At a recent MiBiz roundtable sponsored by Warner, a panel tackled issues involving racial equity, ongoing barriers to enter the market, industry consolidation, company culture and legislative proposals that have caused division in the industry. Panelists included:
- Robert Hendricks, senior counsel at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, which has a dedicated cannabis practice with 26 attorneys
- Narmin Jarrous, chief development officer at Exclusive Brands LLC, a vertically integrated cannabis company with four retail stores in Michigan, including in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Muskegon
- Casey Kornoelje, owner of Pharmhouse Wellness Co., a Grand Rapids-based medical and recreational retailer
- Peter Marcus, communications director of Terrapin Care Station, a multi-state commercial growing company with Michigan headquarters in Grand Rapids
- Denavvia Mojet, executive director of the Black and Brown Cannabis Guild, a nonprofit social equity advocacy group
- John Price, vice president at Lockton Companies, a global independent insurance brokerage
- Mahja Sulemanjee, founder of High Haven LLC, a vertically integrated startup operating in Michigan and Illinois
Diverse perspectives were brought to the Zoom roundtable ranging from legal and risk management to small business owners, entrepreneurs and executives at multi-state operations. As the industry continues to take shape, the panelists shared an optimistic outlook for Michigan’s market, but highlighted the need for more inclusivity and a consumer-focused approach.
Read the full MiBiz article here.
