People interested in the cannabis business can learn more and meet others in the field at the CannaPro Summit this Saturday on St. Croix.
Adult-use cannabis is legal in 24 states and the Virgin Islands is about to open a local market.
The Harmony Collective, organizers of the summit, is made up of several native and longtime residents of St. Croix. Their goal is to own a handful of dispensaries by 2028, according to Jody Starr, one of the organizers. As part of the application process for opening a dispensary, applicants are encouraged to sponsor educational events like the CannaPro Summit.
Speakers at the CannaPro Summit will offer information on jobs, labs and dispensaries, cultivation, legal compliance and more.
The conference is on the rooftop of the King Christian Hotel from 2-6 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 at cannaprosummit.com or $30.00 at the door. Participants are invited to an afterparty at Levels.
The summit will offer six sessions:
Session 1: Cannabis job opportunities from cultivating plants, retail sales, compliance, marketing and the required skills for each will be discussed.
Session 2: How to run a successful dispensary, including inventory control, staffing and compliance will be discussed by Gilly Motta, a seasoned dispensary general manager for the last eight years.
Session 3: Lab testing and the science of medical cannabis will be presented by Meagan Dobro, CEO of Safetiva Labs in Massachusetts. Topics include an overview of lab testing, how to read a compliance label and the importance of quality control. The science behind medical cannabis, the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids, and terpenes will also be discussed.
Session 4: Mastering cannabis cultivation will feature the latest techniques to achieve the highest yield while maintaining quality and consistency. Topics include performance metrics, genetic selection, system comparison and the curing process. The presenter, Michael Williamson, director of cultivation for Pipp Horticulture, who has managed millions of square feet of indoor, greenhouse and outdoor cultivation facilities.
Session 5: Joanne Moorehead, director of the Office of Cannabis Regulations, will give an update on regulations and answer questions from the audience.
Session 6: USVI cannabis law, updates and compliance challenges will be discussed by legal professionals Laurent “Tippy” Alfred, Jeffrey Hank, Esq., and Kye Walker, Esq. They will also talk about business opportunities and requirements for applying for a cannabis license.
Other presenters will include former Senator Positive T.A. Nelson, so-called V.I. “Cannabis Czar,” and William “Teddy” Waldo of the Virgin Islands Cannabis Guild.
