Podcasts about cannabis control commission

Travis Ahern, the new executive director of the state's Cannabis Control Commission, joins WBUR's All Things Considered to discuss. 

It was almost three years ago when Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana. Supporters praised the move as a way to generate state revenue, keep money from migrating to Massachusetts and ensure a safe product for users. Rhode Island''s approach was touted for including so-called social equity elements to help people hurt by the war on drugs. Three years later, though, the state has yet to move ahead with issuing licenses for 24 new pot shops. There are also questions about the effect of legalizing recreational marijuana. So what does a key state official have to say about driving while stoned? When will Rhode Island actually move ahead with awarding licenses for new pot shops? And will the state's legalization law really live up to the billing about promoting social equity? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Kim Ahern, chairwoman of the state Cannabis Control Commission.

The state's Cannabis Control Commission just touted a record-breaking $1.6 billion of marijuana sales across Massachusetts in 2024, evidence, it says, of a "robust and thriving market." But the price of weed is falling, squeezing small business owners.

Eight years after Massachusetts legalizes marijuana, the Cannabis Control Commission has unveiled three license types for the “social consumption” of marijuana. A hospitality license allows for stand alone lounges to consume on site, a supplemental license is for existing businesses to have adjoining space for consumption and a temporary license can be used for events that will permit smoking marijuana or ingesting cannabis products. The finalization of the cafes is still a ways off as regulations must be approved by the Legislature. Will pot cafes in MA come to fruition?Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio and listen to NightSide with Dan Rea Weeknights From 8PM-12AM!

On today's program, the Executive Editor of the Boston Business Journal, Doug Banks, talks about the State's Cannabis Control Commission and their article “Weed Woes”.  Colin Young, Editor at the State House News Service is following arguments at the State Supreme Judicial Court concerning the MBTA Communities Act and the town of Milton's objection to it. Chris Geehern, Communications Director for the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, says business confidence has improved in the state. Bill Chase, owner of Hi-Tech windows talks about the importance of an energy audit. And finally, Anthony Lamacchia of Lamacchia Real Estate looks at the Florida real estate marketplace. 

Massachusetts cannabis regulators last week were led by Commissioner Bruce Stebbins as the commission's acting chair. At that meeting, they also identified a nearly $3 million budget shortfall for this year.

Radio Boston breaks down the latest news of the Cannabis Control Commission's inner turmoil.

The reports of bullying by now-suspended Communications Chief Cedric Sinclair are the latest example of chaotic and bitter dealings at an agency tasked with overseeing the state's $6 billion marijuana industry.

For the last 54 years, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I drug: a category that carries drastic criminal penalties and also includes hard drugs like heroin. But the Biden administration has the power to change that as scientists at the FDA are now recommending it be reclassified in a much less severe category. But Jonathan wonders, would descheduling marijuana be enough to solve all of the issues caused by the War on Drugs? Drug policy activist and attorney Shaleen Title joins Jonathan to answer that very question, and to explain some of the risks and rewards of federal marijuana legalization. Shaleen Title is an attorney and longtime drug policy activist who has been writing, passing, and implementing equitable cannabis laws for over 20 years. She is a former top regulator for the state of Massachusetts, where she served as commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission from 2017 to 2020. Currently, her primary focus is running the nonprofit think tank Parabola Center, which pushes for cannabis policies to protect people rather than corporate profits. You can follow Shaleen on Instagram @shaleentitle. You can find Parabola Center on Instagram @parabolacenter and TikTok @parabolacenter. You can find Parabola Center's latest paper here. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie takes it local for the final hour of the week, citing the peculiar skirmish inside Massachusetts' Cannabis Control Commission (who would have guessed) and what is, seemingly, a withholding of information from the Boston Police Department.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is under an unwelcome microscope, as drama between suspended Commission chair Shannon O'Brien and state treasurer Deb Goldberg overshadows the work of regulating a $5 billion industry.

The top regulator of the state's $5-billion legal weed industry has been suspended, even as the Control Commission is poised to make new rules governing cannabis production and commerce in Massachusetts. State lawmakers also sent a letter Monday to the Legislature's committee on cannabis policy, asking for a hearing and an independent state auditing unit to review the board's actions. Today, Boston Globe staff reporter Matt Stout joins The Common to discuss State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg's decision to suspend Shannon O'Brien, who she appointed as the state's top regulator just one year ago -- and what it might mean for the state's burgeoning cannabis economy. Greater Boston's daily podcast where news and culture meet.

Discussing our last episode and the ongoing issues at the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and all the latest on Kim Rivers and Trulieve. As well as calls from the organizer of this week's Black Cannabis Week Boston. https://www.blackcannabisweekboston.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support

Best of BPR 7/26: Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O'Brien & NAACP Vendors

"Follow your passion. There's room for it in the space, and may not be in a direct role and may be consultative, but it exists, and you just have to lean into what you're passionate about."Are you ready to unlock the hidden potential of cannabis SEO?Join us on the "To Be Blunt" podcast as Matthew Shterenberg, CEO of Deeproots Partners, reveals the secrets of local search, the Google "Vicinity Update," and the art of captivating content and branding. Explore the latest news on Alabama's medical marijuana program, Rhode Island's Cannabis Control Commission, and Twitch's ban on cannabis content.Tune in now for a transformative journey into optimizing SEO for cannabis brands![00:00 - 07:32] Denver's Week of Marijuana Events, Licensing, and Legal Discussions[07:32 - 15:40] From Music Dreams to Cannabis SEO: The Journey of Matthew Shterenberg and Deeproots Partners[15:40 - 23:42] Finding Success in the Cannabis Industry: Passion, Strategy, and Optimism[23:42 - 31:31] Google Maps Algorithm, Local Industries and the Impact on SEO Strategies[31:31 - 39:51] Strategies for Google Maps Rankings and Visibility[39:51 - 47:34] Navigating Censorship and Emerging Search Trends[47:34 - 55:08] Navigating Google's Categorization and Compliance[55:08 - 03:01] The Evolving Landscape of Cannabis Marketing: Regional Focus, SEO Strategies, and Industry InsightsMatthew Shterenberg is a Cannabis industry veteran who, in the last 7 years, has guided marketing and sales strategies for well-known brands like Papa & Barkley, Dom Pen, Sherbinskis, and retail companies like Grassdoor, Body and Mind, Airfield, Hyperwolf, and more.Matt has proven himself time and again to business leaders with his deep understanding of cannabis consumer behavior which drives lucrative strategies that drive millions in revenue.Connect with Matthew!Go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-shterenberg-272235b9/Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she's one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas' premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabiSPONSORSHIP is brought to you by Restart CBD. Check them out for your CBD needsLEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to join me for episodes featuring some serious cannabis industry by sharing this episode or click here to listen to past episodesRESTART CBD is an education-first CBD wellness brand shipping nationwide.Check out my new website

Angela Brown is a candy cannabis maker based in Wareham, Massachusetts.She is the co-founder and CEO of Coast Cannabis Co., the  first licensed cannabis manufacturing company in Massachusetts which is focused on providing premium products with quality, integrity and consumer focus. Angela's entrepreneurial spirit has driven her life, and with her husband she set out to create the cannabis products she couldn't find but knew we needed. On this episode Angela shares her entrepreneurial journey, her transformation from DARE kid to canna professional, and what she's learned from all those gummies and chocolates.Topics Discussed(1:11) Intro and Welcome(1:25) Canna Law Conference and Parabola Center(1:52) Fatima Afia(4:20) Cannabis and Criminal Systems(11:33) Bong and Pong Sponsored by Stem(12:30) Angela Brown Intro(13:55) The Beginning – From Tech to Chocolate(20:50) Audio Intro(21:40) Finding a Friendly Canna Community in Wareham(23:33) Mapping MA Cannabis by Town(24:55) Angela's Relationship with Cannabis(26:40) Canna Health Journey(29:15) The First Edible Evangelized Her(32:04) Cannabis Control Commission(33:45) Host Community Agreements in MA(37:00) 4/20 Statistics(37:35) MSO Losing Market Shares in Open Markets(39:15) Coast Canna Co. Products(40:50) CBC Cannabinoid(41:50) Why Chocolate is a Great Delivery System(43:45) Small Business and Women Advice(46:40) The Importance of Craft(47:30) NUSL Women in Law Event(48:17) Building Better From The Start(48:40) Connect with Coast Cannabis Co. website, Instagram and Linked-In(50:14) Thank You Theresa!The Canna Mom Show wants to thank:Josh Lamkin and Bella Jaffe for writing and performing TCMS theme music    

VALUE FOR VALUE Thank you to the Bowl After Bowl Episode 246 Producers: Sharky, harvhat, cbrooklyn112, Seedubs, RevCyberTrucker, piranesi, Boolysteed, Boo-Bury, Wiirdo, Phifer, Anonymous, MakeHeroism, Lavish, Eastside Tony Intro/Outro: Broken Mirror (Nail in the Coffin) - False Finish Millennial Media Offensive x Behind the Sch3m3s Episode 151: Five Bucks A Tit ON CHAIN, OFF CHAIN, COCAINE, SHITSTAIN Mempool Accelerator demo (Nitter) Strike expansion (Bitcoin Magazine) Bitcoin Design / EttaWallet (No BS Bitcoin) Pakistan announces fresh ban on crypto, but adoption as a hedge remains popular (Coin Desk) Bitcoiner.Guide noKYC Only / RoboSats A husband hid $500k in Bitcoin during a divorce, got busted by a crypto hunter (CNBC) YOU CAN GET 50,000 SATS with this Fold card referral link KC Bitcoin and Coffee Beers with Bitcoiners JUNE 24: Kansas City Bitcoin Bloc Party TOP THREE 33 Only 33% of Americans approve of Biden's handling of the economy, new poll finds (Fortune) US Golf Association announces 33 additional US Open exemptions (PGA Tour) Married couple gets 33 months in prison in Tallahassee strip club shooting (Tallahassee Democrat)   BEHIND THE CURTAIN DEA likely to schedule delta-8 (Vicente) based on Terrence Boos slideshow at DEA Supply Chain conference National Institute on Drug Abuse is providing $1.5 million in funding to research psilocybin and ayahuasca as drug addiction treatment (National Institute of Health)  "I was sprayed with boiling Ayahuasca water by Amazonian shaman" - Xiaomanyc (YouTube) American workers testing positive for pot reaches 25-year high (The Wall Street Journal) Outrage grows over video of California officer shooting tethered dog (SF Gate) Illegal grow site cleaned up in Death Valley (National Park Service) Illinois awards Metrc track-and-trace government contract (GlobeNewswire) IL regulators being sued by social equity pot transporters over failure to address unlicensed delivery operations (Illinois News Joint) 42 pounds of pot found at Overton Brooks VA Center (Louisiana) (KTAL News) MD Gov. Wes Moore allowed a bill to prevent police from using the smell of pot as justification for searching people or vehicles to become law without his signature (Maryland Matters) and signed a bill making it so parental pot use will not be construed by state officials as child neglect Minnesota legalization bill lands on Gov. Tim Walz's desk (CBC) Gov. Walz signs omnibus bill including legalizing possession of drug paraphernalia, small amounts of drug residue, syringe services and testing Lawmakers ask for reconsideration of legal opinion on poll override of marijuana revenue bill veto (Daily Montanan) Nebraska activists submit complementary medical bills (Marijuana Moment) New York City's Administration for Children's Services faces federal racial discrimination lawsuit after taking newborn over pot use (The New York Times) Helena, OH approves decriminalization ballot measure to (Marjuana Moment) Suspect caught with 160 pounds of illegal pot because it "pays better" (KFOR) Curaleaf agrees to $100,000 class action payout over THC labeling mix-up (MJ Biz Daily) Oregon lawmakers send Gov. Tina Kotek bill to give lessons on fentanyl, fake pills and good Samaritan laws to middle and high schoolers Federal appeals court dismisses case against deputy who filmed alleged forced baptism of woman caught with a roach (Chattanooga Times Free Press) Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee nominates Cannabis Control Commission members (Governor.RI) Under threat of a $10K-per-day fine, Rhode Island pot company takes down billboards (The Providence Journal) Couple accused of smelling like weed kicked out of Memphis eatery, racial discrimination suit says (NBC) Singapore hangs 2nd citizen in 3 week for trafficking pot despite calls to halt execution (The Associated Press) METAL MOMENT RevCyberTrucker is keeping on with Mandatory Metallica Month with Frayed Ends of Sanity. FIRST TIME I EVER... Bowlers called in to discuss the First Time They Ever went to a bonfire. Next week, we want to hear about the First Time YOU Ever were the oldest person in the room. FUCK IT, DUDE. LET'S GO BOWLING. German surgeon fired after getting janitor to assist amputation (AP) 88 koi fish stolen in Maryland community (FOX) Pet fish fee at Kansas City complex an 'error' (FOX) British couple taking sailing lessons off Moroccan coast attacked by orcas (Fox) Feedbag 'glitch' sends friend requests to profiles visited by users (FOX) Oklahoma man charged with AirDropping nudes to strangers (FOX) Missouri man credits cow with helping him accomplish decade-long fishing goal (FOX) Officials investigate mysterious disappearance of 30-ton shipment of explosive chemicals (FOX) CA man killed helping ducks cross road (KCRA) Patrol officers recover 3 stolen Hyndai vehicles, arrest suspects in Charles County, Maryland (CCSO.US)

Since its state legalization in 2016, cannabis has become a multi-billion dollar industry that helps fuel the Massachusetts economy and tax revenue, while also providing opportunities to address racial equity. Still, despite its popularity, cannabis is heavily regulated and the negative stigma around the drug lingers. Today on The Common, we take you to Newton, where Devin Alexander is CEO and cofounder of Rolling Releaf, the first cannabis delivery business in the city. We talk to Devin, who went through the Cannabis Control Commission's Social Equity Program, about his experience staring the company, and what he hopes to see change to make the cannabis delivery business more sustainable and inclusive. Greater Boston's daily podcast where news and culture meet.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: Roger Williams University School of Law Dean Gregory Bowman on the school's efforts to increase inclusion and equity in its law curriculum, preparing for upcoming changes to the BAR exam, and the importance of free speech on campus. On the second half, Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Dir. John Marion reacted to the AG's recent advisory opinion on APRA requests and the governor delaying appointments to the Cannabis Control Commission.

When Massachusetts legalized marijuana back in 2016, the new law included a mandate enforcing the industry to offer opportunities to communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs and consistent over-policing for cannabis. In doing this, Massachusetts became the first state to write social equity for the marijuana industry into law. The state also created the Cannabis Control Commission to help those who were eligible to open a dispensary. There were two programs new dispensary owners could go through: the Economic Empowerment Program and the Social Equity Program. But since these programs were introduced, many have found it difficult to get CCC approval for a distribution license. More recently, state officials announced the creation of the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board, a committee tasked with deciding how the state will dispense money to cannabis entrepreneurs. "A lot of people that look like me don't have the opportunity to enter this industry because the barriers are set up from the jump," said Dru Ledbetter, the CEO of cannabis delivery company Flower Xpress and owner and CEO of the Zeb Boutique dispensary. About 68% of the active marijuana establishment agents in Massachusetts are white, according to data collected by the Cannabis Control Commission. Only 8% are Hispanic or Latino and 6% are Black. As for gender, 63% of active establishment owners are men and 36% are women, according to the same data. "I believe that any person that has a marijuana offense, currently or in the past, that should be wiped from their record," said Tito Jackson, a former Boston city councilor and CEO of Apex Noire, "because there are companies who are operating in the state of Massachusetts who are making hundreds of millions of dollars, and I guarantee you none of the people currently locked up sold anywhere near as much as some of those companies." Has the industry actually become more equitable, and have these moves toward a more inclusive cannabis industry been successful? Ledbetter and Jackson joined Under the Radar to share their experiences and perspectives. GUESTS: Dru Ledbetter, CEO of Flower Xpress, a recreational cannabis delivery company, and the owner and CEO of Zeb Boutique, a cannabis retail dispensary in Boston Tito Jackson, former Boston city councilor and CEO of the new cannabis dispensary, Apex Noire

Mass Cannabis Control Commission responds to our worker safety petition! Mike Crawford hosts with guests Danny Carson and Zactly @nhcannapatient on twitter, discussing the historic, first ever, a near hour of discussion on worker safety at a public Mass CCC hearing. We will play the audio and also discuss a new NH medical cannabis home-grow bill. We take a call from Sandy, the aunt of Lorna McMurrey, the Trulieve worker who passed a year ago after a workshift. Discussing Commissioner Chair Shannon O'Brien and CCC Exec Shawn Collins. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

ALSO: Winooski joins in the national art project called Welcome Blanket, which provides quilts for new immigrants; Burlington's Cannabis Control Commission say they don't have enough information to make decisions; Dr. Sunil “Sunny” Eappen (EE-pen) spent his first weeks on the job as the UVM Health Network's new leader criss-crossing Lake Champlain from Vermont to New York and back.

A look at the numbers from the state Cannabis Control Commission shows that prices per gram have been steadily dropping since mid-2021.WBZ's Shari Small has more.

Mike Crawford guests on a VT podcast, THE FINE PRINT discussing the Trulieve death of Lorna McMurrey. He calls out the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission as a cover-up agency. What would you call virtual investigations of mold?  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

This week we are joined by Shaleen Title , Founder of Parabola Center to discuss:Safe BankingPreventing MonopoliesBuilding an Equitable Industry Is Big Tobacco a threat to Cannabis?Shaleen Title is an Indian-American attorney and longtime drug policy activist who has been writing, passing, and implementing equitable cannabis laws for over 20 years. She is a former top regulator for the state of Massachusetts, where she served as commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission from 2017 to 2020. She is the author of “Fair and Square: How to Effectively Incorporate Social Equity Into Cannabis Laws and Regulations” and “Bigger is Not Better: Preventing Monopolies in the National Cannabis Market.”Parabola Center is a nonprofit think tank of legal professionals and drug policy experts coming together to protect people, not corporations. Our mission is to provide everyone with access and expertise to participate in the drug policy arena.https://www.shaleentitle.com/https://www.parabolacenter.com/https://twitter.com/parabolacenterhttps://twitter.com/shaleentitle#Cannabis  #Cannabiscommunity #tobaccoAt Eighth Revolution (8th Rev) we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast  Contact us directly at info@8threv.com Bryan Fields: @bryanfields24 Kellan Finney: @Kellan_Finney 

This week we are joined by Shaleen Title , Founder of Parabola Center to discuss:Safe BankingPreventing MonopoliesBuilding an Equitable IndustryIs Big Tobacco a threat to Cannabis?Shaleen Title is an Indian-American attorney and longtime drug policy activist who has been writing, passing, and implementing equitable cannabis laws for over 20 years. She is a former top regulator for the state of Massachusetts, where she served as commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission from 2017 to 2020. She is the author of “Fair and Square: How to Effectively Incorporate Social Equity Into Cannabis Laws and Regulations” and “Bigger is Not Better: Preventing Monopolies in the National Cannabis Market.”Parabola Center is a nonprofit think tank of legal professionals and drug policy experts coming together to protect people, not corporations. Our mission is to provide everyone with access and expertise to participate in the drug policy arena.https://www.shaleentitle.com/https://www.parabolacenter.com/https://twitter.com/parabolacenterhttps://twitter.com/shaleentitle#Cannabis  #Cannabiscommunity #tobaccoAt Eighth Revolution (8th Rev) we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast  Contact us directly at info@8threv.com Bryan Fields: @bryanfields24 Kellan Finney: @Kellan_Finney

This week we are joined by Shaleen Title , Founder of Parabola Center to discuss:Safe BankingPreventing MonopoliesBuilding an Equitable Industry Is Big Tobacco a threat to Cannabis?Shaleen Title is an Indian-American attorney and longtime drug policy activist who has been writing, passing, and implementing equitable cannabis laws for over 20 years. She is a former top regulator for the state of Massachusetts, where she served as commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission from 2017 to 2020. She is the author of “Fair and Square: How to Effectively Incorporate Social Equity Into Cannabis Laws and Regulations” and “Bigger is Not Better: Preventing Monopolies in the National Cannabis Market.”Parabola Center is a nonprofit think tank of legal professionals and drug policy experts coming together to protect people, not corporations. Our mission is to provide everyone with access and expertise to participate in the drug policy arena.https://www.shaleentitle.com/https://www.parabolacenter.com/https://twitter.com/parabolacenterhttps://twitter.com/shaleentitle#Cannabis  #Cannabiscommunity #tobaccoAt Eighth Revolution (8th Rev) we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast  Contact us directly at info@8threv.com Bryan Fields: @bryanfields24 Kellan Finney: @Kellan_Finney 

4/21/22-- Today, The Horse Race is breaking down two state-focused polls out this week. The first is a poll conducted by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion, which asked likely Democratic primary voters about their choices in the 2022 races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and state auditor. The poll shows gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey with a strong lead over opponent Sonia Chang-Diaz, which grew since The MassINC Polling Group's poll on the candidates from January. A second poll released this week was conducted by The MassINC Polling Group and its research director/guest co-host for this week's episode, Rich Parr. The MPG/Boston Globe poll surveyed Massachusetts residents about their opinions on climate change. This poll is one of a series of statewide climate surveys, and it found that residents consider climate change to be less of a concern than in 2019, when the last wave was conducted. However, that's not to say residents don't feel climate change is a serious threat. Majorities say that climate impacts, including heat waves (58%), coastal flooding (60%), and more powerful storms (62%), are already or very likely to hit the state in the next 5 years. The poll included additional responses from Black, Latino, and Asian residents, to enable a closer look at opinion between and within each group. Consistent with national polling, Black and Latino residents are more likely to say climate change is a “very serious” problem for the state. This poll also echoes national polling in showing a large partisan gap in concern about climate, with 62% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents calling it a very serious problem, compared to just 22% of Republicans and Republican leaners. Click here to read more about the poll: https://www.massincpolling.com/the-topline/poll-massachusetts-residents-see-climate-change-as-a-serious-problem-for-state -- A statement from a spokesperson for the state Cannabis Control Commission in regard to a prior episode of The Horse Race: "On March 14, the Boston Globe reported that Creative Services, Inc. (CSI) was exposed to a data breach that compromised the information of 164,000 individuals, including 1,982 individuals who are associated with Massachusetts cannabis licenses or license applications, as well as 75 Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) staff. In an interview during the March 31 episode of The Horse Race, the guest falsely stated that the Commission had been exposed to a data breach. The Commission does require all individuals listed on an initial license application to have a background check performed, via the Commission, with CSI. However, it is important to clarify that the Commission does not require, nor recommend, any particular company to perform background checks on the employees and/or agents they hire. Please note: as of the Commission's April public meeting, there were 19,358 active agent registrations in Massachusetts' adult-use cannabis industry, and 9,117 active agent registrations in the medical use industry. The guest being interviewed also suggested that, because of this event, the Commission should be audited. Regarding any comments as to whether the Commission has been audited, there is currently an audit by Auditor Bump's office underway and has been for some time."

The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday unanimously approved the most significant changes to the state's marijuana laws since legalization was implemented in 2017.The package of reforms would crack down on excessive fees charged by municipalities to licensed marijuana operators, clear the way for cities and towns to approve cannabis cafes, and put more muscle behind policies meant to make the licensed pot industry equitable after decades of racially disproportionate drug arrests.The biggest deal is the Host Security Agreements now under the Cannabis Control Commission's  authority. There have been quite a few "shakedowns" and bribery schemes in Mass, like the former Fall River, MA Mayor in jail for accepting payments.The #TalkingHedge...https://youtu.be/T6SPv9pIYcg

Winter be damned, our hosts are coming in hot with Pot Topics aplenty before diving into the hot steamy nature of Sagittarius season! Join Kijana and Ryan as they discuss how the Cannabis Control Commission is starting to stand up (we hope!), why Indica v. Sativa is mostly a marketing ploy, and how cannabis branding is evolving before they dive deep into Sag season. Find out why Sagittarius is the hot steam of the fire signs, why they think they know everything and how we can be our best most optimistic selves during this time! https://mainvest.com/b/ii-rose-garden-roslindaleStay tuned for upcoming episodes we'll be updating every Friday. Follow along at @iandirosegarden and iandirosegarden.com. As always, please leave us your reviews, thoughts, and suggestions to improve ATGT. Thank you for supporting The Garden!

When cannabis and capitalism collide, our community's best laid plans for an equitable industry all-too-often go up in smoke. Enter Shaleen Title, a longtime drug policy activist who in 2017 became one of five inaugural commissioners of Massachusetts's Cannabis Control Commission. Described as “the people's weed watchdog” by Boston Magazine, Shaleen is widely recognized for her focus on social and racial justice and her efforts to make the cannabis industry more fair and inclusive. She's also an avid listener of Great Moments in Weed History who supports the podcast on Patreon—just saying... and she shares that among her personal great moments was being the first person to order legal cannabis delivery on the East Coast. Naturally Shaleen's weed and gummies were provided by a social equity company that represents everything she works for as an advocate, attorney and now head of the Parabola Center—a think-tank she co-founded to "support people not corporate profits" in the cannabis industry. Please join us for an engaging conversation on the bright green future of cannabis with someone helping to make it happen. SUPPORT "GREAT MOMENTS IN WEED HISTORY" ON PATREON Sign up for our Great Moments in Weed History Patreon for special bonuses and fun surprises, including exclusive access to our weekly video series "Moments in Weed" where we get blazed and talk about a cannabis current event.

In episode 5, Kim and Jeffrey discuss Kim's journey to becoming an activist attorney, seeing her future husband speak years before meeting, Massachusetts cannabis, and much more… LINKS: Kim's Instagram, Vicente Sederberg Law Firm, Trella (winner of BU Competition 3), 5th Annual BU Competition event registration: November 10, Kim Napoli is the director of diversity, equity & inclusion at Vicente Sederberg LLP. As a member of the firm's new Impact & ESG Practice Group, she is responsible for assisting clients in the creation, implementation, and progress made towards their goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion. She also works to ensure compliance in these areas as they relate to regulations and laws at the state and federal levels, with a focus on plans to positively impact communities. Kim is a deft strategic advisor who works diligently, and with good instinct, for the benefit of her clients and the industry. Prior to this, Kim worked in a number of roles for a national cannabis company including, senior director of corporate social responsibility and director of diversity programs. Since 2017, Kim has served on the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission's Cannabis Advisory Board as Governor Charlie Baker's appointed expert in minority business development. In this role, she helps the Cannabis Control Commission in the development and implementation of the state's cannabis regulations and policy. She also served as the director of outreach for the successful 2016 campaign to legalize cannabis in Massachusetts. In addition, Kim is a member of the Cannabis Trade Federation's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Suffolk University; College of Arts and Science, and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. She is active in her local communities and has served as an appointed member of the Roxbury Strategic Masterplan Oversight Committee and as a member of the Sudbury Public School's Superintendents Reopening Task Force. Kim is also an elected corporator for Middlesex Saving Bank in Massachusetts.

Time to look cute, mend relationships and turn that love in towards yourself because it is LIBRA SEASON! Kijana and Ryan have a very balanced (get it?) discussion about this astrological time and how to make the most of it PLUS some Libra notions that may surprise you. The duo also discusses their latest interactions with the Cannabis Control Commission and even throw in a few Pot Topics for some laughs. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes, we'll be updating every Friday. Follow along at @iandirosegarden and iandirosegarden.com. As always please leave us your reviews, thoughts, and suggestions to improve ATGT. Thank you for supporting The Garden!

Chronicle takes a look at the state of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts five years after legalization.  Anthony Everett speaks to the Cannabis Control Commission, business owners, and other stakeholders connected to cannabis. He also reports on efforts to level the playing field so that people of all backgrounds have a chance to benefit from the economic possibilities of this billion dollar industry.    Cannabis Control Commission weighs in on industry 5 years after legalization Participants of the Social Equity & Economic Empowerment program have exclusive access to marijuana delivery licenses Curaleaf lends a helping hand to JustinCredible Cultivation Former police station in Harvard Square has been transformed into adult-use marijuana boutique   This episode was produced by Diana Pinzón. Ellen Fleming edits the podcast. Chronicle's managing editor is Julie Mehegan and our Executive Producer is Nneka Nwosu Faison.

Shaleen Title is an Indian-American attorney and longtime drug policy activist. She currently serves as Distinguished Cannabis Policy Practitioner in Residence at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law's Drug Enforcement and Policy Center and as vice-chair of the Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition. She is a frequent keynote speaker and consultant on cannabis policy and has testified in front of governmental bodies around the world about restorative justice in marijuana laws. As CEO of the crowdfunded policy project Parabola Center, she co-authored 2021 model federal amendments focusing on people rather than corporate profits. In 2017, she was appointed by the Massachusetts governor, attorney general, and treasurer to serve as one of five inaugural commissioners of the Cannabis Control Commission, the agency tasked with regulating legal and medical marijuana in the commonwealth. Her three-year term was extended to December 31, 2020. Described as “the people's weed watchdog” in Boston Magazine's 2019 Power List, she was widely recognized during her term for her focus on racial justice and her efforts to make the cannabis industry more fair and inclusive. Previously, in her role as a founding board member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, she led the creation of the MCBA Model Bill, the first state-level model bill created to give states guidance to implement a process of reinvestment and reconciliation. She also served as a trustee for Students for Sensible Drug Policy and a board member of the National Lawyers Guild. She was a co-founder of THC Staffing, the first recruiting firm focused on inclusion in the cannabis industry, and was part of the multistate tax group at Deloitte Tax. Shaleen's interviews have been featured in outlets including PBS NewsHour, Politico, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, The Guardian, Vice News, and many NPR stations, and she has written guest op-eds for The Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, Commonwealth Magazine, Marijuana Moment, and Boston Business Journal. She is an alumna of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, a public magnet school with an emphasis on developing problem solvers, and she holds a business degree, law degree, and graduate degree in accounting from the University of Illinois. To learn more about The Parabola Center visit theparabolacenter.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/cannabisdiversity/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cannabisdiversity/support

Reefer Madness has a new lease on life now that Governor Baker has appointed the remaining vacant seat on the Cannabis Control Commission. Find out why I have serious concerns about the new Commissioner with Law Enforcement and Big Pharma ties. Our Video: https://youtu.be/SO8cfcWyjmY Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/12/marijuana/kimberly-roy-named-cannabis-control-commission/ ICYMI - Victory – Grassachusetts Cannabis Control Board Approves Lifting Caregiver Ratio and Much More https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SM2v6FRdEt9LCOJIzXQji?si=1a18244c010c4baf ICYMI - The Puritan Globe Clutches Their Pearls Over Child Resistant Ice Cream https://open.spotify.com/episode/5neqwOBBWAQMtI7N6fPJbZ?si=c08285af164b4d9f ICYMI - Is the Mass MMJ Industry Fixing Prices – The I am Cannabis Podcast Sativa Team Investigates https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bPP8stVaxuz6DVRTcz36e?si=Da20K3E7TQuj1AYrmBo8KA ICYMI - Fake Legalization, Tyranny and the New Prohibition in Massachusetts - Because Whatever the Heck Officials are Smoking Ain't Cannabis https://open.spotify.com/episode/1G6UKhvQED78Ws6u8Z5miF?si=VDnKsDXXQKO38H7bgInplg ICYMI - Breaking - Commissioner Britte ‘Karen' McBride to Step Down from the Mass Cannabis Control Commission https://open.spotify.com/episode/6uu2xrsZn8kKn9gqD8QWQn?si=bzyfIkROSiqKE6KP1Ufutg ---------------------------------------- To Follow Mr. Sativa on Social Media: Twitter - https://twitter.com/icsativapod Periscope: https://www.pscp.tv/icsativapodcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_iamcannabissativa/ Please become a Patreon at just $1 a month - http://bit.ly/2NJmshn Please support us via PayPal - paypal.me/icsativapodcast If you want to support us via Anchor: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/support My Twitch Channel - https://www.twitch.tv/iamcannabissativa My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdMtiTbOFE3D39rpLfLglaw? Get Great Quality CBD products from Sequoia Organics: https://www.sequoiaorganics.co/?a_aid=iamcannabissativa My Email: iamcannabissativa@gmail.com Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/iamcsativapodcast/ Now Syndicated on Radical Russ Radio: https://streamingv2.shoutcast.com/radicalruss-radio --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/support

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the opening of a safe injection site in Somerville, and whether COVID-19 vaccine incentives work. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Next, we talk with listeners about a new survey that found that 40% of Massachusetts' remote workers won't return to the office until January. Brian McGrory discusses the Boston Globe's recent Pulitzer Prize win for their Spotlight investigation into how states fail to track and keep dangerous drivers off of roads. He also talks about Senate Republicans' blockage of the For the People Act. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of the Boston Globe. Jared Bowen updates us on the local arts organizations that benefited from the latest round of donations from billionaire MacKenzie Scott. He also talks about artist Firelei Báez's exhibit at the ICA Watershed, and a retrospective of painter Alice Neel at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bowen is GBH's executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. Steve Hoffman explains the Cannabis Control Commission's equity goals, and how the cannabis delivery licensing process works. He also discusses a lawsuit from Haverhill-based cannabis store Stem over “community impact” fees imposed by the city on cannabis companies. Hoffman is the chairman of the Cannabis Control Commission. Tatishe Nteta discusses his research and polling into why nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose reparations for slavery, stating that the most common reason for opposition was the belief that descendants of enslaved people are not deserving of money. Nteta is an associate professor of political science at UMass Amherst, and the director of UMass Poll. We wrap up the show by asking listeners about ear cleaning and whether they would use an ear spoon.

Good Morning Veterans, Family, and Friends, welcome back to the TWENTY-FOURTH EPISODE of the Veteran Doctor. On this week's episode, we will discuss Veterans PTSD – The Cannabis Cure. Marijuana Use for PTSD Among Veterans The use of Marijuana for medical conditions is an issue of growing concern. Many Veterans use marijuana to reduce symptoms of PTSD, and many states specifically approve medical marijuana for PTSD. However, research has not been conducted on the safety or effectiveness of medical marijuana for PTSD. There is no evidence currently that suggests marijuana is an effective treatment for PTSD. This research indicates that marijuana can be harmful to individuals with PTSD. Epidemiology Marijuana use has increased over the past decade. In 2013, a study found that 19.8 million people reported using marijuana in the past month, with 8.1 million using it almost every day (1). Daily use has increased by 60% in the prior decade (1). Several factors are connected with increased risk of marijuana use, involving diagnosis of PTSD (2), social anxiety disorder (3), other substance use, mainly through youth (4), and peer substance abuse (5). Cannabis Use Disorders among Veterans Using VA Health Care There have currently been no studies of marijuana use conducted on the overall Veteran population. The data we have gathered comes from Veterans using VA health care, who may not represent the Veteran population overall. When considering this subset of veterans seen in the VA health care with co-existent of substance use disorders (SUD) and PTSD, cannabis use disorder has been the most diagnosed SUD since 2009. Veterans in the VA with PTSD and SUD diagnosed with cannabis use disorder increased from 13.0% in FY 2002 to 22.7% in FY 2014. As of FY 2014, more than 40,000 Veterans with PTSD and SUD are seen in VA diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. People in 33 States can use medical Marijuana. Why Haven't Veterans Been able to Use It for PTSD? Dogs have been prescribed medical marijuana, but veterans still cannot get the drug from the Veterans Affairs. Several Veterans groups are working on getting medical marijuana approved as a form of treatment for PTSD. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) still refuses to provide marijuana to veterans because it is listed as a Schedule I drug. Many Veterans groups want to get that designation changed and have more research conducted on the benefits of medical marijuana. Doug Distaso served his nation in the United States Air Force for 21 years. He had the opportunity to command joint aviation, maintenance, and support personnel globally and served as the primary legislative affairs lead for two U.S. Special Operations Command leaders. However, after an Air Force plane accident left Distaso with a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain, he was given more than a dozen prescription medications by doctors at the VA. "I was taking everything from opioids, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and sleeping pills," Distaso stated. "Like countless other veterans, the cocktail of drugs that I was prescribed quickly threw my life into a turmoil, affecting my ability to perform at work, while straining my relationships at home." Distaso states that living his life in a prescription drug-induced, zombie-like state left his wife and family begging with him on Christmas morning to come back to them. "What brought me back to my family and career was medical cannabis. Cannabis helped me get off the pills and regain control of every facet of my life," Distaso said. Unfortunately, for millions of veterans who depend solely on their VA healthcare benefits, federal law ties their VA doctors' hands. It harshly denies these veterans access to needed medical cannabis as a treatment option. Distaso currently works for his fellow veterans as the Veterans Cannabis Project founder, which advocates for veterans' cannabis access, education to policymakers, and support for veterans seeking treatment options beyond the opiates and other prescriptive and addictive drugs they obtain from the VA. It is time for Congress to approve the VA to research the effects of cannabis on familiar veterans' health issues and allow doctors at the VA to recommend and assist veterans in accessing medical cannabis. The VA denial of cannabis Cannabis use is still branded as harmful to veterans on the VA's website. "Cannabis use for medical disorders is an issue of growing concern," the VA states. Cannabis also remains on the Schedule I list under the Controlled Substances Act, the same as heroin. According to the VA website, "measured studies have not been fully conducted to evaluate the safety or effectiveness of medical marijuana for PTSD. Thus, no proper evidence that marijuana is an effective treatment for PTSD has been collected." Conversely, the tide has turned nationally in terms of the attitude toward marijuana, especially for medicinal purposes. Despite the unattainability of medicinal marijuana at the VA, veterans nationally are using cannabis to deal with their PTSD symptoms of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Recent scientific studies are showing the medicinal properties of cannabis. The VA website downplays the approval of marijuana in the United States, stating that "several" states have accepted the use of medical marijuana and/or recreational marijuana. In all actuality, it's far more than "several." Thirty-three states have enacted medical marijuana laws that allow eligible people to obtain or grow cannabis to treat various conditions. Additionally, 15 states have decriminalized marijuana, and 11 states have legalized recreational marijuana. A recent poll conducted at Politico and Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health shows that Americans feel that marijuana is much less harmful than alcohol, tobacco, or e-cigarettes. In the survey, one in five Americans state they believe marijuana is very harmful to people. Twice as many stated the same about alcohol, 52 percent characterized e-cigarettes as very toxic, and 80 percent indicated tobacco cigarettes are hazardous. And more than six in ten U.S. adults said they favor changing federal law to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Another recent survey shows strong majority support among Americans for legalizing marijuana. Also, almost all Democratic presidential candidates agree to remove marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances. And veterans and the American public overwhelmingly support medicinal cannabis for veterans. In the 2017 American Legion survey, 92 percent of veterans said they supported research into the use of medical cannabis, and 83 percent support legalizing medical cannabis. A new study on PTSD and cannabis A new study concludes that cannabis may already be helping Canadians cope with depression and suicide in people suffering from PTSD. This study was conducted on more than 24,000 Canadians, which concluded that people experiencing PTSD and not medicating with cannabis are far more likely to suffer from severe depression and have suicidal thoughts than those who used cannabis over the past year. The study provides initial evidence that cannabis use may contribute to decreasing the connection between PTSD, severe depressive, and suicidal states. This research states that there are limited treatment options for PTSD, so many patients have acted by medicating with cannabis to alleviate their symptoms. However, this is the first time that outcomes from a nationwide survey have exposed the potential benefits of treating the disorder with cannabis. This research documented the first relationships between PTSD, cannabis use, and severe mental health outcomes in the veteran population. The big question is: If a Canadian health survey looked at PTSD and cannabis with such a convincing conclusion, where is the VA on this issue, which affects as many as thirty percent of the American veterans who served in the wars since September 2001? Veterans group supports medical cannabis While the VA still stands on the statement that it is not allowed to do research; however, this is not actually true. They just have to coordinate with outside agencies to conduct it. Only one-third of veterans mentioned cannabis to their doctor because of the stigma attached to marijuana use. Veterans have a legitimate fear of reprisals at VA and in the workforce, where there have been programs that they can lose their jobs for testing positive for marijuana. We have found that in different parts of the country where the use of cannabis is less stigmatized open conversation can be conducted with the VA physicians. However, in parts of the country where it is still illegal, providers are more skeptical or judgmental. It shuts the veteran up and is then dangerous as the veterans do not communicate openly with their provider. Why the VA will not budge The biggest hurdle for veterans seeking cannabis from the VA is that it is still on that Schedule I list of controlled substances at the federal level. This means that cannabis "no acceptable medical use and has a more significant potential for abuse and risk for arrest," as identified by the federal government. The VA considers any form of marijuana illegal. This means veterans cannot get help accessing medical marijuana from their VA doctors, relying on their own means to obtain any. The recent congressional hearing explored bills that would allow for extended access to medical marijuana for veterans. VA representatives confirmed their position opposing any policies as long as marijuana remained illegal at the federal level. Many agencies are "committed to improving treatment options for veterans and supports research into potential treatment options that may prove valuable." Specific federal law restricts the VA's research with Schedule I controlled substances, including marijuana. Before conducting any VA research using a Schedule, I controlled substance would involve lengthy communications and coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Health and Human Services. Particular requirements include reviewing an investigational new drug application and approval of the research protocol by the FD, obtaining the medical drug through NIDA and the nationally approved medical marijuana production laboratory, and an investigator registration and site licensure by the DEA. These restrictions that are contained in federal law are clear. Research is allowed but must be done with the identified federal entities. If Congress wants more federal research into Schedule I controlled substances such as marijuana, it can eliminate these restrictions. Multiple sources explain that Congress and the President can reschedule marijuana to make it accessible to veterans and make it researchable by the VA. Former VA secretary wants more research The Former VA secretary says that the VA should study cannabis. "It is a little bit strange that marijuana is Schedule I while cocaine is Schedule II," stated the former VA secretary. "To say there is completely no medicinal value or application in cannabinoids is not true at all." "There is already an FDA-approved drug on the market, which is a cannabinoid, to treat pediatric epilepsy." The FDA approved Epidiolex in June 2018; the first drug derived in the U.S. from the cannabis plant to reach local pharmacies. He added that when he ran the VA, he was told the agency could not discuss cannabis with veterans and could not do research. But he discovered later that this was not true. "We can talk to our veterans about it. We just cannot prescribe the cannabis," says the former VA Secretary. "It is possible to do research at the VA, but the barriers and bureaucracy are lengthy and painful. I can now more effectively articulate that Congress is the most likely player to streamline this research. And yes, it needs to be done." Medical marijuana research The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) is the nation's oldest research center for the safety and efficacy of cannabis. CMCR recently announced research to explore the effectiveness and safety of medical cannabis as an alternative treatment for schizophrenia, insomnia, alcohol dependence, rheumatoid arthritis, and anxiety linked to anorexia. Research done by the CMCR has also shown that cannabis can be useful for relieving pain, but research has not been conducted for studying cannabis concerning PTSD. This center is directly linked to the VA's regional office located in San Diego. The legislation is not moving Certain Congress members have tried to push for new legislation to make medical marijuana available to veterans at the VA without success. Here are a few bills that have not made any progress: 1) The Veterans Equal Access Act allows the VA health providers to recommend medical marijuana to their veteran patients and provide the required paperwork to enroll in state marijuana programs. 2) The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 supports the scientific and medical research of medicinal cannabis for veterans diagnosed with TBI, PTSD, chronic pain, and other injuries by clarifying that research of medicinal cannabis is within the authority of the VA. 3) The Veterans Medical Marijuana, Safe Harbor Act is an act that would enable VA physicians to issue medical cannabis recommendations under the laws of states where medical cannabis is legal. 4) The Safe Harbor Act would require the VA to conduct studies on the effects of medical marijuana on veterans in pain related to their treatment programs involving medical marijuana approved by states, veterans' access to these programs, and a reduction in veteran opioid abuse. OK, for dogs but not veterans? It is ridiculous that Americans in most states now have access to medicinal marijuana, but America's veterans do not. I have a non-veteran friend, and he receives medical marijuana for his dog's anxiety. He was shocked when he discovered that dogs could get medicinal marijuana, but veterans cannot get the same treatment at the VA. Washington, D.C. is an echo chamber of circular logic. We are convinced there is a national craving for this issue on medical cannabis for veterans. Still, politicians only seem to hear themselves and continue to assume that there is not. We must change this view and make it known. Cannabis May Help Veterans With PTSD After 17 years in the military and deploying to almost every terrorist filled location on Earth, former Green Beret Adam Smith discovered that while his combat battles had ended, his personal one still lingered. "I had a hard time with anxiety, sleeping, hyper-vigilance, and symptoms that revolve around PTSD," Smith, remembering his difficult transition to civilian life, starting in 2015. "I found myself hopeless and in an awful place," said Smith, who also suffers from the effects of several past brain injuries. "The bottom of this black hole was me sitting on a couch with a pistol in my mouth." Thankfully, Smith did not go through with it and said that in the years since, what's helped sustain him is the lessened joint pain, better sleep, and moderated his constant sensation of always feeling "switched-on," has been … self-medicating with cannabis. Smith is just the kind of veteran lawmaker that is trying to help with two U.S. House bills that approved at the House Committee of Veterans Affairs on March 12: H.R. 712, the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2019, directing the Veterans Administration to research marijuana's impact on physical conditions related to active duty. H.R. 1647, the Veterans Equal Access Act of 2019, allows physicians to complete state-legal medical marijuana proposal paperwork due to VA doctors currently being prohibited from doing this, forcing veterans to turn to private-network physicians. Irritatingly Smith states, "When it comes to veterans and veterans' rights, the game of politics should not exist." Smith has publicly talked about his avoidance of Veterans Administration treatment because of its chosen response to suffering veterans. That response includes treating veterans' symptoms with anxiety meds, sleeping pills, and high blood pressure meds and does not necessarily treat the total patient. Smith finally realized in 2015 when he tried marijuana for the first time, alongside a military buddy who said marijuana had sharply reduced his seizures and improved his sleep. This may not display hard evidence to support cannabis as a solution for PTSD; many veterans swear by it. Post-traumatic stress is no joke; Post-traumatic stress is something that's hitting our community in an epidemic. The social answer to deal with the trauma is to drink and drug our way into distraction or sedation, so we do not have to feel the pain anymore. That should not be the methodology." Many Americans agree. A recent poll of 5,369 U.S. adults found support for CBD treatment, with 53 percent of those polled agreeing that medical dispensaries should be considered an "essential service." What seems here like a cultural shift may have as much to do with the current anxiety engendered by the coronavirus crisis (which has spiked cannabis sales) as it does the different sort of pain veterans and first responders experience. Marijuana is a top treatment for veterans' pain, PTSD, but the cost is a barrier According to recent survey data, military veterans are using cannabis to treat chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, among other ailments. But the cost of medical marijuana is a barrier since it is not covered by insurance, even though veterans are using cannabis as an alternative to pharmaceuticals. Final results from the 2019 Veterans Health and Medical Cannabis Study, which looked at 201 veterans in Massachusetts and 565 respondents nationwide, were presented at the Cannabis Advancement Series. The study, which was performed March 3 through Dec. 31, was conducted by Marion McNabb, Steven White, Stephen Mandile, and Ann Brum. Over half of the 201 Massachusetts veterans who completed the survey through outreach by veterans' groups, marijuana dispensaries, and social media sites were age 50 or older. Most, 54 percent had served in the Army. The sample was overwhelmingly male, 90 percent and 84 percent were white, non-Hispanic. Chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD are the top medical conditions facing veterans. Nearly one in three, 30 percent, of the veteran participants, were currently or homeless in the past. Ninety-one percent of participants reported using medical marijuana. Recreational marijuana was used by 59 percent. Results from 2019 Veterans Health and Medical Cannabis Study Top health conditions Massachusetts veterans are facing As reported by 201 Massachusetts survey participants in the 2019 Veterans Health and Medical Cannabis Study 37% Chronic pain 25% PTSD 10% Anxiety Primary health conditions Massachusetts veterans find cannabis most helpful for treating 36% Chronic pain 24% PTSD 11% Anxiety 6% Depression Top barriers to accessing cannabis reported by Massachusetts veterans 55% Money to purchase prod money 37% Money required to get a medical card 33% Access to the right products 33% Stigma 26% Owning a firearm 21% Workplace testing or other policies Massachusetts veterans report cannabis allows them to: 89% Experience a much better quality of life 79% Experience much less psychological symptoms 69% Experience much less physical symptoms 44% Use alcohol much less now 40% Use prior medication (non-opioid) much less now 23% Use tobacco much less now 22% Use opioids much less now Many veterans responded to the survey reporting that cannabis provided relief for their primary medical troubles, and 77% said that they were actively trying to reduce the use of their over-the-counter or prescription medications with medical cannabis. The top symptoms being treated with medical cannabis included: pain, 51 percent; sleep problems, 50 percent; depression or mood, 45 percent; anxiety or panic attacks, 41 percent; and aggression, 24 percent. "It surprised me, but it is not that surprising," McNabb stated. "They are consumers of medical cannabis. They are finding relief in medical cannabis." The survey's findings brought additional attention to previously published research on medical marijuana by Staci Gruber. Gruber stated that almost all research on the impact of cannabis on the brain and cognitive functioning comes from recreational users, most of whom began using the drug as teenagers while their brains were still developing. Studies conducted by Gruber have found that after three months of treatment, medical marijuana patients demonstrated an improvement in task performance accompanied by changes in brain activation patterns measured in imaging. Further, after treatment, brain activation patterns appeared more similar to those in healthy controls, who weren't using marijuana than pretreatment with medical marijuana. Gruber said her research suggested that medical marijuana use may affect the brain differently compared to the brain impacts among recreational marijuana users. Consistent with the veterans' survey, Gruber's study also found medical marijuana patients reported improvements in how they felt and notably decreased their use of prescription drugs, predominantly opioid and benzodiazepines, after three months of treatment. Mandile became an advocate for medical marijuana after being seriously wounded in Iraq while deployed in 2005. His Veterans Affairs doctors put him on 57 medications, which included nine opioids. In 2013 he attempted suicide. In 2014, his wife's ultimate goal for Mandile was to wean himself from prescription drugs by using marijuana, which he accomplished in only five months. He formed a nonprofit organization called the Alternative Treatment for Veterans to advance awareness of medical marijuana and work with dispensaries to offer discounts to veterans who have been rated 100 percent disabled by the VA. The product 11 marijuana dispensaries across the state have picked up the product discounts testified on proposed legislation, H. 4274, that would allow veterans to use their VA paperwork to qualify for a medical marijuana card instead of paying hundreds of dollars for the state-required card. The 2017 state law legalizing the adult-use of marijuana called for the Cannabis Advisory Board to make recommendations to the Cannabis Control Commission on related costs associated with the purchase of medical marijuana by U.S. military veterans insured through the VA, and to make recommendations on improving cost-effective access. But the study and recommendations were never made by the Sept. 2018 deadline, Mandile said. "As much as legislators can feel the connection with anecdotal stories," Mandile said, "they needed something more concrete, more data-driven." This data found Massachusetts veterans spending an average of $79 a week on cannabis. Nearly three-quarters, 72 percent, purchase cannabis from regulated dispensaries, while one out of five, 19 percent, grow their money The money to purchase marijuana products and get a medical marijuana card was the top two topics reported in the veterans' survey. DAV - The Cannabis Cure DAV requests more research on medical cannabis as an alternative treatment for veterans with chronic pain, PTSD, and TBIs Like many veterans, military service rigors have taken a toll on Air Force veteran Jarid Watson's body. He is not sure when the injury occurred—perhaps during the 12 years of physical training or while loading and unloading cargo planes—but at some point, the ball joint of his hip tore his labrum and damaged the surrounding cartilage. The injury brought on Watson's chronic pain and eventually led to his medical retirement in 2016. It also severely affected his sleep, which negatively influenced his motivation and mood. As a father, husband, student, and entrepreneur, something had to be done to fight this pain and restore being able to achieve a good night's rest to restore himself, his family, career, and studies. For Watson, there was only one choice. "As soon as I knew my military career was ending and dealing with this chronic pain was in my future, I considered medical cannabis as an option because I'm not going to take pain pills and potentially get addicted.' Watson's reluctance toward pain pills stems from his personal experience. As a native of northeast Ohio, the Afghanistan War veteran lost two close friends to opioid overdoses and has witnessed how addiction can destroy individuals and their families. "That area has been devastated with opiate and heroin use. That is tearing families apart in this country. It is killing people," Watson said. The National Center for Health Statistics released a report in 2017 stating that there was a national opioid crisis killing more than 42,000 Americans in 2016. Alarmingly, a 2013 analysis by the Center for Investigative Reporting found that opioid prescriptions for veterans spiked 270 percent over 12 years, while a 2011 Department of Veterans Affairs study found that veterans were twice as likely to die as compared to the rest of the population from an opioid overdose. The VA also estimates that 68,000 veterans, 13 % of the total veteran population currently taking opioids, have an opioid-use disorder. According to VA officials, doctors continue to prescribe them for chronic pain, a condition that 60 percent of veterans sustained from deployments to the Middle East and 50 percent of older veterans. "Sixty percent of what the VA treats falls into the category of chronic pain, and the VA system is not designed to do much more than push pills, and those pills are not working," said Nick Etten, founder and executive director of Veterans Cannabis Project. The story of Air Force veterans Jarid and Priscilla Watson helps display the effectiveness of medical cannabis. Jarid uses medical cannabis to help treat his chronic hip pain rather than using opioids pharmaceuticals, which he feels are dangerous. "He's much happier, more productive, and more motivated in his everyday life," said Priscilla, noting the difference. Etten, a former Navy SEAL, also noted that medicinal cannabis is an effective treatment for the wounds he sustained in the Middle East—PTSD and TBI. He named pain, sleep, and anxiety as the primary symptoms veterans deal with concerning their service-connected injuries. "Cannabis is proving to be safe and effective in treating my injuries," he said. "That's where it can be transformative and a potential game-changer." "Before cannabis, he was constantly complaining about how tense he was and how much pain he had," said Watson's wife, Priscilla. "His pain would keep him up all night, so he would be exhausted, tired, and need naps throughout the next day. But now, he sleeps all night and is not in pain anymore." As an Air Force veteran and nutritional therapist herself, Priscilla feels cannabis is a more natural and safer alternative to attending to his pain than opioid pharmaceuticals, noting the disparity between what she calls "the obsolete argument that marijuana is dangerous." "He is happier, more productive, and more motivated," she added. "So, it has changed his quality of life greatly." Medical cannabis's benefits associate with its responsible use, including refraining from driving while under the influence and ensuring that proper dosage is administered. "As someone with a nutrition background, I do not let Jarid smoke it because I do not like having to deal with the damaging effects of the smoke in the lungs," she said. "He uses cannabis in the form of edibles, which I think is a lot safer, and tends to produce a more positive effect." While the VA cannot deny any veterans benefits due to medical marijuana use, the VA providers cannot recommend or prescribe any form of cannabis since the Food and Drug Administration still classifies it as a Schedule I drug. Instead, Veterans must pay out of pocket for an annual physician's evaluation and medical cannabis cards in one of 30 states, which have legalized medical marijuana. Participation in any state marijuana program does not affect a veteran's eligibility for VA care and services. VA providers can discuss cannabis use with veteran patients and adjust care and treatment plans as needed. However, Etten adds that the federal classification of cannabis leaves many veterans in limbo. While some can afford to pay the out-of-pocket costs, many others cannot and must rely solely on the VA for health care. Until cannabis has been removed from the Schedule I list and elevated from a health policy issue where it can be treated as a medical treatment, we will be stuck in this legal gray zone where we are currently located. However, the federal government maintains that more research into the efficacy of medical marijuana needs to be conducted before it is declassified and made available to service-connected disabled veterans through the VA. DAV Resolution #23 supports additional research in the use of medical cannabis, noting the DAV's call for more research—rather than just legalization—requiring the need to know more about both the potential benefits and risks associated with medical marijuana. As veterans, we do not want to prescribe a new form of treatment without research showing it is safe and effective. The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 promotes the scientific and medical research into the safety and efficiency of medicinal cannabis usage on veterans diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, chronic pain, and other injuries by clarifying that research medicinal cannabis is well under the authority of the VA. "We have heard of veterans who use cannabis medicinally to cope with physical and mental injuries sustained from active service for our country," said Walz. "Twenty-two percent report using cannabis as a safer and more effective alternative to opioids and drug cocktails currently prescribed by VA for the medical conditions such as PTSD or chronic pain." "As a physician, I am acutely aware of the need to look for opioid alternatives to treat patients' chronic pain," said Roe. "I've heard from many veterans who suffer from physical and invisible wounds and believe medical cannabis could benefit them." The Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act (S. 3409) would also empower VA physicians to issue medical cannabis recommendations under states' laws where it is legal. This legislation would also force the VA to conduct studies on "the effects of medical marijuana on veterans in PTSD and pain" and "the relationship between treatment programs involving medical marijuana that are approved by States and a reduction in opioid abuse among veterans." In 2014 a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that medical marijuana laws had a twenty-five percent lower average annual opioid overdose death rate than states without such laws. "If veterans can ease some of their chronic pain, symptoms of injuries they have received from serving their country without turning to opioids, the VA has a responsibility to research it," said Sen. Jon Tester. Despite the criticisms of medical cannabis use, as it becomes gradually accepted, no other demographic stands to benefit more from its use and legality as America's veterans. "I was tentative at first to be open about it because of the stigma that is still associated with cannabis," said Watson. "However, ultimately, you finally realize how much it helps, and you feel guilty for not sharing that information with everyone else." Veterans organizations like DAV are precisely what medical cannabis users need to advocate for making medical cannabis an available alternative for veterans everywhere. References: Bonn-Miller, M. & Rousseau, G. (2015). Marijuana Use and PTSD Among Veterans. Department of Veteran Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/cooccurring/marijuana_ptsd_vets.asp Hunter, T. (2018). A Cannabis Cure. Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Retrieved from by https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2018/the-cannabis-cure/ Oleck, J. (2020). Cannabis May Help Veterans With PTSD. And Lawmakers May Be Acknowledging That. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanoleck/2020/03/30/cannabis-may-help-veterans-with-ptsd-and-lawmakers-may-be-acknowledging-that/?sh=79ecf8315fe6 Reno, J. (2019). People in 33 States Can Use Medical Marijuana. Why Can't Veterans Get It for PTSD? Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/why-are-veterans-still-being-denied-cannabis-for-ptsd-treatment Spenser, S. (2020). Marijuana is a top treatment for veterans' pain, PTSD, but the cost is a barrier. The Metro West Daily News. Retrieved from https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20200204/marijuana-is-top-treatment-for-veterans-pain-ptsd-but-cost-is-barrier

Continuing our focus on Massachusetts women working in cannabis we are talking with Hillary King, the Director of Wholesale sales at Northeast Alternatives a medical and adult use dispensary in Fall River, Massachusetts. Hillary is also a policy wonk who has been involved with cannabis and Hemp Industries as an advisor, consultant and educator in Massachusetts, and has been an industry leader for many years. On this week's podcast Joyce and Hillary talk about Hillary's work in Massachusetts as a marketer, advocate and business entrepreneur as well as her work fixing legislation for hemp farmers.Thank you Red Belly Honey for making today's show possible.Topics Discussed(2:00) 420BNB(2:35) evescollective.com (3:10) Women of the Amazing Technicolor Cannabis Quilt(4:20) Camp Tel-Noar(5:27) Hillary King Intro(6:53) Medical Patient Beginning(11:26) Becoming the Canna go-to Person(12:31) Cannabis Control Commission(17:07) Delivery License(18:37) Hemp Survive and Thrive(22:25) Hemp Coalition(23:40) Legislative Fix(26:50) Community Host Agreements(29:00) Stem Haverhill(30:28) Northampton Mayor(41:10) Red Belly Honey Sponsor(43:05) 2021 Harvest Cup(44:22) Connect with Hillary KingThe Canna Mom Show wants to thank:Josh Lamkin and Bella Jaffe for writing and performing TCMS theme music Amie Searles for believing Kelly Dolan of Retail Results Inc Lori Lennon of Thinkubator Media Kim Kramer of McLane Middleton Cannabis Creative GroupPod617, The Boston Podcast Network

Janelle Goines is the Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder of The Emerald Turtle, a majority minority-owned Cannabis venture. Janelle brings her finance degree from Northeastern University, her love for entrepreneurship, twenty-years of experience in both public and corporate accounting companies, and her experience creating a successful business to the emerging Massachusetts cannabis industry. With the partnership of her husband they are working toward becoming one of the Commonwealth's first social equity home delivery providers while also fighting for others with the founding of the Mass Cannabis Association for Delivery. The Canna Mom Show's special segment guest this week is Victoria Vegas, better known as the Cannah Buttah Babe, who shares some of her secrets for making the best canna butter. And Joyce gives a shout out to Ashleen and Rileigh, hosts of Chronic Gals Podcast, young and fun cannabis podcasters.The Canna Mom Show wants to thank Red Belly Honey for making today's show possible. Topics Discussed(1:10) Reverend Kelly(1:25) Chronic Gals Podcast (2:04) Enter to Win the Technicolor Cannabis Quilt(3:41) Janelle Goines Introduction(5:00) Cannabis Control Commission(6:19) MA Delivery Regs(8:30) Social Equity Defined(13:00) The Power of Spreadsheets!(17:52) Commissioner Shaleen Title(19:04) CDA vs. MCAD(23:23) The Lawsuit(25:23) Creating a Viable Cannabis Industry: The Emerald Turtle(29:40) Supporting Craft Cannabis Market(31:30) Federal Descheduling(32:12) Red Belly Honey (34:11) Cannah Buttah Babe, Victoria Vegas(36:51) Instagram Link(38:26) Dosing (39:00) “The plant works in our favor.”(41:20) A Family Business (43:50) Connect with Janelle at MCAD Website, Facebook and Linked-InThe Canna Mom Show wants to thank:Josh Lamkin and Bella Jaffe for writing and performing TCMS theme music Amie Searles for believing Kelly Dolan of Retail Results Inc Lori Lennon of Thinkubator Media Kim Kramer of McLane Middleton Cannabis Creative GroupPod617, The Boston Podcast Network

Rolling Leaf co-founder and VP of the Mass Cannabis Association for Delivery Devin Alexander took the time to speak with CashColorCannabis Podcast recently about the rumblings in Massachusetts over a lawsuit brought on by the Commonwealth Dispensary Association against the Cannabis Control Commission. We spoke to him about the lawsuit, the group effort that forced the CDA to backdown and the continued fight for social equity recipients. This episode was sponsored by Atlantabisclothing.com, and Ardent! Use our promo code: CASHCOLORCANNABIS for a 30% discount off your purchase of an Ardent FX or Ardent Nova. Shop here Want to support the show? You can help keep the CashColorCannabis podcast going with a donation. Drop some change in the tip jar hereInstagram: CashColorCannabis Twitter: CashColorCanna Facebook: CashColorCannabis YouTube.com/UrbanGrowMedia Produced by Urban Grow Media LLCSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/MehkaKing)Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/MehkaKing)

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This episode features a conversation between Payton Shubrick ’15 and her sister Jordyn Shubrick ’22.  While they share many interests, they have each made their own unique mark as leaders at Holy Cross.  They speak about Payton’s time on campus, and how her experience at Holy Cross has shaped her into the driven, hardworking, and trailblazing leader that she is today. Interview originally recorded on August 13, 2020.  Due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, all interviews in season 2 are recorded remotely. --- Payton: I think that grit and resiliency though helped me as I think about some of the career goals that I'm striving towards now, as a CEO, as an entrepreneur. So that experience in many ways, Holy Cross becomes your playground, to get things right, so when you enter the world, you're really ready to move mountains. Maura: Welcome to Mission-Driven where we speak with alumni who are leveraging their Holy Cross education to make a meaningful difference in the world around them. I'm your host, Maura Sweeney from the class of 2007, Director of Alumni Career Development at Holy Cross. I am delighted to welcome you to today's show. Maura: This episode features a conversation with Payton Shubrick from the class of 2015. Anyone who knows Payton knows that she is a person on the go. Ever since her days at Holy Cross, she has been on a mission to change the world by changing lives. She was notorious for packing a busy schedule, successfully juggling academics and D1 varsity track with leadership roles in the Black Student Union and Student Government Association. This ability to manage her time and juggle competing priorities continues to serve her well. Maura: Today she blazes a trail as a cannabis entrepreneur, while simultaneously holding a full-time job as a home office technology strategist at Mass Mutual and sitting on numerous nonprofit boards. She is joined in the conversation by her sister, Jordyn Shubrick from the class of 2022. Their conversation touches upon the many shared experiences that they hold from their days on campus, while also highlighting the ways that they have each page, their own path as leaders at Holy Cross. They speak about the impact that mentors have had on their lives and the importance of giving back by paying it forward and serving as mentors for others. Jordyn: Welcome everyone. My name is Jordan Shubrick, class of 2022 and today I'm with my wonderful sister Payton. Payton: Hi folks, my name's Payton Shubrick. I'm a member of the class of 2015, and very excited to be doing this interview today. Jordyn: Very nice. Okay. So I think there's a lot of ways we can go here, but I'll start off kind of easy. Why did you choose Holy Cross? Payton: Well, if I'm being honest, Holy Cross, wasn't my first choice. I wanted to go to Williams and I was put on the wait list and then I committed to Holy Cross and got accepted to Williams, maybe two or three days later. For me it was kind of like the first major adult decision and I got it wrong. So coming to the Hill, I was under the assumption. I shouldn't have been there, I should have been at Williams, but then I also had the perspective of, I wanted to make the best of this experience really harnessing this notion everything happens for a reason. Payton: So coming to Holy Cross was a matter of fate, right? The universe had bigger plans for me and it all worked out, but day one, I was thinking about the Williams sweatshirt that was buried in my luggage, not necessarily all the Holy Cross apparel I would amass over time. Jordyn: Very nice. I think remembering when you finally decided to go to Holy Cross was like, "Oh, Payton's going, Holy Cross. Here we go." It wasn't any Williams or anything like that, but speaking about that, when you first stepped on Holy Cross campus, how were you able to navigate through those new experiences? Payton: And that's a great question. Day one showing up on Holy Cross campus, I was a part of the Odyssey Program, so as meeting folks like Dean Levine and Tina Chen who are so excited for me to be there, more excited than I was. I still remember, the first dinner and Hogan sitting with my family and then Dean Levine saying, "We're going to go around and say our names and where we're from," and her energy was just so infectious that it definitely gave me this warm and inviting feeling, one that I didn't necessarily have moving into the dorm, but one, I definitely left Hogan ballroom feeling. Jordyn: Nice, very nice. I feel like I was so young when you moved in, but how was that moving experience? Were you nervous, any feelings like that? Payton: Yeah, I think it was a mixture of motions. I mean, dad was being dad. So he was like, "All right, kid, make sure you get it done." Mom was crying, holding Frederick, who was how old, two at the time. So it was a lot of different emotions. I think for me I was absorbing it all and wanting to put a brave face on for you and Taylor, understanding one day you were going to go off to college and I didn't want you to see me break down and cry because it really is something beautiful to celebrate. It's an opportunity that not every person gets, to go to a four year college, especially going to a place like Holy Cross. So I really wanted to have this brave face, but of course there was the doubts, the insecurities, the uncertainty of it all and it was really just counteracting that with putting my best foot forward and going down to the common room at the end of day one to try and make friends. Jordyn: Right. Speaking of that great opportunity. As you thought about leaving your mark on campus, what groups, any experiences that you started to take on? Payton: Yeah. I was a student athlete, right. I was recruited to run track. The 400 was my event, but I never just wanted to be a student athlete. I wanted to be a student athlete and a leader. So for me, leadership took the form of the Student Government Association. I was the Director of Athletics for a while and then eventually became SGA co-president. I was also very involved and the BSU. I was co-chair as you are now and then became senior advisor and that was really important to me. Payton: I also was on the moot court team. So when I'm giving presentations now in my professional career, I think about standing in front of what was the "Appeals court" and I'm using air quotes because we weren't lawyers at the time, but we presented as such. So I just took every opportunity as a way for me to grow and learn and challenge myself in what I considered to be almost a safe space. There were people on the campus that wanted me to be better, that were there for it, whether it's professors and staff, and it was just taking everything as I could and soaking up. Understand four years goes extremely fast and you're experiencing that firsthand. Jordyn: Yeah. Yeah, definitely. You touched upon being a student athlete, which, I'm a part of the women's track and field team, but on the thrower side, so doing something like the mile warmup was a little bit different for me, but talk a little bit more about your experience about being a student athlete, but also, like you said, doing SGA? How did you come across those scheduling challenges and different things like that? Payton: Scheduling was definitely a difficult situation all around. I was notorious for having one of those written planners, but it wasn't the small pocket ones. This was like a thick binder where I was pretty much programming out every 30 minutes. On a good day I could do hour blocks, but really just making sure that I knew where I needed to be and when I needed to study and coordinating a lot with Coach A. Kudos to her for allowing me to say like, "Hey Coach A, I can't make the four o'clock because I have a meeting with Father Boroughs regarding race relations on campus. Can you meet me at 10:00 AM so I can get my practice in, but then also meet my leadership obligations?" but it was never a dull moment. Payton: I think the biggest thing I took away from that was intentionality. You can go through a day on autopilot and not really thinking about what you're doing or how you're getting it done. I really couldn't do that because I had so many things happening all at once and I want it to be as good as I could be for each of them. So it really required scheduling to be at the top of the priority list. I still recall sitting down Sunday morning in Kimball with my omelet and sitting there and just kind of figuring out what the week looked like and how I was going to try and make everything happen. Jordyn: Yeah, busy schedule, busy schedules, but as I'm hearing you talk, navigating through these new experiences and trying to figure out your schedule, when I say mentor, what comes to mind? Payton: When I hear the word mentor, I think three names really come to mind. The first is Ron Lawson, and this was someone I met during junior year at the 45th reunion of the Black Student Union. I recall meeting him and instantly just being in awe of the way in which he was so committed to Holy Cross and to helping ALANA students and engaging with the college. He was kind of like the man, the myth, the legend, right? He walked into a room and everyone was instantly gravitating towards him, and it was really just amazing to see. I remember staying in contact with him up and through graduation and him saying, "Stay involved, stay engaged. Don't take a break," and I joined the Holy Cross Alumni Association soon after via has nomination. So he's definitely someone I think of. Payton: The second name that comes to mind is Dean Peterson, having a black woman with a role like that at the college really was inspiring, just to see the way in which she would lead people, especially during some tough times. You talk about an off-campus party that goes wrong and she's the person on the front lines having to figure out how we do damage control and what that looks like, but then also really John Milner, who's my co president senior year, and I in on issues. We thought that running for SGA co-president, we'd make all these elaborate promises, new gym equipment for all of campus, all of these amazing things. And she sat us down and said, "Well, this is how a budget works at a college, and what you're proposing will increase tuition for everyone by X amount of dollars." And we're like, "We don't want to do that. We just want folks to be happy with the gym equipment," and so on and so forth. So the education she was able to provide was really beneficial and she really mentored and guided me in a meaningful way. Payton: The last name that comes to mind as Father Boroughs. This was a man that had the toughest job in terms of how do you please everyone, you have students, you have alums, you have staff, you have professors and constantly being able to create a path forward, despite all the angles that he was being pulled and pushed into. I remember Mike Brown being killed, another unarmed black man and going to his office and just being able say how painful it was to see this happen. This was after Trayvon Martin was also killed my freshman year. Payton: So it became this pain that's hard to describe and he was empathetic and compassionate and responded with an understanding that he needed to do something versus doing nothing at all. I think at the time we had a candle vigil, which was well received, and at the same time, he also acknowledged that he would never know what it's like to be a black man or a black woman in America. So this idea of including those that had fundamental differences on campus in a way that really created community, at a time where it just felt like there wasn't much community in the United States, was really powerful. So as I think about mentorship I think of those three individuals. Jordyn: Yeah, definitely. You hit on, I think, so many key points, but I love how you talked about today it's still happening and being co-chair the Black Student Union like you were back in your times, I think about any advice? As your sister I would love to hear any advice you have as you went through these challenging moments and now you're starting to becoming into that role of being a mentor. So what would you say to someone going through these challenging times today? Payton: Yeah, I would first say, as you think about saying in these times, it's only five years ago, I'm not that far out. I think the second piece is as a leader one of your biggest roles is really hearing and understanding the uncertainty that people around you are feeling and being empathetic about that. You're not always going to know exactly how someone feels and you have to be willing to acknowledge that, but also at the same time, be able to provide a clear direction or a clear next step that people can get behind, even if it's something that they themselves would not have decided. Payton: I think that's the hard part. You're not going to please everyone and not everyone's going to love the decision you make, but you have to understand what's best and at the same time, it's not about you being right, it's about getting to the right outcome, and that to me is true leadership. Jordyn: I'm assuming you took that into your SGA co-president type of feel to everything. Talking about that, could you say a little bit more about how that experience was for you, how it made you grow and develop as an individual? Payton: Yeah. I think running for SGA co-president was very memorable. The quote from Maya Angelou that really stands true for me is, "If you don't like something, change it, if you can't change it, change your attitude about it." I think when John and I thought about running it's because we want it to change the campus for better and it's at a point where you stop talking about something and you move into action. Payton: It was a really interesting experience though. I still vividly remember my track teammates and the football team rallying around this idea that I would be running for SGA co-president and supporting me. They were so excited about this as was I. We had a campaign where John and I had taken some stage photos around campus and we printed out all these flyers and then we'd run across campus, having people pose with it, and then say, "I stand with J and P," and all of these different things. It really showed me the community that was possible at Holy Cross. Payton: On the flip side though, it also showed me kind of the ugly underbelly that's possible because not everybody was a fan of me running. Some people were convinced I didn't have the time or the capacity, that I was doing it because I wanted the leadership role, but I wouldn't be able to back that with actually being a good leader. I think that grit and resiliency though helped me as I think about some of the career goals that I'm striving towards now, as a CEO, as an entrepreneur. So that experience, in many ways, Holy Cross becomes your playground, to get things right, so when you enter the world, you're really ready to move mountains. Jordyn: Yeah, definitely and I think you talked about community and other athlete students coming to have your back. So back in your days, even though it was five years ago, what was some fun thing you used to do on campus? I know for me, our generation TikToK is the big thing, DoorDash, Grubhub, those sorts of things. So what were some of the fun things you would do on campus? Payton: You make me sound so old, it almost hurts. The reality is when I even think about the iPhones, the running thing was, "Pass me the aux cord." You all are not passing around an aux cord. Ordering Domino's was definitely a thing to do while on campus. Instagram was really big at the time, there was hints of Vine, "So do it for the Vine," was kind of the running slogan at points in times on campus. Payton: I would say that being on the campus from 2011 to 2015, it was a mixture of different things. As I think about kind of the civil unrest we're seeing now, which, there were moments that right? My freshman year, Trayvon Martin died, as I mentioned, junior year, Mike Brown, but we also had moments of really coming together. October 2011, there was that huge snow storm during Halloween and we were still running around in our costumes at that point in time to looking at 2015 where classes are canceled once again, but now we're in the senior apartments and we're using whatever you could find to slide down the backside of William. So there was definitely our moments, and I think that's what really binds the class together, those experiences you have that other classes don't, based on what's current, what technology's available and what song is popular. Jordyn: Definitely. I'm glad I got that insight of Holy Cross between 2011 and 2015. As we switch gears and as you think about Holy Cross's mission being men and women for and with others, how have you lived by this and how do you plan to live by this in the next five years? Payton: That's another really great question, just because as I think about where I am right now, I'm starting a cannabis company, 6 Bricks, LLC, in many ways, being a love letter to the Shubricks, right? Six people in our immediate family and the last name being Shubrick, so 6 Bricks and being a black owned company, 100% owned by people of color, majority owned by women, in an industry that is dominated by white men, is a statement, right? But when I think about the mission of Holy Cross, taking that to the next step, it's not only for me to be in this industry, but it's opening the door for others that can also come in this space. Payton: It's unique as we think about cannabis, right? It's federally illegal, which means you can't go to a bank to get money. So how do you even find the capital? How do you make the connections? How do you understand this layered process of going between your local government, the Cannabis Control Commission, and back to your local government to eventually open doors, and then how do you do all that in the midst of a pandemic, right? Civil unrest, as we talk about black lives mattering and so many more nuances. Payton: So for me, as I think about what I'm currently doing, it's staying really engaged in my community, helping when I can, whether that's time, talent, or treasure. So sometimes I'm writing a check, sometimes I'm speaking with young women in the community that have aspirations to be an entrepreneur, and sometimes I'm on a Zoom meeting talking about budgeting with recent graduates. It all matters. When I think about where I'll be in five years, fingers crossed, I'll successfully have opened 6 Bricks and we would have expanded, but I've also been able to influence other entrepreneurs who want to be in the space, but are unsure of how to be, and that to me is really what success looks like. Payton: It's nice to amass a large amount of wealth, it's even better when you're able to share that with the community that you're from. Being born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, like yourself, doing this here in our community means a lot. Jordyn: Yeah, definitely and I think as you talk about community, what is your biggest driver? You talked about that community aspect. Of course you have family. If you think about what kind of pulls you through those good and bad days, what would that be? Payton: For me, as I think about it, there's very few things you can change, as we think about where you're from, right? I will always be Payton Shubrick from Springfield, Massachusetts, it almost becomes my calling card. When I think about what keeps me going, is understanding that I want to be an example for my community of what it looks like when you stay here and you improve those around you. Payton: For so long, I was told, especially in high school, "Do you want to get a really good job? Go to Boston or New York." Yet here I am, in my hometown, I am working full time at Mass Mutual. I'm starting a cannabis company, I'm sitting on three different nonprofits and yet I feel so fulfilled in what I'm doing and the example I'm setting that it really does drive me each and every day. Payton: I'd be lying if I also didn't say that you, Taylor and Frederick all our drivers as well. Being the oldest of four, you have three people looking up to you, in terms of what you're doing and how you're doing it and how do you handle a setback because life's not perfect, you don't get everything right the first time through. So those would be my biggest drivers. A community that I want to be an example for, but also my siblings, who are oh so important to me. Jordyn: Appreciate it. I would definitely say you have taken on this role of not only being my sister, but being that mentor at Holy Cross and coming in, in so many different aspects of my life that seeing you go so far, it's like, "How much more can she go?" You left a great mark at Holy Cross and I'm following up on that and trying to create that own path. As we talk more about Holy Cross, thinking back on your four years, what would you say your best memory is there? I know there might be a lot, but if you can pinpoint one? Payton: Oh yes, so many. Oh, that's tough. I would say if I had to narrow it down and don't get upset at me for this one, but I would say one of my favorite memories is probably graduation. Being on the field with my classmates and walking across stage and giving Father Boroughs a big hug, as I think about accomplishing something that when you enter Holy Cross there's so much uncertainty, you don't know the value of what you're doing and how it will get you across the finish line. Payton: I think it was such a powerful moment because I'd also received the George B. Moran Award and at the time I didn't know what the word meant. I won't lie. Like I wanted Presidential Service Award, and then I received that and I was like, "Oh man, did I do something wrong?" And then to realize what an honor it was. In that moment, it just felt really powerful to see that not only did I feel good about what I'd done about Holy Cross, but others saw the good I'd done at Holy Cross. It was a really powerful moment and when I look forward to, for you, as you walk across the stage at Holy Cross, regardless of what that looks like. Jordyn: Yeah, definitely. Going back to your graduation day, I remember sitting in the big stadium and it being really hot, but a happy moment of course, a great moment. Payton: Yeah, definitely. Jordyn: I know you're a big quotes person, so I'm speaking to that, what would you say a quote that really has stuck with you throughout the year? Payton: I would say because I was an athlete on campus, "Get comfortable being uncomfortable," was definitely a quote that became almost a mantra. I think oftentimes, especially as we think about the world today, people want to be comfortable, but it almost then creates this resistance to change. They want things to stay exactly as they are and that's just not the reality of how our world works. You always are encountering changes, you always will have something new thrown at you. So being comfortable, getting uncomfortable, whether that is with your car needing to get a new part or changing your career, this notion of uncomfortability has really driven me in. It's so funny to think about it because we would joke around as runners and say, "Get comfortable being uncomfortable because if you're comfortable in your race, you'll probably lose it." Payton: It became clear that in life, right? It's not to say everything's a win or a loss because a loss is really a lesson, but it's a lesson in how you become better. So this constant state of uncomfortability is almost a good thing because it makes you a better person for it. Now, if I think about my career or some of the things I've done, I wasn't comfortable doing it, but it made me a better person for it. So I would say that's probably one of my top quotes. in terms of just get comfortable, being uncomfortable. Jordyn: Definitely, leaning into that uncomfortability and things like that really does push you limits beyond. So I think you hit on so many great key points. Thinking about challenging times at Holy Cross, those uncomfortable moments, the hard times, how were you able to push through? Because you're always going to be in those uncomfortable situations, but how did you really push forward throughout those? Payton: Yeah. I think it goes back to one of the lessons that dad has instilled in us, which is, it takes a village. So for me, I've always been able to create a village for myself, a support for myself. So when I needed it most, it was there. So when I think about being unsure or uncertain, there was always someone I could go to on campus, whether that was Sandy Burke, OSI, to help me figure something out or Rob Jones. There was just countless amount of people that I could have these really meaningful conversations with and help me to figure out what I needed to know either about myself or the situation to push through. And at the end of the day, you know, mom and dad, they were only a phone call away if I really got stuck on something. Payton: I think you have to realize life is better when you're able to share it with friends and family that love you and support you and want to see you happy and successful, however you define it. So that's kind of the secret sauce to getting through things. You've seen firsthand trying to start a cannabis company is not easy, but it's really the support of knowing who can help you get through the uncomfortability of giving a public presentation or submitting an application that kind of keeps you going. Jordyn: Yeah, definitely. Village, community, it all helps with everything going on, so that's great. I think just to lighten things up and do a little fun thing, let's do a quick fire round, quick answers only, not too long, just some quick ones. Payton: I've been forewarned. I got you. Jordyn: Okay. Perfect. So favorite vacation spot. Payton: Panama. Jordyn: Panama. Good choice. Okay. Best restaurant in Worcester. Payton: Flying Rhino. Jordyn: Okay. I see why you took me there first year. What was your favorite dorm? Payton: Favorite dorm? I'm going to have to say Williams. Being in the apartments was pretty nice, you have your bathroom, the kitchen. I used it mainly to make chocolate chip cookies, but it was there, so that was awesome and I think at that point you're really comfortable, you're a senior. You said quick answer, so Williams. Jordyn: Okay, perfect. Favorite spot on campus. Payton: The BSU office. I must say I spent a lot of time in there and it became really good, but I will say the Office of Student Involvement became a second home over time and at one point Sandy Burke and Brenda Hounsell Sullivan had put up in that office, a sign because they called me Payton Olivia. Scandal at the time was a big show. Jordyn: Right. Payton: And so OSI became a second home, especially because they would have popcorn on Thursdays and Olivia Pope was notorious for drinking wine and eating popcorn. That's not a sustainable diet at all. I won't say I tried it, but BSU or OSI to answer your question. Jordyn: Perfect. Favorite class? Payton: Politics and technology with Daniel Klinghard, most definitely because at that point... I was a poli side major, so I thought I was going to go to law school, I thought that was my future. I was going to shake up constitutional law as we knew it and then I was accepting a job in IT at Mass Mutual. So this was a class that really kind of bred the two together for me and showed me I can create my own path, even if law school wasn't a part of that. Jordyn: Very nice. Favorite professor? Payton: Daniel Klinghard I mean, he did a really good job. I took probably two or three classes with him. I don't know why he continued to let me register for classes with him, but he was a great professor. He always challenged me and pushed me to do better. Good was never good enough and I appreciate that. Jordyn: Definitely. Last one. Favorite sibling? Payton: Oh no- Jordyn: I'm kidding. Payton: Now you're trying to get me in trouble. Jordyn: You don't have to answer that. It's okay. It's okay, but as you think about me being at Holy Cross and you also going there, I feel like I'd never asked you this question, but what were your initial thoughts when I first got into Holy Cross? Payton: I was very excited for you. This was something that I knew and I could speak to in terms of the experience and the growth that would occur. It's been a beautiful journey this far. You're entering your junior year and to see the ways that you've grown and develop just within your freshmen and sophomore year, your confidence, who you are as an individual, your opinion around certain things. I knew that Holy Cross could do that for you. If I'm being honest, that would have happened regardless of what you went. I think what's special for me is knowing that you're interacting with so many people that were there when I was there and that unique relationship you're able to foster and make it your own. It was so lovely during Homecoming Harvest to get a photo with me, you and Father Boroughs, and just to see the ways that he can speak to you becoming a leader on that campus, much like the way he spoke to me becoming a leader on campus. It's all just so beautiful as I think about it coming together. Payton: So it's been very exciting for me to see you grow and I was honestly excited, probably more excited than you were at the time. It was going to be special and it truly has been for many reasons. Jordyn: Yeah, definitely. I would say you were a little bit more excited than me. Payton: Most definitely. I spent so much money at the Holy Cross Bookstore that day, all unnecessary, considering that you were going to go to campus anyway and buy your own stuff, but I was extremely excited for you and still am because you have a lot left to influence on that campus, I'll say. Jordyn: Definitely. Well, it's clear that Holy Cross will always have an everlasting mark on your life. So I'll end with this. What was or is the best part of being a Holy Cross alum? Payton: That's a great question. I think the best part of being a Holy Cross alum is this community that is there for the rest of your life. I recently got together with some former track teammates and just being able to sit there and reminisce on all of the memories we had, but then also this fundamental understanding that you are now in a position to truly move mountains because of the skill set that Holy Cross has taught you, and it's not always the in-classroom learning. Some of my best lessons were being an SGA co-presenter or being chair of the Black Student Union. Sometimes it's understanding the best lessons happen in the hallways or falling down the Hill and realizing that you need better snow shoes. Payton: So you package all of that up, and then the beauty is you then get to interact with students like yourself, and it's a benefit that you're my sister, and you get to pass along these learnings and experiences and continue to build that community. It's just one of those things that's so beautiful it almost becomes hard to articulate, but it's something I'm most thankful for. Till the day that I stop breathing I'll be Payton Shubrick, Holy Cross, class of 2015 and that means a lot to me. Jordyn: Of course, yeah. The legacy left behind for Holy Cross, and it's truly the people in the community that make you want to continue to engage and continue to, "How, how can I get involved? How can I be with the younger generation, be with the older generation?" and it's just a beautiful thing to see. Payton: Most definitely, and it's never always easy. It's not perfect, especially in this COVID environment where on your eighth Zoom meeting, you're like, "What are we doing here again?" but it's the way you persevere and the resilience, and I think part of that as what Holy Cross teaches you and hopefully something you're able to give to others as you've received it. So it's awesome. So thank you, sister. Jordyn: Anytime. Maura: That’s our show!  I hope you enjoyed hearing about just one of the many ways that Holy Cross alumni have been inspired by the mission to be people for and with others.   A special thanks to today’s guests, and everyone at Holy Cross who has contributed to making this podcast a reality. If you, or someone you know, would like to be featured on this podcast, please send us an email at alumnicareers@holycross.edu.  If you like what you hear, then please leave us a review. This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Alumni Relations at The College of the Holy Cross.  You can subscribe for future episodes wherever you find your podcasts. I’m you’re host, Maura Sweeney, and this is Mission-Driven. In the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, now go forth, and set the world on fire. --- Theme music composed by Scott Holmes, courtesy of freemusicarchive.org.

Plus: Shaleen Title is stepping down from the Cannabis Control Commission after over three years. We speak with her about how close the state is to her vision of an equitable industry, the biggest barriers in the way, and what's next. 

In early December, the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time considered and passed legislation to legalize marijuana and redress decades of harm caused by the War on Drugs. While Senate leaders say they will not consider it, the MORE Act signals a national shift in attitudes toward decriminalizing some drugs.  One in 3 Americans now lives in a state where possession of a small amount of marijuana is legal.  In November, voters approved recreational marijuana use in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota. They approved medical use in South Dakota and Mississippi. In Oregon, where recreational marijuana has been legal since 2014, voters went a step further by allowing medical use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms.” They also made possession of small amounts of other drugs, including cocaine, a misdemeanor punishable only by a $100 fine. As recently as eight years ago, only California had opened the door to medical marijuana, which it approved in 1996. Recreational use of marijuana is now legal in 15 states and medical use is legal in Minnesota and 34 other states.   Advocates for legalizing cannabis say regulating the market makes the product safer, reduces violence associated with the illegal drug trade and allows states to collect tax revenue. Calls for drug law reform also increasingly have focused on the disproportionate number of African Americans and Latinos arrested and convicted for drug crimes.  Wednesday at 9 a.m., MPR News host Kerri Miller will speak with a marijuana regulator and a drug policy researcher and take listener calls about decriminalizing marijuana and the steps some states are taking to address racial equity through changes to drug law.  Guests:  Shaleen Title is a member of the Cannabis Control Commission in Massachusetts.  Beau Kilmer is director of the RAND drug policy research center.  Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

Thanksgiving break may be over, but we can still appreciate this Florida man who thawed his turkey out in the backyard pool. We had two Zoom calls too many but enjoyed the Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr. fight this weekend. Lots to be thankful here in Kansas City though with an impending Super Bowl Baby Boom and Santa Claus arriving to town. Another mascot is getting nerfed, though, after 3,300 signatures were collected to change it. *ding ding ding* The magic number showed up in other places, too. The Queen is bucking a 33-year-old traditionby spending Christmas in Windsor and the DOW is about to hit a33-year-old monthly high. Then, there were 33 Guatemalan children sent back to their native country despite a judge order forbidding ICE from returning them. We discuss the latest presidential goings on and the politicization of Lisa Montgomery's upcoming federal execution.On a lighter note, the Rockefeller Christmas tree owl is okay and returned to wilderness.   In weed news, the House is expected tovote on the MORE Act tomorrow while Michigan raked in $400 million in the first year of recreational sales. Arizona's Prop 207took effect Monday, the same day that Massachusetts' Cannabis Control Commission gave the green light on new regulations allowing for home delivery. And lastly, the UN may vote tosymbolically de-schedule weed this week. You may have heard about the mysterious monoliths appearing and disappearing in Utah then showing up in Romania, but did you catch the story of the penis sculpture that mysteriously disappeared from a German mountainside?    You may have heard about the mysterious Utah/Romania monoliths, but now  a penis-shaped sculpture has disappeared.AFrench chef got a Guinness recordafter cooking up a pizza with 254 varieties of cheese anda woman went boozerk in a British Aldi.    We talk about the first time I ever saw an eclipse and next week, we'll discuss the first time I ever went camping. Get your voicemails in meow (816) 607-3663.

Do you act as municipal counsel to a city or town in Massachusetts? Get an overview of what you need to know about marijuana laws, including regulations regarding delivery and cannabis cafes, in this excerpt from MCLE’s 10/17/2019 program: "1st Look" at What Municipal Counsel Needs to Know When Cannabis Comes to Town. The full program is available as an on demand webcast or an MP3 here. Get 24/7 instant access to hundreds of related eLectures like this one—and more—with a subscription to the MCLE OnlinePass. Learn more at www.mcle.org/onlinepass.Speaker: Kay I. Doyle, Esq., Cannabis Control Commission, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston

Marijuana Today Daily HeadlinesThursday, September 3, 2020 | Curated by host Shea Gunther // Applications open for two Cannabis Control Commission positions one seat on State Ethics Commission attorney general’s office announces (Mass Live) // New lawsuit filed over Los Angeles’ marijuana social equity licensing (Marijuana Business Daily) // Three-In-Five DC Voters Support Psychedelics Decriminalization […]

Yuge Victory that included an expanded caregiver to patient ratio, reciprocity, favorable reforms to making the EE/SE program workable for Drug War victims. Ending Vertical Integration will be shelved for a bit. Our Video: https://youtu.be/X5RJ_KPj3_E ICYMI - Deana Martin Helped Meet the Cannabis Demand of Bay Staters via Northern Herb despite Government Footdragging - She WON'T BE Forgotten https://open.spotify.com/episode/3yLC00tktbJkcwIqKPFqdw?si=KDlDTbwaQbuOkshZMgB0MQ ICYMI - Fake Legalization, Tyranny and the New Prohibition in Massachusetts - Because Whatever the Heck Officials are Smoking Ain't Cannabis https://open.spotify.com/episode/1G6UKhvQED78Ws6u8Z5miF?si=VDnKsDXXQKO38H7bgInplg ICYMI - Breaking - Commissioner Britte ‘Karen’ McBride to Step Down from the Mass Cannabis Control Commission https://open.spotify.com/episode/6uu2xrsZn8kKn9gqD8QWQn?si=bzyfIkROSiqKE6KP1Ufutg ---------------------------------------- To Follow Mr. Sativa on Social Media: Twitter - https://twitter.com/icsativapod Periscope: https://www.pscp.tv/icsativapodcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamcannabissativa/ Please become a Patreon at just $1 a month - http://bit.ly/2NJmshn Please support us via PayPal - paypal.me/icsativapodcast If you want to support us via Anchor: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/support My Twitch Channel - https://www.twitch.tv/iamcannabissativa My Weedtube Channel - https://www.theweedtube.com/user/iamcannabissativa My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdMtiTbOFE3D39rpLfLglaw? Join our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/65tG2nR Get Great Quality CBD products from Sequoia Organics: https://www.sequoiaorganics.co/?a_aid=iamcannabissativa My Email: iamcannabissativa@gmail.com Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/iamcsativapodcast/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/support

Don’t let the door hit your reefer madness arse on the way out. Source: https://www.masslive.com/marijuana/2020/08/britte-mcbride-stepping-down-from-massachusetts-cannabis-control-commission-hopes-her-legacy-will-be-in-creating-regulatory-framework-that-prioritizes-public-safety.html Source: https://weedcash.network/weedcash/@joeyslliks/medically-speaking-leah-daniels-isn-t-being-patient?fbclid=iwar2swm-2hfndgsrr7ppspx2z6kxdkc4sxi8dllki07cy0q3j_gok8fck2z8 ICYMI - Deana Martin Helped Meet the Cannabis Demand of Bay Staters via Northern Herb despite Government Footdragging - She WON'T BE Forgotten https://open.spotify.com/episode/3yLC00tktbJkcwIqKPFqdw?si=KDlDTbwaQbuOkshZMgB0MQ ICYMI - Fake Legalization, Tyranny and the New Prohibition in Massachusetts - Because Whatever the Heck Officials are Smoking Ain't Cannabis https://open.spotify.com/episode/1G6UKhvQED78Ws6u8Z5miF?si=VDnKsDXXQKO38H7bgInplg ---------------------------------------- To Follow Mr. Sativa on Social Media: Twitter - https://twitter.com/icsativapod Periscope: https://www.pscp.tv/icsativapodcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamcannabissativa/ Please become a Patreon at just $1 a month - http://bit.ly/2NJmshn Please support us via PayPal - paypal.me/icsativapodcast If you want to support us via Anchor: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/support My Twitch Channel - https://www.twitch.tv/iamcannabissativa My Weedtube Channel - https://www.theweedtube.com/user/iamcannabissativa My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdMtiTbOFE3D39rpLfLglaw? Join our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/65tG2nR Get Great Quality CBD products from Sequoia Organics: https://www.sequoiaorganics.co/?a_aid=iamcannabissativa My Email: iamcannabissativa@gmail.com Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/iamcsativapodcast/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/support

The state’s Cannabis Control Commission held a “virtual public hearing” Monday, and heard quite a few suggestions concerning the home delivery of marijuana. WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens reports.

The state’s Cannabis Control Commission held a “virtual public hearing” Monday, and heard quite a few suggestions concerning the home delivery of marijuana. WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens reports.

Shekia Scott, the former Director of Community Outreach and Equity Programming at the state's Cannabis Control Commission. Within this position, she focused on promoting the inclusion  of communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, marijuana prohibition, arrests and incarceration in the adult-use  marijuana industry. Shekia developed and introduced MA's  first-in-the-nation, statewide, Social Equity Program, providing  technical assistance, training and opportunity for entry into the  industry across four areas with additional program benefits. Additionally, she co-founded the Boston Police Camera Action Team which successfully introduced community influenced policy and outfitted BPD with body cameras. This lead to her service as Policy Director and Neighborhood Liaison for Boston City Councilor and the first African American woman President of the City Council, Andrea Campbell. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

Grant Smith with a panel of local experts Devin Alexander, Ed DeSousa, and Dr. Marion McNabb on Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission proposed regulation changes.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

Massachusetts cannabis news roundup, how do we stop bad actors & ensure patients get affordable medicine? Discussing the Cannabis Control Commission, NETA employee safety allegations, and how to help under-served patients who can't afford to purchase their medicine never mind the expense of paying out of pocket (insurance not accepted) for a medical cannabis doctor recommendation.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

“Friday Five” is a weekly podcast from the Boston University News Service hosted by the BUNS Editorial Board where we tackle the week’s top stories. Tune in to stay up to date on all things Boston. #BostonEatsBlack: http://bunewsservice.com/cooked-by-the-people-for-the-people-third-annual-boston-black-restaurant-challenge-celebrates-across-the-city/ BU Australia: http://bunewsservice.com/from-australia-boston-university-students-help-in-recovery-efforts-after-devastating-brush-fires/ Cannabis Control Commission: http://bunewsservice.com/bill-adopted-by-house-of-representatives-authorizes-cannabis-control-commission-to-review-and-regulate-community-agreements/ Puppy Bowl: http://bunewsservice.com/photo-gallery-seaport-puppy-bowl-leaves-tails-wagging/ CNN Town Hall, Manchester: http://bunewsservice.com/warren-biden-expected-among-candidates-to-speak-in-manchester-at-cnn-town-hall/

Horace Small for Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission? Interview with founder and executive director of Union of Minority Neighborhoods, Horace Small, we take lots of listener calls who want to talk cannabis licensing . --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

Two previous CCC meetings were interrupted by protesters upset with the license approval process for people in low-income areas who want to open marijuana dispensaries. WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe reports.

Mike Lebya with City Life Vida Urbana discussing Boston's housing plan, a state house rent control hearing this Tuesday and Chauncy Spencer of "The 420", an applicant for a Mattapan cannabis retail and cultivation license in the city of Boston.  Discussing local and Cannabis Control Commission delays on cannabis licensing. Spencer currently pays $5000 commercial rent a month waiting for his proposed location to receive a host community hearing.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

Marijuana Today Daily Headlines Friday, January 10, 2020 | Curated by host Shea Gunther // Formerly Anti-Marijuana Congressman Cosponsors Comprehensive Legalization Bill (Marijuana Moment) // Protesters again disrupt Cannabis Control Commission meeting but licenses approved (Worcester Telegram) // AGLC reverses course, will buy from micro producers (Leafly) These headlines are brought to you by Green […]

Marijuana Today Daily Headlines Friday, January 10, 2020 | Curated by host Shea Gunther // Formerly Anti-Marijuana Congressman Cosponsors Comprehensive Legalization Bill (Marijuana Moment) // Protesters again disrupt Cannabis Control Commission meeting but licenses approved (Worcester Telegram) // AGLC reverses course, will buy from micro producers (Leafly) These headlines are brought to you by Green […]

Cannabis Control Commission meeting interrupted again; ‘No approvals until economic empowerment approvals,' applicants chant video: https://fbwat.ch/1Fwkxv3UDrqghlwd https://www.masslive.com/marijuana/2020/01/cannabis-control-commission-meeting-interrupted-again-no-approvals-until-economic-empowerment-approvals-applicants-chant.html Want a job in the western Massachusetts cannabis industry? Hiring for Lee, Easthampton, & Holyoke. Apply@cannaprovisionsgroup.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

Hats off to Economic Empowerment Applicant Leah Daniels putting the Restrict and Limit Commission in their place! Video Source: https://www.facebook.com/100009397287681/videos/2520056874984197/ Our lone sane commissioner’s comments on imposing civil penalties on illicit market sellers: https://twitter.com/shaleentitle/status/1207076908447518723 My Response: https://twitter.com/icsativapod/status/1207381007294500865 The Full Text of Leah Daniels’ Testimony: https://masscann.org/archives/gross-incompetence-willful-with-the-intent-to-cause-undue-hardship-or-blatant-and-unchecked-discrimination-of-applicants-civil-liberties/ Some Insightful comments about the Racism and Shinanigans at play” https://www.reddit.com/r/bostontrees/comments/ecwtbk/todays_ccc_meeting_cancelled_due_to_protests/fbexdcj/ Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2019/12/19/cannabis-commission-hearing-disrupted-by-furious.html?ana=TRUEANTHEMFB_BO&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+New+Content+%28Feed%29&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0UcaulRan9EIIsoRscAxut6koMHt2sKH4I6eV3hOCQAs5lGZZ-QSZSW1M ICYMI - Grassachusetts is No Longer For Me – The Cruelty is the Point and More Thoughts on the Vaping Crisis https://open.spotify.com/episode/6JR0HdTtw3BNyxC1hWz5fo?si=0dvIwaqeQlOAAd7YJ265Tw ---------------------------------------- To Follow Mr. Sativa on Social Media: Twitter - https://twitter.com/icsativapod Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamcannabissativa/ Please become a Patreon at just $1 a month - http://bit.ly/2NJmshn Please support us via PayPal - paypal.me/icsativapodcast If you want to support us via Anchor: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/support My Twitch Channel - https://www.twitch.tv/iamcannabissativa My Weedtube Channel - https://www.theweedtube.com/user/iamcannabissativa My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdMtiTbOFE3D39rpLfLglaw? Get Great Quality CBD products from Sequoia Organics: https://www.sequoiaorganics.co/?a_aid=iamcannabissativa Get Inexpensive CBD Flower Delivered to Your Door Quickly and Cheaply in New England: https://shop.bostonhempire.com/?ref=dscotland My Email: iamcannabissativa@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/iamcannabissativapodcast/support

In this episode of “East to West,” we cover a new campus crime report, cannabis startup competition finalists, how local costume stores compete with online retailers, and more.

In this episode of “East to West,” we cover a new campus crime report, cannabis startup competition finalists, how local costume stores compete with online retailers, and more.

In this episode of “East to West,” we cover Warren Towers escalator shutdowns, a lawsuit against the Trump administration, an app that measures noise pollution, and more.

In this episode of “East to West,” we cover Warren Towers escalator shutdowns, a lawsuit against the Trump administration, an app that measures noise pollution, and more.

Peter Bernard, Executive Director with Mass Grower Advocacy Council speaks on Tuesday's state house hearings for mostly bad cannabis bills, new proposed Cannabis Control Commission regs that harm hardship patients, and a rally opposing the vape ban at the State House and outside Charlie Baker's office on Friday! *Have a business or campaign to promote? Sponsorship/advertising inquiries for this podcast and show, email, michaelc_100@hotmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theyoungjurks/support

SpokenLayer August 20, 2019 This is the spoken edition of the American Institute for Economic Research for August 20, 2019. A longer text version is hosted at AIER.org, along with many other articles. Massachusetts’ Addiction to Regulation Keeps Most Pot Sales on the Black Market By Max Gulker Since Massachusetts residents passed a 2016 referendum legalizing recreational cannabis, the fate of the industry has largely been in the hands of the state’s Cannabis Control Commission.

In the final part of Valerio Romano’s appearance on In The Weeds with Jimmy Young, host agreements are the first subject, and why they became under the scrutiny of the Cannabis Control Commission and the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team…plus they touch upon the social equity dream as opposed to the reality…

On this episode, we are joined by David Lakeman, one of the first senior staff members and authors of both legislation and policy regarding the legalization of marijuana in the State of Massachusetts.  We discuss the process of writing and crafting these laws on the state level, the pitfalls and hurdles that have to be … Continue reading S03E03: Getting Into the Weeds on Marijuana Policy, Part 1

It used to be the manager of the Red Sox that was considered the toughest job in Massachusetts, now it's the Chairman of the Cannabis Control Commission. His name is Steven Hoffman and he sat down with CMN Founder Jimmy Young on In The Weeds.

Shaleen Title, Commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission, joins us to break down the recently enacted laws enabling medical and adult use marijuana in the Commonwealth.

SHNS welcomes reporter Chris Lisinski to the Takeout table; Katie Lannan and Matt Murphy break down the governor's budget proposal, and what it could mean for education funding and state revenue; and Colin Young reports on marijuana growers' push for the Cannabis Control Commission to regulate agreements between businesses and their local host communities. For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.

Marijuana Today Daily Headlines Wednesday, January 23, 2019 | Curated by host Shea Gunther // Global elite set to meet cannabis elite as marijuana industry descends on Davos for first time (Financial Post) // Marijuana growers: Cannabis Control Commission should be allowed to regulate municipal marijuana agreements (Mass Live) // Skateboarder Cory Juneau Suspended Six […]

The witty Bob Lobel and co-host Bob Snyder welcome featured guest Steven J. Hoffman, Chair of the Cannabis Control Commission, recorded Live at DCU Center during the 2018 Harvest Cup

What Does the Cannabis Control Commission by Kenya Hunter

Craft Beer News – 11/23/18Artisanal Brewing Ventures Execs Discuss ‘100 percent’ Acquisition of Sixpoint BreweryAfter four years of discussions with Sixpoint Brewery founder Shane Welch, Artisanal Brewing Ventures (ABV) finally completed a deal to purchase 100 percent of his Brooklyn-based craft brewery this week.Even though ABV had been courting Sixpoint for several years, it wasn’t until this summer when negotiations really began to heat up, John Coleman, CEO of ABV, told Brewbound.As the deal came together, ABV — which is backed by family office Ulysses Management and was formed in 2016 via the merger of Victory Brewing and Southern Tier Brewing — turned to Wells Fargo to help finance the acquisition.Coleman declined to share specific financial terms of the transaction.Unlike ABV’s partnerships with Victory and Southern Tier, whose founders have remained involved in the businesses they started, Welch is exiting the company he founded in 2004 to focus on other “craft beer-related businesses,” including a smartphone app that helps facilitate direct-to-consumer sales at breweries.Although ABV’s past strategy has focused on retaining its partner breweries’ founders, the company decided it needed to be more flexible when it came to Sixpoint, Paul Barnett, managing director of Ulysses Management, told Brewbound.“Shane has a lot of other outside interests, which he’s passionate about,” he said. “He struggled with the idea of the obligations that are inherent in being an active founder partner like Bill [Covaleski] and Ron [Barchet of Victory] and Phin [DeMink of Southern Tier].”Now, Sixpoint brewmaster and chief product officer Eric Bachli will lead the company. Last year, Welch hired Bachli away from popular Massachusetts craft brewery Trillium Brewing.According to Coleman and Barnett, Sixpoint was an attractive acquisition target for ABV due to its geographical presence in New York City, where the brewery sells more than half of its volume, as well as its alignment within the Sheehan Family network of wholesalers.“We think there’s a lot of growth potential in metro New York as well as all of the surrounding areas,” Coleman said. “And from a brewing standpoint, the brands are all very complimentary with Southern Tier and Victory brands.”According to Coleman, Sixpoint is on pace to produce 55,000 barrels of beer by the end of 2018. The company did not report production figures to the Brewers Association last year, but in 2016 it reported production of 74,500 barrels.Finally, Barnett and Coleman said ABV isn’t done buying, and they mentioned a focus on breweries located in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southeast regions of the U.S..“The east of the Mississippi geography we find is really an attractive market,” Barnett said.TTB Accepts Offer for Trade Practice ViolationsTTB and Elgin Beverage Agree to $325,000 Offer in CompromiseThe Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) yesterday announced the acceptance of a $325,000 offer in compromise from Illinois distributor Elgin Beverage Co. for alleged violations of tied house provisions.Elgin, based in Bartlett, about 35 miles from Chicago, distributes products from Constellation Brands, Pabst Brewing and FIFCO USA, among others.In a press release, the TTB said Elgin had “aided and abetted another industry member in the use of a third party to pay retailers to carry and promote their products.”The pay-to-play scheme, the TTB argued, gave Elgin an “unfair advantage” in the marketplace.“TTB remains committed to putting an end to anti-competitive practices that hurt law-abiding businesses and prevent consumers from enjoying a wide selection of products,” the agency wrote.Earlier this month, the TTB issued an industry circular reminding alcohol beverage companies that it was “committed to ensuring a fair and level playing field nationwide.” In that announcement, the TTB noted that it had “significantly intensified” its enforcement (which began in 2017), and that it was focused on snuffing out “exclusive outlet, tied house, commercial bribery, and consignment sale violations.”“The high incidence of unlawful activities and deliberate concealment of such activities raise serious concerns,” the agency wrote. “These activities are of particular significance because of their nationwide occurrence and their impact on trade and fair competition.”In May, the TTB accepted a $900,000 offer in compromise from Warsteiner Importers Agency Inc. — “the largest single offer in compromise for trade practice violations” ever accepted by the agency.The Ohio-based company was accused of engaging in illegal tied house, commercial bribery and exclusive outlet violations committed in order to compromise a retailer’s independence from January 1, 2015, through April 19, 2018.BA Chief Economist: Brewery Visits are Good for Beer Industry HealthIn his latest blog post, Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson said “getting people into breweries is a good thing for the beer industry.”His rationale? Recent Nielsen CGA data that suggests beer drinkers who visit breweries drink more beer, while those who do not visit breweries drink less.Conversely, 24 percent of more than 4,300 consumers who hadn’t visited a brewery in the last year and were also asked about their consumption habits said they were drinking more beer, while 28 percent said they were drinking less.“Now, as someone who cares about good analysis, I won’t pretend that this means going to a brewery is causing people to drink more beer,” Watson wrote. “The causality might run the other way: people who are drinking more beer might be seeking out breweries.”Nevertheless, Watson said all players throughout the three-tier system need to “actively try to recreate the reasons people go to breweries.”His pitch to beer distributors, some of whom have expressed concerns about the proliferation of brewery taprooms?“If these beer lovers are drinking a typical amount, their beer consumption is going up far more than at-the-brewery sales alone, suggesting once again that brewery visits spill out into the wider market and help build brand beer,” he wrote.Massachusetts to Commence Recreational Cannabis Sales on November 20The first legal recreational cannabis sales east of the Mississippi will occur next Tuesday in Massachusetts, The Boston Globe reported Friday.In a press release, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission announced that it had approved two companies — Cultivate Holdings, LLC and New England Treatment Access, LLC – to begin selling marijuana and marijuana products.“This signal to open retail marijuana establishments marks a major milestone for voters who approved legal, adult-use cannabis in our state,” commission chairman Steven J. Hoffman said via a press release. “To get here, licensees underwent thorough background checks, passed multiple inspections, and had their products tested, all to ensure public health and safety as this new industry gets up and running.”It took lawmakers and regulators more than two years to finally approve cannabis sales after Massachusetts voters passed a 2016 ballot initiative making recreational cannabis legal.Source of News Stories: Brewboundhttps://www.brewbound.com/Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHSubscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/craft-beer-storm-WdbK0LCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

We discuss the recent Cannabis Control Commission meeting in which 2 testing labs were OK'd for preliminary licenses to test recreational pot, and the panel votes not to review controversial Host Community Agreements. We talk about the impact to small business owners.

We discuss the outcomes of the most recent public meeting by the CCC, including new licenses, rules for local taxes, new employees, and an intern opportunity for students of Roxbury Community College.

July 1 has come and gone and no one legally bought marijuana in Massachusetts. Plenty of people bought illegal marijuana and legally smoked it, sort of a "don't ask/don't tell" situation. But the date viewed by many as a launch for retail recreational sales is now looking like the end of the summer, almost two years after voters approved a statewide referendum legalizing adult use. James Smith, a former state representative who championed legal weed back in the 1970s and now is an attorney representing the nascent industry, says the cause of the delay lays squarely with cities and towns who are dragging their feet on zoning and host agreements if they haven't enacted bans and moratoriums. "Parochialism, puritanicalism," said Smith, who, along with Jennifer Flanagan of the state Cannabis Control Commission joined The Codcast to talk about the slow rollout of the law. "The statute and our history gives an awful lot of power to our communities...It's as if we're trying to site a nuclear waste dump downtown."

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Understanding Canada's Coming Cannabis Regime by Looking South to US Join us for an intriguing event that will shine a spotlight on what recreational marijuana legalization will look like in Canada later this summer. To get a look into the future, we will bring up from the United States leading figures who can speak to experiences in Colorado and Massachusetts as well as a Canadian expert to the Club to discuss the considerations that have gone into the regime set to launch here in Canada. The discussion will be moderated by Geoff Zochodne of the National Post and should provide one of the clearest perspectives on what we can expect in Canada later this summer when marijuana becomes legal for recreational use. Lewis Koski Co Founder and Senior Director, Freedman and Koski, Former Director, Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division Lewis Koski was the Director of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division during the legalization of marijuana. Lewis is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in formative marijuana policy. He is among a small group of government executives who have been intimately involved in the development and implementation of marijuana policy from the infancy of medical marijuana through the realization of legalization. Lewis' leadership contributions and devotion to implementing marijuana policy thoughtfully played an important role achieving what has become one of the most fully developed marijuana regulatory frameworks in the world. Lewis is currently a co founder and senior director at Freedman and Koski, Inc. where he works with government clients across the United States tasked with developing and implementing cannabis policy. He also works with ancillary companies and investment firms that are focused on helping government successfully implement cannabis policy. Lewis holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on International Business and is a Doctoral Candidate in Public Administration with a focus on policy analysis and public participation in rulemaking. He also teaches a graduate level course called. The Marijuana Policy Frontier at the University of Colorado Denver. Commissioner Shaleen Title was jointly appointed by the Massachusetts governor, treasurer, and attorney general to the Cannabis Control Commission in September 2017. She co authored the Massachusetts marijuana legalization referendum and has consulted on state and local marijuana policy around the United States. Shaleen was a founding board member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, where she led the drafting of the first state level model bill created to give states guidance to implement a process of reinvestment and reconciliation. She was also a founding board member of Marijuana Majority. Prior to joining the Commission, she was a co founder of THC Staffing Group, a cannabis recruiting firm focused on equality and inclusion. She holds a business degree, law degree, and... Moderator: Geoff Zochodne, Reporter, The Financial Post Panelists: Lewis Koski, Co Founder and Senior Director, Freedman and Koski Commissioner Shaleen Title, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Will Stewart, VP Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Hiku Brands *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

To listen to the state's newest regulatory commission in its meetings, the tenor and terms, for the most part, are no different than hearings regarding oversight of most industries in the state. But the big difference is the industry they are charged with overseeing – legal marijuana – and members of the Cannabis Control Commission have just hit a historic milestone, finalizing regulations to get legal recreational sale and use of marijuana ready to roll. “July 1 is the start date, not the end date,” says commission chairman Steven Hoffman, who along with commissioner Shaleen Title joined The Codcast to talk about the regulations. “The industry is going to take time to evolve. It's going to take a few years, I believe, before this industry looks mature.”

State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg says when she talks to counterparts around the country, there is one aspect of her job that stops them in their tracks: Her office's regulation of the state's liquor industry. Goldberg now has another mood-altering substance to oversee with the passage of the ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana. Under the wording of the ballot question, the treasurer's office will appoint a three-member Cannabis Control Commission that will form rules and regulations and report to the treasurer. Goldberg joined The Codcast to talk about her plans for how she intends to ramp up oversight which she said she's been planning for since learning about the ballot question 15 months ago.