Breakfast Buzz: The Business of Pot, Legalization = New Paradigms of Business, NWEN, March 8

Breakfast Buzz: The Business of Pot, Legalization = New Paradigms of Business, NWEN

When: Friday, March 8, 2013, 7:45am – 10:00am

Where: The HUB Seattle, 220 – 2nd Avenue South, Seattle

What: A major discussion abounds about our great state of Washington and how it is an enviable place for entrepreneurs to bring life to their startups. Major industries, from manufacturing, to logging, and of course technology abound. We have a well-established ecosystem of support ranging from research universities, accelerators, to angel associations and Venture Capital groups. NWEN has helped launch and grow startups for decades. And now a new and controversial form of business exists. State residents have voted to legalize the use of marijuana for social use.

Legalizing the consumption of marijuana ushers in a new paradigm of business. A black market trade has existed for years. So we and the surrounding states are quite interested in what will happen now that legitimate businesses can legally engage in this industry. Challenges abound in this area: Federal and State legal issues, HR difficulties, finding professional service partners, stereotypes, etc.

Who:

• Randy Aliment: Randy’s practice emphasizes commercial law advice and business litigation. He has represented clients in numerous state and federal courts and administrative bodies in several states and Canada. His experience includes national coordinating counsel in litigation, securities fraud and contract negotiations on behalf of sports figures. In 2012, he also served as Chair of the 25,000-member Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association.
• Brendan Kennedy: Brendan will focus his portion of the conversation on investing in the cannabis industry: lessons learned since 2010, thoughts on I-502 in Washington, and the inevitable legalization of cannabis nationwide. He has met with over 500 professionals in the cannabis industry. He has seen investor pitches from over 200 cannabis companies. He has also been in dispensaries and cannabis grows both across the country and internationally.
• Jamen Shively: Jamen, former Microsoft Corporate Strategy Manager, is the Founder and CEO of Diego Pellicer, Inc. and is also the Great Grandson of Vice Governor of the Philippines, Diego Pellicer. Jamen conceived of Diego Pellicer Inc. as a means for creating the category of premium cannabis for social and creative pursuits, focusing on retail.  Our goal is to establish Diego Pellicer as the #1 brand of premium cannabis, by building and operating dozens of high-end retail stores in Washington and Colorado, and eventually hundreds of such stores across the U.S.

How Much: $15 general ticket, $5 student ticket

How: Register online.