(Featured Session)

After working tirelessly to defuse cannabis as a weapon against minorities and as an excuse to fill prisons-for-profit, Henry Rollins has a message for the legal industry – don’t make it just about money. Legal operators are, “part of a revolution, overturning generations of racism and misinformation.” We are, he says, “stewards of civil rights.” Not a user of any stimulants himself, but furious about the sordid history of the Drug War, the former front-man of punk legends Black Flag believes we’re in a special place in history, where open minds on one front can open them on others. Whether it’s exonerating people still in jail for pot convictions, or condemning “crimes” that are health and education issues at worst, Rollins demands that we not forget how we got here.

Introduction By: Sharlene Dozois

(Panel Discussion)

A common saying among cannabis users since legalization has been, “illegal equals available, legal equals unavailable.” While that may be a simplistic take on the problems plaguing the fledgling industry, it reflects the frustration that has met our country’s pioneering experiment. This wide-ranging address will consider the events that have marked Year One. We’ll look at the regulatory landscape and how to navigate them across the country, the resilience of the illicit market in the face of empty shelves and mail delays, the ever-evolving investment outlook, and which models are most likely to succeed in giving the customers what they want.

Moderated By: Jenn Larry

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: POST MEDIA

(Panel Discussion) 

Legalization of cannabis in Canada has come with quality control regulations of products prior to ‎consumption by public. Several tests must be performed on cannabis samples to measure the level of ‎pesticides, heavy metals, microbial contaminations, residual solvents and potency and to assure that their ‎levels meet the requirements set by Health Canada. While some labs have developed validated methods ‎to analyze flower and oil samples, the recent introduction of edibles, extracts and topicals have presented ‎new challenges to analytical testing labs. In this panel, we will discuss these challenges and also the need ‎to standardize the sampling and testing methods as much as possible to achieve higher quality standards ‎in the Canadian cannabis market.‎

Moderated By: Dr. Kaveh Kahen

(Keynote Presentation Series & Panel Discussion)

The words “never going to happen” have been used to describe almost everything about the Cannabis Revolution. (1) Decriminalization was a pipe dream. (2) Medical marijuana was a punchline for comedians. And (3) fully legalized recreational pot? What have you been smoking? But, ironically for a drug reputed to slow down time, the rate of social change regarding marijuana has been almost too fast to process. And investors who can stay on top of this dizzyingly fast 21st Century phenomenon will be the ones who remember how what-was became what-is. This session will bring perspective to this runaway train of change and predict worldwide social and economic hyper-jumps to come.

Facilitated By: Tony Chapman

(Presentation)

One-quarter of Canadians are willing to buy cannabis from legal retailers in Canada, opening up endless opportunities for FMCG retailers and manufacturers. Join Carman Allison, VP of Consumer Insights, Nielsen and Cy Scott, Co-founder and CEO of Headset to learn what categories and formats are winning with consumers in the legal recreational cannabis market.

Introduction by: Buck Young

(Panel Discussion) 

We were only a few days into legalized marijuana when New Brunswick’s government retailer was accused by Health Canada of breaking the law by “glamourizing” pot with online images of happy people socializing and taking selfies. For marketers, this posed a dilemma. How do you portray your product in a positive light without glamourizing it? Believe it or not, there is a way to stickhandle the regs and get the word out. Our industry strategists have advice on judicious packaging, branding, copywriting and logo differentiation that will attract attention - and not the wrong kind.

 Moderated By: Megan Henderson

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ROUGE MEDIA GROUP

(Panel Discussion)

It has been an eventful few months since cannabis was legalized on October 17, 2018. Initial demand for recreational cannabis outstripped supply, leaving licensed provincial retail outlets depleted of product, and there are predictions of ongoing shortages for some time. There are regular announcements in the press of joint ventures between alcohol, pharma and Canadian licensed producers of cannabis.  It was reported at the end of October that Health Canada issued seven warning letters to unnamed producers for contravention of the promotion provisions in the Cannabis Act, and by October 17, 2019 new classes of cannabis namely, edibles, extracts and topicals, will also be available.  In other words, the pace of developments has quickened and has no sign of slowing down.

Legalization has lead to a substantial increase in the market value of cannabis. It is more important than ever that companies producing cannabis, cannabis products and related devices seek to protect their intellectual property in Canada in order to increase their market share.

From patents, plant breeders’ rights, industrial designs and trademarks, join the panel to discuss how to identify, protect and manage IP assets to ensure they are protected.

Moderated By: Micheline Gravelle

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: BERESKIN & PARR

 

Access to research within healthcare is shifting as clinical trials remain costly and time consuming. Regulatory bodies around the world are creating new frameworks for assessing the efficacy of new drugs through Real World Evidence. Join CB2 Insights to see first hand how this is changing the landscape in cannabis treatment and the potential for new clinical evidence to validate outcome and efficacy claims.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: CB2Insights

(Panel Discussion) 

This panel will focus on providing companies with concrete strategies and actions that add value to journalists and get your company coverage. Understand what sets good stories apart from another and learn how you can improve your chances of gaining earned media.

Moderated By: Sharlene Dozois

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: CISION

(Panel Discussion) 

Barring the model of cannabis retail by government-owned outlets, the private sector has been parsing the regulations for LPs and retail operators. In B.C., there are limits to the number of licenses that can be given to a single company. In Ontario, there were limits placed on LPs owning more than one retail store. These limits have tended to push interested parties toward the franchise model. This panel will examine the viability of franchising cannabis sales in various jurisdictions, and the market advantage that comes when a customer sees a familiar logo on a retail window.

Moderated By: Noah Leszcz

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: CASSELS BROCK

 

(Panel Discussion) 

Outside the model of government-owned outlets, the private sector has been parsing the regulations to figure out what cannabis retail approaches work best. What are the fundamentals of employee training? What aspects of the consumer experience can be fine-tuned to encourage repeat business? And how does a successful retail operator approach growth? (Owner limitations In both Ontario and B.C. seem to encourage the franchise model). This panel will examine every angle of what faces retailers as they enter an unexplored but potentially booming market.

(Panel Discussion)

The decision to take a company public in Canada is a significant milestone in its development. Listing on a Canadian stock exchange provides greater access to significant capital pools and investors, and provides funds which can grow your business. Hear from expert panelists on advantages and best practices for going public in Canada and what considerations may arise when doing so.

Moderated By: Nancy Choi

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: CASSELS BROCK

(Panel Discussion)

In black market days, if your dealer or dispensary dropped the ball, you couldn’t exactly report them to the Better Business Bureau. But legal retail is wrestling with a supply-versus-demand deficit that sits at a factor of 10. And that’s just one consumer challenge facing it, atop a list that includes returns and damaged goods, mold-prone strains, inexact content measurements and delivery system snafus. Meanwhile, those same black marketeers feed off our failures, staying in business as long as there are disappointed customers. This panel discussion will consider just how long it could take to address demand and how we can build consumer confidence in the face of entrenched illegal competition.

Moderated By: Rob Zomok

(Panel Discussion) 

Cannabis is a growing market with many business predicting record growth, quarter over quarter. Start-ups in major growth mode need the right people, tools, process, culture work environment to make it great. How do you find top talent in a scarce and competitive market? How do you grow and develop a strong work culture to retain your talent? How do you develop your top talent to keep them challenged? If you don’t get it right, your businesses will be weeded out.

Our panel of experts will share their experience and expertise in identifying the potential problems and solutions to building a workplace and your talent to thrive in Cannabis industry. The Host is Hilda Gan, People Bright Consulting – an award winning HR Expert who with her husband grew from start up to 125 employee national Engineering Consulting firm to become one of the top 10 of the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada®.

Moderated By: Hilda Gan

(Panel Discussion)

Step into the future of the world of cannabis. What are cannabinoids? Why are they important and what do they mean for medicine, pharmaceuticals and edibles? This panel will have a close look at these amazing diverse chemical compounds and their medical uses including in the treatment of some common and debilitating conditions. Recent and significant developments in research will be explored and their application to pharmaceuticals, medicine overall and even edibles will be discussed. Regulatory roadblocks and pathways will be uncovered and an overview of why Canada is in a very unique position to capitalize on this remarkable movement will be discussed. Join us as we explore this very important and ground-breaking topic.

Moderated By: Farrell A. Miller, JD, BA

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: DICENTRA

(Presentation) 

As the cannabis space grows ever more crowded, prospective business owners worldwide are vying for a chance to break into this burgeoning industry. However, when it comes to successfully launching a quality, trustworthy brand in a competitive marketplace--all while navigating complex regulatory obstacles--there is far more than meets the eye. With cannabis gradually gaining mainstream credibility as a legitimate medical tool, the puzzle that cannabis companies must solve is determining how to operate a sustainable, transparent and compliant--yet efficient--business that goes above and beyond to ensure top-of-the-line quality and consumer safety, as well as build trust among new demographics. In this session, accomplished cannabis founder, CEO and scientist Dr. John Oram will explore the ways in which cannabis business owners from seed to sale can navigate tricky financial and legal obstacles to remain afloat in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries by leveraging sophisticated technology, business savvy, and a dedication to producing safe, consistent and clean products for the end consumer.

(Presentation) Cannabis is now legal, but are opinions and behaviours towards cannabis shifting with the time? With product shortages occurring regularly and anticipated increased demand for edibles, it’s easy to forget that many Canadians hold very different opinions towards cannabis. If the category is going to grow, overcoming attitudinal barriers will be key. This presentation will outline which views of cannabis are shifting, and which ones are not. Covering public issues related to restrictions on advertising, social stigma, restrictions on retail store locations, and many other items on the public agenda, the audience will understand the path to greater acceptance of cannabis use in the future.

(Presentation)

Legalization of cannabis in Canada and some US states has started a massive wave of business activities leading to an astonishingly high number of start-ups and investments. There are many similarities between the current stage of cannabis industry and what we had seen in the dot-com boom in the late ‘90s or the microprocessor industry boom in the early ‘90s. However, investors, entrepreneurs, employees, and service providers who have entered or are entering this industry need to take a step back and plan for the upcoming wave of mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis industry. It is also crucial to notice that the cannabis industry will not follow a typical “Industry Life Cycle” as the nature of regulations, emergence into legal market, level of pre-existing demand, diversity of products and customers, submarkets, etc. make this industry different and to some degree unique. Analyzing and understanding the road ahead could help us better prepare for the upcoming years and avoid the potential pitfalls.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: SIGMA ANALYTICAL SERVICES

(Presentation)

A far cry from magic brownies of the past, edibles for the contemporary North American cannabis market span a broad range, - from artisanal granola to gluten-free gummies. To understand how a product’s material form drives a consumer’s understanding and potential adoption of these products, Dr, Sarah Wilner examines the ways in which a cannabis product’s design – including packaging, delivery format and branding can telegraph a producers’ intentions, confirm its legitimacy and safety and signal relevance to specific consumer segments.

Introduction By: Mike Abbott  

SEPARATE TICKETED EVENT

(Panel Discussion) SEPARATE TICKETED EVENT

History will record that legalized Canadian cannabis was the biggest investment story of the year – a robust new market sector, born of an election promise, with a highly regulated product and a business model all but made up on the fly. Now that the dust is settling, what’s the story for investors? In this wake-up breakfast session, major names in the industry will run through the activity so far, and make market predictions for the rest of 2019. We’ll look at where things stand, along with new opportunities in the Canadian edibles market and investment possibilities in the U.S. as it lurches to acceptance state-by-state. It’s a session of informed investment advice, over easy.

Open to Speakers, Exhibitors, and Delegate Pass Holders

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: MICRON WASTE TECHNOLOGIES

(Keynote Presentation)

The Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility at the University of Guelph in Canada is among the world’s leading venues for research and technology development devoted to biological life support (ie. plants in space) for human space exploration. The requirements for high fidelity environment control for reliable and safe food production in space are among the most critical issues to resolve as food determines how far from Earth we can go and how long we can stay. These same plant production technologies have equally useful applications here on Earth, especially in the phyto-pharmaceutical field of medical cannabis. The University of Guelph has recently initiated a campaign to support the establishment of the Guelph Centre for Cannabis Research (GCCR). The prospect of raising cannabis to the status of a conventional pharmaceutical commodity requires breeding and horticultural management strategies, including environment control recipes, that ensure the standardization of the profile of medical compounds. The research activities proposed for the GCCR will address these issues among a wide ranging program to include topics from policy and regulation through to pest, pathogens and waste management.

Introduction and Opening Remarks By: Jason Moscovici

Companies who would like to apply to be in the contest should email info@leafwire.com HOSTED BY: PETER VOGEL BROUGHT TO YOU BY: LEAFWIRE

(Panel Discussion) 

Whether its "Slow Cannabis", "Clean Green Cannabis", "Regenerative Cannabis" or simply "Organic Cannabis" the desire to grow a better medicine is rapidly exceeding niche status.  These movements speak to values and philosophies of not only of the end-consumer but also those of the cannabis growers. Find out "the Why?" behind their decisions and what are the merits and challenges within each certification system. 

Moderated By: Av Singh

(Panel Discussion)  

With the new Cannabis Act what does the new entrepreneur look like? How are new businesses coming into the new Cannabis Act?

Join us for an in depth discussion around the new legal framework and the new categories of licensing under the Cannabis Act. 

Moderated By: Jay Rosenthal

What we learned about cannabis and payments after legalization

Working closely with the cannabis merchants we serve and our cannabis industry partners, we’ve had direct exposure to the challenges of navigating this newly legal industry from providing customers with convenient payment methods, to accessing banking and ensuring regulatory compliance.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: MERRCO

(Panel Discussion)

When former drug warriors like US House Speaker John Beohner and ex-Toronto Police Chief and Tory MP Julian Fantino become drug company executives, some who were hit hardest by the drug war – Indigenous people, people of colour, the poor and the marginalized – are understandably angry and frustrated. This panel will look at efforts to ensure the revenues from legalization extend beyond rich businessmen, with attention to social responsibility issues like gender-equity, energy use and food security.

Moderated By: Av Singh

Just like any other market the cannabis industry will reach its equilibrium. Supply will meet demand and the craze will settle. Craft growers will continue to emerge and distinguish themselves from the mass players. But how can you really cause a disruption and carve yourself in as a new market leader? This talk will explore the importance of research and how you can use it to set yourself and your products apart. Potential costs, timelines, regulatory strategies and how dicentra Cannabis Consulting can help will be covered.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: DICENTRA

(Presentation)

 Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest technology cannabis growers can use to streamline operations and improve the quality of their product. Given its novelty, growers often are unsure about how best to implement AI to the benefit of their business. This presentation will demonstrate concrete examples of using AI to automate harvest schedules and pest/disease management within controlled-environment production of marijuana. Using data from your growing conditions and past harvest yields, we can train AI smart-software to predict the peak time to harvest cannabis so that it contains the highest concentration of THC, CBD, turpenes or other compounds of interest. Analysis of growing conditions by AI also provides means to identify early on conditions conducive to pest and disease infestations (e.g., powdery mildew or mites); such insights enables growers to intervene before the onset of an epidemic of disease, where they can thus control the problem using fewer pesticides or sacrificing fewer plants. In order to obtain AI services, your grow operation must have sufficient data needed to train AI software so that it can understand the functioning of your grow operation; we conclude our presentation by explaining how you can determine if you have sufficient data on hand and how to access it for the development of high-tech tools in cannabis production.

OnCall Health is a leading virtual care platform that simplifies the way patients interact with cannabis clinics. We work with Canadian Cannabis Clinics, GrowWise Health, and MCRCI and enable their own healthcare providers to consult clients through a secure virtual care platform.

Virtual care improves clinic ROI by:

increasing convenience for potential clients to access clinic services

reducing the need for physical clinic locations.

OnCall was built with the end user in mind - our user experience is seamless and easy while offering all the tools needed for virtual care. Features include:

secure 1-1 and group video consultations

secure instant messaging

automated appointment booking and reminders

secure integrated billing

secure file sharing

digital patient intake

EMR integrations.

Come check us out to see how our platform works and how easy it is!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ON CALL HEALTH

(Panel Discussion)

CBD massages, micro-dose infused meals, cannabis-influenced yoga, local farm tours, and - in a new definition of “rolling greens,” golfing… the brightest minds in the hospitality business have been at work imagining the possibilities of adapting our already robust tourism sector to the new realities of legalization. Add these elements to compatible “event tourism,” like live music festivals and year-round thriving live music scenes, and you’ve got synergy that can transform the magnitude of a market. It’s “local experience” tourism of the highest order. And we’ve got the travel and hospitality experts who’ll explain how they see it unfolding.

Moderated By: Brian Applegarth

(Presentation) According to Brightfield Research 60% of current cannabis users have not yet bought product through the adult-use program. Canadians want to participate in the recreational and medical cannabis market, however, one of the key challenges has been access to high quality products.  Contamination, inconsistency and inefficiency are industry challenges. Join us to hear about how CannTx Life Sciences is elevating the cannabis industry with its micropropagation expertise.  

CB2 Insights’ mission is to transform cannabis into mainstream healthcare through data-driven software and services. We operate the largest network of medical cannabis clinics in the US and deploys proprietary technology within those clinics and other 3rd party operations in order to generate real-world evidence through its predictive analytics engine to further understand the efficacy of cannabis and provide insight to stakeholders throughout both the cannabis and traditional healthcare industry.  Learn more from our CEO, Prad Sekar.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CB2Insights

(Presentation) 

Recent HVAC innovations can change the way cultivators approach environment control in their grow facilities. Equipment breakthroughs mean greater control over their crop, leading to increased quality and fewer plants lost to mold or disease. But growers can’t get the best quality equipment for their grow rooms if they don’t have access to the crucial information necessary to ask the right questions and make the right decisions. Out-of-date thinking has impeded the industry so far from taking full advantage of the choices available to them. In this session, Geoff Brown reviews the science and math behind smart HVAC decisions and equips you with the knowledge needed to achieve maximum return on your investment.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: AGRONOMIC IQ

Like any high-value product, cannabis needs to be protected against criminal activity at every stage of production, distribution and retail. However, because the industry is still relatively new, cannabis producers and retailers are still determining how to best safeguard their products—and there’s a lot to learn from consultants and security professionals who have expertise in other industries centred on high-value products and assets.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: GARDAWORLD

(Panel Discussion) Whether it’s Blockchain developers like BLOCKStrain relieving your privacy fears as you order online, or bar codes from firms like Ample Organics that can trace the provenance and quality of what you’re smoking, or companies like Vapium, whose advancements in vaporizer tech make it increasingly easy on the lungs, R&D is working to improve the consumer experience and make our system an international model. Come into the lab, and we’ll show you what’s on the slab – specifically insights, data analysis and future-tech. Moderated By: Corey Herscu

Learn how you can grow your business the right way utilizing CloudPay Technologies automated retail vending.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: SEEDERP

 

For over 65 years, Pall has been serving the food and beverage, pharma and biotech industries, providing solutions using filtration to clarify, refine and render final products as microbe-free and shelf-stable before packaging.  An overview of production-scale filtration will be discussed, with a focus on its role in creating desired colour and flavour profiles in cannabis oil, as well as the role of filtration in creating a shelf-stable and microbe-free final product before packaging.  An overview of Pall’s pathogen-detection system, the Genedisc qPCR system will also follow, which is our Rapid microbiology system for cannabis.  This is a system that includes preloaded test plates and ready-to-use reagents, coupled with an automated interpretation of results make it an easy system to use.  The Pall Genedisc system allows you to test for objectionable organisms in all areas in your cannabis processing prior to final packaging in as little as 18 hours.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: PALL CORPORATION

(Panel Discussion) 

The easiest and least harsh method of partaking in cannabis has, oddly, been the one the government has been most uncomfortable with post-legalization. But with a slew of regulatory okays in December, the green light has been given to what is likely to become a bigger market than smoking – as much as four times as big, according to a Deloitte study. Nearly half of Canadians surveyed intend to try legal edibles. Cannabis infused (non alcoholic) drinks are being developed such as beer (courtesy of breweries that are already making deals with cannabis producers), CBD water, etc. As well, there’ll be infused-consumables like chocolates, butter, baked goods and high-end dining. This panel will give you the goods on incredible edibles coming to market.

 Moderated By: Renee Gagnon

Investment and mergers and acquisitions activity in the Canadian and U.S. cannabis industries has been heating up. Reverse takeovers between U.S. and Canadian cannabis companies are all the rage. All indications show that the number of deals will only increase, but investors still need to proceed with caution before signing on the dotted line. Hasty cannabis investments and consolidations can lead to serious  risk and liability for investors.

Attorneys Karen Balderama and Rob Selna have represented investors and target companies in financing and M&A transactions, including conducting thorough due diligence of U.S.-based cannabis companies on behalf of U.S. and Canadian investors. Their presentation will discuss the due diligence process and the key areas that investors need to examine before investing in or acquiring a U.S. cannabis company. Attendees will learn to identify important issues that must be considered and how to best address them. Understanding the pitfalls and learning  how to tackle or avoid them is crucial to establishing a successful partnership between investors and acquirers and their target cannabis companies. 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: WENDEL ROSEN BLACK & DEAN LLP

(Panel Discussion)

With extracts, demand drives supply, and supply shortfalls drive R&D. And remarkable new technologies are popping up to meet the boom of Tincture, Shatter, Budder and other increasingly popular extract alternatives to smoking. In this session, you’ll hear about breakthroughs like the hydrocarbon solvent extractor, a cheaper and more effective alternative to CO2 systems, and the almost sci-fi ultrasonic extraction method, said to be the most quality-precise system yet devised. Meanwhile, there’s still a plethora of current tech working overtime, including centrifuges and rotary evaporators. We’ll help you make sense of the science and how it affects the bottom line.

 Moderated By: Jenn larry

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: THERACANN INTERNATIONAL

Open to Speakers, Exhibitors, Delegate Pass & Ticket Holders

SEPARATE TICKETED EVENT

It’s an industry where the female plant is the most powerful. So, it’s appropriate that proactive and powerful women are playing key roles in cannabis from the ground up. They’re CEOs, financial advisors, investors and empire builders (starting up everything from hydroponics stores to bud-and-breakfast tour companies), cannabis “beat” journalists, drug policy activists, dispensary advocates, bloggers and cannabis lifestyle consultants. This panel of influencers are sharing their morning with O’Cannabiz delegates, as well as their insights into the market, gender-specific product trends, and the advances and challenges that remain in an evolving sector.

Moderated By: Samantha Roman

Open to Speakers, Exhibitors, and Delegate Pass Holders

(Keynote Presentation)

(Panel Discussion)

Stars have been all over topical CBD in the past year, with Olivia Wilde touting it for easing neck pain while she performed on Broadway and Mandy Moore using it for high-heels-induced foot pain. But cannabis-based beauty treatments are ready to break big as well, its antiviral and antibacterial properties being touted as effective on eczema, acne, cold sores and psoriasis. Hemp oil meanwhile, boasts vitamins A, C and E and two kinds of Omega fatty acids. With its regenerative properties, a beauty market hungry for natural ingredients is predicted to spend big. This panel examines these “skin-care superfoods.”

Moderated By: Irie Selkirk

Katy Perry from Grow Op Hydroponics will be leading a lecture on home growing for beginners. Her lecture will cover the ABCs of growing at home and will identify some common problems you might face. The lecture will include some tips and tricks from the professionals that you can use in your home garden.

(Panel Discussion)

It’s been a quarter-century since scientists made the profound discovery that our brains have actually evolved to react directly to cannabis and “phytocannabinoid” derivatives like CBD. The discovery of CB1 and CB2 receptors led to the coining of the term “Endocannabinoid system,” and new insight into how cannabinoids lift spirits and ease ailments. This panel will talk about the biomechanics of how CBD eases everything from inflammation to anxiety to seizures.

With cannabis being legal in Canada for adult use it’s the perfect time to learn how to make your own homemade topicals and tinctures! This demo will cover how to make a topical or tincture that’s right for you with a focus on scaling your products. Discussing the different carrier oils from coconut oil to vegetable glycerin and the myriad of other holistic herbs available. Emphasizing the importance of cannabinoids, terpenes and packaging. Lastly, we will be discussing dosing, testing and scaling your homemade products.

(Panel Discussion) The last bastion of pot prohibition may be in the minds of some older medical practitioners. But a new wave of doctors is informed about cannabis’s efficacy in the management of pain and inflammation and can offer objective, informed advice. They know the spectrum of conditions that can be treated with cannabis, the reality that all medical marijuana is not the same, what the handful of possible side effects can be and the best application of this medicine. Our doctor is on call in this session. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Cannabis has been off-limits to doctors and researchers in the US for the past 80 years, but recently scientists have discovered its anti-cancer properties. Armed with only these laboratory studies, desperate parents obtain cannabis oil from underground sources to prevent childhood cancers. From Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake (THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN), WEED THE PEOPLE follows these families as they take their children’s survival into their own hands.

Making Delicious Cannabis-Infused Dishes That Help Heal

--------

Don’t miss this great workshop. The guys from The Green Chef Canada are ready to offer education on mastering the use of cannabis as a sweet or savory ingredient in the kitchen. They are helping people to enjoy and benefit from the healing properties of cannabis without having to smoke or vape; and are also helping spread public awareness on potency, safety guidelines and responsible usage. They will of course be cooking up something special as part of their demonstration.

Introduction By: Tricia Ryan  

(Panel Discussion)

Cannabis differs from many other medicines in that reactions vary widely from patient to patient. What is the correct relief dose for one person can be too much for another, to the point of unwelcome side effects. Medical professionals are increasingly asking their patients to experiment gradually, to find the efficacy “sweet spot” between too little and too much. This session will consider dosages, the strains that are most likely to provide the best relief for particular conditions, and how best to combine medical marijuana with other treatments. 

Moderated By: Kelly Beker

(Fireside Chat)

NHL “enforcers” ache in body parts we didn’t even know could hurt. And former Philly Flyer Riley Cote – with more than 50 career brawls – literally learned the hard way how to deal with pain. He was introduced to a regimen of cannabis-based medicine from his sister, an MS patient. But during his pro career, Cote was forced to use “respectable” pain-killers like opioids and prescribed narcotic sleep aids and muscle relaxants, or risk a criminal record. He considered it poison. Now on the board of PAHIC (Pennsylvania Hemp Industries Council), he’s dedicated to healthy lifestyles and to helping athletes find safe, non-toxic pain, anxiety and sleep relief. His story is inspiring and instructive for athletes and fans alike.

Interviewed by: Lorilynn McCorrister

We are at the dawn of a new era for the emerging hemp industry, one that will sprout into a field of new and early stage business and investment opportunities.  The marijuana sector has seen tremendous growth over the last 5 years; however 2019 could mark the beginnings of a much bigger hemp industry, one that could reach into the trillions over the coming decade.

This presentation will cover various topics on the hemp industry and why it could very well surpass the marijuana sector in the coming years.

·         Hemp’s trillion dollar future and why it will change the world in the coming decades

·         Overview of hemp’s 2 main markets, industrial hemp and CBD

·         Overview of the current hemp industry and it’s potential for growth in the coming years, the challenges it faces and the rewards for planting your hemp business seeds today

·         Review of the cannabis and hemp investment cycle, private and public investment opportunities and why investors can yield significant returns over the coming years from this simple cash crop

·         Hemp industry’s endless fields of business opportunities that await entrepreneurs willing to start planting their seeds today

The hemp industry can change the global landscape forever and after attending this presentation, you can start planting your seeds today and participate in making it a greener future for all.

(Panel Discussion)   Cannabis has been off-limits to doctors and researchers in the US for the past 80 years, but recently scientists have discovered its anti-cancer properties. Armed with only these laboratory studies, desperate parents obtain cannabis oil from underground sources to prevent childhood cancers. From Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake (THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN), WEED THE PEOPLE follows these families as they take their children’s survival into their own hands.

Hosted by: Krishna Andavolu

Unity Marguerite discusses legal, safe and responsible cannabis consumption practices under the current regulations with a focus on new consumers. Canadians wanting to smoke cannabis must abide by federal, provincial and municipal regulations; as well as, strata/condo bylaws and landlord rules.  With all these regulations, it’s clear the stigma is real.  To shift this stigma, it’s of the highest priority to consume respectfully.  Unity believes the long-term goal is to ensure Canadians have informed and positive experiences with cannabis.  She’ll discuss how to consume within the law and how to have a safe cannabis ritual by sharing top quality cannabis tools for best results.

(Panel Discussion) 

What’s good about pot and sex is still good, according to the latest studies. And the “downside” may not be true. A Harvard research team recently found – contrary to dated reports – that marijuana users consistently have higher sperm counts than non-users (and possibly higher testosterone levels as well). Meanwhile, a 2017 Stanford study confirmed anecdotal reports that cannabis users – both male and female – tended to have more sex than non-users. The biology behind these findings is still being studied, and social factors could figure in (the mere act of using an illicit drug creates excitement on its own). This panel will consider whether lighting up really can light up your sex life, and will discuss market-targeted products like CBD-based massage oils and lubricants, tinctures and “passion pen” vaporizers.

Moderated By: Brianna Martyn

In this talk Alex will cover the most commonly asked questions on medical cannabis, and discus the ways in which he has been able to reduce the stigma associated its use.  He will be sharing highlights from his "Myths Debunked" presentations given to previous conference attendees.  Some of the topics to be covered include:

Are the Indica vs. Sativa differences real? What is the difference between medical & recreational cannabis? Do you get higher when you smoke cannabis instead of other methods of use.  Come prepared with your own questions to ask or with myths you feel need to be debunked.

(Panel Discussion)

Although veterinarians do not yet have a legal pathway by which to authorize cannabis use for our patients, a growing number of pet families are interested in using cannabis to alleviate the suffering of their animals. This panel will explore the emerging area of veterinary cannabinoid medicine, new developments, and research, the importance of veterinary oversight and guidance to ensure patient safety, and what pet owners should be aware of when considering cannabis products. Key Take-Aways: 1. Although veterinarians cannot authorize cannabis use for our patients, it is always important to engage your veterinarian in a discussion about cannabis use to ensure the health and safety of your pet. 2. The past year has seen an increase in clinical research focused on the therapeutic use of cannabinoids for animals - we will look at some of these studies. 3. With an abundance of products being marketed specifically for pet use and a new legal market of products intended for human use, we will look at what pet owners should be considering when choosing a product for their pet. 

Moderated By: Dr. Craig Mosley

(Panel Discussion)

When it comes to marijuana, Baby Boomers have lived long enough to play both sides of the fence. Many once got high as a symbol of rebellion. And now they’ve got aching knees and joints that – whaddya know? – respond to a good strong Indica or CBD. There are others who’ve never tried it and may be reluctant to start. But they’ve got peers who can assuage their fears. Whatever the individual story, Boomers now make up more than half of medical marijuana users, and the majority of medical marijuana is prescribed for arthritis. This panel will look at the full spectrum of seniors’ use of pot as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, and how acceptance continues to grow.

Moderated By: Kelly Beker