Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"Cannabis Regulatory Agencies: Best Practices & Challenges in Protecting Patients and Consumers" panel discussion at CannMed 2026, covering state and international cannabis regulation, enforcement, and lab oversight.
As cannabis markets mature, regulators face the dual challenge of protecting public health while adapting to rapidly evolving science, products, and business models. This panel brings together state, international, and industry-adjacent regulatory voices to discuss best practices, common pitfalls, and emerging solutions for building durable cannabis safety frameworks.
Panelists examine how agencies approach standard-setting, enforcement, laboratory oversight, and stakeholder engagement, and what lessons can be shared across jurisdictions as the industry moves toward greater national and international alignment.
Key discussion points include building science-based standards under political and operational constraints, managing enforcement consistency across diverse licensees and labs, updating rules as products, methods, and risks evolve, regulator-industry engagement without regulatory capture, and lessons from international and federalized cannabis systems.
Panelists:
Heather Krug, M.S. (Moderator), Deputy Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment
Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director, USVI Office of Cannabis Regulation
Jean Smith-Gonnell, Partner, Frantz Ward LLP
Sherman Hom, PhD, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Medicinal Genomics
Shannon McCoy, VP, Quality and Regulatory Affairs, Organigram Global
Dr. Nandakumara Sarma, Director, Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines, US Pharmacopeia (USP)
Victoria Pretti, Research Scientist and Manager, Laboratories Unit, New York State Office of Cannabis Management
This panel was part of the CannMed Compliance & Regulatory Workshop, a program focused on regulatory and quality frameworks for cannabis operations.
This presentation was given at the CannMed 2026 Innovation & Collaboration Summit, held June 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Visit cannmedevents.com to learn more.
"Cannabis Regulatory Agencies: Best Practices & Challenges in Protecting Patients and Consumers" panel discussion at CannMed 2026, covering state and international cannabis regulation, enforcement, and lab oversight.
As cannabis markets mature, regulators face the dual challenge of protecting public health while adapting to rapidly evolving science, products, and business models. This panel brings together state, international, and industry-adjacent regulatory voices to discuss best practices, common pitfalls, and emerging solutions for building durable cannabis safety frameworks.
Panelists examine how agencies approach standard-setting, enforcement, laboratory oversight, and stakeholder engagement, and what lessons can be shared across jurisdictions as the industry moves toward greater national and international alignment.
Key discussion points include building science-based standards under political and operational constraints, managing enforcement consistency across diverse licensees and labs, updating rules as products, methods, and risks evolve, regulator-industry engagement without regulatory capture, and lessons from international and federalized cannabis systems.
Panelists:
Heather Krug, M.S. (Moderator), Deputy Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment
Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director, USVI Office of Cannabis Regulation
Jean Smith-Gonnell, Partner, Frantz Ward LLP
Sherman Hom, PhD, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Medicinal Genomics
Shannon McCoy, VP, Quality and Regulatory Affairs, Organigram Global
Dr. Nandakumara Sarma, Director, Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines, US Pharmacopeia (USP)
Victoria Pretti, Research Scientist and Manager, Laboratories Unit, New York State Office of Cannabis Management
This panel was part of the CannMed Compliance & Regulatory Workshop, a program focused on regulatory and quality frameworks for cannabis operations.
This presentation was given at the CannMed 2026 Innovation & Collaboration Summit, held June 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Visit cannmedevents.com to learn more.
