Registration for the ASTM Conference on Overcoming Barriers to Entry in Cannabis and Hemp Industries: Views from Around the World will be held virtually with the release of prerecorded presentations to registrants on May 1, 2025, followed by two live question-and-answer sessions with the presenters at a later date in May 2025.  The language of the presentations will be English.

The deadline for registration is 23 April 2025.

REGISTER HERE

Objective and Scope

The global cannabis and hemp industries are diverse, represented by several stakeholder groups, many of whom have been historically marginalized and prevented from participating, even in their own market.

ASTM International Technical Committee D37 on Cannabis recognizes these inequities and wants to provide a forum to listen and learn from more diverse representatives of these global industries.

The goal of this conference is to build a bridge between traditional knowledge, science, and commercialization of the many uses of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, its parts, and associated products so that underrepresented groups have an equal opportunity to succeed in the international marketplace.

Conference Schedule

1. Recognizing Historical Marginalization and Inequities in Cannabis and Hemp (Learning from the Mistakes of the Past)

It’s Not Just the Players, It’s The GameMike Lomuto, Minority Cannabis Business Association

What if You Don’t Have a Boot?Frederika Easley, Cannabis Impact Fund

1925–2025: A Centenary of Cannabis Prohibition––A Global Reflection on the Legacy and Future of Cannabis PolicyMyrtle Clarke, Fields of Green for All

From Weed to Seed with Future Potential: The Role of Cannabis in Climate and Social JusticeMaren Krings, Hemp4world

Overcoming Historical Barriers to Entry: Empowering Rural Cultivators in the Cannabis and Hemp IndustriesCian McClelland, Druids Garden

2. Cannabis and Hemp War Stories - Legacy, Indigenous, Women, People of Color, & Other Disenfranchised Stakeholders (Learning from the Mistakes of the Present)

Women in CannabisMegan Steyn, CBD Care

Success and Failure of a Cannabis BusinessSarah Needham, Eastern Analytical Labs

Making Mary Jane: Women’s Representation in Capitalizing on CannabisSarah Petrescu, Athabasca University

The Vanguard of Alternative Livelihoods: Smallholder Cannabis Farmers in MalawiMarty Otanez, University of ColoradoMusa Nkuna, Independent  Researcher/Consultant

Overcoming Systemic Barriers to Entry in Cannabis and Hemp: A Path Toward Equity and InclusionLauren Stower, Ispire

South Africa's Role in the Global Cannabis MarketplaceTrenton Birch, Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy

3. Identifying Barriers to Entry in Cannabis and Hemp - Treaties, Prejudices, Misunderstandings, Cannabinoids, Lack of Standards Acceptance, etc. (What's in the Way)

Jamaica’s Determination to Grow its Cannabis IndustryFarrah Blake, Cannabis Licensing Authority

Blazing Trails: Lessons from Africa's Cannabis FrontiersDaniel Bear, Humber Polytechnic

Evolving Legislative Solutions for Cannabis Policy in the United StatesKaren Jaynes

4. Philosophies for Overcoming Barriers to Entry in Cannabis and Hemp (DEI, Land Rights, Terroirs, Appellations, Social Equity, and Other Ideas)

Avantgarde Km 0 House with Moroccan Beldiya Hemp in the Country’s Historic Cannabis Farming RegionMonika Brümmer, Cannatektum Habitat and Materials science S.L.

Leveraging Appellations to Empower Excluded Cannabis Communities in South AfricaJoshua Swart, Grow One Africa

Weaponization of Terminology: Creating Barriers with How Words are Defined and Ways to Overcome Market-ProtectionismDarwin Millard, TSOC LLC

A Constitutional Legal Philosophy for Overcoming the Barriers to Entry and the ‘Crisis of Illegality’ in South Africa’s Private Adult-use Cannabis ‘Economy’Brett Pollack, Harambe Solutions

Advancing Sustainable Hemp Solutions: A Multifaceted ApproachRamon Granados, Hemp Engineering Pty Ltd

5. Actions to Take to Overcome Barriers to Entry in Cannabis and Hemp (Awareness of Steps People Can Take Now - Engaging with SDOs, NGOs, etc.)

Empowering Inclusivity: Workforce Training and Social Equity as Pathways to Cannabis Industry AccessibilityKatelyn Avruch, Operator Academy

Empowering Marginalized Communities through Reusable Hemp Sanitary Pads: A Case Study from the HimalayasHaneesh Katnawer, Himalayan Hemp Research Foundation

Programs in Social Equity: Overcoming Barriers in Technical Assistance/FundingMark Slaugh, iComply LLC

Legalizing Fairness: Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Global Cannabis Markets —A Perspective on BiopiracyKenzi Riboulet Zemouli, Cannabis Embassy

The Role of Legacy/Equity Integrated Information in Success of Worldwide BusinessA.C.Moon Cameron, Indica Innovations International

6. Tools to Use to Overcome Barriers to Entry in Cannabis and Hemp (i.e., Standards)

Preserving Cannabis Landraces: Integrating Nagoya Protocol Principles and Appellations of OriginCodi Peterson, The Cannigma; UC Irvine

Standardized Cannabis LabelingDavid Nathan, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform

Waiving the Treaty’s Barrier to Cannabis Legalization: Article 2(9) of the 1961 Single ConventionKenzi Riboulet Zemouli, Cannabis Embassy

Community-Oriented Solutions to Share Resources and Knowledge and Facilitate Access to the IndustryMarleen Theunissen, Harambe Solutions

The Creation of a Commodity Hemp MarketTai Olson, US Heritage Group

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