In this podcast episode, Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Darren Gleeman, managing partner at MBO Ventures, about Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) in the cannabis industry. ESOPs enable owners to sell to employees without upfront capital, thanks to IRS subsidies, offering tax advantages like deferred capital gains tax and tax-free status. Structured as trusts, ESOPs allocate stock based on vesting schedules, promoting retention. While rare in cannabis due to awareness, successful implementations yield tax savings and employee benefits. Gleeman encourages exploring ESOPs as alternative exit strategies.