Dr. Hemant Kumar Bid, Ph.D. accomplished his graduate degree in Medical Biochemistry, recently graduated from Ohio State University with MS (Pharmacology) degree, and has 16 years of experience in the field of cancer drug discovery and health care management. Teaching commercial-scale cultivation operation, medicinal aspects of CBD including the history of cannabidiol, the medicinal potential and the future of cannabinoid medicine, Patient Navigation and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) including how medical cannabis affects the body, and how it is used to treat illnesses from a neuroscience perspective. He has a passion for Oncology research, pharmacology, Cannabis, and cancer therapy. Extensive experience in biologics, drug discovery, and early development programs, including research activities stretching from drug target validation, assay development, lead optimization, antibody generation utilizing multiple discovery technology platforms and drug screening, in vivo pharmacology, and expertise to create PDx (patient-derived xenograft), preclinical models. Actively engaged in research and the scientific community as an editorial board member for various scientific journals, teaching, and community fundraising for cancer research. Endorsed for leadership and collaborative abilities. Mentored students, trained staff and have given lectures to diverse audiences. Currently, as an Instructor, he teaches Patient Navigation, Commercial Cultivation Operations, The Endocannabinoid System, and CBD Comprehensive at Cleveland School of Cannabis (CSC). As a Consultant at Alcyone Lifesciences, he is involved in preparing and overseeing regulatory submission documents. (Pre IND/IND).

Roger Pertwee MA, D.Phil. DSc. (Oxford) is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Aberdeen, still actively engaged in cannabinoid research. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS), has served as President (twice) of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) and as Chairman of the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM), and is on the IACM (and ICRS) Board of Directors. His awards include (1) the 2002 Mechoulam Award and the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society, (2) the 2011 Wellcome Gold Medal “for outstanding contributions to pharmacology, based mainly on research achievements, (3) the 2013 International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines Special Award, and (4) a 2019 Highly Cited Researcher Award from Clarivate Analytics in recognition of the production of Pharmacology papers ranking in the top 1% by citations. His research has focused mainly on the pharmacology and therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. His research achievements include the joint discovery of delta-9- tetrahydrocannabivarin in cannabis, and of endocannabinoids, the discovery of a CB1 receptor allosteric site, and significant contributions to the pharmacological characterization of phytocannabinoids and notable synthetic cannabinoids. See also https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/rgp.

Bonni Goldstein, M.D., is the owner and medical director of Canna-Centers Wellness and Education, a medical practice devoted to educating patients about the use of cannabis for serious and chronic medical conditions. She is also medical advisor to Weedmaps.com.

In 2008, Dr. Goldstein developed an interest in the science of medical cannabis after witnessing its beneficial effects in an ill friend.  She has since helped thousands of adults and children with chronic and serious medical conditions achieve a better quality of life with the use of cannabis treatment.

Dr. Goldstein received her undergraduate education at Rutgers College and earned her medical degree at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). She completed both her internship and residency, serving as chief resident, at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Goldstein was a Clinical Instructor in Pediatrics at USC School of Medicine in Los Angeles, Emergency Transport Attending Physician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Emergency Medicine Attending Physician in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

A frequent speaker nationally and internationally, Dr. Goldstein was awarded “2017 Healthcare Professional of the Year” by Americans for Safe Access, a non-profit that promotes safe and legal access to cannabis throughout the nation. Dr. Goldstein is on the board of the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines.

Dr. Goldstein’s first book, Cannabis Revealed, was awarded “2017 Semifinalist Book of the Year” by the American Botanical Council.  Her latest book, Cannabis is Medicine, was published by Little, Brown Spark in September 2020.

Dr. Tori Rerick is the creator of Well Connected Membership, host of the 6 Degrees from Cannabis podcast, and Director of PR for Moon Mother Hemp. She also provides holistic consultation services, and is a relief pharmacist at Flatirons Family Pharmacy in Colorado. Dr. Rerick is passionate about the individualization of each patient’s healing journey, and believes strongly in the role of mindfulness and cannabinoids to enhance deep healing.

Dr. Swathi Varanasi, or Doctor Swathi, is a medical consultant for CBD/hemp companies, a clinical cannabis researcher, a natural medicines educator, and a content creator for print & online publications.

Doctor Swathi is the co-founder and first-ever resident of the PGY1 Integrative Health Pharmacy Residency (IHPRx) program and is training at an independent natural pharmacy and interprofessional HIV/AIDS clinic in the Los Angeles metro area. She co-founded PharmSupplement, the first natural medicines educational platform for healthcare professionals and students, providing pharmacist-designed resources, online courses and drug information services.

Emphasizing an evidence-based approach, Doctor Swathi is passionate about educating practitioners, students and patients on the intricacies of the endocannabinoid system and the power of food as medicine. As a healthcare disrupter, she looks for opportunities to break barriers and challenge her western-trained colleagues to think beyond the conventional scope of their practice. Through the many modalities of integrative medicine and patient-centered shared decision-making, she believes that health and wellness is achievable for everyone.

Doctor Swathi studied at the Medical University of South Carolina and Carleton College. She is currently pursuing further specialized training in functional medicine and plant-based nutrition from The Institute for Functional Medicine and Cornell University, respectively. Dr. Varanasi was selected to be a part of the state-wide California Pharmacists Association Leader Development Institute, is on the Executive Committee of the Greater Los Angeles Pharmacists Association and is on the Cannabis Science Pharmacist Continuing Education Planning Committee of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians.

Dr. Mara Bilibajkich graduated from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada and has been practicing family medicine for over 20 years. She is the founder of RxLeaf, a medical cannabis information website for patients, healthcare professionals, producers, and distributors to come together to learn, share, and engage in authentic conversation about cannabis medicine. She has over 20 years of experience as a family physician, and eventually began prescribing cannabis after witnessing its effectiveness in reducing consumption of opioids and other medications.

Dr. Jacob Mirman graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his residency in primary care internal medicine at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.

His initial homeopathic training was with the Faculty of Homeopathy in London, England. He followed this program with a series of preceptorials with several internationally renowned homeopaths. He continued his studies by attending the ESSH School of Homeopathy in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Over the years Dr. Mirman investigated and studied numerous integrative modalities in addition to homeopathy, such as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), neurotransmitter therapy, magnetic therapy, Transcranial Electrical Stimulation, Bach Flower Essences and others. Some of the therapies he found to be most effective have been incorporated in Life Medical, PA. He also advises his patients on some of the others, and gives referrals to the appropriate specialists when necessary.

Dr. Mirman is a founding member of the Minnesota Homeopathic Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the ESSH School of Homeopathy.

Dr. Karyemaître Aliffe earned his BA from Harvard University in Organic & Medicinal Chemistry, and MD with Distinguished Honors (magna cum laude) from Stanford University School of Medicine (MD-PhD Training Program in Cancer Biology, Departments of Molecular Pharmacology, Chemical and Systems Biology). His postgraduate clinical training, also from Stanford, is in Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management.

Professionally, Dr. Aliffe has 25+ years of strategic leadership in phytomedicinal discovery and formulation, with global experience ranging from Silicon Valley to the rainforests of the Amazon and the Congo. He is presently Chief Executive Scientist at Praxigen Biomedia. He leads an expert Natural Health Product Development Team, applying translational medicine and integrative neurophysiology to expand the utility of cannabis-based formulations unto enhancement of global human life and longevity. An engaging, multilingual, public speaker, he gives lectures and seminar presentations to professionals and health-focused community groups worldwide.

Professional Expertise and Areas of Interest

• Clinical Trials of Natural Medicinal Agents
• Endocannabinoid System Pharmacology
• Molecular and Clinical Pharmacognosy
• Molecular & Functional Neuroscience
• Medicinal Marijuana Product R&D
• Cannabinoid Pharmacogenomics
• Cannabis Health & Beauty Aids
• Immunomodulation and Cancer
• Cognitive Function Enhancement
• Human Performance Optimization
• Healthful Longevity and Anti-Ageing

Ongoing development of psychotropic quantitative analysis

• Global medicinal, euphoric, and psychotherapeutic effects
• Human Performance Enhancement/Impairment Assessment

Dr. Craig Hauser is an Integrative & Functional Medicine physician in Frederick, Maryland, and the founder of Hauser Health. A graduate of the military medical school USUHS in 1994, Dr. Hauser spent 16 years in the Air Force as a physician and Medical Director. Over the past 10 years he has focused on Integrative Medicine, culminating in a Fellowship with Dr. Weil at the University of Arizona. His practice focuses on Autoimmune diseases, GI issues, Fatigue, Weight Loss, and Thyroid.

Dr. Hauser frequently lectures throughout Maryland on Integrative Medicine and is the Host/Producer of “The Alt Medicine MD Podcast” and “The Medical POTcast” which can be found on iTunes and Spotify.

Dr. Dhanabalan is a highly respected physician trained in Family Medicine and Occupational & Environmental Medicine, with specialization in heavy metals. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, a Cannabinoid Medicine Specialist, and Medical Review Officer.

She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors from Rutgers University and her Medical degree from the University of Medicine & Dentistry in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Dhanabalan completed a Family Practice Residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, South Carolina and then her Master of Public Health and Occupational & Environmental Medicine Residency and Fellowship at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. She is also Certified by the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine and by the Medical Review Officer Certification Council.

She has received awards from the American College of Occupational & Environmental Medicine for her research project “Occupational & Environmental Exposure to Lead in South Indi”, and from the 7th World Ayurveda Conference & Arogya Expo for her presentation “Cannabis & The Therapeutic Uses”. She also received the Educational Achievement Award presented by Clover Leaf at Cannabis Business Awards 2017

She is the Founder/CEO for Global Health & Hygiene Solutions, LLC, established in 2006, with a mission to promote wellness and prevent illness. She worked for Kimberly Clark as Regional Medical Director for Asia Pacific, as well as for the Hanford Site in Richland, Washington, with the largest and most complex cleanup projects in the world, where plutonium was manufactured for the first nuclear bomb detonated in Japan.

She created the TotalHealthCareTHC model where she “Educates Embraces Empowers” patients and promotes cannabis as a treatment option at Uplifting Health and Wellness, in Natick, Massachusetts. She is an advocate, activist and educator and speaks globally about cannabis as a plant medicine. Her mission is to change the Stigma regarding Cannabis and for the world to know about the Endocannabinoid system through education

Dr. Dhanabalan believes “cannabis must be a first-line integrative treatment for cancer, not a last resort”. Furthermore, she advocates that patients involved in other promising clinical trials should be allowed to use cannabis if desired, and not be automatically excluded from such trials as they currently are.