Phillips Lytle, Regional Business Journals Host Panel on Cannabis

Phillips Lytle LLP Partners with Regional Business Journals to Host State of the Region Panel Discussion on Cannabis

Buffalo, N.Y. – Phillips Lytle LLP, along with Albany Business Review, Buffalo Business First, and the Rochester Business Journal, will host a virtual State of the Region panel discussion on Cannabis: Opportunities Abound for Future Business Growth. The panel will take place Thursday, May 13 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

“The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which legalized recreational adult-use marijuana, will alter the landscape of the workplace and businesses moving forward. As we navigate this emerging industry in New York State, it is now more important than ever to be up-to-speed on these regulations and other cannabis-related legal issues impacted by this new market,” said Tristan D. Hujer, partner and co-leader of the Cannabis Practice Team at Phillips Lytle LLP. “The well-versed team of panelists participating in this State of the Region event will help put into perspective what the future looks like as the State’s cannabis law takes effect.”

The panel discussion, moderated by Hujer, will cover how the adult-use market is likely to take shape; timeline for commercial sales; obvious, and not-so-obvious, opportunities and legal considerations for businesses entering this space; and success (and failure) stories in other states.

A variety of political and industry experts will be joining together for the panel, including:

• Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, NYS Assembly 141^st District: Peoples-Stokes has spent several years actively leading the charge on legalizing adult-use cannabis. She sponsored the legislation, in addition to guiding it through the State Assembly.
• Tony Masiello, former Buffalo Mayor and President of Masiello, Martucci and Associates: Masiello has 35 years of government experience and now runs the Buffalo-based lobbying firm Masiello, Martucci and Associates. He will share perspectives on implementing state policy at the local level and discuss potential legislative impacts.
• Kristi Kelly, former Executive Director of the Colorado Marijuana Industry Group and Cannabis Entrepreneur: Kelly has been recognized as one of the country’s Most Powerful Women in cannabis and one of the top 100 political cannabis influencers. She led state, national and international discussions about the impacts of cannabis legalization in Colorado, and launched the world’s first PSA campaign from the cannabis industry.
• Kaelan Castetter, Director of Policy Analysis, Castetter Cannabis Group: Castetter is a leader in the New York cannabis industry and co-founder of the New York Cannabis Growers & Processors Association, a group that was heavily involved in discussions around adult-use cannabis legalization and helped to write the Hemp Extract Bill during the 2019 legislative session.

You may register for this free event on the Buffalo Business First website, or by contacting Jennifer Houle via email at jhoule@bizjournals.com.

Phillips Lytle LLP is a preeminent law firm that is recognized nationally for its legal excellence. With offices across New York State and in Chicago, IL; Washington, D.C.; and Canada, our attorneys serve a multinational client base, including Fortune 1000 companies, global and regional financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, middle-market companies, startups, entrepreneurs and individuals on important matters affecting their businesses and personal wealth. For more information, visit stg-phillipslytlellp-stage.kinsta.cloud.

###