Iconic actor, best-selling author, Grammy Award-winning comedian, activist and America’s sweetheart of Cannabis Tommy Chong is legendary for his invaluable contribution to American counter-culture as part of the iconic comedy duo Cheech & Chong, and with a name synonymous with cannabis, has launched his own line of personally hand selected products under the umbrella of his brand TOMMY CHONG’S CANNABIS (https://tommychong.com/) and a duo brand with his long-time partner, Cheech Marin – CHEECH & CHONG’S CANNABIS (https://www.cheechandchongscannabis.com/) Using his lifelong connections in the industry, he has made it his personal mission to share the very best product available with his fans and fellow herb connoisseurs. If anyone knows weed, it’s Tommy, and now fans of comedy and cannabis alike can experience the strains and products that Tommy himself has tried and given his stamp approval in weed legal states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Michigan, Washington and more!
Tommy is perhaps best known as one-half of the legendary cannabis-fueled comedy duo Cheech & Chong which minted six gold records and released eight films during their reign, for which Chong also co-wrote and directed. Cheech & Chong defined an era, pioneering a unique brand of “stoner-comedy” which has remained at the forefront for decades since with their hilariously irreverent, satirical, no-holds-barred comedy routines. Their stunningly successful comedy streak transitioned to the film UP IN SMOKE, the highest grossing comedy of the time topping $100 million at the box office. Chong is also highly recognizable from his role as the aging hippie photo store worker “Leo” on FOX’s “That 70’s Show.”
After a nine-month prison sentence in 2004 for shipping bongs to Pennsylvania, the comic became a passionate advocate for cannabis freedom and fairness. In a time where cannabis had to be talked about in whispers, Tommy was a loud voice for the advocacy movement, working tirelessly to destigmatize the use of this healing plant. Now that society has moved in a more positive direction regarding the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis, Tommy’s voice continues to ring out loudly, touting its benefits and place in society. In 2012, Chong announced he was battling prostate cancer a decided to combat his illness with a controversial cannabis oil protocol. After an effective treatment, his cancer returned in 2015, and at nearly 80 years old is still standing and advocating for the incredible healing benefits of cannabis. He continues to be an outspoken advocate for cannabis, which he credits for supporting his healthy and active lifestyle.
Nafisa Subedar is a purpose-driven sales and growth strategist with nearly a decade of experience shaping the legal cannabis industry in Canada and the United States. Currently serving as Regional Growth & Sales Consultant – Canada & USA at Emerald Lane Recruitment, Nafisa connects LP & MSO with top-tier talent. With Emerald Lane operating across five continents and 11 countries, her work directly supports the advancement of legal industries through a people-first approach—something deeply aligned with her personal mission to help build a better, more inclusive, and responsible cannabis ecosystem.
Nafisa’s journey into cannabis began in 2016, inspired by her own experience with alternative pain management following a serious car accident. Leaving behind a career in pharmaceuticals, she embraced a new path with a focus on wellness, advocacy, and meaningful industry change. She began as a Contract Medical Sales Manager, working closely with healthcare professionals to champion cannabis as a therapeutic solution. This grassroots approach set the tone for a career grounded in education, relationship-building, and long-term value creation.
As National Sales Manager at Blissco Cannabis, Nafisa led the launch of 21 SKUs into the Canadian market—efforts that helped build the brand’s national presence and ultimately contributed to its acquisition by Supreme Cannabis in 2020. Her leadership roles since then—including Account Executive at The Blinc Group (NY) and Director of National Sales at Canna Brand Solutions—have spanned the vape tech, B2B, and hardware distribution spaces, where she continued to deepen her expertise in supply chains, compliance, and sales strategy. Further solidified her reputation as a trusted partner in bringing cannabis technologies like CCELL to the Canadian market.
In her current role at Emerald Lane, Nafisa works with organizations across the U.S. and Canada, helping them scale strategically by hiring for impact. Emerald Lane’s global, people-first philosophy is a natural fit for Nafisa, who believes that true growth starts with the right people—and the right values.
Beyond her sales and recruitment accomplishments, Nafisa has become a respected voice in the industry. She has spoken at major cannabis conferences including Lift Expo (2019), Grow Up Conference, and other leading events across North America. She’s been featured on multiple industry podcasts and interviewed in cannabis-focused publications, sharing her insights on topics like Cannabis Vapes, female leadership, cannabis wellness, ethical growth, and the future of legal markets.
With a diverse background that also includes roles at Mead Johnson Nutrition, Dyson, She’s FIT!, and Fido Solutions, Nafisa brings a well-rounded perspective to the table—blending consumer brand experience with deep cannabis industry expertise.
Her continued passion, integrity, and resilience have earned her a reputation as not just a sales leader, but a trusted advocate for positive change. Whether helping build brands or build teams, Nafisa’s work is rooted in the belief: people come first, and when they’re empowered, industries thrive.
Antuanette is an International Speaker and Cannabis Business Maven. She is the owner of Pleasure Peaks a Hemp CBD sexual wellness line in the USA, and co-founder and CEO of Peak Pharm Labs, a Cannabinoid Sexual Health Company (licensed medical cannabis company in Canada). She is also the Director of Canada at M4MM (Director of Canada for Minorities 4 Medical Marijuanna) . And mentors many startups in the emerging cannabis industry globally within the legal framework through her business accelerator, the Green Rush Program. Her passion and love for uplifting entrepreneurs shows in her everyday life. For the past 10 years, she has been helping people find passionate careers in the cannabis industry. With an extensive background in executive work and medical cannabis education, she has a thorough understanding of the cannabis market and knows what it takes to navigate the legal framework. Her background in cannabis stems from working as a holistic nutrironist at chronic pain clinics focusing on sexual health ailmemts. She has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar, made it to the Top 50 Toronto Life’s Most Influential list, and has been seen on Breakfast Television, FLARE, Forbes, VICE, Elle Magazine, Cannabis Radio and so much more.
Dr. Céline C.S. Nicole-de Groot is a researcher at Philips since 2001 and program leader for the indoor farming research in the Netherlands. She has expertise in physics, chemistry, thermodynamics, plant sciences, and light and sensing technology. The last 14 years, she has accumulated expertise in light for greenhouse and indoor horticulture. She is specialized in Cannabis research since 2018 where she coordinates open innovation and University research.
Erin Butler is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Global Cannabis Exchange (GCX) group of companies, which includes the Canadian Cannabis Exchange (CCX), the largest cannabis brokerage in Canada. Through its network of platforms, GCX is building a truly international exchange for cannabis and hemp, connecting producers, processors, and buyers across Canada, Europe, and emerging global markets. CCX, as the Canadian market leader, anchors this network, while GCX extends the model globally, supporting cross-border trade and professionalizing the wholesale cannabis industry.
Erin is a seasoned financial executive recognized for her strategic acumen and leadership. As CFO, she drives the group’s financial strategy, strengthens operational performance, and leads initiatives that enhance transparency and sustainable growth, positioning GCX as a leader in the global cannabis trade. She has presented unique wholesale market data and insights to industry stakeholders and regulators across Canada and Europe, shaping the dialogue around pricing, supply dynamics, and international trade.
Mike has a decade of experience crafting some of the best legacy hash in Canada.
Our craft focused BIG Concentrates brand is a category leader across Canada in concentrate sales that produces and sells its own hand-crafted solvent less live rosin, and supplies quality live resin and BIG Diamonds through regulated markets in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, PEI and Quebec -BIG is a top selling live rosin and diamond brand in Ontario and Alberta.
Belle was the apprentice of late master hashishin Frenchy Cannoli. She first met Frenchy in 2012 through her brother, Leo Stone of Aficionado Mendocino, who had connected with him after Aficionado won first place in the flower category at the Emerald Cup – a victory that would ultimately change both siblings’ lives forever.
With over 18 years of experience in the cannabis industry, Pete Shearer is a seasoned professional with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. He is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Shearer Consulting, where he provides commercialization consulting to the Canadian cannabis industry.
Pete’s career began with consulting on the design, construction, and operation of numerous MMAR medical cannabis facilities. As the commercial medical cannabis regulations (MMPR) were introduced in 2013, Pete became the principal consultant at Shearer Consulting, where he advised cannabis companies on cultivation and genetics strategies.
In 2018, Pete joined The Supreme Cannabis Company as Director of Product Development and Planning. During his time at Supreme, he developed The Shearer Grading Scale™, a sensory-based system to evaluate and grade the quality of dried cannabis flower. Pete also led Supreme’s product innovation strategies, authoring and presenting consumer and trade education initiatives.
In 2020, Pete was recruited by the Ontario Cannabis Store as Senior Category Manager for Dried Flower. While at OCS, he managed the rapidly growing assortment of new products and vendors, and authored the Ontario Craft Cannabis Designation.
Pete’s latest role was as VP Product Development at Blaise Brand Partners, where he led commercialization strategy development for BBP clients.
In May of 2022, he returned to Shearer Consulting as Principal Consultant, continuing to provide commercialization consulting to the Canadian cannabis industry.
David (Dedi) Meiri, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Biology at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and a member of the Technion Integrated Cancer Center (TICC). Dr. Meiri’s scientific background is highly diverse. He holds a M.Sc. in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in plant biotechnology from Tel Aviv University. Dr. Meiri conducted his post-doctoral fellowship at the Ontario Cancer Institute where he focused on the role of the GEF-H1 protein in tumor invasion and metastasis. During his post-doctoral studies, he expanded his knowledge in human biology and cancer pathogenesis and succeeded within a very short time frame to receive worldwide recognition as an expert in the fields of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and small GTPases. Upon completion of his post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Meiri took a position at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, where he heads the “Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research”.
Presently, his lab investigates the therapeutic potential of phytocannabinoids, the unique active compounds of the Cannabis sativa plant. On top of other research being conducted in the lab, the main focus of his research is to determine the antitumor effects of cannabinoids, including the anti-metastatic and pro-apoptotic effects of phytocannabinoids.
In addition to the laboratory cannabis research performed on-site, Dr. Meiri collaborates with cannabis growers, clinicians, major manufacturers and distributors of medical cannabis for the purpose of revolutionizing cannabis treatment. He is operating the “Cannabis Database Project” and his lab is currently involved in eight clinical trials covering diverse aspects of cannabis treatment such as colon disease, pain prevention, cancer treatment and epilepsy.
Dr. Meiri is also highly involved in governmental regulations and is a residing member in several Israeli Ministry of Health committees which seek to advance the fundamental understanding of optimal cannabis usage and minimization of adverse side effects.
George Smitherman brings cannabis sector expertise alongside four decades of political and governmental service at the local, provincial and national level including roles as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Toronto and as a senior assistant to Provincial and Federal ministers.
During 10 years of elected service – beginning in 1999 – Smitherman gained distinction as the first openly gay member of the Ontario Legislature, as the longest serving Minister of Health and with his appointment as Deputy Premier. During his tenure as a senior government minister, George passed 10 pieces of legislation and was responsible for the allocation of more than $200 Billion – including managing Ontario’s participation in the infrastructure stimulus program – stemming from the 2008 global financial crisis.
Following his 2010 loss in a race for Toronto Mayor, George has been focused on building businesses and supporting his growing family. As a founder of three companies and as a Director of several public companies, George has worked to leverage his broad sectoral knowledge in order to build value for shareholders and customers.
Since 2014, George’s primary focus has been in the cannabis sector where he led the development of a cannabis licence application under the MMPR regulations, latterly he served as a Director to two small cannabis LP’s and most recently worked in a corporate role for an LP.
George was widowed in 2013 and left to raise two small children. George was remarried in 2017 to Rolando Salomon Laurencio. Together with Michael (2008) and Kayla (2010) the family enjoys time in Toronto and occasionally Havana.
In the community, George’s primary advocacy has been related to HIV / AIDs, where George first encountered the benefits of medicinal cannabis in the 1990s.
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