Speaker Lineup

Session Title: The New Frontier in Pediatric Care: Cannabinoids for Complex and Drug-Resistant Conditions

Bonni Goldstein, MD is a leading physician, educator, and advocate in the field of cannabinoid medicine. She is the CEO and co-founder of GoldsteinWellness.com, a free medical cannabis educational platform for healthcare professionals, and the Medical Director of Canna-Centers, a medical practice dedicated to the therapeutic use of cannabis for serious and chronic conditions.

Dr. Goldstein completed her residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she also served as chief resident. After years in pediatric emergency medicine, she transitioned to cannabinoid medicine upon witnessing its profound benefits in an ill friend. Over the past 17 years, she has evaluated thousands of patients and is recognized as an expert in cannabis therapeutics, with a special focus on children with intractable epilepsy, autism, cancer, and other complex conditions.

Dr. Goldstein has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed articles investigating the effects of medical cannabis through pharmacometabolomics, including its impact on autism. She is currently expanding this research to explore cannabis applications in dementia, PTSD, and chronic pain.

Dr. Goldstein is the author of Cannabis Revealed, a semi-finalist for the American Botanical Council’s 2017 Book of the Year, and Cannabis Is Medicine. She serves on the board of the International Alliance for Cannabinoid Medicines and is a medical advisor to Weedmaps.

Session title: How Psychedelics Work: Illuminating the Hidden Mind

Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD, is an esteemed neuropharmacologist, psychologist, and became the Ralph Metzner Distinguished Professor in Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco in 2021.With a PhD in psychopharmacology from the University of Bristol, Dr. Carhart-Harris and his colleagues have completed multimodal human functional neuroimaging studies with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA and DMT, and clinical trials of psilocybin therapy for various disorders. His current research program at UCSF is focused on the mechanisms of action of psychedelics and psychedelic-therapy. Dr. Carhart-Harris has published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Nature Medicine, Cell, Lancet Psychiatry, and more. He was named among the top 31 medical scientists by The Times newspaper in 2020, listed in TIME magazine’s “100 Next” in 2021, voted psychedelic researcher of the year in 2021, and listed in Vox Magazine’s “Future 50” in 2023. His website is carhartharrislab.com.

Session Title: Physiology of Healing: Targeting the ECS and Psychedelic Pathways

Dr. Dustin Sulak is a traditional osteopathic physician and expert in integrative medicine with over 15 years of clinical experience treating refractory conditions in adults and children. Dr. Sulak is an internationally-renowned expert in medical cannabis, the author of Handbook of Cannabis for Clinicians: Principles and Practice, and co-founder of Healer, a medical cannabis education resource and products company. He serves on the board of directors of The Society of Cannabis Clinicians and is a passionate educator and leader in the medical cannabis field.

Session title: Free the Data—Let Science Lead on Controlled Substances:
Exploring Cannabis for PTSD and Whole Psilocybin Mushrooms for End-of-Life Care

Dr. Sue Sisley MD is a Montana/Arizona-based physician practicing Internal Medicine & Psychiatry. Sue serves as Principal Investigator of nonprofit Scottsdale Research Institute for myriad FDA-approved randomized controlled trials examining safety/efficacy of LSD, psilocybin mushrooms & intact cannabis flower.

Sue holds 7 different DEA schedule 1 licenses as researcher & manufacturer. Five years ago, SRI secured the only DEA schedule 1 manufacturer license in the US for farming whole cannabis flower & natural psilocybin mushrooms instead of synthetic molecule.

Her current Cannabis research is an FDA phase 2b trial examining safety & efficacy of inhaled cannabis flower in 320 military veterans with pain and PTSD. SRI recently received greenlight from FDA to perform the first ever controlled trial on the planet with intact, natural P. Cubensis mushrooms.

With the first IND ever approved for whole natural “magic” mushrooms, this positions SRI to qualify for compassionate distribution of their investigational drug Jedi Mind Fuck to patients with life-threatening illness under federal Right to Try law.

Session title: Clinical Therapeutics with Medical Cannabis Patients – Characteristics by Their Age

Deborah Malka MD, PhD is a holistic physician with certification in Integrative Holistic Medicine. Prior to clinical practice, Dr. Malka completed her PhD in Human Genetics from Columbia University. While specializing in cannabis medical consulting she has served over 30,000 patients. She is committed to educating the public and professionals about medicinal cannabis, teaching at conferences nationally and internationally. She developed and served as faculty director for the first on-line CME accredited curriculum in Clinical Cannabinoid Medicine sponsored by the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Her definitive textbook for professionals was published in 2022, Medicinal Cannabis: Pearls for Clinical Practice, published by CRC Press, Taylor & Francis. She is now semi-retired in New Mexico, where she teaches 4th year medical students about Cannabis as a Medicine and does private cannabis health consulting.

Session title: Healing in Our Hands: Reframing Cannabis and Restoring Health Equity in Communities of Color

Dr. Tanya Scott Cannady, DNP, MHR, RN, NEA-BC, CPHIMS, is a registered nurse and nationally recognized healthcare leader with a diverse background in clinical and educational knowledge. She is celebrated for her innovative approaches to patient care and leadership, functioning over the past 30 years as a transformational leader and disruptor.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University, a Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and in 2023, she obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from the University of San Francisco, alongside a Certificate in Medical Cannabis from Pacific College.

Dr. Scott-Cannady currently serves as the Patient Care Operations Director in a large integrated healthcare system in Oakland, California. She has previously co-led the equity, inclusion, and diversity program in the East Bay organization, reflecting her unwavering commitment to creating a healthcare environment that champions social equity and inclusivity.

As a former executive board member and treasurer for the American Cannabis Nurses Association, she is at the forefront of integrating cannabis medicine and therapeutics into patient care, advocating for human-centered approaches that prioritize patient well-being and social equity in cannabis-centered care.

When not working, Dr. Scott-Cannady spends time riding her horses with her husband, Social Media Influencer Cowboy Raymond Cannady, and their family.

Jeffrey Hergenrather, MD is a graduate of Brown University’s Program in Medicine in 1975. His career in medicine began 50 years ago as a general practitioner followed by work as an ER physician for more than 25 years. With his knowledge and experience with cannabis from the sixties onward he opened his practice as a cannabis consultant in California 1999.

Jeff was a cofounder of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians in 2000 as he and about 20 other physicians were brought together by Tod Mikuriya, MD, the founder of our non-profit organization. Our intention then as now is in patient care and educating patients and the public about the therapeutic uses of cannabis medicine. Hergenrather’s practice today is focused on three age groups. The youngest are those with autism, ADD, and epilepsies, the second are adults with cancers and various serious conditions, and the third are the elderly with dementia and degenerative diseases. Cannabis is unquestionably a “drug of first choice” as it is typically more effective than conventional medicines.

At his recent medical school reunion, he told other physicians that he was a cannabis specialist to find younger doctors respond by saying, “I didn’t know it was a thing”. Well, it is “a thing” from antiquities onward to the scholarly work by William O’Shaughnessy, MD in the mid 19th century to those clinicians today who understand first hand about the wondrous effects of cannabis. It is good and safe medicine that can meet the medical needs of people of all age groups especially when guided by clinicians.

Session title: Cannabis for Neuroprotection

Neurology of Cannabis studies began in 1978 at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, and continue presently.

Experiences include: BS, Neuroscience; MD, Albany Medical College; Internal Medicine internship (Mt Sinai, Cleveland) and Neurology residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Fellowship in neuromuscular diseases at NIH, Bethesda, MD, and general adult Neurology practice, Sarasota, FL 1993-present. The Neurology of Cannabis clinic was established in 2017. Cannabis inspired me to study the brain and now here we are.

Click to view CV.

Session Title: Integrating Medical Cannabis into Mental Health Practice: Research, Clinical Strategies, and Mindfulness Tools

Dr. Paulette Simone Smith, MS, LCSW-C, is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and mental health advocate specializing in cannabis science, integrative wellness, and patient-centered care. She is the Founder and CEO of Canna Heals, a consulting firm that bridges the cannabis education gap by offering training, consultation, and resources for patients, professionals, and curious learners. She is also the founder of Paulette Simone & Associates, a private mental health practice providing individual therapy and holistic support to adults seeking healing and balance.

Dr. Smith develops and delivers courses that promote informed, equitable, and wellness-centered cannabis use. She teaches in the Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and has served as a patient advisor in a medical cannabis dispensary. Her work educates clinicians, patients, and industry professionals on therapeutic cannabis use, always centering health equity and social justice.

She holds a master’s in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, a master’s in Social Work from Morgan State University, and a Doctor of Social Work from Simmons University. Dr. Smith’s work focuses on integrating cannabis into healthcare, addressing health disparities, and advancing equity within both clinical practice and the cannabis industry.

Session title: The Cannabis Ceiling and the Psychedelic Bridge. When Cannabis Isn’t Enough and How Psychedelics Fill the Therapeutic Gap

Ariane Williams, BSN, is a nationally recognized nurse educator, speaker, and holistic health expert with over 17 years of experience in critical care, hospice, and integrative healing. Based in Texas, she bridges clinical expertise with ancient plant wisdom—specializing in cannabis education, mindfulness, and psychedelic facilitation and integration.

As an endocannabinoid specialist and trusted guide in the plant medicine space, Ariane supports individuals navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, chronic pain, and addiction. She is particularly passionate about helping people take intentional tolerance breaks, explore microdosing as a tool for transformation, and build healthier, more conscious relationships with themselves, cannabis, and other sacred plant medicines.

Session title: Treating Racial Trauma with Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: Clinical and Research Implications

Joseph Zamaria, PsyD, ABPP, is a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist and a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. At UCSF, he is the director of psychotherapy training for the psychiatry residency and has served as a therapist and researcher in clinical trials examining the potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to treat a range of conditions. He also teaches courses about psychedelic medicine to psychiatry residents, medical students, and pharmacy students. In addition to his work at UCSF, Dr. Zamaria has a faculty appointment at UC Berkeley, teaching for the Psychedelic Facilitation Certificate Program within the Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics. In this role, he serves as the director of the psychotherapy curriculum and the lead psychotherapy trainer.

Session Title: Cautionary Notes about Test Reports

Dr. Susan Audino is a chemist and independent consultant to chemical and biological laboratories. As a laboratory scientist she worked in physical chemistry (gas phase kinetics) and analytical chemistry (polymers and mass spectrometry). She is a contractor for Accreditation Bodies to audit and assess laboratories and to provide classroom instruction on ISO/IEC standards including ISO/IEC 17025. Dr. Audino is on the Board of Trustees for Hood College in Frederick, MD, serves on the Board of Directors of the Center for Research on Environmental Medicine in MD and serves as Advisor and Board Member to several private and non-profit laboratories. Dr. Audino’s passion is directed toward the development of consensus test methods, method development, method validation, and overall scientific excellence. She has been a member of technical expert review and advisory panels, was a founding member of ASTM D37 and advises and mentors cannabis testing laboratories. Dr. Audino has chaired analytical cannabis working groups, was a member of the NCIA Guide for Laboratory Testing, Purity IQ standards, served on the Emerald Scientific Advisory Panel and Editorial Board Member of Analytical Cannabis. and has been an invited speaker at numerous domestic and international scientific conferences. Dr. Audino is principal of multiple independent companies, has several personal/independent patents. Was a contributing author to Cannabis Laboratory Fundamentals, and is principal of S.Audino & Associates, LLC and Saturn Scientific, LLC.

Session title: The Legal and Scientific Confusion of Hemp Derivatives: Delta-8, Delta-10, and Beyond

Judge Mary A. Celeste (ret.) sat on the Denver County Court bench 2000-2015. She was the Presiding Judge 2009-10 and the co-founder of the Denver County Court Sobriety Court. She is currently a law school professor teaching Cannabis and the Law at California Western School of Law and is considered a national content expert on the topic of cannabis. She is also the Director for the annual National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium.

She is a former member of the Judicial Advisory Board for the Foundation for the Advancement of Alcohol Responsibility (FAAR); former Faculty for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the National Judicial College (NJC). She has also served as the past chair of ABA National Conference of Specialized Court Judges; the President of the American Judge’s Association and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association Foundation, and, as a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Judicial Outreach Liaison for Region 8. She has written many articles and is a national speaker on the topics of marijuana, marijuana and drug impaired driving, drugged driving, and specialty courts.

Session Title: Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Cannabis sativa cv. Pink Pepper for Advancing Breeding and Genomic Research

Dr. Sang Park received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Following his doctoral studies, he completed a postdoctoral research appointment with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). In 2017, he joined the Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR), where he currently serves as Associate Director of Research and leads multifaceted research initiatives focused on cannabis physiology, genetics, and genomics.
Since 2022, Dr. Park has chaired the Cannabis Plant Science and Cultivation Webinar Series, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among academic institutions, industry partners, and international researchers. His research emphasizes innovation in cannabis science through global and cross-sector partnerships. Most recently, he has also assumed the role of CEO at PinkBioLab, a company specializing in cannabis genetics.

Dr. Maysa Alavi, MD is a physician-leader in cannabinoid and psychedelic medicine. She’s a rare bird in that she has worked in all three facets of the psychedelic ecosystem: from clinical practice, to site investigator research, and sponsor level drug development.

Dr. Alavi earned her MD at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, finished residencies at Harbor-UCLA and USC, and completed the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine in Residency Program. Dr. Alavi served as a sited physician and study therapist in the MAPS/Lykos Phase 3 MDMA clinical trials and COMPASS Pathways’ Phase 2b psilocybin study. She holds a certificate in MDMA Assisted Therapy from MAPS.

Dr. Alavi has been prescribing medical cannabis since 2012 and sits on the board of the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Health Alternatives, supporting cannabis education and access for veterans.

At Usona Institute, she directed the clinical methodology and safety of the 5-MeO-DMT and psilocybin drug development programs in early and late stage clinical trials respectively, on the path to FDA approval.

As Founder & Chief Medical Officer of The Center for Functional-Psychedelic Medicine: New Orleans, her practice unites individual and group ketamine therapies, cannabis education, and functional medicine—championing ethical, evidence-based pathways to transformative care. Dr. Alavi is dedicated to advancing ethical, emotionally intelligent care and methodological innovation in mental health and consciousness medicine.

Session title: Medical Cannabis in an Age of Legal Access

Amanda Reiman, PhD is the Director of Student Experience for Greenflower Media, overseeing their 60 cannabis certificate programs available at universities around the country. She is also the founder of Personal Plants, an education platform focused on helping people develop healthy, balanced relationships with cannabis. Personal Plants includes a collection of articles relating to cannabis use, harm reduction and public health and a weekly web series that uses science to answer questions about the risks and benefits of cannabis use. In development is a 10-week online program called Cannabis in Balance which helps people identify and change unhealthy behaviors around cannabis use.

Dr. Reiman earned her PhD in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley and conducted one of the first research studies on medical cannabis patients and the use of cannabis as a substitute for alcohol and other drugs. She then taught courses on substance abuse, drug policy and sexuality at Berkeley for 11 years. She is in the process of publishing a textbook on harm reduction approaches to working with adolescents who use substances.

Dr. Reiman is an internationally recognized cannabis expert and public health researcher. Formerly the in-house cannabis expert for the Drug Policy Alliance, she has written for/been quoted in numerous national and international publications as well as peer reviewed academic journals and several textbooks. She was the first Chairwoman for the Berkeley Medical Cannabis Commission and a commissioner for the Oakland Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Dr. Reiman currently lives just outside of Tacoma, Washington with her partner Sean and their two cats and two dogs.

Session title: Industry Speaker Spotlight: Cannabis Emulsion: The Ideal Vehicle Delivering Cannabinoids to Patients

Dr. Harold Han is the Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of Vertosa, a leading provider of water-compatible cannabinoid ingredients for infused products. He earned his Ph.D. in Surface Chemistry from New York University and holds multiple patents in emulsion chemistry.
Throughout his career, Dr. Han has leveraged emulsion technology in both medical and food innovations to create stable, scalable and palatable cannabis-infused products. Before founding Vertosa, he served as a Senior Scientist at Bio-Rad Laboratories, where he led a team in developing emulsification oil for the Digital Droplet PCR system, a revolutionary tool for early cancer detection and personalized medicine.
Dr. Han is also known as “The Happy Chemist” and regularly shares insights on cannabis science for product makers.

Session title: Industry Speaker Spotlight: Enhancing Musculoskeletal Injury Outcomes with CBD

Dr. Kirsten Shepard (DC, LMT) is the Founder and CEO of TrueStopper, a holistic health company that leverages professionally-formulated and regenerative hemp-based products to better manage chronic pain and promote whole body wellness.

For more than 20 years, she has established integrated practices that combine medical, chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy approaches to whole body care, including the opening of clinics across Texas and in Los Angeles.

Dr. K’s holistic approach to pain relief has led to recognition—by way of awards and teaching opportunities—from Texas legislators and leaders from top hospitals. She is a cannabis advocate and an active member of Texas NORML, the Minority Cannabis Business Association, the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, and a Niel Asher Natural Alternative Therapies (NAT) faculty member.

Session title: Implementing a Medical Cannabis Model for Workers’ Compensation Patients at the State Level

Katherine Golden, a Registered Nurse with over 28 years of service in the medical community, has been a pioneer in the field of cannabis nursing for the past 9 years. As the CEO, Executive Director, and Founder of Leaf411.org, a nonprofit organization, she has been instrumental in shaping the industry.

Katherine has obtained several cannabis nursing certificates from The Medical Cannabis Institute Global, Radicle Health Cannabis Therapeutics for Medical Professionals, and is Healer Certified. Additionally, she is the CEO and Founder of the Leaf Nurse Network. She also serves as a cannabis Clinical Director for the state of Maryland, a cannabis Nurse Consultant, and a cannabis Nurse Care Coordinator for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

To stay up-to-date with the latest science and current issues, Katherine is an active member of the Cannabis Nurse Network, Society of Cannabis Clinicians, and numerous other cannabis-related patient and professional advocacy groups.

Her extensive experience and leadership in the field make her an invaluable resource for those seeking guidance on cannabis medicine.

Session title: Implementing a Medical Cannabis Model for Workers’ Compensation Patients at the State Level

Dr. Xavier James Ethan “Mojo” Moses is the medical director for the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation. He is a fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine where he serves as a member of their Council on Occupational and Environmental Medicine Science. Dr. Moses continues to serve patients as the chief medical officer at Peak Form Medical Center, and he holds faculty appointments at both the Colorado School of Public Health and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He has previously served in several executive leadership positions, including chief of the division of occupational medicine at Denver Health and Hospital Authority, chief resident at the University of Colorado’s Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency, and chief of aerospace medicine at Buckley Air Force Base where he served as an active-duty flight surgeon.

Session title: Challenges Associated with Participant Blinding in Clinical Trials of Cannabis

Dr. Lindley attended the University of California Irvine where she completed her PhD in Neurobiology in 2006. She did her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in the Department of Orthopedics, where her research focused on chronic spine pain and improving treatment outcomes. She stayed at CU after her fellowship and now holds a faculty appointment in Orthopedics. Her research focuses on the use of cannabinoids as alternatives to opioids for chronic pain.

Session title: Regulatory Landscape for Using Cannabinoid Products in Clinical Trials

Rachael Rzasa Lynn is an Associate Professor in the University of Colorado Department of Anesthesiology, where she practices pain medicine at University of Colorado Hospital. She acquired her medical education and training in anesthesiology through the University of Colorado School of Medicine, including a fellowship in Pain Medicine. Her research interests include cannabis pharmacology and cannabis as a non-opioid treatment for chronic pain.

Session title: Use of NIDA Cannabis Extracts to Compound Oral Solutions for Cannabis Clinical Trials

Jacquelyn L. Bainbridge, BSPharm, PharmD, FCCP, MSCS, FAES, is a Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where she holds joint appointments in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Department of Neurology in the School of Medicine. Dr Bainbridge received her doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Colorado in Denver, where she subsequently completed a specialty residency in neurology.

Dr. Bainbridge is involved in four psilocybin trials, one involving cancer patients, one involving the fear of recurrence of ovarian or breast cancer, one involving postpartum depression, and one involving severe depression. Additionally, Dr. Bainbridge is reporting on post-surgical cancer patients and their endocannabinol response whether they are a cannabis user or not. Dr Bainbridge continues to study the safety and efficacy of antiseizure medications (ASMs) and disease modifying treatments (DMTs) in older adults. She was previously an investigator for several National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded trials researching drugs that may be neuroprotective in PD. Dr. Bainbridge has completed two clinical trials using a synthetic CBD product in patients with scleroderma and autism. She has published several articles in professional journals, including Epilepsia, Pharmacotherapy, The International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis Care, and the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. She has reviewed and written several book chapters on MS, epilepsy, migraine, chronic pain, women’s issues, pharmacokinetics, and the practice of pharmacy. Dr Bainbridge is a frequent lecturer on topics of neurologic and pharmacologic interest, including MS, chronic pain disorders, epilepsy, migraine, movement disorders, neuroprotection, RLS, Huntington’s disease and the administration of cannabis for therapeutic intent.

Dr. Bainbridge is a member of numerous professional organizations, including The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the American Epilepsy Society(AES), Epilepsy Foundation of America (EFA), American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), Colorado Pharmacists Society (CPS), and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). She is the past president of the board of directors for The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation (RLSF) and The Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado (EFC). Dr. Bainbridge is currently on the Board of Governors for The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) PharMS, and on the Board of Directors for The Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming Professional Advisory Board. Dr. Bainbridge has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (FCCP), Fellow of the American Epilepsy Society (FAES) and has won several student preceptor and teaching class awards. In 2024 Dr. Bainbridge was awarded “Giants of Multiple Sclerosis” by CMSC and Neurology Live. Dr. Bainbridge has been asked to address the United Nations in Vienna on the safe practice of cannabis use in March of 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Session title: Panel: Advancing Medical Cannabis as an Employee Benefit – A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Nichelle Santos is an entrepreneur, business development executive in the insurance industry, practicing risk mitigation from the CannaBusiness industry. She has practiced as a Safety Engineer & Risk Manager in the chemical/pharmaceutical industry, protecting employees and the surrounding community through Process Safety Management, and regulatory compliance.

Nichelle brings her insurance and regulatory expertise to the cannabis industry to create customized risk management & compliance consulting with insurance solutions, designed to protect businesses from failure. CannaCoverage leads in innovation to bring medical cannabis & psychedelics to group health benefits, scaling patient access & affordability to transform healthcare with improved health outcomes and cost savings strategy.

Nichelle is the Minorities 4 Medical Marijuana State Director in New Jersey. She’s a member of the NJ CannaBusiness Association; National Cannabis Industry Association; and Board Member (BM) on the Coalition of Medical Marijuana of NJ; Greater Raritan Valley Workforce Development Board; the National Forum for Black Public Administrators; and National African American Insurance Association; and Founding BM of Elect Women NJ and Emerge NJ, to increase women as elected officials. She was named as an influencer on the 2022 -2025 Insider NJ’s Cannabis Power List and NJ Cannabis Insider’s 2022 “Minority Business of the Year”; NY Cannabis Power Player 2023 & 2024; and the “Responsible 100” by City & State New York 2023; Cannabis Insurance Brokerage Firm of the Year 2024-2025.

Nichelle earned her B.S. at Rutgers University, Environmental Health and Occupational Safety, and has recently continued studies at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and at the Harvard Kennedy School, in Healthcare, Evidence, Leadership and Public Policy. Insurance Licenses in Property & Casualty and Life and Health in multiple states.

Session title: Psilocybin Harm Reduction Praxes to Manage Mental Health of BIPOC and Low-Income Individuals in Colorado

Dr. Otañez is an Associate Professor in the Anthropology Department, University of Colorado Denver. In 2025, he is analyzing data obtained from 100 recorded interviews with BIPOC and low-income individuals about psilocybin use patterns, tension between indigenous and western scientific approaches, and concerns about medicalization of psilocybin in Colorado. Dr. Otañez and co-author Aaraon Diaz (Mexico City) published the four-volume book series Breaking Stigmas: Art and Cannabis in North America (Center for Research on North America of the National Autonomous University of Mexico) in 2024. To reach broader audiences and promote arts-based research and creative work, Dr. Otañez produces the community access television program called Getting High on Anthropology at Denver Community Media. He completed a master’s degree in political science in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a master’s degree in labor and Employment Studies in the Institute for Social Studies in The Netherlands, and PhD in Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine.

Session title: Panel: Advancing Medical Cannabis as an Employee Benefit – A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Senior Executive Advisor, Future Entheogenic Medicines (F.E.M.);
Co-founder, Managing Director, Quantum WellCare (QWC)
Mr. Lardieri has worked in the medical field since 1978. He has held several roles and worked with thousands of cancer patients in the fields of genetics and cancer research. His foundational work has led to many research papers being published in these fields and has also contributed as a co-author.

His career expanded over 26+ years in cancer clinical research into the pharmaceutical space where he obtained certifications in Project Management (MPM) and Lean Six-sigma. As a Project Manager Mr. Lardieri led a team which obtained FDA approval for a breast cancer drug.
In 2013 Gaetano transitioned his project management skills and clinical research background into the consulting space and advocated for legalization of cannabis and psychedelics as well as addressing the stigma associated with the war-on-drugs. Gaetano sits on several prestigious boards moving the needle forward for advocacy and clinical research for plant-based medicines. He is the New Jersey State co-Director for Minorities-for-Medical Marijuana (M4MM) and a Board Member at Coalition-for-Medical-Marijuana-NJ (CMMNJ). He serves as Senior Executive Advisor at Future Entheogenic Medicines (F.E.M.) as well as a co-founder and Managing Director at Quantum WellCare (QWC).

These companies/organizations all have at their core to move the needle forward on plant-based medicine advocacy, research, and policy to address mental illness, the opioid crisis, and increase better health outcomes through medical health benefits. F.E.M. also has an Aerospace science division which was part of a team that launched a CBD nano-emulsion to the International Space Station (ISS) on Elon Musk’s SPX-27 rocket.
Gaetano has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 1999.
Gaetano was born, raised and currently resides in Newark, New Jersey.

Session title: Panel: Advancing Medical Cannabis as an Employee Benefit – A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Sherry Rais, CEO and Co-Founder of Enthea, has helped dozens of organizations raise funds, operate according to their mission and values, and implement processes that enhance their overall efficiency. Sherry believes in living and working in alignment with purpose and is currently focused on expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapy to alleviate human suffering. Enthea is a licensed, third-party administrator of health plan benefits with a mission to provide as many people as possible safe and affordable access to psychedelic therapy. Before this, Sherry consulted for over 10 years with the United Nations and World Bank, implementing poverty reduction programs at the national level in over 35 countries. Sherry holds a master’s degree in public policy and administration from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and international development from McGill University. She also completed the Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Research from CIIS in 2021. In addition to being Enthea’s CEO, she is the Executive Director of the Psychedelic Research Group and a Strategic Advisor for the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Session title: Formulating with Purpose: A Clinician–Manufacturer Framework for Custom Cannabis Therapies

Shannon Donnelly is the visionary Executive Director of The Center for Social Equity Support, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering inclusivity and social equity in the cannabis industry. With 16 years of experience, Shannon combines her business management skills with a passion for positive change.

Her journey in the cannabis sector began in 2007, where she emerged as a leader and advocate for transformation. As a former Cannabis Process Navigator for the City of Denver, she successfully navigated regulatory challenges and led Colorado’s Cannabis Cares program, facilitating the licensing of over 20 social equity applicants.

At the Center, Shannon oversees all organizational functions and drives strategic partnerships to advance the mission of social equity. “I am driven by a profound vision for the cannabis industry – one that champions inclusivity and fosters positive change,” she states.

In addition to her role at the Center, Shannon consults for prominent cannabis brands like Kush Queen, leveraging her expertise to fuel growth. She also serves as an educator at MSU Denver, nurturing the next generation of industry leaders within cannabis hospitality. Serving as a pilot with the country’s first-of-its-kind cannabis hospitality program, she is passionate about bringing cannabis curriculum into spaces within higher education.

Session title: Industry Speaker Spotlight: Meta-Analysis of Medical Cannabis Outcomes and Associations with Cancer

Ryan Castle currently serves as Director of Research at the Whole Health Oncology Institute and Cancer Playbook. He is an expert in public health research, specializing in quality of life metrics, chronic disease, integrative medicine, medical cannabis, inflammation, and system dynamics. In addition to his ongoing work, his prior efforts as Science Operations Director at the Whole Health Institute and Director at the Chopra Foundation Institute have provided him with extensive experience in biostatistics, integrative medicine, and mapping health impacts to find new ways to use big data to address complex health challenges. Castle’s peer-reviewed work has seen interdisciplinary success, with more than 100 million reads, ranking in the top 99th percentile of research tracked by Altmetric.

Session title: The Landscape of Cannabis Education

Jahan Marcu, PhD, is the CEO of Delaware Analytical, a licensed cannabis testing laboratory, and a court-qualified expert witness specializing in cannabis science, testing, and regulation. He earned his doctorate at Temple University, where his research focused on the molecular pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. Dr. Marcu is also an adjunct professor at Northeastern University, where he teaches a course on cannabis law, standards, and policy. He is an editor and author of Cannabis Innovations, a book series exploring scientific, regulatory, and business challenges in the cannabis industry.

Session title: Revolutionising Cannabis Therapy: A Fully Integrated Physician-Led Model for Safer, Smarter Treatment

Dr Carole Ann Johnson is the Medical Director of Doctors Express Urgent Care in the Cayman Islands—a physician-led facility delivering comprehensive urgent care, diagnostics, and integrative treatments under one roof. After qualifying in London, Dr Johnson trained in Emergency Medicine and served as a Consultant for over a decade at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. There, she led the development of a co-located Urgent Care Centre, pioneering more efficient, collaborative models of care for same-day patient access.

Now based in the Caribbean, Dr Johnson brings her extensive emergency medicine expertise to community-focused urgent care, championing innovative solutions to complex clinical challenges. At Doctors Express, she oversees multidisciplinary services, including an on-site lab, X-ray, and ultrasound, as well as digital systems such as Heidi Health and eClinicalWorks.

Dr Johnson is a leading voice in the safe, clinical integration of medical cannabis into urgent and primary care. Under her direction, Doctors Express has implemented a groundbreaking prescription-based cannabis model—where physicians directly select, dose, and dispense condition-specific formulations on-site. This fully integrated approach allows for shared decision making, precise dosing, and real-time monitoring, delivering measurable improvements in patient outcomes for chronic pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

Her work has led to reduced reliance on opioids and sedatives, while improving safety, adherence, and satisfaction. Dr Johnson is a passionate advocate for clinician-led cannabis care, and her presentation at the Denver Medical Cannabis Conference will explore the clinical, regulatory, and global implications of this model in revolutionising cannabis therapy.

Session title: Can Standardization Save the Medical Cannabis Industry?

David Vaillencourt, M.S., is a leading expert in cannabis regulatory science, quality assurance, and standards development, dedicated to bridging research, policy, and industry best practices. He is the Board Chair & Co-Founder of the S3 Collective, a nonprofit focused on integrating scientific standards into regulatory frameworks worldwide. As Founder & CEO of The GMP Collective, David consults for manufacturers, regulators, and research institutions across multiple countries, helping to implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), risk-based compliance strategies, and evidence-driven policies. A two-term Vice Chair of ASTM International’s Cannabis Committee D37, he leads global efforts to develop consensus-based safety and quality standards, working alongside scientists, government agencies, and industry leaders. He holds a Master of Science in Quaternary Sciences from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Science in Earth Systems from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A frequent speaker at scientific and regulatory forums, his insights have been featured in Forbes, The Boston Globe, MjBiz Daily, Cannabis Science & Tech, and other leading technical publications.

Bobby Vincent, III, PharmD, RPh is a Clinical Cannabinoid Pharmacotherapist born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Vincent is driven by a passion to bridge the medical cannabis industry with communities in need. Dr. Vincent currently serves the northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as a pharmacist and medical consult– providing care for hundreds of cannabis patients. Dr. Vincent is the founder of Cannabis Health Alliances, LLC., building partnerships to advance therapy, policy and patient accessibility. He also serves as the Communications Chair for the Virginia Pharmacists Association’s Academy of Medical Cannabis and a member of the organizations Task Force for Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Marvin Washington played for 11 years in the NFL and was a member of the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl championship team in 1998. He is an advocate for ex-players dealing with the effects of concussions and pain management, having written on this subject for The NY Times, Huffington Post, and The Players Tribune. He has also been a guest commentator on ESPN Outside The Lines, Fox and Friends, MSNBC, Fusion TV, and HLN. He sits on the board of Texas Can Academy, the largest charter school system in Texas, and Axim Biotechnologies, a leading bioscience cannabinoid company. Marvin holds a BA degree in criminal justice and has held a life and health license, Series 6 and 7.