Name: CONNECTICUT CANNABIS EXPO
Start: 2026-02-14
End: 2026-02-14

Jen Brown

Jen Brown is a former pharmaceutical professional with 20 years in the industry and a survivor of a 28 year cancer journey. Her transition from traditional medical treatments to cannabis not only cured her stage 4 cancer, but also reshaped her career. Jen is a testament to the powerful healing that nature can provide and is an advocate for those seeking alternative paths to wellness. She lends her experience to educate others about the healing virtues of cannabis, offering hope to all who need it. Her journey has been one of transformation, from industry professional to a champion of cannabis education. Jen shares her story to inspire others to explore the potential that lies within nature’s gifts and within themselves.

PANEL

We are the state wide coalition in pushing for decriminalization of psilocybin and legalization for psychedelic assisted treatments. Our movement is adjacent to the cannabis world.

Meg Sanders

Meg Sanders is CEO and co-owner of Canna Provisions in Western Massachusetts, home to Smash Hits cannabis.
Over the last 12+ years Sanders has worked with, consulted for, started or raised capital for well over 30 dispensaries and in five different states (and counting). An industry pioneer with extensive cultivation, regulation and consumer sales experience, Sanders has led Canna Provisions since its launch in 2019 to become a $55mil+ cannabis company and the 9th largest independent cannabis company in Massachusetts. Sanders continues to be one of the most celebrated and experienced successful female cannabis CEOs in the industry in the Northeast.
Meg Sanders was also a notable trailblazer in Colorado at the dawn of the legal industry in the United States, operating and eventually successfully selling her chain of MindFUL dispensaries in CO, while continuing to have interests in the national market with different operations being set in or impacting essentially every state that has legal cannabis operations.
Previously, Meg has been honored to participate with the White House, FBI, NSA and other national organizations in a workshop hosted by the National Science Academy. She is also a mom, and an avid animal lover with dogs, cats, and chickens at her Lee home.
Through the local community support of Canna Provisions both the Lee Chamber of Commerce and the local Kiwani’s chapter each named Canna Provisions “Corporate Citizen of the Year 2023”.

Erik Williams

Erik Williams is COO and co-founder of Canna Provisions, home to Smash Hits cannabis. Along his career Williams has contributed a great deal to the cannabis industry in Massachusetts and throughout the United States, previously serving as the Executive Director of the Connecticut Division of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). In that role, he led the way for new legislation that shaped state regulations, including working with the Governor of Connecticut on the passage of medical marijuana.

Along with Canna Provisions CEO Meg Sanders, he formed Mindful, Inc. in Colorado, then went on to form Will and Way Consulting consulting for and working cannabis firms and legalization initiatives all over the United States.

Williams has been instrumental in guiding Massachusetts toward a healthy cannabis industry which benefits immensely from his willingness to bring a decade of experience to the table as an activist, politico, cannabis consumer, and executive.

Williams is a committed thoughtful executive seeking new means of cannabis education and deprogramming of a generation of prohibitionist thinking, and by leading through example in all aspects of cannabis industry stewardship in the respective communities he serves as a retailer and consultant. His expertise in cultivation, strain selection, and retail management are critical to Canna Provisions outposts.

Through the local community support of Canna Provisions both the Lee Chamber of Commerce and the local Kiwani’s chapter each named Canna Provisions “Corporate Citizen of the Year 2023”.

Dr. Mitchell Doucette

Dr. Mitchell Doucette is a public health epidemiologist earning his PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Doucette, is a research methodologist by training, applying advance statistical techniques to understand how new treatments effect health at the population level. He has published over 25 peer reviewed academic journals, has won best paper of the year award twice, winning the award from the American Journal of Public Health (2018) and the Journal of Urban Health (2022). He has presented his work at numerous academic conferences over the past 5 years and contributed to national news (Associated Press etc.) via print and television. Dr. Doucette its the current research director at Leafwell, a Telehealth company connecting potential medical cannabis patients with physicians, and oversees their large patient registry of over 200K+ patients. In this role, Dr. Doucette has endeavored to estimate the impact of medical cannabis treatment on various disease states, using real-world data to estimate the causal impact of starting treatment on various health outcomes. While Dr. Doucette is relatively new to the cannabis industry, he a has a long track record of conducting, publishing, and presenting academic work at national-level conferences.

Shawn Magill

Shawn is a Medicinal Plant Chemist, regenerative farmer, hashishin, and innovator in the field of cannabis cultivation. Shawn is the Co-Founder of TheCBGGurus, a vertically integrated, USDA certified organic farm located in Harwinton, Connecticut. TheCBGGurus is focused on creating the highest quality hemp products possible using regenerative farming techniques paired with ice water extraction. As a part of this mission Shawn has been a driving force in the implementation of fully circular systems to optimize soil building, space use, food production, and the creation of craft cannabis products.

Cody Richard

Owner of cannabis connection delivery service in Connecticut.

Duncan Markovich

Duncan is the co-founder and owner of Better Ways LLC, a cannabis health and wellness store focused on educating the community about the benefits and cautions around cannabis, the importance of souring, and creating a healthy atmosphere for trust and rapport with those already using cannabis for it’s benefits or for those interested in learning more about it.

Better Ways was founded in 2019 in Branford, CT and has respectfully earned the titles of First Place for Connecticut Best on the Shoreline Best Alternative Medicine, Hemp / CBD Store in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

After suffering from a signifiant surgical complication in 2010 and recovering, Duncan began his journey into experiencing the medicinal benefits of plant based medicine especially how cannabis helps with post opiate detox. Through those experiences and beyond Duncan began to truly understand and embody the benefits that come with well sourced cannabis.

Dr. Uzma Zakir

Uzma Zakir RPh is the Director of Outreach for Prime Wellness of CT, The Botanist Danbury and The Botanist Montville. She has been treating medical patients in CT since 2015 and is a firm believer in patient focused cannabis treatment plans. Uzma hosts a monthly virtual series on a variety of medical cannabis topics to empower patients on their brave choice to use marijuana as their medicine and to foster a compassionate cannabis community. She speaks extensively in CT on patient care and cannabinoid therapeutics.

THOM KIDRIN

C Suite executive with more than 45 years management experience, with expertise in cross platforms, creative, technical and business development, marketing and strategic planning. Significant international business development experience in major brand licensing and marketing with an excellent understanding of current trends and developments in the fields of new media technologies and cannabis extraction technologies. Self-motivated, entrepreneurial pragmatic professional who can shape successful teams and put ambitious ventures into practice.

Corey Finke

Corey Finke of Phocas Seeds has been involved in farming and horticulture since 2013, and began working in the CT hemp industry in 2020 mainly breeding new varieties of hemp for cannabinoid and terpene production.

Justin Esquivel

Esquivel, CEO & Geneticist, Green Luster Phenos LLC, has been an influencer and leader in the cannabis industry for fifteen (15) years. Esquivel was the head grower and geneticist of a 20,000 sq. ft indoor commercial-scale cultivation operation out in Colorado back in 2012. Justin has consulted with 87 cannabis facilities, 64 of which operate commercial canopies. He brings standard operating procedures to a gold standard. Esquivel also specializes in Cannabis Tissue Culture & Selective Homozygous Breeding, enabling his company to bring exotic tailored offspring to growers globally!

Burn n' Learn

Cannabis Basic information for the new recreational market.

Which strain? Strains for Pain, anxiety ect
What’s the best to consume to meet their needs how and what
Dosing
Differences between CBD, CBG, THC
Concentrates and how to use them
Resources (Dabbing Dad)

Burn and Learn Educational Booth:

Set Up: Q & A the entire show and staffed by CT experts. We are going to u-shape 4-foot tables. Can we get 10 chairs for the center space? We have educational Videos we would like to show-Is it possible to get a TV from them? With all the

Edibles– DeCarbing methods, Magic Machine, candy molds, dosing chart etc.,
Growing– Display Tent and nutrients, Fake plants (cloning)
Concentrates Table- Types, ways to consume, rosin Press, Washing Machine, Green Oil Machine

Booth demonstrations (Oregano in place of flower)

Pasta: Demonstration of how to make infused pasta with oil. David Hamilton a top chef in New England.
Decarbing: Magic Butter Machine
Growing:
- Cutting Clones
- Low Stress Training (based on size of our Paper Plants)
Dabbing 101- What it is types of rigs
Green Oil Machine

Kristin Souza

Kristin Souza is a Connecticut cannabis advocate, cannabis marketing specialist and the founder of Sugar Leaf, a HIGHbrid boutique located in Middletown, Connecticut. Kristin focuses on breaking the stigma around cannabis consumption, particularly as it pertains to women, mothers, and parents through education, events, advocacy and by harnessing the power of social media.

She is also an elected member of the City of Middletown Democratic Town Committee which has allowed for a multitude of opportunities to dovetail cannabis advocacy with political engagement. In addition to a variety of Boards and Committees that she has been appointed to or elected to, Kristin is sworn in as a State of Connecticut Justice of the Peace and has thread the needle rather deftly between advocacy and nuptials by offering consultation and coordination of “weed weddings” in addition to wedding officiant services.

She is a Connecticut rising star who has been featured in local print publications such as The Middletown Press and CT News Junkie, radio shows such as CT Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” and “88.1FM WESU”. She also served as an interim podcast co-host on 2 Be Blunt with Peezy and has been a guest on multiple other podcasts. She is currently a co-host on Cannabis Corner Radio, 103.5FM WNHH New Haven Independent/Green Haven Media. Kristin was also nominated for the 2022 NECANN Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

ERIC HENRY, LMSW

Graduated 2012 UCONN School of Social work. Eric Jamal Henry has worked in the mental health field for 25 years in a case work and clinician capacity. Mr. Henry experience working with diverse populations to help gain more control of their well being. Advocates for mental health treatment and mindfulness within disenfranchised communities. Guides clients to self empowerment and insight into taking care of one’s self.Mr. Henry is currently doing individual therapy along with helping CT medical marijuana patients obtain their Connecticut medical marjiuana medical marijuana certification for Healing Treez,LLC.

Jarrett Hines-Kay

Jarrett Hines-Kay has worked in the US cannabis industry since 2014, when he founded a medical cannabis company in New Mexico. Since then, Jarrett has worked across the United States in senior Cultivation and Operations leadership roles for leading MSOs including Cresco Labs (VP of Cultivation Operations), TILT Holdings (Market President) and Parallel (Vice President of Cultivation). Prior to working in cannabis, Jarrett was a research scientist performing early-stage drug discovery. He holds an MBA from the University of Arizona, an MS in Biology from the University of New Mexico, and a journalism certificate from the Army’s Defense Information School. Currently Jarrett does independent consulting with RKDA Consulting, which focuses on building efficient, predictable, data-driven cannabis operations.

Ji Kim

He regularly represents family offices, private equity funds, hedge funds, venture capital funds and individual investors in connection with investments in the cannabis industry. His cannabis practice is nationally recognized by Chambers and Partners.

He represented a consortium of lenders in lending over $100 million to a cannabis company.

He represented a various family offices, private equity funds, hedge funds, venture capital funds and individual investors in investments in excess of $100 million in the cannabis industry in various opportunities, including sponsoring a REIT, investments in REITs, sale-leaseback of dispensaries, and investments in MSOs (multi-state operators), brands, cultivation facilities and other cannabis companies in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Mark Braunstein

Mark Mathew Braunstein is the author of six books, including Mindful Marijuana Smoking: Health Tips for Cannabis Smokers, published 2022. He has also written countless newspaper editorials and magazine articles about cannabis and medical marijuana.
You can read many of his writings at www.MarkBraunstein.Org

Tiffany Araujo

Tiffany Araujo, MPH

Cannabis Workforce Program Manager

Office of Workforce Strategy

I’m Tiffany Araujo, armed with a Master’s in Public Health and a profound commitment to fostering an efficient and equitable cannabis workforce in Connecticut. My adventure in the cannabis sector kicked off in 2020 within the Department of Consumer Protection’s Medical Marijuana Division, where I honed my skills as a license and application analyst. The legalization of adult use in Connecticut marked a pivotal expansion of my expertise, steering me toward the heart of cannabis workforce development. Currently, I serve as the Cannabis Workforce Program Manager at the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy, where I dedicate my efforts to shaping the future of the cannabis industry alongside the Social Equity Council. With a foundational background in Justice and Law Administration, my journey is driven by a blend of legal acumen and public health principles, aiming to cultivate a well-rounded and inclusive cannabis workforce landscape.

Ginne-Rae Clay

Ginne-Rae Clay is the Executive Director of the Social Equity Council. Appointed by Governor Ned Lamont in August 2021. Ginne-Rae is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Social Equity Council which is charged with promoting and encouraging full participation in the cannabis industry by people who have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition enforcement. Ginne-Rae is responsible for ensuring that the revenue from the adult-use cannabis sales taxes are reinvested in communities devastated by the war on drugs. The council’s current budget for operations and reinvestment totals over $42 million.

Ginne-Rae is an accomplished senior level executive with over 38 years of expertise in government, education, community action, and community engagement. Ms. Clay serves on the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union CT (ACLU); City of Waterbury Diversity Committee, Economic Development/Housing Opportunity Subcommittee, and the Governance subcommittees. In addition, Ginne-Rae is a member of the Board of Directors of Capital for Change (C4C). C4C is the largest full-service Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in Connecticut. Ginne-Rae is co-chair of the C4C Racial Equity and Inclusion subcommittee and a member of the Nominating subcommittee. Ms. Clay is also a trained Legal Observer. In this role Ms. Clay observes and documents civil rights violations that may take place during rallies, demonstrations, and marches.

Ms. Clay is the immediate past president of the Greater Waterbury NAACP (2016-2022). Under her leadership the branch received the W.E.B. Dubois Civil Rights Advocacy Award given to a branch that display exemplary dedication and commitment to the mission and vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Ms. Clay received an Executive Master of Public Education from the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford, West Harford CT, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication with a focus on media and marketing from the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

Ms. Clay is the first and only African American and the only female to serve as State Director of the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and was the first African American Female Deputy Director of the City of Bridgeport’s, Office of Planning and Economic Development.

Ginne-Rae is a life-long resident of Waterbury, and the proud mother of three and grandmother to 5.

Brian Essenter

Brian Essenter RPh, Diplomate of Medical Cannabinoid Science® is a graduate of Northeastern University, Pharmacist, and recently completed his Masters of Integrative and Functional Medicine. Brian has worked in the Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program since 2015. In 2018 Brian founded MM Consult CT where he counsel’s patients, consults for businesses in the cannabis industry, provides expert witness testimony, and has spoken at medical and cannabis conferences and symposiums regarding the appropriate use of medical cannabis. Recently, Brian began a new role as Operations Manager for Connecticut Cannabis Company (a Social Equity Food and Beverage/Product Manufacturing company in CT). Brian also works for John Patrick University and The Institute of Cannabinoid Medicine where he is on their Clinical Advisory Board. Brian has been a strong voice advocating for medical cannabis patients, and equality in the cannabis industry at local, state, and national levels.

Dr. Paulina Miklosz DNP, APRN FNP-BC

Dr. Paulina Miklosz DNP, APRN FNP-BC is the proud owner of Higher Med– a health & wellness clinic in Plainville,CT specializing in cannabis medicine & integrative health. With over 16 years of experience in healthcare, Paulina founded Higher Med with the purpose of providing a more comprehensive & informational experience to patients looking to explore cannabis as medicine. She has certified hundreds of CT citizens for their medical cannabis cards and led many educational forums & presentations on cannabis medicine at local libraries, senior centers and community events. Paulina is a member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association and the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. She has also worked directly with world-renowned cannabis physician Dr. Sulak to better understand cannabis’ role in the treatment of refractory conditions. Paulina is committed to helping her patients improve their most bothersome symptoms and optimize their health through cannabis medicine and lifestyle optimization. She is fluent in Spanish and Polish and is passionate about bringing awareness to cannabis as medicine to communities where cannabis remains stigmatized.

Carl Tirella Jr.

Budr was founded by Carl Tirella Jr. and Derrick Gibbs.
Carl comes from the cannabis industry. Prior to starting Budr, he oversaw three medical dispensaries in Connecticut and saw firsthand the magical healing properties that cannabis had on patients with illnesses such as PTSD, cancer, epilepsy, and more. His passion drove him to own his own dispensary.

Derrick came from the home healthcare industry, where he spent 15 years providing services to elderly and disabled patients. He always had a desire to offer a product that would help people the way his services did.

Both Carl and Derrick share a goal of wanting to give back to their communities.

Together, they’ve been in the cannabis industry for over 10 years and when Connecticut legalized marijuana for adult-use, they saw the opportunity to combine their passions. And that’s how Budr bloomed.

Budr believes in the power of community and recognizes the importance of social equity in the Connecticut marijuana marketplace. It’s a philosophy that we bring to all of our current and future locations.

Lee Generous

With over 19 years of experience in financial and service industries, I’m dedicated to comprehensive financial planning at Generous Wealth Management. My clientele ranges from first-time retirement account holders to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their family offices.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, Chartered Financial Consultant®, and IRS Enrolled Agent, I bring a collaborative family office approach to all clients, covering various aspects of comprehensive planning.

In addition to my financial expertise, I’m a franchise owner of Dope CFO Certified Advisors, specializing in providing comprehensive financial solutions to cannabis companies. Since 2020, I’ve been actively involved in the cannabis industry, including launching a private 506c fund, Zion Ventures. This fund offers debt solutions to the cannabis and plant medicines sector.

I hold FINRA Series 65 securities registration and am a Notary Public. My educational background includes a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Beyond my professional life, I’m an avid Boston sports fan and enjoy reading, exercising, tending to my home and garden, and spending cherished time with my wife, Emily, and our two children.

David Feldman, Esq. MANAGING PARTNER

David Feldman concentrates his law practice on corporate and securities law and mergers and acquisitions, as well as general representation of public and private companies, entrepreneurs, investors, and private equity and venture capital firms. David has represented a wide range of clients in the legal cannabis and psychedelics industries since 2013. He provides guidance on private placements, public offerings, loan structuring and fund formation for cannabis companies, as well as corporate structuring advice and applications for grow, processing and dispensary licenses. He also advises on risk assessment issues for large, multinational businesses seeking to enter the cannabis industry. The global guide Chambers & Partners ranked Mr. Feldman as a leading US attorney in cannabis law and one of only seven US lawyers in “band 1” for corporate and transactional work in the industry. In addition, the National Law Journal named him a “Cannabis Law Trailblazer” and Business Insider named him as a top lawyer in the cannabis industry. He has also been listed several times in the Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers published by Cannabis Law Digest. David is the former team lead of an AmLaw 100 firm’s 60-attorney Cannabis Industry Group. He frequently speaks at industry conferences and is quoted by numerous publications about legal developments and business news in this rapidly expanding market.

David also advises emerging growth companies in a range of industries with regard to alternatives to traditional financing through initial public offerings, and is considered an authority on public offerings through SEC Regulation A+. He published a book on that subject, called Regulation A+ and Other Alternatives to a Traditional IPO (John Wiley & Sons), in 2018. David has also published The Entrepreneur’s Growth Startup Handbook: 7 Secrets to Venture Funding and Growth Success (2013) and the award-winning Reverse Mergers and Other Alternatives to a Traditional IPO (First Edition 2006, Second Edition 2009). A Wharton School and University of Pennsylvania Law School graduate and former Chair of Wharton’s worldwide alumni, David is not just a lawyer – he’s a community builder. He’s run, built, bought, invested in, and sold businesses. He feels his clients’ pain but provides the objective outsider’s point of view that founders need.

Jason Ortiz

Jason Ortiz ’08 is SSDP’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy Executive Director. In addition to being a longstanding alumnus, Jason has been on the frontlines of the cannabis equity movement. Jason is a founder and President of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, where he led efforts to create model cannabis equity policies at the state and municipal levels.

While he comes with extensive drug policy expertise, Jason has experience organizing on numerous issues including his role as Director of Campaigns with Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, where he worked to end capital punishment. He also served on the National Puerto Rican Agenda, where helped with Hurricane Maria relief efforts and continues to address issues of economic justice for his island.

Professionally, Ortiz has led over a dozen races for elected office as campaign manager and political consultant, and served as Executive Assistant to Minority Leader Wildaliz Bermudez of the Hartford Connecticut Court of Common Council, the city where he now resides.

David Morris

As a seasoned visionary David strategizes and produces innovative projects for brands & businesses all over the world. In the last 10 years David’s work has been focused in sports entertainment, immersive retail, and brand licensing. David’s keynotes and panels facilitate high value conversations that spark global change in brands.