Risky Business: Managing Risk Within a Cannabis Company

Pamela Nicole Epstein Related Seminars and Products

Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer

Terpene Belt, Inc.

Pamela is an accomplished legal professional with a wealth of experience.  Pamela currently holds the esteemed position of Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer at Terpene Belt, Inc.  In this pivotal role, she spearheads a dynamic team responsible for a diverse range of functions, including legal oversight, domestic and international governmental affairs, compliance, licensing, corporate stewardship, and corporate governance. Her unwavering dedication is focused on driving solutions that align with the company's strategic priorities while safeguarding Terpene Belt, its customers, and the broader cannabis and hemp industries.

Before joining Terpene Belt in 2022, Pamela served as the General Counsel and Chief Licensing & Regulatory Officer at Eden Enterprises, Inc a legacy cannabis operator. Her trailblazing journey in the cannabis industry began in 2016 when she founded Green Wise Companies, solidifying her position as a thought leader in the field. Pamela provided a comprehensive range of legal, consulting, and government affairs services to various segments of the cannabis supply chain in California and Arizona. She further cemented her reputation as a trusted resource on cannabis matters, lending her expertise to regulatory agencies and municipalities. Notably, she served as the Special City Attorney for cannabis matters to the City of Hollister, guiding them through their inaugural Medical Cannabis Ordinance and application process in 2018.

Prior to her groundbreaking work in the cannabis sector, Pamela seamlessly combined her passion for environmental sustainability with her legal acumen. She honed her skills as the Managing Attorney and Legal Program Coordinator for the San Diego Chapter of the Sierra Club's Environmental Law & Policy Clinic and later with the prestigious law firm of Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo in South San Francisco.

Pamela's diverse background, encompassing legal expertise, land use knowledge, and environmental advocacy, uniquely positions her to lead and advise her clients and the broader cannabis and hemp communities. She is recognized as an expert in her field and a fearless advocate for the normalization and advancement of cannabinoids. Pamela is a sought-after speaker at cannabis industry conferences nationwide, where she delivers engaging and insightful commentary on an array of topics affecting the cannabis and hemp sectors, offering valuable guidance to traditional market participants venturing into this space.

Pamela served two terms as the President of the Board of Directors for the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), the state's largest cannabis trade association, where she was a driving force in shaping the industry's future. Pamela also actively leads the charge to establish standards for Determining Intoxication of Cannabinoids within ASTM's D37 Committee for Cannabis and Hemp.  She also serves on the Food Drug Law Institute (“FDLI”) Cannabinoid Committee. 

Michael F. Hennessey Related Seminars and Products

Vice President & National Cannabis Practice Leader

IMA Financial Group, Inc.

Michael F. Hennessey is Vice President & National Cannabis Practice Leader at IMA Financial Group, Inc. Based in California, Mr. Hennessey leads business development and client service efforts across the United States.

Previously, Mr. Hennessey was Assistant Vice President of Client Services for The ABD Team serving the Cannabis space in addition to technology, real estate, and life sciences sectors.

Lauren Linder Related Seminars and Products

Vice President | Assistant General Counsel

Curaleaf, Inc.

Lauren Linder is Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Curaleaf, Inc. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, she graduated from Pace Academy before receiving her bachelor’s degree from Brown University. She attended Duke University where she received her Juris Doctor before returning home to Atlanta. Lauren joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton in 2007 as an associate and Turner Broadcasting as counsel in 2011. While at The Weather Channel (2015-2019), she held the leadership positions of Director, Business and Legal Affairs, and then of Vice President, Associate General Counsel, where she advised the company on all aspects of the business including transactional, compliance, regulatory, and litigation matters. Lauren left The Weather Chanel in August 2019 to join Parallel. In her role as Deputy General Counsel, she has led compliance and regulatory initiatives in both our Florida and Massachusetts markets, as well as provided legal guidance at the corporate level. In her impressive young career, she has also been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 list in 2018, as well as Daily Report’s On the Rise list in 2019. Lauren was named to Savoy magazine’s 2018 Top Black Lawyers list. A former debater, Lauren is a frequent speaker and panelist on a range of issues relating to corporate law and cannabis.

Dean Rocco Related Seminars and Products

Partner - Chair of Cannabis and Employment Practice Group

Wilson Elser LLP

Dean Rocco is a pragmatic, results-oriented attorney who leverages the firm’s geographic reach and strength across multiple disciplines to the benefit of clients. He takes great pride in building longstanding partnerships with clients through responsive communication and consistent, positive results in keeping with clients’ business philosophies and litigation objectives.

Dean is the Western Region Chair of the firm’s national Employment & Labor practice. In that capacity, he maintains a significant practice representing employers and management in a wide range of employment litigation. He lends his knowledge and perspective to building effective personnel programs and policies, counseling employers and managing risk during difficult employee issues, and training employers on legal compliance and best practices.

Dean also serves as co-chair of the firm’s national Cannabis Law practice. Dean works with clients inside and outside the cannabis industry to navigate the complex and quickly evolving framework of recreational and medical marijuana laws impacting their businesses.

As a distinguished attorney and recognized authority in his field, Dean has been ranked in Chambers USA, recognized by publications and asked to serve in leadership positions of boards and committees of several organizations. He is asked routinely by media outlets, business organizations and professional associations to share his perspectives on evolving legal issues