Thursday, May 24th, 2018

The California Cannabis Entertainment and Technology Forum

3 PM - 3:45 PM - Herscher Hall - Guerin B

Now that It’s Legal - What’s Really Legal? Navigating the Nuances of the Cannabis Industry

Moderator - Bruce Margolin, Director, Los Angeles Chapter, NORML, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Ariel Clark, founder, Clark Neubert, LLP, founder and Chairwoman, Los Angeles Cannabis Task Force

Cat Packer, Executive Director, Department of Cannabis Regulation, City of Los Angeles

Amanda Conley, Partner, Brand & Branch LLP and Founding Treasurer, National Cannabis Bar Association

Mitch Kulick, Partner, Feuerstein Kulick LLP

Jocelyn Kane, Legislative Director, CVCAN Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network

Peter Goldstein, Principal, Regulated Solutions

Cat Packer is the Executive Director and General Manager of the Department of Cannabis Regulation. Prior to joining the City of Los Angeles, Packer served as California Policy Coordinator for the Drug Policy Alliance, where she worked to ensure the successful and equitable implementation of various cannabis policy reforms. Packer is an alumna of The Ohio State University where she received a

Bachelor’s in Political Science, a Master’s in Public Policy & Management and a Juris Doctor.

Jocelyn Kane is the former Executive Director of San Francisco's Entertainment Commission, and was charged with ensuring the health and vitality of indoor and outdoor entertainment venues and outdoor events in San Francisco. She also served on San Francisco’s Cannabis Legalization Task Force to bring fair and sensible policy to cannabis regulations. Jocelyn is now working as a consultant to the Cannabis Industry through her company, 24 Palm Trees LLC, assisting companies in every part of the supply chain with understanding California’s rules on compliance, licensing, and permits on both the local and state level.  Located in Palm Springs, she also serves as the Legislative Director of the Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network (CVCAN), the Valley’s only Cannabis trade association.

Ariel Clark is one of California’s longest-serving and best-respected cannabis business attorneys. When the idea of a cannabis business law was often considered an oxymoron, she dedicated her practice to this emerging industry in 2010—foresight that was recognized in 2017 by Rolling Stone which named her one of 18 “Women Shaping The Culture of Tomorrow.” Founding partner of Clark Neubert LLP, a women-owned and run law firm, exclusively focused on the cannabis industry, represents retailers, growers, manufacturers, investors, and other established and emerging cannabis businesses across California. With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and Santa Cruz, the firm helps clients execute complex political strategies, obtain licenses, set up proper business structures, and interface with local and state officials. Ariel earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She founded and serves as Chair of the Los Angeles Cannabis Task Force, is the attorney to the Cannabis Business Council of Santa Barbara County, and serves on the legal committee of the California Native American Cannabis Association. Ariel is also an active member of the National Cannabis Bar Association, California State Bar and Beverly Hills Bar Association. She serves on the board of California NORML, the policy committee of the California Grower’s Association, and is an active member of the National Cannabis Industry Association and the California Cannabis Industry Association.

Amanda Conley is a partner at Brand & Branch LLP and Founding Treasurer of the National Cannabis Bar Association.  Amanda has a diversified practice focused on intellectual property and legal issues in emerging technologies and in the cannabis industry, including trademark and copyright counseling, enforcement, and litigation; advising on privacy and data security practices; recovering domain names through Uniform Dispute Resolution Proceedings; and representing clients in district court litigation and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Amanda has represented a variety of companies including large computer software and hardware companies, cannabis-infused edibles producers, start-ups focusing on technology, cannabis, home design, education, and gaming, and a major grocery store chain. Amanda regularly speaks on advertising and intellectual property issues and at cannabis industry conferences. Before attending law school, Amanda worked as a statistician for the Institute of Behavioral Sciences in Boulder, Colorado. Amanda also co-founded the Bay Area chapter of Women Grow.

Bruce M. Margolin — Leading California Criminal Defense Attorney: His firm, The Law Offices of Bruce M. Margolin, Esq., began in 1967. Initially, Margolin dedicated his practice constitutional law by helping individuals fight marijuana charges, which were quite serious at the time, even for minor offenses. He supports the legalization of marijuana and is actively involved in the fight for legislative reform regarding marijuana laws. He continues to participate in organizations that work toward progression of drug laws. Over the years, Margolin’s practice continued to expand to what it is now — a highly effective and successful defense firm offering a comprehensive list of criminal defense services. He handles all criminal cases, including drug charges, DUI/DWI, murder, other violent crimes, sex crimes, theft offenses and Internet crimes. From marijuana to murder, Bruce M. Margolin is a criminal defense attorney well known for his ability to successfully defend people charged with all criminal offenses. Mr. Margolin has served as Chairman for the Ethics Committee for the N.A.C.D.L. (National Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers). He was awarded the certificate of appreciation form the A.C.L.U. (American Civil Liberties Union) as well as received honors for his work on behalf of the Constitution rights Foundation. Since 1973 he has been Director of Los Angeles National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana (LA NORML), and was also an advisor for Proposition 215 (Californians For Compassionate Use) and served as legal counsel for The California Hem Initiative.   As a candidate for Governor of California in 2003, and US Congress in 2012 he has helped establish the credibility of Marijuana legalization policies.

Mitch Kulick is a co-founder and partner of Feuerstein Kulick and is the head of Feuerstein Kulick’s Cannabis, Securities and Corporate Departments. Mitch brings a wealth of practical experience and knowledge to his practice and clients as a result of the many hats that he has worn during his 25-year legal career. Mitch’s current client base is primarily comprised of companies, funds, and investors focused on the cannabis industry both in the U.S. and abroad. Mitch advises his clients in all aspects of the cannabis space ranging from corporate governance to capital markets transactions to regulatory compliance. Mitch has also worked directly with state regulatory and licensing bodies in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Maryland, and New Mexico. Prior to co-founding Feuerstein Kulick, Mitch was the General Counsel of Steep Hill Labs, Inc., the country’s first commercial cannabis lab (Oakland 2007) and a current Feuerstein Kulick client. At Steep Hill, Mitch was the Company’s liaison to Steep Hill’s investors and government regulators and also served as the in-house investment banker and lawyer for the Company. Mitch is a charter member of the International Cannabis Standards Board and has been a featured speaker in numerous Cannabis seminars and other industry group functions. Prior to joining Steep Hill, Mitch spent the previous 8 years as the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Iroquois Capital — an active hedge fund and private equity fund in New York City — where he was heavily involved in the drafting of the fund formation documents and advised the fund managers on all aspects of the ’33 Act, ’34 Act and the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. Mitch also gained invaluable experience as an enforcement lawyer in the Northeast Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission and has leveraged that experience to provide practical advice in his representation of funds, investors, and companies in the context of SEC and DOJ matters. Mitch began his legal career in the New York office of Greenberg Traurig, where he worked on complex corporate reorganizations, labor disputes and securities litigation matters. Mitch graduated from the University of Michigan (with Honors) and received a JD from Hofstra University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.

Peter Goldstein: is a principal of Regulated Solutions Group, a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with over 30 years of extensive experience as a C-Suite executive for public and private companies. Peter brings unique blend of skills and expertise with managing emerging growth, corporate finance, compliance, capital market and investment banking activities with a results driven focus. Mr. Goldstein has an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami and has held the Series 7, 24, 79, 99, and 66 registrations with FINRA.