Law, Business, and Cannabis: Perspectives from Industry Experts

Sponsored by Rowan's Graduate Programs in Business, the Law and Justice Studies Department, and the Rowan University Institute for Cannabis Research, Policy, & Workforce Development (RPWD).

The cannabis industry is evolving at a rapid pace - and the impacts in NJ are expected to be enormous. Experts in this panel discussion will share insights on existing and anticipated challenges as regulations, markets, and social dynamics evolved in NJ. We will spend about half of the session in moderated question format, then spend the second half of the session in Q&A driven by audience interest. 

Questions addressed include:

• What are some of the core issues related to advocacy, social equity, and policy reform?
• What research exists regarding crime rates in cities and states where medicinal and adult use cannabis has been legalized? 
• How might accountants, marketers, bankers, realtors, be impacted by evolving regulations and legal implications? 
• What are key requirements, skill sets, expertise, etc., needed to work in the cannabis industry?
• What are early trends for opportunities, plus uncertainties and challenges, regarding careers either directly in cannabis or in adjacent/supporting industries?
• How has the legalization of adult use or recreational cannabis affected crime rates in states that have already moved in this direction?
• Where will legal regulations from the industry come from, and who will be in charge of enforcement?

Guest Speakers:

• Chirali Patel, JD, BS Management, Cannabis Entrepreneur, Attorney at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PCl, and Co-Chair of Social Justice & Equity Subcommittee and Member of the Executive Board for the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee
• Gregg Hilzer, LLM, JD, BA PoliSci, Partner at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PC
• Tamieka Range, JD, BS Finance, Director of Government and Community Affairs at Cookies and Founder of Range Law Firm, LLC
• Hugh O'Beirne, JD, MA, Founder of Hawthorne Ave Strategies LLC and Director of the Cannabis Advisory Group
• Nichelle Pace, Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Camden Business Association and President of Enchanting Media

Moderators:

• Jennifer Maden, Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate Studies, Rohrer College of Business, Rowan University
• Kimberly A. Houser, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Law and Justice Studies, Rowan University

Description

The cannabis industry is evolving at a rapid pace - and the NJ landscape is viewed as a very lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs from across the USA and beyond. The market potential is estimated in billions of dollars. Adult-use cannabis in NJ could significantly boost tax revenue to fuel state investments, create thousands of jobs, and thus increase consumer buying capacity and support local businesses.

Join our Expert Webinar to hear from cannabis industry thought leaders who will share insights on NJ's emerging marketplace(s), accounting and tax issues, seed to sale operations, regulatory compliance realities, and core issues related to advocacy, social equity, and policy reform. We will discuss the trends, strategies, and challenges that underscore this dynamic, nascent, and evolving market.

Speakers include Hugh O'Beirne, Stacey Udell, Mackie Barch, Dasheeda Dawson, and Jennifer Drake.

Event moderated by Jennifer Maden, Eric Liguori, and Frank Ieradi.

Discussion topics include:

1. How will the NJ cannabis industry and marketplace develop in light of the adult-use legislation?
2. What are some of the challenges involved in implementation of the growing cannabis market(s)? Which are unique to NJ, and which are more general?
3. Aside from securing a license to operate a plant-touching business, what are other ways for business professionals to cross-over their skillset (e.g., marketing, supply chain, accounting, etc.) into the legal cannabis industry? What are the biggest white space areas and opportunities?
4. What are some of the unique aspects of trying to value cannabis business entities for various purposes such as M&A transactions, financial reporting, and accounting and taxes?
5. Why is an understanding of the inherent and ubiquitous medicinal properties of cannabis important to new business development and/or seed-to-solution operational strategy within the industry?
6. How might social justice and racial equity factor into business decisions?
7. As we consider the impact of regulations on cannabis businesses, what are the ways that entrepreneurs and businesses can influence post-legalization policy reform to align with their consumer-driven business objectives?
8. What does all of this mean for investors?

This webinar is hosted in partnership with the Rohrer College of Business Graduate Programs and the Rowan University Institute for Cannabis Research, Policy & Workforce Development.