What’s Your Agenda?
Summer Emerge 2021 kicks off Tuesday June 22 – Thursday June 24! Agenda Coming Soon!
Get an idea of the amazing Emerge content by checking out the Spring 2021 agenda below.
Three days. Three subject tracks. 36+ carefully curated sessions with unique, actionable content.
(Agenda is subject to changes/updates)
Two Types of Breakout Sessions!
Quick Hits: Industry Overviews + Fast & Actionable Takeaways | Deep Dives: In-Depth Discussions & Detailed Strategies
What’s Your Agenda?
Three days. Six subject tracks. Over 50 carefully curated sessions with unique, actionable content.
PROGRAM NOTE: Panel moderators are not necessarily listed first in sessions.
Visit the Emerge Speakers Page to see all the fantastic moderators.
Already registered & need help accessing Emerge? Get Help
Spring 2021 Agenda by Track – Bookmark this Page for Speaker and Session Updates!
Cultivation Tactics & Tech Auditorium A (unless noted)
Day One, Mar. 30, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00 – 9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Build your Emerge Avatar, explore the Expo Hall Pavilions, and meet the Emerge Exhibitors to enter amazing giveaways!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversation – Dr. Chanda Macias
9:45-10:30am | Emerge Deep Dive
Top Growing Tactics for Successful Cultivation, Quality Plants, and Better Yields
Get back to basics, plus hear the latest best practices and future challenges, for consistently healthy plants and higher crop yields.
Moderator: Ryan Douglas, Founder | Ryan Douglas Cultivation
Panel: Charles Wu, CEO | Nexem; Franny Tacy, CEO | Franny’s Farmacy; Harvey Craig, Founder & CEO | Harvey’s All Naturals; Tyler Dodd, Co-Founder & CEO | Arca Bellum
10:45-11:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
CO2 in Your Grow: Benefits, Risk, & Safety of CO2 Implementation
Understand the yield benefits of CO2 enrichment in your crop, plus important details like sensor calibration, system efficiency, fire dept. inspections, and more!
Kelvin Melton, CEO & Principal | Universal Grow Controls
11:30am-12:15pm | Cannabis Sustainability Action Panel
Auditorium C
Featuring the Cannabis & Tech Today 2020 Sustainable Leadership Award Winners, this is a deeper discussion around benchmarks, challenges, and what’s next for sustainability initiatives in the cannabis industry.
Moderator: Benjamin Douglas Ray, Host | Sustainable Cannabis TV
Panel: Brian Domann, Sales & Marketing Director | Humidi.co; Edward Dow, CEO | Solar Therapeutics; Graham Farrar, President | Glass House Group
12:15-12:45pm | Exhibitor Giveaways in the Expo Halls!
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors in the Expo Hall Pavilions and watch for your name in the first round of giveaways!
12:45-1:15pm | Emerge Quick Hit
Understanding the Cannabis Microbiome to Optimize Outputs
Your crop is only as good as what you put into the grow! Get the 360 view of your plants and their environment for optimal yields.
Michael Key, CEO | Impello Biosciences; Tim Gordon, Chief of Staff | Impello Biosciences
1:30-2:15pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Women in Cannabis Cultivation & Manufacturing
Meet the women behind the grows and the pre-rolls — we’ll discuss increasing female roles in cultivation & manufacturing, challenges and perceptions, and why women in cannabis rock.
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Rosie Mattio
Moderator: Karen Mayberry, CMO & Co-Founder | Trym
Panel: Alicia Wingard, Founder & COO | Flora Terra; Annie Holman, Co-Founder & CEO | The Galley; Eliza Maroney, Co-Founder | Lucky Box Club; Jennifer Clarke, General Manager Distribution | Napa Valley Fumé
2:30-3:00pm | Sustainability Fireside Chat: Hemp Construction Materials, Auditorium B
Learn how Just BioFiber Structural Solutions created a patented building system based on structural blocks that outperform virtually all existing and alternative building systems. They now have a backlog of over two years production and global demand!
Featuring Dave Ladouceur, EVP Business Development | Just BioFiber and Jacob Waddell, President | US Hemp Building Association (USHBA)
Day Two, Mar. 31, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00-9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Day Two of amazing Emerge Exhibitor resources & giveaways!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversation – Montel Williams – Auditorium C
9:45-10:30am | Emerge Deep Dive
Energy Efficiency Challenges in Cannabis Cultivation
As cannabis cultivation expands, so do energy demands for lighting, water, and other resources. Learn why a self-regulating, collaborative industry approach is the path to sustainability – and less outside regulation.
Featuring Gretchen Schimelpfenig, Technical Director | Resource Innovation Institute and Michael Zartarian, Owner & Electrical/Horticultural Design Engineer | Zartarian Engineering
10:45-11:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
RFID-based Solutions Update for Cultivators
Get an update on the latest seed-to-sale technology to manage grow tasks, analyze crop results, and track genetics.
Michael Pavlak, CEO | Stashstock
11:30am-12:30pm | Cannabis Investor Pitch Contest, Auditorium C
Watch as up-and-coming canna companies make their pitch for access to industry investment influencers and potential funding!
Moderated by Geoff Trotter, Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder | Regennabis and Peter Vogel, CEO | Leafwire
Judging Panel: David Hess, Co-Founder & President | TRESS Capital LLC; Jeanne Sullivan, CIO | Arcview Ventures; Kellie Seringer, Portfolio Manager | Symmetry Capital Management LLC
12:30-1:00pm | Exhibitor Giveaways in the Expo Halls!
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors in the Expo Hall Pavilions and watch for your name in the second round of giveaways!
1:00-1:45pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Flower Power: Growing & Bringing “Premium” Flower to Market
What is “premium” flower? Is it the cultivation tactics, organic growing, no pesticides at all? What role do strains play in making a “premium” flower brand? Get these answers and more in this in-depth look at the premium flower market.
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Andrew Samann
Moderator: Dan Banks, Director of Cultivation Strategy | Lightshade
Panel: John Andrle, Founder & Owner | L’Eagle Services Dispensary; Shannon Hattan, Co-Founder & CEO | Fiddler’s Greens & High Tide Distribution; William Brinkerhoff Jr, CEO & Founder | Lost Coast
2:00-2:30pm | Emerge Quick Hit
Demystifying LEDs for Cannabis: A Whole Systems Approach to Lighting Solutions
LED lighting for cannabis, and the science behind it, has come a long way. Get the details on how to optimize any cultivation environment by integrating your LED lights effectively with other systems and cultivation SOPs for consistent, high-yield results.
Ash Ganley, CEO | GrowRay Lighting Technologies
2:30-3:00pm | Fireside Chat – Federal Legalization: Impacts, Risks & Opportunities for Your Canna Business, Auditorium C
Featuring David Abernathy, Principal, Arcview Consulting & Market Research | The Arcview Group and Cy Scott, CEO & Co-Founder | Headset, Inc.
Day Three, Apr. 1, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00-9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Final day to meet the amazing Emerge Exhibitors and enter for amazing giveaways!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversations – Salvador Santana – Auditorium A
9:45-10:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
Using KNF for Sustainable & Economical Grow Success
Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is one of the latest sustainable cultivation techniques making the rounds. How does it work for cannabis? Learn more about this natural soil cultivation, plus other sustainable tactics, and how to transition your grow.
Wendy Kornberg, CEO & President | Sunnabis
10:30-11:15am | Emerge Deep Dive
Getting Organic Certified
Cannabis + organic certification = even more regulation (or lack of)! Learn about challenges to going organic, regulatory changes, and the steps to certification; plus organic benefits & risks.
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Andrew Samann
Moderator: Ernest Toney, Founder | BIPOCANN
Panel: Amy Andrle, Co-Owner & Founder | L’Eagle Services Dispensary; Ben Gelt, Co-Founder | Cannabis Certification Council; Cassandra Maffey, Founder & CEO | Force of Nature Ltd.
11:30am-12:00pm | Emerge Quick Hit
Cannabis Testing Update by State
More states legalizing cannabis means more testing regulations. Get the update, state-by-state, on cannabis testing requirements and changes.
Jill Ellsworth, CEO & Founder | Willow Industries
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors and watch for your name in the last round of giveaways!
12:30-1:15pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Pesticide & Crop Contamination Solutions
Enter the complicated world of cannabis pesticides! Whether all-natural or man-made, the regulations and crop results are varied. Join the discussion on pesticide options, developments, and managing crop contamination safely.
Moderator: Wes Burk, President | Emerald Scientific
Panel: Carlos Perea, CEO & Co-Founder | Terra Vera; Ethan Woods, Co-Founder & CEO | Desert Underground; Jill Ellsworth, CEO & Founder | Willow Industries
1:30-2:00pm | Closing Session – Codie Sanchez – Auditorium C
Manufacturing & Science Auditorium B (unless noted)
Day One, Mar. 30, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00 – 9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Build your Emerge Avatar, explore the Expo Hall Pavilions, and meet the Emerge Exhibitors to enter amazing giveaways!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversation – Dr. Chanda Macias – Auditorium A
9:45-10:30am | Emerge Deep Dive
Manufacturing Trends, Mistakes and Market Opportunities
What’s new in cannabis derivative product manufacturing? We’ll discuss trends in technology, research, and packaging, what manufacturers can do better, and what lies ahead as cannabis legalization expands.
Moderator: Jim Makoso, CEO | Flowe Technology
Panel: Lauren Tamburro, Director of Technical Services & Sales | Vertosa; Nadav Eyal, Founder & CEO | Eybna; Raquel Origel, Founder & CEO | Inanna
10:45-11:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
Top 3 Factors for Profitable Sustainability in Manufacturing Facilities
The movement to sustainability in cannabis manufacturing continues to gain momentum. Learn how manufacturers can adapt or change process and practice to accommodate sustainability, while also retaining profitability.
Dr. Jon Thompson, Founder & CEO | extraktLAB
11:30am-12:15pm | Cannabis Sustainability Action Panel
Auditorium B
Featuring the Cannabis & Tech Today 2020 Sustainable Leadership Award Winners, this is a deeper discussion around benchmarks, challenges, and what’s next for sustainability initiatives in the cannabis industry.
Moderator: Benjamin Douglas Ray, Host | Sustainable Cannabis TV
Panel: Brian Domann, Sales & Marketing Director | Humidi.co; Edward Dow, III, CEO | Solar Therapeutics; Graham Farrar, President | Glass House Group
12:15-12:45pm | Exhibitor Giveaways in the Expo Halls!
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors in the Expo Hall Pavilions and watch for your name in the first round of giveaways!
12:45-1:15pm | Emerge Quick Hit
Consistency in Pre-Rolled Joints
Consumers often have a bad experience from pre-rolled cannabis joints (harshness, un-even burning, or impossible ignition). Even with the best ingredients, a lack of reliable user experience can bring your reputation down. Learn how to deliver more consistent pre-rolled joints to increase sales and enhance branding!
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Ben Gelt
Austin Bell, Extractor | HRVST Labs
1:30-2:15pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Part I: Opportunities in the Edibles Manufacturing Space
With the edibles market exploding, manufacturers have more opportunities to launch into the space or grow existing product lines. Learn about market openings for small, medium, and large manufacturers, plus legal issues, dosing, & structuring for scale.
Moderator: Alexander Juliano, CFO & Co-Owner | The CannaChef Union
Panel: Dallas Owens, CEO | Delta Oil Co.; Henry Baskerville, Partner | Fortis Law Partners; Chef Joey Galeano, Chief Culinary Officer | Delta Oil Co.; Mike Hennessy, VP of Innovation | Wana Brands
2:30-3:00pm | Sustainability Fireside Chat: Hemp Construction Materials, Auditorium B
Learn how Just BioFiber Structural Solutions created a patented building system based on structural blocks that outperform virtually all existing and alternative building systems. They now have a backlog of over two years production and global demand!
Featuring Dave Ladouceur, EVP Business Development | Just BioFiber and Jacob Waddell, President | US Hemp Building Association (USHBA)
Day Two, Mar. 31, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00-9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Day Two of amazing Emerge Exhibitor resources & giveaways in the Expo Hall Pavilions!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversation – Montel Williams – Auditorium C
9:45-10:30am | Emerge Deep Dive
Manufacturing for Sustainable Products & Solutions
Hemp and cannabis by-products are taking center stage in sustainability science and manufacturing. Meet leaders in the space to discuss developments in plastics, packaging, clothing, paper, and more!
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Anthony Ferrante
Moderator: Ry Russell, Founder | Knot Plastic
Panel: Heather Richmond, Managing Partner | Running Water International and Executive Director | Sustainable Citizen; Jason Lammers, General Manager | 420WholesalePack.com; Pamela West, Hemp Food & Fashion Activist | Butterfly Sessions; Scott Sundvor, CEO & Co-Founder | Space Coyote
10:45-11:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
The Untapped Channels of ISO: How Laboratories Add Value to Industry
Learn how the cannabis industry can look to ISO standards in food, environmental, and other mature industries to set risk mitigation and product optimization as the cannabis manufacturing market booms.
Shannon Swantek, Principal Scientist & CEO | Enlightened Quality Analytics, LLC
11:30am-12:30pm | Cannabis Investor Pitch Contest, Auditorium C
Watch as up-and-coming canna companies make their pitch for access to industry investment influencers and potential funding!
Moderated by Geoff Trotter, Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder | Regennabis and Peter Vogel, CEO | Leafwire
Judging Panel: David Hess, Co-Founder & President | TRESS Capital LLC; Jeanne Sullivan, CIO | Arcview Ventures; Kellie Seringer, Portfolio Manager | Symmetry Capital Management LLC
12:30-1:00pm | Exhibitor Giveaways in the Expo Halls!
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors in the Expo Hall Pavilions and watch for your name in the second round of giveaways!
1:00-1:45pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Unmasking Cannabis Flavors for Full Plant Potential
While flavored cannabis products gain ground with mainstream consumers, there is an argument to be made for instead helping users develop a palate for the plant’s natural flavor profile, for a more natural product and experience. Understand the opportunities in this approach for growers and manufacturers!
Guy Rocourt, Co-Founder, President & Chief Product Officer | Papa & Barkley
2:00-2:30pm | Emerge Quick Hit
The Science Behind Creating Cannabis Infused Beverages
Innovative product makers should not compromise their vision to accommodate limitations from infusion technology. In this session, learn why different types of beverages require different emulsion solutions, and how packaging/canning may impact potency and shelf life.
Dr. Harold Han, Founder & Chief Science Officer | Vertosa
2:30-3:00pm | Fireside Chat – Federal Legalization: Impacts, Risks & Opportunities for Your Canna Business, Auditorium C
Featuring David Abernathy, Principal, Arcview Consulting & Market Research | The Arcview Group and Cy Scott, CEO & Co-Founder | Headset, Inc.
Day Three, Apr. 1, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00-9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Final day to meet the amazing Emerge Exhibitors and enter for amazing giveaways!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversations – Salvador Santana – Auditorium A
9:45-10:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
Expanding Your Manufacturing Footprint: Partners, Licensing and More!
Licensing your product and brand or partnering with other manufacturers for gaps in your team or process are two of the fastest ways to ramp up bandwidth and revenue. Check out these tips to grow in 2021!
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Jeffrey Harris
Kim Rael, President & CEO | Azuca
10:30-11:15am | Emerge Deep Dive
Part II: Opportunities in the Edibles Manufacturing Space
Explore the edibles opportunities in the private chef, catering and home cooking markets, including how to manage dosing, legal concerns, and insights from cannabis industry chefs.
Moderator: Alexander Juliano, CFO & COO | The CannaChef Union
Panel: Chef Brandon Allen | Trichome Institute; Henry Baskerville, Partner | Fortis Law Partners; Chef Jeff Danzer | JeffThe420Chef; Chef Joey Galeano, Chief Culinary Officer | Delta Oil Co.; Laurie Wolf, Founder | Laurie + MaryJane
11:30am-12:00pm | Emerge Quick Hit
Sustainability Focus: Gladbrook Holdings
Gladbrook creates pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products for recreational & medical consumers, as well as offering real estate and cannabis services. Learn how Gladbrook incorporates community outreach, environmental initiatives, living-wage employment, and social justice support as integral parts of their manufacturing business mission.
Featuring Warren Blesofsky, Co-Founder & CEO | Gladbrook Holdings and Patricia Miller, Managing Editor | Cannabis & Tech Today
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors and watch for your name in the last round of giveaways!
12:30-1:15pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Plastic on Earth: The Ugly, The Bad, and Maybe Some Good!
Consider this: sometimes plastic packaging and parts ARE the right choice for your manufacturing business. Get validation, ideas to better manage plastics use and waste, and alternatives to start using where it makes sense.
Bill Ludlow, President & CEO | CRATIV Packaging
1:30-2:00pm | Closing Session – Codie Sanchez – Auditorium C
Business & Retail Auditorium C (unless noted)
Day One, Mar. 30, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00 – 9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Build your Emerge Avatar, explore the Expo Hall Pavilions, and meet the Emerge Exhibitors to enter amazing giveaways!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversation – Dr. Chanda Macias – Auditorium A
9:45-10:30am | Emerge Deep Dive
Building Corporate Social Responsibility in the Cannabis Industry
More customers and partners are requiring companies they buy from or work with to have Corporate Social Responsibility policies. Get the details to build (or upgrade existing) CSR policies, plus how you can do the right thing AND have a solid ROI.
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Maha Haq
Marc Ross, CEO | Needle Consultants
10:45-11:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
Cannabis Biz Legislative Update: What’s Next?
Get updates on state legalizations, federal policy changes under the new administration, and more impacts to your cannabis business in 2021 and beyond. Critical strategy info!
Aaron Smith, CEO | National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)
11:30am-12:15pm | Cannabis Sustainability Action Panel
Auditorium C
Featuring the Cannabis & Tech Today 2020 Sustainable Leadership Award Winners, this is a deeper discussion around benchmarks, challenges, and what’s next for sustainability initiatives in the cannabis industry.
Moderator: Benjamin Douglas Ray, Host | Sustainable Cannabis TV
Panel: Brian Domann, Sales & Marketing Director | Humidi.co; Edward Dow, III, CEO | Solar Therapeutics; Graham Farrar, President | Glass House Group
12:15-12:45pm | Exhibitor Giveaways in the Expo Halls!
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors in the Expo Hall Pavilions and watch for your name in the first round of giveaways!
12:45-1:15pm | Emerge Quick Hit
Attracting & Retaining Top Talent for Your Cannabis Business
Cannabis business employee turnover is notoriously high, especially at the retail level. Learn how to attract the right people, and how to build up your company benefits and policies to protect yourself and your staff.
Jonathan Pratt, Founder & CEO | Life Solutions Group
1:30-2:15pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Cannabis Sustainability Strategies for Investors & Capital Seekers
Sustainability is not just a buzz word. Solid sustainability practices make cannabis businesses stronger – and better investment opportunities. Learn how to assess sustainability in potential portfolio assets, and what investors look for so you can get your business on investment radar!
Moderator: Geoff Trotter, Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder | Regennabis
Panel: Derek Young, Managing Director ESG Consulting Services | Summit Strategy Group; Emily Paxhia, Co-Founder & Managing Partner | Poseidon Asset Management; Kellie Seringer, Portfolio Manager | Symmetry Capital Management LLC
2:30-3:00pm | Sustainability Fireside Chat: Hemp Construction Materials, Auditorium B
Learn how Just BioFiber Structural Solutions created a patented building system based on structural blocks that outperform virtually all existing and alternative building systems. They now have a backlog of over two years production and global demand!
Featuring Dave Ladouceur, EVP Business Development | Just BioFiber and Jacob Waddell, President | US Hemp Building Association (USHBA)
Day Two, Mar. 31, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00-9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Day Two of amazing Emerge Exhibitor resources & giveaways!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversation – Montel Williams – Auditorium C
9:45-10:30am | Emerge Deep Dive
Brand & Science Synergy: Leveraging Your Intellectual Property
Cannabis brands are looking for innovation and scientists need businesses to capitalize on their intellectual property (IP). This session explores how these two sides of cannabis can work together, including when to license IP, integration, how to make the right connections, and more!
Mike Hennesy, VP of Innovation | Wana Brands
10:45-11:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
Sustainability Focus: Feel State
Feel State’s dispensary brand is committed to better connecting individuals to themselves, each other, and their communities through the use of cannabis. Learn more about Feel State’s focus on community, education and support initiatives.
Featuring David Melnick, Co-Founder | Feel State and Patricia Miller, Managing Editor | Cannabis & Tech Today
11:30am-12:30pm | Cannabis Investor Pitch Contest, Auditorium C
Watch as up-and-coming canna companies make their pitch for access to industry investment influencers and potential funding!
Moderated by Geoff Trotter, Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder | Regennabis and Peter Vogel, CEO | Leafwire
Judging Panel: David Hess, Co-Founder & President | TRESS Capital LLC; Jeanne Sullivan, CIO | Arcview Ventures; Kellie Seringer, Portfolio Manager | Symmetry Capital Management LLC
12:30-1:00pm | Exhibitor Giveaways in the Expo Halls!
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors in the Expo Hall Pavilions and watch for your name in the second round of giveaways!
1:00-1:45pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Winning Strategies to Invest in Cannabis
Investment overview alert! Learn how to distinguish winning cannabis companies based on sustainability, performance, business plan, and more. Use the tips in this session to fine tune your investment plans, or learn what investors are looking for so you can set your business up for successful pitches.
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Emily Paxhia
Jon Paul, CFO | Australis Capital
2:00-2:30pm | Emerge Quick Hit
Future of Cannabis E-Commerce
Check out what’s next for cannabis retail and commerce! We’ll talk payment systems, banking, online sales, delivery and more!
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Jeffrey Harris
Alexander Lipnik, Director of Marketing & Partnerships | AeroPay
2:30-3:00pm | Fireside Chat – Federal Legalization: Impacts, Risks & Opportunities for Your Canna Business, Auditorium C
Featuring David Abernathy, Principal, Arcview Consulting & Market Research | The Arcview Group and Cy Scott, CEO & Co-Founder | Headset, Inc.
Day Three, Apr. 1, 2021
All Times Pacific
8:00-9:00am | Expo Hall Open!
Final day to meet the amazing Emerge Exhibitors and enter for amazing giveaways!
9:00-9:30am | Cannabis Conversations – Salvador Santana – Auditorium A
9:45-10:15am | Emerge Quick Hit
Educating Consumers & Budtenders for Engagement, Loyalty & Sales
As cannabis legalization continues, dispensaries are serving a new breed of naive recreational and medical cannabis user. Employees can also be limited in knowledge and consultative skills, potentially damaging your brand and losing business. This session will discuss how to educate budtenders, staff, and these customers for the best experience, plus advocate for partnering with on-site RNs to manage medical consults.
April Hatch, RN & Co-Founder | Cannabis Care Team
10:30-11:15am | Emerge Deep Dive
Minority Inclusion in Cannabis Cultivation & Canna Business
Minorities make up less than 20% of the cannabis industry, and of that small wedge 4% are Black, per a recent NBC report. With larger companies and private equity jumping into cannabis, will those stats get worse? Join this panel to discuss inclusion initiatives for people of color in cannabis, dealing with systemic racism, and how to make cannabis a socially equitable industry.
Introduction by Todd Rosales & Wanda James
Moderator: Tahir Johnson, Host | Cannabis Diversity Report Podcast
Panel: Marie Montmarquet, Co-Founder | MD Numbers, Inc.; Raj Chander, Cannabis Policy Journalist, Roz McCarthy, Founder & CEO | Minorities for Medical Marijuana; Ru Johnson, Board Member | Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) and The Cannabis Certification Council
11:30am-12:00pm | Emerge Quick Hit
Negotiating Canna Biz Tenancy Lease Terms
Whether it’s a retail space, warehouse, lab facility or plot of land, landlords don’t always understand what cannabis tenants need and are often uncertain of the legalities and liabilities for both of you. Learn how to negotiate the best tenancy for you that also puts your landlord at ease and creates a win-win.
Jack Boyajian, CEO | BaseCanna and Leslie Plettner, Managing Director | BaseCanna
Hang out with the amazing Emerge Exhibitors and watch for your name in the last round of giveaways!
12:30-1:15pm | Emerge Deep Dive
Sustainability Strategies for Canna Industry Executives
Learn to align winning sustainability strategies with your brand, customers, employees and stakeholders; track financial and environmental performance; prepare for global reporting requirements; plus achieve quick ROI while building long-term value.
Derek Smith, Executive Director | Resource Innovation Institute
1:30-2:00pm | Closing Session – Codie Sanchez – Auditorium C
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