2023 Speakers

Amanda Reiman, PhD, is the Chief Knowledge Officer at New Frontier Data and the Founder of Personal Plants.

Dr. Reiman is a social ethnobotanist and has been studying the relationship between cannabis, people and greater society for over 20 years. She is the Founder of Personal Plants, a platform designed to help people develop healthy, balanced relationships with psychoactive plants and the Chief Knowledge Officer for New Frontier Data, an analytics company serving the legal cannabis industry. Dr. Reiman earned her PhD in Social Welfare from the University of California and conducted one of the first research studies on medical cannabis patients and the use of cannabis as a substitute for alcohol and other drugs. She currently resides in Ukiah, CA with her partner Sean, their 3 cats and 2 dogs.

Ariel Clark (she/they) is co-founder of Clark Howell LLP, a women-steered business, corporate and regulatory law firm focused on cannabis and psychedelics. She also co-founded the Psychedelic Bar Association, serves on the Board, and on the Religious Use and Ethics Committees. She is co-creating a 2023 series on Law & Ethics: The Psychedelics Industry & Indigenous Peoples. Ariel is Odawa Anishinaabe and walks the Red Road. After practicing Indian Law and working with cannabis clients in California’s Bay Area, she started her own firm in 2010, to be of service to the plants and communities she is in deep connection with. Clark Howell LLP is actively engaged in the conversation about psychedelic lawyering, and helping to shape policy that emphasizes open source, ethical business models that honor the Earth, Peoples, and lineages, and reimagines a new role for capitalism in commercialization. Ariel has a Bachelors of Arts from University of Michigan in Religious Studies (2000) and a JD from Berkeley Law School (2005).

Bethany Gomez has established herself as a trailblazer in emerging markets, with a focus on cannabis, CBD and wellness. As the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Brightfield Group, she has cemented the company’s position as an industry leader by emphasizing data-driven insights and compelling narratives. Through her leadership, Brightfield has played a significant role in the development of nascent industries like cannabis, CBD, and other innovative CPGs. ‍ Bethany has been featured and quoted in numerous media outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance and more.

Britt Rollins, Co-Founder of the National Psychedelics Association, brings a wealth of experience from the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. Having worked at renowned agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi, DDB, and Real Chemistry, Britt has been instrumental in guiding brands through pivotal moments, from launches to rebrands and FDA expansions. His tenure as Managing Director of Verdant Brand Communications saw him delve into emerging areas, notably women’s sexual health and adult-use cannabis, where he crafted narratives that resonated. Beyond the corporate world, Britt’s commitment to mental health advocacy is evident. His roles with the Educational Foundation of America and Veterans of War highlight a genuine drive to make a difference. Recognized by his peers and honored with industry awards, Britt’s approach combines deep knowledge with a knack for storytelling, making him a trusted strategist in marketing and healthcare. As the National Psychedelics Association gears up for its 2024 launch, Britt’s vision and expertise will undoubtedly play a key role in its trajectory. 

Chris Claussen is a visionary thinker and creative problem solver with over 25 years’ experience in startups, operations, marketing, and new product innovation. The past decade having been immersed in the science of brain health and cognitive function, focused on new product development, and creating innovative delivery methods in the mushroom and functional foods space to help promote optimal wellness. Brain health mission driven in devoting extensive time to researching the relationship between functional, functional, and psychedelic mushrooms on cognitive performance and mental wellbeing.

Chris Walden is an experienced professional with a demonstrated history of effectively raising awareness about the clinical use of ketamine at scale. His company, Ketamine Media, has represented nearly 300 clinics over the last seven years throughout North America. 

Courtney Barnes is a devoted social justice attorney and trailblazer in drug policy reform. She serves as Counsel at the law firm, Feldman Legal Advisors PLLC, where she specializes in advising clients on compliance and risk management in emerging industries. In addition to her legal practice, Courtney provides a variety of advisory services to the psychedelics ecosystem. She serves as Policy Advisor for the Mind Army, General Counsel for the Society for Psychedelic Outreach Reform and Education (SPORE), and Advisory Board Member of Heroic Hearts Project. Courtney was a lead drafter of Denver’s Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative (the nation’s first successful voter-initiated psychedelic policy reform ordinance) and has extensive experience drafting state and local policy relating to the regulation of cannabis and psychedelics. She is licensed to practice law in California, Colorado, and Texas.

Did you know that Psilocybin testing is a complex process that requires scientific expertise? Testing for Psilocybin Potency is one of the most important tests in our psilocin panel and one of the most widely asked questions we encounter: How and Why? Dosage accuracy, Safety, and potential harm reduction, Standardization , and Quality control are just a few of the responsible components to our in depth recording and testing methodologies. In Oregon, Rose City Labs is the only licensed laboratory that can perform these tests. However, since there were no established industry standards or guidelines, the process was slow and challenging. The journey began two years ago with measure 109, and our team has dedicated hundreds of hours to developing reliable testing protocols by utilizing and creating testing standards to ensure compliance with the State’s regulatory requirements. Longtime counter-culture advocate and Lab owner, Dan Huson will share industry insights and steps toward laboratory regulations, potency and purity testing. 

Growing up in the Mojave desert imparted upon Daniel with a keen sense of the stark beauty and inherent complexity of the natural world and cultivated a deep curiosity towards those elements hidden within its systems. Combining this love of the natural world with an educational background in Information Technology, Daniel works in research and development of novel compounds, delivery systems, and efficient extraction and testing methods within the psychedelics industry. 

Born in Ramaytush Ohlone territory (San Francisco, CA) Dr. Somerville is a mother, activist scholar and healer whose work is intentional in organizing, cooperative development, healing from trauma, and advancing decolonized principles and practices in organizational spaces. Dr. Somerville is trained in clinical and liberatory based healing strategies and draws upon these approaches in her work with clients and communities. She is a lifelong learner and carries this interest into the veins of her approaches to organizational development, leadership, organizing and her work as a healer. She is a proud graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz (BA Sociology, Political Science) and Boston University (MSW – Human Resources Management) and earned her PhD in community psychology at National Louis University.

Erica Siegal, LCSW is a harm reduction advocate, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist and community organizer. Erica has spent the past 20 years exploring diverse ways to create impactful, connective experiences while increasing community safety and wellness. She founded NEST Harm Reduction in 2019 to provide compassionate, trauma-informed services from individual psychotherapy to organizational consulting. She recently founded SHINE Collective, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of psychedelic harm and abuse. 

Frederica is a complexity enthusiast and an aficionado of transformational learning experiences. Fascinated by the ways that consciousness, worldviews and discourses change and expand, she has spent the past twenty years exploring the tools available to respond to civilizational crises, especially the modern West’s loss of the sacred. Frederica currently serves as Director of Psychedelic Practitioner Training at The Synthesis Institute. Prior to this, she served as Director of Education at Spiritual Directors International, designing professional development tools for advanced spiritual guides and companions. She recently appeared as a guest on the Waking the Wild and Tapped into Psychedelics podcasts, opining on training and certification of psychedelic practitioners. Frederica holds masters degrees from Yale Divinity School and the Yale School of the Environment, and a BA from Dartmouth College in Religion & Environmental studies. She has served as a Peace Corps volunteer, taught at the University of Washington and Seattle University, and worked as a global interfaith peacebuilder at the United Religions Initiative. She lives in Seattle with her husband and daughters. 

Graham Pechenik is a registered patent attorney and the founder of Calyx Law, a law firm specializing in cannabis and psychedelics related intellectual property. Graham has a BS from UC San Diego, where he chose his Cognitive Neuroscience and Biochemistry majors after his first psychedelic experiences inspired deep curiosity about the bases for changes in consciousness, and a JD from New York University, where he initially pursued interests in bioethics and cognitive liberty. After a decade at large law firms obtaining, defending, and challenging patents for Fortune 500 companies across the agricultural, chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, and technology industries, including working on several landmark patent cases both at trial and on appeal, Graham started Calyx Law in 2016 as the first patent law boutique in California to focus on the cannabis industry. Currently Graham works with cannabis and psychedelics ventures to design and implement their IP strategies, and with venture funds to diligence investment opportunities in these spaces. Graham is also editor-at-large of Psychedelic Alpha, where he writes about psychedelics IP, provides data for patent trackers, and maintains a psychedelics legalization and decriminalization tracker, he is the founding steward of the IP Committee of the Psychedelic Bar Association, where he is also on the Board of Directors, and he is a member of Chacruna’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants. An Oakland, California native, Graham has been a longtime advocate of cannabis reform, since getting involved in the campaign for Proposition 215 in 1996. Graham currently lives in San Francisco.

Joe Moore co-founded Psychedelics Today in 2015 with Kyle Buller. As CEO, Joe has created one of the world’s best known psychedelic podcasts, blogs and training platforms. Joe combines twenty years of avid research and training in psychedelics with twenty years of experience in software and multinational project management. Joe is an expert in transpersonal breathwork and much sought after international speaker on the intersecting subjects of psychedelic medicine and healing, breathwork, drug policy, medical innovation, international justice and environmentalism.

Josh Hardman is Founder and Editor of Psychedelic Alpha, a newsletter, web resource and boutique consultancy. There, he spends most of his time exploring the curious intersection of psychedelics and business, sharing regular updates on the space and working with a group of subject-matter experts to maintain a number of free resources and datasets to help individuals and organizations make sense of this burgeoning field.

Julia Mande is a catalyzing facilitator for awareness-based systems change. She works with leaders to align strategy with values. Through Adapt to Complexity (A2C) she provides generative solutions to complex socio-environmental issues. Julia works with purpose-driven founders to launch and develop programs for meaningful social impact and has implemented programming in emerging sectors advancing soil health, plant medicine, conscious leadership, and decentralized management. Julia is a first-generation American, born in New York and raised in Zimbabwe, a daughter of emigrants from Morocco and the Jewish Diaspora. 

Justin Botillier is CEO of Calyx CPA LLC in Southern Oregon. Justin has sixteen years of experience working with small business owners. Prior to its recreational legalization, he was among the first accounting professionals to advocate for the cannabis industry actively and publicly. In 2016, Justin sold his general practice to work in cannabis full-time. He now works with the psychedelic community to prepare business owners for the tax impact of 280E on businesses in the psilocybin industry. His firm specializes in business advisory, entity formation, tax preparation, and tax planning for plant medicine companies. 

Katherine MacLean, PhD, is a writer, research scientist, mother, educator, and adventure-seeker. She has spent the past two decades studying the effects of mindfulness meditation (at UC Davis) and psychedelics (at John’s Hopkins). Her debut memoir about psychedelics, grief and parenthood – Midnight Water – is now available in print and audio formats.

Nicole Howell is one of California’s most effective and respected cannabis business and regulatory attorneys. Industry executives, private investors, and public companies turn to Nicole for her perspective and proven track record in advising the industry’s most successful operators through California’s challenging and dynamic market. She has been working against prohibitionist drug laws since the beginning of her career and is passionate about the cognitive, therapeutic, and spiritual healing that results from the perspective shift psychedelics provide. On the Founding Board of the The Psychedelic Bar Association, Nicole invites all who are interested to learn more.

Nykol Bailey Rice, CRNA, PMHNP, is educated as both a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Westminster in Salt Lake City, UT) as well as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (University of Cincinnati, OH). She has been operating Boise Ketamine Clinic since 2015. She has personally facilitated thousands of ketamine infusions and is passionate about providing a high-quality, collaborative ketamine course. Nykol completed a full three-year board term for the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Practitioners and Psychoanalysts, where she helped to draft a set of standards and ethics for therapeutic ketamine use. Nykol then completed a year-long certificate program for non-ordinary states’ work with Integrative Psychiatry Institute. Her practice involves most routes of ketamine administration and various types of ketamine assisted therapy options.

Paul F. Austin is one of the most prominent voices in the world of psychedelics. As the founder of Third Wave, he has educated millions on the importance of safe and effective psychedelic experiences. A pioneer at the intersection of psychedelics, personal transformation, and professional success, his work has been featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, and the BBC’s Worklife. Paul helps leaders, creatives, and pioneers leverage psychedelics for exponential personal growth and professional development. He views psychedelics as a skill refined through mentorship, courageous exploration, and intentional use. Learning how to master this skill will be crucial in the story of humanity’s present-future evolution.”

Philippe Lucas, PhD, is a cannabis and psychedelic researcher, a lifelong patient access advocate, and President of SABI Mind, a clinic group providing access to psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of mental health, pain and substance use disorder. Philippe was a founding Board member of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies Canada and co-founder of the Victoria Association of Psychedelic Studies, and he is the Primary Investigator of the Canadian Psychedelic Survey (2022) and the Global Psychedelic Survey (2023), and previously coordinated a prospective observational study of ayahuasca as a treatment for trauma and addiction in cooperation with a BC indigenous Band. More recently, Philippe worked as VP, Global Patient Research & Access at Tilray, where he oversaw a comprehensive international clinical and observational cannabis research program. Philippe has been invited to present his research before the Canadian House of Commons and Senate on numerous occasions, and has worked with governments around the globe to develop evidence-based drug policies. He has received a number of accolades for his patient research and advocacy, including the Americans for Safe Access Researcher of the Year Award 2021, the Cannabis Council of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Raad Seraj is a Bangladeshi-Canadian entrepreneur and founder of Mission Club, an angel investor network and education platform supporting startups addressing mental health using psychedelics. He also runs Minority Trip Report, a podcast showcasing underrepresented perspectives in psychedelics and mental health. During the day, he leads growth at Affinity, a San Francisco-based startup providing AI tools for private capital. Raad spent over a decade in climatetech and social impact. He founded one of the world’s first technology accelerators for water and created am immersive backpacking program that taught global sustainable fashion entrepreneurs about the fashion supply chain in Bangladesh. As an artist and advocate for underground culture, Raad founded Anda Residency, a non-profit that explored urban issues through immersive storytelling. He has a background in molecular biology and was once a host for MuchMusic (Canada’s MTV).

Rebecca Nicholson, a visionary entrepreneur, leads as the CEO and founding partner of 5D Ventures. With an unyielding commitment to impact investing, ethics, and an astute grasp of the ever-evolving landscape, she blends creativity and practicality to shape executive leadership and operational excellence. Drawing from over two decades of experience in managing high-level teams and transformative projects, Rebecca’s strategic prowess shines. From cultivating investor relationships to orchestrating dynamic company growth, her guidance steers 5D Ventures with grace and foresight. Her dedication extends to fostering a corporate culture founded on collaboration, innovation, and ethical impact. Rebecca’s adeptness in advocacy, orchestrating events and spearheading fundraising initiatives has propelled 5D Ventures to the industry forefront. Her influence extends beyond her role as a revered advisor in the immersive wellness and retreat space; she’s also a respected moderator and panelist who shapes revolutionary industry discourse. As a founding member of Celebrating Women in Psychedelics, she exemplifies commitment to both advancing her field and promoting diversity and opportunities for women.

Named one of Fortune magazine’s 7 Most Powerful People in America’s Marijuana Industry, Ricardo Baca is a 25-year veteran journalist, Clio Awards juror, keynote speaker, two-time TEDx veteran, Marketer of the Year and drug policy futurist. He served as The Denver Post’s first-ever marijuana editor and founded news vertical The Cannabist, where he extensively covered the advent of adult-use cannabis and related issues across the country and around the world, as seen in the feature documentary Rolling Papers (Netflix). In 2016, Ricardo launched Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency to work directly with business leaders in highly regulated industries, including cannabis and psychedelics. Named Marketer of the Year by AdCann in 2019 and 2021, Ricardo has received numerous accolades for his trailblazing work throughout the media paradigm, and continues to columnize for AdWeek, mg and other publications. Ricardo is considered to be the world’s first and “most prestigious” marijuana editor; one of Brookings Institution’s 12 Key People to Watch in Marijuana Policy; one of Time magazine’s 140 best Twitter feeds; one of Sensi magazine’s 24 Cannabis Pioneers Who Matter.

Rocco Iannapollo is a distinguished leader in the Natural Medicine Industry, bringing nearly three decades of experience in the Oil and Gas sector. His versatile background and global experience include roles in IT, Project Management, Procurement/Supply Chain, HR, Real Estate & Facilities, Transportation/Logistics, and Drug & Alcohol Testing, showcasing remarkable adaptability. In 2014, driven by his passion for natural medicine, Rocco transitioned from the corporate world. His consulting expertise led to his appointment as Chief Brand Officer at Boulder-based Cannabis Kitchen Supplies in 2017. He is also one of the founding members of The CannaConsortium, a coalition of ancillary companies devoted to driving client resilience and industry advancement. The merger of Cannabis Kitchen Supplies and 710 Spirits in 2023, forming 710Sci, underscores Rocco’s exceptional leadership and ability to drive shared vision and growth seamlessly. With over eight years in the dynamic Natural Medicine Industry, Rocco possesses profound insights and influential partnerships. His expertise extends to optimizing client supply chains, prioritizing sustainable practices for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and advocating for sensible policy and guidelines. Rocco’s unwavering passion, diverse background, exceptional leadership, creativity, strategic partnerships, business acumen, commitment to sustainability, and deep insights position him as a visionary leader in the Natural Medicine industry. 

Ryan is co-founder of three separate entities operating within the Oregon legal psilocybin framework: Bendable Therapy, a 501c3 non-profit navigation service and access fund; Aboveground Services, a referral-based psilocybin service center focusing on mental health; and Drop Thesis, a manufacturing and multi-site service center business focused on personal wellness with novel product development and stylized brands. He is an Oregon licensed psilocybin facilitator and a licensed Professional Engineer with experience supporting start-ups navigate complex regulatory environments. 

Sam Chapman is the Executive Director for the Healing Advocacy Fund, a 501c3 non-profit organization, Healing Advocacy Fund works to implement safe, high quality, and affordable psychedelic therapy. HAF educates and supports leaders and communities in understanding the benefits of psychedelic therapy for mental health challenges including depression, anxiety and addiction. Over the course of his career, Sam has been an advocate for sensible drug policy, engaging youth in democracy and economic policies that leave no one behind. He has over a decade of experience in advocating for drug policy reforms at the local, state and national level, including championing psilocybin therapy as the campaign manager for Oregon’s Measure 109, which created the nation’s first state-regulated psilocybin therapy program. His previous experience includes consulting for numerous statewide political campaigns, assisting local governments in writing rules and regulations after the passage of drug policy reforms, advocating for equitable access to new healthcare treatment options, and identifying opportunities within emerging industries for social and economic good. For the last four years, Sam has been on the front lines of creating the foundation for safe, regulated and affordable access for psychedelic healing, and strives to continue to lead on drug policy reform efforts across the country. Originally from Maryland, Sam has been a resident of Oregon for 25 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in Philosophy and Political Science.

Scarlet Masius is Head of Community at Tactogen, a public benefit corporation that is developing a next-generation of MDMA-like medicines. Prior to joining they ran a creative consultancy, working with MAPS, Esalen, Omidyar Network and other orgs to build creative and participatory communities. They are trained as a psychedelic peer support specialist, and care deeply about having meaningful education, training and harm reduction present in the evolving psychedelic ecosystem.

Sean T. McAllister is an attorney specializing in the therapeutic, regulatory, business, and religious freedom aspects of psychedelic medicines and therapies. His work in psychedelics has included: Advising doctors, therapists and licensed professional on psychedelic assisted therapy; Licensure defense of doctors and therapists grieved for psychedelic therapy; Advising clients looking to use psychedelics for religious purposes; Seeking DEA licensure for companies to manufacture Schedule I drugs lawfully in the United States; Steering committee member on and drafter of Colorado’s Proposition 122 Natural Medicine Health Act; Executive Officer of the Denver Psilocybin Mushroom Policy Review Panel; General Counsel for the Zendo Project Inc.; Legal advisor to Naropa University’s Psychedelic Therapy Program; Legal advisor to MAPS; Board of Directors for the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines; and Board of Directors of the Board of Psychedelic Medicine and Therapies. Sean is licensed to practice law in Colorado and California, but consults with clients nationwide where ethically allowed.

Sherry Rais, CEO and Co-Founder of Enthea, has helped dozens of startups, non-profit organizations, academic/research institutions, and small businesses raise funds, operate according to their mission and values, and implement processes that enhance their overall efficiency. Sherry believes in living and working in alignment with purpose and is currently focused on expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapy to alleviate human suffering. Before this, Sherry consulted for over 10 years with the United Nations and World Bank, implementing cash transfer programs at the national level in over 35 countries. Sherry holds a master’s degree in public policy and administration from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and international development from McGill University. She also completed the Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Research from CIIS in 2021. In addition to being Enthea’s CEO, she is the Executive Director of the Boston Psychedelic Research Group and the Grants Manager for CIIS. 

Stefany is a seasoned entrepreneur who has built multiple international ventures with long-lasting social impact. Most recently, Stefany co-founded Gwella, a mushroom company building the most accessible and original over-the-counter portfolio of mushroom products that amplify individual and community wellness for today’s modern era. Previous to Gwella, Stefany founded Green Iglu, an award-winning food-sovereignty start-up that builds food production facilities in remote communities across Canada, including the Arctic. In her spare time, she leads the entrepreneurship programming for the Women’s Entrepreneurship Hub where she has the privilege of working with newcomers to Canada and low-income women to launch their business ideas.

Tori Armbrust is the owner of Satori Farms PDX. She was the first in Oregon to receive a psilocybin manufacturing license under measure 109. Being a woman owned company operating with no partners, investors or employees has been a beautiful and challenging experience. She is a self-taught mushroom cultivator with nearly a decade of experience. Fungi cultivation and education is her passion and she is excited to share her story to inspire others to cultivate change and work towards their goals.

Veronica Lightning Horse Perez, LLC, HGC, WWO, is a wife, mother of five, business owner, clergy member, author, speaker, co-chief proponent for the NMHA, Licensed Master Practitioner of NLP, teacher, healer, ceremonialist and most importantly an activist for psychedelic, indigenous, weteran and water rights. Having experienced years of suffering, she finally overcame a diagnosis of complex PTSD, a little over a decade ago. Since then she has made it her mission to help alleviate suffering in anyway, that she can and to remind others of how powerful they really are. She teaches to come from a place of strength instead of learned helplessness. She believes that only together can we heal the World and that all healing starts within the Self. When we heal the self, we heal the family, when we heal the family we heal the community, when we heal the community, we heal the world.