Thursday, May 23rd, 2019

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM, Herscher Hall, Guerin B

The Luncheon Roundtable - Two Issues in Discussion

I. Veterans and Cannanbis - Veteran Access to Cannabis, Wellness and Quality of Life - A Nationwide Challenge

II. Cannabis Advocacy and Legal Jeopardy

Sarah Stenuff, founder, Veterans Ananda

Ryan Miller, Director, Operation EVAC

Sean Kiernan, President, Weed For Warriors Project

Todd Scattini, “The Hemp Colonel”, Moderator

Dr. Sue Sisley, MD & Principal Investigator for the only FDA-Approved Study of Safety/Efficacy of Cannabis and Combat Veterans

Mieko Hester-Perez, International Autism & Healthcare Cannabis Advocate

Michael Miller, LA Weekly Cannabis Editor, “CannaBusiness” podcast, Ygeia Capital Partners, principal

Michael Miller, LA Weekly Cannabis Editor, “CannaBusiness” podcast, Ygeia Capital Partners, principal: Michael Miller is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and business advisor.  He began his over thirty five year career in 1987, the heyday of hostile acquisitions as a Wall Street lawyer practicing in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, labor, and intellectual property at Willkie Farr & Gallagher in New York and Skadden Arps in Los Angeles. During such

time, Michael had the privilege to work with some of the world’s top deal makers including Carl Icahn,  Robert Campeau, Paul Bilzerian and  Mike Milken.  Michael presently oversees venture investments for a number of high net worth families and is a co-founder of what will be the world’s largest  private investment fund focused primarily on all aspects of the nascent domestic and international cannabis industry.  Michael recently launched Table 21, a cannabis dining salon bringing together investors, lawmakers, CEO’s, and medical researchers, and The Beach Cities Cannabis Conference in Los Angeles. Michael advised on the launch of the first 24/7 cannabis lifestyle radio station, “Purple Haze” on the Dash Radio Network (the new XM radio providing free, commercial free digital radio with over 30 million subscribers), and is the creator, producer and host of  “CannaBusiness”- the first international weekly talk show focused on the economics, legal, medical and regulatory issues facing the nascent legal cannabis industry.

Dr. Sue Sisley, MD & Principal Investigator for the only FDA-Approved Study of Safety/Efficacy of Cannabis and Combat Veterans: Dr. Sue Sisley MD is an Arizona-based physician practicing Internal Medicine and Psychiatry. She works as Medical Director for medical cannabis license holders in 11 different states/territories from Hawaii to Puerto Rico to New York. Sue serves as Site Principal Investigator for the only FDA-approved randomized controlled trial in the world examining safety/efficacy of whole plant marijuana in combat veterans with treatment-resistant post traumatic stress disorder PTSD. Dr. Sisley is on faculty at Colorado State University PUEBLO campus, recruited for core planning team to organize the CSUP "ICR Institute of Cannabis Research" in Pueblo, Colorado. Dr. Sisley has been a Member of Nevada ILAC Medical Cannabis Commission for the past two years outlining regulations for laboratory testing including limits on pesticides, residual solvents and other guidelines that are currently being used as a model for other states medical cannabis laws. She also serves on the Steering Committee for Thomas Jefferson University Lambert Cannabis Medical Research Center.

Sarah Stenuff: Veterans Ananda: Sarah Stenuf, is a native of Syracuse, NY. She served 4 years and 1 deployment in the U.S. Army, prior to being medically retired for epilepsy from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Sarah's mission is to help educate others about post-service issues and eradicate veteran suicide. Which is why Mrs. Stenuf founded Veteran’s Ananda Inc. a, 501(c)(3) non-profit, homestead & retreat that provides care, support, and rehabilitation to our nation's veterans and their families through traditional and nontraditional treatments and therapies - riding one-size fits all care. This individualized approach to healing and support has been accomplished through Mrs. Stenuf's creation of this unified healthcare system, Veteran's Ananda Inc, where private and public work together, not separately. Mrs. Stenuf is also the Founder and CEO of Ananda Farms, LLC- Veteran's Ananda for-profit subsidiary. Ananda Farms is the ONLY NYS DEA hemp cultivation license holder in Oswego, County. The farm is located on a beautifuly, serene 22 acre farm that has gorgeous organic sole, private wells, 6 USDA hydroponic greenhouses, a processing facility, private bar coding facility, a walk-in cooler, a workshop, and much more! Ananda Farms will provide jobs, opportunities, and incentives to veterans and their families. 10% of Ananda Farm's proceeds will be donated to Veteran's Ananda Inc. She shares her story and continues to educate people throughout the country; in order to help create much more education and awareness around trauma and PTSD, so to A) possibly stop trauma from happening and/or B) bring awareness to healthy management of our psychological issues.

Through her community efforts, she noticed that by helping others, she created these beautiful relationships that were built on a foundation of hope. Hope, that created positive change. Because she realized when a person has hope, a family has hope and when a family has hope, a community in turn, has hope. Stenuf firmly believes that it is our social responsibility to help one another in the community. And if we could all come to that recognition and help one another, then we can create an evolution.

Sean Kiernan is CEO of the Weed for Warriors.  The Weed for Warriors Project aims to eradicate the veteran suicide epidemic through Community, Care, Cannabis, Compassion and Change. An honorably discharged Veteran, Sean served his country as an airborne infantry soldier from 1989 to 1994.    After his service, Sean used his GI Bill to attend and graduate from UC Berkeley where he then went onto a career in finance working for nearly two decades for companies like Ernst & Young, JP Morgan and Caxton Associates in New York City where he helped run an activist hedge-fund focusing on neglected and under followed companies across multiple industries to include the biotech, pharmaceutical, and private prison industries.

Ryan Miller, Director of Operation EVAC: Op EVAC is to promote the growth and healing of military veterans through mutual assistance, personal development, and community service. Ryan Miller served the Marine Corps from 1998-2002 as a network systems engineer primarily in Okinawa, Japan. Constantly deployed, Ryan served in Brunei, Bali, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, and Korea twice. Two meritorious promotions, Battalion Marine of the Quarter, the Navy Achievement Medal, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Cisco Certified Network Associate, and Naval Shellback are among his accomplishments earned on active-duty. Following an honorable discharge, Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Information Technology from Golden Gate University while serving FedEx Office as Senior Technology Specialist and Center Manager before joining the cannabis community with Berkeley Patients Group (BPG). At BPG Ryan led sales for six months consecutively, served as lead editor for the Sales Department’s technical and training manuals, and as liason for their delivery service start-up. Ryan joined Harborside Health Center after BPG was forced to cease operations. At Harborside, while leading the clones department, Ryan was featured on CNN for Inside Man with Morgan Spurlock. Additionally, Ryan created a relationship with District Footwear to pitch and manage a collaborative graphic design and garment project for release on 4/20. Ryan’s proudest accomplishment at Harborside was the design and implementation of their military veteran support group, Harborside Heroes, where he launched and facilitated 30 peer-led social support groups over two and a half years. Upon leaving Harborside in 2016, Ryan formed Operation EVAC (Educating Veterans About Cannabis) where we currently provide twelve support groups monthly.  Our mission is to promote the growth and healing of veterans through mutual assistance, personal development, and community service. Our current clients include Releaf and the Apothecarium in San Francisco, 7 Stars in Richmond, Berkeley Patients Group, Magnolia Oakland, and River City Phoenix in Sacramento. In December, 2016, Ryan deployed with veterans across the country to support the Indigenous water protectors at Standing Rock, North Dakota. Ryan completed Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery yoga teacher training, National Alliance for Mental Illness Homefront training, and is a certified peer-support specialist from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

Mieko Hester-Perez, International Autism & Healthcare Cannabis Advocate: In 2009, Mieko Hester-Perez decided to go public with her son's success with medical cannabis and since that day in 2009, she has become a source of inspiration and information for families looking to explore unconventional and holistic treatment options within the autism spectrum. Mieko diligently leads the pack with tremendous knowledge regarding laws, regulations, products and a plethora of family resource options. She possesses personal knowledge and experience navigating through treatment options resulting in positive outcomes for families throughout the world.  Although medical marijuana is not known to be a cure for autism, it has proven to facilitate life for her son and has ushered him into documented progressive development. The combination of 20 years of legal experience and over 15 years of special education knowledge, make Mieko a modern day “warrior mom” within the industry. As Co-Founder of UF4A.org, she consults with families, autism organizations, universities and healthcare professionals.  In 2012, Mieko was awarded the Evelyn DuPont Award for improving the lives of children with autism and she has also received special recognition from Congress for her many hours of community service and dedication.  She most recently was also the recipient of the 2016 Lifetime Advocate Award at the Chalice Festival. Her expertise in cannabis consulting with special needs families has made her an ideal board member on the NORML’s Woman’s Alliance, which is one of the most progressive and respected marijuana organizations internationally. In 2015, Mieko was placed on the Advisory Board for Acology Inc. and created a custom, FDA approved, child-resistant container to house “Joey’s Strain”, a specific cannabis strain for persons on the autism spectrum.  In 2016 Mieko became a Scientific Advisory Board for Cannabis Science, Inc. representing the voice for patient-centered focus regarding clinical decisions. In 2016, Mieko participated in and endorsed Costa Mesa’s Measure W for safe, quality medical marijuana access in the city.  Mieko and Joey’s journey were featured in pamphlets and commercials throughout the campaign. Mieko is currently participating in a funding campaign with a collaboration of Israeli moms, American moms and cannabis advocates to get medical cannabis treatment accessible for children and adults with Autism. The goal of the campaign is to fund essential research to make it a “Qualifying Condition” around the world.