2023 Cannabis Industry Power Players

Corey Ortega is an executive-level political strategist and government affairs professional with nearly two decades of advocacy, campaign and government relations experience with New York officials on both municipal and state level. He has successfully advanced and protected the interests of multiple clients including small businesses, elected officials, candidates, political parties, membership organizations and businesses through developing and executing comprehensive strategic plans, conducting stakeholder engagement, providing policy recommendations, building partnerships and negotiations.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
There’s no surprise that the cannabis industry carries some stigma. It’s the same stigma that led to the War on Drugs which claimed countless Black and Brown people as casualties while giving birth to a legacy market now searching for its place in a new ecosystem. We can change this however through education, challenging conversations and strategic partnerships united around the mission of uplifting our communities. 

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
Our industry should focus on finding the most effective and innovative means to educate New Yorkers about our products and how they will be impacted by them. We should also prioritize continued support for research efforts conducted by scientists and medical professionals to further understand the health benefits of cannabis. 

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
In a decade, our industry ideally will be multi-generational, multicultural and multi-ethnic and overflowing with ideas and competition. Consumers and non-consumers, alike, will see our industry as a vital part of the city and state’s economic ecosystem that creates jobs and offers many a shot at living the American Dream.

Hillary Peckham is chief operations officer of Etain, New York’s only family-run, women-owned and -operated medical marijuana company. Hillary oversees production, formulation and extraction, as well as dispensary operations and patient education. Hillary has managed the rapid rollout of Etain’s successful manufacturing and dispensing operations throughout the state since 2015, when Etain was one of the original five medical marijuana licensees in New York.

Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes is the first woman and first African-American in history to hold the office of New York State Assembly majority leader. Majority Leader People-Stokes is a member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus and Legislative Women’s Caucus. In 2021, Peoples-Stokes sponsored and passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MTRA).

Frank Perullo as strategic advisor and co-founder of Ascend Wellness Holdings,a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator focused on bettering lives through cannabis. Mr. Perullo’s leadership has been key to AWH’s impressive growth trajectory and brand success. Mr. Perullo spent his first three years with AWH as chief strategy officer, during which time he spearheaded the company’s retail expansion strategy and built out their footprint. Previously, Mr. Perullo served as a strategic consultant for multinational corporations. 

Steven Phan is an entrepreneur, cannabis advocate, and educator originally from San Francisco. His entrepreneurial journey began with the creation of a lifestyle brand called QuadDeuceNil, Latin for 420, which was founded with the intention to encapsulate the culture and legalization efforts of the New York City cannabis community. Shortly after, he opened Come Back Daily, NYC’s most-trusted CBD education and retail hub. At the start of 2023, Steven co-founded Lettuce Print, a full-service print and design company. 

Ronit Pinto is the publisher and founder of Honeysuckle Media, a CLIO and social justice award-winning print, digital, creative and OOH platform, exploring gender, sexuality, racial politics, plant medicine, environment and pop culture. Ronit began Honeysuckle in Detroit, now in NYC, as a source for encouraging hope in extraordinary circumstances. Ronit was the first in history to place cannabis and hemp brands on Times Square billboards and has pioneered several initiatives in cannabis culture.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
Yes, absolutely. It’s shocking to me, but it exists. I overcome it by ignoring it to certain degrees. Clearly, I am aware of certain parameters and attitudes but at the end of the day it doesn’t affect what I do, only the outcome. I’ve had to push hard, at points. It’s my aim to normalize it as much as possible and bring out the fun, cultural aspects the plant and plant culture can bring. 

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
We can look at real life case studies. Who has benefited: veterans, addicts, cancer patients, epileptics, chronic pain, elderly, athletes. Cannabis is a clear solution to pharmaceuticals, and can replace dozens of pills that make people suicidal and obese. Formalizing these case studies and bringing in real life testimonials would help. In terms of risks, I would encourage the same. The plant affects different people in different ways depending on our chemistries and other factors. 

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
Hopefully a really cool industry with customized places for different people to consume with different interiors, tech and aesthetics. Kind of like NYC bars, hotels, and restaurants, but with weed!

Carlene Pinto is a social entrepreneur with a decade of campaign experience. She founded New York City Action Lab in 2018 to support movement makers in social justice efforts nationwide. In 2022, she co-founded Latinas Grow to provide access to licensing and entrepreneurial opportunities. Pinto was named Woman of Distinction by the NYS Senate in 2016 and recognized as one of the Top 50 Powerful People in Community by City & State Magazine in 2021.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
Cannabis is a polarizing issue in our communities because of the violent impacts experienced during the war on drugs. The negative stigmas are fueled by misinformation. We work to address the spectrum of stigmas by prioritizing bilingual access, working with womxn, and elevating local and legacy brands to ensure communities come first in our state’s legalization rollout. We want to help communities re-envision their relationship to the plant so we can grow together.

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
The cannabis industry should be investing in helping healthcare professionals and academics in broad education initiatives that work with groups like ours because there is a lot that NYers don’t know. By providing educational resources that include medicinal information, consumer guides to legal dispensaries and workforce development opportunities communities most marginalized can start to claim their seats at the table.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
I don’t see it as an equitable and accessible playing field for impacted folx. Despite the regulators and legislative champions of the MRTA intending to prioritize impacted applicants and communities, the CAURD program has countless barriers to entry after receiving a license, and without adequate support from the state, many of the first licensees in this industry are set up to fail.

Jon Purow is an attorney at Zuber Lawler, where he focuses on assisting cannabis clients in New York and elsewhere with regulatory matters.  He also assists cannabis clients with intellectual property matters, including helping clients select, protect, expand and license their cannabis brands.  Outside his legal work, he hosts the podcast “Cannabis Last Week”, featuring news, analysis and interviews with industry luminaries, and serves as the secretary of the national Cannabis Beverage Association.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
I think there is a residual stigma around the cannabis industry due to decades of the inequitable War on Drugs. The industry can overcome this by 1) showing the good that can be done via social equity measures, 2) continuing medical research that will show the incredible medical benefits from the plant (e.g. potentially curing certain types of cancer), and 3) normalizing cannabis through on-site consumption, which will reveal it is less harmful than alcohol.

How can the cannabis industry work with health care and academic professionals to educate consumers about the benefits and risks of cannabis use?
I think that there simply need to be partnerships built into the industry for those who are in a position to educate about the benefits and risks of cannabis to have a platform to share this knowledge.  I think that this information should be disseminated both online (e.g. on retailer websites) as well as through in-person events.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
I think that 10 years from now the expected hiccups that we have seen in other states will hopefully be resolved in New York.  I think that there will be a vibrant cannabis industry in the financial and media capital of the world, and on-site consumption in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world will be a beacon of what the industry can accomplish.

Jessica Ramos represents New York’s 13th District in the state senate, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, & part of Rego Park. Ramos chairs the senate committee on labor, where she’s fought to pass historic legislation to grant farm & domestic workers basic labor protections, tackle wage theft and worker safety, and secured $2.1B to create a fund for workers who have been excluded from pandemic-related relief.

Ben is an experienced attorney who leads the cannabis practice at Cermele & Wood LLP. He routinely advises clients about complicated statutory and regulatory interpretation and compliance. He has been integral in preparing cannabis license applications for his clients and helping them launch their  businesses and brands. Ben also negotiates real estate deals and uses his background as a litigator to nip problems in the bud.

Do you think there is a stigma around working in the cannabis industry and if so how do you work to overcome it?
Yes. Overcoming the stigma requires us to change perceptions about the plant and who consumes it. I think people would be surprised to learn how widespread cannabis use is among adults who do not fit the stereotypical pot user. Being open about one’s consumption habits and why a person chooses to consume cannabis can be very powerful. My appreciation for the benefits of cannabis began when I started using CBD to treat soreness after running.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in New York 10 years from now?
Leading the United States. We’ll have iconic brands and innovative products that people all over the country will want. As the saying goes, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.