MICHIGAN : Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency Quarterly Public Meeting
CALIFORNIA: Time is running out to get tickets for the Event of the Decade. Oaksterdam University (OU), is celebrating its 15th anniversary on September 24th, 2022. OU first opened its doors in 2007 in Oakland, Calif. The school has over 80,000 alumni worldwide and is the most recognized name in cannabis education. The event will include a welcome by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and OU Chancellor Dale Sky Jones; as well as attendees like D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné!. 
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed an important package of pro-cannabis law into effect just this week, will offer a video introduction to the Luminary Awards, recognizing important advocates in the cannabis movement.
Oaksterdam’s Nonprofit for Education (The ONE), a 501(c)(3), will produce the event in partnership with Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), and Cannabis Talk 101 iHeart Radio. All donations and sponsorships are tax-deductible. One hundred percent of the proceeds will fund scholarships and re-entry programs for those afflicted by marijuana prohibition who are trying to enter the cannabis industry. Other sponsors include Homegrown Cannabis Co., MJ Unpacked and California NORML.
“Homegrown Cannabis Co. has great respect and gratitude for Oaksterdam University, identifying OU as a kindred spirit with a shared mission,” says James Dunn, brand director for Homegrown Cannabis Co. “We are honored to sponsor this event in celebrating the fantastic achievements of Oaksterdam University.”
Dale Sky Jones, President of Oaksterdam University, states, “Our vision has always been revolutionary. The industry has come so far yet has a long way to go. We look forward to continuing to be at the forefront of education, legal and public policy advocacy, social impact, and leadership.”
The documentary, American Pot Story: Oaksterdam, is closing the 20th Annual Oakland International Film Festival. The film tells the unknown origin story of the people who took considerable risks to make cannabis legalization possible. The film celebrates the courageous heritage of the legacy cannabis industry.
The movement that started at America’s first cannabis college would impact the world. Join Oaksterdam University as they reflect on the City of Oakland’s rich history of civil disobedience. Celebrate years of dedication to this mission with an epic event at the historic Fox Theater.
Schedule:
NEW YORK: Business of Cannabis, the host of quarterly events and annual cannabis conferences in North America and a premier publication of cannabis news, is gathering an esteemed group of leaders, policymakers, industry pioneers and investors for its second annual Business of Cannabis: New York conference. The one-day event will take place at the New York Academy of Medicine on November 3rd, just as New York’s Office of Cannabis Management is to begin distributing cannabis retail licenses. 
New York’s recreational cannabis market is still not off the ground 18 months after the passing of the state’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which is touted as one of the most equitable and robust programs in the country. The bill prioritizes racial equity, reinvesting 40% of tax revenue from adult-use cannabis sales into minority communities most impacted by the War on Drugs and automatically expunging or resentencing people with previous marijuana convictions that are no longer criminalized. The law also sets a goal of awarding 50% of all adult-use cannabis licenses to social equity applicants, which includes but is not limited to BIPOC, women and veterans.
However revolutionary, the rollout has proven burdensome. Originally expected to launch in Spring 2022, bureaucratic delays have pushed back New York’s timeline. As voters in seven states get ready to vote on cannabis legislation, all eyes are focused on whether New York will remain a model for others to follow or become a cautionary tale.
Residents of legal age in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma will vote on the legalization of adult-use cannabis while those in Maryland, North Dakota and South Dakota will vote on decriminalizing cannabis. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen recently ordered a recount of the petition signatures acquired for the ballot proposal to legalize medical marijuana in the state. If all of these ballots are passed in November, it will represent a huge step forward for sensible drug policies which defend the rights of patients and users in the country. It would also mean a large influx of addressable consumers for the adult-use cannabis industry.
Business of Cannabis: New York will bring together 400+ leaders focused on creating the most successful cannabis market in the U.S. With a focus on three core pillars – social equity, policy and retail – curated content sessions will cover:
The effectiveness of Governor Hochul’s $200M social equity fund
New York’s Cannabis Control Board license application process
The habits and preferences of the modern cannabis consumer
Building an ethical and socially responsible industry that protects consumers
Technology innovations on the horizon and how they will shape how cannabis companies do business
The future of New York’s medical marijuana program
New Jersey’s adult-use market roll-out and performance, and how it might impact New York’s industry
“The programme at this year’s Business of Cannabis: New York is designed to challenge leaders on the best route forward whilst educating, connecting and motivating delegates to shape the future of New York’s cannabis industry,” said Stephen Murphy, Co-Founder of Prohibition Partners. “We’re approaching an important election season that will significantly impact the cannabis industry. I look forward to engaging with key industry stakeholders to discuss the future of New York’s promising market and the significant impact it will have both in the US and around the world.”
“For decades, an unjust cannabis prohibition depleted this country of opportunity and denied communities access to resources,” said Tremaine Wright, Chairwoman of the New York State Cannabis Control Board. “Now in New York, we’re striving to course correct. We have set our sights on demonstrating how an equity-driven market reinvests in all communities creating the most inclusive cannabis industry possible. I’m excited to update attendees at Business of Cannabis: New York on our efforts in the Empire State to build a cannabis market that works for all New Yorkers.”
The opportunity of New York’s cannabis market is staggering. The state’s recreational market is projected to be worth $4.4B by 2025, overcoming Colorado’s established market that is estimated to reach $3.8B that same year. Approximately 19.41 million people live in the state of New York, with 8.9 million – nearly half of the state’s population – living in Manhattan. Cannabis has been an established part of New York’s culture for years, making for a potentially massive addressable market.
Business of Cannabis: New York will be held November 3rd at the New York Academy of Medicine, located at 1216 5th Ave, New York. For tickets and more information on sponsorship and speaking opportunities at Business of Cannabis: New York this year, please visit: cannabisnewyork.live
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) is hosting a conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. to explore ideas for modernizing the rules regarding cannabis plant canopy in WAC 314-55-075. 
This conversation will use the World Café style; a new meeting model for the LCB. World Café is a participatory workshop method, suitable for groups from 12 to 2,000 participants. It is a structured conversational process intended to facilitate open conversation and discussion. It links ideas among a group to access the “collective intelligence” of participants, and to understand/learn from multiple points of view. The focus is on exploring/innovating on themes rather than on problem solving. The format is designed as a forum for creative/open thinking, and is not suited for scenarios where there is a pre-determined answer or solution.
During this event, hosts and participants will:
The LCB encourages public suggestions and input on plant canopy rule concepts before the agency decides whether to move forward developing conceptual draft rules. To provide public notice that the LCB is considering possible rule changes, the LCB filed a CR 101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry as WSR 22-18-058 on August 31, 2022. This notice was published in the Washington State Register on September 21, 2022.
Click here to join the meeting
Please note: MS Teams does not have a pre-registration option. Please add the Listen and Learn Forum to your calendar and join using this link at the start time indicated above. The event may end earlier than scheduled depending on the amount of feedback offered by attendees during the forum.
To listen to the meeting on the phone (audio only):
Dial: +5649992000,,907791888#
Phone Conference ID: 907 791 888#
Please note the phone option is intended only for listening to the forum. In order to participate and contribute to the forum, please join online via MS Teams.
To join us virtually, here are a few reminders:
Questions? Contact the rules team at rules@lcb.wa.gov
PENNSYLVANIA & MARYLAND: ASTM International and U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) will hold a virtual global workshop on cannabis quality on Dec. 7-8, 2022., from 8:00 a.m. – 12:15 ET (2:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. CET) each day. Interested participants must register for the free event. 
The workshop will feature standards and guidelines from ASTM International, USP, PhEur, and other relevant organizations and discuss how these resources can help address challenges specific to cannabis quality. Participants will explore science-based resources from these organizations and opportunities to harmonize the varying national requirements for cannabis quality for products intended for medical use and scientific research.
The objectives of the cannabis quality workshop are:
The workshop will feature four panel sessions over the course of the two day event.
December 7
December 8
Click here to learn more about the panel session topics or to register for the free cannabis quality workshop visit.
ASTM International is a not-for-profit nongovernmental organization that develops voluntary consensus standards and defers to appropriate government authorities to determine the legal and regulatory framework regarding the control and use of cannabis.
MASSACHUSETTS: Burns & Levinson will host its sixth annual “State of the Cannabis Industry” conference, which will focus on critical issues in the multibillion dollar cannabis industry, on October 17, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. The conference will be held in person at the Westin Waltham Boston. A live stream option will also be available. 
The conference will feature over 20 industry leaders including Ed Schmults, Chief Executive Officer of StateHouse Holdings Inc., who will speak with Frank A. Segall, founder and Chair of the Cannabis Business & Law Advisory Group at Burns & Levinson, about the combination of Harborside, Inc., Urbn Leaf and Loudpack to create the largest and most developed vertically-integrated cannabis platform in California. Segall will also conduct a Q&A with Steven Hoffman, former Chairman of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, on his views on his term as Commissioner and his insights into the Massachusetts and national markets. Expert panels/sessions will explore a broad range of issues in the cannabis industry, including capital markets, M&A and investments; restructuring/workouts
; regulatory and legislative issues; and opportunities for women in leadership.
“As the cannabis industry continues to evolve and mature, there are many new opportunities and challenges to stay on top of. We were one of the first major full service law firms to develop a dedicated cannabis conference, and this event has become a best-in-class forum and networking platform that brings together cannabis business, financial and regulatory thought leaders from across the country to share their guidance, practical advice and insight,” said Segall.
“We like helping people make connections, develop partnerships and learn from their peers and industry leaders. We are excited to collaborate with our colleagues on innovative ways to address the pressing issues on the horizon,” added Scott Moskol, who co-founded and co-chairs Burns & Levinson’s Cannabis Business & Law Advisory Group with Segall.
The current conference sponsors include: HUB International; Needham Bank; A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners; Opus Consulting; Marcum LLP; Elevate Northeast; KindTap; AdaptiveHR; Lighthouse Biz Solutions, LLC; and Shield Compliance.
Burns & Levinson was the first major Boston corporate law firm to develop a cannabis business practice, and has been advising cannabis businesses, entrepreneurs and investors across the country for nearly a decade. The firm has unrivaled experience in cannabis and hemp/CBD business formation and corporate structuring, capital raises, M&A, investment structuring, regulatory matters and overall business issues affecting the fast-growing cannabis industry. The firm is also among the top law firms in the country handling M&A and high-level corporate and financing deals in the private and public markets in the cannabis market.
For more information about the conference and to register, click here. For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kristen Weller at kweller@burnslev.com.
Marijuana Violation Reclassification (SB 408)September 6, 2022 – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Prior to the passage of 2021 SB 408, the OLCC engaged with industry partners to scope the violation reclassification project. Many of the violations listed in Oregon Administrative Rule chapter 845 division 25 were written in 2015 and reflected the inaugural program and the looming concerns of federal intervention.
As the industry has matured and the concerns of federal intervention receded, the agency decided it was time for a holistic review of the violation and sanction schedules. Working with industry partners the OLCC approached the violation reclassification using a phased methodology, which was an explicit acknowledgement that the project would stretch over many cycles of rulemaking.
This rulemaking package includes various violation changes outlined for the agency to follow in 2021 SB 408, codifying in rule marijuana recall policy and additional changes to make the OLCC administrative rules more accessible and easier to comply with.
Join on your computer or Teams mobile app: Click here to join meeting
To listen to the meeting, call 323-553-3576; Access Code: 169 072 715#
MICHIGAN: Qonkur Media claims unparalleled experience in branding cannabis companies. 
This session will dive into the overall branding process and how to launch a brand successfully into the market, while giving it a unique appeal to consumers.
Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Place: Zoom Webinar
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86957741621?pwd=dHdpaHI5NWhwYktLTE4zd1RELzFUQT09
Passcode: 935341
Telephone:
USA 215 446 3656 US Toll
USA 888 363 4734 US Toll-free
Conference code: 3392693
The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session, which will allow the attendees to ask questions that may be answered in real-time.
Previous CRA Education Sessions are available on the CRA website; click here to be directed to the CRA video library.
NEW YORK: Business of Cannabis, the host of quarterly events and annual cannabis conferences in North America and a premier publication of cannabis news, returns to New York this November 3rd, 2022 at an iconic New York venue, which is to be announced soon, for its second annual event. Produced in partnership with Prohibition Partners, the most trusted provider of specialist information, data analytics, and digital commerce solutions for the global industry, Business of Cannabis: New York will bring together 400+ industry pioneers, policymakers, thought leaders, and investors to look at the most exciting corner of the cannabis industry in New York and North America right now: retail. 
New York legislators are taking one of the most dynamic approaches to cannabis policy in the industry’s history. In addition to exploring whether the final measures will have a ripple effect throughout the U.S., programming at this years’ event will center around three pillars: social equity, policy, and the technology, innovation, design, and data that is driving the cannabis retail sector forward. Business of Cannabis is excited to announce the following speakers who will take the stage:
“Business of Cannabis returns to New York at a critical time for both state and federal legislation,” said Stephen Murphy, Co-Founder of Prohibiton Partners. “We’re thrilled to bring together all of the key decision-makers in New York and to provide a platform to promote progressive ideas. Our event is bound to intentionally and strategically shape the future of cannabis.”
Business of Cannabis hosted its inaugural conference in September 2021 at the renowned Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. The event brought together over 300 of the most influential businesses, financial institutions, and political thought leaders shaping the future of the state’s emerging legal cannabis industry.
The North American Cannabis Report: 3rd Edition
The North American Cannabis Report: 3rd Edition, recently released in collaboration between Prohibition Partners and Business of Cannabis, projects that the adult-use cannabis market in North America could be worth US$66.4 billion by 2026.
Despite the slow pace of federal cannabis reform in the UnitedStates, some sizable legal state markets have either kicked off impressive adult-use sales or have big plans for the near future.
Anticipation is highest for the Northeastern states in the US. New York’s incoming adult-use mega-market isn’t going to be ready until 2023 at the earliest, according to regulators. With medical sales reaching US$467.2 million in the state in 2021, it should be worth the wait: Prohibition Partners projects the market will reach nearly US$1.5 billion in its first year of sales, and US$2.87 billion by 2025. It will be a boon for tax revenues, too, with analysts predicting adult-use sales to bring in an estimated US$300 million annually.
In the meantime, New York has expanded its medical program and allowed medical dispensaries to sell cannabis flower. Possession of up to three ounces is also now legal, although the state has seen a proliferation of illegal activity as regulators hammer out the details around licensing, marketing and retail operations.
For tickets and more information on sponsorship and speaking opportunities at Business of Cannabis: New York this year, please visit: cannabisnewyork.live
NEVADA: Cannabis Conference and award-winning media brand Cannabis Business Times are excited to announce Tommy Chong as their inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The award, which recognizes Chong’s many contributions to the industry, will be presented at a special Cannabis Leadership Awards reception—made possible with the generous support of FOHSE – Future of Horticultural Science + Engineering—Aug. 24 at Cannabis Conference. 
From his rock ‘n’ roll-inflected youth in Canada to his counterculture-defining roles in Hollywood, Chong has spent his life standing up for creativity and freedom of expression. This is now most evident in his approach to the legal cannabis industry, where Chong maintains a deeply rooted sense of respect for the plant. His latest venture, for instance, Cheech & Chong’s Takeout, is a California delivery service that keeps one foot in the lore of tradition while meeting the legal market where it is today. He also pioneered the celebrity brand landscape with Tommy Chong’s Cannabis, which features a robust line of THC and CBD cannabis products. And, along with longtime partner Cheech Marin, Chong’s focus is now centered on the duo’s “Cheech and Chong’s Cannabis,” which provides flower and multiple other products in markets across the U.S.
Chong’s voice (and his sense of humor) have helped elevate the nation’s cannabis conversation—and its consciousness, and in no small way helped pave the way to today’s legal cannabis industry.
“We are truly honored to recognize Tommy’s longtime contributions to advancing cannabis culture and using his fame to help normalize cannabis and advocate for its legalization,” said Noelle Skodzinski, editorial director of Cannabis Conference and Cannabis Business Times.
Chong will be recognized alongside the 2022 Cannabis Leadership Awards recipients, who were nominated by their peers and selected for demonstrating the leadership qualities needed to inspire and empower those around them, and who aim to better the industry and their communities.
The 2022 Cannabis Leadership Awards winners are:
“We’re honored to return for the second year as the sponsor of the Cannabis Leadership Awards, as well as presenting Tommy Chong with Cannabis Conference/Cannabis Business Times’ first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Ben Arnet, co-founder and president of Fohse. “We at Fohse congratulate and celebrate Tommy and this year’s Cannabis Leadership Awards winners.”
Chong will be featured in the October issue of Cannabis Business Times, and the Cannabis Leadership Awards recipients are featured in the August issue.