Programming

Programming topics throughout the day center around social justice, brand building, raising capital, advocacy, sustainability, gender parity and more, and will take place in three rooms throughout the day. We are honored to welcome Commissioner Shaleen Title of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission as our inaugural Summit Keynote Speaker.

Time Session Location Speakers
8:45 a.m. Opening Plenary Session Film House Kathy Blume, Melinda Moulton, and Jennifer Whetzel
9:15 a.m. Session I Politics, Advocacy, and Legislative Change Film House Laura Subin, Sarah Copeland-Hanzas, Linda Noel
9:15 a.m. Session II Cannabis and Parenting Classroom Jessilyn Dolan, Dionne Heyliger, Jessie Gill
9:15 a.m. Session III Licensing Application Workshop Great Room Nicola Batten
10:05 a.m. Session IV Building Justice Into Your Business And Championing Justice In The World Great Room Jennifer Lujan, Natalie Papillion
10:05 a.m. Session V Scaling Up Your Business Film House AJ Van Wallendael, Meghan Lynch, Tamala McBath
10:05 a.m. Session VI Beyond Green: Circular Economics, Restorative Practices, And Intergenerational Justice Classroom Sarah Shaw, Amber Bassett
11:00 a.m. Session VII The Endocannabinoid System and Women’s Bodies Classroom Caitlin Bernhard, Yamil Sarabia, Lauren Andrews
11:00 a.m. Session VIII Cultivation – Keeping It Green And More Than Green Great Room Abha Gupta, Stephanie Waterman, Chris Motyka
11:00 a.m. Session IX Addressing Banking, Capital, and Tax Needs Film House Sharon Grimes, Melissa Diaz, Joyce Cenali
11:55 a.m Lunchtime Jam with Julie Winn Film House Julie Winn
12:10 p.m Health/Wellness Lunch&Learn Film House Yamil Sarabia
1:00 p.m. Keynote: Shaleen Title Film House
1:35 p.m. Yoga with Kamalika-K Film House Karen Santorello
1:45 p.m. Session X Cannabis Science – History, Tech, and Research Classroom Kara Tracy, Callie Chapman
1:45 p.m. Session XI Business – The Ins and Outs Of Running A Legal/Illegal Business Great Room Jennifer Whetzel, Scheril Murray Powell, Alyssa Cassidy
1:45 p.m. Session XII Community Relations and Culture Change Film House Leslie Laurie, Carol Angela Davis, JD and Angela Hardiman
2:30-3:20 p.m. The Inner Work of Running a Cannabiz: Navigating Fear and Cultivating Resilience Great Room Stephanie Boucher
2:30-3:20 p.m. Gender Parity Roundtable Discussion Meeting Room Jennifer Whetzel
2:30-3:20 p.m. Environmental Sustainability Roundtable Discussion Meeting Room Alyssa Cassidy
3:20-4:00 p.m. Social Justice Roundtable Discussion Meeting Room Natalie Papillion
4:00-4:20 p.m. Closing Plenary Session Film House Kathy Blume,  Jennifer Whetzel, Alyssa Cassidy, Natalie Papillion

Shaleen Title

Commissioner, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission
Keynote Speaker, 1 p.m., Film House

Shaleen Title was jointly appointed in 2017 by the Massachusetts governor, treasurer, and attorney general to serve in the social justice seat on the Commission. Named to the Boston Business Journal’s 2018 list of the 50 most powerful people in Boston, she has won several awards for her advocacy work and her efforts to bring more women and people of color into drug policy reform and the cannabis industry.

Before her appointment, she co-authored the Massachusetts marijuana legalization referendum and has consulted on state and local marijuana policy around the country. As an attorney specializing in marijuana regulations, she has provided regulatory expertise for leading marijuana consulting firms.

She also served as founder of a women-led recruiting firm and as a founding board member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, where she led the drafting of the first model bill created to give states guidance to implement a process of reinvestment and reconciliation. She previously served on the national boards of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Marijuana Majority, the Cannabis Law and Family Alliance, and the National Lawyers Guild.