Schedule For February 1 Cannabis Resource Fair At UIC

KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION (10:15 AM – 11:00 AM)

Featuring:

  •  Mayor Lightfoot

  •  Wanda James, Founder & CEO, Simply Pure Dispensary and State Representative

  •  Kelly Cassidy, House Sponsor of the Cannabis Regulation & Tax Act

KEYNOTE CANNABIS 101 & KNOW YOUR RIGHTS (11:15AM – 12:15PM)

An explanation of all things pertaining to cannabis legalization, including the current state of the industry, key provisions of legalization, upcoming dates to be aware of, and consumer rights.

Featuring:

  •  Toi Hutchison, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Cannabis Control

  •  Richard Wallace, PURE Cannabis Coalition

  •  Mony Ruiz-Velasco, Executive Director of PASO–West Suburban Action Project

PANEL 2: I WANT TO START A BUSINESS IN THE INDUSTRY (11:15AM – 12:15PM)

Overview of how to start a cannabis business in Illinois, whether it be a dispensary, craft growing operation, or another entity. This panel will discuss the process of starting a cannabis business, including the State’s licensure process.

Featuring:

  • Alma Tello, Deputy Director for the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) at the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

  • Anton Seals, Founder, OURS LLC

  • Jamil Taylor, Director of Operations & Business Development, ViolaKevin Slaughter, partner in the Corporate Practice Group of Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC

  • Jeff Cox, Bureau Chief of Medicinal Plants at the Illinois Department of Agriculture

PANEL 3: EXPUNGEMENT (12:30PM – 1:30PM)

An overview of the expungement provisions of the state law, including automatic expungement and the rap sheet process.

Featuring:

  • Sodiqa Williams, Vice President, External Affairs and General Counsel for the Safer Foundation

  • Alysia Tate, the Director of Organizational Strategy and Development for Cabrini Green Legal Aid

  • Regina Hernandez, a staff attorney with Legal Aid Chicago’s (LAC’s) Volunteer Services Unit

PANEL 4: CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES (12:30PM – 1:30PM)

From construction to security to HVAC to electricians, this panel will highlight the needs of the cannabis industry and offer you a chance to think about how to increase your customer base in the cannabis industry.

Featuring:

  • Pamela Althoff, Executive Director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois

  • Edie Moore, Executive Director of Chicago NORML

  • Paul Chialdikas of Bedford Grow LLC/ Maribis LLC, a Chicago-based cannabis company

  • Willie JR Fleming, South and West Side Cannabis Coalition (SWCC)

  • John Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at Cresco Labs

PANEL 5: I WANT TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY (1:45PM – 2:45PM)

An overview of the various paths to work in the industry, in addition to covering available jobs, this session will explain what skills, training and certification are necessary.

Featuring:

  • Britteny Soto, senior recruiter for Green Thumb Industries

  • Beniamino Capellupo, Executive Director for Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

  • Paul Lee, one of the founding owners of Dispensary33

  • Shawnee Williams, a recruiter and account executive for Illinois Equity Staffing

PANEL 6: NAVIGATING CITY OF CHICAGO REGULATIONS (1:45PM – 2:45PM)

An overview of all the different city processes you have to understand in order to become a cannabis entrepreneur in the City.

Featuring:

  • Paul Stewart, an Assistant Deputy Mayor and the City of Chicago’s Cannabis Coordinator

  • Katriina McGuire, a Partner at Thompson Coburn

  • Steve Valenziano, the Assistant Zoning Administrator for the City of Chicago

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