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🔒 Please note: I’ve hit the connection limit on LinkedIn- use “Follow” -------------------------- Michael Sassano is one of the most seasoned cannabis executives in the world — nearly two decades investing in the industry and eleven years as an operating CEO, with 29 facilities built across the United States and Europe and a personal track record in mergers and acquisitions on both continents. He is a globally recognised authority on pharmaceutical cannabis, large-scale facility development and multi-country market strategy, with over 400 published articles and hundreds of podcast appearances and conference keynotes to his name. As Founder, BOD and Interim CEO of Somaí Pharmaceuticals and Director of Green Rush Partners, Michael operates at the forefront of the global pharmaceutical cannabis transition — personally bringing the world's leading US brands and operators into European regulated markets. Green Rush Partners advises and partners with US groups seeking to establish or expand in the EU and beyond. Michael is the most experienced transatlantic operator in the space — a position built through years of intensive personal study of European pharmaceutical and regulatory models, and continuous in-country travel across every major market. He began investing in cannabis in 2008 from Europe, where Monaco had been his home since 2001. He returned to the United States in 2015 to take on full-time operational management, then came back to Europe in 2021 to build Somaí from the ground up — travelling extensively across the continent to learn every regulatory framework, distribution model and commercial channel firsthand from owners. Under his leadership, Somaí has become Europe's only private, fully vertical multi-country operator in pharmaceutical cannabis: two EU-GMP facilities in Lisbon, 113 employees, 6 active commercial markets, 7 in advanced registration, 1,400+ pharmacies, 1,100+ prescribing physicians, 95+ clinics, ~346 stability records, 150+ product codes, 5 market authorisation dossiers, and an exclusive portfolio of the world's leading brands — Cookies, AiroPro, Bedrocan, Sherbinskis, Jack Herer, Iridescent Med and Kiseki. Prior to Somaí, Michael built Solaris Farms in Nevada — scaling from bare land into one of the state's largest vertically integrated cannabis operations before a successful merger with a dispensary group. Before cannabis, Michael was among the largest traders on Wall Street — the youngest Managing Director at CIBC World Markets, with prior roles at Oppenheimer and Lehman Brothers.
The operational foundation is built. The team is in place. Michael Sassano's focus is now the deals and helping US companies enter European and global markets. As Founder, BOD, & Interim CEO of Somaí Pharmaceuticals, operating through Green Rush Partners, Michael leads from the top — strategy, M&A, key partnerships and public relations. Day-to-day operations sit with a world-class leadership team. He travels continuously — across Europe, UK, Australia, North America and beyond — meeting the largest pharmacy owners, clinic operators, physician networks, distribution groups and cannabis company founders in person. It is how he built this company and it is how he will grow it. His network across every major pharmaceutical cannabis market was built through years of direct, in-country presence: not intermediaries, not consultants — personal relationships, developed over time. That presence is backed by one of the deepest knowledge bases in the industry. A prolific writer and speaker with 400+ published articles and hundreds of keynote and podcast appearances, Michael has spent years studying every European regulatory model, distribution channel and market structure — understanding the economics, the ownership layers and the deal architecture before anyone else in the room. His current focus: large-scale distribution partnerships, brand licensing deals and M&A opportunities across Europe, UK, Australia and beyond. The most valuable companies in pharmaceutical cannabis are not found in boardrooms. They are identified through years of trading relationships and direct conversations — built through presence, trust and time in the field. At the top, Michael sets strategy, owns all M&A activity, leads public and owner relations, and holds the leadership team accountable to the plan the company raised capital on with multi-year business plans.
Operating as Founder, Chairman & Interim CEO through Green Rush Partners, building Somaí Pharmaceuticals from concept to operating company. Built Europe's only private, fully vertical multi-country pharmaceutical cannabis operator. Every milestone below was built, negotiated or driven personally — through intensive study of European pharmaceutical models, extensive in-country travel and hands-on execution across every market. Facility: Personally designed, project-managed and delivered the Carregado EU-GMP Parts I & II facility in 1 year 8 months — 3,800 m², 60,000 kg/yr extraction capacity, in-house EU-GMP laboratory and GDP licence. Acquired the NovaSoma/RPK EU-GMP indoor cultivation facility in Sintra: 2,000 kg/yr flower, ~6,000 kg/yr post-harvest GACP-to-GMP capacity. Product: 123+ SKUs ready to sell. ~346 stability records across 150+ product codes. 5 PT-authorised dossiers (20:1, 25:1, 50:1, 10:10, 25:25). 2026 pipeline: 100:1, 1:100, soft-gels, MDR-linked formats. 12-person in-house QP, QA and Regulatory team. Licences: PT import + GDP (active). AU full sponsor licence. DE + UK distribution licences (in process). Direct sales: CH, IT, PT. 7 in registration: PL, IE, CZ, HR, NZ, CR, ES. Watch list: FR, SI, BR. DE clinic. Markets: 6 active commercial markets. 1,400+ pharmacies, 1,100+ prescribing physicians, 95+ clinics, 40+ distribution partners — every relationship initiated personally in the field. Brands: Exclusive global partnerships — Cookies, AiroPro, Sherbinskis, Jack Herer, Iridescent Med and Kiseki. House brands: Somaí, Soma OG and Tastee Bitz. All partnerships personally negotiated. Supply & Sales: Personally sourced cultivators across Canada, Colombia, South Africa, Portugal and Thailand. Led in-field sales in every active market — walking pharmacies, meeting physicians and closing distribution agreements directly. Operations: 113 employees hired. ~€40m raised.
Most US cannabis companies know they need to be in Europe. Few know how. Green Rush Partners bridges that gap. As Director, Michael Sassano works directly with US multi-state operators, cannabis brands, Canadian licensed producers and international pharmaceutical companies to define, enter and scale in European and global markets — structuring the partnerships, licensing agreements, distribution deals and M&A transactions that turn market ambitions into operating reality. Michael brings neatly 2 decades of cannabis investing, 11 years as an operating cannabis CEO, 29 facilities built across the US and Europe, and one of the deepest personal networks in global pharmaceutical cannabis. He has spent years travelling every major market — meeting regulators, distributors, pharmacists, clinic operators, and supply lines firsthand, in every country, in person. The commercial intelligence and trust he has built cannot be replicated by a report or a retained adviser. The proof is Somaí Pharmaceuticals, the company he founded and runs as Interim CEO: Europe's leading private, fully vertical multi-country pharmaceutical cannabis operator — 6 active commercial markets, 7 in registration, 1,400+ pharmacies, 1,100+ prescribing physicians, 95+ clinics, 7 exclusive global partnerships with the world's leading (Cookies, AiroPro, Bedrocan, Sherbinskis, Jack Herer, Iridescent, Kiseki), a clinic, multiple full distribution licenses, a GMP lab, and two EU-GMP certified facilities. Built from the ground up in five years. Every deal negotiated personally. Through Green Rush Partners, that knowledge and that network are available to the right partners. If your company is serious about Europe — or any international market — and wants to work with someone who has built it, not just advised on it, Michael is open to the conversation.
Michael is well known for leading a merger of the cannabis cultivation company he built and operated as CEO and Chairman, called Solaris Farms, with The Sanctuary. In four years, Michael was able to build Solaris out from a bare lot of land into one of the largest and most well-respected private double cannabis verticals in Nevada today. Michael remains on the advisory board of Solaris and will help advise the company with future mergers and acquisitions. He continues to build much needed infrastructure in emerging states in the USA. Michael Sassano broke ground on what would become Solaris Farms in 2016 after traveling around the world touring different types of agricultural greenhouses and observing the various technologies used to produce high-quality yields in harsh climates. From the get-go, he envisioned building a major cultivation company in Nevada’s business-friendly environment which he’d either sell or expand to maximum government approved canopy. Solaris has a rotation of 7,000 plants and bi-monthly 1000 plant harvests which are sold at every major dispensary in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada. Michael built Solaris Farms into a Las Vegas icon but also gathered global recognition which he plans to continue expanding. The grow exists on a portion of the land which is state-approved for cultivation space of over 300,000 sq ft. When fully built out, Solaris will be one of the 20 largest cannabis grows in the United States, according to Greenhouse Grower (https://www.greenhousegrower.com/crops/cannabis/cannabis-top-20-north-americas-largest-commercial-grows/)
In four years, as CEO and Board member, Michael Sassano built Solaris from private equity out of an empty lot into one of the largest and most well respected cannabis cultivation operations in the state of Nevada. In July 2020, he further led its merger to become one of the top verticals in the state. Michael Sassano broke ground on what would become Solaris Farms in 2016 after traveling around the world touring different types of agricultural greenhouses and observing the various technologies used to produce high-quality yields in harsh climates. From the get-go, he envisioned building a major cultivation company in Nevada’s business-friendly environment which he’d either sell or expand to maximum government approved canopy. Michael continues to be involved with the merged company in an advisory role and will help guide decisions of expansion and mergers. He is actively seeking larger companies to merge with and/or be acquired by to further expand the reach of Solaris and The Sanctuary throughout the U.S. and internationally. Today, Solaris remains one of the largest and the most technologically-advanced hybrid greenhouses operating in Nevada. Solaris has a rotation of 7,000 plants and bi-monthly 1000 plant harvests which are sold at every major dispensary in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada. Michael built Solaris Farms into a Las Vegas icon but also gathered global recognition which he plans to continue expanding. The grow exists on a portion of the land which is state-approved for cultivation space of over 300,000 sq ft. When fully built out, Solaris will be one of the 20 largest cannabis grows in the United States, according to Greenhouse Grower (https://www.greenhousegrower.com/crops/cannabis/cannabis-top-20-north-americas-largest-commercial-grows/)
Mike started investing in 1996 in technology deals, formed hedge funds while trading for the bank, and bought real estate. By 1997, he began buying large ocean front lots of property and formed a significant number of development projects focused on residential high-rises and commercial development. By 2000, he moved to Europe and branched out into residential, pre-construction and large scale urban development globally. By 2001, Mike added a third base in Russia and conducted business worldwide. Although primarily in RE and banking early on, he cultivated relationships with incubator/accelerator principles and emerging technologies. He began auditing and selectively choosing powerful technologies that could be brought oversees from US. These technologies focused around telecommunications, beacons, mobile, and media/entertainment verticals which demand constant innovation. He also became involved in food and nutrition technology as an investment theme. In the early stages, Mike got involved in Cannabis, Bitcoin, various Cryptocurrencies and BlockChain as disruptive technologies with high potential. Medical Cannabis Grows especially Cannabinoid products became and are his primary focus. Explosive growth in Legal Cannabis has netted all current interests, including: Cannabis cultivation, growing, indoor farming, green house farms, master grower, and production fascilities; Biotech and commercial applications for Cannabinoids; synthetic culturing, bio-catalyis, medical Cannabinoid studies, breeding, Biotec and biopharmaceutical uses; THC & CBD extraction, Medical marijuana extracts; Marijuana edibles drinks, THC infusions; software & technology. Bitcoin & Crypto interests include (closed for new ideas now): Crypto FX ECN technology, trading tech, high frequency, algorithms, and arbitrage platform; Conversions of Crypto, Forex, commodities, metals as a total solution for MainStreet traders; BTC ATM, payments, alternate exchanges, Crypto for Governments & brokerages.
Cibc bought Oppenheimer in 1997, Mike was one of the youngest Managing Directors in CIBC history and the Number 1 sales trader for the firm. Well known as the largest and most effective market timer on Wall Street, Mike accounted for over 6% of the banks entire worldwide revenue, oversaw part of the proprietary desk trading assets and was touted for trading over $90B in liquid assets. In early 2003, CIBC sold the Oppenheimer unit and Mike was given the single largest retention package to continue with the again independent Oppenheimer and was said to be an over $15M producer. Mike left Oppenheimer in 2004 to return to a solely private equity and entrepreneurial path, which started in 1996. This change in Mike’s career path was the reaction to an industry-wide closure in 2003 of one of a number of arbitrage strategies he supervised (in which the bank was directly invested, alongside some of the largest funds of the time). At all times, upper management, heads of legal and compliance approved and monitored all trading strategies conducted by traders working under Mike's group and deemed them correct and proper.