Hash Bash 2018 Speakers
John Sinclair
Cannabis Activist
Served two-and-a-half years in prison for a ten year marijuana possession sentence. A court fight after Sinclair's arrest in 1967, combined with the "Free John Now!" publicity campaign, temporarily overturned Michigan's marijuana laws. John Sinclair helped launch the Michigan Marijuana Initiative in 1972, the state's first serious effort at marijuana legalization.
Check out the song for John Sinclair by John Lennon here!
Adam Brook
Cannabis Activist
Former emcee & organizer, Ann Arbor Hash Bash, 1993-2011, 2014; Host of Detroit Dab Warz at The OMS Dab House;1994 High Times Freedom Fighter of the Year, Freedom Fighters of America Judge, Cannabis Cup, 1994; President U of M NORML'93-'96; Board of Directors, Michigan National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, 2005-2007 & 2014-present; Speaker, Author & Black Market Representative. Creator of the 2nd Annual Hash Bash Cup! Check out information on the cup here!
Matt Abel
Cannabis Attorney
U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer
Member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus
A statement will be read from Congressman Earl Blumenauer by Hash Bash organizer, Mark Passerini. Earl is the U.S. Representative for Oregon's 3rd congressional district, serving since 1996. Earl has been a true champion for the cannabis movement on Capitol Hill for the past 2+ decades!
Anqunette Jamison Sarfoh
Former Fox 2 Detroit Morning News Anchor
Also known as "Q", Anqunette Jamison Sarfoh found relief using cannabis to treat her multiple sclerosis and has since served on the board of MI Legalize. After being forced to leave Fox 2 due to her multiple sclerosis, Jamison promotes health and lifestyle information centering around multiple sclerosis, healthy living, cannabis.
Gretchen Whitmer
Gubernatorial Candidate
Former Senate Minority Leader
Gretchen Whitmer is a mom, prosecutor, former legislator, and a lifelong Michigander. As Senate Democratic Leader, Whitmer was the first woman to lead a caucus in the Michigan Senate where she brokered the deal to expand Medicaid in Michigan to 680,000 people and negotiated a cost-of-living adjustment into the minimum wage. Following her service to the state, Whitmer taught at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. In 2016, she stepped up to serve as the prosecuting attorney of Ingham County, restoring integrity to the office after a scandal forced the elected prosecutor to resign. Whitmer is running for governor to fix our roads, create good-paying jobs, and protect health care.
Anne Bannister
Ann Arbor City Council Ward 1
Anne Bannister was recently elected and is serving her first term on Ann Arbor City Council. Bannister is a friend to the cannabis community and has been a part of the Michigan legalization effort. She also helped to craft a Medical Marihuana Facilities ordinance for Ann Arbor.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed
Candidate for MI Governor
Abdul El-Sayed was born and raised in Michigan. He went on to earn a doctorate from Oxford University & a medical degree from Columbia University. As a public health professor, Abdul became an internationally recognized expert in health policy and health inequalities. At 30, Abdul became the youngest health official of a major American city when he came home to rebuild Detroit's Health Department after it was privatized during the city's bankruptcy. If elected governor he will work to create a future of opportunities for all Michigan families. Together, we will legalize marijuana, support small business over large corporations, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, create a statewide single-payer healthcare system and implement reforms to our campaign finance system so corporations and millionaires have less influence over our political system and our economy.
Visit abdulformichigan.com for more information!
Khurshid Khoja
Founder of Greenbridge Corporate Counsel, Board Member of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)
Khurshid Khoja is Principal of Greenbridge Corporate Counsel, a boutique business law firm he founded in 2012, which represents clientele from across numerous sectors in the legal cannabis industry, on regulatory, start‐up, corporate, intellectual property, finance, and other commercial and transactional matters.
Khurshid has participated in legislative drafting, stakeholder meetings, executive agency outreach and rulemaking proceedings in connection with California’s Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), and in the drafting of investor-facing provisions on ownership in both Proposition 64 (the Adult Use of Marijuana Act) and state regulations implementing MAUCRSA.
He has also served on California State Treasurer John Chiang’s Cannabis Banking Working Group, as a Founding Board member and General Counsel of the California Cannabis Industry Association, as a co-founder and General Counsel to the Emerald Growers Association (now the California Growers Association), and the Arcview Investor Network. Khurshid currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Cannabis Industry Association and the Minority Cannabis Business Association, and is member of the Advisory Council of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
Darren McCarty
Former Detroit Red Wing
Darren McCarty, played professional hockey in the NHL for 15 total seasons, including 13 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings winning four Stanley Cup Championships. Darren has recently been featured in many media stories about how cannabis has saved his life and saved him from an alcohol addiction.
Rick Thompson
Editor, Journalist The Compassion Chronicles
Rick Thompson is a cannabis media specialist and an energetic featured speaker. He is the editor of The Compassion Chronicles; writes for The Weed Blog and many other outlets; does writing/photography for print publications including High Times, Culture Magazine, HybridLife and the American Cultivator; co-hosts the Planet Green Trees Radio Show; and is on the Board of Directors of Michigan NORML, Americans for Safe Access- Michigan, and the MiLegalize Committee.
U.S. Congressman Jared Polis
Member of Congressional Cannabis Caucus
Statement will be read from US Rep. Jared Polis by Rick Thompson. Congressman Polis is a member of the United States House of Representatives for Colorado's 2nd congressional district, serving since 2009. He has been a leading voice in the US Congress for cannabis reform.
Ryan Basore
Activist
Insurance industry professional Ryan Basore opened Lansing's Capital City Caregivers in early 2010. On Nov 31st, 2010 the United State Military, DEA, and Tri-County Narcotics unit raided the nearby state legal medical grows established by Basore's group. No charges were filed in the case until the appointment of Patrick Miles Junior as the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan; months after he took office Miles filed charges against Basore and six others. State medical marijuana laws were forbidden from consideration as Miles engineered convictions for the Okemos Seven. Basore was sentenced to four years, but was paroled in 2015. Following his release, doctors diagnosed Basore with PTSD as a result of the violent raid and his prosecution by Patrick Miles. His probation has officially ended and he is ready to speak, specifically to endorse Dana Nessel for Michigan Attorney General. Please listen to his story; forgive him if he struggles; and give your vote to Dana Nessel.
Dana Nessel
Candidate for Michigan Attorney General
Gus R. Rosania, PhD
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Gus R. Rosania, PhD is Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. He leads an internationally recognized research team studying Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs). He has authored 70+ original research articles and his scientific contributions towards the design, discovery and development of safer medications have led to numerous invited lectures, patents and awards. He is an expert on the side effects of many different kinds of drugs: anti-cancer, anti-biotics, anti-hypertensives, anti-virals, anti-depressants and anti-inflammatory agents. As much as he has devoted his life towards reducing the incidence of ADRs, he is a passionate pro-democracy, pro-education, pro-research, pro-nature, pro-health and pro-Michigan advocate. Currently, he is involved in organizing a conference about the Science of Cannabis, and writing a book about aging and wellness –as viewed from a cell’s perspective. Beyond teaching, research and outreach activities, he enjoys jogging, swimming, cooking and hanging out with his daughters.
Eugene Monroe
Former NFL Football Player/Medical Cannabis Advocate
Played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens. Wants to see medical cannabis removed from the list of banned substances in the NFL. “On March 9, 2016, I became the first active NFL player to openly advocate for the use of cannabinoids to treat chronic pain and sports-related injuries. It’s time for the NFL to change its archaic standards to better protect its players and set an example for our young athletes. For too long, I’ve watched my teammates and good friends battle with opioid addiction and leave the game with a long road still ahead; it’s time to make a change.” – Eugene Monroe
Jack Eaton
Ann Arbor City Council Ward 4
Jack Eaton serves Ann Arbor's Ward 4. Eaton has been an ally to the cannabis community, and has helped Ann Arbor to write a Medical Marihuana Facilities Ordinance.
Dr. Evan Litinas
Chief Medical Officer, Om of Medicine
Dr. Evan Litinas is the Chief Medical Officer at Om of Medicine. He received his medical doctorate from Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine and his MBA with a focus in healthcare management from Quinlan School of Business. Dr. Litinas has done research and is a published author in the fields of Neuroscience, Hematology and most recently in collaboration with the University of Michigan in the field of Cannabis with an emphasis on pain and opiate use. As the CMO of Om, Dr. Litinas is helping and educating patients on strategies for cannabis consumption, aiming for best possible outcomes as well as educating healthcare professionals on the scientific evidence for cannabis and its use in the clinical practice.
Jeff Irwin
State Senate Candidate, Political Director for CRMLA
Dr. Sue Sisley
Top Cannabis Researcher in the Country
Dr. Sue Sisley MD is an Arizona-based physician practicing Internal Medicine and Psychiatry. She works as Medical Director for medical cannabis license holders in 11 different states from Hawaii to Puerto Rico to New York. Sue serves as Site Principal Investigator for the only FDA-approved randomized controlled trial in the world examining safety/efficacy of whole plant marijuana in combat veterans with treatment-resistant post traumatic stress disorder PTSD. Dr. Sisley is on faculty at Colorado State University, recruited for core planning team to organize the CSU “Cannabis Center of Excellence” in Pueblo, Colorado. Dr. Sisley has been a Member of Nevada ILAC Medical Cannabis Commission for the past two years outlining regulations for laboratory testing including limits on pesticides, residual solvents and other guidelines that are currently being used as a model for other states medical cannabis laws.
DJ Short
Founder of Old World Genetics
Referred to as the “Willy Wonka of Marijuana,” DJ Short is one of the most highly revered cultivators and breeders of marijuana. He has been producing some of the most unique strains since the 1970’s and his name continues to be recognized worldwide as a master of his art.
Stephen Goldner
Pure Green founder
45 years ago, Steve invented the oral liquid drug methadone to save heroin addicts from a life of addiction, crime and destitution. He also invented the lab test methods to detect drugs in the body so hospitals could tell when someone had overdosed. First as a medical scientist and then as an FDA lawyer working all his life to bring new discoveries to help people. His consulting company has gotten over 300 inventions approved by FDA and that stared 200 companies and employs 10,000 people.
Steve's team created water soluble ultra fast dissolve sublingual tablets from pure THC, CBD and terpenes. These reliable, discreet, cannabis tablets come in 4 versions: PURE SLEEP, PURE CALM, PURE RELIEF, PURE PLEASURE.
His TEDMED link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLnR1xJHTF4 and TEDX link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrDWn5-t8a8
Betty Aldworth
Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Since 2014, Aldworth has led the organization through its most substantial growth: the member base and campuses on which SSDP is present have doubled; staff and offices supporting those members have tripled; global presence has quadrupled; and as a result the policy change and education efforts members are leading have grown immeasurably. Aldworth specialized in community outreach, public relations, advocacy, and policy reform as a consultant to or staffer for cannabis-related businesses and nonprofit organizations. She served as spokesperson and advocacy director for Colorado’s successful 2012 Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the collaborative committee responsible for legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana for adults in Colorado, and was the Deputy Director of the National Cannabis Industry Association in 2013, the organization’s fastest year of growth.
Yousef Rabhi
Ann Arbor State Representative
Yousef Rabhi is serving in his first term as a state representative for the 53rd House District, which includes parts of the city of Ann Arbor and portions of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield and Scio Townships. He attended the University of Michigan where he earned a degree in environmental science with a specialization in urban planning and ecosystem management.
Brandy Zink
Cannabis Activist
As a medical cannabis patient advocate and educator, she has served as the former Executive Director of both the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association and the Ohio Patient Action Network.
She has worked closely with Americans for Safe Access, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and other cannabis organizations since 2000. Today she continues to work to protect patient rights through organizing the ASA, Michigan Chapter. Politically Active for a myriad of social justice issues, she has cultivated positive relationships with community leaders, professionals, legislators, their staff, and other influential policy makers at all levels.
Mike James
Detroit Lions- Running Back #39
Mike James is currently a running back with the Detroit Lions. Mike entered the NFL in 2013, drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His history making game against the Seattle Seahawks lead him to be officially declared “a force to be reckoned with”. The following week Mike suffered a season ending injury.Mike soon returned to the sport that he loves. Back on the field, trauma to the body continued, including multiple concussions. Mike began to research natural forms of effective relief for chronic pain, brain injury recovery and cognitive function maintenance. He is now an evangelist for medical cannabis as an alternative to addictive opioids and CTE medications.