By Bob Katzen
The second Massachusetts Marijuana Summit will take place on Friday, March 2 from 8:15 a.m. to noon at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Center, 10 Winter Place in Boston. The doors open at 7:30 a.m.
The event, open to the public and sponsored by the State House News Forum, features a keynote address from Cannabis Control Commissioner Shaleen Title, as well as two expert panel discussions of topics including the industry’s regulation by the state, the federal government’s threat to the industry and the financial hurdles faced by retailers and other players.
“As one of the region’s most reputable news sources, the State House News Service has truly encapsulated a forum that brings all the industry stakeholders together to discuss this burgeoning industry,” said Aaron Bluse, president and CEO of marijuana grower and retailer Altitude Organic Corporation and one of the panelists. Bluse said the first Marijuana Summit in November was a big success and that he saw the value first-hand in bringing this group together to discuss an amazing plant and its implications for the Massachusetts economy. “With twelve licenses in Colorado and as one of the nation’s longest standing licensed cannabis businesses, we look forward to sharing our unique perspective and providing substantive information,” he said.
“Anyone interested in participating directly or indirectly in the new cannabis industry would be wise to attend the March 2 summit,” said Jim Borghesani, one of the panel’s moderators and Director of Communications for “Yes on 4,” the campaign that was in the forefront of the successful effort to legalize marijuana. “The organizers have already demonstrated a knack for putting together panels with deep knowledge of current happenings in the regulatory process and practical insight into what to expect moving forward. I have no doubt that the upcoming summit will be as helpful as the first.”
Other panelists include Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone; Meg Sanders, Managing Director of Revolution Clinics; and Jim Smith, former state representative and partner in Smith, Costello & Crawford, a consulting, lobbying and law firm specializing in regulatory and legislative policy.
The doors open at 7:30 a.m. for coffee, pastries and networking and the program begins at 8:15 a.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mass-marijuana-summit-ii-new-regs-federal-threat-financial-hurdles-tickets-42277590411 or by contacting David Art at dart@massterlist.com or 617-992-8253.