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.