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Innerbloom Holdings: The Advocators-Turned-Entrepreneurs Spearheading a CBD Mass Market Revolution

Innerbloom Holdings: The Advocators-Turned-Entrepreneurs Spearheading a CBD Mass Market Revolution

What began as a bold mission to disrupt the cannabis market in Mexico has transformed into something even more scalable, and possibly far more impactful. Innerbloom Holdings, LLC, originally launched with the intent of becoming a vertically integrated cannabis company in Latin America, has pivoted into a wellness powerhouse with a singular goal: to bring CBD to the masses. And with its flagship brand, Tía María, the founding team believes they've cracked the code. Image Credit: Innerbloom
At the heart of Innerbloom are its founders, a collective of legal, entrepreneurial, and activist minds that includes Ralph Schulke, Gregory Brucia, Alejandro de la Peña Martínez, Jiangsu Wongpec, and Julio Zenil. These are not outsiders chasing hype; they are seasoned veterans and cultural insiders who have spent years laying the legal, social, and operational groundwork for the industry's next major leap.
Innerbloom was born in Mexico, where Schulke saw an opportunity to help pioneer a nascent cannabis industry. Backed by a team with deep legal and market expertise, Schulke envisioned a company that would touch every aspect of the cannabis value chain, from cultivation to distribution.
But Mexico's regulatory rollercoaster threw those plans into disarray. "In 2017, we were poised to become one of the first international licensees to enter the Mexican cannabis market," Schulke recalls. "The outgoing president legalized it. Then the new administration reversed everything. That forced us to pivot, not just as entrepreneurs, but as advocates."
Together, they founded the Latin American Cannabis Alliance ( A.L.C.A.N.N. ), a nonprofit advocacy group focused on cannabis legalization and policy reform. They lobbied, built partnerships with institutions, and gave voice to a movement that had long been marginalized. Schulke shares, "To be able to do business in this industry, we had to fight to make it legal first."
The experience deepened their understanding of Latin American markets and regulatory landscapes and ultimately laid the foundation for what came next.
Innerbloom's current form reflects a major strategic pivot. The company is now laser-focused on CBD-based wellness products, starting in Mexico but with global ambitions. From CBD-infused pain and inflammation products, deodorants, and toothpaste to skincare, shampoos, and sunscreens, to name a few, the Innerbloom team aims to normalize CBD as a household ingredient.
"This is a mass-market consumer goods company," Schulke explains. "We're not chasing trends. We're delivering high-quality, affordable products that integrate CBD into people's daily routines."
The timing couldn't be more critical. As Schulke points out, the CBD hype cycle in the US has deflated, and what's left is a massive underserved market, especially across Latin America, where regulatory environments are evolving, but the demand for accessible wellness solutions is real. "What we're doing is accelerating that trend. We're making it affordable now, especially in a market like Mexico that's ready for it," Schulke adds.
Innerbloom's leadership team brings a rare combination of regulatory expertise, branding acumen, and grassroots credibility. Martínez is one of the influential figures within the Mexican marketing and artificial intelligence industry. On the other hand, Wongpec's media and activist background strengthens the company's storytelling and public education for hemp and CBD. With over 20 years of experience as a business attorney, Brucia provides the company with unparalleled legal expertise, ensuring it remains adaptable in an evolving regulatory landscape.
And Schulke, with an instinct for untapped opportunity and expertise in the hemp and cannabis industry, brings it all together. In conjunction, they've built what Schulke calls 'a turnkey leadership team,' one ready to take advantage of a massive market shift that few others are even noticing.
"We've survived where many haven't," he says. For investors, distributors, and consumers looking to be part of CBD's next big wave, Innerbloom can be a blueprint for what sustainable, culturally intelligent entrepreneurship looks like in a post-hype era.
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Why is Donald Trump so afraid of BRICS? – DW – 07/08/2025
Why is Donald Trump so afraid of BRICS? – DW – 07/08/2025

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The US president vowed higher tariffs on BRICS nations that align with the bloc's plans to challenge US hegemony. Despite the China-backed initiative making limited progress, dozens of nations are still eager to join. US President Donald Trump is doubling down against the BRICS bloc of fast-growing economies — including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — warning that their push to undermine the US dollar's dominance threatens America's economic supremacy. Just as BRICS leaders convened in Rio de Janeiro for their annual summit, Trump on Sunday vowed to slap an additional 10% tariff on any nation backing the group's "anti-American policies," piling pressure on top of existing and threatened trade levies. The Trump administration's 90-day pause on higher tariffs is set to expire Wednesday and letters have been sent to inform dozens of countries of their new US import levy, according to the White House. 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Innerbloom Holdings: The Advocators-Turned-Entrepreneurs Spearheading a CBD Mass Market Revolution
Innerbloom Holdings: The Advocators-Turned-Entrepreneurs Spearheading a CBD Mass Market Revolution

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time20 hours ago

  • Int'l Business Times

Innerbloom Holdings: The Advocators-Turned-Entrepreneurs Spearheading a CBD Mass Market Revolution

What began as a bold mission to disrupt the cannabis market in Mexico has transformed into something even more scalable, and possibly far more impactful. Innerbloom Holdings, LLC, originally launched with the intent of becoming a vertically integrated cannabis company in Latin America, has pivoted into a wellness powerhouse with a singular goal: to bring CBD to the masses. And with its flagship brand, Tía María, the founding team believes they've cracked the code. Image Credit: Innerbloom At the heart of Innerbloom are its founders, a collective of legal, entrepreneurial, and activist minds that includes Ralph Schulke, Gregory Brucia, Alejandro de la Peña Martínez, Jiangsu Wongpec, and Julio Zenil. These are not outsiders chasing hype; they are seasoned veterans and cultural insiders who have spent years laying the legal, social, and operational groundwork for the industry's next major leap. Innerbloom was born in Mexico, where Schulke saw an opportunity to help pioneer a nascent cannabis industry. Backed by a team with deep legal and market expertise, Schulke envisioned a company that would touch every aspect of the cannabis value chain, from cultivation to distribution. But Mexico's regulatory rollercoaster threw those plans into disarray. "In 2017, we were poised to become one of the first international licensees to enter the Mexican cannabis market," Schulke recalls. "The outgoing president legalized it. Then the new administration reversed everything. That forced us to pivot, not just as entrepreneurs, but as advocates." Together, they founded the Latin American Cannabis Alliance ( A.L.C.A.N.N. ), a nonprofit advocacy group focused on cannabis legalization and policy reform. They lobbied, built partnerships with institutions, and gave voice to a movement that had long been marginalized. Schulke shares, "To be able to do business in this industry, we had to fight to make it legal first." The experience deepened their understanding of Latin American markets and regulatory landscapes and ultimately laid the foundation for what came next. Innerbloom's current form reflects a major strategic pivot. The company is now laser-focused on CBD-based wellness products, starting in Mexico but with global ambitions. From CBD-infused pain and inflammation products, deodorants, and toothpaste to skincare, shampoos, and sunscreens, to name a few, the Innerbloom team aims to normalize CBD as a household ingredient. "This is a mass-market consumer goods company," Schulke explains. "We're not chasing trends. We're delivering high-quality, affordable products that integrate CBD into people's daily routines." The timing couldn't be more critical. As Schulke points out, the CBD hype cycle in the US has deflated, and what's left is a massive underserved market, especially across Latin America, where regulatory environments are evolving, but the demand for accessible wellness solutions is real. "What we're doing is accelerating that trend. We're making it affordable now, especially in a market like Mexico that's ready for it," Schulke adds. Innerbloom's leadership team brings a rare combination of regulatory expertise, branding acumen, and grassroots credibility. Martínez is one of the influential figures within the Mexican marketing and artificial intelligence industry. On the other hand, Wongpec's media and activist background strengthens the company's storytelling and public education for hemp and CBD. With over 20 years of experience as a business attorney, Brucia provides the company with unparalleled legal expertise, ensuring it remains adaptable in an evolving regulatory landscape. And Schulke, with an instinct for untapped opportunity and expertise in the hemp and cannabis industry, brings it all together. In conjunction, they've built what Schulke calls 'a turnkey leadership team,' one ready to take advantage of a massive market shift that few others are even noticing. "We've survived where many haven't," he says. For investors, distributors, and consumers looking to be part of CBD's next big wave, Innerbloom can be a blueprint for what sustainable, culturally intelligent entrepreneurship looks like in a post-hype era.

WTO: EU, Germany push for new world trade body  – DW – 07/04/2025
WTO: EU, Germany push for new world trade body  – DW – 07/04/2025

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WTO: EU, Germany push for new world trade body – DW – 07/04/2025

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"It would cover nearly all continents. And maybe some African countries could be brought on board as well," he added. Such a club, however, would initially exclude China, which Matthes argued is not known for playing by fair competition rules. "The goal is to form a strategic trade alliance that addresses today's pressing issues in global trade — not only US protectionism, but also the massive market distortions caused by China's subsidies, which current WTO rules don't effectively address," said Matthes. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video For the EU, the priority would be to enshrine strict competition rules within the new framework, particularly regarding state-owned enterprises and industrial subsidies. "Anyone who meets those standards can join," he added. That would require China to make major reforms, such as reducing market distortions and subsidies, or finally agreeing to a comprehensive overhaul of WTO rules. Free trade advocates have already created a workaround to the WTO's stalled appeals process called the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). Formed within the WTO itself, MPIA provides an alternative dispute resolution system that functions without US participation. According to the European Commission, 57 countries, representing 57.6% of global trade, have joined the MPIA, including the UK and all EU member states. Still, business groups such as the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA), which represents Germany's export sector, are wary of undermining the WTO. Speaking to news agency Reuters, BGA President Dirk Jandura acknowledged the strategic benefits of forming a new framework among functioning democracies via CPTPP, but warned of the risks. 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