Khara Cartagena is the founder of Breakthrough Brands LLC, which prides itself in “disruptive innovation” and is dedicated to creating CBD based products such as kinesiology tape, emulsions, cosmetics, and tattoo aftercare lotion. Khara is devoted to producing merchandise that provides assistance to everyone, and has developed a method to formulate products that involves using nano emulsions, which isolates CBD into smaller particles so it can easily mix with other ingredients.
Jesse Channon
Chief Growth Officer, Columbia Care
Jesse Channon is an accomplished leader with over a decade of experience in digital marketing, consumer targeting, grassroots campaigns and social media, having worked with some of the largest brands and agencies in the world including Microsoft, AT&T, Honda, Starbucks, NBC, Red Bull and more. Since joining Columbia Care as chief growth officer in 2019, Jesse has led successful national launches including the award-winning retail experience Cannabist and proprietary cannabis discovery tool Forage.
Tauhid Chappell
Organizer, The Philadelphia CannaBusiness Association
An Executive Board member and a credentialed Parliamentarian of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, Tauhid Chappell is an eight-year veteran of the media industry. He works at Free Press, a media policy nonprofit. After organizing two cannabis conferences focused on media and equity in Philadelphia, he’s combined forces with dozens of stakeholders and has organized the Philadelphia CannaBusiness Association, Pennsylvania’s first Black-owned, Black-led cannabis nonprofit aimed at healing the damage done by cannabis prohibition.
Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
An accessible business market that emphasizes supporting rural and urban agricultural initiatives that address poverty, reentry, and other social determinants of health.
What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
I’ve been a medical marijuana patient since my first job in Arizona in 2012. Learning about the medicinal aspects of the plant, then the history behind its prohibition, has empowered me to speak out and educate others on the need to free the plant.
Tell us one fun fact about cannabis.
Did you know there are CB1 receptors on your skin? That’s why topicals work so well! You gotta love all the fascinating things about the endocannabinoid system!
Cannabis has clear value to people’s health, tell us your favorite way you stay healthy & fit.
Biking outside!
David Cohen
CEO, Fluence
David Cohen has been involved with the meteoric rise of LED technology since its earliest applications. Now, as a 20-year lighting technology veteran who drove triple digit growth for Fraen’s LED optics business, David has supported global lighting experts in roles throughout China, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. Under his leadership, Fluence has more than doubled in employee size and delivered millions of dollars of innovative lighting products to cultivators throughout the world.
Jon Cohn
Founder and CEO, Agri-Kind LLC and Agronomed Pharmaceuticals LLC
An entrepreneur and prior consultant, Jon Cohn is the founder and CEO of Agronomed Pharmaceuticals LLC(“AP”). Prior to selling PA Cannabis operations to Verano Holdings in July 2021, AP was the permit winner and operator of Agri-Kind LLC and Agronomed Biologics (clinical registrant) in PA. As a hands-on CEO, Cohn redeveloped 2 city blocks in Chester PA to house the 62K square-foot Agri-Kind facility and the first dispensary. In parallel, he built a team to scale the business 2 employees to approximately 150 members over the next 2.5 years.
Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
Adult use & Medical – with a large amount of US Cannabis Clinical research stemming from the state
What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
Personal success using as a medication.
Tell us one fun fact about cannabis.
Just prior to being outlawed in 1937, Cannabis extract was 2nd most prescribed drug in the US.
Cannabis has clear value to people’s health, tell us your favorite way you stay healthy & fit.
Outdoor activity and meditation.
John J. Collins
Director, Office of Medical Marijuana
As the director of the Office of Medical Marijuana, John J. Collins is responsible for overseeing and managing Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program. He has experience in a heavily regulated medical enterprise, as well as experience with market research, logistics, communications, and customer service. Prior to this, John was involved in the department’s HIV care section, as well as being CEO of Triad Isotopes Inc., a private-sector pharmaceutical company.
Adam Cottle and Ed Delemarre
Founders, Best Damn Buds
Adam Cottle and Ed Delemarre (Right, Left) of the Best Damn Buds took something that was once used for evil (the failed drug war) and proudly patrol the streets of Pennsylvania in their unique “Cannabis Cruiser” educating people about Pennsylvania’s Expedited Cannabis Pardon Program that was launched by Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman. These buds also distribute the highest quality hemp products in Pennsylvania. Make sure to check them out at the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival in Kutztown on April 23-24.
Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
We want to see decriminalization and social justice reform because cannabis never should have been a crime.
What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
To be a pioneer leading the way for others to follow.
Tell us one fun fact about cannabis.
Did you know there are over a dozen different types of THC? All of them will provide a uniquely different buzz, but only 1 of them is currently illegal.
Cannabis has clear value to people’s health, tell us your favorite way you stay healthy & fit.
We absolutely love edibles over alternative methods of cannabis consumption.
Tyler Dautrich
Co-Founder, Greenhouse Ventures
Tyler has over eight years of experience helping early stage companies go from concept to market. Being familiar in the bootstrapping environment, Tyler is efficient in helping founders streamline operations, maximize output, and identify creative engagement strategies for marquee clients and partners. Tyler and Greenhouse Ventures are responsible for the first cannabis industry events in the Greater Philadelphia area and across Pennsylvania, bringing together leaders in business, research, investing, and education to help shape the Pennsylvania market.
Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
Pennsylvania will have one of the biggest adult-use markets in the country, however, as one of the current top medical markets I hope the state keeps a focus on the patients.
What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
While in college my grandmother’s health continued to decline and I was determined to find a better way to help her have the best quality of life. After 4 years of researching the industry I realized we’ve never seen an industry with so much potential.
Tell us one fun fact about cannabis.
The first thing ever bought and sold across the Internet was a bag of cannabis around 1971.
Cannabis has clear value to people’s health, tell us your favorite way you stay healthy & fit.
Running, playing soccer or basketball, and eating healthy.
Karah Davies
Co-Owner and Co-Founder, Wild Fox Provisions
Karah Davies is the co-owner and co-founder of Wild Fox Provisions, a certified organic high-CBD hemp farm in Pennsylvania. With a degree in dietetics and over a decade of farming under her belt, Karah understands ecosystem impacts and the community value of healthy food and farming systems. Hemp fits perfectly into that framework, and can offer health benefits far beyond the typical vegetable. She is honored to be able to grow and develop products for her community.
Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
My hope is that the cannabis industry will have blossomed by allowing both hemp and adult-use, craft-cannabis to be produced by family farms in Pennsylvania.
What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
We were drawn by the opportunity to grow a crop that is beneficial not only to the land, but also to the human body, and the bottom line.
Tell us one fun fact about cannabis.
It’s likely that biblical “anointing oil” included cannabis! (I sure like to believe it was.)
Cannabis has clear value to people’s health, tell us your favorite way you stay healthy & fit.
Eating food (and hemp!) that we grow on our farm is my favorite way to stay healthy.
Jason Erkes
Chief Communications Officer, Cresco Labs
As chief communications officer, Jason Erkes has been instrumental in helping craft and share Cresco Labs’ vision and narrative by overseeing the company’s media relations, employee relations, and investor communications, as well as through his leadership role sitting on the company’s executive leadership team. He was named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Communications Professionals to Watch in Cannabis by Green Market Report and has won Emmy Awards for excellence in journalism.
Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
Pennsylvania is one of the most exciting cannabis markets in the country with a robust medical market and wide-reaching support for adult-use legalization including the governor and members of both parties of the legislature.
What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
I saw working for Cresco Labs and in the cannabis industry as a unique opportunity to help shape the narrative of the way this industry was looked at in the future. As the company spokesperson, I work every day to help normalize and professionalize the industry.
