In 2006 I opened The Hempest Harvard Square, a small business located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In doing so, I became the first female of color to own a cannabis-related business in the state of Massachusetts. The mission of the Hempest was to bring hemp and cannabis back to the regulated marketplace. In furtherance of that mission, I went to Suffolk University Law School in 2012 with the specific goal of legalizing cannabis to create equitable access and opportunity for everyone. I graduated in 2015 and in early 2016 I became the Director of Outreach for the Campaign to Legalize Marijuana in Massachusetts. The campaign was a success and I was appointed by Governor Baker in 2017 to serve as his Expert in Minority Business Development on the Cannabis Advisory Board of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. Now in my third term as a CAB member, I have participated in the following subcommittees: Cannabis Industry, Public Safety and Community Mitigation, and Market Participation where I am serving a second term as committee Chair. I have been a registered Massachusetts medical marijuana patient since 2014. I am a certified Massachusetts Social Equity Program participant and a registered patient. As an attorney I have worked with Vicente Sederberg, LLP, and The Mensing Group (current) I have represented local and national cannabis operators in matters ranging from equity and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility, to licensing with a focus on ensuring equal access to representation and advocacy for social equity, minority, and other diverse clients. I am recognized as a thought leader in the cannabis industry and have received the Champion in Corporate Social Responsibility award in 2021 and the Champion in Diversity and Inclusion award in 2022 from the New England Cannabis Community Awards. This January I became a Member of the Board of Directors for Minority Cannabis Business Association.