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.

Despite the growing research supporting the wellness benefits of cannabis and the legalization of hemp through the US Farm Bill last year, the plant cannot seem to escape the stigma of the infamous “War on Drugs”. And due to restrictive policies, both healthcare and financial institutions do not feel secure engaging with this industry -- leaving consumers uninformed and green entrepreneurs without access to basic financial services (ie. maintaining bank accounts, processing credit card payments, etc.). This session will focus on how organizations and startups are addressing the problems caused by a lack of services in the cannabis industry and challenging outdated policies that systematically limit legal access to the plant.