Page 12 - Cannabis News Dec 2018

Cannabis Spotlight lum in 2009 for Clover Leaf University and in 2012
decided to go for full credit approval through the
Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools.
In January 2013 I received full occupational accredi-
Chloe Villano, tation for Clover Leaf University.
President & Founder, Clover Leaf University I have also been involved in a number of industry
firsts such as launching the first legal cannabis club
Executive Director, Cannabis Business Association® called Club 64, a premier member’s only club in
Colorado.
What benefits do you see for patients throughout
Florida within this space? How can people in Florida benefit
Florida is a community of older people — a place where people can go to retire from the company you represent?
in the nice weather of the tropics. As we see an increase in consumption, with sen- People who come to Clover Leaf University have
iors being the number one consumers of Cannabis, I believe there is a huge demo- set up some of the largest businesses in the industry.
graphic in Florida who will find Medical Marijuana to be very useful. Florida also Our education is second to none. We have an All-Star
has a high rate of opiate addiction and we’ve seen in states where Cannabis is legal, team and have an in-depth knowledge of how these
proper cannabis regulations will help with a decrease in opioid use as well. businesses work and the regulations. I was one of the
most sought after business consultants and was even featured in People magazine’s
What motivates you to be a part of the Cannabis Industry? Marijuana Millionaires focus. Because of this experience and being in the trenches
My little brother passed away from cancer in 2009. He was extremely sick and suf- with these businesses for so many years, I understand a lot of the potential pitfalls and
fering. He was just a little kid. My friend who works at an ER unit told me to give him compliance regulations necessary to open a business and/or stay operational. If you
Cannabis. That was the only advice he told me. I asked him why would I get him want to learn how to be in this business, the best place you can attend is Clover Leaf
Cannabis when he was only 14 years old. He told me, “Trust me, and give him University.
Cannabis.” My brother only lived for 11 months after his diagnosis, but he had a
much better quality of life after I started giving him the cannabis. I don’t believe that How did you get started within the cannabis industry?
disease should only be treated in this way, but quality of life is extremely important. I got started after my brother got sick. Prior to that I was a consumer advocate and
Cannabis provided my brother with that quality of life. I knew then that there was Cannabis was always something I enjoyed personally. In fact, I flew to Amsterdam in
something very important about medical cannabis. It encouraged me to work very 2007 and judged my first Cannabis Cup and was well connected in the industry
hard and pioneer the business sector and the educational sector of the industry. before this.

What field are you in within the Cannabis space? Are you personally a MJ card holder?
I opened one of the first business consulting firms in the industry in 2009. Prior to Yes
that I worked with an attorney as his main paralegal. The law firm was chosen to
work with the very first state agency developed in the regulatory cannabis sector Do you see Florida moving forward with recreational
called the marijuana enforcement division located within the Colorado Department Marijuana/Cannabis and how will that affect your business?
of Revenue. I went on to assist with legislative policy, regulations, and helped hun- Yes ... I think it would be great because we could really offer the Florida market the
dreds of businesses get set up in the sector which are now multimillion dollar com- training and business consulting that they would need to take these businesses to the
panies expanding into more than 15 states. next level. We also offer many classes for medical professionals and important classes
Eventually I had so many clients I decided to start educating them in groups. I have for attorneys. We are well prepared to train all sectors of this industry and could help
been holding these classes since 2009 and educating groups of people even at the law “all boats rise in this incoming tide.”
firm because the demand was so high and I had so many clients. I started the curricu-

Back Cover Story: Nikki Fried Priorities as Florida’s New Agriculture Commissioner

Continued from back page.
many people in Florida know nothing about—they don’t realize that it’s an elected posi- ed,” she said. “One of the first things that I’ll do is to create a water policy task force to
tion, or that the commissioner is one of four members that serve on the Florida Cabinet.” design a new, comprehensive water management plan that will encompass the entire
Before entering the race, Fried was best known for her role in helping to legalize med- state, and include both individuals and commercial entities.”
ical cannabis in the state. And it was her interest in providing this option for patients— Fried also plans to clarify the rules concerning the ownership of medical marijuana
and the opposition shown by Florida’s governor and legislature—that spurred her to cards and concealed weapon permits, and will introduce an initiative to allow hemp to
throw her hat in the ring. be grown in Florida. “Hemp is better for the environment; it creates jobs and economic
“The conversation started in January when Attorney General Sessions rescinded the growth, and gives farmers alternative crops to grow,” she explained. “Because of the eco-
Cole memo, which sent the marijuana industry into flux,” said Fried. “I realized that part nomic boost that this could provide, it is one of the first things on the agenda.”
of the problem is that there weren’t people in the industry in elected offices advocating
for patients. Changes and Challenges
“I knew that it was time that I put myself out there, and the place where I felt that I As someone who has spent her life in public service, from starting a soup kitchen in
could make the greatest impact was as the agriculture commissioner,” she continued. high school to representing special needs’ children in court, Fried is used to fighting for
“The decisions there affect so many different people every day.” what she believes is right. But in her role as Florida’s agriculture commissioner, she may
Fried ran on a platform focused on “weapons, weed and water,” and voters responded. find that much of that battle is uphill.
“The state has major water issues, including red tide and green algae, not just in Lake “I’m in an interesting position as the lone Democrat in Florida’s statewide offices,
Okeechobee, but throughout our coastal communities,” she said. “Third- and fourth- which means that I’ll be dealing with a Republican legislature and governor. It will be a
generation fishermen can’t fish, which is affecting their livelihoods. We have to work on real balancing act to try to get things accomplished, and to get buy-in from Republicans
the next generation of water supply, storage and cleaning.” on these nonpartisan issues,” Fried said. “As the head of the party, I’ll be trying to keep
Fried’s focus on weapons also got voter attention. “This issue got elevated because the the interests of the Democratic Party alive while still getting my goals achieved.
commissioner in office before me dropped the ball,” she explained. “For 13 months, the “The advantage that I bring to the office, as both a female and a Democrat, is that I
office wasn’t doing background checks for concealed weapons permits, and people were have a very different perspective. I’m not concerned with what was done before; I plan
outraged.” to come in and evaluate everything and offer solutions. I have no preconceived notions
about what should be done—I believe in throwing out new ideas and solving problems,”
Setting Priorities she added.
When Fried takes office on Jan. 1, she is ready to tackle these issues head-on. “The “All I can do is keep true to my campaigned goals, remain true to myself, and work for
consumer aspect of the office will definitely be elevated and water policies will be elevat- what is best for the state of Florida.”

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