Marcus Richardson has been an entrepreneur interested in medicinal cannabis extraction and hemp cultivation since 1993. He is renowned for his cannabis macro photography pieces, which have been purchased by National Geographic and others. He helped pioneer hemp growing in Manitoba for the first time in 73 years and was one of the first growers for the BC compassion club in Vancouver back in 1998.
Marcus is the owner of Freshheadies, Ltd., which popularized the water extraction method with its groundbreaking eight-bag water extraction kits. His products and writing have been featured in countless magazines, and he continues to educate the public about the use and extraction of cannabinoids for medicinal needs today with his popular Weekly Live Stream on YouTube, “Hash Church”. Marcus’ next goal is a research and development company based in Kingston, Jamaica. It will analyze and study the cannabinoid profiles of cultivars bred by Master Breeders and processed by Marcus and his team. He has also recently signed a deal in California to have his Bubbleman Branded Hash and Rosins sold throughout the state. Additionally, the Bubbleman brand has expanded into Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, Arizona, Washington, and Colorado.
Jim Belushi is the founder of Belushi’s Farm cannabis, where his sprawling and spiritual 93 acres along the Rogue River plays home to a range of offerings— Chasing Magic (Jim’s Secret Stash), to The Blues Brothers, to Captain Jack’s Gulzar Afghanica, a rare strain from the Hindu Kush region that became known in the ‘70s as “The Smell of SNL,” and now GROWING BELUSHI, a series on Discovery. GROWING BELUSHI takes Discovery’s audiences inside Jim’s world and shows the incredible effort it takes to build a legal cannabis operation. Having suffered the loss of his brother John to an overdose and his own journey, learning and healing through cultivating cannabis, Jim’s a passionate proponent of the plant’s beneficial properties across a spectrum of uses. From enhancing joy and quality of life, mitigating trauma and managing pain, to a harm reduction approach and rebuttal of the opioid abuse epidemic, Jim advocates for patient rights and adult-use legalization while empowering craft farmers to thrive in economies of scale.
A seasoned Second City and Saturday Night Live alumni, Jim’s starred in a selection of critically acclaimed movies ranging from Trading Places to Wonder Wheel, working with famed directors like Oliver Stone, Roman Polanski, David Lynch and Michael Mann. He’s also served as an executive producer, music composer, director, book author, and Broadway star. His own television show, According to Jim, aired for 182 episodes during eight seasons with the family favorite launching into off-net syndication. Along with Larry Joe Campbell and other talented Second City alum, Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy perform improv sketch comedy at colleges, clubs, performing arts centers and venues nationwide. And, together with Dan Aykroyd, Jim tours the globe as Brother Zee of the iconic Blues Brothers. Additionally, Jim headlines his own music group The Sacred Hearts, which is the official house band for the House of Blues brand of venues.
With 42 years in the public eye and Jim’s professional career further inspired by the beauty and healing power of cannabis, Jim is actively engaged in several projects benefiting the region around Belushi’s Farm and beyond. In Medford, Jim is helping reconstruct the historic Holly Theater to bring the 1930s Spanish Colonial movie palace back to life as Southern Oregon’s largest indoor concert venue. In Eagle Point, Jim is assisting with the reconstruction of The Butte Creek Mill, destroyed in a 2016 electrical fire, to preserve its heritage, build community, and improve the environment. And where Jim looks to have the most profound impact, he’s working vigorously with scientists and the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission and Portland City Council to create an opioid trade program where Veterans, the infirmed, downtrodden and addicted can have a place for healing for low to no cost. Additionally, Jim’s on the board of the Last Prisoner Project, a coalition of cannabis industry leaders, executives and artists dedicated to bringing restorative justice to the cannabis industry.
In the words of Dan Aykroyd, “if John had been a pothead, he’d still be alive today.”
Dominique Laverdure has more than twenty years of marketing and communications experience, overseeing both strategy
With over 25 years of experience with public, private and non-profit clients, Dominique Laverdure has developed integrated
communications and marketing strategies for Quebec’s top brands. In 2004, she left the big city life in Montreal and founded Rouge marketing in Mont-Tremblant. Since then, the agency established a strong reputation in Quebec and in France, thus
bringing its sought-after know-how to Europe.
Dominique is a multidisciplinary strategist who understands the complexity and challenges of generating business value.
Adept at communicating strategies and business propositions effectively, she is a high-profile business leader with a solid
expertise in marketing communication, public relations, and business development.
As a positive and committed visionary, Dominique is driven by business opportunities, and determined to support
entrepreneurs in their growth and outreach. On a daily basis, she inspires leaders and mobilizes teams by sparking their
creativity and encouraging them to break out of conventional thinking. She embraces a collaborative approach to ignite
passion in people to work towards a common goal. Dominique keeps abreast of current trends and challenges related to
the business market and the public sector. She studies the relationships between entrepreneurs, municipal institutions and
political organizations, and identifies the opportunities that arise from their complex interconnections.
Dominique has been a member of the EO Montreal organization for over 5 years and serves as President of its business
network for a second term. She also acts as a Member Experience Director on the Board of EO Canada, and as a mentor to
several start-up entrepreneurs.
Dominique is also a board member of Origine Nature, a company specializing in the production and sale of recreational
cannabis, where she holds the position of VP Marketing.
Moreover, Dominique is a board member of the Conseil de gestion de l’assurance parentale du Québec since May 2018. She
is also on the board of directors of The Chambers of Commerce Insurance Corporation of Canada since February 2018.
Interested in social issues and the value of giving back to her community, Dominique holds the role of President of Domaine
Saint-Bernard, an ecotourism park in Mont-Tremblant. She is also the founder and President of Chefs à la rescousse, an NPO
launched in the spring of 2020, amid the pandemic.
On November 7, 2021, Dominique officially became a councillor for the City of Mont-Tremblant. She also acts as deputy mayor.
Dominique is a born leader with a bold and daring style. She dares to be brave, to step over the line, to innovate, to surround
herself with exceptional talent, to take risks in some of her business decisions, to change the corporate culture, to offer
freedom to her team, to redefine the client approach… Above all, Dominique dares to succeed.
AD LUCEM LAW CORPORATION was founded in 2013 by Robert W.E. Laurie, an international lawyer qualified in England and called to the British Columbia Bar. Robert’s legal practice focuses on commercial business, government, regulatory issues, and charter and constitutional legalities surrounding cannabis and psychedelic plant medicines. Robert has many years of policy development, legal practice in corporate, commercial, and administrative law, and licensing, regulatory, and constitutional charter experience concerning medical access to cannabis and psilocybin. As a lawyer in Canada, Robert works to reform drug laws. As a consultant, he devises regulatory, government policy, and business solutions for global companies in the regulated food, cannabis, and psychedelic industries. Robert is a board advisor to the Psychedelic Association of Canada, the Last Prisoner Project, and formerly with MAPS (Canada). In addition, Robert is an advisor to the Heroic Hearts Project, a founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, and an Ecuador Amazon Restoration Project director.
Robert has been working and advocating tirelessly as a lawyer to improve medical patient access to cannabis, psychedelics, and sacred plant medicines and facilitate drug laws to better society. Robert advised Dr. Bruce Tobin and the TheraPsil Alliance litigation team (first Section 56 CDSA medical exemption for psilocybin in Canada). He was one of the Decriminalize Nature Canada Petition drafters, part of a national campaign to decriminalize restricted plant medicines and fungi in Canada. His goal is to help provide more options for doctors and treatments for anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD. Robert is an acclaimed international speaker, presenting at conferences and events on the laws surrounding cannabis, psychedelic, and entheogenic medicines in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Genevieve is the Head Grower & Director of Cultivation at Stewart Farms. She is transplanted to the East Coast of Canada, from Alberta. She grew up around southern Saskatchewan, moving to Edmonton Alberta in summer 2003 to finish her social work studies at the U of A. After retiring from social work in the summer of 2018, she jumped right into the newly forming legal cannabis industry. Today she is successfully managing the Stewart Farms aquaponics-living soil facility in St. Stephen, NB as well as 4 partnered micro-cultivation sites in New Brunswick & Nova Scotia.
She has won multiple awards for her craft cannabis and was most recently honoured at the 2022 Grow up Conference & Expo in Niagara. Stewart Farms and her chosen cultivar Daily Grape won 3rd place in Canada’s first legal Cannabis Cup. Previously a Cup winner at Hempfest Canada 2021 for growing the highest CBD flower, highest THC flower as well as placing 1st for Top Female Grower. She has facilitated numerous educational podcasts and info sessions, and spend her free time teaching, mentoring and consulting others in cannabis cultivation, infusions and consumption.
She is an impassioned believer in growing for business and pleasure, and to date has grown over 300 different cannabis cultivars. She is truly invested in helping create safe places and safe communities for cannabis industry workers and enthusiasts. She is constantly striving to grow and develop the best craft cannabis on the Canadian market and change the negative way people still think about cannabis today.
A rising star in Canadian industry, Alexandre Gauthier heads the cultivation team at Origine Nature and is also the Vice-president of R&D. Passionate about the plant and curious to unravel all its mysteries, Alexandre has been involved in the industry since the legalization of cannabis for medical use. His career experience has enabled him to achieve the rank of Master Grower. Alexandre is recognized for having helped several organizations to produce and sell superior quality cannabis, while ensuring irreproachable traceability. In 2022, Alexandre is name Top Grower of the year at the Canada’s top Grower Awards, just another recognition that highlights his deep passion and knowledge of this plant.
Adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia School of Population
and Public Health.
Was Executive Director of MAPS Canada (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) for 10 years.
Has published on the issue of drug control policy and psychedelics in the following Journals:
Canadian Journal of Public Health,
International Journal of Drug Policy,
Encyclopaedia of Public Health
Harm Reduction Journal
Open Medicine
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Obtained an MSW from UBC
Worked for the Addiction Services for 28 years in counselling and supervisory roles.
Has provided public education on drugs and drug policy for over 30 years.
Worked with the Health Officers Council of British Columbia on their position papers on the issue of a regulated market for all currently illegal drugs.
Has presented in conferences and training events in many countries
Awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for drug policy reform work in 2013.
Raine Maida has successfully and passionately blurred the lines between music, tech and humanitarianism for the past two decades . A 4 Time Juno award winning artist fronting the multi platinum selling alt rock band OurLadyPeace, Raine has also written & produced hits for internationally acclaimed artists Carrie Underwood, Pink, Kid Inc , USS, Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson.
A calculated risk taker with deep industry knowledge Raine has spent the past 10 years building & developing solutions on the technology side to help support creators during the paradigm shift to digital & beyond. From SaaS Geo marketing applications to Live Streaming platforms to Blockchain, Raine applies the same holistic approach to music to his technology endeavors. He brings his unique blend of critical and creative thinking to all aspects of building sustainable companies & product.
Raine is currently a co-founder & director of LoopPool, a forward thinking, artist fronted Cannabis company.
He is also Chief Product Officer of S!NG & a co-founder of The S!NG MKRT & S!NG Lab, a Seattle based Blockchain company for creators in the intellectual property & NFT space.
At the core of all Raine Maida’s pursuits is his desire to be vigilant, conscious & aware which has been highlighted by his humanitarian efforts which have garnered him multiple distinctions including the prestigious Tiffany Mark award in 2014 culminating In 2016 when he was appointed to The Order Of Canada, his home country’s highest honor.
Spencer was first introduced to healing psychological trauma with altered states of consciousness and therapeutic psychedelics from reading the work of Terrence McKenna, Rick Strassman, and Carl Jung and believes that these methods need to be treated seriously by governments and institutions. Spencer believes that responsible drug policy requires effective organization and leadership and is dedicated to bringing together the experts and advocates, to facilitate change that results in increased access to compassionate care, harm reduction, and treatment options for those in need. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is a reasonable treatment option for palliative patients in end-of-life distress and is where we need to begin.
Atiyyah is a speaker, educator, and thought leader in the international cannabis space. A plant scientist by training, she entered the Canadian cannabis industry in 2018 as a Tissue Culture Lab Manager. In 2020, she founded AgCann Consultancy, a consulting firm specializing in the development and optimization of operations, quality assurance, and tissue culture processes in emerging markets. She has worked with clients across five continents and is passionate about the globalization of the cannabis industry.
Atiyyah is a trained pharmaceutical systems auditor and Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional (CPGP) who is committed to instilling quality throughout the cannabis supply chain. She recently founded the International Cannabis Quality Standards Association (ICQSA), a not-for-profit dedicated to the development of industry best practices and policy advisement.
Recent Comments