses heavily on education and community building. The cannabis industry can be complicated, especially with constantly changing laws and regulations. Through Ohio Cannabis Live I help patients, consumers, and businesses better understand the legal landscape, industry developments, and opportunities within the space. I’ve also used the platform to highlight issues that don’t always get enough attention, including access for veterans, seniors, and minority entrepreneurs, as well as the importance of education and responsible cannabis use.
As the industry continued to grow in Ohio, I saw another opportunity to bring people together in a meaningful way. That led to the creation of the Ohio Cannabis Expo, an event designed to connect licensed cannabis companies, ancillary businesses, patients, advocates, and policymakers. The goal is to create a space focused on education, networking, and collaboration. The event includes panels, workshops, and opportunities for businesses and community members to learn from one another while building relationships that strengthen the entire ecosystem.
What sets my work apart is that it comes from the perspective of someone who has experienced the system firsthand. I’m not just reporting on the industry from the outside. I’ve lived through the patient experience, the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, and the process of learning how cannabis can be used responsibly within a legal framework. That perspective has allowed me to build trust with a wide range of people, from everyday consumers to industry professionals.
What I’m most proud of is building Ohio Cannabis Live from the ground up and watching it grow into a trusted source of information for the cannabis community in Ohio. The platform has reached hundreds of thousands of people, helped educate new patients, and created conversations that bring transparency to an industry that is still evolving.
At the core of everything I do is a commitment to education, community, and responsible growth of the cannabis industry. My goal is to make sure people have access to accurate information, meaningful connections, and opportunities to participate in the legal cannabis space in a way that benefits individuals, businesses, and communities across Ohio.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2023, I was attending the Ohio Media School to formally study TV and radio broadcasting so I could improve my production skills and continue growing my media platform. During that time, I actually broke my finger. It was painful and made a lot of the hands-on work much harder, especially when you’re dealing with cameras, editing equipment, and production tools that require constant use of your hands.
Even with the injury, I decided I wasn’t going to quit or fall behind. I kept showing up to class, kept completing assignments, and kept pushing forward with the program. Broadcasting school involves a lot of practical work—recording, editing, presenting, and producing content—so there were definitely moments where it would have been easier to step away or delay finishing.
But resilience has always been a big part of my journey. I had already overcome a lot of personal and health challenges before that point, so I looked at the broken finger as just another obstacle to work through rather than something that would stop me. I stayed committed, finished the program, and ultimately graduated with my certification in TV and radio broadcasting.
That experience reinforced something I’ve learned many times throughout my life and career: progress often happens when you keep moving forward even when things aren’t easy. Whether it’s building Ohio Cannabis Live, organizing events, or learning new skills, persistence and consistency are what turn challenges into milestones.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
One of my favorite marketing stories really shows how persistence and creativity can turn a long shot into an opportunity. When I first started reaching out to companies about participating in the Ohio Cannabis Expo, a lot of the larger cannabis brands didn’t know who I was personally. Some of them had heard of Ohio Cannabis Live, but getting them to commit to sponsorships or exhibitor booths wasn’t easy. Many of these companies receive dozens of event requests every month, and it’s easy for a small independent organizer to get overlooked.
Instead of giving up, I decided to lean into what makes my platform different. I began reaching out directly, introducing myself, sharing the story behind Ohio Cannabis Live, and explaining that the expo wasn’t just another event trying to sell booth space. The goal was to bring the Ohio cannabis community together for education, networking, and real conversations about where the industry is headed. I also showed them the reach of the platform, the videos, the interviews, and the community engagement that had been built over the years.
One situation that really stands out was when I kept following up with a company that had shown some interest but hadn’t committed yet. Most people might have moved on after the first message or two, but I believed strongly in the event and what we were building. I stayed professional, kept the communication respectful, and focused on showing them the value of being part of something that was designed specifically for the Ohio market.
Eventually, that persistence paid off. The conversation turned into a real partnership, and they decided to support the event. I remember feeling a mix of relief, excitement, and validation because moments like that prove that belief in your vision matters. When you’re building something from the ground up, there will always be moments when the odds feel stacked against you.
That experience reminded me that marketing isn’t just about flashy ads or big budgets. Sometimes it’s about telling a genuine story, building relationships, and believing in your mission enough to keep going even when the answer isn’t immediate. Those moments are what turn ideas into real opportunities and partnerships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.ohiocannabisexpo.com
- Instagram: @ohiocannabislive
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weedexpo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-rileyohio?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android
- Twitter: @OHcannabislive
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ohiocannabislive?si=QgmBuWpfPPlF7r65
