Dr. Jenna Valleriani
Dr. Jenna Valleriani is a Post Doctoral Fellow at the BC Centre on Substance Use and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Studying cannabis policy and vulnerable populations in Canada for over seven years, her current research at community based cannabis substitution programs and the instrumental uses of cannabis among people who use drugs. In May 2019, Jenna will be taking on a new role as CEO for the National Institute of Cannabis Health and Education (NICHE). As a Strategic Advisor for Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy, she was invited as an expert witness to the Senate of Canada regarding the impact of Bill C-45, The Cannabis Act, on young people in May 2018. She is engaged in local, provincial and international policy development, most recently working with Itopia and the Antigua and Barbuda government on medical cannabis policy, and government dialogues on cannabis legalization in Mexico. Some of her past roles include Vice Chair of Women Grow Toronto, a member of the Student Affairs Committee at the American Society of Criminology and the steering committee for the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition. Her extensive public commentary on cannabis policy in Canada has been featured in over 100 media outlets such as the Globe and Mail, CTV, the Huffington Post, as well as CBC’s “Power and Politics”.
