Dr. Kaya | 40 Acres & A Dispensary

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Carmen Toal | Canna Koala Group

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Dr. Ayoka Nurse | City of Richmond, CA

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Kevin Greene and Charlana McKeithen | “Courage in Cannabis”

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© 2021 National Cannabis Industry Association and NCIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee

Joe Brennan, Dr. Jennifer Anderson, Joyce Gerber | “Courage in Cannabis”

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Dr. Bridget Williams, MD, Franny Tacy, and Adilah Anwar | “Courage in Cannabis”

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Michael Webster | Exspiravit

Michael Webster, founder of Exspiravit, is an experienced cannabis professional and entrepreneur. Motivated by a desire to operate in a diverse and healthy regulated cannabis market, he has employed his voice to amplify the concerns and needs of social equity cannabis operators across the country. His advocacy for cannabis legalization has led him from the local level to the national stage. In addition to his duties as Founder and Managing Member of Exspiravit LLC, a licensed cannabis company in the state of Michigan

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Latoyia Rucker & Rebecca Colett | Calyxeum

CALYXEUM is a female, minority-owned operation located in Detroit, MI which seeks to redefine the myths of the Cannabis consumer. They work to change the perception of Cannabis in the professional world by representing women, community, diversity, opportunity and empowerment. LaToyia is an Experienced Entrepreneur, Educator, Master Gardener and Native Detroiter. One of the first women to own a Medical Marihuana Licensing Clinic she was a featured speaker at Michigan’s First Cannabis Expo. Rebecca has served on the National Board of NORML, Committee Chair for the NCIA and has written community plans for applicants in Los Angeles and Maryland.

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Alaina the Muse | FADEDlain

Alaina the Muse (Dorsey) is the Owner and Illustrator with Creative Strategist tendencies of FADEDlain. A strategic illustration studio, FADEDlain forges immersive visuals for the cannabis industry with brand-driven illustrations for packaging, merchandise/apparel and murals. A “Sweet Summer Child of Cannabis,” Alaina is a Maryland medical cannabis patient who initiated her self-renaissance in 2018 with the plant. The Muse is committed to solving big business problems and influencing culture by shutting adults up with visual, visceral wonder. Her start is with her product brand “The ENDOCANN Band”: it’s acannabis education merch that transforms cannabis/plant molecules and anatomy into human-like music entertainers.

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Lance Nixon | Denver’s First Equity Licensee

Lance is familiar with a wide range of cannabis strains and growing techniques, which has enabled him to become a respected member of the Denver cannabis industry, working for companies including Golden Meds, Emerald Fields, and Medicine Man.

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Dale Sky Jones | Oaksterdam University

Dale Sky Jones has been focused on enhancing the debate for cannabis policy reform since 2007. Based in Oakland, Calif., she took over as President & CEO of Oaksterdam University in 2012 after a crippling federal raid, with the goal to ensure OU’s legacy of cannabis education. Now, Oaksterdam is proud of more than 50,000 alumni from more than 40 countries

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Dr. Elizabeth Hughes | Medical Doctor

Elizabeth combines her medical background with wide ranging studies of alternative modalities of health and healing into a one-of-a-kind system designed to help people who feel like their lives have been hijacked by exhaustion and brain fog reclaim their energy and mental clarity.

Elizabeth is a board certified dermatologist, a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200), an advanced PSYCH-K® facilitator, and a Whole Health Medicine Institute certified provider. She lives in Seattle with her children and two rescued greyhounds.

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David Serrano & Todd Scattini | Cognitive Harmony Technologies

David Serrano is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran, a pioneer in the cannabis industry, and a fierce advocate for social and environmental justice. David first came to the cannabis industry as an advocate at the age of 16. A patient, himself, and a caregiver for his mother who was seriously ill, David quickly found great purpose and meaning in serving patients, helping disenfranchised communities, and shaping cannabis policy. David is also a farmer with a deep connection and commitment to the Earth. He has a passion for growing plants and caring for livestock using regenerative practices. Combining his passion for helping others, plant medicine, technology, agriculture, and business administration, he aims to deliver superior customer and community support as a consultant and Social Justice operative.

As the Global CEO of Harvest 360, Todd brings strong leadership, global vision, and strategic direction to multi-disciplined teams of business experts and cannabis professionals. His energy is drawn from his passion for the plant and a deep-seeded desire to unpack all its possibilities to heal patients and our planet, legitimately contribute to a global economy, and empower social justice for those most affected by the prohibition of cannabis. He is committed to helping develop effective and responsible legal cannabis markets on a global scale while enabling those seeking to establish their cannabis businesses. Todd is a West Point graduate and brings with him vast experience gained during a distinguished military career serving in a broad range of leadership positions in complex domestic and international settings, including five years of diplomatic service. He has vast experience providing consultative assistance to senior leaders; developing and managing relationships with key decision makers; managing multiple complex projects simultaneously and communicating organizational goals and objectives. Todd puts this skillset to use when managing cannabis applications, particularly through his abilities to assist clients in the development of execution of strategies focused on community engagement, public relations, governmental affairs, social responsibility, research, and workforce development.

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Ashley Morgan | Lotus Bliss Botanicals

As the founder of Lotus Bliss Botanicals Ashley has used her experience and knowledge as a herbalist and cannabis connoisseur to create and offer to the community premium CBD edibles and CBD feminine wellness products, which can be found at www.lotusblissbotanicals.com. Her love of cooking, baking, creating and studying herbs has meshed together from her personal life to a specialty she can enjoy in her professional life as well. Ashley has created and handcrafted each of Lotus Bliss Botanicals premium CBD products, these products can surely bring a bit of bliss into your day and each product has been lab tested for safety and compliance.

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Season One Roundup

Each week Khadijah Adams hosts cannabis industry operators, advocates, and allies to discuss issues related to social equity and highlight their experiences, challenges and success stories as people of color in the cannabis industry. This episode, Khadijah looks back at some of the guests on Cannabis Minority Report through season one, including Niambe McIntosh, Executive Director of the Peter Tosh Brand and the legendary reggae musician’s daughter, Charles Penn and Corey Dishmen, CEO & COO of The Library, and Omar Figueroa, principal at the Law Offices of Omar Figueroa. With appearances from other Season One guests, you’ll want to listen to this clip episode for anything you may have missed during the first season of NCIA’s Cannabis Minority Report.

Right now NCIA is accepting applications to serve on our committees, NCIA committees are an opportunity for members to get directly involved in specific industry issues and sectors. These volunteer-driven efforts engage members’ to drill down in areas of expertise and passion to effect change, provide professional development opportunities, and develop best practices and guidelines that will shape the future of our industry.

There are 14 committees to choose from, including the scientific advisors committee, facilities design committee, diversity equity and inclusion committee, cannabis cultivation committee, and so many more. The NCIA Social Equity Scholarship recipients and new members qualify for committee placement and a goal of the scholarship program is to diversify the voices in leadership positions on the NCIA Committees and it is important for everyone to submit the information today, before the August 15 deadline. CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

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Meaka Brown-Corea | Mellow Fellows

Growing up in a family that had many members working at the state and local levels of law enforcement, Meaka had never been a part of the Cannabis culture. After working herself as a constable, it became abundantly clear that people had been lied to, and separated from a plant that had more benefits than negatives. She left the constable business for a job at Pure Oasis Cannabis Dispensary in February of 2020 a month before the Covid Shutdown. She is now the General Manager at Mellow Fellows in Haverhill MA, a Cannabis Dispensary that is waiting for final licensing.

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Niambe McIntosh | Peter Tosh Brand

Niambe Mcintosh is the last child of the revolutionary musician and activist Peter Tosh. Despite being the youngest of nine, Niambe is an executive of her father’s estate and brand. In addition, she puts heavy emphasis on a health and wellness lifestyle while advocating for freedom, justice, and equity. She is a Board Member of Minorities 4 Medical Marijuana.

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

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Mark Slaugh | iComply

Mark established iComply, LLC to help cannabis businesses navigate the complexities of regulated marijuana. He provides the leadership and forward thinking that continues to set standards across the global industry.

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Alexis Olive | OliveYou Media

The pair discuss the latest news in cannabis business, policy, and advocacy. Alexis reflects on the Southern Atlantic Hemp and Arts Expo, which she attended to close out June 2021, in beautiful Asheville, NC. She talks about the differences in discussions at the return of in-person events in states with legal, regulated markets and those who are still working on establishing one.

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Seun Adedeji | Elev8 Cannabis

Seun is an immigrant who grew up on the South Side of Chicago and founded Elev8 Cannabis with the goal to empower individuals to live their best lives. Their mission is to “love, awaken, and elevate the human spirit by treating everyone like gold.”

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Amy Margolis | The Initiative

Amy T. Margolis has been an attorney for more than 17 years and is the founder of the Oregon Cannabis Association, one of the largest state cannabis trade groups in the United States. She frequently advises both businesses and investors on deploying capital, multi-jurisdtictional growth, public offerings and every other stage of business and corporate development. Ms. Margolis founded The Initiative, a business accelerator established to help female founded businesses succeed, and find funding, in the cannabis space.

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Tiffany Watkins | Vanguard Media Online

Tiffany Watkins is known in the community as LadyCanna. She’s a former IT Professional, working many years as a Network Systems Engineer. She holds degrees in Computer Sciences and Network Infrastructure, as well as multiple certifications. Her grassroots campaigning and advocacy goes back 30+ years. She’s been heavily involved in patient representation, harm reduction, public policy, and overall community organizing. Her goal is always to elevate and unify the voices of the people in order to make pivotal changes. Two years ago, Tiffany founded Vanguard Media Online, a media platform and magazine that’s dedicated to women in cannabis. In addition, Tiffany sits on many boards and committees where she helps craft changes in cannabis policy, public health, and social justice.

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Omar Figueroa | Law Offices of Omar Figueroa

Omar Figueroa has more than twenty two years of experience at the vanguard of California cannabis law and is widely respected as an industry expert. Omar is a Board Director of the National Cannabis Industry Association as well as a Director of the Cannabis Travel Association International. He is also a Founding Lifetime Member and former Director of the International Cannabis Bar Association, a Lifetime Member of the NORML Legal Committee, and recognized with the Distinguished Counsel’s Award by NORML.

Dr. Bridget Williams | Green Harvest Health

Dr. Bridget Williams is the owner of Green Harvest Health, a medical cannabis clinic located in Pickerington, OH. Green Harvest Health is the only medical cannabis clinic in Ohio with life and wellness coaching incorporated into the practice. Dr. Williams brings nearly 20 years of experience in family and occupational medicine from Cleveland Clinic and training in life and cannabis coaching to her practice. Her practice provides comprehensive and affordable care for the metropolitan Columbus area as well as satellite offices in Cleveland and Cincinnati.

Kevin Greene | Cleveland School of Cannabis

Join NCIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee Chair Khadijah Adams, and her rotating cast of co-hosts, each week for an update on the policies, practices, and some of the chatter effecting minority ownership and executive leadership in the growing cannabis industry. Laws & regulations need to be designed and implemented with equity and fairness in mind. The NCIA’s DEIC is focused on recommendations that will create access to opportunity for those most adversely affected by cannabis prohibition. Khadijah is joined this week by her co-host Alexis Olive, of OliveYou Media, and guest Kevin Greene, Vice President of the Cleveland School of Cannabis.

The mission of the Cleveland School of Cannabis is to foster adult learning through high-quality, residential and online education that integrates personal development along with career-oriented skills and knowledge related to cannabis, science, and business, to prepare graduates for entry-level employment in the industry.

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Margeaux Bruner | Corporate Social Responsibility & Compliance

Join NCIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee Chair Khadijah Adams, and her rotating cast of co-hosts, each week for an update on the policies, practices, and some of the chatter effecting minority ownership and executive leadership in the growing cannabis industry. Laws & regulations need to be designed and implemented with equity and fairness in mind. The NCIA’s DEIC is focused on recommendations that will create access to opportunity for those most adversely affected by cannabis prohibition. Khadijah is joined this week by her co-host Alexis Olive, of OliveYou Media, and Margeaux Bruner, an experienced cannabis leader and speaker.

Margeauz specializes in compliance, operations, government affairs, policy, social equity, and issues relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. Bruner has been tirelessly devoted to government and public policy, while standing up for social justice. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Minority Cannabis Business Association, Headset Cannabis Voter Project Advisory Board member, and National Cannabis Industry Association’s State Regulations Committee.

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Debbi Spranza – Rocky Mountain Cannabis Consulting

Khadijah is joined this week by her co-host Mike Lomuto – NCIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Manager – and Debbi Spranza. Debbi Spranza, CPLP runs a boutique instructional design and development consulting firm. Instructional Design Solutions . She specializes in delivering services traditionally performed by in-house training departments and larger consulting firms. Debbi partners with clients to deliver performance and learning solutions that integrate, support and complement the client’s existing culture, business goals and curriculum.

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Khurshid Khoja — Greenbridge Corporate Counsel

Join NCIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee Chair Khadijah Adams, and her rotating cast of co-hosts, each week for an update on the policies, practices, and some of the chatter effecting minority ownership and executive leadership in the growing cannabis industry. Laws & regulations need to be designed and implemented with equity and fairness in mind. The NCIA’s DEIC is focused on recommendations that will create access to opportunity for those most adversely affected by cannabis prohibition.

Khadijah is joined this week by her co-host Alexis Olive – of OliveYou Media – and Khurshid Khoja.

Khurshid Khoja is Principal of Greenbridge Corporate Counsel, a business law firm founded in 2012, which represents clientele in the cannabis industry—including social equity ventures, small businesses, as well as several publicly-traded multistate operators—on regulatory, licensing, start‐up, corporate, intellectual property, finance, and other transactional matters.

Khurshid serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Cannabis Industry Association, as the Co-chair of NCIA’s Policy Council. He has previously served on the Board of the Minority Cannabis Business Association and as Co-chair of its Policy Committee, as well as serving as a founding board member of the California Cannabis Industry Association and as its General Counsel.

Among other honors, Khurshid was profiled in The National Law Journal’s first ever Cannabis Law Trailblazers’ list, was featured in The Hemp Connoisseur magazine’s “100 People You Should Know” issue, and he’s been named to the annual Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars list multiple times. He was elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, has twice received SSDP’s Unsung Hero Award, and Arcview Investor Network’s Outstanding Member Award. His work has been profiled in multiple editions of the Arcview Market Research report, and his earliest days in California’s pre-regulated industry are chronicled in Doug Fine’s book Too High To Fail.

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© 2021 National Cannabis Industry Association and NCIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee