I tell UCLA Anderson MBAs My Story (video)
The 32nd annual CREATE Conference at UCLA Anderson was one of the first business school events in the world to feature a cannabis panel. I had the pleasure of speaking on the mainstage with five different sides of the cannabis puzzle.
Dr. Jeff Chen, director of the National Institute of Cannabis Endocannabinoid Research and Founder of the Cannabis Research Group at UCLA.
Christian Groh (pronounced "grow" no kidding) COO of Privateer Holdings an investment fund with companies such as Leafly-which receives 11 million visitors a month, Tilray-a medical cannabis cultivator in Canada, and Marley Natural-the licensed Bob Marley cannabis brand. Christian comes from a traditional VC investment background at Silicon Valley Bank and brings the important private equity perspective to this conversation.
Kenny Morrison, founder of VCC Brands, is a UCLA drop-out now invited back to the business school as a CEO. Kenny shared how his cannabis sales experience started in college and then matured into one of the largest edible brands in California & Washington recently. Kenny shared his perspective from the product, branding, and lobbying he leads.
Jim Baudino, VP of Marketing at Merry Jane, is a UCLA Anderson graduate and 10 year veteran of Toyota. Jim talked about representing cannabis culture and SnoopDogg's cannabis company portfolio.
