The Cannabis Society Investor Conference - Boston (Invite Only)

The Cannabis Society is dedicated to fostering the cannabis community through events, conferences, dinners and many more. Join us together with industry experts, entrepreneurs, investors and service providers for the cannabis business.

More information coming soon.

Tentative Schedule:

Tentative Schedule:

2:00 PM: Registration & Deal Making

2:15 PM: Opening Remarks by The Cannabis Society

2:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Investing in cannabis & emerging opportunties

3:00 PM: Panel Discussion: Marketing, product innovation & Building a cannabis brand

3:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Impact of cannabis legalization; from policy to compliance

4:00 PM: Reception & Deal Making

5:00 PM: End of Conference

*Schedule is subject to change

Confirmed Panelists:

Jesse Harlan Alderman, Partner Foley Hoag Boston

Leveraging his regulatory expertise, Jesse Alderman co-founded the Foley Hoag Boston Cannabis practice, and assists clients in securing competitive municipal and state permits. He counsels these clients on complex issues of state regulatory compliance, and advises investors in cannabis industry acquisitions and transactions. Jesse Alderman also concentrates his practice on environmental, real estate and infrastructure development, with a focus on state and municipal regulatory matters, permitting and related litigation. Jesse has experience guiding clients through issues of state regulatory compliance, such as under MEPA, Article 97, Wetlands Protection Act and Chapter 21E, and devising strategies to win critical municipal approvals and zoning relief. Prior to joining Foley Hoag, he was a law clerk for Justice Robert J. Cordy of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Before law school, Jesse gained diverse experience in an array of environmental and energy issues as a reporter for The Associated Press in Boston and Boise, Idaho, and The Durango Herald in Durango, Colorado.

Colin Lake, CEO of Cannapreneur Partners

As a national speaker, he has spent extensive time helping business owners solve for their three most critical factors: finding better balance, creating efficiency in their life and business, and reaching for goals they never thought possible.

He was previously Head of Sales for RS Investments from 2008 to 2016, prior to that Colin was with The Hartford Insurance and Financial Services Group for 13+ years. Spending over 21 years in the field, he has a keen eye for what works in real life and what it takes to succeed for long term. After extensive work and success in the financial services industry, he launched Developing the Next Leaders, a 501(c)(3) that, “Helps our military, inactive or retired, make a successful entrance into the financial services industry.

Michael Scott, Chairman of Cannapreneur Partners

Michael Scott is an entrepreneur, family man, and martial artist with a passion for life. Michael’s core values are Family, Integrity, Helping Others, Leadership, Loyalty. After over a decade of wealth management advice and becoming one of the youngest top 1% ranked advisors at Ameriprise, Michael began expanding as an entrepreneur. He put his first deal together with the executives of Ameriprise Financial in a seven figure acquisition that became the companies first external practice acquisition. After that first experience with entrepreneurism, Michael knew he found his calling. Fast forward a handful of years and Michael is now the co-owner of BAM Partners LLC an entrepreneurial holding company of 6 businesses and growing. Michael’s unique ability is to strategically lead and develop entrepreneurs toward their own values based excellence. On a personal note Michael is an avid martial artist and loves to teach and train multiple disciplines such as MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Taekwondo.

James Winokur, SVP and General Manager Product Group MariMed, Inc

James is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader with extensive experience in managing global teams in the areas of sales, marketing and operations. Currently, James is SVP & GM, Product Group for MariMed, Inc. (OTCQB: MRMD) a multi-state cannabis cultivator, dispensary operator and cannabis product manufacturer. Prior to MariMed, James co-founded CannaKorp, inventors of the world's first single-use pod vaporization system, the Wisp, for herbal botanicals and cannabis. Before diving into the cannabis industry, James served as Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development at PTC, a global software company, responsible for $700 million of PTC’s $1.3 billion in revenues. James was previously the Co-owner and General Manager of several Culligan Water Conditioning franchises throughout New England and New York. James earned his BA and MBA from Boston College.

Charles Smith, Founder Mass Canna Compliance

Charles Smith, Esq., is a trusted strategic advisor and compliance consultant for cannabis companies across the country. He is intimately familiar with cannabis laws and regulations throughout the United States with a focus on state and local licensing and compliance. A member of the New York State Bar, Charles has worked extensively with Registered Marijuana Dispensaries (“RMD”) and Marijuana Establishment applicants in Massachusetts. In addition, he has experience providing compliance consulting in other states, including: California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania

Charles is a frequent speaker at cannabis industry conferences throughout the country, including: the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Cannabis Business Summit and the Cannabis World Conference and Business Expo. Charles is a member of the faculty for Elevate New England, a nonprofit whose mission is to empower underrepresented populations to work and lead in the cannabis industry, and to empower communities to be educated customers and responsible consumers. Charles is a Lifetime Member of both the National Cannabis Bar Association and the NORML Legal Committee.

Sam Kanter, owner of Sam Kanter Events and Dinner at Mary's

Sam Kanter, owner of Sam Kanter Events (SKE) and Dinner at Mary's (DAM). Dinner at Mary's focuses on elevated cannabis dining experiences and event planning, while SKE partners with restaurant venues in the Boston area to outsource event programs. As a Zagat 30 under 30 winner, with almost 10 years of event experience, she pushes the event envelope creating unique experiences for guests with a focus on hospitality and high quality food and beverage. Sam uses cannabis as an enhancement, providing a fun, but controlled and educational environment to bring cannabis to the people - of all comfort levels.

Kamani Jefferson Cannabis Policy Strategist & Regulatory Consultant

After graduating with a degree in Management-Information Systems from Binghamton University, Kamani obtained a strong sales + tech startup background in NYC before co-founding the Cannabis Cultural Association. Hungry for more industry development in 2016; Kamani relocated to Boston to work on the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol with the Marijuana Policy Project. As the Statehouse Lobbyist & President of the Massachusetts Recreational Consumer Council, Kamani looks to further grow his network of like-minded individuals and learning more about social innovation.

Kate Phillips, Founder Silk; Cannabis Education & Consulting

Kate Phillips is a cannabis industry veteran. Her mission is to make industry specific, scientific cannabis education accessible to all. Her work previous to cannabis was predominantly in the medical field, serving as a wilderness EMT while pursuing degrees in Chemistry and Nursing Sciences. It is upon this scientific foundation that she has worked to develop her cannabis educational programs, ever guided by a data-driven approach to educating others and treating patients.

In 2014, Kate founded and co-chaired the first professional cannabis networking group for women in Massachusetts, Women Grow, located in Boston. Shortly thereafter, she joined New England Treatment Access (NETA), one of the first medical dispensaries in Massachusetts. During her time at NETA, Kate had the opportunity to work in most departments of the company, from seed to sale. Quicky, her passion and enthusiasm helped her rise within NETA to become a Lead Retail Staff Trainer for their Brookline location. During her tenure as Lead Retail Staff Trainer, Kate worked to shape, develop, and train a large, high volume medical marijuana dispensary staff. In 2017, Kate joined Theory Wellness, a small batch, craft-style cannabis dispensary, where she began working as the General Manager of Retail, while also holding the distinction of being the first official company hire for Theory Wellness’s Retail Department. At Theory Wellness, Kate was responsible for establishing, staffing, and managing two retail locations. As well, Kate worked tirelessly to create engaging patient educational documents, lead original staff trainings, and provide easily accessible educational experiences for patients. Similarly to her tenure at NETA, during her time at Theory Wellness, Kate created an atmosphere of learning when working with staff as well as patients. Under her direct management, in under 2 years, Theory Wellness’s first two locations were rated across all major platforms (Google, WeedMaps, Leafly, et al.) as the top dispensary for medical patients in Massachusetts.

Nial C. DeNena, CEO and Founder of Manna Molecular Science

Nial C. DeMena has founded several successful cannabis enterprises, including Temescal Wellness Massachusetts, which was the first to own and operates two adult use retail licenses in Massachusetts, and Manna Molecular Science where is he currently serving as CEO. Manna Molecular Science is a cannabis biotech company formed in 2015 that focuses on delivery technologies in cannabis: transdermal delivery and sexual performance and pleasure. He has grown into twelve states and internationally in two years, and drives product development with the former Senior Director of Patches, Films, Semi-solids at Mylan and the former Principal Investigator for Viagra, Cialis, and Addyi to name a few.

* More Speakers & Panelist to be announced!

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor