The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast Episode 62: Ian Dominguez, Delta Emerald Ventures

The Cannabis Business Coach Episode 62: Ian Dominguez, Delta Emerald Ventures

Cannabinoids Are Mainstream: Investing in THC Beverages and the Future of Cannabis

In this episode of The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast, host Michael Zaytsev (Professor Z) talks with Ian Dominguez, Founder and CIO of Delta Emerald Ventures, about how data, policy, and consumer behavior are shaping the cannabis industry—especially the booming market for THC beverages.

Ian shares insights from Delta Emerald’s proprietary research, including the striking fact that daily cannabis consumers have recently outnumbered daily alcohol consumers in America for the first time. He explains why cannabinoids are already mainstream, how hemp-derived beverages may represent the regulatory “path of least resistance,” and why long-term value will accrue closer to the consumer rather than at the cultivation level.

The conversation also explores how becoming a new father has shaped Ian’s perspective on purpose and impact, and why technology and behavioral data will define the next era of cannabis investing.

Topics Discussed:

🥂 Proprietary THC beverage research and adoption trends.
📊 Daily cannabis consumption surpassing alcohol for the first time in U.S. history.
🧭 State vs. federal policy pathways for hemp-derived beverages.
💡 How Delta Emerald leverages behavioral data to anticipate consumer trends.
💰 Where value accrues in the cannabis supply chain (and why it’s not with growers).
👨‍👩‍👦 Ian’s reflections on fatherhood, purpose, and building for the next generation.

Noteworthy Quotes:

“Since 2022, there have been more daily cannabis consumers than daily alcohol consumers in America for the first time since tracking began.”"The industry is too big to fail, too big to go away."

“The closer you get to the end consumer, the more value gets generated.”

About Ian Dominguez:

Ian Dominguez is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Delta Emerald Ventures, an investment firm dedicated to intelligently deploying capital into the cannabis industry. Ian brings a decade of experience from institutional hedge funds and family offices, where he specialized in identifying consumer trends and leveraging behavioral data to drive investment decisions.

At Delta Emerald, Ian focuses on uncovering opportunities at the intersection of cannabis, technology, and consumer products. His team’s proprietary research has positioned them as early leaders in the cannabis beverage space, where adoption curves mirror the explosive rise of categories like hard seltzer. He believes that long-term value creation in cannabis lies not at the cultivation level, but closer to the end consumer, where data-driven brands and platforms can scale most effectively.

Ian’s approach blends deep financial expertise with a founder’s mindset. He views investing not only as a means of generating returns but also as a way of equipping entrepreneurs with the tools and support they need to succeed in an evolving and often volatile industry. Beyond the numbers, his perspective has been shaped by becoming a father, which reinforced his focus on purpose, legacy, and impact.

A frequent speaker and thought leader in cannabis investing, Ian shares his insights through The Delta Dispatch, a widely read industry newsletter, and at events such as CannaBevCon, where he helps guide conversations on the future of cannabis beverages. His mission is to help shape a cannabis industry that is sustainable, consumer-driven, and built for long-term growth.

Connect with Ian Dominguez

🌐 Website: www.deltaemerald.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Ian Dominguez
📬 Newsletter: The Delta Dispatch
🎤 Event: CannaBevCon

Additional Resources:

📚 Michael Zaytsev’s The Cannabis Business Book

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs who want to understand where the cannabis market is heading and how to position their brands for growth. It’s equally valuable for investors seeking data-driven insights into the fastest-growing segment of cannabis: THC beverages. Industry professionals will gain perspective on how consumer behavior, policy pathways, and technology are shaping the future of the market. And for anyone curious about cannabis more broadly, Ian explains why cannabinoids are already mainstream and where the next wave of opportunity lies.