Market on the horizon – nj.com

Hello, everyone!

It may be a short week, but we’ve still got plenty of news for you — and a special announcement.

In the lead we have today’s meeting from the Cannabis Regulatory Commission and the moves its members have made on awards, signage and concentrates.

Suzette Parmley comes through with takeaways on how it all went down.

There was also a packed public comments section weighing in on consumption lounges.

Resident weed professor Rob Mejia pens a column on that very topic.

We also had some great info from our NJ.com reporters this week.

Vashti Harris pulls up with an article that talks about how a cannabis ordinance just got tabled in Franklin Township.

Sigh. Municipalities are going to be an uphill battle. Insiders have always said education is key. It looks like that education will have to be ongoing for quite some time.

Speaking of time.

Brent Johnson and Sue Livio also come in with an article on the governor weighing in on when sales might start.

Sue also came through with another article this week that gives a glimpse into the additional legislation at the Statehouse that could affect the cannabis industry.

With Ukraine dominating D.C. newsrooms, our nation’s capital is busy and yet Jonathan Salant still managed to deliver a take on how Canopy Growth has increased its lobbying spending this year.

Locally, if you’re gearing up to open a dispensary, you may want to make time to go to a free seminar being put on by Cova Software CEO Gary Cohen on March 1.

And we’re pretty jazzed to announce our inaugural awards gala will be on June 9 — and you’re picking the winners. As an NJ Cannabis Insider, you will get to nominate and vote on who will be recognized at our formal awards banquet this summer. Nominations are open through March 10 until midnight. Check for details inside.

Last but not least, our March 16 event in Carteret is fast approaching (Use code NJCISUB for your discount at checkout). If you liked our Jersey City event, you’ll definitely enjoy one that’s going to be on a bigger scale. More speaker panels, separate stages, good food, more networking, everything that people like, except super sized.

This week, we’re thrilled to announce John Harmon, founder and president of the African American Chamber of Commerce, will be our keynote speaker. Among others, he serves on the boards of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

Until next time…

— Jelani Gibson

No firm commitment to market opening, ATC applicants under review for adult-use

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is hoping to finish reviewing applications from eight existing Alternative Treatment Centers to sell to the adult-use cannabis market by next month, said its Executive Director Jeff Brown at a Feb. 24 meeting.

Five of the eight applicants have submitted the required documentation, Brown said, and those five will now be reviewed under supply and patient access standards under the new cannabis law.

The commission is awaiting completed applications from the other three ATCs.

“We are making tremendous progress,” Brown said. “We really stand at an important crossroads here.”

Brown said the CRC has 90 days to review an application.

“Ninety days is March 15,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we will come close to that.”

Asked afterward if this aligned with Gov. Murphy’s comments the night before on dispensaries being allowed to sell to the adult recreational market “within weeks,” Commission spokeswoman Toni-Anne Blake said there was no connection.

“The board has not committed to any new date as to when to open the adult market and there was no connection,” Blake said. “March 15 will be 90 days since the first applications came in and we hope to come close to awarding those in that time frame,” she said.

“If I had to predict, we are within weeks — I would hope in March — you would see implicit movement on the medical dispensaries, some of them being able to sell recreational,” Gov. Phil Murphy said during an appearance on WBGO in Newark.

New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved recreational marijuana in November 2020 by a 2-1 margin.

Hiccups in crafting the final legislation took several more months with Murphy finally signing the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act on Feb. 22, 2021.

But a year later, the market still has not opened up.

The commission is required under the statute to vote at a public meeting to approve applications to sell adult-use weed.

No applications were voted on Thursday.

The next board hearing is on March 24.

In addition to the expansion applications by the medical ATCs, Brown said a total of 363 applications have been received, 314 for conditional licenses and 49 for annual licenses.

“We’ll be beating that 90 day mark, especially on those conditional licenses,” Brown said.

Expanded certifications by ATCs do not have to go through the normal application process, Brown said.

They just need to prove they can supply both patient and recreational markets, Brown said.

Brown also added at last month’s January hearing that most of the medical ATC applications were incomplete and lacked appropriate municipal approvals.

Local officials must attest in writing they support the alternative treatment centers — the growers and sellers of medical marijuana in their communities— to have permission to sell the product for recreational use.

As a result, the panel missed a self-imposed Feb. 22, 2022 deadline to open the market for adult use cannabis sales – the year mark from Murphy’s signing of cannabis legislation and six months after the board implemented the rules of the game.

Murphy said during his radio show on Wednesday that the whole process of legalizing marijuana in New Jersey — something he campaigned on in 2017 — has taken longer than he expected.

But, the Democrat said, it’s “better to be right than fast.”

In other business, the board announced three public hearings, all virtual, for the three regions of the state, on how tax revenue can be used best to help communities. The hearings will take place on March 2 for the Northern Region; March 9 for the Central Region; and March 16 for the Southern Region.

A universal symbol for cannabis items was also announced – which is the cannabis leaf as a product imprint on all products, and the second is for labeling and packaging – with a hand in front of a stop sign and the cannabis leaf with the warning, “Not Safe For Kids.”

The commission spent the final hour taking public comment over the pros and cons of cannabis consumption lounges – areas open to the general public for cannabis use and how to best regulate them.

Some like Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren were concerned about the second-hand smoke they generate and the impact on children.

“We’d like the air to be clean or the smoke mitigation to be done rapidly to ensure safety of the employees and the patrons,” said Warren, chairman of the Cannabis Committee of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association.

Others, like Kashawn McKinley, Director of Constituent Services for Atlantic City, said his seaside resort needed the lounges to remain the East Coast’s convention capital.

“Cannabis is an entirely new industry that will be driven by conventions. Atlantic City needs special provisions to capitalize on this marketplace. Standalone consumption lounges — both indoor and outdoor — are needed. … Places like Boardwalk Hall, the Convention Center and Bader Field should be permitted to host large cannabis conventions.”

— Suzette Parmley | NJ.com

Here’s the pending legislation slated for the arrival of the cannabis market

The future of the legal cannabis industry is firmly in the hands of state regulators, but that doesn’t mean the New Jersey Legislature is finished tinkering with the law.

A look at the bills filed since the legislative session began Jan. 11 reveal an appetite to expand the number of communities that qualify as impact zones and allow people to grow a small number of plants at home, among other proposals.

Both of these bills failed to pass in the last session and were re-introduced by their sponsors.

Whether the bills gain traction is up to Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex. They decide which bills proceed through committee and are posted for a floor vote. Scutari, the prime sponsor of both the medicinal marijuana and adult use laws, did not respond to a request seeking comment.

Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, said he sponsored the impact zone expansion bill, (S1489) last year after officials from Asbury Park and Neptune Township approached him about wanting their communities to be included.

Both communities have “really been ravaged by the war on drugs” and grapple with poverty, Gopal said.

When Gopal first introduced the bill, in April 2021, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission had not developed the rules defining impact zones. The guidance the CRC released in November identified 87 municipalities that met the requirements, including population size, and Asbury Park was on the list. Neptune is not.

Applications to open cannabis businesses in impact zones get priority review by the commission. These communities have an average unemployment rate that is 32% higher than the rest of the state, 77% more marijuana arrests, and a crime index – a measure of overall crime in a municipality – of 34% or more than the rest of New Jersey, according to the CRC website.

Gopal said he’d like to see impact zone criteria “looked like on a regular basis.”

Gopal is also the prime Senate sponsor behind the home cultivation legislation, (S353). It calls for allowing adults 21 and older to grow and possess up to six plants and registered medical patients up to 10 plants.

Scutari and his predecessor, former Sen. Stephen Sweeney, resisted demands for years from medical marijuana users to grow their own, fearing that it would be difficult to police and eat into the fledgling adult-use market. But the idea is gaining some support, especially in light of the steep price for cannabis products sold at the alternative treatments centers.

Other pending bills include another carry-over, (S782) by Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, that would subsidize the cost of medical cannabis for patients enrolled in NJ FamilyCare, the state Medicaid program.

Union County Assemblywoman Linda Carter’s bill, (A174) would retroactively modify mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted and serving time for selling more than five pounds or 10 plants of marijuana.

There are a number of bills sponsored by Republicans, the minority party in Trenton that are also carry-overs and will likely remain that way. They include (A702) from Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, R-Ocean that tackles the legally murky space of how to enforce driving under the influence laws. The validity and accuracy of drug recognition experts is a matter pending before the state’s highest court.

— Susan K. Livio | NJ.com

Subscribers choose who’s New Jersey’s best for state’s 1st awards gala

Get ready for what will certainly be the most talked about event of the year in New Jersey’s cannabis space — The NJ Cannabis Insider 2022 Awards Gala.

On June 9, we’ll be rolling out the green carpet for the Garden State’s who’s who of cannabis, recognizing trailblazers with a formal dinner banquet, awards show and rooftop afterparty at the Carteret Performing Arts Center.

This exclusive event will be driven by NJ Cannabis Insider subscribers. That’s right.

Starting today through March 10 11:59 p.m., subscribers can nominate individuals or companies representing the best in the business in several key categories. Subscribers will be allowed to nominate once per day.

Make your nominations here.

We’ll announce three finalists in each category at our March 16 conference and in that week’s edition. Voting will open March 17. Subscribers can vote once a day in each category until March 31 at 11:59 p.m

Finalists and nominees will be able to memorialize their recognition in a glossy publication produced by NJ Cannabis Insider in coordination with NJ Advance Media.

Descriptions of each category:

• Excellence in Cannabis Law — Law firms that provide legal and policy services to every area of the cannabis industry.
• Excellence in Commercial Building Operations — Consists of the activities necessary to build, operate, maintain, and manage buildings. This includes everything from general contracting, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and energy.
• Excellence in Consultancy and Professional Services — Professional services include: accounting, staffing, security, IT, recruitment, and management industries.
• Excellence in Innovation — Innovative programs, products, or services
• Excellence in Social Equity — Companies that support social and economic equality in the cannabis community through grants, education and business development programs.
• Minority Business of the Year — A minority business is identified as being at least 51% owned by people of color.
• Woman-owned Business of the Year — A woman-owned business is a business in which at least 51% is owned by a woman.
• Excellence in Healthcare and Life Sciences — Activities ranging from patient well-being, treatment, testing, manufacturing, and research and development.

To find out how to get involved with ads or sponsorships, contact Heather Long or Kristen Ligas.

Murphy says legal weed sales could start within weeks at N.J. medical dispensaries

After missing a self-imposed Tuesday deadline to open the state for legal marijuana sales, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday night New Jersey is “within weeks” of having existing medical weed dispensaries sell recreational cannabis to adults 21 and older.

“If I had to predict, we are within weeks — I would hope in March — you would see implicit movement on the medical dispensaries, some of them being able to sell recreational,” Murphy said during his radio show on WBGO in Newark. “They’ve got to prove they’ve got the supply for their medical customers. I hope shortly thereafter, the standalone recreational marijuana operators.”

New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved legalizing recreational marijuana in November 2020, but sales have not started after more than a year.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which is in charge of regulating the new industry, is still reviewing applications for licenses. The panel missed a self-imposed Feb. 22 deadline to open the state for adult-use cannabis.

Jeff Brown, the commission’s executive director, said a number of factors are still in the way before the doors can open, including lack of municipal buy-in. Local officials must attest in writing they support the the alternative treatment centers — the growers and sellers of medical marijuana in their communities— have permission to sell the product for recreational use.

There are 23 retail locations selling cannabis to the state’s more than 120,000 registered patients.

“One of the biggest deficiencies we’re seeing is a lack of municipal approval,” Brown said at a meeting in January. “That’s an issue, and supply continues to be issue. It’s the priority of the CRC to get recreational sales started as soon as we can, but we have to do it in a way that’s compliant with the law. We need the industry to get there.”

Meanwhile several medical marijuana providers have openly complained the state is taking too long to approve their requests to serve the legal market. They’ve threatened to lay off employees and destroy product if the adult market doesn’t open soon.

Murphy said Wednesday the whole process of legalizing marijuana in New Jersey — something he campaigned on in 2017 — has taken longer than he expected.

But, the Democrat said, it’s “better to be right than fast.”

“And God willing, that’s what we’re gonna get,” Murphy said.

State regulation requires the commission to vote at a public meeting to approve applications to sell recreational weed. The commission meets Thursday, although no applications are on the agenda. The following meeting is March 24.

— Brent Johnson and Susan Livio | NJ.com

This article first appeared on NJ.com

After 250 turn up for meeting, Franklin Township tables ordinance

The Franklin Township Committee recently tabled an ordinance that would have established guidelines for cannabis businesses in the township.

More than 250 attended the committee’s Feb. 10 meeting via Zoom. Many of those who spoke opposed having marijuana grown or sold in the community. The township plans to hold a meeting to get more input from residents. A date for that meeting has not yet been set as of Feb. 22.

“I would also like to hold a community workshop where input from residents and professionals would be present and provide comments,” Mayor Philip Koury said. “Once this is done, this ordinance will be introduced again with any of the adjustments, revisions or clarifications that have been made by this community workshop.”

Koury said the committee passed an ordinance in July of 2021 “opting out” of allowing cannabis cultivation and retail sales in the township. The township’s Land Use Board has not received any applications for marijuana-based businesses, he added.

“While the current ordinance is in effect, all cannabis businesses are prohibited,” Koury said. “The purpose of the (tabled) ordinance (was) to regulate cannabis business within the township and to take advantage of the tax opportunity that is allowed by the state under this new law.”

Municipalities are allowed to collect local sales taxes on marijuana, Koury said, as a result of state legislation that followed the statewide passage of a referendum in November of 2020 that paved the way for legalization of recreational marijuana.

Koury said the ordinance would limit the location of cannabis-based businesses to properties over 20 acres in size located on county and state highways.

“Properties that meet these requirements would still be restricted by environmental constraints; wetlands, streams, steep slopes,” Koury said. “The ordinance also requires any facility to be designed to match the rural character of the township, meaning it has to look like a barn instead of a factory.”

Resident Todd Taylor told the committee he was concerned a cannabis cultivator could impact the township’s water supply, saying a facility could install large pumps that would drain local aquifers.

“My biggest concern, more than anything else, is the water usage,” Taylor said. “Franklin Township’s lifeblood is the water supply. So, what’s going to happen when the wells start going dry? Is the township going to pay to have wells redone?”

Committee Michael Homulak expressed concern about the future financial burdens on taxpayers if current businesses close and the township does not open avenues for new revenue sources.

“I’m asking for people that have new or innovative ideas, suggestions or thoughts on how to solve for this realistically, to step forward. I would love to engage in a positive and thoughtful conversation on how to make sure we sustain the community that we all love,” Homulak said.

Resident Gregory Mayer said he is concerned that allowing marijuana cultivation could negatively impact the township.

“In terms of aesthetic value, I’m sure you’ve considered this too, but there’s an overwhelming amount of smell that you can smell for miles,” Mayer said. “I remember I used to drive in Kentucky, where my relatives used to live, and we had hemp farms there and you could smell the smell for miles.

“So clearly that could potentially damage any so of property value have for those surrounding areas.”

Another resident, John Drwal, said cannabis “does not represent family values.”

“Think about your children, think about your grandchildren, your parents, the young children that go to Franklin Township School, the historic farmers of this town, the damage that drugs have had in our society, homeless tents in our cities,” Drwal said. “This is common sense folks. Just say no. Franklin is a family values town. … This is an ethics issue, more than it is a tax issue.”

Vashti Harris | NJ.com

This article first appeared on NJ.com

Cannabis higher education is no longer a novelty in New Jersey

By Rob Mejia, a regular contributor to NJ Cannabis Insider, is an adjunct professor at Stockton University where he teaches the cannabis courses. He is also the author of “The Essential Cannabis Book” and “The Essential Cannabis Journal.” His cannabis education company is called Our Community Harvest.

One of the issues that all states face when legalizing adult-use cannabis is where to allow adults to consume. Given that cannabis is still federally illegal and because of state and local regulations, locations such as public sidewalks, hotels, national parks, federal housing, and one’s car are off limits.

In simplest terms, the only place an adult can legally consume cannabis is a privately owned home or at the home of someone who allows consumption.

To take a step back, what is a cannabis consumption lounge? In New Jersey, a cannabis consumption lounge must be associated with and located on the property of a dispensary and “endorsed” by local and state entities. Sometimes the lounge will be connected via a separate door in a dispensary, or it will be a few feet away with its own entrance but still on dispensary property. It must also include an air filtration system.

Medical or adult use patrons who are 21 or older can enter the lounge and consume cannabis products in a safe, clean environment. Guests may even bring their own cannabis products. Any unused open product is disposed of at the end of the evening.

And unlike a bar, no food or alcohol can be served. If you have ever been to Amsterdam and visited their “coffee shops” where cannabis products and edibles are served to adults, this is a version of a consumption lounge. If you visited Amsterdam, you saw firsthand what a tourist draw these businesses are.

Supporters of cannabis consumption lounges point out that there are three main benefits to the public. First, it allows consumption access for adults who do not own their own home or who are tourists.

Second, it is a new business opportunity — similar to opening a bar — that will not take as much capital to start when compared to many other cannabis businesses. And third, it is predicted to give patrons an alternative place to enjoy cannabis that is legal.

Right now, several townships in New Jersey are lobbying for stand alone consumption lounges which in locations such as Atlantic City would be immensely popular. In the future this may be a possibility. But for now, the lounges can only be operated by a dispensary owner.

But there are an equal number of concerns and hesitations about this new business. Probably the biggest concern is the distinct possibility of an increased number of impaired drivers on the road.

According to a major study at the University of Iowa, drivers who use cannabis show a slight increase in “lane swerve” (the amount a driver swerves in a lane), often drive slower than usual and reflexes are slowed as well. But to put this in context, the study also made a comparison that a driver who uses alcohol poses a threat that is 10 times larger than a cannabis impaired driver.

Another concern is possible overconsumption. New users will need education and guidance to help them consume responsibly. And if an accident should occur, we can expect lawsuits against the server, the

, and even the township that allowed for the lounges.

If you are a dispensary owner and want to open a consumption lounge, be sure to examine your insurance policy to make sure there are no consumption lounge exclusions.

Beyond the concerns about impaired driving and overconsumption, there is a thick air of stigma against a public place to openly consume cannabis. While we all live near bars where patrons drive their cars to the facility, have a few drinks and drive home, this same scenario when applied to cannabis leaves many members of the public cold.

That is, we continue to treat cannabis differently than alcohol though it poses some of the same challenges. And until this attitude changes, the concept of having a cannabis consumption lounge in one’s town will be an uphill battle.

A few measures that could be taken to lessen some health concerns include:

• Starting a statewide education campaign pointing out the purposes and safety measures that will be imposed on consumption lounges (such as the prohibition of serving alcohol)
• Limiting the amount of cannabis product(s) a patron can consume
• Providing a free ride to consumers via an agreement with Uber or Lyft
• Incentivize designated drivers who would not consume but would drive friends home thereby earning loyalty points from a dispensary

As with many parts of the cannabis industry, it will be up to social consumption lounge operators to do more and to ensure the safety of their customers and consumers. And maybe, just maybe, some of the stigma will begin to melt away.

Prof. Mejia’s Weed Corner is a regular column for NJ Cannabis Insider, focusing on news, trends and innovation in the local cannabis market. Reach out to him at Robert.Mejia@stockton.edu

Canopy Growth increases lobbying

Canopy Growth Corp., which has become the biggest spender in the marijuana industry on lobbying, also was the biggest campaign donor in the cannabis field last year.

Canopy employees and executives gave $28,200 from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, according to the research group OpenSecrets.

Besides individual contributions, Canopy last year created another way to contribute money, setting up its own political action committee. The PAC gave $7,000 last year, including $1,000 apiece to Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., chief sponsor of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE Act.

Advanced Nutrients employees and executives were the second biggest giver in 2021, donating $25,700.

Overall, the industry gave $88,639, with 87% going to Democrats.

The biggest recipient was U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., running this fall to fill out the last two years of Vice President Kamala Harris’ term, who received $26,100. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is up for re-election and is helping to lead efforts in his chamber to pass comprehensive cannabis legislation, received $20,300.

Blumenauer received $7,000 and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th Dist., who took in $5,000 from industry sources. As chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Pallone led the floor debate in December 2020 when the House voted to allow researchers to obtain cannabis samples from states that have legalized the drug, rather than have the University of Mississippi as the only federally approved source of weed.

In 2019-20, the cannabis industry set a record for political giving, contributing $536,532, 83% of it to Democrats.

The biggest source of money during the last election was Canty Ventures’ employees and executives, who gave $154,404, followed by Advanced Nutrients with $105,355, the National Cannabis Industry Assn with $59,839, and Canopy Growth with $37,352.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, up for re-election then, received $8,533, third-highest among members of Congress behind only Blumenauer, who received $32,970, and then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who received $13,650. McConnell refused to take up either SAFE Banking or the MORE Act.

Meanwhile, former NORML Political Director Justin Strekal helped launch a new political action committee to support candidates who support overhauling marijuana laws. The new committee is known as the Better Organizing to Win Legalization Political Action Committee, or BOWL PAC.

“It is time to take the gloves off when it comes to addressing the minority of members of Congress who are standing in the way of common-sense efforts to end the senseless and cruel policy of marijuana criminalization,” Strekal said.

— Jonathan Salant | NJ.com

Learn the secrets of dispensary success at this free event

Cova, an industry leader for software solutions, is hosting a free, day-long seminar designed to help New Jersey entrepreneurs navigate the process of opening a cannabis dispensary.

The March 1 program runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hilton Newark Airport, 1170 Spring St, Elizabeth. Complimentary lunch, coffee, and parking will be provided. Each guest must be registered to attend with their own email address. There’s a limit to the venue’s capacity. Reserve your spot here.

With sessions covering everything from startup advice, compliance tips and operational best practices, this seminar is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn from the experienced team at Cova and discover the steps that industry professionals have taken to launch successful dispensaries.

Cova CEO Gary Cohen, whom many insiders met at NJ Cannabis Insider’s Feb. 17 meetup in Jersey City, will conduct the seminar. Cohen frequently leads seminars on retail technology, compliance, business operations and cannabis banking laws at some of the industry’s largest events, including NCIA and MJBizCon.

The program covers these areas, exclusively for New Jersey operators:

How to open a cannabis dispensary

• Key costs of opening a cannabis retail store
• What to include in your business plan and license application
• Tips to design a winning customer experience

The basics of compliance

• Top compliance issues and how to avoid them
• What are the taxes and how they will be applied

Best practices for operating a retail store

• Inventory management best practices
• Metrics you need to track to run a successful dispensary
• How to effectively recruit and manage employees

Cova, an NJ Cannabis Insider partner, is an industry leader when it comes to building software solutions for dispensaries and we have gathered the key retail best practices from cannabis retailers across the country. Its technology is now trusted by nearly 2,000 dispensaries, having helped cannabis entrepreneurs from coast to coast successfully launch and scale their businesses in a competitive market.

For more information and to register, go here.

March 16 conference gearing up to be biggest event of the year, so far

Our first big conference of the year is on March 16 at the Carteret Performing Arts Center. (Tickets are going fast. Reserve yours here. Use NJCISUB for your discount.)

This week, we’re thrilled to announce John Harmon, president, African American Chamber of Commerce, will join us as a keynote speaker. If you’ve never heard him speak before, you’re in for a treat. A visionary business leader in New Jersey, he also serves multiple boards, including the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to Harmon, we’re happy these amazing speakers will also be joining us:

• Todd Polyniak, head of the Cannabis Practice at accounting, tax and advisory firm SAX
• Marissa Mastroianna, an employment law attorney at Cole Schotz
• Dan Jensen, an account executive at Securitas Electronic Security
• Jay Keith, a compliance office with 5S Security LLC
• Rob Mejia, associate professor at Stockton University’s Cannabis Studies
• Jennifer Maden, assistant dean and director of Graduate Studies, Rohrer College of Business, Rowan University

Previously confirmed speakers include:

• Tahir Johnson, director of Social Equity and Inclusion at U.S. Cannabis Council
• Nichelle Santos, founder and CEO of CannaCoverage
• Tony Gallo, managing partner at Sapphire Risk Advisory Group, who recently was named among the nation’s 100 most influence people in the cannabis by High Times.
• Ed DeVeaux, president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Assn.
• Art Hance, CEO of Hance Construction
• Stacey Udell, director of business valuation and forensic accounting at HBK
• Cecilia Oyediran, attorney at Foley Hoag
• Stu Zakim, president at Bridge Strategic Communications, which recently won a Clio Award for its work on Happy Munkey’s Original Immersive Van Gogh event last year.

We are still looking for proposals for sponsorships and CannaTalks. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Enrique Lavin or Kristen Ligas.