2023 Cannabis Industry Power Players

Jennifer Bassuk is an evangelist for agricultural innovation and turned her longstanding interest in urban farming into her professional focus after more than a decade at Amazon. She is a proven business leader across Fortune 500 companies and lean start-ups. She now spearheads global business development initiatives for Fluence, a leading global provider of LED lighting solutions, and is known for her passion and grit, and her work as board member, investor and strategic advisor.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
I see the industry through a different lens. To me, cannabis is a fast-growing, emerging market at the forefront of research, innovation and systemic change. It presents an important social, cultural and environmental opportunity to define an entire industry as we build it from the ground up. The diverse businesses and individuals, the lifeforce in driving the industry’s vast potential, are creating an exciting ecosystem, while ensuring the development of a sustainable, responsible industry.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
In 10 years, New York will be a well-established, regulated cannabis market with significant economic impact. Most growing will take place in greenhouses and indoor facilities using renewable energy sources and sustainable cultivation practices. Researchers and cultivators will have worked collaboratively on optimizing light and temperature control to maximize plant growth and quality, creating a positive impact on the reduction of the state’s overall carbon footprint.

Vladimir Bautista is the CEO and co-founder of The Happy Munkey, an internationally-known NYC lifestyle company that is synonymous with cannabis culture. Born and raised in Hamilton Heights, NYC, Vlad and Happy Munkey are formidable advocates and leaders in the cannabis space. Happy Munkey hosts popular VIP events that connect politicians, chefs, doctors, influencers, athletes and creative artists with each other based on a mutual love of the plant. Recently, Happy Munkey hosted two free, educational, non-consumption events that target the Black and Latino communities to inform them about the opportunities for them in the legal cannabis industry.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it? 
Yes, there still is a stigma around cannabis, especially among the Black and Latino communities who were most impacted by the failed War on Drugs and whose families were often broken up when one of them was incarcerated for any charges. With the Dominicans, of which I am, they were deported and not allowed back into the country, which created great animosity towards cannabis.  The way to overcome it is through education programs to help show those communities it’s a brave new world and the opportunities that exist for them to create generational wealth and other things that were never open to them.  Happy Munkey just had its “Choose Happy Symposium” in partnership with Columbia University for those communities and over 200 people attended.

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
Once again, education is the key here.  There has been so many years of propaganda demonizing cannabis and its use.  However, there has been excellent research in Israel on the medicinal benefits of cannabis for a lot of symptoms that doctors have historically prescribed dangerous drugs like opiates. We’d like to get them to understand cannabis is a gateway drug OUT of addiction rather than INTO.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now? 
In 10 years, I see Happy Munkey thriving as a successful and leading retail and merchandise/apparel brand beyond NYC and the New York City area being the epicenter of global cannabis, similar to the financial world today.

Axel Bernabe has over 20 years of legal experience and robust knowledge of cannabis regulation and policy. For six years prior to joining the OCM, Axel was counsel on health for the New York State Executive Chamber, which included direction over the medical cannabis and cannabinoid hemp programs. Axel spearheaded the legalization of adult-use cannabis, helping build consensus around the MRTA. Prior to the Governor’s Office, Axel was a law firm partner and nationally recognized antitrust expert.

Cristina Buccola is a NY-based transactional attorney and professor focused on assisting small businesses, social equity groups, and legacy market entrepreneurs with cannabis legal business and licensing matters. She’s worked on scores of cannabis-related M&A transactions, capital raises, licensing and community projects, and IP matters across the country. A fierce advocate for an inclusive cannabis industry, Cristina recently created a program that supported 30+ groups to apply for CAURD, NYS’ seeding opportunity for adult-use dispensaries.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
Banks certainly have a stigma about working with/in the cannabis industry. I run a non-plant touching business and yet my company and personal accounts have been bounced from banks on several occasions due to my client list. Banking is, of course, 1000x more difficult for plant touching businesses. Until cannabis business money is treated like all other business money, there is a stigma around working in cannabis at a fundamental level.

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
As a first step we should ensure that these professionals are themselves educated about cannabis and the endocannabinoid system. The Department of Education, which licenses doctors, nurses, and other health care practitioners in NYS, should require that health-related curricula include the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system could also be included as a topic to be tested as part of health-care licensing.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
An influx of cannabis events/activities, where cannabis is the focus or ancillary to the main event. When I served as the general counsel of High Times I witnessed the economic impact cannabis festivals had on communities that hosted them: small businesses could make their entire year from a 4 day festival. Event licenses are also a tremendous opportunity for more folks to join the ranks of cannaprenuers without having the overhead of a permanent license.

Aleece serves as general counsel and strategic advisor to MariJade Industries and MJI Solutions, both women-owned businesses out of Western New York. Her focus is structuring, licensing, and maintaining compliant cannabis businesses at all levels of government.  Aleece is on the executive committee for the New York State Bar Association’s Cannabis Section, is a member of Buffalo’s Cannabis Working Group, and member of CANY’s policy committee.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
I have found it to be more of a novelty than a stigma, people are curious about topics that are highly regulated and have a complicated rollout. Some of the most unlikely people are trying to pull you aside and show you their home grows or how cannabis has helped them. As a general PSA, I don’t need to see the pictures of your bud on your phone but I’m happy you’re happy.

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
One way of tackling this is to include it in required education for medical, pharmaceutical, and other academics that touch the plant. It’s very important that we don’t lose sight of our medical program, and all the education for patients.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
Anyone in cannabis will tell you that ten years in cannabis is a very long time. For New York, I just hope we continue to tackle this industry with equity and inclusion in mind. I think we will be a success if small businesses can win out. I wouldn’t be shocked if any type of federal legislation mirrors what New York is trying to implement.

Peter Caldini currently serves as chief executive officer of Acreage Holdings, a leading, vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator. Prior to joining Acreage Holdings, Mr. Caldini served as the chief executive officer and a director of Bespoke Capital Acquisition Corp., a cannabis-focused Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation. Mr. Caldini has over 30 years of experience building and restructuring multinational organizations around the world, with a strong emphasis in consumer health care and consumer packaged goods.

Jesse Campoamor, a veteran political operative, comes from a long line of New Yorkers who fought for those in need. While serving as deputy secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs to the governor, Jesse Campoamor facilitated legislative processes as complicated as shepherding the state’s landmark Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) through to approval to leading the Governor’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Task Force at the height of the pandemic. After leaving state service, Jesse founded C&S.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
The stigma around cannabis is extremely relative. Public attitude has dramatically shifted in recent years, but there are still communities that have visceral reactions to the cannabis industry.  Much of that comes from the trauma associated with the criminalization of this same industry in those communities. Education is the key here, we need to re-acclimate people with the plant, the medicine, and the economic opportunity this industry can provide.

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
They all just need to hire The Knox Docs out of Oregon. Rachel, Jessica and their parents are the pre-eminent canibinologists in the country.  They have a level of cultural competency and subject matter expertise that is unparalleled. Happy Munkey, a client of mine, invited Dr. Rachel Knox to a forum we held at Columbia to educate consumers. She brought down the house. She makes the information easy to consume – no pun intended 😉

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
Unfortunately, I see a massive consolidation of the market way before the 10 year mark. There will be five to ten brands dominating the industry. Plus when health insurance starts covering cannabis, I imagine big pharma won’t be far behind and sweep this industry up. On the brighter side, I think we will have awesome products and innovative new ways to consume and enjoy the medicinal benefits of the plant. We still have so much to learn.

Brittany Carbone founded TONIC in 2017, while working as a personal trainer on Long Island, growing the company from a side-hustle to a 7-figure, vertically integrated business. Brittany not only leads the all-female team at TONIC as the founder and CEO, but is also the co-founder of Tricolla Farms – the certified organic, family owned farm fueling TONIC products since 2018. Brittany also serves on the board of the Cannabis Association of NY.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
Only five years ago I would have said yes, but now I think people are really excited and intrigued by this industry and take it a bit more seriously. Cannabis is commonly being taught in universities, it is seen as a viable career. There are a ton of misconceptions for sure, but I think the primary bias at this point is institutional more than personal.

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
Transparency, opportunities for direct, open dialogue, and the ability to meet people where they are at are all really important points when it comes to bridging the gap between the cannabis industry, academia, and health care. There should be community access points to exchange information – cannabis brands and dispensaries should work collaboratively with professionals to create materials, share resources, and engage with the community in a meaningful way.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
I see NY being home to the most innovative producers in the country, but I see that being rooted in a very strong local ecosystem that is truly representative of NY cannabis culture. There will be big business and destination dispensaries in Manhattan, but I feel that NY’s unique regulatory framework will allow for a more diverse representation of businesses for all types of people to engage with the plant in all types of ways.

Kaelan has been in the New York cannabis industry since 2015 as the founder of Sovereign Vines: America’s Only Hemp Infused Wine – a restart of his father’s venture from 1997. Kaelan is now an advocate and advisor for entrepreneurs looking to be successful in the New York cannabis industry, assisting them in understanding complex regulations, developing sound strategies for market success, and providing government relations to municipal, legislative, and regulatory bodies.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
I believe that there is still a significant stigma around professionals who use cannabis. It’s important for me to be upfront about my cannabis use and demonstrate through my work why it’s no different than the responsible use of regulated products such as alcohol or caffeine.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
I see cannabis in 10 years similar to the proliferation of New York’s robust craft beverage industry –with hundreds of independent owners innovating brands that can influence trends on the global scale. 

Rainbow Chavis and her co-founder established the very first Native American women owned Cannabis Sativa L. companies in Long Island, NY. Shinnecock Hemp Growers focuses on restorative cultivation methods, and good growing practices. Rainbow has dedicated her time to become an expert in her field of plant medicines, with hemp and cannabis being in the spotlight. Rainbow works alongside health professionals daily to share education about the many healing benefits of this power plant.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
The stigma around cannabis was implanted into the minds of the public to discredit this plant’s many healing qualities. Inducing fear by imprisoning people for growing or possessing this natural plant is absurd. This stigma was learned, therefore it can be unlearned. Educating the public one by one about the medicinal components of cannabis is the most important part of any business in the industry, and is a sure way to begin removing the stigma.

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
All cannabis business owners should make it a point to gain medical endorsements. Pharmaceuticals use clever marketing that uses these types of professionals to back “NEW” medicines. Treating cannabis in the same capacity will help people see this as plant medicine, and gives them a choice of treatment. Cannabis isn’t for everyone, the public needs to understand that. I believe with the assistance of these professionals there will be more acceptance and understanding moving forward.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
It is hard to say, we are in the beginning stages of the industry and I haven’t seen enough today to make an educated statement. Based on what I have seen, I believe there is a five year max window of opportunity. In 10 years regulations will be so strict it will seem impossible to operate a business. NYC is one of the largest retail hubs and Native cannabis businesses are the ones that persevere.