Please be aware that cannabis and related laws vary. Programming in this track is designed to inform attendees about this fast-changing industry, and does not promote the use or sale of illegal drugs.

Research and innovation are the engines that drive forward every industry we encounter in our day to day lives. But what happens when research is prohibited in your field?

When cannabis was first legalized for adult use in Washington, there was no path for researchers like Jessica Tonani to begin research on a plant that was now available for sale to anyone over the age of 21. Given the federal legal classification of cannabis as a schedule 1 drug, it has been incredibly difficult to advance our understanding of cannabis, let alone begin research that would allow continued innovation and access to everything this plant has to offer.  

Join Verda Bio Research CEO Jessica Tonani as she discusses how her company engaged regulators and stakeholders to create the first cannabis research license in Washington state and how research can be a core tenant of the ongoing legalization movement.