Niagara Falls 2021 Conference Schedule

Michael Patterson is the CEO of US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development LLC (US Cannabis), a privately-held developmental consulting firm which was established in 2014 with the mission of moving society forward through legalized cannabis.  US Cannabis develops the legal cannabis/hemp/cbd markets globally across all platforms (education, cultivation, production, dispensing, research and development, management operations and compliance, and physician services).

Celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Mike Tyson, Seth Rogan, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffet, to name a few, have all put their names on cannabis brands around the world. Whether it is CDB oils, bongs, infused beverages or an elite strain, celebrities and athletes are becoming more open to the notion of branding with cannabis. Is your product good enough for a celebrity to put their name on it? Do you have what it takes to meet the high demands and expectations of their fans? How and where do you begin? Listen to these CEOs, marketing geniuses and brand developers of successful international celebrity brands as they discuss building that special relationship.

The Grow Up Industry Awards Gala is a national annual event honouring cannabis professionals/companies and recognizing excellence in our industry. Join us as we induct Frenchy Cannoli in memoriam in to the Grower Hall of Fame along with 35 award winners. Ceremony will be held in the Main Theatre of the Scotiabank Convention Centre. Reception and After Party to be held in the hall outside of the theatre. General Theatre seating.

Reception: 4:30PM // Awards Ceremony: 5:00PM
Meet the Exhibitors Networking Party: 6:30PM (only available to VIP Industry Pass Holders and Exhibitors)

Host & Emcee - Ben Miner, Comedian

We call them psychedelics. Researchers call them Entheogenic drugs. By any name, they may be the oldest human medicine. A panel of experts, entrepreneurs and plant medicine advocates – Cory Firth, Cy Williams and Salimeh Tabrizi – will take us through the history of plant based psychedelics, their role in the earliest human medicine and their promise as alternative healing options for trauma and other pathologies. A second wave of legalization is opening the door for business development and treatment opportunities in psychedelics, creating a new normal for nature’s own once-maligned medicine.

Spectrum versus Intensity - what matters most and what gives you more cannabinoids and terpenes. Join the experts as they share growers' experiences and expectations from their lighting choices.

The past year has been a “reckoning” for the Canadian cannabis sector. Many cannabis companies remain unable to turn a profit; but that’s almost a success story compared to those struggling to make payroll and in some cases, even survive. Against this backdrop there are also success stories. The truth is, some cannabis companies have adapted and are finding a way to succeed. This panel will bring together a group of people who understand the many challenges faced by cannabis companies and have unique insights into what it takes to succeed in Canadian cannabis. We will discuss what went wrong but more importantly, we will focus on what smart cannabis companies should be doing now to turn things around for sustainable success.

In 1956 psychiatrist and superintendent of the Provincial Mental Hospital in Saskatchewan, Canada Humphry Osmond, first used the word ‘psychedelic’ to describe the feelings and sensations associated with an LSD drug reaction. A year later his new word was published and later added to the English lexicon after corresponding with literary genius, Aldous Huxley. In spite of the popular connotations now connected to the word psychedelic, Osmond developed the term out of his experiments with LSD that led him to propose a new theory of schizophrenia alongside a somewhat radical suggestion to treat alcoholism using LSD. In contrast with many of his psychiatric contemporaries, Osmond maintained that pharmacotherapies flourished most when combined with tenets of empathy, deference, and even ritual – features he learned from Indigenous ceremonies with plant medicines. Although Osmond was not alone among his psychiatrist colleagues in the 1950s fascinated with the medical applications of psychedelics, his work in Canada brought him international recognition and made him a major figure in the history of LSD and addiction research, but also an awkward character in a looming countercultural revolution. LSD was banned from use by the late 1960s for a combination of moral and scientific reasons, but new developments in the 21st are encouraging policy makers and researchers to revisit these historical studies. This presentation examines some of the historical Canadian trials with LSD, while it remained a legal substance, and considers how the drug and its supporters dealt with challenges, first from the medical community and later from political and moral authorities concerned about the abusive characteristics of the drug.

Some jurisdictions have already moved toward legalization of medical use of psychedelics. And the wellness community, investors and researchers are thinking positively about imminent wide acceptance. Upcoming breakthroughs may involve court challenges, or changes in existing legislation. Canada has already opened the door for access for end-of-life care, and therapists are seeking to expand the latitude they’ve been given. Once prohibition is past, then a full-fledged regulatory landscape will replace it, covering intellectual property, inspection, quality control, distribution, etc. This panel will look ahead to a legal, regulated future for psychedelics.  

Cannabis farmgate refers to a retail store where cannabis products are sold directly to customers by a federally licensed producer (LP), usually at their production site. Despite considerable publicity and apparent interest by the industry and consumers, uptake is at a very early stage. Ontario is the only province with cannabis farmgate operations, although Saskatchewan’s retail framework allows it. The BC government will launch a farmgate program in 2022. New Brunswick announced in late August 2021 that it will implement a farmgate program as soon as possible. The presentation will explain what cannabis farmgate is and could become, looking at the prospects for different licensees, including cultivators. Ideas being discussed include using farmgate stores to promote cannabis tourism and providing tasting and sampling as with wineries and craft breweries. The presentation will review provincial governments’ moves to establish farmgate programming and conclude by considering the outlook for farmgate in applicable provinces. The scope for cultivators’ participation will be discussed with fresh insights from BC’s current consultation exercise. Takeaways:

• Learn the model’s key components.
• Farmgate in many forms: can it work in any setting?
• Opportunity for co-operative farmgate models and selling other producer’s products.
• The model’s potential as a new sales channel and strategic driver of new business.
• What’s the outlook for farmgate store openings across Canada?

In reality, however, some waters do very little to support life and can actually restrict growth. We are going to explore what waters you should be using to maximize your yield while also minimizing your chem requirements, time, and water usage.

These are the brightest minds in cannabis growth, sharing experiences, best practices and goodwill amongst growers. And this camaraderie will come in handy as the push for industry standardization grows. They’ll talk about a year of challenges, adjusting to regulations, and offer insight into how Health Canada can adjust its role to promote better growing and cannabis quality. Many relationships were forged among growers at the last event, and it’s not far-fetched to see a future advocacy group forming over the lunch table. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: A&L Laboratories, Pure Carbon, Grow Opportunity Magazine & Growers Source

If you were transported to June 2024, what would you do today?  I will be 70 years old in 2024.  I will pass on what I experienced up to 2021 and what I saw up to 2024.  I do not know more than that but will pass on my predictions after June 2024.

 

• Broad Facility Care Discussion
• IPA – Potential Health and Environmental Risk
• Danger in the workplace - Multi-faceted discussion - Worker and Environment
• WHMIS, as it relates to the worker and Cannabis production facilities
• Green Cleaning and GreenGuard Gold certification for cleaning chemicals used indoors
• Production - Equipment to task as opposed to labour to task
• Training - Specific to facility care knowledge
• Building Service Contractors - Their place in the cannabis industry

Scientists studying the clinical applications of psychedelics inevitably find their way to ayahuasca shamanism and the role of natural mind-altering substances in Indigenous spirituality and religious practice. In a field of study where science and religion can truly co-exist, researchers and non-Indigenous people must be mindful of honouring the traditions of sacred plants as they attempt to build a bridge between Native cultures and the efficacy of their medicine. This session will consider the traditional use of psychedelics and the reciprocity that must come with adapting it.

Psychedelic substances have been around for millenia used by cultures across the globe as medicines and in ceremonies. Most were legal in North America as medicines or in medical research until the 1970's - 1980's until the racist and cultural control tactics of the War on Drugs pushed the use of these medicines underground. Now thanks to the persevering work of researchers, scientists, First Nations and therapists from all backgrounds we see these medicines returning to use for PTSD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addiction and more. Join Dr. Pamela Kryskow to review a survey of where we are at with these medicines in Canada.

As the cannabis industry soars across our earth, we must be mindful of what our planet has already endured. The industry’s monumental popularity means that abundant resources must be used for cultivating cannabis plants, extracting them, and purifying the molecules within for downstream product formulations. The burning question this panel provides answers for is how can we continue to grow sustainably?

You spend nearly 3 months producing the highest quality flower.  What happens next can make or break your profits. Join the experts as they chat about post-harvest practices.

Those looking forward to legalization and liberalization of the medical applications of psychedelics might want to consider the ethical and procedural roadblocks that are applied to existing medicines. These include approval subject to blind testing and trials, a la Health Canada and the FDA in the U.S., plus assurances of quality, safety and effectiveness. And what about the expunging of criminal records of psychedelic advocates from the Drug War years? This panel includes experts on drug legality and public health policy, who’ll predict how the rollout of psychedelic medicine can and should happen.

• The journey from seed to shelf – ND understands what goes into your product and what goes into ours
• Current state of packaging – How regulations affect the choices producers make. Challenges with materials, costs and keeping your products fresh.
• Working together - Why is packaging one of the last things producers think about but the first thing a consumer sees?
• Sustainability – the future of cannabis packaging

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ND SUPPLIES  

The hemp industry has ballooned in scale as CBD products are made and sold just about everywhere. One processing option that many product manufacturers and vendors have sought is for the THC native to hemp extracts and concentrates to be below levels of detection at 3rd party labs. While this can be achieved with organic solvent to make CBD isolate, there are other techniques that can be used for product remediation. Some of these technologies can remediate more than just THC, offering hope for those product manufacturers who have higher levels of contamination than what regulations allow. This panel will delve into the different ways to clean up products.

Since the Canadian legalization of Cannabis in October 2018, the industry has seen significant growth. The Federal laws are heavily weighted toward licensing, production, and cultivation requirements, quality, and testing requirements, with minimal environmental guidance. Although the legal requirements from an environmental standpoint for producers have not changed significantly since legalization, municipalities have been forced to deal with many nuisance complaints from area residents regarding odours, noise, dust, and light from production and cultivation operations. Municipalities in Ontario have passed by-laws to restrict facilities because of these nuisance issues. By far, odours have been the biggest challenge. Rosanna DiLabio with Pinchin will review the aspects and impacts of Cannabis operations with a focus on “nuisance” emissions, how they can be managed and outline odour control technology currently available. Vicki Hilborn with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will outline how nuisance concerns are being managed in rural areas of Ontario, what a “Good Neighbour Policy” is and will provide highlights about the odour research currently being supported by OMAFRA. Finally, you will hear from Richard Butler of Willms and Shier Environmental Lawyers about how legal agricultural protections apply to growers and what producers need to know about their environmental liabilities both from a civil and regulatory perspective. An interactive discussion and Q&A session will follow the presentations.

This session will review the different forms of intellectual property that are available to protect innovations in the fast growing field of psychedelics. In particular, this session will provide a detailed look at patenting psychedelic inventions and answer several questions:

• How important is it to secure a priority date for a new invention and when should a patent application be filed?
• What types of inventions can be protected – new derivatives; extraction of actives; medical use?
• What are the requirements for patentability?

Addressing pests and pathogens through a preventative lens can avoid quality losses and save money. Join the experts to discuss the value of scouting, the cannabis aphid, and the hop latent viroid.

• What it is?
• How it’s tested, what we see from the lab perspective?
• What it can look like?
• What it can do?
• How to get rid of it?
• How not to get it again?

Credit for the science of harvesting psychoactive plants goes to a relative few groundbreakers who’ve carried on their studies when they were actively opposed or dismissed. With a PhD in molecular biology and genetics, Canada’s Dr. Darryl Hudson has led the way in safe and environmentally friendly means of extracting medical molecules from cannabis and fungi. Dr. Alexzander Samuelsson is the Chief Research Officer for Havn Labs’ mycology lab and production facility in Jamaica. Together, they know more than virtually anyone in the field about the effects of “magic mushrooms” and how to best propagate and grow them. They’ll share their knowledge in this valuable session.  

Industry analysts are bullish about the financial potential of the psychedelic drug market, predicting North American sales of almost $7 billion by 2027. A continuing search for new and effective treatments for burgeoning mental illnesses fuels the confidence. On the other hand, new medicinal drugs can face more regulatory roadblocks than recreational ones. This panel, representing some of the most active companies in psychedelic research and development, will come up with a realistic timetable for the full greenlight for licensed psychoactive healing.

Did you know that investors are increasingly using ESG to evaluate the future success of companies? Do you know what your ESG values and policies are? Join Dr. Jon Thompson, Founder and CEO of extraktLAB, as he explains what Environmental, Social, and Governance policies actually are and how cannabis is leading the way as an example for other industries. In this talk you will learn how to articulate your company's ESG policies, add new ones to your repertoire, and be a model for the Sustainable Cannabis Industry.

What a cannabis plant needs and what you provide can be wildly different.  Join Greg Patterson (A&L Labs) for an in-depth look at matching your nutrient delivery to the plant stage and how timing and balance can lead to higher secondary metabolite production.

Cannabis product innovation in Canada is key for differentiation and continued growth. However, a range of challenges in the cannabis sector make product innovation a more difficult than traditional consume packaged goods. These challenges range from regulatory issues, diverse consumer occasion and need states, provincial retailer dynamics, evolving commercial pressures, etc.  The panel members hope to share their experience, expertise and lessons learned in bringing leading products to market from ideation to commercial roll out.

Since legalization in October 2018 many cannabis businesses have emerged and participated in the Canadian green rush.  Some have succeeded and some haven’t.  There are still opportunities to start a cannabis business in a smart, efficient and sustainable way after establishing a business plan there are  security, compliance and build out or renovation considerations. Hear from some of the industry’s top experts in security, compliance and building experts from their experiences and knowledge how to prepare, things to consider and where there are opportunities to leverage new and existing regulatory pathways to still thrive. Join us for this engaging and interactive discussion.

This session will provide a detailed look at marketing considerations for growers and licensed producers including:

• • Getting your brand off the ground
  • Standing out in a crowded market
  • Highlighting your personal brand
  • White labeling partnerships & supply chain considerations

With increasingly polluted skies and seas, and mounting garbage piles on land, our Earth continues to cry “Uncle.” Relentless packaging waste and the over extraction and burning of fossil fuels offer glimpses into the Earth’s banshee wail. Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and studies have demonstrated its contribution to rising, global temperatures. Thus, CO₂ exemplifies a notorious environmental villain. Due to its ostracization, CO₂ comes very cheap. It can be captured from industrial processes or by giant machines that exemplify innovation meant to change the world. Once captured, it can be repurposed for greener applications. By manipulating its temperature and pressure, supercritical CO₂ can be used for cleaning up soils, water, and removing organic contaminants from plastic waste so the garbage can be recycled. Repurposed CO₂ can supplant toxic chemicals used for dry cleaning, for medical device sterilization, and botanical extraction and purification. The villainous CO₂ can also be used for supercritical fluid chromatography, or SFC. This technique can be used for analytical or preparatory purposes. In analytical SFC, sCO₂ provides the mobile phase to enable analyte separation, replacing organic solvents like methanol and acetonitrile, both of which are health hazards that require remediation. SFC provides a powerful method for product purification, whether for separation of enantiomers (mirror-image molecules) in a racemic drug, remediating THC from federally legal hemp products, or purifying individual terpenes from an essential oil. As our Earth bakes and shudders, we can mitigate CO₂ generation and reform captured CO₂ for greater good. Nowhere is this more vital than in the soaring cannabis industry. Medicinal plant cultivation and product design should not further exploit our Earth.

Is it clones or tissue culture - The world of cannabis genetics continues to evolve with advancements having some benefits as well as drawbacks.  Join the experts as they talk about what's the future of cannabis genetics and touch upon topics like PM resistance; potency limits; hop latent viroid, as well as exciting new "strains".

The total cost of ownership of supercritical CO2 extraction is the least expensive and most environmentally sustainable methodology. However, one Achilles heel has been the cost of winterization afterwards for those looking to take extracts to distillates. Thar's 2019 patented WinterFlow™ process removes the need for EtOH and distillation in many applications.

Extracting cannabis plants typically doesn’t end with crude oil. Many times, product manufacturers embark on post-extraction processing strategies intended to remove undesirable ingredients from extracts like plant waxes and chlorophyll, and to concentrate cannabinoids and terpenes into products like distillate, shatter, or vape carts. There are various options in the extractor’s toolbox for purifying products, including traditional methods like winterization and distillation, but several other technologies have come into the fray. Our panelists will help make sense of the pros and cons of these options, and what implementing a specific strategy today might mean for your business tomorrow.

Vantage Hemp was assessed and certified on April 13th 2021 for:

• Q7 Good Manufacturing Practices - Guidance for Industry, Q7 Good Manufacturing Practice Guidance for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
• WHO GMP for Pharmaceutical Products

For the following activities:

• Biomass decarboxylation, Supercritical CO2, Hydrocarbon extraction, winterization, distillation and crystallization of CBD derived from hemp
• Certificate stays valid for 3 years and remains valid subject to satisfactory surveillance audits

It seems like a no-brainer - when you use words like organic, regenerative, no-till to describe your growing techniques - it sounds sustainable. But is it? Join the experts to discuss ways to move LSO into a regenerative future.

When building or expanding an indoor farm, multiple factors impact whether it’s more profitable to add tiers to existing cultivation rooms or increase footprint. In this session, we use data from real projects to first breakout the cost of building an indoor farm. Then, we use that model to illustrate the myriad of factors that building designers should consider when asking the question “should we add more tiers or increase footprint." We leave sufficient time for the audience to ask question and share their thoughts.

How can one utilize data analytics and various in-process analytical tools to optimize extraction operations? Cannabis extraction at its current status is inefficient and uncontrolled, even if the artist tells you that they make the best s**t.

Aside from regulatory testing, there are a multitude of other analytical tools and testing points in the extraction value chain, where testing will offer a more comprehensive picture for the operator.

Even with all this data, little can be done to improve the extraction process. For this data science is need. From simple linear regressions, via multifactorial optimization, all the way to Machine Learning and AI, those tools become more important and slowly find their way onto the production floor.

We want to discuss the current problems and needs of a cannabis producer and present possible solutions that Machine Learning can bring.

This session will highlight aspects of the craft cannabis industry, specifically, in regards to what methods and process’ define a craft model, and how those aspects will not only define that products quality, but overall value as well. Matthew will discuss the importance of a quality driven market and talk about why it so important, not just for an overall healthy cannabis market, but particularly for those seeking cannabis for its therapeutic use.    

Key Take-Aways:
• • Concept of Craft cannabis and what defines it, as well as a more comprehensive understanding of why quality matters and what it has to offer, especially when it is being used therapeutically.
  • A more comprehensive understanding of some of the choices that go into a craft process model, and set a framework for how these process methodologies influence both quality and overall value of the product being consumed.
  • To help illuminate some of the most important aspect of what goes into a healthy quality driven craft cannabis market, and why it is essential to a strong Canadian legacy, as well as the numerous patients who seek this plant therapeutically.