Wednesday, November 13th, 2019

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - Herscher Hall, Guerin B

The Cannabis Legal Barometer – The Effects of Banking, Federal, and Local Policies on the Industry

Jackie Rocco, Business Development Manager, West Hollywood City Council

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

Alexander Freedman, Department of Cannabis Regulation, Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney

Elizabeth Ashford, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, Eaze

Jack Jacobson, Advisor, Thompson Coburn

Bryan Bergman, Esq. | Partner. NOLAN HEIMANN LLP, Moderator

Bryan Bergman is a partner at Nolan Heimann, LLP with nearly fifteen years’ experience in complex business transactions and civil litigation. He realized prior to the passage of Proposition 64 in California that the emerging cannabis industry presented both an opportunity and a challenge, as new cannabis businesses would require legal advice not only on swiftly changing cannabis legislation and regulations, but also on basic legal issues that face any entrepreneurial venture and has been working with cannabis business since 2015 and leads the cannabis practice area at Nolan Heimann. He speaks

regularly on cannabis industry-related topics and works to educate operators and other professionals, including attorneys and accountants, on this developing area of law. His client services include providing assistance in entity strategy and formation; contract negotiations and drafting on a wide variety of deals including real estate, investment, management, distribution/sales, and other business transactional issues; cannabis license application preparation; regulatory compliance; and organizational structuring and management. In addition to his legal work, Bryan maintains a substantial network of cannabis professionals from a variety of areas available to assist his clients in all aspects of establishing or expanding their businesses, such as legal, financial/accounting, labor, political consulting/lobbying, real estate, banking, business development, media, social media, and brand marketing.

Alex Freedman is a Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney and since January 2018 he has served as general counsel to the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation and the Los Angeles Cannabis Regulation Commission. In that role, Alex is responsible for drafting all of the city's cannabis ordinances and regulations, advising DCR on the design and implementation of all facets of its cannabis licensing and regulatory program, and advising the Commission on all of its licensing activities

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.

Elizabeth Ashford is among California’s most experienced and respected public affairs professionals. Between 2006 – 2015, Elizabeth spent seven years at the highest levels of California state government, where she served as Attorney General Kamala Harris’ Chief of Staff, Governor Jerry Brown’s Chief Deputy Press Secretary, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Chief Deputy for Cabinet and Communications. As Senior Director for Global Communications at Activision Blizzard between 2015-2017, Elizabeth led communications strategy and media relations for the company’s successful launch of its groundbreaking film/television, consumer products, and e-sports divisions. From 2009 – 2011 Elizabeth was based in London, England, counseling Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 businesses as Chief of Staff at the global financial PR firm Brunswick Group. As founder of Eashford Public Affairs + Communications and Ceres Strategies, Elizabeth helps clients identify, shape and execute smart, practical strategies that move audience perceptions and impact policymaking. This year, her support for the Rocklin Academy of Schools was honored by the Public Relations Society of America Los Angeles for “Best Crisis Communications Campaign.” She also works extensively with California’s emerging, legal cannabis industry, advising on public affairs and communications issues. In addition, she serves on the California Highway Patrol’s Impaired Driving Task Force and the board of California Women Lead. Elizabeth graduated cum laude from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in comparative religion and a minor in public policy. She holds a master’s degree from Columbia University in international affairs. She is married to Conyers Davis, global director of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. They are devoted parents to their daughter, a sixth generation Californian.

Jack Jacobson, Advisor, Thompson Coburn: For nearly 20 years, Jack has represented corporations, coalitions, municipal governments, nonprofit organizations, and associations before federal, state, and local governments and policymakers. Jack has been active on state and federal cannabis issues since the early days of state legalization. In 2019, he launched the Safe and Responsible Banking Alliance (SARBA), a coalition of financial services and non-cannabis business interests advocating for federal cannabis banking reform legislation. On behalf of SARBA, lobbies and educates members of Congress and their staff and reviews and analyzes cannabis-related legislation. Jack has represented a major U.S. city on federal cannabis legislation. He has also advised a venture capital firm on U.S. immigration and customs enforcement related to cannabis investor business travel, and advised a major Canadian cannabis company on hemp and Cannabidiol (CBD) provisions in the 2018 reauthorization of the Farm Bill. Jack earned a B.A. in Government and International Affairs from Augustana College.