By Jamie L Pearson, Founder of New Holland Group

As the continent’s cannabis sector matures, investors and operators are discovering that financial discipline will define the next decade of growth.

Across Europe and the United Kingdom, the cannabis industry is entering a decisive chapter. After years of pilot programs, cautious medical frameworks, and fragmented national rules, momentum is shifting toward scale. Investment is returning. Policymakers are refining regulations. And operators are learning that excitement alone doesn’t sustain an industry, structure does.

The pattern feels familiar. North America’s early cannabis boom showed what happens when innovation outpaces infrastructure. Rapid growth drew capital and talent but also left behind uneven compliance, tax confusion, and governance gaps that continue to test U.S. operators today. Europe’s opportunity lies in taking those lessons early and using them to build something more stable.

That conversation came to the forefront this week at the Talman Group’s 2025 London Conference, where global investors and operators gathered to explore the next phase of the UK and European cannabis economy. Among the key voices was Verdant Strategies, a U.S.-based accounting and advisory firm expanding into Europe to help founders and financiers alike apply the discipline that long-term markets demand.

Learning from Hard-Won Experience

Verdant Strategies grew out of the legacy of 420CPA, one of North America’s pioneering cannabis accounting firms. Founded by Rachel Wright, CPA, MST, Verdant has guided hundreds of operators through the complex financial realities of legalization, from seed funding to scale, bookkeeping to taxes, and audits to acquisitions.

“We’ve seen every phase of this industry’s growth, from uncertainty to maturity,” Wright says. “Europe is now at that same inflection point, and our focus is to help operators build a foundation that lasts.”

Verdant’s team of more than sixty professionals spans accounting, tax, CFO advisory, and strategic consulting. The firm’s clients range from single-site cultivators to dispensaries to multistate operators and private equity funds. What connects them, Wright explains, is the need for reliable data and defensible systems in a highly scrutinized sector.

“Financial clarity creates trust,” she notes. “And trust is the only true currency in emerging industries.”

From Compliance to Confidence

In the United States, Verdant witnessed firsthand how inconsistent compliance and under-developed financial controls undermined otherwise promising companies. Bringing that experience abroad, the firm now helps European clients anticipate similar pitfalls, before they threaten growth.

Verdant’s newest Partner, Mike Goral, J.D., LL.M., joined the firm in 2025 after leading national cannabis tax and advisory initiatives at Armanino LLP. His cross-border expertise adds depth to Verdant’s work as the company builds its European presence.

“Europe has a unique chance to design its cannabis market with intention,” Goral says. “If operators and regulators prioritize transparency and investor confidence early, they can avoid the costly resets we saw in the U.S.”

That means establishing consistent accounting standards, integrating robust tax planning, and aligning governance with international capital expectations. In practice, Verdant’s advisory work focuses on creating systems that transform financial data into strategic intelligence. They adeptly prepare clients for investment, acquisition, or regulatory audit with equal precision.

A Market Ready for Discipline

Germany’s evolving model, the U.K.’s cautious progress, and Portugal’s production boom all illustrate how quickly opportunity meets regulation in Europe. But they also highlight a new reality: institutional capital will only flow when credible financial structures are in place.

Verdant’s approach reframes compliance as a competitive advantage. By standardizing reporting and strengthening internal controls, operators gain access to financing on better terms and reduce exposure to legal and tax risk.

“Markets mature when investors can trust the numbers,” Wright explains. “That’s the standard Verdant is helping to build.”

Why Talman Matters

The Talman Group’s London event at the famed Savoy Hotel, provided the perfect setting for that dialogue. As Europe’s leading investor forum for cannabis, Talman convenes investors and thought leaders who see beyond short-term trends. Its 2025 edition underscored a shift in tone: the industry conversation is moving from product and frontman hype to governance, risk, capital efficiency and discipline.

Verdant’s participation, this year as Talman’s Title Sponsor, was less about promotion than alignment. Both organizations share a conviction that the cannabis economy’s next phase must rest on credible financial infrastructure.

“The Talman platform brings together the people who will shape this market for decades,” Wright says. “It’s the right environment for pragmatic, transparent discussion about what sustainability really means.”

A Global Blueprint in Progress

For Verdant, expansion into Europe is not a marketing move, it’s the evolution of their mission. The firm’s U.S. clients continue to face the consequences of building in a regulatory vacuum. By contrast, Europe has the benefit of hindsight and the tools to integrate fiscal responsibility from the start.

“This industry will only thrive if we build it responsibly,” Wright reflects. “Our goal is to help ensure that founders, investors, and regulators can grow with confidence, supported by data, discipline, and shared standards.”

As Europe’s cannabis market matures, that philosophy may prove its greatest competitive edge. The industry doesn’t just need more capital; it needs credibility. And credibility begins with clarity.

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About Verdant Strategies

Verdant Strategies is a full-service CPA and advisory firm serving cannabis and regulated industries across North America and now Europe. The firm provides accounting, tax, CFO, M&A, investor readiness, and litigation support services to operators, investors, and advisors.

About the Talman Group

The Talman Group hosts premier global investor forums for emerging industries, fostering dialogue between capital, policymakers, and operators in Europe and beyond.