Green Market Report is hosting its first New York-focused Summit. The program for this event is unique in that it follows the New York supply chain featuring speakers from each level of licensing beginning with cultivators and ending with investors.
The conference will begin with a special interview featuring Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo who has been heavily involved with state cannabis legislation. She will be interviewed by Crain’s New York Editor-in-Chief Cory Schouten. Lupardo has represented the Binghamton area since 2005 and currently Chairs the Assembly Committee on Agriculture. She is a champion for the state’s agricultural industry, placing a particular emphasis on new commodity crops like cannabis.
Starting in 2014, Lupardo passed all of the bills needed for the state’s Industrial Hemp and Cannabinoid Hemp Programs. The latter established a licensing framework for CBD processors and retailers, and consumer protection standards for labeling, manufacturing, packaging, and laboratory testing. Lupardo co-sponsored the Compassionate Care Act which created New York’s Medical Cannabis program, co-sponsored the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), and most recently passed the Cannabis Crop Rescue Act. She is a vocal critic of the way cannabis farmers have been regarded during the rocky roll-out of NY’s adult-use cannabis program.
Cultivators
This great conversation is followed by New York state cultivators Brittany Carbone, the co-founder of Tricolla Farms, Will Leibee, the founder and CEO of Back Home Farm, and Sherri Kuo from Mokotoke. Moderated by GMT breaking news reporter Adam Jackson, they will share their experiences – good and bad – with the developing New York market and provide insights on how to navigate the challenging environment. The audience will also hear firsthand how the farmer’s markets are operating.
Brands
Next up New York brands will take the stage to talk about getting that all-important shelf space and what they’ve learned so far from New York’s consumption community. What products are big hits and what do consumers really like? Hear what this panel has to say about the early days of launching a brand in a state with limited stores. This panel is moderated by Higher High’s DiAnA McElroy and features hometown favorites Eric Blazak, CEO of Bristol Extracts, Her Highness Co-founder Laura Eisman, and Mack Hueber President of Ayrloom.
Stores
With a freeze on new cannabis operations in the state, these early entrants will have a lot to say about opening their stores. The journey from getting the store open to grinding it out as the honeymoon period fades. Moderated by cannabis consultant Kristin Jordan of Jordan Parks Advisors, this group features Arana Hankin-Biggers, President of Union Square Travel Agency, the Lower East Side’s premium store Gotham Chief Creative Officer Billy Richards along with Jeremy Rivera Founder of Terp Bros.
RO’s
They were on the front line of legal cannabis in the state – the Registered Organizations or RO’s. These companies spent millions establishing a medical cannabis program for patients in the state. Their passion for patients in a program that was slow to unfold is a testament to their commitment to cannabis as a medical treatment. Moderated by Marino Public Relations Senior Vice President Jordan Isenstadt and featuring Kellie Rivera, Senior Counsel at Columbia Care, Frank Tice, Senior Director, Legal and External Affairs at RIV Capital/Etain Health, and Jeremy Unruh, Senior Vice President, Public & Regulatory Affairs at PharmaCann.
Investors
Finally, it takes money to make money. Our own Executive Editor Debra Borchardt will follow the money as she speaks with John Darwin Managing Partner at Luminous Capital, Joe Lustberg CEO at Upwise Capital, and Tom Zuber Managing Partner at Zuber Lawler. Hear what investors think about financing New York businesses. They will tell the audience what it will take for investors to feel comfortable with extending capital in a state with a troubled rollout.
In Closing
With so many twists and turns in the New York market, it is imperative for stakeholders to attend this event to hear the latest developments in the state from the people who are actively involved. Be in the room where it happens at the Green Market Report New York Summit. Tickets are still available here and if registration closes, you can register on-site.
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