Annelise Lewis is the AGM for North Country Cannabis located in Prince George, BC. Annelise has 9+ years of sales experience and has been with North Country for 4+ years. She started her journey in the cannabis industry as a Budtender and transitioned into management 3 years ago. She participates in planning and executing operational strategies that has helped the business to achieve constant sales growth annually. She has a very deep understanding of cannabis consumer trends and analytics. She wants to use her experience and firsthand knowledge to help break the stigma and pave the way for the changes that cannabis consumers & retailers are petitioning for.

BC *virtual speaker

Bo’s career in BC’s regulatory affairs began in the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) days. He primarily worked on the Licensed Producer side of the industry, particularly focused on policy, licensing, and compliance. Bo joined ABLE BC two years ago, building the group’s new cannabis retail advocacy program from the ground up to now representing over 100 private cannabis stores in BC. Now serving as the Executive Director, Bo is a dedicated advocate who is relentless in supporting businesses in BC’s liquor and cannabis landscape. He is here to champion ABLE BC members, fight for their businesses’ needs, and connect them with industry leaders and government officials.BC *virtual speaker

Cannabis advocate, storyteller, and community builder rooted in the spirit of the Pot Block. With 5+ years of retail and product development experience during the early days of legalization, Brittney Guthrie has helped bridge the gap between legacy culture and the legal industry.

Through events, conversations, and collaborations, she amplifies the voices of growers, creators, and pioneers who built the foundation of the cannabis community. Passionate about preserving the stories, celebrating the people, and pushing the culture forward.

Building spaces where the culture can roll on.

BC 

Daniela Diaz is a chef, entrepreneur, and cannabis culinary educator based in British Columbia. Born on the East Coast and raised on the West Coast, her Latin heritage strongly influences the warmth, flavor, and soul she brings to her cooking.

A graduate of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (2012), Daniela spent over a decade working in fine dining before launching her own culinary business in 2024. In January 2026, she earned the title of BC’s Best Cannabis Chef at a provincial culinary competition.

Daniela is passionate about showing that cannabis-infused cuisine can be healthy, elevated, and delicious. She believes cooking (infused or not) can be medicinal, a way to honor Mother Earth, and a powerful way to bring communities together around the table.

Jess Hope is a Canadian cannabis media creator, writer, and industry advocate known for highlighting the culture, people, and stories behind the plant.
Based in New Brunswick, she is a mum and small hobby farm owner who grows organic cannabis, raises goats, and shares her home with her family and dogs.Her hands-on experience informs her perspective on cultivation, sustainability, and community.
As founder of High Moon Magazine, Jess celebrates the evolving cannabis landscape through storytelling, consumer education, and industry insights, bridging the gap between brands and their audiences.
A board member of NORML Canada, she champions advocacy, budtender recognition, and amplifying voices from legacy growers to emerging entrepreneurs.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Kaylz is the GM of Amsterdam Cafe in Vancouver and the Founder of the Cannabis Hospitality Summit. With over a decade of experience across music, cannabis, and live event production, she has built a career at the intersection of culture, community, and hospitality.

She began her career at 18 studying Entertainment Business Management at Metalworks, earning the Jake Gold Special Achievement Award in 2012. She went on to manage Canadian multi-platinum recording artist Mia Martina and earned multiple Canadian Certified Gold Records while working with CP Music Group/XO.

Blending her passions for music and cannabis, Kaylz played a foundational role in launching O’Cannabiz and Grow Up—two of Canada’s earliest cannabis conferences—and is actively involved again with Grow Up for 2025/2026. She is a member of the Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance and participates in the BC Cannabis Task Force, contributing to the evolving conversation around cannabis hospitality and tourism in Canada.

Through her leadership at Amsterdam Cafe and the Cannabis Hospitality Summit, Kaylz is helping shape the future of cannabis-friendly spaces where tourism, entertainment, and community come together.

VANCOUVER, BC

Karen is a key player in the organizing of the CCTA’s Cannabis Tourism Summit and Music Festival every 420 in Niagara Falls.

Nadine Furnell is a cannabis tourism strategist and experiential hospitality innovator based in Prince George, British Columbia. As the founder of Mama Deen’s Kitchen & Mama Deen’s Enhanced Experiences, she is reimagining how cannabis integrates into Canada’s broader tourism economy — from compliant onsite consumption events to rural destination experiences and Indigenous tourism partnerships. With over 15 years of leadership experience in regulated industries, Nadine brings a policy-informed, operationally grounded perspective to advancing cannabis hospitality as a legitimate, revenue-generating sector. Her work focuses on bridging retailers, tourism operators, municipalities, and community stakeholders to position cannabis as a catalyst for economic development, cultural collaboration, and responsible destination growth across Western Canada.

BC *virtual speaker

Necole Hines is a cannabis educator, chef and advocate who’s passionate about celebrating plants through food and connection. She’s the founder of Faded Living where she brings cannabis into everyday life with low-THC cooking workshops, infused dining experiences, and cookbooks. Inspired by her Jamaican roots, Necole’s dishes are full of bold flavours and highlight the wellness benefits of cannabis in a way that’s approachable. Whether she’s hosting a workshop, writing a recipe, recording a podcast, or sharing a meal, Necole focuses on breaking down stigmas and creating meaningful moments. With plans to launch culinary and spiritual retreats and a 420-friendly Villa, she invites everyone to explore a “faded” lifestyle that’s grounded, creative, and community-focused”
BC

BC

Philip Wolf is a pioneer in cannabis hospitality and the Leader of the Cannabis & Psychedelics Member Group for Rolling Stone Culture Council. Through CashoM, he certifies professionals to serve cannabis in hospitality settings, establishing the industry’s first standards of service. He is also launching THC ServePro, certifying alcohol distributors, bars, and restaurants to responsibly and exquisitely sell THC beverages.

Colorado, USA

With 25 years in the industry, Renae Hollingsworth has done it all: from serving as COO of a large Caribbean cannabis company, to personally overseeing the build-out of farm lounges and dispensaries. Now, as the Founder and creative force behind Infused Events, she is dedicated to shaping the future of cannabis tourism globally. Renae speaks on the intersection of culinary, travel, and culture, sharing insights from a career spent growing up in the industry.

CARIBBEAN/CANADA

Robin Andruss is a legacy cannabis cultivator and regenerative farmer based in the mountains near Lillooet, BC. With over 30 years working on the land, she specializes in sun-grown, living soil cannabis shaped by the unique terroir of Interior BC.

Through her company, High Mountain Organics, Robin brings small-batch, outdoor flower into the legal market while staying rooted in traditional methods—seasonal harvests, natural curing, and hands-on cultivation.

Her work centers on the integration of small-scale cannabis and food production at a home scale, rooted in community and connection to place. She speaks to how these interconnected systems can support families in staying on the land while building resilient, locally grounded economies.

Sarah became involved in the medical cannabis movement in 1998 when she was introduced to the Vancouver Island Compassion Society. In 2006, she and the VIC’s hash master coined the term ‘cannabis rosin’. She helped build legacy brands including House of the Great Gardener and Sweet Grass Extracts. In 2016, Sarah co-founded the Craft Cannabis Association of BC, a non-profit industry association created to support and promote small-scale independent producers. Her team has been collaborating with stakeholders over the past decade to fight stigma and ensure government policy aligns with the vision of a thriving cannabis industry in BC – one that provides valued products, employment, and includes immersive tourism opportunities like the BC Cannabis Trail.

Stacey Duffy is the Head of Brand Engagement for All Nations, an Indigenous-owned craft cannabis company operating globally. She oversees national retailer partnerships, in-store and event activations, and experiential strategy, shaping how the brand is experienced from shelf to consumer.
With a focus on intentional brand presence and education, Stacey specializes in building meaningful retail relationships and creating impactful sampling and engagement opportunities that feel authentic rather than transactional. Her work bridges culture and commerce, ensuring that premium cannabis brands show up with integrity, clarity, and purpose in competitive markets.

BC

Tarah Rainville is an independent cannabis professional known for bringing people together and creating meaningful industry connections. As a contracted partner working across events, brands, and retail organizations, Tarah has helped shape networking experiences at major industry events including Grow Up and StratCann. A mom of three girls with a background in aesthetics, she brings a unique perspective rooted in customer experience, wellness, and hospitality. Focused on collaboration over competition, Tarah offers a real-world outlook on how connection, culture, and elevated experiences are shaping the next evolution of the cannabis industry.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA

KOOTENAYS, BC

Ted started the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club in 1996 and has been at the forefront of the fight for medical access since. In the last 30 years Ted has been arrested, acquitted, convicted, fined, and evicted while trying to provide cannabis products to over 9,000 patients. After the club’ bakery was raided in 2009, he managed the trial with lawyer Kirk Tousaw towards a unanimous victory at the Supreme Court of Canada in 2015, which made extracts and edibles legal for patients. Over this time, he has also been an author, publisher, actor, writer, event organizer and public speaker.

Ted’s newest venture, POT BUST CRAWL, is giving walking tours of places he and his friends have been arrested in Victoria.

VICTORIA, BC

Vikram Sachdeva is the Founder and CEO of Seed & Stone Cannabis, a British Columbia–based cannabis retail company committed to education, responsible consumption, and community engagement. Under his leadership, Seed & Stone has grown into a trusted retail brand focused on creating welcoming spaces that guide consumers on their cannabis journey.

Seed & Stone has developed a meaningful partnership with the Songhees Nation in Victoria, supporting local economic development and collaborative retail initiatives. The company operates retail locations in both Victoria and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

Seed & Stone has also participated in the Rifflandia Music Festival, supporting the development of regulated cannabis consumption experiences. Working alongside the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) and community partners, the company advocates for safe, responsible cannabis delivery and the advancement of compliant cannabis consumption lounges in Victoria, British Columbia.

BC

Walid is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years in both the cannabis and electronic music industries. A driving force in shaping Toronto’s cannabis consumption lounge regulations, he co-owns and operates the licensed retail chain Cosmic Gardens with his wife, Jane, a registered nurse and cannabis advocate. Walid’s career also spans international collaborations with touring DJs, record labels, radio stations, and large-scale music festivals. A founding board member, he became President in November 2023, bringing strategic leadership and deep community connections to the tourism sector.

ONTARIO