2020 CCIA Board of Director Nominees

James leads Anthony Law Group, and is a long-time cannabis activist, lawyer, and political  strategist who specializes in California cannabis law, permitting, land use, business strategy, and local government. In The Cannabis Manifesto Steve DeAngelo calls James a “brilliant strategist and steadfast advocate, without whom Harborside might never have been licensed”. Since January 2006, James has worked exclusively in cannabis law, policy, and political consulting—focusing on California local government. Before that he was a zoning prosecutor for the City of Oakland, which lead him to serve on the Board of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. He has worked with many of the major dispensaries and cultivators in Northern California, and has written dozens of winning applications for cannabis business permits and licenses throughout the state. James is a founding director of Hood Incubator, a California nonprofit promoting social justice and equity in the industry.

James brings an emphasis to CCIA in supporting the formation of local trade associations. He has lead or supported such groups in Oakland, San Jose, Vallejo, Berkeley, and San Francisco. CCIA can promulgate his knowledge of best practices for how such groups can improve local regulations and lower tax rates, fostering competition between local governments to attract and retain cannabis businesses. James has practiced koan zen meditation since 1980, mostly with Pacific Zen Institute where he sometimes teaches meditation. His life was forever changed on August 20, 2000 at the birth of his daughter, Charlotte Emma Kamaleila’akea Anthony.

Mike is responsible for early stage diligence on companies, managing the government policy, as well as co-managing investor relations and raising capital for Poseidon’s funds and portfolio companies. Prior to joining Poseidon in 2018, he spent seven years between Merrill Lynch's Private Bank and Investment Group and Barclays Bank, co-managing over a billion in assets at each firm for high net worth individuals, families, and foundations.

He entered into the cannabis industry in 2013 doing pro-bono business and regulatory work for early stage companies trying to navigate the highly fragmented and regulated industry. This was a great way to really learn about the industry and the people while assisting new cannabis entrepreneurs. Mike loves the industry and has gotten close to brands, cultivators, retailers and technology founders supporting the space. He believes in the continued growth of the industry and feels California cannabis has a rich heritage that he would like to see flourish.

The past 2+ years of raising capital into the cannabis industry has given him great insight into the minds of the investors about what it will take for them to allocate capital into (or back into) the California market and its social equity programs. These daily interactions between both investors and operators is important for understanding the balance needed to further build the industry in a constructive manner. Believing true change starts at the policy level, Mike has been a CCIA Federal Policy Advisor (FPA) for over a year and has been part of its DC lobbying efforts. He also sits on the CCIA DISE and Legislative Committees.