Hempresent

Mark Taylor Canfield is a journalist who has spent decades on the front lines of independent media, reporting on everything from politics and protest movements to civil liberties and the shifting landscape of press freedom. Mark is an award-winning reporter, editor, and longtime advocate for First Amendment rights. He's a former writer at the Huffington Post and serves as Executive Director fo...

Michael Khemmoro is the chief operating officer and co-founder of Mango Cannabis. Mike's journey in cannabis began in 2010 when he and his brother-in-law Kevin Pattah became cannabis cultivators and caregivers in Michigan, driven by an extreme passion and respect for the plant’s healing properties.   Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/p...

In 1996, Ted Smith founded the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, Canada’s oldest compassion club. He is also the author of  Hempology 101: The History and Uses of Cannabis Sativa  (2012), developed from a free, non-credit lecture series he taught at the University of Victoria. From 2009 to 2016, he published the  Cannabis Digest  newspaper nationwide. Between 2002 and 2003, the VCBC was raided four t...

Edward Buck serves as chair of the Prairie Island Cannabis Regulatory Commission, a three person independent commission empowered to license, monitor, and enforce cannabis activities within Prairie Island’s jurisdiction, that seeks to ensure that all activities meet the highest standards of transparency, public health, and Tribal sovereignty. Fred Erickson serves as secretary of the Prairie Island...

James Stephens, founder and CEO of Sinful Cannabis. In an industry where branding, compliance, and competition collide every day, James has carved out a reputation for building a company that isn’t afraid to stand out. Sinful Cannabis has developed a recognizable identity in the legal market while navigating the complex realities of regulated cannabis—from marketing restrictions to market consolid...

A Southwest-based author whose books Willie Nelson describes as “a blueprint for the America of the future,” Doug Fine is the author of six books, including 2020’s American Hemp Farmer as well as the Boston Globe Bestseller, Farewell, My Subaru.  His wild goat-wrangling stories and optimistic persona have led to media appearances on Conan, The Tonight Show, BBC, and CNN, as well as a TED Talk and...

Niambe McIntosh is the youngest child of reggae legend Peter Tosh and serves as the Chairperson of the Board for the Peter Tosh Foundation, as well as the head of the Peter Tosh Estate and Brand.  Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, she holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and began her professional life in that field before following her passion for education. She...

Leonora, or “Leo” Russell, is a Marriage and Family therapist and Substance Abuse Counselor who left a twenty-year career in government and social services, and providing direct services to the most disenfranchised, to direct her attention to the burgeoning psychedelic renaissance. In 2019, she began leading the Decriminalize Nature effort in Seattle and moved on to form the Political Action Group...

Kevin Heiderich is a veteran, a guitarist and music enthusiast, and co-owner of House of Cannabis, which has retail stores in Tacoma, Tonasket, Twisp, and Whidbey Island, in Washington. Kevin has been on the front lines of one of the most tightly regulated legal cannabis markets in the country and has firsthand experience with what legalization looks like on the ground. Advertising Inquiries: http...

Doug McVay is a longtime drug policy reform advocate, researcher, and journalist. Doug has spent decades challenging the War on Drugs and pushing for policies rooted in public health, harm reduction, and human rights. He’s best known for his work with Drug War Facts and for elevating voices directly impacted by prohibition. Doug’s radio program, Free Culture Radio, airs on KBOO Community Radio in...

Michael Krawitz  is a U.S. Air Force veteran, longtime patient advocate, and one of the most influential voices in international medical cannabis policy. Michael has spent decades working at the intersection of veterans’ health, human rights, and drug policy reform. He served as a key civil society participant in the World Health Organization’s first-ever scientific review of medicinal cannabis —...

Joy Beckerman has been involved in the hemp movement and industries for over 30 years, and her extraordinary knowledge and passion for this versatile, valuable crop is contagious! Often referred to as a "hemp encyclopedia," Joy is the Principal and Senior Paralegal at Hemp Ace International, a Seattle-based consulting, legal support, and expert witness firm serving the global hemp industri...

Jasmine Johnson is the force behind GŪD Essence. Her Florida-based vertically integrated cannabis wellness company blends ancestral plant wisdom with cutting-edge clinical research, “building a bridge between cultural healing traditions and modern neuroscience." Jasmine talks about the journey, the vision, and the community power behind GŪD Essence, its emphasis on customer education, cultural...

Michael Dalle Molle serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Mariposa Technology, where he oversees daily business operations, communications, and brand management. He is an entrepreneur, teacher, business advisor, and environmentalist with almost a decade of professional experience as a sustainability advocate in the design and construction industry. Before entering the cannabis industry, Michae...

Lynnette Shaw is a trailblazing medical marijuana activist best known as the first legally licensed cannabis dispensary operator in the United States. As the founder of the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax, California, she became a central figure in the fight for patients’ rights after the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996.  For decades, Shaw battled DEA raids, federal injunctions,...

Alicia Deals is a trailblazer in Arizona’s cannabis industry and a leading advocate for equity and justice. Drawing on her personal experience navigating the legal system after her father, Robert Deals, received an 18-year sentence for a cannabis-related conviction, she has made it her mission to reform the industry and help those still incarcerated for marijuana offenses.  Alicia is a social equi...

Kim Richards possesses over 30 years of experience and a distinguished history of accomplishments in the music, film, and television industries. As CEO & Chairman at Allied Artists International, Inc., he has earned more than 70 gold, platinum, and diamond records, as well as numerous Grammy and Emmy nominations.  Chief among his credits is Pink Floyd's "The Wall," which has been c...

Brad Zerman is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience founding and operating businesses in highly regulated industries, including cannabis, payments, and financial services. He is the founder and CEO of Seven Point Cannabis Dispensary and previously led one of Illinois’ first licensed dispensaries before selling it to a public company. Zerman also personally benefits from the med...

Todd McCormick's life’s work has been deeply rooted—literally and figuratively—in the fight for cannabis freedom. Todd is a lifelong cannabis activist, medical marijuana patient, author, and cultivator who has dedicated decades to advancing both the science and the culture of the plant. From being diagnosed with cancer at a young age and discovering the healing benefits of cannabis to playing...

Jason Dunlap is a photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, where he runs a studio producing cannabis-focused content, documentaries, and unscripted material in the historic Wiltern. With a career spanning fashion, music, and art industries, Jason has been documenting the cannabis space since 2003, capturing the work and stories of pioneers like Eddy Lepp, Jack Herer, Dennis Peron, Lynnette...

Stoney Tark is a prolific writer based in Europe who is known for his articles about cultivation, breeding, hash making, interviews, and especially his top tips. Over the last 11 years, he has become one of the most recognized writers in the cannabis industry. Stoney is or has been the head cultivation writer for various magazines, including Soft Secrets, High Times, Skunk, Garden Culture, Weed Wo...

Tim Gruver reports for the Washington Observer in Olympia on housing, labor, and the environment. He's also a 2020 Poynter-Koch Media fellow whose work has appeared in Politico, The Oregonian, and Pluribus News. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeff “The Dude” Dowd is an American film producer and  political activist . He was a member of the " Seattle Seven ," who were jailed for contempt of court following a violent protest against the  Vietnam War .  He later moved to Los Angeles and became an independent movie producer and promoter, producing such films as  Zebrahead . He met the  Coen brothers  while they were promoting their...

Since 1990, Christopher Boucher has been recognized as a co-founder of the modern-day American Industrial Hemp Industry. Chris founded The Hempstead Company, one of the first U.S. hemp clothing and seed businesses, with products sold in 4,000 stores across six countries.   He co-founded the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), and became America's first hemp cultivator, growing the first hemp rese...

Caitlein Ryan holds a PhD from Arizona State University, with a focus on arts education, qualitative research, and social justice. Caitlein has been the director of the Washington State Cannabis Alliance since 2020. She is a leading advocate for sensible adult-use cannabis policy, collaborating with businesses, lawmakers, regulators, and community stakeholders to shape Washington State’s cannabis...