‘The Marijuana Conference 2011’ Agenda

This panel examines the current medical marijuana landscape and outlines exactly what the movement is up against in 2012. Panelists dissect the latest research reports, discuss pending legislation and how legislative changes can help solve some of the industry’s problems. Panelists also explore the importance of using the initiative process locally.

PANELISTS:

• ASSEMBLYMEMBER TOM AMMIANO (D-San Francisco)
• STEPHEN GUTWILLIG, Drug Policy Alliance
• DALE SKY JONES, Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform & Oaksterdam University
• ED ROSENTHAL, Quick Trading Company

This panel of successful professionals in the Marijuana industry discuss what they have done to ensure a sustainable business. Topics of discussion include the importance of abiding by local and state regulations, keys to obtaining financing, and developing best business practices.

PANELISTS:

• MIKE ABERLE, Statewide Insurance Services
• BERNARD BUNNING, BBRS LLP
• MARK GUSTELY, Starbuds
• BRITTANY MORGAN MORRISON, Natural Solutions Patient Care

The medical cannabis industry is too large to be entirely self-funded by entrepreneurs and their families, but not quite ready for institutional investment. Angel investors are facilitating the next phase in the industry’s maturation. In addition to identifying 12 distinct segments of the industry, this session explores the unique challenges and opportunities that both companies and investors face.

SPEAKER: TROY DAYTON, The ArcView Group

This session provides a commentary on positive versus negative conflicts of law, giving real world examples of where local policy and DOJ policies were not in accord and examines the impacts on local policy development. This presentation also explores the implementation of questionable current policies, such as federal forfeiture programs, incentives for local law enforcement to continue enforcing federal laws, and how local arrests vs. state incarceration creates a net “profit” at the county level.

PANELISTS:

• WARREN EDSON, Edson, Maytin & Matz
• ANGEL MCCLARY RAICH, ARCH Collective
• Additional Panelists TBA

In the current political climate, patient advocates can play a significant role in regulations, neighbor relations, and pushing back federal interference. This presentation discusses the importance of creating “beyond consumer” relationships with patient clientele and explores practices that can be integrated into access centers to foster these relationships.

SPEAKER: STEPH SHERER, Americans for Safe Access

Since the passage of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA) in 1998, patients and their advocates have struggled with the question of how to be fairly compensated for providing medical cannabis to patients in need. This session presents a patient distribution model that is compliant with the current structures of Oregon State Law, and examines the business and legal issues present in this model.

SPEAKERS: LELAND R. BERGER, Esq. & PAUL LONEY, Esq.

The federal government regulates drugs through the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) (21 U.S.C. § 811), and does not recognize the difference between medical and recreational use of marijuana. Under federal law, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug, and has the constitutional authority to prohibit marijuana use for all purposes. Under federal law, enforcement officials may prosecute medical marijuana patients, even if they grow their own and even if they live in a state where medical marijuana use is protected under state law. What does this contradiction between state and federal law mean, and how does the federal Controlled Substances Act apply to individual state laws.

SPEAKER: ROBERT RAICH, Esq.

This panel examines all of the legal issues that business owners must abide by to build a successful and sustainable marijuana business. Panelists also discuss the importance of staying compliant with local and state laws, not only for the business owner, but for the industry as a whole.

PANELISTS:

• BRIAN CORBMAN, Ardent Advisors
• ZENIA GILG, Jackson Square Law
• WILLIAM G. PANZER, Esq.
• JIM MARTY, Jim Marty & Associates

Cannabis related health care products offer significant growth potential for companies in developed and emerging markets. Economies in emerging markets continue to grow quickly and consumers are gaining purchasing power. All of these factors will contribute to continued strong growth of the Cannabis consumer health care market. This presentation provides insight regarding the lucrative medical marijuana concentrate, edible and topical industries, and focuses on how to capitalize on ROI profit models with a focus on both cultivation and manufacturing processes.

SPEAKER: CHRISTIE LUNSFORD, Green Spring Consulting

How can patients be assured of the quality of the cannabis they need, including consistency of the levels of THC and CBD? Who provides the testing? How much does it cost? Since the FDA does not permit labs, how can patients be assured of the quality of the testing? What should safe and professional testing certification consist of?

PANELISTS:

 
• MATTHEW COHEN, MendoGrown
• STEPHEN DeANGELO, Harborside Health Center
• ANNARAE GRABSTEIN, Steep Hill Lab
• DR. MICHAEL GECI, Montana Botanical Analysis

 

• DR. ROBERT MARTIN, CW Analytical Laboratories

 

 

 

Federal banking regulators are pressuring banks to not serve the medical marijuana industry. Where can business owners go to bank their funds and obtain merchant services? What solutions are available to overcome this major hurdle? Topics discussed include lobbying for tax parity, gaining equal access to finance and banking services, and moving toward an end to federal marijuana prohibition.

PANELISTS:

 
• DEBBY GOLDSBERRY, United Cannabis Collective
• ROBERT KANE, Kaneabis
• JIM PAKULIS, General Cannabis, Inc.
• VINCENT J. PALAZZOTTO, Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of America

 

• AARON SMITH, The National Cannabis Industry Association

 

 

 

Dispensary owners should be aware of what to do if an audit by the IRS is performed. This session will review how the audit is initiated and what the steps in the audit process are, with particular attention paid to what dispensaries should, or should not do, during the process. The discussion includes important aspects such as, record keeping and substantiation requirements, cost of goods sold, IRC Section 280E, the allocation of expenses and the Tax Court Opinion in Californians Helping to Alleviate Medical Problems (CHAMP) v. Commissioner, 128 T.C. No.14 (2007) the leading case on this issue.

SPEAKER: HENRY WYKOWSKI, Henry G. Wykowski & Associates

When investors are considering building a financial relationship with a company operating in the cannabis sector, there are issues related to intellectual property that they must be aware of. This panel gives an overview of the different forms of intellectual property including patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets. This panel examines some of the practical issues that may arise and the potential downside to an investor, if the intellectual property claimed by the target isn’t what they say it is, or worse yet, opens up the target to an infringement action.

PANELISTS:

 
• MARY SHAPIRO, Mary L. Shapiro Law
• SAMMY TRUJILLO, The Business Park
• Additional Panelists TBA

 

 

 

How can companies raise investor capital? What types of investors are interested in investing, and what types of companies are they interested in? This panel examines these issues along with providing information on the requirements and benefits of going public on the Pink Sheets or through a formal public offering.

PANELISTS:

 
• STEVE BERG, The ArcView Group
• ADAM GOTTBETTER, Gottbetter & Partners
• JUSTIN HARTFIELD, WeedMaps Media Inc. & General Cannabis Inc.
• DEREK PETERSON, GrowOp Technology

 

 

 

Some cities and counties have embraced medical marijuana and have enacted regulations to allow for a strong and safe market, while others have faced lawsuits as they try to restrict dispensaries. Which regulations work and which have faced challenges from the industry or the federal government. Why did Oakland succeed and Los Angeles fail? Panelists also discuss the importance of crafting workable and politically acceptable zoning ordinances, easing the worries of elected officials, and building strategies for positive outcomes for city officials and patients.

PANELISTS:

 
• JAMES ANTHONY, Law Offices of James Anthony
• JOHN GELUARDI, Author: Cannabiz: The Explosive Rise of the Medical Marijuana Industry
• M. RYAN HURLEY, Rose Law Group
• JEFF JONES, Patient ID Center

 

 

 

California law indicates that patients who “associate collectively and cooperatively to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes” can form a consumer cooperative. Setting up one of these entities has a number of unique aspects. This session explores cooperative taxation issues, equity structures, governance, compliance with both state cooperative law and state medical cannabis law, bookkeeping and the flow of inventory and money.

SPEAKER: MATT KUMIN, Kumin Sommers

Medical marijuana patients now have a variety of options outside of the traditional smoking of cannabis. What are the regulatory constraints to these businesses? This panel examines the latest developments and their impact on the market, and explores what role, if any, the FDA is likely to play in the infused-products business.

PANELISTS:

• AL COLES, CBD Science
• Additional Panelists TBA