Metro Philadelphia Cannabis Industry Power Players

Corinne Ogrodnik is the chair of the Board of Directors at Maitri Medicinals, a medical cannabis company in Pennsylvania. Corinne is a third generation Southwestern Pennsylvania resident. In 2016, after having personally benefited from cannabis during her health and wellness journey, she decided to co-found Maitri Medicinals, and found her passion in the medical marijuana industry.

Tony has been in the cannabis industry for over five years and has become a trusted voice having represented two successful applicants in Pennsylvania’s 2017 round of licenses. He has gone on two assembly teams for applications in several jurisdictions with wins in Australia and New Jersey. He is determined to ensure black people participate at the ownership level of the industry and has been actively helping teams apply in Jersey, Connecticut, and New York.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
Adult-use sales in the third year with no license caps and lower barriers to entry.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
Unlocking the medical benefits of the plant.

Tell us one fun fact about cannabis.
It’s great for focus.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health, tell us your favorite way you stay healthy & fit.
Meditation and Yoga.

Thomas Perko is the president and founder of the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society, a Nonprofit organization that aims to educate in order to help develop a model medical cannabis industry in the US. Since 2015, the Medical Cannabis Society has participated in over 50 educational events, and has helped expedite medical cannabis research to ultimately create a greater experience for medical marijuana patients. 

Gabe Perlow is the founder and former chief executive officer of PurePenn LLC, a medical marijuana grower/processor licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health under PA Act 16. In November 2020, Mr. Perlow oversaw the acquisition of PurePenn by Trulieve Cannabis Corporation and the subsequent integration of the two companies throughout 2021. He currently serves as special projects coordinator, providing legal and project management services to Trulieve, the largest public U.S. cannabis company, headquartered in Quincy, Florida.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
There will very likely be a robust market providing cannabis products for adult-use consumers in addition to medical patients. There will be more forms of administration for patients and customers such as edibles and innovative new forms for inhalation.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
I have been enthusiastic about the plant and its medical capabilities from a young age. But, seeing first hand the healing ability of the plant on close family members inspired me to jump head first into the industry.

Cherron is a co-founder of the Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunities, creating the first free cannabis conference for underrepresented communities globally. The Cannabis Opportunity Conference in Philadelphia is now in its fifth year. She is the drive behind Black Cannabis Week which works to educate, elevate, and highlight Black people in cannabis. She sits on several cannabis advisory boards and co-owns Plant and People, a plant wellness shop, in West Philly.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
In five years, Pennsylvania will have an adult-use regulated system where local communities and entrepreneurs will participate in the industry without barriers, on a trajectory to grow and reinvest in marginalized areas of the state.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
The wellness and sustainability aspect of cannabis grew my attraction. I’ve worked with cannabis (hemp) for over 20 years as a professional.

Tell us one fun fact about cannabis.
Juicing cannabis leaves is the best! A little lemonade or coconut water and you are ready for the day.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health, tell us your favorite way you stay healthy & fit.
I’ve learned to stay healthy and fit through plant based eating and medicine. As a trail runner and yoga enthusiast I understand the value of a plant lifestyle, as I grow. From fun to career, I have been fortunate to teach and share this with a wide audience.

Dean Petkanas is a corporate finance and executive management professional with over 25 years of investment banking, capital markets and pharmaceutical experience. In 2010, Mr. Petkanas co-founded Kannalife Sciences and was recently awarded a $2.97 Million grant from NIH HEAL Initiative to study Neuropathic Pain. Mr. Petkanas is the co-inventor of U.S. Patents #9611213 and #10004722 and co-authored the peer-reviewed articles: ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2016) “Discovery of KLS-13019, a Cannabidiol-Derived Neuroprotective Agent, with Improved Potency, Safety, and Permeability” and Journal of Molecular Neuroscience (2018) “Pharmacological Comparisons Between Cannabidiol and KLS-13019.”

Tony Rastelli is the CEO of Cerealia Group, a transportation and distribution company focused on moving cannabis and connecting suppliers and retailers to each other. As CEO, Tony has helped develop a system to move legal cannabis from growers to processors, laboratories, and dispensaries. Tony is also the co-founder of Rastelli Foods Group, a position that has prepared him for everything distribution related, and has made him stand out as a leader in exporting, importing, and distributing cannabis products. 

Senator Mike Regan was elected to the PA Senate in 2016 after serving two terms in the state House, and over two decades in law enforcement. Prior to holding public office, Regan served in the United States Marshals Service, becoming the U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Senator Regan serves as the Chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee. He has focused on issues such as school safety, law enforcement issues, welfare reform, cannabis, liquor privatization, tax reform, and veterans’ matters.

Where do you see the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania in five years?
I see the Pennsylvania cannabis industry in the Commonwealth maturing over the next several years and becoming the gold standard of medical and adult-use cannabis that other states will be looking to model their programs after.

What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
When I was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I found myself fighting for the patients and advocates who were trying to seek relief.

Cannabis has clear value to people’s health, tell us your favorite way you stay healthy & fit.
I try to find a way to exercise for 30 minutes every day.

Ryan Riggs is the chief executive office of Ethos Cannabis, a multi-state operator with locations in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maryland. The goal of Ethos Cannabis is not only to provide high quality cannabis, but also to help people understand how cannabis can work for them. Ultimately, Ethos Cannabis focuses on the “Three E’s”: Expertise, Empowerment, and Experience. Like so, they inform individuals about how cannabis can affect one’s health.