In this episode, I chat with Eric V. Stacks, a cannabis producer, consultant, and proud Bitcoin Maxi, about his incredible journey from the underground cannabis scene in to embracing Bitcoin as a form of hard money. ––– Offers & Discounts ––– Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025 Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order. Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/ ––– Get To Know Today's Guest––– • Eric V Stacks on X: https://x.com/EricVStacks • Eric V Stacks on Nostr: npub1h4397xuvfxne7p6l867j6ygl7cj4qn8j45fygt7hp5v3m5h5543qhms70f ––– Socials ––– • Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com • Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman • Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix • Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs ––– Chapters ––– 00:00 – Intro 01:12 - Eric V. Stacks Background 06:20 - Eric’s upbringing and distrust of pharmaceuticals 08:38 - Becoming a legal cannabis producer in California 09:38 - The economic rabbit hole and discovering Bitcoin 14:29 - Building a cannabis business in the gray market 17:41 - The state’s attempt to regulate an existing billion-dollar industry 20:04 - Regulatory hurdles and corporate takeover 20:57 - How legalization changed the risk dynamics 25:15 - Early spiritual influences and outside-the-box thinking 26:14 - Dropping Out & Rejecting Credentialism 31:33 - From Trimming to Growing: Building a Cannabis Career 36:45 - Corruption, Compliance & the 280E Trap 41:50 - The Broken Incentives Behind Cannabis Regulation 47:16 - Bitcoin as a Tool for Sovereignty and Economic Freedom 52:04 - Final Reflections on Decentralization and Freedom I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing. Thank you for listening!