Cannabiziac® Launches 2025 ‘Get in the Biz’ Roadshow and Announces 2026 Virtually
Media Contact
Ann Marie Sorrell, Cannabiziac, LLC
[email protected] │ 561-651-9565
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cannabiziac® Launches 2025 ‘Get in the Biz’ Roadshow and Announces 2026 International Locations and Dates
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July 17, 2025, | West Palm Beach, FL Cannabiziac®, a global leader in cannabis business education and development, is proud to announce the return of its highly anticipated “Get in the Biz” Roadshow, a dynamic international series designed to educate, connect, and empower cannabis entrepreneurs and professionals.
Kicking off virtually on Saturday, August 16, 2025, the 2025 edition of the Roadshow will bring together more than 20 esteemed thought leaders from the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean for a full day of online programming. Participants will gain invaluable insights into cannabis entrepreneurship, the global cannabis economy, and key sectors including Cultivation, Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Technology, and Professional Services.
The event will feature expert panels, keynote presentations, and breakout rooms for deeper discussions, along with the return of Cannabiziac’s signature pitch competition, offering scholarships into the Cannabiz Builder Incubator Program. Business coaching sessions will also be available to help attendees refine their strategies and advance their cannabis ventures.
“The Get in the Biz Roadshow isn’t just an event, it’s a launching pad for cannabis success,” said Ann Marie Sorrell, President and Founder of Cannabiziac®. “Whether you’re canna-curious or already running a business, the Roadshow provides a unique opportunity to gain real-world knowledge, forge powerful connections, and take actionable steps toward building a successful brand in the $220+ billion global cannabis industry.” This virtual event offers affordable access for a global audience with a dynamic agenda designed for entrepreneurs at every level.
Program at a Glance
- Morning sessions, including Cannabis 101, Opportunities in Global Markets, and The Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship.
- Afternoon sessions will feature immersive business case study development workshops, and international perspectives
- Breakout rooms focused on Good Manufacturing Practices [GMP], Business Plan and Pitch Coaching, and International Cannabis Perspectives. Participants will have tailored opportunities to deepen their knowledge and expand their networks.
Tickets are just $59 USD, with a limited-time early bird special of $25 USD through July 31st, 2025.
Speakers for 2025 ‘Get in the Biz’ Virtual Roadshow
- Hon. Ann Marie Sorrell, MBA., President and Founder, Cannabiziac
- Keachea Dixon, Esq., VP of International Affairs, Cannabiziac
- Dr. Terel S. Newton, Medical Director, Trulieve
- Priscilla Agoncillo, Co-Founder, Original Breeders League
- JB Holton, Cannabiziac Builder Incubator Program Graduate, CEO, Gro Enterprises
- Abi Roach, CVO, Jane Dope
- Regis Burton, CEO, Antigua and Barbuda Medical Authority
- Adaora Ogbue, Founder and Principal, Venture Catalyst
- Daniel Bear, Director, Humber Polytechnic Centre for Social Innovation
- Adrian Anglin, Cannabiziac Builder Incubator Program Graduate, CEO, Numera Ltd.
- Jeremy Smith, Vice President, Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance
- Ms. Farrah Blake, CEO, Cannabis Licensing Authority, Jamaica
- Dr. Machel Emmanuel, Lecturer, University of West Indies
- Dr. Sherry Boodram, CEO and Co-Founder, CannDelta Inc.
- Germaine A. Bryer, Business Developer, Gerbry Business Ltd.
- Ashley Foster, CEO and Founder, Bevrly Bud Bags
- Marcus Goffe, Attorney at Law, Goffe Law
- JM Balbuena, CMO, Prime Harvest Inc.
- Michael Jie-Shen Fang, CEO and Founder, Gage Green Group
- Judith Dyer, CFO, DOPE
- Darwin Millard, Technical Director, Cannabis Safety Quality
- Shakeira Little, Cannabiziac Builder Incubator Program Graduate, CEO and Founder, Reggae OG Kush
- Dylan Norbert-Inglis, CEO, St. Lucia Regulated Substances Authority
- GP Mendie, Assistant VP of Research, Florida A&M University
Roadshow Continues Virtually in 2026
The 2025 virtual Roadshow will serve as the springboard to Cannabiziac’s 2026 fully virtual international tour, which kicks off on May 30, 2026, with a regional focus on Kingston, Jamaica, followed by scheduled virtual stops highlighting regional developments across Canada, New Jersey, Florida, and Chicago.
Organizations interested in aligning with this transformative movement are invited to sponsor the 2025 and 2026 Roadshow series. Early sponsorship provides valuable brand visibility to a diverse and rapidly expanding international audience ahead of the 2026 virtual events.
Cannabiziac® is a global member-based company where cannabis entrepreneurs and business leaders Connect, Create, and Cultivate their Cannabiz. We help new and existing businesses and professionals tap into the growing industry with continuous learning, access to international experts and top-tier educational resources, consulting, networking events, mentorship, funding networks, advocacy support, and an exclusive online community. For more information about Cannabiziac® and the Get in the Biz Roadshow, visit www.cannabiziac.com. For media inquiries, contact [email protected] or 561-651-9565.
ABOUT CANNABIZIAC®
Cannabiziac® is a premier global cannabis focused, member-based incubator, accelerator, and coworking company which assists new and existing cannabis professionals tap into the growing industry by creating and cultivating their cannabis business and career. It offers networking events, training, access to funders, and coaching via various levels of membership. Find us online at www.cannabiziac.com or on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Join our Cannabiziac® Community at community.cannabiziac.com.
A Professional Overview of Cannabis and Hemp Extraction Methods by Jason Stark, founder of The Entourage Effect
In our Cannabiz Café for June 2025, Jason from Kansas Yak delivered a comprehensive overview of cannabis and hemp extraction methods. Designed to educate new and experienced professionals, the session was conducted engagingly.
The presentation began by addressing foundational aspects, including harvesting techniques. Two primary approaches—fresh frozen and dried material—were explained, focusing on their impact on terpene preservation. The subtle differences between hemp and cannabis plant materials were also highlighted, providing essential context for the extraction processes that followed.
Four primary extraction methods were introduced: ethanol, supercritical CO₂, hydrocarbon, and solventless extraction. These methods were examined regarding scalability, efficiency, and product quality. Ethanol and CO₂ extractions were emphasized for their high throughput and suitability for hemp processing on an industrial scale. In contrast, hydrocarbon and solventless methods were shown to be preferred by artisanal producers of cannabis concentrates, due to their superior ability to retain delicate terpene profiles.
Each method’s strengths and limitations were explored in depth, including yield considerations, operational cost, and type of final product. After extraction, many post-processing techniques were discussed, such as winterization, decarboxylation, distillation, and isolation. These methods are critical for refining crude extracts into high-purity products.
The final segment of the presentation was devoted to the diverse range of end products, including wax, shatter, live resin, rosin, diamonds, and sauce. Each was described in terms of its production process, visual characteristics, and consumer appeal.
The session concluded with a forward-looking perspective on emerging industry trends. Notable developments included increased automation, the growing utilization of minor cannabinoids, and a heightened focus on quality control and standardization. These shifts are shaping the future of extraction, positioning the industry for greater efficiency, consistency, and innovation.
Overall, the presentation served as a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the complexities of modern cannabis and hemp extraction. A balance of technical insight and practical application was provided, ensuring that key takeaways could be applied across various operations within the industry.
#CannabisExtraction #HempExtraction #ArtisanalProducts #ExtractionMethods #HempProcessing #PostProcessingTech #CannabisBusiness
Broward State Attorney’s Office joins Prosecutorial Performance Indicators project
The Broward State Attorney’s Office has joined a network of nationally recognized researchers and prosecutors who are committed to increasing transparency and accountability by objectively measuring and analyzing prosecutorial practices.
Following through on Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor’s commitment to make the criminal justice system as transparent and accountable as possible, the Broward State Attorney’s Office is partnering with Florida International University (FIU) and Loyola University Chicago to measure Prosecutorial Performance Indicators (PPIs). This innovative partnership is part of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge, which is funding the Broward research.
The project creates data dashboards that are shared with the public online. The neutral and objective information is then used to help analyze and measure prosecutorial decision making and its impact on communities. The research will help prosecutors to make smart decisions and analyze what works and what needs attention or improvement.
“Before I was sworn in, I promised to help reform the criminal justice system in smart ways that deliver equal justice to all and keep our communities safe,” Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor said. “It will take time to conduct this research and implement changes but we are going to dig into the data so we can understand what works and what doesn’t work so well. Our goals are to address serious crime, improve our effectiveness, lower costs for taxpayers, and protect and serve victims while also reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system.”
The Prosecutorial Performance Indicators are 55 measures of performance that challenge and expand traditional measures of success in the field of prosecution. They emphasize the priorities of safety, community well-being, justice, equity and fairness for everyone affected by our criminal justice system.
Prosecutors and other staff members at the Broward State Attorney’s Office are eager to work with researchers and our community to examine how we do our jobs. Using neutral and objective data will allow us to analyze the fairness and effectiveness of how we handle cases from the time they are presented to us by police agencies, through the evaluation and decision-making process on whether charges should be formally filed, which charges would be appropriate, and how cases are handled through dismissal, referral to diversion programs, prosecution, pleas, trials and sentencing.
The Broward State Attorney’s Office is the seventh prosecutorial office in the US – and the third in Florida – to join the project. The six other offices that are already part of the project are based in Charleston, S.C., Chicago, Ill., Milwaukee, Wis., Philadelphia, Pa., and Jacksonville and Tampa in Florida.
“Success for prosecutors should be associated with more than convictions and harsh sentences,” said Aisha Edwards, program officer at the MacArthur Foundation. “The Prosecutorial Performance Indicators offer a holistic way to define success, data collection to measure progress, encourages collaboration with community members, and provides the tools needed to tackle racial inequities. This data-driven approach will help create a more equitable and effective criminal justice system.”
“It is an honor to assist State Attorney Harold Pryor’s historic administration in meeting their goals of transparency for the people of Broward County. He joins Florida State Attorneys Melissa Nelson and Andrew Warren in leading the work in our state to make data culture in prosecution the norm,” said Melba Pearson, Director of Policy and Programs for the Center for the Administration of Justice at FIU and a co-manager of the PPI project.
“As more and more prosecutors are seeking guidance about how to use data to bring about a new vision for justice, it is time for researchers and prosecutors to work together in close partnerships. We look forward to working with the Broward State Attorney’s Office,” said Besiki Kutateladze, a criminology professor at Florida International University and lead researcher on the project.
The indicators look at nine objectives for a prosecutor’s office, from increasing timely handling of cases, to reducing racial and ethnic disparities, to expanding community outreach and engagement. They help create a multilayered and holistic assessment that moves beyond individual cases to determine broader impacts and effectiveness. They also allow prosecutors to discern trends, learn about progress and anticipate problems.
It will, of course, take time to set up the process and undertake the analysis of so many cases but this is a long-term commitment to improvement and change. State Attorney Pryor will create a Community Advisory Board for this project to seek input, ideas and feedback from community members and experts.
About the partners:
PPI team includes: Besiki Kutateladze, Florida International University; Don Stemen, Loyola University Chicago; Rebecca Richardson Dunlea, Florida International University; Melba Pearson, Florida International University; Ana Carazo, Florida International University; Lin Liu, Florida International University; Branden DuPont, Medical College of Wisconsin; David Olson, Loyola University Chicago.
Florida International University is Miami’s only public research university. Designated a top-tier research institution, FIU emphasizes research as a major component in its university mission. FIU is among the top 10 largest universities in the nation. Of its 54,000 students, 67% are Hispanic and 12% are Black.
Loyola University Chicago, a private university founded in 1870 as St. Ignatius College, is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities. Loyola is among a select group of universities recognized for community service and engagement by prestigious national organizations including the Carnegie Foundation.
Contact: Paula McMahon, spokeswoman for the Broward State Attorney’s Office
[email protected] or 954-831-7910
https://browardsao.com
https://prosecutorialperformanceindicators.org/
Decoding Cannabis
Article by Tess C. Kelly
CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Via The Crimson
Before cannabis had been legalized in any state, Staci Gruber was already studying it in her lab.
Currently a psychiatry professor at Harvard Medical School and the director of McLean Hospital’s Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program, Gruber has studied the effects of cannabis for roughly three decades. She has recently turned her attention to a project focusing on the effects of cannabidiol, or CBD, the semi-mysterious compound heralded by health bloggers and celebrities for its supposed alleviation of pain and stress.
That project is a partnership between McLean Hospital and Charlotte’s Web Holdings, a CBD company that sells hemp-based products like oils and gummies. Gruber cites their reputation as “one of the most recognized names in industrial hemp-based products,” as a key factor in her decision to work with them. “They really were the very first to bring [medical cannabis] to the nation’s consciousness,” she says. She also recalls an earlier study conducted by MIND in which she tested the cannabis products used by study participants and noted the high quality of those made by Charlotte’s Web.
Gruber’s partnership with Charlotte’s Web includes two projects related to the effect of cannabis on different medical conditions. One evaluates a hemp-based product’s impact on people with moderate to severe anxiety, while the other examines a different product’s effect on anxiety in patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
While this partnership is unique in its link to an outside company, in most ways the research process is the same for Gruber as it was in past projects. Charlotte’s Web helps with the choice of study and the products used, but the actual research is up to Gruber and her team. This distinction, Gruber says, is key to ensuring the integrity of the results. “I think that’s also incredibly important [that] we don’t do anything in which we are beholden to an outside organization with regard to how we do the study [and] what the data will say,” she says.
Her research with cannabis began about 30 years ago as she studied the neurological effects of recreational cannabis on college students. Around that time, she also was studying various psychiatric disorders, and her work with bipolar disorder in particular was a “turning point” in her approach to cannabis.
Gruber noticed that patients with the disorder would report using cannabis to combat feelings of depression. “I thought, ‘That’s really interesting — I’ve never heard that before,’” she recalls. She secured a grant in 2008 to study the effects of cannabis on people with bipolar disorder.
As she began to look into medical cannabis, Gruber noticed a lack of available research and particularly a lack of long-term data. She started the MIND Program in 2014 to combat this problem. Its first project was a long-term study to observe participants’ medical cannabis habits and examine the products they used.
That study has led to a variety of current projects, including research into chronic pain, cannabis use among veterans, and clinical trials. Those trials include the “first-whole plant full-spectrum” solution, containing not only CBD but all compounds found in the cannabis plant, designed by Gruber to treat moderate to severe anxiety.
While cannabis is the general subject of Gruber’s research, she feels the term is often misplaced. “We tend to use one term, cannabis or marijuana, to define the entire landscape, that is anything that comes from the plant,” she explains, “which is unfortunate because it’s a misnomer.” That landscape actually includes hundreds of compounds, such as the commonly known CBD and psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and the more obscure terpenoids and flavonoids. These compounds exist in various combinations: some cannabis products include all compounds, some are THC-free, and others are a single compound.
The climate around cannabis research can be difficult to navigate. “In many ways, it’s much like the Wild West because there are very few guidelines and regulations for certain types of -products-,” Gruber says. Strong opinions about cannabis and its potential risks, as well as its Schedule I status under federal law — the most restrictive status for substances — complicate the ability to get funding and study cannabis. “You have to be tenacious if you want to do research in this area,” she adds.
Gruber’s future research “may very well” include more work with Charlotte’s Web, but she also intends to develop the types of studies and programs currently running at MIND. She still sees her current goals guiding future research. She’s focusing on “how you can possibly use this for addressing symptoms and conditions, and health and wellness, but reduce the risk of potential liabilities, and I think those things are equally important,” she says.
Gruber hopes for increased government regulation in the future of cannabis. Based on current guidelines, some CBD products are not subject to any regulations. “Everyone deserves to know what they’re taking,” she says. As the government and general public become more educated about cannabis and its various forms, however, Gruber believes more oversight and quality assurance will follow.
She adds that people are currently interested in cannabis-based products not only to treat medical conditions but also to promote general health and wellness. “I think the future is likely headed towards greater numbers of individuals exploring the use of these products,” she says.
As a scientist, though, she would still like to see more research, regardless of the public’s increasing confidence in cannabis. “It would be great if we had a little more data,” she says, “to help people make good decisions.”
— Magazine writer Tess C. Kelley can be reached at [email protected].