SUNY Niagara will host the third annual SUNY Cannabis Conference on Jan. 13 and 14, one promising to be bigger than ever.

The conference’s first day will be held at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute on Old Falls Street from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. focusing mainly on culinary cannabis. Events include gourmet infused lunch from Chef Nathan Koscielski and dinner at the institute’s Savor restaurant.

The second day will take place at SUNY Niagara’s Sanborn campus from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. bringing together local businesspeople, educators, medical professionals, and other individuals who want to learn more about the cannabis industry.

Discussions in the Dining Commons, Community Room and Room E142 range from cannabis history, panel discussions with growers, and medical uses for cannabis.

Carolyn Stanko, horticulture program co-coordinator, anticipates 120 attendees for Jan. 13 and 300 for Jan. 14.

Keynote speakers include Ed Rosenthal, one of the foremost cannabis cultivation experts and legislation advocates for more than 50 years, and Dr. Dustin Sulak of Healer.com.

SUNY Niagara has offered courses as part of a cannabis curriculum since 2019 currently offering eight cannabis-focused electives to students through its horticulture AAS certificate program and five as non-credit workforce development courses.

The conference’s first two years have been major successes, expanding to two days and two locations last year and drawing attendees and speakers from across the country.

Guest speakers across the two days include:

• Daniela Vergara, PhD emerging crops specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension

• Anna Schwabe, PhD, cannabis scientist and geneticist

• Justin Esquivel, CEO and geneticist with Green Luster Phenos

• Samuel Haiden, PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut

• Nina Hicks, family medicine physician

• Mike Casacci, CEO and Founder of House of Sacci

• Dr. Jose Leme, assistant professor of cannabis at Southern Illinois University

• Stephanie Hua, author of Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen

• “Hawaii” Mike, founder of Chef for Higher

• Ed Wells, Cannatrol VP of Sales

• Akeem Gardner, CEO of Canurta Inc.

• Megan Mbengue, Founder and CEO of Trusted Canna Nurse

• Maurine D. Hinson, Founder and Director of MediRootz Medical Group

• Nellie Brown, Director of the Workplace Health and Safety Program of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations

• Chelsea Bugsch, Gummy Production Manager at Gen V Labs/Ayrloom

• Tom Szulist, Founder of Innocence Cannabis LLC

• Necole Hines, Founder of Faded Living

• Tremaine Wright, Chairwoman of NYS Cannabis Control Board

• John Montesanti, owner-operate of Satisfied Mind Cannabis Store

• Dr. Riley Kirk of Network of Applied Pharmacosgnosy

The conference is also presented by SUNY Erie, Jamestown Community College, and Genesee Community College. They, along with SUNY Niagara, were part of the consortium that secured a $1 million SUNY cannabis workforce grant in July 2022 to create short-term credential programs and offerings for the cannabis industry. It also allowed SUNY Niagara to hold the cannabis conference for three years.

For more information, contact cannabis@niagaracc.suny.edu. Event tickets can be bought online at https://www.niagaracc.suny.edu/cannabisconference.

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