Colorado's Cannabis Conversation

COLORADO'S CANNABIS CONVERSATION* TEDxMileHigh’s latest conversation seeks to better understand the intricacies of marjijuana from the commercialization and medical use to pop culture and politics surrounding this controversial substance. As 4/20 approaches, Coloradans revisit their unique and recent history of the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. As a result of its unprecedented decriminalization in Colorado six years ago, the conversation on whether or not it’s good for society has accelerated. Whether you’re a frequent user of marijuana, the occasional dabbler, or never tried once in your life, come learn more from intellectually diverse panelists from Colorado who will share the stage to engage in thoughtful dialogue and help us better understand the controversial Conversation. *This event is designed to be an educational platform for individuals to learn more about marijuana in Colorado. There will be no smoking or consumption of marijuana at any point during the event. ABOUT THE PANELISTS Ben Cort is a past TEDxMileHigh speaker whose talk, Surprising truths about legalizing marijuana, has sparked much debate throughout the cannabis community. His passion for recovery, prevention and harm reduction comes from his own struggle with substance abuse. Sober since 6/15/96, Ben has been a part of the recovery community in almost every way imaginable; from a recipient to a provider to a spokesperson, Cort has a deep understanding of the issues and a personal motivation to see the harmful effects of drug and alcohol abuse minimized. Wanda James is the CEO of Simply Pure Dispensary, and is a leading advocate in the cannabis industry. In 2009, she and her husband, Scott Durrah, became the first African Americans, legally licensed in America, to own a dispensary and edible company. She is also the founder and Managing Partner of the Cannabis Global Initiative (CGI), a marketing and consulting firm that specializes in cannabis production, dispensing and processing, regulatory framework and political outreach. The company is dedicated to consistently providing innovative solutions through strategic alliances and business development surrounding the legalization of cannabis. Dr. Doris Gundersen is board certified in both general adult and forensic psychiatry. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado where she teaches medical students residents and fellows. Additionally Dr. Gundersen maintains a private practice in general adult and forensic psychiatry. She is also the medical director for the Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP) and for eighteen years, has been dedicated to assisting physicians with serious illnesses and providing education to medical communities locally, nationally and internationally concerning physician health. Since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, she has been active in educating medical communities and regulatory agencies about the potential medical and public health consequences of acute as well as chronic use of marijuana. Christian Sederberg, Esq., is a partner and founding member of Vicente Sederberg LLC, described by Rolling Stone Magazine as "the country's first powerhouse marijuana law firm." Since 2010, Christian and the firm have been pioneers in the cannabis legal and policy space. After his time as an integral part of the Amendment 64 campaign, Christian was appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper to serve on its Implementation Task Force and then coordinated the implementation of the Colorado legislative and regulatory structure on behalf of the campaign. ABOUT THE MODERATOR Ricardo Baca is a veteran journalist and thought leader in the legal cannabis space. After serving more than two decades as a staff writer, editor and critic at daily newspapers, Ricardo’s editors at The Denver Post named him the paper’s first-ever Cannabis Editor in 2013. Now Ricardo is considered to be the world’s first (and “most prestigious” according to Vice) marijuana editor; founder of award-winning news vertical The Cannabist; primary subject of Rolling Papers, a documentary released theatrically in February 2016; one of Brookings Institution’s 12 Key People to Watch in Marijuana Policy; one of Fortune magazine’s 7 Most Powerful People in America’s Marijuana Industry; one of Time magazine’s 140 best Twitter feeds; one of Sensi magazine’s 24 Cannabis Pioneers Who Matter. ABOUT OUR VENUE HOST Galvanize on Platte With the Mile High city quickly becoming a mecca for tech entrepreneurs and growing startups, Galvanize’s second Denver campus provides a home for this amazing community to thrive. As a prominent co-working office located between LoDo and LoHi, Galvanize offers the ideal space for ideas to flourish. WHAT ARE TEDxMILEHIGH CONVERSATIONS? TEDxMileHigh Conversations brings together diverse voices for a monthly series that invites people to challenge their thinking in difficult discussions surrounding the complicated issues facing the country. From topics examining homelessness, immigration, guns, taxes, or religion, there is no limit to where the conversation might lead. So prepare to listen, talk, and engage with a stranger over these tough Conversations, so that we can better understand each other and ourselves.