CCIA Board of Directors
2019-2020 CCIA Board of Directors
Board President: Conrad Gregory | Harborside
Board Vice President: Dr. Swetha Kaul
Board Secretary: Michael Wheeler | Flow Kana
Board Treasurer: Michael Ray | Bloom Farms
James Anthony | Anthony Law Group
Dr. Juli Crockett | MMLG
Tiffany Devitt | CannaCraft
Pamela Epstein | Eden Enterprises
AnnaRae Grabstein | NorCal Cannabis Company
David Hua | Meadow
Kristi Knoblich | Kiva Confections
Yvette McDowell | McDowell & Associates
Kristin Nevedal | Humboldt's Finest
Sabrina Noah | Cresco Labs
Kimberly Simms | Law Offices of Kimberly Simms
CCIA Board President
CCIA Vice President
CCIA Board President
Conrad Gregory leads the government relations and licensing activities of Harborside Inc., one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in the country. His work covers the policy and politics of the cannabis industry as well as the development of current and future licenses.
Prior to joining Harborside, Gregory helped run several successful political campaigns at the local, state and federal levels before moving to Sacramento to work for then-Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom as Chief Consultant for Economic Policy. Gregory’s work culminated in overseeing the Lt. Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy, which ultimately influenced Proposition 64 to legalize adult-use cannabis in California.
In addition to his work at Harborside, Gregory co-chairs the CCIA Retail and Delivery Committee and is a founding member of Oakland Citizens for Equity and Prosperity (OCEP).
CCIA Board Vice President
Dr. Swetha Kaul is an industry expert on cannabis laboratory testing and a passionate advocate for sensible regulations. She has over a decade of leadership and technical experience from academia, the pharmaceutical industry and the emerging field of cannabis testing. She has an MS in Pharmacology and Toxicology and a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from University of Kansas. Prior to joining the cannabis industry, Dr. Kaul worked at Allergan where she was responsible for leading drug development efforts including formulation research, stability studies, process development and CMC.
Her foray into cannabis began when she took on the role of Chief Scientific Officer at Cannalysis, a cannabis testing lab based in Santa Ana, California. At Cannalysis, she pioneered industry leading analytical techniques and standards for quality and compliance while guiding the lab through several successful audits and accreditations. Her ability to simplify scientific and regulatory concepts to a variety of audiences has made her an established presence at major events such as SXSW, MJBizCon, CCBC, CWCBExpo, Arcview, CCIA’s Policy Summit, Analytical Cannabis, Emerald Conference and Infused Products Conference. Dr. Kaul is recognized as a scientific authority in the cannabis community and has been featured by various media outlets such as NPR, CBS, and Spectrum News. As a member of the CCIA Board of Directors and Chair of the Quality Control Committee, Dr. Kaul has participated in developing and promoting key legislative and regulatory policies. She is committed to legitimizing the cannabis industry through education and advocacy.
CCIA Secratery
CCIA Treasurer
Michael Wheeler | Flow Kana
Michael Wheeler is the Vice President of Policy Initiatives at Flow Kana, a sustainable, sun-grown cannabis, supply chain company.
Michael leads the company’s public policy interests at the local, state and federal level. Michael co-chairs the Distribution Committee and is the executive representative to the California Cannabis Industry Association. He has been interviewed on cannabis issues by the Washington Post, MJBizDaily, Law360, and has participated in numerous panels at cannabis conferences.
Michael Wheeler came to Flow Kana in 2017 with more than 12 years of policy expertise in the clean energy sector. Since 2011, Michael led one of the U.S.’s largest solar developer’s legislative and regulatory affairs agenda at the state and federal level. Michael was Board Chair of the Large-scale Solar Association in CA, and started the Texas Solar Association in Austin.
Michael Ray | Bloom Farms
CCIA Board Treasurer
Michael Ray is a cannabis advocate, lobbyist for social change, and entrepreneur with a passion for technology and design.
As the Executive Director at Bloom Farms, Michael oversees the day-to-day operations. Bloom Farms’ first priority is to make consistently high-quality cannabis products that are available for medical cannabis patients throughout California. Michael also oversees Bloom Farms’ 1-for-1 program: with every product purchased, Bloom Farms donates one meal to a food-insecure family in California. Bloom Farms has donated over 250,000 meals to food banks throughout California in 2016
Michael has a passion for community, and since becoming a cannabis entrepreneur, he has worked with industry leaders, regulators and community leaders to legalize, regulate and legitimize California’s medical cannabis industry.
James Anthony | Anthony Law Group
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.
Dr. Juli Crockett | MMLG
Tiffany Devitt | CannaCraft
CCIA Board Secretary
Tiffany Devitt is responsible for overseeing CannaCraft's consumer and government affairs. As such, she plays a valuable and vital role in shaping and executing the company's legislative priorities in Sacramento and DC. As a member of the National Cannabis Roundtable Board, she is working collaboratively with industry leaders from across the country to promulgate federal financial services reform and tax equity for the cannabis industry.
Tiffany is a current and founding Board Member of CannaCraft, Kind House, and Emerald Pharms. She was the 2018 recipient of the North Bay Business Journal Women in Business Award. Tiffany received an undergraduate degree from Tufts University and a Master’s from Stanford University.
Pamela Epstein | Eden Enterprises
Pamela has made a name for herself as one of the cannabis industry’s most respected, prominent, innovative female leaders and featured industry speaker. She serves as the General Counsel, Chief Regulatory & Licensing Officer for Eden Enterprises a vertically integrated company.
Epstein has used her extensive background in environmental law with an emphasis on regulatory compliance to help implement Eden’s novel “Compassion Over Destruction” initiative. In Epstein’s previous role with Green Wise she was known as a fearless advocate for cannabis businesses of all sizes across the supply chain. She successfully guided them through the ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape. Her passion and sense of duty to the community is unparalleled. Epstein also served as the Special City Attorney for cannabis regulation for the City of Hollister and is currently the Co-Chair of CCIA's Special Events & Social Consumption Committee, where she is working to update cannabis events regulations.
AnnaRae Grabstein | NorCal Cannabis Company
AnnaRae Grabstein, MBA, is Chief Compliance Officer of NorCal Cannabis Company, a vertically-integrated and direct-to-consumer cannabis company, where she leads efforts to navigate California’s complex public policy environment. Her goal is for California to realize a thriving cannabis ecosystem where consumers, businesses, communities and government all win through the creation of sensible policy.
As a passionate industry advocate, she communicates with disparate and diverse stakeholders to solve the challenges facing the rollout of regulated cannabis. And, as a recognized thought leader, she developed NorCal’s social impact program focusing on equity, environment, employees, community and consumers.
Her depth of experience in the issuance, acquisition and operation of cannabis licenses across the supply chain and her education in business, make her qualified to provide direction on cannabis policy.
AnnaRae is a founding member of NORML’s Women’s Alliance, sits on the Board of Directors for WWOOF and was CEO of Steep Hill Lab.
David Hua | Meadow
David Hua is the CEO and Co-Founder of Meadow, a software company built from the ground up for California cannabis. Meadow’s powerful all-in-one point of sale software powers retail and delivery businesses across the state.
Hua has partnered with dispensaries and delivery services of all sizes throughout California, utilizing technology to maintain compliance with local and state regulations, scale with the Adult Use market, and create operational efficiencies that allow these businesses to thrive in a regulated industry. He has also collaborated with the cannabis community and California regulators to draft, implement, and provide stakeholder feedback on medical and Adult-Use regulations, from pre-MMRSA to today’s regulations. Hua has been an active CCIA member since 2015, hosting and speaking at CCIA conferences and events throughout the state.
Kristi Knoblich | Kiva Confection
Kristi Knoblich is co-founder of Kiva Confections and serves as Chief Operating Officer. Founded in 2010, Kiva’s mission is to produce safe, consistent and delicious edibles. Kristi is the driving force behind Kiva’s customer service philosophy, employee development, and best practices in manufacturing and business. She and her team have successfully grown the company to over 80 employees, serving over 800 stores in California, Arizona, and Nevada with plans to expand into other states and new product lines. Kiva continues to redefine the edible cannabis category and lead the way in developing premium quality, great tasting products. Kristi served as the Board President of CCIA and also chairs the Manufacturing Committee.
Yvette McDowell | McDowell & Associates
From City Prosecutor to Cannabis Law Consultant, Yvette McDowell.
As a former firefighter-paramedic and a retired Emmy Award Winning Assistant City Prosecutor and trial attorney, she brings to the table years of hands on experience. She has a deep respect and value for justice and believes that equity is where justice begins and ends. Described by colleagues as relentless, determined and a force to be reckoned with, she balances her tenacious spirit with compassion and empathy.
“Equal justice under cannabis law for all” has become Yvette’s motto! Her ultimate focus is to educate those in power and make sure that regulation is tolerant in its impact and is inclusive of the entire community. Working side by side with city and county governments to educate and foster economic growth will bridge the communication gap between local government and the community regarding the cannabis industry. Regulation should be followed, but not overly burdensome.
During and after Yvette’s retirement from city government she has been a part of numerous associations and boards: California District Attorneys Association, California Cannabis Industry Assn, National Cannabis Industry Assn, National Cannabis Bar Association, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, California Peace Officers Association, Minority Cannabis Business Association, Women Leaders in Law Enforcement.
As an Amazon bestselling and a #1 International bestselling author, Yvette wants to help create a paradigm shift in the cannabis industry where “Equal justice Under Cannabis Law” becomes a reality for all choosing to enter into this exciting field.
Kristin Nevedal | Humboldt's Finest
Kristin Nevedal is the President of The International Cannabis Farmers Association, serves on the State of California Cannabis Advisory Committee, serves as Chief Compliance Officer for Humboldt’s Finest Farms and Co-Chairs CCIA’s AG Committee.
Kristin co-founded and served on the board of the Emerald Growers Association whose mission was to promote the medicinal, environmental, social, and economic benefits of lawfully cultivated sun-grown medical cannabis from California’s Emerald Triangle region by advocating for public policies that foster a healthy, sustainable medical cannabis industry. As chair of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Cannabis Committee’s Cultivation Working Group, Kristin assisted in the development of cannabis cultivation model regulations and best practices for agency consideration. Kristin is also an instructor at Oaksterdam University, teaching classes on environmental sustainability and Best Management Practices.
Kristin’s broad policy and advocacy experience includes serving as a board member for the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform (CCPR), Californians to Regulate Medical Marijuana (CRMM), Americans for Safe Access’ Patient Focused Certification Program, and the 420 Archives.
Sabrina Noah | Cresco Labs
As Cresco Labs Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Sabrina Noah’s work advancing the company’s presence in new markets has led the company to grow operations from one state to 12 and generate annual revenue of over $43 million (2018). In a highly regulated industry where each state’s cannabis program is comprised of different and precise requirements for operations, Ms. Noah ensured the company was compliant with laws, regulations, internal policies and controls in all the states where the company is currently operational as well as in states where the company is advancing the business. Ms. Noah’s work is a critical component to Cresco Labs’ growth strategy to be one of the largest vertically and most compliant integrated US-based cannabis companies.
Under Ms. Noah’s leadership, Cresco Labs opened and operated 23 cultivation/production facilities and 56 retail dispensary licenses across Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona, California, New York, and Michigan.
Previous to joining Cresco Labs, Ms. Noah worked for 15 years in government relations and organizing grassroots campaigns across the country. During this time, Ms. Noah was integral in helping several new medical cannabis markets draft legislation. Before joining the cannabis industry, Sabrina worked with Fortune 500 companies in healthcare, automotive and technology industries.
Kimberly Simms | Law Office of Kimberly Simms
Kimberly R. Simms earned her law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and became a member of the California State Bar in 2009. Kimberly has dedicated her entire legal career to the cannabis industry. She started her law practice immediately after law school with a focus on the legal and regulatory needs of the medical marijuana industry.
In her law practice, she has negotiated with government officials to craft reasonable and effective regulations that allow for safe access, handled complex land use and zoning matters, advised on local and state regulations and advised hundreds of cannabis entrepreneurs to develop their cannabis business strategy and structure.
Kimberly is recognized as a leading expert in this emerging area of law. She has taught courses and lead seminars which focus on how to comply with the ever-changing legal and regulatory requirements of the cannabis industry.