2024 Cannabis Industry Power Players

Vikiana Clement is a New York Times Scholar, a Barnard-Columbia and NYU graduate and a NSF research grant recipient. She is founder of the Legacy CORE foundation and executive director of the former MEC Cannabis Education Task Force. Currently, Vikiana serves as the cannabis research grant program coordinator for the Chemistry and Environmental Science department at Medgar Evers College, where she helped develop new Cannabis degree programs and supporting initiatives. In 2024, her work in tandem with the amazing CES faculty team, has led to CUNY approving the only Environmental Cannabis science degree, a pre-med bachelors of science, at Medgar Evers College for all of CUNY.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry? 
Access to capital remains a critical concern. Many traditional financial institutions are hesitant to provide loans or banking services to cannabis businesses due to federal regulations. This financial barrier disproportionately affects smaller operators and those from marginalized communities, hindering their ability to compete and grow. Furthermore, providing education and resources to new entrepreneurs can empower them to navigate the complexities of the industry, ensuring long-term success and sustainability.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field? 
The cannabis industry is not without its challenges, including market volatility, legal hurdles, and competition. Be prepared to face setbacks and remain adaptable. Resilience and problem-solving skills are essential for navigating the complexities of this industry.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York? 
Legacy Core (LC) provides cannabis-related community assistance, training, and development to cannabis businesses and non-profits. In 2022, their application clinic had a 92% acceptance rate of applicants to the NY State Cannabis Compliance Training and Mentorship Program (CCTM). They have mentored business teams some of which won “Best in Show” for a cannabis medical device within the NSF. LC has also facilitated business patents and partnership opportunities for wholesale licensing and provided mentees with direct employment linkage to NYC-licensed dispensaries, free of charge. In 2023 Legacy CORE assisted over 100 applicants with license applications, free of charge. Currently some of those applicants have already been awarded licenses and over 90% of applicants assisted by Legacy CORE are listed in the top 10% of OCM licensing queues. I hope the future of NY cannabis involves the state and city supporting community organizations, like Legacy CORE, providing much needed resources to entrepreneurs within the cannabis industry. 

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York? 
The legalization of cannabis has spurred the development of educational programs, such as the cannabis science degree program I help the CES department oversee, which equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the cannabis industry. These programs promote research and innovation, advancing our understanding of cannabis and its applications. Likewise, with cannabis legalization, there has been a surge in research and innovation. Universities and research institutions are conducting studies on the medical benefits, agricultural practices, and environmental impacts of cannabis, leading to scientific advancements and informed policymaking.

Roland Conner is a pioneering entrepreneur in New York City’s cannabis industry, transforming his journey from incarceration to business ownership. Conner alongside his son Darius launched Smacked Village in January 2023, the first legal cannabis dispensary in NY run by an individual with a marijuana-related conviction. Conner advocates for legal cannabis use and social equity, empowering disadvantaged populations. Conner’s journey from incarceration to entrepreneurship exemplifies resilience and the power of second chances.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The most urgent issues facing the New York Cannabis industry are the illicit smoke shops, the inability to secure financial capital (business loans, lines of credit), 280E and advertising/marketing.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
For anyone looking to enter the cannabis industry, it’s important to know that it’s not easy. Make sure to educate yourself fully and get involved in the cannabis retail business before starting out. This could mean working in a dispensary. Understanding every aspect of the cannabis business, from seed to sale, is crucial.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
Rescheduling and legalization on a federal level.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
The legalization and regulation of cannabis in NY have opened up opportunities for individuals to enter the industry. This includes not only large-scale cultivators, distributors but also small-scale entrepreneurs, including those from marginalized communities who may have been disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs. By providing avenues for legal participation in the cannabis industry, individuals like me who may have previously faced barriers can now potentially create generational wealth for themselves and their communities.

Senator Jeremy Cooney was adopted from an orphanage in Kolkata, India and raised by a single mother in the city of Rochester. He made history in 2020 as the first Asian American elected to state office from upstate New York, and the first state senator in decades to graduate from Rochester City School District (RCSD). Senator Cooney represents New York’s 56th district, encompassing parts of Monroe County and the city of Rochester.

Damien Cornwell’s expertise and passion have made him a respected leader in New York’s cannabis landscape. His dual roles allow him to influence legislation and empower the community. Through his efforts, the Cannabis Association of New York and Just Breathe Binghamton lead in crafting an inclusive cannabis culture focused on education, responsibility, and well-being. Damien’s commitment reflects his belief in cannabis’ transformative power and his dedication to ensuring its benefits are realized by all.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
Alignment. The industry needs alignment from the highest levels of government to the lowest levels. Recent events would indicate that there is a lack of cooperation and resources in our nascent industry.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
People should have a clear and measured expectation of what can be accomplished in New York Cannabis. Understanding the shortfalls and risks of this market can be the best defense for new entrepreneurs.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I am hopeful for the day when the regulated market becomes stabilized. I think the idea of New York Cannabis was groundbreaking in its effort to embrace equity applicants. Seeing the MRTA successfully come to life would be wonderful.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
Legalizing cannabis has created a pathway for upward mobility in our communities. It has created hope and a real desire within people to seek licenses and improve their lives. I think that is good.

Dasheeda Dawson is a global cannabis advocate, award-winning business strategist, and bestselling author on the cannabis industry. She has over 20 years of business development and strategic management leadership experience, which has been focused on the cannabis industry since 2016. In 2022, Dawson was appointed founding director of Cannabis NYC to oversee the development of the City’s legal cannabis industry. She received her MBA from Rutgers University and completed her undergraduate degree at Princeton University.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The most urgent issue facing the New York market is delivering on social equity and restorative justice promises of the MRTA. Legalization in New York was first and foremost about restoring those individuals and communities most harmed from criminalization. While we have built the initial adult-use supply chain with family farms and small businesses, justice-impacted conditional retail licensees are still largely struggling to operationalize due to lack of expected real estate and funding.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
New entrants to legal cannabis should focus on 3 C’s: 

1. Start with what you are CURRENTLY doing at work and determine how that experience can be used in the legal cannabis industry. This is the easiest way to break into the industry. 
2. Build your CREDIBILITY by bringing your current community and expertise into the industry. 
3. Remain CURIOUS about the plant because we learn something new about cannabis every day!

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
Legalization has started an era of true decriminalization of people and destigmatization of the cannabis plant. It provides the opportunity for education and access to all communities, particularly those that were disproportionately negatively impacted from prohibition. Furthermore, cannabis is medicine and legalization has given our office the platform to provide much needed public education on the health and wellness benefits of the plant as well as the economic opportunities that can exist in the industry.

As AYR’s head of corporate relations, Khari Edwards is responsible for providing strategic leadership and advancing AYR’s commitment toward being a force for good by creating a culture of inclusion and providing avenues of opportunity in the cannabis industry. Khari Edwards is an experienced leader in health care and government. Khari worked for several elected officials, non-profit organizations, and city agencies with a dedicated focus on strengthening communities by advocating and addressing racial, health and civic disparities.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
Currently, I see two pressing issues, with the first being the opening of more legal brick-and-mortar dispensaries, to support the farmers and the production of cannabis products. The second is marketing of the legal cannabis industry. I would like to see investment from the state and business owners to start an awareness campaign about the industry, its growth, and the benefits of legal cannabis.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Breaking into the business has shown that this is truly a marathon and not a sprint. You must be prepared for stormy, hurricane type of days with huge risks. As a former small business owner who suffered greatly after 9/11, my heart breaks for so many who have lost out while waiting for this industry to take shape. The statistics for small businesses in general are alarming, even more so in a new industry.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
New York has a bright future in cannabis. Nothing is easy in New York, that is the price of doing business in this state, but after the smoke clears (no pun intended), we will show the world how things are done.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
The governor, the Office of Cannabis Management, Chris Alexander, Tremaine Wright and the state legislators created opportunity for those whose lives were marginalized and destroyed by unfair drug laws, despite all the hiccups that were endured. The cannabis community, no matter your background or race, no longer hides in the shadows and can now be a thriving part of society. Lastly, legal cannabis has opened new pathways to changing health outcomes through medical programs.

Amanda Farías is the first Latina majority leader of the New York City Council, council member for the 18th District, and a native Bronxite. She serves as the chair of the committee on economic development where, as chair, she has hosted the City’s first legislative hearings on the adult-use cannabis industry, creating strategic plans around manufacturing zones, and has worked to ensure our City’s priorities are centered on our local economies and working-class New Yorkers.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The proliferation of illegal cannabis and smoke shops has continuously undermined the legal industry and poses safety concerns to our communities. Our state legislature and the New York City Council remain focused on closing these shops to help usher in a thriving adult-use cannabis market while protecting New Yorkers, and our commercial corridors.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
My three main points of advice would be to make sure you are doing the work to build trust in the community your business is in, make sure you’re elevating the local economy, and continue the fight against stigma and disinformation. While there is still a stigma around adult cannabis usage, we can overcome that stigma with education, outreach, and regulation so our communities can see and feel the direct benefits of legalization.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
My hope for the future of New York’s cannabis industry is that we are not only one of the highest-grossing cannabis industries in the country, but also the most equitable. The only way we can get there is by working in coordination across sectors, across levels of government, and across communities- that’s what I have been pushing during my time as the chair of the committee on economic development in the New York City Council.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
The legalization of the adult-use cannabis industry not only makes consumption safer, but it also puts money into our local economies and gives working families who have been most affected by the historical prohibition of cannabis an opportunity for upward economic mobility. We are seeing small businesses thrive while also giving employment opportunities to formerly incarcerated New Yorkers.

David Feldman focuses on corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions law, advising public and private entities, entrepreneurs, investors, and private equity/venture capital firms. Since 2013, he has specialized in legal cannabis and psychedelics sectors, guiding clients through private placements, public offerings, loan structuring, and fund formation for cannabis businesses. Offering corporate structuring advice and aiding in licensing applications for cultivation, processing, and dispensary operations, he also counsels multinational corporations on cannabis industry risk assessment.

Anne Forkutza began her career at 18 in digital strategy, delivering award-winning campaigns for brands like Starbucks, EA, and Nike. She then moved into cannabis, working with top retailers like Cookies, StarBuds, and NativeRoots. At Dutchie, Anne plays a key role in supporting New York’s social equity program, driven by her ability to create cross-sector alliances between nonprofits, businesses, and governments to foster positive societal change. She holds a computer science degree from SFU.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
I don’t think anyone anticipated that New York’s illicit market would be what it is now. That said, it’s been great to see Governor Hochul and elected officials come together to protect the legal marketplace. With everything else going on in the world, it’s rare to see the legal cannabis market prioritized, so it’s been encouraging to feel this support in New York.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Show up to industry events in person. A big part of the industry is doing business with people you trust and there is nothing like connecting with someone in person vs. over Zoom. Join associations and groups like the Minority Cannabis Business Association, New York Cannabis Retail Association, NY Cannabis Retail Association, and The Cannabis Collective. The cannabis industry is ever-changing and you cannot keep track of everything yourself.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
A lot more licensed, legal dispensaries open. A lot less illicit bodegas.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
60%* of all adult-use licenses across the supply chain in New York are social equity owned/operated, with nearly 40% of those licensees being women and/or people of color. These statistics alone demonstrate that New York put social equity at the forefront vs. it being an afterthought. Hopefully this inspires other new markets and existing markets to do the same. *according to the Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board Meeting 05/2024.