June 15, 2020 | 9 a.m. - 2Ìýp.m. MDT

Cannabis entrepreneurship presents unique legal, practical, and business challenges unlike any other industry, both here in ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ and, increasingly, around the country.ÌýThat is especially so in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.ÌýThis one-day online program presented by ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Executive Education and the Leeds School of Business will address some of the latest issues faced by cannabis entrepreneurs and the industries that work with them.

Schedule

9:00 - 9:05 Welcome and Introduction
9:05 - 10:15 The Status and Trajectory of Federal and State Legalization Efforts in the Wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic
10:15 - 11:30 Forming, Financing, Banking and Taxing Cannabis
11:30 - 12:30 Marketing and Brand Development
12:30 - 1:45 Market Intelligence and Data

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Topics and Speakers

The Status and Trajectory of Federal and State Legalization Efforts in the Wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic

, Founding Partner, Vicente Sederberg LLP
, Founding Attorney, McAllister Garfield P.C.

The federal landscape is consistently changing in the cannabis industry as we shift toward national legalization. Join Christian Sederberg of Vicente Sederberg LLP and VS Strategies LLC for a discussion of the changes we have seen and the changes we anticipate seeing in 2020 and the future.

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Forming, Financing, Banking and Taxing Cannabis

, Partner, Vicente Sederberg LLP
Luke Ortner, Senior Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service

Cannabis businesses face unique banking, financing, and tax obstacles. Charlie Alovisetti, Partner and Chair of the Corporate Department at Vicente Sederberg LP, will discuss entity formation, finance, capital markets, and banking issues for cannabis businesses. Luke Ortner, senior counsel with the Office of Chief Counsel – IRS, will discuss enforcement efforts and emerging federal income tax issues related to IRC section 280E and the cannabis industry.

Market Intelligence and Data

, Co-Founder and CEO, BDS Analytics

Roy Bingham from BDS Analytics will take you on a journey into cannabis product and consumer trends using their massive interactive database to dive into areas of special interest such as fastest growing product categories, performance of leading items and brands, price trends and the most exciting consumer segments. BDS Analytics offers a full understanding of the evolving cannabinoids market. Its Retail Sales Tracking, Consumer Insights, and Industry Intelligence are all powered by the industry-leading GreenEdge® interactive platform which is continually updated and based upon more than 1 Billion cannabis consumer transactions and 100,000 detailed consumer surveys. This enables unique understanding of market trends and consumer behavior that is indispensable to cannabis market brands, retailers and other major players.

Marketing and Brand Development

Heather Kennedy, Marketing Instructor, Leeds School of Business
,ÌýChief Marketing and Merchandising Officer, Schwazze

As the cannabis industry continues to grow and more and more competitors enter the space, branding becomes a critical element in consumer choice. Customers are much more likely to choose a brand that they recognize and trust when faced with a multitude of options. In this session, Professor Kennedy will provide a brand story-telling framework that will enable you to reach your consumer in an age of overwhelming messaging and information. You will leave with practical tools to identify and communicate your unique story in a memorable and compelling way that allows your brand to rise above the fray by creating a relationship with your target consumer.