BARCELONA B2B

9 March 2023 • L'Auditori de Cornellà

ICBC Barcelona Schedule

Conference at L’Auditori de Cornellà  • VIP After Party at Hotel Arts

Thursday, 9 March 2023

  • 9:15

    ICBC Conference Overview

Alex Rogers, Executive Producer of the International Cannabis Business Conference, and Ngaio Bealum, Conference Master Of Ceremonies, welcome conference attendees and provide an overview of the conference schedule, including the panels and speakers that will be providing presentations and interviews.

Alex Rogers
Alex Rogers
ICBC EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Ngaio Bealum
Ngaio Bealum
CONFERENCE MASTER OF CEREMONIES
  • 9:30

    Opportunities And Challenges Within Spain’s Emerging Cannabis Industry

What unique opportunities and challenges are cannabis industry members dealing with in Spain?
Iker Val

Iker Val

CPO, SOVEREIGN FIELDS

MODERATOR
Francisco Azorín

Francisco Azorín

ATTORNEY, BROTSANBERT LAW FIRM

Miguel Torres

Miguel Torres

SENIOR COUNSEL

Spain’s legal cannabis industry operates in a political and regulatory landscape that is very unique, particularly when it comes to cannabis licensing. The current licensing model in Spain has generated controversy for the last six years, with companies entering the market for the purposes of export-based commerce. Panelists will discuss the opportunities and challenges currently facing Spain’s emerging cannabis industry, how the medical cannabis measure approved by Spain’s Congress in June could change the domestic market, and provide analysis regarding the current state of the nation’s CBD sector.

  • 10:00

    Squaring The Circle Of Industrial Hemp In Spain

What is Spain doing to help the nation’s domestic hemp industry?
Bernardo Soriano Guzmán

Bernardo Soriano Guzmán

Co-CEO, S&F ABOGADOS

MODERATOR
Paz Fentes Piñeiro

Paz Fentes Piñeiro

SPANISH AGRICULTURE MINISTRY

Javier Gonzalo Langa

Javier Gonzalo Langa

GENERAL DIRECTOR, PAC JUNTA EXTREMADURA

José Luis Llerena

José Luis Llerena

GENERAL DIRECTOR, CTAEX

Spain currently permits industrial hemp cultivation, however, only in certain circumstances and for certain uses. Panelists will analyze and discuss the complex regulations currently governing the industrial hemp industry in Spain and offer various proposed reform measures that would help get Spain to the same level as many other European countries in terms of legal security for farmers. The collection of leading Spanish hemp industry experts will provide insight into what it will take for Spain’s hemp agro-industry to reach its full potential.

  • 10:45

    Evolving Cannabis Policy Within The European Union

Will The European Union allow legalization efforts to proceed?
Lisa Haag

Lisa Haag

FOUNDER MJ_UNIVERSE

MODERATOR
Kai-Friedrich Niermann

Kai-Friedrich Niermann

FOUNDER, KFN+ LAW OFFICE

Carla Pareja Paris

Carla Pareja Paris

ASSOCIATE, ZUBER LAWLER

Joe Rogoway

Joe Rogoway

CEO AND MANAGING ATTORNEY, ROGOWAY LAW GROUP

Andrew Bonello

Andrew Bonello

PRESIDENT, RELEAF MALTA

Lawmakers in several European Union member nations are either actively pursuing adult-use cannabis reform or considering doing so. Germany’s health minister is currently lobbying the EU for its approval to allow legalization to proceed, and the EU’s decision will likely have a significant impact on legalization efforts elsewhere on the continent. Panelists will discuss if and how the Interpretation Solution by the German government will meet the requirements of the Single Convention, whether it could be an example for other countries, and what impact the Schengen acquis and the EU framework decision may have on decriminalisation and/or home cultivation policies.

  • 11:30

    Using Innovation, Technology, and Research to Improve Cannabis

Harnessing science and ingenuity to move the cannabis industry forward
Natalia J. Lavie

Natalia J. Lavie

MANAGER, CANNABISHUB UPC

MODERATOR
Božidar Radišic

Božidar Radišic

PROJECT MANAGER AND FOUNDER, RESEARCH NATURE INSTITUTE

Juantxo Ribes

Juantxo Ribes

BUSINESS DEVELOPER, IBECO (APTUS PLANT TECH)

Carlos Ferreiro Vera

Carlos Ferreiro Vera

CEO, PHYTOPLANT RESEARCH

Ruben Valenzuela Moreno

Ruben Valenzuela Moreno

CO-FOUNDER, CANNABIS HUB & CTO VALENVERAS

The emerging global cannabis industry is set to experience significant advances in the coming years thanks to ongoing innovation, technology, and research. Nearly every aspect and sector of the emerging cannabis industry will evolve as a result, creating new hurdles and opportunities in the process. A panel of leading international cannabis researchers, innovators, and developing technology experts will provide insight regarding current trends in the cannabis industry, and what they envision the cannabis industry looking like in the future from a research and technology ecosystem perspective.

  • 12:15

    All That Glitters Is Not Gold

How to have wisdom and patience to see the global cannabis market for what it is, and can be.

As the EU and global markets, people, and economies work to recover during yet another economic downturn, European cannabis business opportunities continue to evolve. This evolution, however, is slower than most investors, operations, and potential consumers and patients would like. With more countries moving closer towards regulating or further developing medical and potentially adult-use cannabis programs in the coming years, many questions remain as to what is going to work, under what timeline, and where? 
In this session, Nic Easley, CEO of 3C Consulting & Managing Director of Multiverse Capital, will share his insights and advice from over a decade and a half of experience in the operational and investment sides of the global cannabis industry. Nic will guide entrepreneurs and investors through planning for the current and future opportunities that will have the most potential for long-term success. Topics will include; assessing risks, vetting opportunities, maintaining regulatory compliance, raising capital, patience, and the strategic positioning needed to become a global producer or lucrative acquisition target, and how to situate your business and investments for success. Nic también habla español y partes de esta presentación serán en inglés y español.

Nic Easley
Nic Easley
CEO OF 3C CONSULTING
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MULTIVERSE CAPITAL
  • 12:45

    Break

  • 13:45

    Comparing Medical Cannabis Regulations In Europe

How do medical cannabis policies and regulations in Spain compare to other European nations?
Guillermo J. Fernandez Navarro

Guillermo J. Fernandez Navarro

CO-FOUNDER, S&F ABOGADOS

MODERATOR
Santiago Ongay

Santiago Ongay

CEO, THE SABIA

Carlos Nunes

Carlos Nunes

CO-FOUNDER, PANGOLIN SOLUTIONS

Alex Revich

Alex Revich

EQUITY PARTNER AT HYBRID PHARM, CANNABIS EDUCATION & MEDICAL PARTNERSHIPS AT LOOSH BRANDS

Daniel Haymann

Daniel Haymann

ATTORNEY AT LAW, MLL MEYERLUSTENBERGER LACHENAL FRORIEP LTD

Safe access to medical cannabis is now more common in Europe than at any other time since the start of cannabis prohibition on the continent. However, medical cannabis policy is still complicated and evolving in many European countries, including in Spain. Medical cannabis experts from around the world will contrast and compare the various components of medical cannabis policy in several countries, as well as discuss what potential impact the rise of adult-use cannabis reform in Europe may have on current medical cannabis policies and regulations.

  • 14:30

    Media and Marketing in The Cannabis Space

Engaging consumers to take your brand to the next level
Shane MacGuill

Shane MacGuill

HEAD OF NICOTINE AND CANNABIS RESEARCH, EUROMONITOR INTERNATIONAL

MODERATOR
Michael Knodt

Michael Knodt

FREELANCE JOURNALIST

Simón Espinosa

Simón Espinosa

CEO AND FOUNDER, EN VOLÁ

Luna Stower

Luna Stower

CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER, ISPIRE

Stephen Verbeek

Stephen Verbeek

PRESIDENT & CEO, HELLO CANNABIS

The emerging cannabis community is becoming increasingly competitive as more people and entities enter the space. That, combined with the legal cannabis industry going global, makes effective marketing by cannabis companies more important than ever. Due to ongoing stigma, marketing cannabis companies and generating positive media coverage requires incorporating unique methods and strategies. A panel of leading industry content creators and marketing experts will provide insight into what it takes to successfully reach consumers in a meaningful way.

  • 15:15

    Cannabis in the European Market

How countries in Europe can supplant the U.S. in the global cannabis marketplace

Federal cannabis policy reform in the U.S. continues to move slowly, creating an opportunity for countries in Europe where reform is gaining traction at an ever-increasing rate. This session will examine the similarities and differences in cannabis policy impacting Spain and the rest of Europe by contrasting them with U.S. policy. Leading cannabis economist Beau Whitney will provide data on the major 6 cannabis marketplaces.

Beau Whitney
Beau Whitney
CHIEF ECONOMIST, WHITNEY ECONOMICS
  • 15:45

    Advances In Cannabis Production Methods

Harnessing a cultivation technology revolution
Marcus Richardson Bubbleman

Marcus Richardson

HASHISH AFFICIANADO AND CREATOR OF BUBBLEBAGS

MODERATOR
Timo Bongartz

Timo Bongartz

GENERAL MANAGER, FLUENCE EMEA

Sabrina Carvalho

Sabrina Carvalho

CANNABIS PLANT SPECIALIST, PHILIPS HORTICULTURE LED SOLUTIONS

Neal Lund

Neal Lund

GLOBAL TECHNICAL ADVISOR, RIOCOCO

Jeremy Youness

Jeremy Youness

INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL SALES & CANNABIS CULTIVATION SPECIALIST, FOHSE

In recent years cannabis production methods and cultivation technology has evolved considerably, due in large part to the spread of cannabis reform and the emerging cannabis industry. More people and entities cultivate cannabis legally on the European continent now than at any other time since the start of prohibition, and that trend will continue into the foreseeable future. A panel of experts will discuss the latest trends and technology in the cultivation sector, as well as what to anticipate in the coming years regarding cannabis horticulture.

  • 16:30

    Forming Strategic Partnerships

Identifying and vetting potential collaboration opportunities
Jamie Pearson

Jamie Pearson

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT, NEW HOLLAND GROUP

MODERATOR
George Terry

George Terry

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, RAD SOURCE TECHNOLOGIES

Clint Younge

Clint Younge

PRESIDENT, CHARLIE’S PHARMERS MARKET

Bryan Passman

Bryan Passman

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, HUNTER + ESQUIRE

Jon Thompson

Jon Thompson

FOUNDER AND CEO, extraktLAB­

In order for a cannabis company to scale up and reach its full potential it will need to forge key partnerships with other people and/or entities. Partnerships can take many forms and unique endeavors will require specialized talent, mentorship, capital, and/or many other mutually beneficial components to help ensure success in the increasingly competitive cannabis industry. Panelists will provide insight into what a constructive partnership entails, when to pursue one, how to measure success, and what red flags to watch out for.

  • 21:00

    VIP After-Party at Hotel Arts

9pm – 1am: The Ultimate After-Party at the beautiful Hotel Arts (Ritz-Carlton) Barcelona
Join us at the International Cannabis Business Conference Barcelona After Party for an evening of unwinding, music and connection