The Future Of Cannabis Consumption With SōRSE Technology CSO: Scott Riefler

March 23, 2021

SōRSE Technology is the leader in water-soluble emulsion technology for functional ingredients in food, beverages, and nutraceuticals.

SōRSE emulsions have near-perfect dosing, are proven in the market, and provide a consistent cannabis experience for the consumer.

Today, we talk with SoRSE Tech CSO Scott Riefler about cannabis consumption in the modern world, innovation trends, and success.

How do you think the economy will benefit from Cannabis during this time?

I don’t believe it goes unnoticed that as few as ten years ago, cannabis was a social stigma. Now that we aren’t viewing cannabis through the lens of the war on drugs but through the lens of science and medicine, people are recognizing that many of the soundings of the past had their genesis in negative propaganda. Now, cannabis (and hemp) is viewed as an essential operation in the states where it is legal medicinally and recreationally. As a result, people are staying employed, income is being generated, and money is being fed back into the economy through cannabis.

Social media is the widest used method of information sharing and communication; is this the case with cannabis as well?

Yes, cannabis is no different in this regard than any other subject matter. Social media is a widely used platform for communication, and cannabis is embedded in it. We have to remember that if we are relying on social media as a source of information, we also have to consider the source and vet the source before we accept it as fact.

What is a current challenge for you and how would you approach it related to edibles?

In the space of edibles, regulatory acceptance and regulatory management is a significant challenge. The FDA is charged, in part, with ensuring safety within our food supply. Introducing a new material or ingredient into the food supply, such as CBD or cannabis, is a multi-year process. The cannabis industry has been moving very quickly, and at the state level, we have seen many introductions of food and beverage platforms containing cannabis.

The challenge, though, comes at the federal level or national level, because the FDA is charged with protecting the food supply and ensuring safety for consumers. While we do not yet have regulatory harmony between the FDA and state-level activities, we all want and welcome that.

What was one thing you did that exceeded your expectations when you began as CSO of SoRSE Tech?

How quickly the water-soluble technology was adopted by product developers and transformed the sensory experience of beverages containing cannabis. For example, the beverages that were launched in the consumer marketplace in the state of Washington that was powered by SoRSE went from introduction to best in class in 90 days. That success is based on the attributes of the technology itself – the neutral sensory experience, homogeneity, and perfect dosing of the beverage, coupled with near combustion-like onset times.

What does success mean to you? What are your rules for success, and what about SoRSE’s?

For me, success means meeting or exceeding the goals, exceeding expectations resulting in delighted customers. Rules for success include having clearly defined goals that can be measured. Utilizing approaches that are science-based, transparent, and encompassing. Other criteria include being forthright, transparent, open-minded/data-driven, to be accessible, to welcome all points of view and challenges. At SōRSE, we always want to aspire to be the best in class. We want to be viewed as subject matter experts, to have depth of field, and to be data-driven.

How do you handle comparisons between your innovation and that of other companies? What is one way you continue to distinguish your brand and stand apart?

We welcome comparisons between us and other companies; in fact, that is how science advances. Many people work on the same problem, each making incremental improvements, leading to paradigm shifts. What we won’t do is promote our products by pointing out deficiencies in other companies’ technology or platforms.

We want to distinguish ourselves by being thought leaders, science leaders, by being a heavily resourced organization. We strive to be the best in class in terms of the product itself, the underlying technology, the presentation, and the related sensory experience. At the same time, we want to be continually expanding the boundaries of what is possible so that we continue to advance the science of the field we are working within.

What trends are you most excited about for 2021?

The trend I am most excited about is the sensory focus shift taking place within the edibles world. 2020 was the year where the technology we have developed will give people the opportunity to completely enjoy the beverage or confection they are consuming without making a sensory sacrifice due to the cannabinoid content. Consumers now can have confidence in a predictable edible experience, meaning a uniform and accurate dosing coupled with rapid and repeatable liftoff and duration.

The Fox Magazine is all about inspiration, what/who inspires you the most?

Life inspires me – I draw inspiration from the environment and the people around me. The desire to make a positive contribution drives me to build upon what others have achieved. We owe gratitude to the success of our predecessors, to our teacher’s teacher.

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?

People might be surprised to learn that I’m a devout yoga practitioner. Also, even though I am a scientist, at the age of 62, I am still scared of the dark.

What is your favorite innovation-related motto, quote, or words to live by?

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. If we knew what it is we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” – Albert Einstein