Cardinal News will present an educational conference on cannabis Oct. 15 in partnership with Roanoke College in Salem.
Virginia is the only state where personal possession of small amounts of cannabis is legal, but retail sales are not. The theme of the day-long conference is “Confused about cannabis?” and will feature speakers who will address the political, economic, health and legal aspects of cannabis.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Jeremy Preiss, acting head and chief officer of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority
- State health commissioner Karen Shelton
- Chuck Slemp, currently chief deputy attorney general
- Kyle Kilgore, Scott County commonwealth’s attorney
- Tahir Johnson, president of the Minority Cannabis Business Association
- Chelsea Higgs Wise, Marijuana Justice
- Jason Blanchette, Virginia Cannabis Association
- Cat Packer, Drug Policy Alliance
- Sabrina Bergen, American Bankers Association
- Multiple state legislators from both parties
- Researchers from the Fralin Biomedical Institute, the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University and Temple University.
“Cardinal News is pleased to present our first daylong conference where we can take a deep dive into a topic and explore the issues from various angles, as we do with our news stories. Everyone has questions about cannabis — whether about legalities, banking, job opportunities, medical treatments or addictive elements — and we are seeking to provide answers,” said Luanne Rife, executive director.
Roanoke College is partnering with Cardinal News to provide the space for the conference.
“As the first institution of higher education in Virginia to offer an academic degree in this rapidly growing field, Roanoke College set a goal to improve understanding and application of knowledge around cannabis,” said Rita Farlow, vice president of marketing and communications for Roanoke College. “This conference with Cardinal News is a wonderful opportunity to discuss the science, public policy and business of this developing industry with leaders from across the commonwealth.”
Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is also helping to smooth logistics for those traveling to the Roanoke Valley, and sponsorship opportunities are available. The conference is expected to attract participants from across Virginia, but space is limited. More information about the program, sponsorships and early bird registrations are available now. To take advantage of a $25 discount off the $150 ticket, use the promo code “early bird” before Aug. 1.
