Episode 161 - Damien Cornwell, Just Breathe & Cannabis Association of New York

Episode 161 is the 24th episode of Season 3.

We’re joined today by Damien Cornwell, entrepreneur, advocate, operations expert, and President of the Cannabis Association of New York (CANY). He’s also the founder of Just Breathe, a dispensary in upstate New York redefining what it means to serve the cannabis community.

Damien’s path into cannabis is anything but conventional, starting as a UPS driver and rising to management, launching restaurants and bars, running a radio station, and directing operations at the Broome County Urban League. Across all of it, one theme stands out: community impact.

From fighting for equity in New York’s cannabis rollout to building Just Breathe as a social change engine, Damien brings a mix of grit, empathy, and big-picture thinking to the work. At CANY, he’s pushing for structure, accountability, and a stronger, fairer future for New York’s cannabis entrepreneurs.

Follow Damien on LinkedIn and learn more at canycannabis.org and justbreathecannabis.com.

Enjoy the show!