US Cannabis Council Announces New Senior Leaders, Board Members and Officers
April 27, 2023
Contact: Josh Glasstetter
press@uscannabiscouncil.org
WASHINGTON – Today, the US Cannabis Council (USCC) announced new senior leaders, board members and officers. The USCC Board of Directors met this week to approve the changes, which will provide a strong foundation for advancing the organization’s ambitious goals for 2023.
Senior government relations executive Edward Conklin was named USCC’s new Executive Director, taking over from interim CEO Khadijah Tribble, who led the organization’s 2022 cannabis banking reform campaign. Conklin, who has served as USCC’s Vice Chair for the past two years, recently stepped down as Curaleaf’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations. Before entering the cannabis industry in 2018, Conklin was a Senior Director and Chief of Staff for Global Government Relations at McDonald’s Corporation for more than two decades.
“Ed has the kind of high-stakes, government affairs experience required to advance cannabis reform in Washington,” said USCC Chair and Akerna CEO Jessica Billingsley. “I have worked alongside him for years and believe he is uniquely positioned to take the helm.”
The USCC Board of Directors added representatives from two new member companies–Green Thumb Industries VP of Government Strategy Rebecca Brown and Verano Executive Vice President for Legal, Regulatory & Government Affairs James Leventis–and selected Schwazze Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer and former Colorado State Representative Dan Pabon to replace Conklin as Vice Chair. The board also filled two vacancies by adding Canopy Growth CEO David Klein and Curaleaf VP of Government Relations Matt Harrell.
Harrell replaced Conklin, and Klein replaced David Culver, who recently stepped down as Canopy’s VP of Government Relations. David Culver will take over as USCC’s new Senior Vice President of Public Affairs following this month’s retirement of Bo Bryant, who led the organization’s lobbying since 2021. Last month, the board also added AE Global Managing Partner Mike Forenza and Dutchie Senior Director and Assistant General Counsel Bryan Barash, who was selected to serve as Secretary beginning in July.
“USCC is gaining vital new members and talent,” said Billingsley. “We are bullish on achieving meaningful reform this year and will work relentlessly to end federal prohibition and promote restorative justice for impacted communities. On behalf of USCC and its members, I want to extend my gratitude to Khadijah Tribble and Bo Bryant for their commitment and contributions to USCC and to Edward Conklin and David Culver for their hard work and achievements yet to come.”
# # #
The US Cannabis Council (USCC) is the voice of America's regulated cannabis industry. Our business members include many of the largest cannabis companies in the nation, and our nonprofit members are leaders in cannabis policy, criminal justice reform, and more. By harnessing the collective power and reach of our member companies and nonprofits, we have become a leading force for ending federal prohibition and creating an equitable and values-driven cannabis industry.