2020 Boston Conference Program: October 20 – 22

As the cannabis industry crosses the Mississippi, establishing a more consolidated and regulated business landscape, and CBD is popping up in large retail chains across the country, it’s hard to keep up with everything. Get a complete overview of the CBD and cannabis landscape in this Industry Update covering consumer, market and regulatory developments.

Announcing the nation’s first public-private jail-to-jobs fellowship program by and for the cannabis industry, solely focused on educating, empowering, and employing individuals disproportionately impacted by the failed war on drugs. Come hear how CultivatED will serve as a model for others states and jurisdictions across the country as policymakers seek to build equitable pathways to meaningful industry participation.   CultivatED is being supported by the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and the Greater Boston Legal Services as well as being funded by prominent cannabis businesses that will be announced at the event.

Are you trying to raise capital for your early-stage company or are you an investor considering an investment in an early-stage company? Which type of financial instrument is appropriate? How should you pitch to an investor? How does an investor vet pitches from a company? This panel is designed for both entrepreneurs and early-stage investors. We will review many of the key elements and terms of capital-raising from the viewpoint of early-stage companies and investors vetting the same capital raises. The panel will cover topics ranging from which financial instrument makes sense from the company vs the investor’s perspective to how a company should pitch to investors and prepare for capital raises. Come learn what are the key elements investors look for in a pitch, including some of the biggest turn-offs for investors. Your presenters will include experienced cannabis investors and company advisors.

Lack of minority and women representation in ownership and C-suite positions in the Cannabis Industry has been a hot button topic. Join some of the industry’s leading figures as they discuss the challenges of “A corporate culture change.” Topics will include executive recruitment and how cannabis corporations go about it today, what should change in this regard and how to make positive progress.

The FDA is coming!  With the popularity of state-wide medical cannabis legalization, it is not a question of if FDA oversight will happen, but when.  In the meantime, what can MMJ companies do to prepare themselves for coming regulations and oversight?  What can be learned from the pharmaceutical industry in regards to product development, testing and quality control?  Ilera Healthcare’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Oludare Odumosu will speak to why the MMJ industry needs to start preparing for the FDA now and what can be done to insure viability in regards to future oversight.

Learn what you should expect from the business, pitfalls to avoid, tax and financial strategies, marketing strategies and operational strategies.

Are you looking to enter the cannabis industry and are unsure what road is the best one to take? Then this class is for you! Quickly identify the national business opportunities, legislative parameters, associated risks, business models, regulations, due diligence and steps necessary to purchase, invest or open a cannabis business.

Learn what you should expect from the business, pitfalls to avoid, tax and financial strategies, marketing strategies and operational strategies.

Presented by:  Chloe Villano, President, Clover Leaf University and Jaime Lewis, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Coldwater Consulting; Founder & CEO, Mountain Medicine 

Learn what you should expect from the business, pitfalls to avoid, tax and financial strategies, marketing strategies and operational strategies.

Who should attend: This class is for anyone in or interested in becoming part of the cannabis industry as a business owner, partner, investor or employee. 

• Learn what you should expect from the business, pitfalls to avoid, tax and financial strategies, marketing strategies and operational strategies.

  Module One will cover business opportunities, company structure, product development, and creating award-winning companies and brands.

• Module Two will discuss the best way to enter the industry. Is it best for an entrepreneur to partner with an existing licensee who is already profitable by investing directly in the business? Is it better to purchase the business, or compete for a license? This class will discuss the risks, the financials, the benefits, and the rewards, for each of these business opportunities. Learn the critical due diligence necessary to vet these companies properly, and what a successful business should encompass to be a strong candidate for purchase or investment.

• Module Three will cover the merger and acquisition process for cannabis businesses including values, timelines, and the transfer of ownership process.

Join us for this extensive four-hour course as we discuss all of these options on a national scale!

Learn how to appropriately scale into the business the best and fastest way possible. Once you have taken this class, you will understand the essential business fundamentals to get started in the cannabis industry.

Space is limited. Don’t wait. Sign up now!

This is a historically unique time where people can pursue the American dream. This business is set to produce billions of dollars in revenue next year. Get in on the ground floor of America's premier cash crop.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about what can and can’t be patented in the countries in which prohibition is still relevant; the value of existing patents relating to cannabis patents; the take-away message of the invalidation of claims in the recent US IPR relating to GW’s patent”; and the big-picture impact that cannabis patent wars will have on the cannabis landscape over the coming years. This talk will clear up some of that misinformation. And, really, what is a “U.S. Plant Patent” and what does it cover.

While the number of overall positions in the cannabis industry continue to reflect a large majority of men, there is a large and growing number of women in powerful leadership roles in the Massachusetts cannabis industry. Female executive leadership has been overlooked by the media for far too long and it’s more than time to recognize how women are leading and shaping the marijuana landscape in Massachusetts. The women on this panel represent all facets of the industry. Come hear their stories and listen to their advice as these dynamic women share their wisdom and insight on making a career in the cannabis world.

Federal vs. State law: Which laws do business operators need to follow to sell hemp and CBD products? Spoiler alert: It's both… and don't forget about the local laws and ordinances. Don't miss this session for a deep dive into the regulations and other best practices you need to know to launch your hemp or CBD business and navigate the ups and downs of recent regulations and bans. Attorney Michelle Bodian's experience working with the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture before joining the leading firm in cannabis law and policy, Vicente Sederberg, means she has a perspective that will be exceptionally valuable to attendees concerned about hemp regulations and limits on CBD. This presentation will also feature a prediction on where the FDA, FTC and Department of Public Health will decide on the CBD issue in Massachusetts, and provide a valuable risk assessment on specific products for retailers.

This panel of experts will address the interplay between state laws legalizing recreational and/or medical marijuana uses and the Federal Controlled Substances Act; enforcement and application of other regulatory regimes governing the operation of marijuana-related businesses, such as banking and securities laws; and the ethical considerations for an attorney advising a client engaged in a marijuana-related business; as well as other timely issues.

Come listen to the latest information on this ever-changing national crisis. What do we know now?  What has been done and will be done moving forward to solve this issue?  How do we utilize this crisis as an opportunity to ensure safety in the long-run?  

NCIA White Paper – Adapting a Regulatory Framework for the Emerging Cannabis Industry

What are the regulations in Massachusetts regarding energy efficiency in a licensed cannabis cultivation center with 10,000 square feet of canopy or more, and ideas on how to be energy efficient and compliant to these rules.

This session will focus on strategies to minimize the impact of 280E. We will discuss the importance of entity selection and how those choices are applied across the industry. We’ll also discuss current positions of the IRS on businesses in the cannabis industry.

While there have been many pieces of legislation regarding medical cannabis and veterans that have reached Congress, none have been passed. Currently in the House Veterans Affairs committee with 84 Representatives sponsoring it is H.R.712 – VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2019 which would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a clinical trial of the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of adults with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes. We need policy that creates a pathway at the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical cannabis. To date, there are 33 states where veterans have access to medical cannabis and with the help of private businesses can step up and work to lower barriers and stigma for veterans that have gone or seek to go from medications with little to no cost prescribed to them as an earned benefit from the VA. This will help reduce the use of medications with very serious side effects including overdose death which is a current health epidemic across the country, as well as suicidal thinking and behavior which is believed to be part of problem of the veteran suicide crisis causing 20 veterans a day to end their lives for over a decade. Veterans deserve all forms of harm reduction that will help them achieve an improved quality of life.

The 2018 Farm Bill allowed the interstate sale and transportation of industrial hemp-derived CBD grown and derived in compliance with state programs approved by the USDA, DEA to deschedule CBD that meet the Bill’s requirements; but maintained FDA’s jurisdiction for industrial hemp-derived CBD products. In May, FDA held a public hearing to obtain information and data on the safety, dosing, and routes of administration of cannabis, after which it noted the significant desire for meaningful regulation with appropriate and clear safety standards, including on quality and consistent terminology. Rule making by FDA may include regulation on the manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of CBD products. We will detail different potential pathways available to regulate these products—drugs, botanicals, dietary supplements, food additives, or a hybrid—and provide insight into how FDA is setting about balancing the public desire for CBD products and its goal of protecting the public health.

Not long ago, there was no "medicinal cannabis" or "recreational cannabis," there was just "marijuana," and if you grew, sold it, or possessed it, you were committing a crime. Starting with Proposition 215 in 1996, we have seen a social movement toward legalizing cannabis markets across the U.S, that has only built momentum; now, 46 of the 50 states and a handful of territories have cannabis policies directly in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act. However, as criminal prohibition posed a barrier that users constantly needed to overcome, legal medicinal and adult-use policies offer unique challenges to consumers being able to use cannabis as they so choose.

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Learn what you should expect from the business, pitfalls to avoid, tax and financial strategies, marketing strategies and operational strategies.

1:00 PM
Dos and Don’ts of Operating a Cannabis Retail Shop

Moderator: Jon Napoli, Founder & President, CannAssist Consulting
Shelley Stormo, East Coast District Manager, Verilife
Kim Napoli, Co-Founder, The Hempest Inc.
Grant Troeger, Vice President of Retail Operations, Northeast Alternatives
Meg Sanders, Co-Founder, Canna Provisions
Kobie Evans, Founder, Pure Oasis

2:00 PM
The Vape Ban and Changing CBD Regulations

Moderator: Jon Napoli, Founder & President, CannAssist Consulting
Kyle Bishop, COO and Co-Owner, Northeast Alternatives
Tara Hopper, Esq., Vice President of Regulatory Affairs & Licensing, Columbia Care (Patriot Care)
Julia Germaine, Co-Founder & COO, Temescal Wellness
Matthew Soares, Key Account Manager, Kush Supply Co.
Mitch Rosenfield, Owner, The Hempest Inc.

3:00 PM
Licensing, Regulatory and Operational Hurdles and How to Get Over Them  

Moderator: Jon Napoli, Founder & President, CannAssist Consulting
Tara Hopper, Esq., Vice President of Regulatory Affairs & Licensing, Columbia Care (Patriot Care)
Jordan Mello, Head of Cultivation and Design, In Good Health
Tim Gunther, CEO, The Compliance Guy
Jim Borghesani, Chief Operating Officer, Tudestr

4:00 PM
The Future of the MA Cannabis Industry: What the Next 5 Years Looks Like

Moderator: Jon Napoli, Founder & President, CannAssist Consulting
Julia Germaine, Co-Founder & COO, Temescal Wellness
Keith Cooper, CEO, Revolutionary Clinics
Peter Gallagher, CFO, INSA
Brian McGuire, Director of Wholesale Operations, In Good Health
David Noble, President & CEO, In Good Health
Kyle Bishop, COO and Co-Owner, Northeast Alternatives

The cannabis industry is constantly evolving—regulations, legalization, categories, brands, products, consumers, and more are changing every day. As such, BDS Analytics has been tracking the size of the legal cannabinoid markets globally, collecting granular category, brand, and product sales data, and capturing all you need to know on the cannabis consumer (and non-consumer) for years. Understanding the history and the evolution of the markets and where things stand today are the best indicators of where this industry will be tomorrow – especially as the market takes shape in the Eastern U.S. During this session, attendees can expect to understand: the evolution of the industry overall, covering the size of the market and projections for the next five years; the evolution of cannabis consumers (with a spotlight on the Northeast) – how they are thinking, acting, and behaving and where we see the most growth; how more mature markets have evolved over time, specifically looking back at California’s evolution, which shares some similarities with Northeast in terms of caregiver and grey market elements; and what’s next for emerging markets in the Northeast; where products and brands are playing, and key emerging trends.

Guy will showcase the potential of hemp to alter our food, clothing, and medicine for the better. Guy will outline Hemp’s medicinal benefits and explain how Hemp interacts with the endocannabinoid system in all of us, which ailments Hemp is great for, and what we can learn about Hemp for healing as more research is conduction. He’ll discuss the various components of the hemp plant and how these components can serve as a sustainable, eco-friendly sources of food, clothing, biodiesel, and plastic. He’ll equip attendees with tips on how they can bring this conversation to the forefront and help us redefine the way we live.

This panel provides a glimpse of the Cannabis Industry through the lens of faith based organizations. Our panel will tackle the various challenges faith based communities face as they begin to enter into the emerging Cannabis Industry. 

Come and discover the opportunities that lie across the border in taking your company to the capital markets, raise capital and create liquidity for your shareholders. This session will bring together industry experts offering their insight into successfully navigating the process for becoming a publicly listed company.

Regulations for social consumption and delivery have been finalized. Now what? What will the process be? Who can be involved? Join the MRCC and esteemed colleagues from the Commonwealth to see how you can be part of the new frontier in the Cannabis industry.

According to Edison Research, people who listen to podcasts are more educated, affluent, brand-loyal and digitally-engaged than those who do not. Passive consumption platforms like podcasts let consumers engage your branded content while they’re on the road. Join the discussion as we explore branded audio tools and techniques, content and format, analytics, distribution, advertising and more.

Dispensary owner/operators’ real-life stories will lead this discussion, encompassing all aspects of their business, including but not limited to: obtaining a license, deciding on a location, navigating local zoning, staffing, community relations, inventory management, transitioning from medical to adult-use, and managing ongoing compliance issues in a rapidly changing legal environment. This is sure to be a deeply informative session for anyone who is interested to know more about owning and operating a cannabis dispensary. A must-attend session for any level of attendee!

Many U.S. universities have begun adding cannabis and hemp courses to their curricula.  Whether in the plant sciences, law, public affairs, medicine, biology, and many more disciplines, cannabis is finding its way into academia at every turn.  Is cannabis in the classroom a fad? Or will this billion dollar industry  continue to spread to New England Universities? 

Banking and Payment Processing is on the minds of many business owners. Most are aware of the States Act and the SAFE Banking Act in Congress — but what will it mean for the banking industry's receptiveness to take on cannabis business clients. Guidance on where to find cannabis-friendly banking, key questions to ask and consider, and why the costs seem to be high compared to regular business banking options.

Women are often overlooked when it comes to the business side of science, medicine and pharma in cannabis, yet there is a growing number of women with science and medical backgrounds at every level. This panel will bring together a scientist, a nurse, a pharmacist, a doctor and a specialist from big pharma    discussing not only their experiences, but their growth within the industry in building their business platforms.

In California, cannabis companies suffered from a unique regulatory paradigm where 20% of products failed laboratory analysis tests. New markets, such as Massachusetts, enjoy the opportunity to instill quality at the outset. Companies need to build it better from the start, using three dimensions of quality that are commonplace in other vertical industries: Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP), Quality Management Systems (QMS), and Cost of Quality (CoQ). The combination of these frameworks can be tailored to the needs of any cannabis manufacturer. CGMP requirements are flexible so each manufacturer can decide how to best implement necessary controls to achieve higher quality through continual improvement, directly aligning with the objectives of a QMS. Companies who both have a QMS and use a CoQ concept are more successful in reducing quality costs and improving quality for their customers. Quality always sets a brand apart, and this opportunity is ripe for the picking.

Almost a year since the 2018 farm bill passed and much has changed. This panel of distinguished leaders in the local hemp and CBD industry will discuss how the regulations are unfolding and what that means for hemp farmers, processors and CBD companies. There is still much work to be done and numerous entrepreneurial opportunities for those looking to get into this grow industry. This panel is created to educate and inspire those looking learn more about the current hemp landscape and how they can shape its future.

Morals, ethics and religion might impact someone to decide never to investigate or learn more about the Cannabis Industry. Listen to cannabis professionals who have previously presented to faith-based groups discuss and parse out the “basics of the cannabis industry.” They will provide a primer on the essentials of what you should know so an informed business decision about getting involved can be made.