Top-level speakers for cannabis seminar

Adam Orens, a founding partner of the Marijuana Policy Group, is set to address the inaugural CanEx Business Seminar and Expo at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on September 2. Orens brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the event as his expertise spans market analysis, public finance, regional economic analysis, statistical analysis and consumer market research.

Adam's demographic and economic research related to the emerging marijuana market has been recognised by the New York Times, 60 Minutes, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and Huffington Post.

According to Orens, "It is no small feat to be recognised by these well-established organisations and I will be among the panellists from whom the audience will gain credible information".

"The Cannabis Legalisation market in Jamaica will be one of my main focuses, I want to show what has happened since Amendment 64 and what to expect in Jamaica's market trends in a mature cannabis market. Jamaica needs to know the outcomes of legalisation and how it will affect the market, public health and public safety," said Orens.

He graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's in agricultural and resource economics from Colorado State University. He has also done studies in Alaska, Illinois, Maryland, Vermont, where he examined many facets of medical and recreational marijuana markets, including providing estimates of annual marijuana consumption by residents, tourists and patients; production management methods; and market supply channels.

"The economic impacts of the cannabis industry on Jamaica are tremendous and I'm going to give an insight of what could happen in Jamaica and discuss the forces that will affect the market," he added.

Internationally renowned scientist Dr Yasmin Hurd, professor of psychiatry, neuroscience, pharmacology and systems therapeutics, will be making a presentation on the neurobiology of drug abuse and related psychiatric disorders from the use of cannabis.

HIGHLY PUBLISHED

Dr Hurd is highly published in the field in high-impact journals and leads a team of investigators in molecular biology, behavioural neuropharmacology and genetics. A significant focus of her current research relates to the effects of cannabis on the brain and she will be giving an in-depth speech on this topic at the CanEx conference. Her research is complemented by clinical laboratory investigations evaluating the therapeutic potential of novel medications, including the use of specific phytocannabinoids in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

"I think that Jamaica can play a strong international role in the development of the medical marijuana industry which requires the concerted integrated efforts of researchers, clinicians, legal scholars, business leaders and policy makers. I look forward to attending the conference since these diverse groups will be in attendance," said Dr Hurd.

Douglas Gordon, organiser of the seminar and expo, is elated to have Dr Hurd among the speakers at the event. "There is a lot to be gained from having her input, she is very well researched and has the expertise in the field of neurobiology," Gordon said.

Dr Hurd's multidisciplinary research on neurobiology underlying addiction disorders and related psychiatric illnesses will play a pertinent part in the discussion around cannabis at the seminar.