DENVER, March 14, 2016 /Weed Wire/ — As Colorado’s Cannabis industry becomes a model of legalization for the rest of the United States and the world, The Cannabis Business Alliance (CBA) has appointed iComply CEO Mark Slaugh as Executive Director. CBA has also named Love’s Oven owner Peggy Moore as CBA Board Chair, and Wana Brands co-owner Nancy Whiteman as CBA Edibles Council Chair. Slaugh, Moore and Whiteman have played pivotal roles in the continued success of the Cannabis industry in Colorado and their appointments to CBA leadership positions come at a critical time when the industry as a whole is working with local and state government to advance sensible regulations focused on consumer safety.
“The Cannabis industry is thriving, but we face the many challenges that can be expected from a new and rapidly evolving industry. My experience as the founder and CEO of iComply provides the knowledge and expertise to voice membership insight on industry issues and pending regulations,” Slaugh noted. “As the CBA Executive Director, I will represent our members’ voices for smart Cannabis policy from one of the most conservative markets in the United States.”
In his new role, Slaugh will provide the guiding vision for the Cannabis Business Alliance, work with the Board of Directors to strengthen and expand the organization, and serve as the voice of CBA members. Among his duties, Slaugh will be a resource to policy makers at the state and local level, and raise awareness about the industry through public speaking engagements. Slaugh has played a pivotal role in the creation of Colorado’s Cannabis Industry having worked to craft Colorado’s public policy around marijuana in both the legislature and through rulemaking groups focused in multiple topics including recording keeping, administration, discipline, edibles safety, responsible vendor training, taxation, and compliance. Slaugh founded iComply in 2011. Through his expertise, he provides valued services to clients on starting operations, production, manufacturing, and retail management, and compliance consulting, training, and certification. Additionally, he served as the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council (CSMCC) industry group membership and executive director, and as the Southern Colorado Regional Coordinator for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (Amendment 64) working on complex, nuanced, and challenging regulatory issues.
Moore moves to CBA Board Chair from her position of CBA Edibles Council Chair. Moore is the owner of Love’s Oven, a Cannabis bakery focused on serving patients through delivering high quality Cannabis with small batch, home-style baked goods. “CBA has worked diligently this year to make significant progress in developing the guidelines that protect and educate the consumer,” Moore noted. “CBA is directly addressing concerns of unintended access as well as overconsumption. We take our role in ensuring public safety very seriously. As such, we are working to bring best practices to the entire industry to ensure that all consumers are educated about how and when to consume cannabis, and how to avoid cases of accidental ingestion. The industry has embraced and furthered certified child resistant packaging, safety warnings on labeling and product testing, and will continue to promote this and other industry best-practices in 2016.”
Whiteman assumes the role of CBA Edibles Council Chair. As co-owner of Wana Brands, Whiteman has worked in the industry since 2010, giving her over six years of experience in complying with edibles laws and regulations. “The marijuana infused products industry has experienced tremendous growth over the past five years, but we are faced with some challenging legislation that could put the industry in jeopardy,” Whiteman said. “We hope to provide legislators with the information that they need to make sensible decisions, and not place undue burden on this fledgling industry, as it pertains to labor, technology, and additional costs.”
The State Licensing Authority has proposed a Universal Symbol for Medical Marijuana and Retail Marijuana packaging and labeling, which is scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 1, 2016. This law would require that all packaging as well as edible cannabis-infused products be marked with a specific symbol that indicates the product contains THC. In addition, proposed legislation is expected to be introduced in 2016 regarding the shape and character of marijuana edibles, which will present ongoing challenges for innovation within the cannabis infused products market.
For more information, please contact Shawna McGregor at 917-971-7852 or [email protected].
About the Cannabis Business Alliance (CBA)
The Cannabis Business Alliance (CBA) is one of the original Cannabis advocacy organizations, and is an advocate and a resource for business owners, employees, patients and clients of the medical and adult-use marijuana industry. CBA promotes programs that will enhance the emerging marijuana industry’s place in Colorado’s business economy, create respect for the industry in the communities we serve, and support client and patient access, education and safety. For more information, visit www.cannabisalliance.org. Friend us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
