Cannabis Industry Power Players

With broad experience in commercial real estate, Ray Thomas works closely with many different businesses across a variety of industries to make sure that each client finds the perfect space in which to grow their operations. Mr. Thomas currently serves as the senior vice president of 1st Equity National Title and Closing Services, and is also the founder of Black Business Zone, an online marketplace and directory that amplifies the products and services of minority-owned businesses.

Khadijah Tribble is a highly respected expert on equity and inclusion in the cannabis industry, and has advised cannabis investors, government regulators, entrepreneurs, and businesses on policy, business development, and community impact. Prior to joining Curaleaf, Ms. Tribble founded Marijuana Matters, a cannabis education and advocacy incubator, and is also the founder of the Marijuana Policy Trust, a think tank providing expertise toward building an inclusive and diverse cannabis industry.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York State in five years?
I’m hopeful that we will see a robust patient- and consumer-centric industry that is both inclusive and innovative. New York presents the best opportunity to date for building on-ramps for legacy consumers and operators.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
The real chance to address inequities in this country. Involvement with the criminal justice system is the biggest driver of poverty and income instability in communities of color. I want to interrupt and repair that harm.

Tell us one fun fact about cannabis!
The female plant is the most valued.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health. Tell us your favorite way to stay healthy and fit.
These days I’m exploring CBD, yoga, and meditation. But one of the things I love about New York is the high walk score. It is probably the most walkable city I’ve lived in.

As senior vice president of public and regulatory affairs, Jeremy Unruh implements and maintains best practice protocols for PharmaCann, one of the largest cannabis companies in the United States. Prior to his current role, Mr. Unruh held the position of general counsel and chief compliance officer of PharmaCann, ensuring regulatory compliance and providing legal oversight. He also has experience managing PharmaCann’s social equity and corporate responsibility program.

Matthew VanDerbeck is a managing director at UHY Advisors and has more than 25 years of experience in public accounting, with a focus on domestic and international family-owned, privately held, and publicly traded companies. Matthew specializes in the financial services, manufacturing, retail, wholesale, distribution, and services industries. As a leader of the New York Cannabis Practice, Matthew directs a team of tax and accounting professionals who understand the intricacies of the cannabis industry.

Tunisha has extensive knowledge of governmental affairs on a city and state level. She runs a number of the firm’s community engagements and legislative affairs in the areas of cannabis, immigration affairs, business development, and clean energy and sustainability; Tunisha also oversees the Minority and Women Business Enterprises practice group. Tunisha is an expert at working with government at all levels to help her clients succeed. She utilizes her significant campaign experience and a number of relationships in upstate and downstate New York including Nassau County, Westchester, Hudson Valley, and Erie County.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York State in five years?
In the next five years, I predict that there will be a lot of licenses being offered to companies that are partnering with minority businesses for social equity opportunities, and the state will start to see economic wins.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
I was attracted to the idea and opportunity to ensure that black and brown people of color receive their fair share of legitimate business opportunities, as well as the decriminalization and expungement of the records of young men and women who were arrested.

Tell us one fun fact about cannabis!
Cannabis and beer hops are from the same family of flower plants. The flowers are cousins.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health. Tell us your favorite way to stay healthy and fit.
I try to stay healthy by eating balanced meals and getting exercise when I can.

Chris Webber is a former five-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA Team member and NBA Rookie of the Year and number one overall NBA draftee who has brought his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for advancing social equity and modern wellness solutions to the emerging cannabis industry. Most recently, Webber partnered with Jason Wild, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of JW Asset Management, to launch the WebberWild Impact Fund. The $100 million private equity cannabis impact fund seeks to diversify leadership within the cannabis industry by investing in entrepreneurs of color and providing them with a vast network of resources to support operational growth for long-term success. Furthermore, Webber launched Players Only Holdings with entrepreneur Lavetta Willis, which is focused on four strategic business areas: real estate development, the Players Only Premium Cannabis brand and cultivation; brand partnerships; and creative content development and management.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York State in five years?
It’s almost impossible to predict where the cannabis industry will be in New York in five years, with most of it depending on regulation. However, I do believe that when the dust settles, the state will be a leader in production, branding, sales, and most importantly advocacy. 

What attracted you to the industry?
The healing properties of the plant, the legalization of its use, and decriminalization of possession is what led me to this industry. Cannabis is the only industry where the topics of social justice, law reform, and medicine are all at the forefront of advancing the industry.

Tell us one fun fact about cannabis!
Cannabis use isn’t anything new. Egyptians used cannabis to treat glaucoma, inflammation, and much more. It has been around for centuries, and the criminalization of it only created harm within our society.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health. Tell us your favorite way to stay healthy and fit.
Sleep management. Sleep is important for one’s health when we talk about rest and recovery.  

For seven years prior to COVID, CannaGather hosted monthly education and networking events for up to 300 entrepreneurs, operators, and investors before expanding to cities around the country. Speakers included members of Congress, billion-dollar company CEOs, athletes, advocates, and more. We’ve hosted one event post-COVID to bring folks together around the potential for a trade association – the NYCIA – to more formally advocate on policy initiatives and shape the post-legalization, legalized ecosystem. Josh is an active investor in over 25 primarily early-stage cannabis and tech companies.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York State in five years?
Successful post-legalization ecosystem with strong social equity.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
Multi-bottom line opportunity: money; medicine; social justice.

Tell us one fun fact about cannabis!
Science barely understands a fraction of its biochemical potential.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health. Tell us your favorite way to stay healthy and fit.
I just got Oculus and had a good workout with Supernatural. I’m curious and excited about the gamification of fitness through virtual reality.

Emily has spent the last decade representing and advocating for a broad range of clients before the legislative and executive branches of New York State government. Ms. Whalen’s reputation for highly effective lobbying and wise counsel has been developed through her work with healthcare systems, corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and professional associations. Emily chairs Brown and Weinraub’s cannabis practice and works with clients across the cannabis supply chain to navigate the newly-enacted MRTA and the forthcoming regulations.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York State in five years?
Equitable and thriving.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
It is dynamic and evolving, especially here in New York.

Tell us one fun fact about cannabis!
Uruguay was the first country in the world to fully legalize cannabis.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health. Tell us your favorite way to stay healthy and fit.
I try to keep my stress levels low – breathwork and meditation are some of the tools I use.

Jason Wild is the president and CIO of JW Asset Management and the advisor for five investment partnerships with over $2B in assets under management. Mr. Wild received his license as a pharmacist in 1997, and subsequently founded JW Asset Management in 1998. The firm has a strong history of finding opportunities within the health care sector. Mr. Wild is the chairman of the board of TerrAscend Corp. and Arbor Pharmaceuticals. Funds managed by JW Asset Management, LLC, are the largest shareholders in TerrAscend Corp.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York State in five years?
New York’s population and tourism will create unmatched business opportunities. Depending on forthcoming regulations, New York’s untapped market may rival top-tier states like Massachusetts and Illinois.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
I learned all the medical uses for cannabis after visiting a Canadian company’s cultivation facility in 2015. Being a pharmacist, I felt that cannabis use as medicine would become more accepted and appreciated in the coming years.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health. Tell us your favorite way to stay healthy and fit.
As a father of three it feels like trying to keep up with them most days is the best way to stay fit and sharp!

Joanne Wilson is an investor, philanthropist, real estate developer, blogger, podcaster, and die-hard New Yorker. Wilson is widely known for her investment thesis focused on supporting female-identifying and BIPOC founders. Her residential real estate entity ‘Frame Home’ builds residences that are fossil fuel-free and employ cutting edge sustainability practices. Along with her husband, Fred Wilson, Joanne started ‘Gotham Gives,’ whose mission is to invest in initiatives that improve systemic equity by creating social, educational, and cultural opportunities for all New Yorkers.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York State in five years?
I see the cannabis industry making a tremendous impact in areas that have been ignored, such as education getting the capital it deserves from taxes.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
It’s the perfect meld for me. Business, cannabis, retail, and the ability to give back to those destroyed by the War on Drugs.

Tell us one fun fact about cannabis!
I always knew cannabis would become legal. It just makes no sense for it not to be. I’ve been getting stoned for almost 50 years. 

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health. Tell us your favorite way to stay healthy and fit.
Eating an edible and hitting the ski slopes.