Saturday, December 2

9.00 – 9.45 am
Keynote Speaker – Conference Introduction

Earl Blumenauer – Oregon Congressman and Co-Chair Congressional Cannabis Caucus

Status of Cannabis Congressional Action 

A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer is one of Oregon’s innovative leaders. Raised in SE Portland, Earl attended Centennial High School. While still a college student at Lewis and Clark College, he led the campaign in Oregon to lower the voting age. He was a key player just two years later as one of the youngest legislators in Oregon’s history in a landmark session for school funding, ethics reform and Oregon’s groundbreaking land use laws.

As a Multnomah County Commissioner and member of the Portland City Council, Earl’s innovative accomplishments in transportation with light rail, bicycles and the street car, planning and environmental programs and public participation helped Portland earn an international reputation as one of America’s most livable cities.

Elected to the US House of Representatives in 1996, Earl has been a tireless advocate for the 3^rd Congressional District. He’s recognized for his creative, innovative policies and accomplishments, and also his political leadership in Oregon and nationwide. He tackles controversial issues and finds ways to break ideological and partisan gridlock with a unique approach to problem solving that brings people together.

He is currently a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Ranking Member of the subcommittee on Trade and a member of the subcommittee on Health. Earl is also serving as a senior member on the Budget Committee. Earl has been a champion for rebuilding and renewing our nation’s infrastructure, economic security for families, protection of public lands, stopping gun violence, ending the prohibition of marijuana, and criminal justice reform.

Dr. Marilyn Huestis – American toxicologist researching the effects of illicit drugs on the body, brain, and in utero. She was chief of the chemistry and drug metabolism section at the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Safety of Psychedelics & Cannabis Impaired Driving

Professor Dr. Dr. (h.c.) Marilyn A. Huestis retired as a tenured senior investigator and Chief, Chemistry and Drug Metabolism Section, IRP, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health in 2016 after 23 years of conducting controlled drug administration studies.

 

She was an Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD from 1999-2017. Currently, she is a Senior Science and Policy Advisor for PinneyAssociates,Professor at the Institute on Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, Adjunct Professor, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Honorary Professor, Barts & London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, England on the Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Science Advisory Board, and President of Huestis & Smith Toxicology, LLC.

 

Her research program focuses on the neurobiology and pharmacokinetics of cannabinoid agonists, kratom/mitragynine, psilocybin, effects of in utero drug exposure, oral fluid drug testing, driving under the influence of drugs, and identification and quantification of drugs by mass spectrometry. She published 559 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and hundreds of invited lectures and abstracts were presented at national and international meetings. Professor Huestis received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College, a master’s degree in clinical chemistry from the University of New Mexico, and a doctoral degree in toxicology from the University of Maryland. Professor Huestis received a Doctor Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki in Finland.

 

Other important awards include the 2023 CMCR Pioneer in Medicinal Cannabis Research Award, 2023 Mechoulam Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society, 2021 American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021 National Safety Council Distinguished Service to Safety Award, 2021 American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Alexander O. Gettler Award, 2018 National Safety Council’s Borkenstein Award, 2017 Sir Kenneth Standard Distinguished Lecturer for the University of the West Indies, 2016 Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Orator, Melbourne, Australia, 2016 Marian W. Fischman Lectureship Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, 2016 Saferstein Memorial Distinguished Lecturer at Northeastern University, 2015 Norman P. Kubasik AACC Lectureship Award, 2015 Distinguished Fellow from AAFS, 2010 The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) Alan Curry Award, 2008 AACC Outstanding Contributions in a Selected Area of Research Award, 2007 International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology (IATDMCT) Irving Sunshine Award, 2005 AAFS Rolla N. Harger Award, and 1992 Irving Sunshine Award for Outstanding Research in Forensic Toxicology. The journal Clinical Chemistry featured her as an “Inspiring Mind”.

 

She currently serves on the World Anti-doping Agency’s Prohibited List Committee, and the National Safety Council’s Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division Executive Board. Professor Huestis served on the National Commission on Forensic Sciences. She is past president of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, past Chair of the Toxicology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and past president of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists.

11.15 – 12.30pm
BREAKOUT SESSION 1

Cannabis & The Courts

Moderator: Judge Scott Pearson – NHTSA Region 8 Judicial Outreach Liason.

Judge Scott Pearson was first elected to the bench in 2010. He is the presiding judge of the state’s first community court, a DUI Court and the GT program for young adults with substance use disorders.  He currently serves with the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association as the Region 8 Judicial Outreach Liaison, faculty at the National Judicial College, Chairman of the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Committee of the American Judges Association and Vice-President of the American Judges Foundation. The Kids Court Program he brought to the RJC now sees thousands of 5th graders attend the field trip to the court every year.  Judge Pearson graduated from the University of Nevada with an economics degree, with distinction, and the University of Utah College of Law where he was a Learey Scholar.  He has been married to Kristy Pearson since 1998 and has two boys he enjoys skiing and traveling with.

Judge Eric Bergstrom – Mediator, Retired Circuit Court Judge, Oregon Judicial Department.

Judge Eric Bergstrom (Oregon): Judge Bergstrom  served as a Circuit Court judge in Multnomah County, Oregon for 15 years. He has presided over the County’s DUI Intensive Supervision Program and its Veteran’s Court program. In addition to his judicial responsibilities, he has extensive experience as an educator providing peer-to-peer judicial education on a variety of issues.

Judge Janet Holmgren –  Presiding Judge of the Problem-Solving Courts Division Illinois.

Judge Janet R. Holmgren, Presiding Judge of the Problem-Solving Courts Division Illinois. Drug Court is an intensive problem-solving court program that targets persons in the criminal justice system who are physically dependent upon drugs and/or alcohol. Participants voluntarily consent to participate in the program which provides them with a full continuum of substance use disorder treatment services in order to successfully achieve and maintain sobriety. A multi-disciplinary team of clinical and justice professionals closely supervise each participant’s compliance with treatment and probation supervision requirements and hold them accountable through frequent court appearances before Judge Holmgren, random and frequent drug testing, and intensive probation supervision.

“The purpose of Drug Court is to improve the quality of life for the individual participants, their families and our community by restoring them to a safe and sober lifestyle which in turn dramatically reduces the likelihood that they will commit new offenses because of their addiction,” stated Judge Holmgren. “Each of our graduates has a compelling story about the destructive impact and struggles caused by their disease and how they utilized the resources and supports of Drug Court, make it possible for them to restore and rebuild their health and relationships with their families, keep and retain employment and/or pursue their education and overall, giving them the opportunities to be positive, contributing members of our community.”

Hon. Elizabeth L. Gunn  – U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.

Appointed on Sept. 4, 2020. A COVID-era selection and appointment, she was sworn in by Zoom from her living room. Prior to her appointment, Judge Gunn served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia as the sole the bankruptcy specialist for the Division of Child Support Enforcement. She also practiced law in Richmond, Va., at Sands Anderson PC and McGuireWoods LLP. In 2017, Judge Gunn was honored as a member of ABI’s inaugural class of 40 Under 40. She currently serves as the secretary for the Bankruptcy Section of the FBA. Judge Gunn is a frequent author for the ABI Journal and an ABI Volo circuit court website editor, and she has edited two books for ABI. She received her B.A. cum laude from Willamette University and her J.D. cum laude from Boston College Law School.

Judge Valeri Love – Chief Juvenile Judge Lane County Circuit Court, Oregon

Judge Valeri Love was appointed to the Lane County Circuit Court in 2011.  She currently serves as the Chief Juvenile Judge and presides over dependency and delinquency cases.  In addition to her role as an OAPABA board member, Judge Love serve as a member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ Military Committee and the Department of Justice’s Trafficking Intervention Advisory Committee.  In her spare time Judge Love enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and staying connected to Hawaii, where she was born and raised, through hula.

Developing Issues Hemp & Hemp Derivatives.

Moderator: Nolan M. Jackson – Attorney At Law Frost Brown Todd.

Nolan has helped grow Frost Brown Todd’s hemp regulatory group into the preeminent practice in the field in the United States. In this role he has advised clients at all levels of the hemp and derivative products supply chains on myriad issues, including compliance, contract enforcement, import/export, inspections, labeling and packaging, licensing, and litigation.

Prior to joining Frost Brown Todd, Nolan gained extensive work experience in government, which has facilitated his efforts drafting hemp legislating and advising lawmakers and regulatory officials on hemp issues. Specifically, Nolan has completed internships with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy. Nolan has also worked for two members of the House of Lords and a member of the U.S. Congress. While in law school, Nolan was a member of the Moot Court Board National Team and Kentucky Law Journal. He also represented the University of Kentucky College of Law as a Student Government senator and University Supreme Court Justice.

Philip Snow – Attorney

Philip has been an attorney in the cannabis industry for the past twelve years after I started working at the nation’s first marijuana-only law firm, Vincente Sederberg. Since then, I have represented cannabis businesses in both existing and emerging markets across the United States and Canada. Much of my practice has focused on helping new businesses get licensed and then helping them remain compliant with the constantly evolving regulations in the cannabis industry. I am a licensed attorney in CO.

Presenter: Judge Mary Celeste (ret.) – National Speaker & Educator on Cannabis.

Judge Mary A. Celeste (ret.) sat on the Denver County Court bench 2000-2015. She was the Presiding Judge 2009-10 and the co-founder of the Denver County Court Sobriety Court. She is currently a law school professor teaching Marijuana and the Law at California Western School of Law and is considered a national content expert on the topic of cannabis. She is a former member of the Judicial Advisory Board for the Foundation for the Advancement of Alcohol Responsibility (FAAR); former Faculty for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the National Judicial College (NJC). She has also served as the past chair of ABA National Conference of Specialized Court Judges; the President of the American Judge’s Association and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association Foundation, and, as a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Judicial Outreach Liaison. She has written many articles and is a national speaker on the topics of cannabis; cannabis and drug impaired driving, drugged driving, and specialty courts.

Dr. Shawna Vreeke- Head of Research and Toxicology at True Terpenes

Dr. Shawna Vreeke is Head of Research and Toxicology at True Terpenes, where she is instrumental in developing and maintaining the rigorous safety and quality protocols the brand is known for. Dr. Shawna developed a comprehensive toxicology program to assess cannabis vape additives. Her background is in vape safety, having completed a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Portland State University, studying toxin formation in electronic cigarettes. Dr. Shawna actively advocates for science-based safety parameters to protect consumer safety. During the Pennsylvania State Department of Health vape recall, she presented as an expert witness supporting growers, processors, and distributors and the implementation of sensible regulations to protect public health and maintain access to regulated medical cannabis products. She has drafted regulatory language that has been adopted in various U.S. state cannabis legislation.

Cannabis & Driving

Moderator & Speaker: Deena Ryerson – Senior Assistant Attorney General (OR) & Oregon’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor.

Deena Ryerson is a graduate of the University of Oregon, School of Law in 1998.  She was admitted to the bar in 1998 and began working in civil litigation for two years.  From there she went to the Washington County District Attorney’s office where she worked as a prosecutor for six years.  During that time, she prosecuted countless DUII’s, both alcohol and drug related and helped to begin a county newsletter addressing DUII issues.  During Deena’s time with Washington County, she conducted several trainings for law enforcement, junior prosecutors, and law clerks.  She was selected as Oregon’s DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force Prosecutor of the Year for 2004.  In July 2006, she became Oregon’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor with the Department of Justice.  As a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, she assists prosecutors and law enforcement across the state with questions relating to DUII prosecution.  She provides training for new and seasoned prosecutors, including updates to DUII case law and alerts prosecutors to issues that surface through the defense of DUII cases.  She is a member of Oregon’s DUII Multidisciplinary Task Force, the DRE Technical Advisory Committee, the Oregon Ignition Interlock Committee, and a liaison to the Governor’s Advisory Committee on DUII.  Ms. Ryerson also trains new recruits at Oregon’s Department of Public Safety and Standards Training department and law enforcement across the state about DUII case law. Ms. Ryerson reviews all DUII legislation and is instrumental in drafting and editing proposed DUII legislation.  She is a resource to answer any impaired driving related questions for many disciplines.  In addition to her work in Oregon, has trained law enforcement officers and prosecutors in other states and has given presentations at several national conferences including Lifesavers and the National DRE Conference.  She was named a DRE Ambassador at the National DRE Conference in 2015.

Sgt. Josh Wilson –  Washington County Sheriffs’ Dept Impaired Driving Program Assessor National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA and Drug Recognition Expert.

Sgt. Wilson has been with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office since 2002 and currently supervises their Traffic Safety Unit and interagency Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team. He is certified as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Instructor through the Oregon Drug Evaluation Classification Program and International Association of Chiefs of Police. He presents drug and impaired driving courses to a wide range of audiences within and outside of law enforcement. He has been recognized as an expert witness in more than dozen impaired driving cases in the Oregon Circuit Court system and has testified before the Oregon State Legislature on DUII and other traffic safety legislation. Sgt. Wilson is also a member of the Oregon Governor’s Advisory Committee on DUII.

In addition to his work at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Wilson is a Technical Assessment Team member for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s state impaired driving program assessments. He has been recognized as the 2009 Oregon DRE of the Year for a County Law Enforcement Agency and 2013 DUII Trainer of the Year, both by the Oregon DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force.

Jeff Gard Lawyer (CO) – Criminal defense, civil litigation, cannabis/hemp and business matters.

Jeffrey Gard is a Colorado attorney with Gard Law Firm, LLC, specializing in marijuana law. He represents numerous patients, doctors and marijuana businesses throughout the state of Colorado and has advised people from all over the country. Mr. Gard advises both state and local governments in their development of medical marijuana business regulations. He is widely considered one of Colorado’s leading marijuana attorneys. Since the passage of Amendment 64, which legalized adult possession and cultivation of marijuana in Colorado, Mr. Gard has been working with state and local officials in developing regulations for the retail marijuana industry and was appointed by the state to participate in the rule-making progress. Over the last year, he has been working with the U.S. Congress to assist with an analysis of the Federal Code to determine the various areas which are impacted by the state marijuana laws in hopes of reconciling state and federal law in the near future. Mr. Gard now shares his knowledge and experience with other attorneys and has given several CLE lectures on various aspects of marijuana law. By way of background, he is a Colorado native and a cum laude philosophy graduate from the University of Colorado, where he also was elected Phi Beta Kappa. While attending the law school, Mr. Gard won the William De Souchet Award for best individual performance in trial advocacy and won a multi-state moot court competition during his first year of law school. After graduation, he accepted a position with a respected litigation firm in Boulder, Colorado, and later formed his own firm in downtown Boulder, Colorado.

Chris Halsor Lawyer (CO) – Former 14-year prosecutor. Faculty member for the National Judicial College & Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

12.30 – 2.00 pm
EXTENDED LUNCHEON

Keynote Speaker: Dr Thomas Marcotte – Professor of Psychiatry Co-Director, Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at UC San Diego.

Field sobriety tests and the detection of cannabis-related impairment

Dr. Thomas Marcotte is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and Co-Director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, which has conducted clinical trials of cannabis for over 20 years and has an active, ongoing portfolio exploring the effects of cannabinoids (plant-based, synthetic) in various medical/psychiatric conditions. He is the principal investigator on studies addressing the effects that cannabis (including commercially-available products) has on driving performance, as well as methods for detecting cannabis-related driving impairment. He previously was the principal investigator on an NIH-funded take-home study of cannabis for the treatment of pain, and a co-investigator on cannabis studies addressing pain, as well spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Dr. Marcotte has served on the editorial boards of Neuropsychology and the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, was co-chair of the Research, Data and Technology subcommittee of the State of California Impaired Driving Task Force, and a member on the California Office on Traffic Safety Impaired Driving Blueprint Roundtable. He is co-editor of the book Neuropsychology of Everyday Functioning, 2nd Edition (Marcotte, Schmitter-Edgecombe & Grant).

3.45 – 5.00 pm
BREAKOUT SESSION 2

Developing Cannabis Testing & Technology

Moderator: Dr Tara Lovestead – Group Leader at National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Group Leader at National Institute of Standards and Technology. Lead on 2023 pilot study that supports the need for standard materials and methods and more research to realize a cannabis breathalyzer.

Dr. Tara Lovestead received a B.S. in nutrition at Virginia Tech and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her graduate studies were researching non-classical kinetics of multifunctional photopolymerizations. Her first postdoc was at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She began her career at NIST with both the PREP and NRC Postdoctoral Fellowships. Currently, she is the group leader of the Fluid Characterization Group in the Applied Chemicals and Materials Division. The group specializes in the development of novel methods for analyzing vapors and fluid mixtures to serve public health and safety, criminal justice, and industry. Dr. Lovestead is a co-PI on the Chemical Foundations for a Cannabis Breathalyzer program, leading the breath collection collaboration with the University of Colorado to identify biomarkers in the breath indicative of recent use of cannabis. She is also active in the program to develop dynamic vapor microextraction (DVME) for measuring thermophysical properties of low volatility, unstable and reactive compounds important for forensics and industry. Dr. Lovestead is also part of a new team and research program at NIST that successfully competed in the Innovations in Measurement Science Program, which will provide funding to develop spectroscopic measurements of intermolecular interactions in solution.

Dr. Denise A. Valenti  –  Owner IMMAD-Impairment Measurement Marijuana and Driving.

The company provides education, services and technology for the responsible use of cannabis. The current emphasis is on the technology IMMAD. IMMAD is a two minute objective test for law enforcement use to determine fitness to drive with marijuana consumption. The science behind IMMAD is complex, but the test is simple.

Dr. Denise A. Valenti is a residency-trained, low-vision/blind-rehabilitation optometrist with additional education and expertise in the field of age-related neurodegenerative diseases with the emphasis on Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Valenti has had additional training as an MGH/MIT/HMS Functional MRI Fellow at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging in Boston, Massachusetts and participated in the yearlong seminar series offered through the Boston University Sleep Disorders Center Fellowship program. Her research has included the study of imaging of retinal neural tissue using Optical Coherence Tomography and functional assessment of neural processing in the visual system using Frequency Doubling Technology. Dr. Valenti has provided direct clinical care for more than 25 years and currently is active in research and consultation related to vision, aging, neuroprocessing and cognitive functions. Dr. Valenti has taught Low Vision and Geriatrics at the MCPHS University School of Optometry and Gerontology at Quincy College and provides medical content to numerous professional newsletters throughout the United States.

29 years experience as a physician specializing in medical toxicology and occupational and environmental medicine.

Consultant to numerous clients in the public and private sector, including World Health Organization International Program on Chemical Safety, US Department of Defense, Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency, CDC, ATSDR, Department of Labor, National Research Council, industrial corporations, environmental engineering and consulting firms, community groups, nongovernmental agencies (e.g. Medicins Sans Frontiers), individual patients

Specialized evaluation of complex medical cases, environmental risk assessment and management, occupational health hazards, drug toxicology, risk communication, litigation support

Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health

Co-Principal Investigator, Comparative Assessment of Driving Impairment in Occasional Versus Heavy Marijuana Users, funded by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in grant to University of Colorado, 2017 to 2020

2016 Recipient of the American College of Medical Toxicology Matthew J. Ellenhorn Award [career achievement award in recognition of “extraordinary contributions to the field of medical
toxicology”]

Cannabis Treatment & Mental Health 

Linda E. Hurley, MA, CAGS – Chief Executive Officer ~ CODAC, Inc.

Linda Hurley, CEO of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, which is Rhode Island’s oldest and largest outpatient opioid treatment program (OTP) and provider of general outpatient addiction services, behavioral health care, and recovery resources, has been working in substance abuse treatment and behavioral healthcare for more than 35 years and has a broad background in substance use disorder and mental health.

In her tenure at CODAC, she was a catalyst for numerous innovative programs, including the development of a specialized treatment track for pregnant, post-partum, and parenting women. Health-related challenges faced by women in long-term medication assisted treatment (MAT) has long been an area of concern and I have been an advocate of the idea that OTP care for all patients—but especially for women—must be re-evaluated as patients move across the life span. Additional programs I have introduced include problem gambling services, tobacco treatment, trauma-informed care, and holistic wellness services. Under my leadership, CODAC became the first behavioral health provider in RI (and among the first nationally) to adopt Motivational Interviewing as an agency-wide practice; the first in the nation to receive Behavioral Health Home Certification; and the first OTP in RI to become a tobacco free agency. Under the revised DEA regulations, CODAC became the first mobile medical unit inclusive of a dispensary to provide medication assisted treatment to our most vulnerable population in Rhode Island.

Ms. Hurley has worked for decades in both community corrections and detention facilities to enhance continuity of care and decrease mortality and recidivism. She’s worked for 3 decades with both adult and adolescent community corrections programming.  The definition of Cannabis use has been a long-term dilemma for both the justice system and treatment providers. Ms. Hurley has become a content expert in both the science of cannabinoids and in the evolution of judicial practice.

Tanya L. Gouveia – MS, MPA, LCDP-II, LADC-I Addiction Recovery Counseling, LLC; Bristol Community College
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States.

Tanya Gouveia, MS, MPA, LADC-I, LCDP-II has been practicing in addiction treatment since 2008 in a wide range of treatment environments including correctional settings, residential treatment and outpatient. In 2016, Massachusetts legalized Marijuana sales and recreational use. This resulted in an increased presence of persons developing cannabis use disorders diagnosis, having work related problems, involvement with Department of Children and Families and cannabis induced mental health and medical disorders. Due to a lack of training availability on this subject matter, Ms. Gouveia began extensive research learning about the cannabis industry, examining international and peer reviewed research and utilizing best practice methods to establish a 4 week curriculum on education for patients with cannabis use disorders and how to best serve them. Her clinical trainings have been sought out in various clinical settings, state agencies and universities. Ms. Gouveia currently runs a full time private practice, Addiction Recovery Counseling, LLC, in Dartmouth, MA. She also serves as adjunct professor at Bristol Community teaching in the Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate program.

Dr. Elizabeth Stuyt 

Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Stuyt, MD is a board-certified Addiction Psychiatrist and has worked in the addiction/behavioral health field since 1990. She was the Medical Director for the Circle Program, a 90-day inpatient treatment program, funded by the state of Colorado, for persons with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse who have failed other levels of treatment from 1999 – 2020. She was instrumental in helping the Circle Program to become tobacco free in January 2000 and has been a strong advocate of the need to address all addictions at the same time, including tobacco, to improve outcomes. She has been actively incorporating complementary treatments into treatment programs, including the 5-point ear acupuncture NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol and BST (Brain Synchronization Therapy), to help patients recover from addiction as well as trauma which often underlies addiction and chronic pain issues. She retired from clinical practice in 2021 and continues to do consultant work for treatment programs, trainings on ear acupuncture and BST and presentations to educate as many people as possible on the un-intended consequences of the commercialization of marijuana in Colorado, focusing primarily on the deleterious effects of high potency THC on the developing brain. She is on the board of the International Academy on the Science and Impacts of Cannabis (IASIC) and believes that people should be following the science regarding policies related to cannabis.

Mark Stodola – NHTSA Probation Fellow.

As NHTSA’s Probation Fellow, Mark Stodola brings over 30 years of experience working in the field of court management and adult probation in Arizona. Mark worked at the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department for 18 years serving in a number of capacities including field supervisor and division director overseeing drug and alcohol treatment programs, problem solving courts and services for the mentally ill. Mark later became the Court Administrator of the Tempe Municipal Court where he served for eight years managing day-to-day activities including budget, case processing, program development (including the establishment of Arizona’s first municipal mental health court) and managing personnel. Most recently Mark served as Program Services Manager in the Adult Probation Services Division of the Arizona Supreme Court where he had oversight of treatment programs for Arizona’s Adult Probation Departments. Mark has presented training on topics surrounding high-risk drunk drivers at national, regional and state conferences throughout the country.

Mark received his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his master’s degree in Education from Northern Arizona University. Afterwards, Mark became a Graduate Fellow through the National Council of State Courts Institute of Court Management.

Moderator & Speaker: Deena Ryerson – Senior Assistant Attorney General (OR) & Oregon’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor.

Deena Ryerson is a graduate of the University of Oregon, School of Law in 1998.  She was admitted to the bar in 1998 and began working in civil litigation for two years.  From there she went to the Washington County District Attorney’s office where she worked as a prosecutor for six years.  During that time, she prosecuted countless DUII’s, both alcohol and drug related and helped to begin a county newsletter addressing DUII issues.  During Deena’s time with Washington County, she conducted several trainings for law enforcement, junior prosecutors, and law clerks.  She was selected as Oregon’s DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force Prosecutor of the Year for 2004.  In July 2006, she became Oregon’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor with the Department of Justice.  As a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, she assists prosecutors and law enforcement across the state with questions relating to DUII prosecution.  She provides training for new and seasoned prosecutors, including updates to DUII case law and alerts prosecutors to issues that surface through the defense of DUII cases.  She is a member of Oregon’s DUII Multidisciplinary Task Force, the DRE Technical Advisory Committee, the Oregon Ignition Interlock Committee, and a liaison to the Governor’s Advisory Committee on DUII.  Ms. Ryerson also trains new recruits at Oregon’s Department of Public Safety and Standards Training department and law enforcement across the state about DUII case law. Ms. Ryerson reviews all DUII legislation and is instrumental in drafting and editing proposed DUII legislation.  She is a resource to answer any impaired driving related questions for many disciplines.  In addition to her work in Oregon, has trained law enforcement officers and prosecutors in other states and has given presentations at several national conferences including Lifesavers and the National DRE Conference.  She was named a DRE Ambassador at the National DRE Conference in 2015.

R. Lynn Howard Chief Deputy District Attorney for Lincoln County,

R. Lynn Howard is the Chief Deputy District Attorney for Lincoln County, and has been in that role since 2021.  She started her career as a civil attorney in California, practicing civil litigation.  In 2000, she left her law practice and started working as a forensic scientist for the Orange County Crime Lab in California, where she worked for 4 years as a blood alcohol analyst.  In 2005, she moved to Oregon and started working at the OSP crime lab in Springfield.  She was there for 11 years, working in toxicology and drug chemistry, and served for a time as the toxicology technical leader.  She has testified as an expert witness more than 200 times in both states.  In 2013, she took the Oregon Bar, and then started working as a deputy district attorney in Lincoln County in 2016.  She is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on DUII.  Lynn was named 2018 DUII Prosecutor of the Year by the Oregon DUII Multidisciplinary Training Task Force, and 2022 National Traffic Safety Prosecutor of the year by the National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators.

Jeff Gard Lawyer (CO) – Criminal defense, civil litigation, cannabis/hemp and business matters.

Jeffrey Gard is a Colorado attorney with Gard Law Firm, LLC, specializing in marijuana law. He represents numerous patients, doctors and marijuana businesses throughout the state of Colorado and has advised people from all over the country. Mr. Gard advises both state and local governments in their development of medical marijuana business regulations. He is widely considered one of Colorado’s leading marijuana attorneys. Since the passage of Amendment 64, which legalized adult possession and cultivation of marijuana in Colorado, Mr. Gard has been working with state and local officials in developing regulations for the retail marijuana industry and was appointed by the state to participate in the rule-making progress. Over the last year, he has been working with the U.S. Congress to assist with an analysis of the Federal Code to determine the various areas which are impacted by the state marijuana laws in hopes of reconciling state and federal law in the near future. Mr. Gard now shares his knowledge and experience with other attorneys and has given several CLE lectures on various aspects of marijuana law. By way of background, he is a Colorado native and a cum laude philosophy graduate from the University of Colorado, where he also was elected Phi Beta Kappa. While attending the law school, Mr. Gard won the William De Souchet Award for best individual performance in trial advocacy and won a multi-state moot court competition during his first year of law school. After graduation, he accepted a position with a respected litigation firm in Boulder, Colorado, and later formed his own firm in downtown Boulder, Colorado.

Robert Hayes – West Region Project Manager for the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

Robert Hayes serves as the West Region Project Manager for the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).  Prior to taking this position he was in law enforcement for 32 years and recently retired as a Patrol Lieutenant from the Albany Police Department in Oregon.  Robert was hired by the Albany Police Department in 1999.  His emphasis in traffic enforcement is the detection of impaired drivers.  Prior to working for the Albany Police Department, Robert served for four years as a sworn Police Officer for the Florence, Oregon Police Department.  He was a sworn Reserve Deputy for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Salem, Oregon for four years prior to going to the Florence Police Department.  Robert is currently a Drug Recognition Expert, Drug Recognition Expert Instructor and a Standard Field Sobriety Test Instructor.  He also teaches at the Police Academy and throughout the United States.  Robert has also served as the Chair for the Linn County DUII Victim Impact Panel for the DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force.

Sunday, December 3

10.45 – 12.00 pm
BREAKOUT SESSION 3

Cannabis Equity & Inclusion – Deeds, Not Words: Where is Equity & Inclusion in the Cannabis Industry? 

Moderator & Speaker – Rob Mejia.

Rob Mejia, Teaching Specialist, Stockton University, Cannabis Studies.

Rob Mejia is a full time Cannabis Teaching Specialist at Stockton University where he teaches the Introduction to Medical Cannabis, Preparation for Cannabis Internship and Social Justice and Cannabis classes. As one of the leads for the hemp/cannabis internship program he has helped place dozens of students in valuable internships and jobs.

He recently helped establish CHRIS -the Cannabis & Hemp Research Initiative at Stockton as a hemp and non-medical research hub and cannabis education center. One of the first events that CHRIS hosted was a Cannabis Curriculum Convening which attracted over 30 cannabis professors from across the country. CHRIS continues to offer free ongoing quarterly educational hemp/cannabis panels and sponsors Stockton’s Cannabis Career Fair & Business Expos.

In addition to his teaching duties, Rob is President of Our Community Harvest: A Minority-Owned Cannabis Education company and is an established author. His company provides cannabis education to the public, business owners, and governmental officials. His authorship includes The Essential Cannabis Book: A Field Guide for the Curious, The Essential Cannabis Journal: Personal Notes from the Field and numerous magazine articles including a bi-monthly article for NJ Cannabis Insider called “Prof Mejia’s Weed Corner.” 

Mejia was recently named by NJ Advance Media/NJ.com as one of “23 to Watch in 2023” in the New Jersey cannabis industry. He also made his television debut on RVN TV on January 11^th, 2022, on the “New Perspectives” show. And in recognition of his cannabis advocacy and education efforts, he is the recipient of the Inaugural Excellence in Cannabis Education Award for the state of New Jersey.

Portia Mittons – Cannabis Industry Leader & Advocate

Portia Mittons was awarded a recreational cannabis retail license in Oregon January 20, 2017 and opened on January 31, 2017. The award of this license made Portia the 1st African American to be granted a recreational cannabis retail license in the state of Oregon. Upon opening, Portia moved to Oregon from Illinois to be hands on with her new investment, The Coughie Pot dispensary.  She handled day to day operations, including but not limited to; paying/filing taxes, inventory management, bill payment, employee scheduling, bookkeeping, product purchases and negotiations.

In 2019 Portia joined the Illinois arm of Bridge City Collective, a multistate operator. They were awarded an adult use dispensary license, craft grow, and transportation licenses making her quite possibly the 1st black woman to hold cannabis licenses in multiple states.

Marijuana Venture has published a four-page feature in April 2018 on Portia, and she has been featured by Oregon Public Broadcasting and Rolling Out Magazine. In 2022 she was named 1 of 11 women to watch by Marijuana Venture. She has also spoken on countless panels, podcasts, and radio shows.

Portia hosted her first Legit Trappin Cannabis Symposium in Chicago, IL on July 14, 2019 to educate people on opportunities in the cannabis space. She brought in people from Arizona, Oregon and Michigan who were currently working in the cannabis industries of cultivation, extraction/infusion, CBD production to give first hand knowledge of their experiences. With regard to social equity; during the event (Ret) Senator Rickey Hendon (Ret) Shelli Hayes held a course on Illinois’ social equity program and legislation. Legit Trappin Pt.2 was held September 8, 2019 to continue educating the public on the cannabis industry and the opportunities that are present for minorities through social equity status.

“Legit Trappin” is a celebratory idiom that highlights the hustle required to see a dream, idea, or concept to fruition. Its name unapologetically pays homage to those that have paved the way.  Legit Trappin is a backdrop to inform, educate, mentor, and connect people from all walks of life. . With nearly a lifetime in the boardroom, a wealth of entrepreneurial experiences, and the ear of many influential people Portia has made it her mission to make a difference. She champions inclusiveness in the cannabis industry & works to influence legislative efforts.

Commissions & Boards

• – Co-Owner, The Coughie Pot Dispensary, 2017-present
• – Partner and VP Retail, Bridge City Collective IL
• – Cook County Cannabis Commission
• – Cannabis Business Association Illinois: Board Member, Treasurer, and Co-Chair of the Minority Access Committee
• – Advisor, Illinois Cannabis Training Center
• – CIA (Cannabis Industry Alliance) formerly known as ORCA (Oregon Retailer’s Cannabis Association), Board Member
• – Oregon Business Development Dept: Cannabis Steering Committee  & Cannabis Market Analysis Steering Committee

Mary Jane Oatman Founder Indigenous Cannabis Coalition & THC Magazine and Executive Director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association.

Alejandro A Rodriguez –  Founder and instructor at the Cannabis Law Clinic within GGU School of Law

Alejandro currently serves the cannabis community as a founder and instructor at the Cannabis Law Clinic within GGU School of Law. The clinic extends pro bono legal aid to verified equity applicants in California and New York and has been a collaborative effort of instructors and law students. Since its launch in January 2021, the clinic has been fortunate to contribute over 2600 hours of pro bono work.

With a practical approach, Alejandro has had the privilege of assisting law students and clients in navigating intricate areas such as business transactions, regulatory compliance, and licensing. Currently, he is also involved in a shared endeavor to establish legal service providers in California and New York.

Cannabis in the Workplace and Cannabis Business Considerations

Moderator & Speaker – Trisha Zulick Efficient Edge HR & Training Service. Serves on the California State Council of SHRM.

Trisha Zulic is a resourceful and goal-oriented senior business leader with extensive human resource and operations experience.  Her experience includes serving as an HR Director, COO, Director of Operations and as a HR Department of One. Trisha is a subject matter expert in centralized HR, multi-location HR functions, business metrics and strategy.  She has authored and taught such courses as Keys to Success, a leadership training-moving from a manager to a leader, and Think like a COO, walking participants through leaderships thought process of decision making, short and long-term expectations and deliverables for most businesses. Trisha is SHRM-SCP certified and holds her SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential. Through her company, Trisha provides human resource, business and training services to multiple companies with emphasis and expertise in leadership development, harassment avoidance, HR in California, anti-bullying and diversity.

Judge Lisa J. Dickinson – Managing Attorney Founder Dickinson Law Firm, PLLC (WA), Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings, Administrative Law Judge Pro Tem, Tribal Court Justice (various tribes).

Dale Gieringer – Director at California NORML. Director of the California Drug Policy Forum (DPFCA) and treasurer of the Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance. He was one of the original co-authors of California’s medical marijuana initiative, Prop. 215.

Dale Gieringer, Ph.D.  is the director of California NORML (National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws).  He has published research on marijuana and driving safety, medical use of marijuana, drug urinalysis, marijuana vaporizers, and the history and economics of legal marijuana.  He was a co-author of California’s medical marijuana law, Prop. 215 and Oakland’s 2004 Adult Use Cannabis Ordinance.  He served on the California Highway Patrol task force on drug-impaired driving.

Kayla M. Jacob – Associate in the Labor and Employment section of the New Orleans office of law firm, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson L.L.P.

Kayla received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Southern University Law Center in May 2021 where she served as a member of the Southern University Law Review and SBA Diversity Committee. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, cum laude with distinction, from Louisiana Scholars’ College at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 2014. She then earned her Master of Science in Human Resources Education with a Concentration in Human Resources and Leadership Development, summa cum laude, from Louisiana State University in 2016. 

Prior to joining BSW, Kayla worked as a Human Resource Consultant and Human Resource Consultant Supervisor at Louisiana State Civil Service. During her tenure at State Civil Service, she advised state agencies on State Civil Service rules, aided in the development of policies as well as the implementation of pay mechanisms, and participated in market analysis and market research. She also served as a certified statewide classification and compensation trainer for the state’s Comprehensive Public Training Program. 

Cannabis & Legal Information

Moderator: Sean Hocking

Sean Hocking is the founder and editor of Cannabis Law Report, Cannabis Law Journal, Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers (Directory) & The Global Top 200 Psychedelic Lawyers & Policy Makers (Directory). Sean has worked for over 30 years in legal bookselling & publishing including stints at Lexis Nexis & The Legal 500. Sean has also published for the last 20 years PracticeSource.com a website about legal information and legal sector issues.

Susan Ameel – President Global Legal Risk Advisors

GLRA  aggregate and AI-enrich public data includinjg Cannabis from over 12,000 US states, counties, cities, towns, villages, and other jurisdictions. From start-ups to large companies, we help drive efficiency through organizations and empower strategic decisions.  My prior roles include Managing Director at Deloitte & Touche LLP,  Chief Regulatory Officer National Stock Exchange & Counsel at Seward & Kissel LLP.

Vanessa Christman  –  Witkin State Law Library Sacramento, CA.

Vanessa Christman is the Principal Law Librarian at the California State Library, where she manages the Witkin State Law Library and the Government Publications Section. With experience as a law librarian and public library administrator, she has many years of experience working to address the exponential rise in demand for legal resources related to Cannabis law.

David C. Holland – Partner Prince Lobel Tye.

David C. Holland is a partner and a member of Prince Lobel’s Business Litigation and Cannabis practice groups.

David is a highly sought-after civil and criminal litigation attorney who has an extensive background in representing a broad range of stakeholders in the cannabis industry.  He is the Executive and Legal Director of Empire State NORML, the New York State affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). He is also a co-founder and President of the New York City Cannabis Industry Association (NYCCIA) and Vice President of the Hudson Valley Cannabis Industry Association (HVCIA). David is also a pro bono Legal Advisor to Last Prisoner Project (LPP) seeking clemency and habeas corpus relief for prisoners of the Drug War.

Previously, David spent a dozen years serving Of Counsel to the late Michael Kennedy, Esq., an outspoken criminal defense and civil rights and cannabis advocate. Together, they successfully pursued President Obama with a group clemency petition on behalf of five elderly first time offenders serving at least one sentence of life without the possibility of parole for non-violent marijuana related offenses. During that time, David also provided Counsel to High Times Magazine handling all legal matters. He is a frequent information source for news media outlets and regular lecturer at many multi-disciplinary legal and media events regarding cannabis related issues.

David has challenged the constitutionality of federal cannabis laws in several legal actions, submitted amicus curiae briefs to the United States Supreme Court in the case of Washington v. Barr and Musta v. Mendota Heights Dental Ctr., arguing that the Schedule I status of cannabis under federal law is unconstitutional. He has also brought a Declaratory Judgment action against the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Services on behalf of probationers who are being denied access to medical marijuana under the state’s Compassionate Care Act as well as representing a firefighter who was terminated from the Buffalo Fire Department for his lawful use of medical cannabis. David has been a leading voice in New York’s legalized cannabis laws and emerging industry rules and regulations.

David was named a Top 100 Attorney of the Year in 2021 and a 2022 Metro New York Super Lawyer.

David was admitted to the federal and state courts in New Jersey (1994), New York (1996), and Maryland (2004), as well as the U.S. Supreme Court and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

12.00 – 1.00pm
LUNCH
Keynote: Scheril Murray Powell

Scheril Murray Powell, Esq. is an Agricultural, Cannabis, Dietary Supplement, and Trade Attorney at Doumar, Allsworth, Laystrom, Voigt, Adair, and Dishowitz LLP.   Scheril is the Chief Operating Officer of 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the JUSTÜS Foundation (www.Justus.foundation) and Chair of the Broward County Medical Marijuana Advisory Board which advises the County on Marijuana related policies and positions. 

She is also the Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Sub-Committee of the ASTM D37 Committee.  Honeysuckle Magazine recognizes her as one of the Top 28 Black Shapers of Drug Policy, Cannabis, and Psychedelics.  The Daily Business Review has named her one of the Top 12 Cannabis Attorney’s in Florida.  In 2022, she was named one of High Times 100, an annual recognition of the industry’s top leaders and influencers.  Her practice covers both the Marijuana and Hemp Industries, specializing in Cannabinoid legalization and UK Novel Foods registration. 

She is a Florida licensed Hemp Farmer and is a Research Farmer for the University of Florida.  Scheril serves on the Board of one of the oldest Cannabis Advocacy Organizations, Patients Out of Time.  She is the Executive Director of the African American Farmers Association.  She is the former Executive Director of the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists of Florida and former Director of Federal Affairs for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Scheril is on the Hemp Pilot Program Advisory Board for the University of Florida and serves on The Tamarac North Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and a Board Member of The Unprescribed.org (a non-profit focused on reducing Veteran homelessness and suicides).  She was a Founding Board Member for the U.S. Hemp Builders Association

2.30 – 3.45 pm

Regulations & Licensing 

Moderator – Heidi Urness – Member, co-chair, cannabis practice group mcglinchey.

Heidi Urness has a national reputation in the cannabis sector. She is a skillful, tenacious, and results-focused attorney who advises individuals, entrepreneurs, financiers, producers, processors, retailers, and other categories of licensees, and cannabis-ancillary business and service providers as they navigate and prosper in this highly regulated industry. She guides startups that need to establish operations, attract investment, and obtain the necessary licenses. Heidi counsels retailers on real estate, banking, and employment matters, and works with investors interested in professionally-run and compliant cannabis ventures. She also advises companies that support the marijuana industry, like trucking and transportation providers and packaging designers and suppliers. Heidi also supports clients in a wide variety of disputes and litigation, priding herself on the motto “don’t mess with my cannabis clients.”

Andrew De Weese

A relentless litigator and savvy business advisor, Andrew DeWeese handles complex business litigation in state and federal court, and advises some of the most prominent and successful cannabis thought leaders and companies in the world. He has litigated in complex arbitration proceedings as well as other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and represented clients before administrative bodies and other state and federal governmental entities. Mr. DeWeese has been on the forefront of the novel legal issues concerning the emerging cannabis industry for many years.

Mr. DeWeese is a member in good standing of the Oregon and Florida bar associations, as well as the bars of the United States Supreme Court, the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District Courts of and for Oregon and the Southern District of Florida. Mr. DeWeese is a founding officer of the Oregon State Bar Cannabis Law Section.

David Waxman – mcglinchey.

David advises clients on the issues that arise in buying and selling businesses and – because he recognizes the fast-paced and high-stakes nature of the market – he places a high priority on putting deals together on time and on budget. He likes the challenge of structuring transactions in a way that allows them to go as smoothly as possible so clients reach their goals as efficiently as possible. He always thoroughly discusses the clients’ plans and objectives to understand in great detail the overall view of their business and how he can best help them accomplish their goals.

In recent years, David has begun applying his real estate, commercial finance, and corporate transactions knowledge base to cannabis industry clients. Advising on matters related to corporate finance, real estate and zoning, contractual issues, transportation, as well as environmental and regulatory matters, David helps marijuana businesses and related entities navigate this dynamic and evolving field.

Daniel Shortt – mcglinchey.

Daniel is a Seattle-based corporate and regulatory attorney who works extensively with entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. He advises clients on matters related to both hemp and marijuana and frequently speaks on legal issues relating to cannabis across the country and abroad. Daniel is quoted as an authority on cannabis law in dozens of publications, including Marijuana Moment, Hemp Industry Daily, the Washington Post, and Bloomberg, to name a few.

During law school, Daniel worked extensively with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board to fund and establish the Cannabis Law and Policy Project (CLPP). He then served as the editor of the CLPP blog and as a Hazelton Fellow researching cannabis law. Daniel also interned for Justice Richard Baldwin of the Oregon Supreme Court and for the Seattle City Attorney.

Psychedelics – Legislation, Regulation, Practicalities & The Law

Moderator: Aaron Pelley – Managing Partner & Founder Cultiva Law (WA/OR/CA). National Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyer 2020-23, Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyer.

Aaron Pelley has played an active role in cannabis law for over a decade. He helped build the foundation for legal protections in medical cannabis law and is a leading advocate for the cannabis business. His passion for this new realm of practice led to the launch of Cultiva and the formation of a boutique law firm unsurpassed in cannabis law.

In addition to representing cannabis clients and their business interests, Aaron has earned a reputation for effective high profile litigation. His representative cases convey his ability to handle a diversity of complex legal matters. He has also been invited to speak at Legal Education Seminars and Cannabis Conferences throughout the U.S. and has been repeatedly named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers. Aaron is personally and professionally passionate about advancing the interests of a legitimate and integrous cannabis industry, establishing and enforcing equitable relationships among business partners, and supporting and promoting the end of the war on cannabis.

Shannon O’Fallon – Senior Assistant Attorney General at Oregon Department of Justice

Shannon O’Fallon is a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Oregon Department of Justice, General Counsel Division.  She joined Oregon DOJ in 2002, first working in the Natural Resources Section of the General Counsel Division advising natural resources agencies, before transitioning to the Health and Human Services Section.  Shannon is lead counsel for the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and is primary contact counsel for the Oregon Psilocybin Services program, within OHA.  For years Shannon also advised the state’s medical marijuana program.  

In addition to advising OHA, Shannon is contact counsel, along with another attorney in her section, for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s cannabis regulatory program, and she was instrumental in implementing Oregon’s cannabis laws.  Through the Attorney General Alliance (AGA), Shannon is a contributing author to the Cannabis Law Deskbook, published by the AGA and Thomson Reuters, and this fall will be teaching a virtual course offered through the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, on the Public Health Implications of Cannabis Legalization and Use. 

Prior to joining the Oregon DOJ, from 1994 to 2000 Shannon worked in the Alaska Attorney General’s office in Juneau, advising both natural resources agencies and the Department of Health and Social Services, serving in a general counsel role as well as representing her departments in civil and administrative proceedings and appeals. 

Shannon graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1993 and got her B.A. from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1990.  She currently lives in Portland, Oregon and enjoys spending time outdoors in the amazing Pacific Northwest. 

Patricia Pizzo – Consultant

Since 1980, Pat Pizzo has been in the field of Forensic Toxicology for 53 years. She served as served as the Director of Toxicology at Alere Toxicology Laboratory a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories. Before coming to Alere, she worked as a chemist at Bio-Science Laboratories, Pathology Associates of New Orleans Laboratory and for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, DC. Ms. Pizzo is an active member of, advisor to, and participant in many technical and professional organizations of forensic toxicology. Ms. Pizzo is a member of the DATIA Oil and Gas Industry Guidelines Development Committee. These guidelines will be jointly published by DATIA and OGP/IPIECA. Ms. Pizzo is a former member of the Federal Drug Testing Advisory Board. She also serves as a consultant for many national companies. Ms. Pizzo is a Board-Certified Forensic Examiner, has been certified as an expert witness in Federal (22 states) and State (17) courts/proceedings and has testified throughout the country. She is frequently called upon to serve as an inspector for the National Laboratory Certification Program and the College of American Pathologists Forensic Urine Drug Testing Program. She has been a guest speaker on many radio talk shows and featured in newspapers and magazines and is a member of many Forensic Toxicology organizations. She has authored and co-authored several articles that have appeared in the United States and abroad.

Matthew Wissler  – Approved Oregon Facilitator

Matthew has spent over 20 years working in fields that promote growth and healing. This includes over a decade working on endangered species recovery projects before transitioning into teaching, leading work-readiness programs for at-risk young adults, and youth crisis intervention. Through this work he has accumulated a wealth of experience in trauma informed care, crisis intervention. harm reduction, relating to various forms and states of consciousness, and preparing people for the journey ahead. In addition, he has an extensive personal background working with psilocybin, and other entheogens, that includes his own personal healing journey through loss and grief.  Matthew trained as a facilitator with the Changa Institute and has led practicums for students completing their facilitator certification requirements.  He is excited to share his knowledge and experience relating to psilocybin services, policies, regulations, and practices.

Cannabis: The Good the Bad & the Ugly

Moderator – Anthony Washington FAMU/MMERI.

Anthony serves as Statewide Outreach Coordinator for the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI). In this leadership role, Anthony collaborates with the incredibly talented MMERI Team and a broad spectrum of internal and external stakeholders and partners to successfully execute MMERI’s statewide legislative mandate. Anthony is responsible for overseeing MMERI’s mission to educate Florida’s rural, urban, multicultural population, components of the Court and law enforcement entities about the medical and unlawful use of marijuana.

Anthony has over 25 years of experience in law enforcement, drug testing, education campaigns, strategic planning and local government administration. Anthony is the Past President of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) and is currently on the Board of Directors for the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA). He recently served as the Supervisor of the Leon County Florida Probation and Pretrial Office. He is a former Deputy Sheriff, Navy veteran and one of the founding organizers of the National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium.

Anthony is proud of the unique and expanding role Florida A&M University holds in the cannabis space, especially the privilege of educating Floridians on this crucial public health matter with a profound socioeconomic impact on our communities. Among other things, Anthony believes in FAMU’s unique place and expertise in overseeing, implementing, and managing politically and culturally sensitive programs.

Dr. Archie Bleyer –  Clinical Research Professor, Radiation Medicine OHSU, School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Medicine. Senior Advisor and Health Services Research Collaborator, Cancer Medicine, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU and Collaborator, Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington.Dr. Bleyer has been awarded research grants totaling more than $ 87 million as a principal investigator from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, University of Texas and the Leukemia Society of America.

Dr. Bleyer chaired the Children’s Cancer Group for 10 years, then the world’s largest pediatric cancer research organization, the Department and Division of Pediatrics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Community Oncology in the Department and Division of Medicine at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He was the American Cancer Society Professor of Clinical Oncology and in charge of the cancer curriculum in the University of Washington School of Medicine.During the past four decades, Dr. Bleyer was awarded research grants totaling more than $ 87 million as a principal investigator from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, University of Texas and the Leukemia Society of America. He is an author on more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, 77 book chapters, and 10 books, and the senior editor of the Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults book. His current personal clinical research is dedicated to adolescents and young adult (AYA) oncology and to social science issues (suicide, firearm deaths, substance abuse) in young Americans.

Dr. Joseph Rosado MD – aka “Dr. Joe” Family Physician. Leading Physician as well as a well-respected Medical Director, educator, published author, and prominent public speaker.

Joseph Rosado MD is a leading Physician as well as a well-respected Medical Director, educator, published author, and prominent public speaker. His extensive experience in the broad field of Integrative Medicine combined with his unique specializations ensure he can provide a comprehensive level of high-quality care for all members of your family.Dr. Joseph Rosado is one of the United States’ most well-respected scientists working with Medical Cannabis. He has been regularly featured on major US TV networks as a guest speaker. Dr. Rosado is fluent in English and Spanish. Further, he has been invited to speak all over the world educating doctors including but not limited to these countries: Fiji, Malaysia, Italy, and Costa Rica.

Dr. Eric Voth.

Dr. Voth is a specialist in Internal Medicine, Pain Management, and Addiction Medicine as well as Former Vice-President of Primary Care at Stormont-Vail HealthCare in Topeka, Kansas. He is a pioneer in the appropriate prescribing of controlled medications and is recognized as an international authority on drug use, drug policy-related issues, pain management, and appropriate prescribing practices. 

Dr. Voth also serves as an advisor on alcohol and drug abuse issues to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, is a former member of the National Advisory Committee for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment of HHS and is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. 

Dr. Voth has advised Reagan, Clinton, both Bush, and Obama administrations, and has advised or testified for numerous Congressional offices on drug related issues. He has appeared on or consulted to, numerous other radio media, and has been quoted by numerous international print media. 

Having consulted in legal cases for over thirty years, Dr. Voth has provided expert testimony on general medical issues, pain management, and addiction issues for both defense and plaintiff cases.

THE NICS FACILITATOR

Jenny Leis Facilitation, Training and Consulting – Helping groups thrive
www.jennyleis.com

Jenny is a spark of enthusiasm for vibrant group process!

Jenny has 25-years experience developing organizational systems for grassroots nonprofits, facilitating collaborative meetings and plans, managing volunteers, organizing campaigns, raising funds and hosting events. Building on decades of practical experience in learning what makes groups and individuals thrive, she is focusing skills, energy and experience on facilitating, teaching and supporting changemakers.

Through her business, Your Enthusiasm Is Contagious (certified Women Business Enterprise in Oregon), she designs and facilitates meetings, retreats, strategic planning, peer learning cohorts, and organizational redesigns, and leads participation-based trainings on communication, conflict engagement, shared leadership, decision-making, social ecology and more. She specializes in consensus decision-making, visual thinking (translating ideas into folk graphics), facilitated reflection, and helping people thrive (even have fun!) as they navigate complex social and interpersonal issues.

Her teaching style is based in compassion for the hard work of social change, lighthearted silliness, interactive activities and commitment to healthy communication.

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There are

• Three Keynotes

• Four Plenary Sessions

• Four Breakout Sessions

• 12 Panels

The Final Plenary will be an Open Discussion that will identify and elucidate the current issues related to the legalization of cannabis and its impact on law enforcement, academia, attorneys, judges, drug court professionals, the drug and alcohol testing industry, and human resources and make recommendations for evidence-based practices.

Facilitator: Jenny Leis

…

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>>>>> Contact Us <<<<<

Register Now

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NATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY CANNABIS SYMPOSIUM SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES

 As cannabis legalization and regulations evolve, the United States is at a tipping point. There are now several pending Congressional Bills related to cannabis including decriminalization and rescheduling of the drug. Thirty-eight states have some form of medical marijuana, 18 States, D.C. Guam, Northern Marijuana Islands, and Tribal nations have recreational marijuana laws with many other states exploring recreational marijuana for 2023-4 These continued changes in the laws and regulations are impacting our courts and society. It is also creating a dynamic and changing landscape for various disciplines including Law Enforcement, Judges, Drug Court Professionals, Cannabis Regulators, Legislators and Commissioners, Academia, and Human Resource Associations & Organizations. 

As a result the symposium has partnered with the American Bar Association (ABA),  The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) American Judges Association (AJA) the Oregon Department of Transportation  the National Judicial College (NJC), New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals (NEARCP)  and Cannabis Law Report, and are bringing forward an interdisciplinary approach to cannabis issues facing all of these disciplines.

We are the only Cannabis Symposium gathering these disciplines together to engage and integrate associations and organizations, including law enforcement, academia, judges, drug court professionals including specialty court judges, the drug and alcohol testing industry, and human resources and others around the topic of cannabis by developing educational tracks and panels dedicated to each discipline along with integrated panels, plenaries, and workshops.

PARTNERS

The American Bar Association (Founded 1878) The ABA was founded on a commitment to set the legal and ethical foundation for the American nation. Today, it exists as a membership organization and stands committed to its mission of defending liberty and pursuing justice. As of fiscal year 2017, the ABA had 194,000 dues-paying members, constituting approximately 14.4% of American attorneys. In 1979, half of all lawyers in the U.S. were members of the ABA. The organization’s national headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois, and it also maintains a significant branch office in Washington, D.C.

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (Founded 1937) The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is the oldest judicial membership organization in the country and provides all judges, courts, and related agencies involved with juvenile, family, and domestic violence cases with the knowledge and skills to improve the lives of the families and children who seek justice.

The AJA (Founded 1959) the voice of the Judiciary and the largest judges’ organization in North America providing  the highest quality of continuing professional development for judges. 

NJC (Founded 1963) Created more than a half-century ago at the recommendation of a U.S. Supreme Court justice, The National Judicial College remains the only educational institution in the United States that teaches courtroom skills to judges of all types from all over the country, Indian Country and abroad.

Oregon Department of Transportation The Oregon Department of Transportation began operations in 1913 when the Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Highway Commission. ODOT provides  a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon’s communities and economy thrive.

NEARCP is a non-profit consortium of professionals working with and in recovery courts across six states:  Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.  Their members work across all recovery court dimensions and include judges, lawyers, treatment providers, case managers, probation and law enforcement officers, and other professionals.

Cannabis Law Report (Founded 2015) is the premier international cannabis & the law publication focused on current events and cases of interest. CLR also publishes The Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers Directory and the monthly Cannabis Law Journal.

SPONSORS

Responsibility.org

ThermoFisher Scientific

SHRM

FAMU – MMERI

Oregon Department of Transportation

National Center For State Courts

WORK WITH US

THE VENDOR AREA IS PLACED IN THE MAIN HALL ADJECENT TO SEMINAR & BREAKS SPACE

WE ARE LIMITING SPONSORSHIPS & VENDORS  SO THAT ALL REGISTERED ATTENDEES ARE
AWARE OF ALL OUR PARTNERS & CAN COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THEM

OUR AUDIENCE
JUDICIARY / REGULATORS / LAWYERS / POLICY EXPERTS / CANNABIS PROFESSIONSALS
C-SUITE / GOVT BODIES & ADMINISTRATION / TOXICOLOGISTS / MEDICAL DOCTORS

Platinum Level Sponsorship
$10,000
CONTACT US TO SECURE YOUR PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORSHIP

Gold Level Sponsorship
$5,000
CONTACT US TO SECURE YOUR GOLD LEVEL SPONSORSHIP

Silver Level Sponsorship
$3,000
CONTACT US TO SECURE YOUR VENDOR ONLY PACKAGE

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Courtesy Accommodation

The Duniway Portland, a Hilton Hotel

Stay in the heart of Portland

Address & Directions to PSU

MAKING RESERVATIONS
Reservations can be made at the following web address

Booking Website:
https://book.passkey.com/e/50638517

Symposium Special Rate $145 per night plus taxes

Revervation Cut Off Date November 3 2023

Things To Do In Portland

Eat & Drink
Voodoo Doughnut – A Portland Institution
Por Que No Taqueria  Mississippi Avenue
Le Pigeon Burnside
The Screen Door – Portland Breakfast Institution
The Doug Fir on Burnside – Eat In The Log Cabin Styled Diner Upstairs & Then Head Downstairs To Catch A Band
Eaters Guide To Portland’s Most Outstanding Foodcarts
Eater’s Guide To Portland’s Best Brew Pubs

Entertainment

Shop
Powells Bookstore: The World’s Largest Independent Bookstore
Mississippi Records: Probably the best record & cassette store in the world
Paxton Gate: Boutique shop specializing in taxidermy, fossils, framed insects, science kits, jewelry & plants

Visit
The Japanese Gardens
Like rummaging? The Rebuilding Center on Mississippi has that doorhandle you’ve been looking for!

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Portland State University

1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201, USA

Virtual Tour: https://admissions.pdx.edu/blog/virtual-tour#

Located in the heart of Portland State’s campus,  the Smith Memorial Student Union sits along the historic South Park Blocks.

• ADA Accessible Entrances
• All Gender Restrooms
• Lactation Stations
• Water Bottle Refill Stations
• Skybridge to parking structures 1 and 2

CAMPUS DROP-OFF/PICK-UP ZONE

For taxis, ride shares and those with mobility impairment, the zone is located at SW College Street and SW Park Avenue, adjacent to the Viking Pavilion southeast entrance at 930 SW Hall St. Portland OR,

From I-5 South to Exit 1C — Take Exit 302B and merge onto I-405 toward US-30 W toward Beaverton. Take Exit 1C and follow directions below.

From I-5 North to Exit 1C — Take Exit 292A and merge onto OR-217 toward Tigard Beaverton; Merge onto US-26 E toward Cedar Hills Portland. Keep right to merge onto I-405 S toward Salem. Take Exit 1C and follow directions below.

Take Exit 1C:
Onto US-26 E toward 6th Ave Ross Island Bridge
Continue onto SW Broadway
Turn left onto SW 6th Ave
Turn left onto SW Jackson St
Turn right onto SW Park Ave
Turn left onto SW College St

Parking

Hourly and Visitor parking spaces are intended to accommodate PSU students, employees, and guests who choose to drive infrequently or as an alternative to their regular commute. Payment is required for all hours, and all days except for official university holidays. Self-service pay stations do not provide change. 

Mobile Payment Options

We now offer three different mobile payment methods:

Parking Kitty: Download the app via the Parking Kitty website or find them on the App Store or GooglePlay Store. 

Park Mobile:  Enter your phone number on the Park Mobile website to download the app and get started!  

Pay by Phone: Download the app via the App Store or Google Play Store, or visit the Pay by Phone website.

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FINAL.Symposium.Program 03 17 22 (PDF)

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Saturday 2 December 2023

Venue: Hilton Duniway

Address

545 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR 97204, United States

503-553-7000

PRESENTED BY CLAS
Cannabis Law Students Association

Panels

11am

HOW TO BE A CANNABIS LAWYER

Moderator:  Benjamin Cochran

Ben Cochran is a third-year law student at California Western School of Law (“CWSL”) from Genoa, Nevada. He is one of the founders of The Association of Psychedelic Medicine (“APM”) and serves as treasurer on the board of the Cannabis and Psychedelic Law Students’ Society (“CPLSS”). The APM is a nonprofit foundation that aims to educate the public about psychedelic medicines such as psilocybin, DMT, etc. and support related policy initiatives. The CPLSS is a student organization that hosts industry panels, professional clothing drives, “Know Your Rights” campaigns, and more in partnership with lawyers and other professionals from around the community.

As a law student, Ben has focused on intellectual property including patents, copyrights, and trademarks in addition to business planning and drug policy/regulation. He aims to carry this knowledge into the cannabis and emerging psychedelic industries to facilitate the progress of entrepreneurs and advocates in those fields.

Panel Member 1
Andrew Cooper, Esq., LLM
Chair, Cannabis & Psychedelics Practice Group
Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP

Since pivoting into cannabis several years ago, I have used the skills I’ve honed in litigation, IP and Healthcare to represent clients in the emerging cannabis industry. I currently represent businesses and individuals at every level of the cannabis supply chain. My clients include state-licensed adult-use marijuana and hemp cultivators, processors, delivery companies, distributors, testing laboratories and dispensaries, whether vertically integrated or operating as standalone businesses, as well as investors in those businesses. I also represent a full range of vendors and ancillary players that supply their products and services to the cannabis industry, from raw materials, technology, advertising and marketing, consumption products, beverage, and security companies.

I am equally committed to helping build a truly equitable cannabis model in New York, and as an Executive Board Member of The JUSTÜS Foundation, a § 501(c)(3) I’m dedicated to ensuring and facilitating the entry of legacy operators into the legal cannabis market. I’ve also assisted social equity and justice-involved applicants pro bono to help educate and assist them in structuring their businesses and navigating through the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license application process.

I’ve been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University since 2015, and currently teach a course entitled “The Law & Business of Marijuana”.

I’ve also has been recognized as a Cannabis Super Lawyer (2013 – 2023)

Panel Member 2
Aaron Pelley – Founder Principal Cultiva Law

Representing a select group of cannabis entrepreneurs as their strategic legal counsel. Aaron regularly appears in speaking engagements throughout the country as a leading advocate on marijuana and the law. In addition, Aaron is regularly featured in magazines, news articles and television programs on how cannabis is shaping our culture, laws and economy.

Panel Member 3
Andrew De Weese – Lawyer Portland

Andrew DeWeese handles complex business litigation in state and federal court, and advises some of the most prominent and successful cannabis thought leaders and companies in the world. He has litigated in complex arbitration proceedings as well as other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and represented clients before administrative bodies and other state and federal governmental entities. Mr. DeWeese has been on the forefront of the novel legal issues concerning the emerging cannabis industry for many years.

Mr. DeWeese is a member in good standing of the Oregon and Florida bar associations, as well as the bars of the United States Supreme Court, the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District Courts of and for Oregon and the Southern District of Florida. Mr. DeWeese is a founding officer of the Oregon State Bar Cannabis Law Section.

Mr. DeWeese was born and raised in Port Townsend, Washington. In his spare time, Mr. DeWeese enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest, reading, and adding to his extensive rare book collection. Mr. DeWeese is also a professional-calibre orchestral violist, has toured and concertized throughout Europe and the Americas with some of the most prominent classical and popular artists of our generation. His primary instrument is the “Eclipse” viola, commissioned by Mr. DeWeese and crafted by the luthier Thomas Gaetano Sparks of Indiana University.

12.30pm

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A PSYCHEDELICS PROFESSIONAL
& HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

Moderator: Allyne Sendolo – Student Lead CLAS

Allyne (Al-lean) Sendolo is a third year law student at California Western School of Law (CWSL). As a 2L at CWSL she founded the Cannabis and Psychedelic Law Student Society (CPLSS). Under her presidency CPLSS has put on industry panels with Cannabis and Psychedelic professionals, Know Your Rights discussions in partnership with the Public Defender Office, professional clothing drives to address classism within law school, and worked to bring about an intersectional perspective to the industry. Currently Allyne is serving as a board member for the National Cannabis Law Student Association hosted by Cannabis Law Report.  Prior to law school Allyne was a Diversity Facilitator and an AmeriCorps assistant team leader. Upon graduation, Allyne plans to blend her experience of diversity facilitation with her passion for psychedelic and cannabis legalization.

Panel Member 1
Sarah Honeycutt
Accreditated Oregon Facilitator

Sarah is an active advocate for plant medicine in Oregon as an advisor at Plant Medicine Healing Alliance and participated in the first cohort of the, Oregon state-approved psilocybin, training program InnerTrek .

Currently Sarah is working as an advocate for plant medicine, expanding consciousness, and working on the digital frontier. Their activities include supporting communities, public speaking, educating, and building in digital spaces. For the past fifteen years in their career, Sarah has contributed to projects in roles from cartographer, mapping economic trends and information to applied economist, supporting the development of the largest utility-scale renewable energy production and transportation projects. They have familiarity with governmental approval processes from supporting fiscal approval in state legislatures to securing federal environmental approvals. 

Panel Member 2
Jeanette Small
Accreditated Oregon Facilitator

Jeanette Small, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Lucid Cradle – a psilocybin services center in Bend, Oregon. Although Oregon’s Psilocybin Program is an adult use model (rather than a therapy), Jeanette finds her education in Clinical and Somatic Psychology (UCSB; SBGI), and previous work experience in psychiatry, juvenile residential treatment facility and outpatient psychotherapy. To learn more about Jeanette Small and her work, please visit http://lucidcradle.com or find her on Instagram @smalljeanette or @lucid.cradle.

Panel Member 3
Jon Dennis Lawyer

Jon Dennis is a lawyer, activist, and entrepreneur in the psychedelics ecosystem. He is the executive director of Vital Oregon, a psilocybin facilitator training program by Psychedelics Today, and the co-host of the “Eyes on Oregon” podcast from Psychedelics Today. Jon is a member of the Chacruna Institute’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants. He is a member of the Psychedelics Bar Association and sits on its Religious Use Committee. Jon serves on the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Practice Section on Cannabis and Psychedelics and is a founding member of the Entheogenic Practitioners Council of Oregon. He lives in Ontario, Oregon and practices law through his firm Sagebrush Law.

Jon has been a lead voice in promoting equity and affordability under Oregon’s psilocybin program, known as Measure 109. He is the chief architect of the proposed regulatory framework for religious and community-based paradigms of psilocybin services under Measure 109 and has presented to multiple subcommittees of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board, leading Business Insider to name Jon as among “the most influential people helping to shape Oregon’s psilocybin industry.” He lives in Ontario, Oregon.

Panel Member 3
Alex J. Berger. Regulatory attorney at Emerge Law Group.

Alex  primarily serves the cannabis, hemp/CBD, and psychedelics industries.  His practice focuses on state and federal regulatory compliance and licensing in highly regulated industries.  He represents a broad base of cannabis, hemp, and psychedelic-related clients, including cultivators, processors, wholesalers, dispensaries, service centers and ancillary businesses (e.g., software providers, equipment vendors, etc.).  His clients range from smaller “mom and pop” businesses to larger private and public multistate and multinational operators.  Alex assists cannabis and psychedelics businesses who face a complicated and often confusing set of local, state, and federal laws and regulations.  He provides advice and services regarding state licensing, compliance with regulations, food and drug law, and land use matters. His primary goal is to help clients successfully navigate the often vague, ambiguous, and uncertain path toward maintaining lawful, compliant, and successful cannabis- and psychedelics-related businesses.

Alex has served on several state agency rules advisory committees and contributed to the National Cannabis Industry Association’s (NCIA) Public Comments Submission to FDA regarding Scientific Data and Information About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds. Alex also served on the NCIA Packaging and Labeling Committee and has spoken at several cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics industry conferences around the country.

2.30pm

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY PSYCHEDELICS AND CANNABIS LAW

Moderator: Madison Alvarez
Masters in Environmental communication @ University of Miami
3rd year of law school CWSL San Diego

Madison is a 3L student at California Western School of Law. At the University of Miami, she studied advertising management, philosophy, biology, and entrepreneurship. Also at the University of Miami, she earned a Master’s of Professional Science in Environment, Culture & Media, an area of study that focuses on environmental communication, and changing the public’s perception on the multifaceted topic of climate change with high consideration to culture. After graduating, Madison worked as a public advocate for two years on the complex topic of nuclear waste disposal in the U.S. where she wrote a white paper for SCOTUS summarizing the issue of nuclear waste. Bringing her knack for advocacy and passion for policy reform to law school, she is now the head of psychedelics at the Cannabis & Psychedelic Law Student Society (CPLSS) at California Western School of Law. Bridging the gap between environmental law and psychedelic law, she received an Academic Excellence Award for a legal paper on B. alvarius toads, calling for species-specific studies, as well as the legalization of synthetic versions of 5-MeO-DMT, with the goal of conservation. Now, she seeks to incorporate environmental consideration into emerging laws on psychedelic medicine.

Panel Members TBA

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