Women’s Regional Activist Conference to be held March 21 in Chico

February 26, 2015 – CalNORML announces a Womens’ Regional Activist Organizing Meeting in Chico, CA from 12-4 pm on Saturday, March 21 at the Chico Grange, 2775 Nord Ave, Chico CA.

The conference aims to inform and inspire women in the region about how to empower themselves to bring about change in laws and policies against marijuana.

“Women are the bedrock of any community,” said Ellen Komp of CalNORML, who is organizing the conference with the help of local Butte county activists. A strategy session will ask, How can we use our communication and community-building skills to assist with neighborhood complaints, CPS issues, fears about youth use, and general acceptance of marijuana?

The event is free, with a suggested donation of $20 at the door. Some light food and drink will be available for purchase. A silent auction and raffle for federal prisoner Mollie Fry will also be held. RSVP.

Sponsored by:

Scooter’s Cafe – Jarbo Gap

Working Schedule (subject to change):

12:20 Ellen Komp, CaNORML “Women and Weed: A 2000-Year Herstory”
12:35 Shelby Lucero, Sacramento NORML: Cannabis and Women’s Health
12:45 Liana Held “Cannabusiness for Women”
1:00 Kristin Nevedal, Emerald Growers Assn / Americans for Safe Access / CCPR
1:10 Jamie Kerr, 530 Collective/ CCIA
BREAK
1:45 Jennifer Ani, “Protecting Your Family from CPS”
BREAK
2:45-4 Strategy Session with Break Out Groups

Sponsors receive notice on the flyers and ads, sinage at the event and literature distribution. If you would like to donate a gift to the auction or raffle, or sponsor the conference, please write here.

Download an event flyer and see event Facebook Page. Women coming from Shasta & Nevada County as well as Butte County and the Bay Area. Please invite women you think should be there!

 

SPEAKER BIOS:

Jennifer Ani is the principal of the Law Offices of Jennifer Ani, in San Rafael, CA. She has been an attorney in private practice for over 20 years. Since 2006 she has successfully representing parents in child welfare (CPS) cases throughout the State. Jennifer believes cannabis is significantly safer than CPS, and zealously defends the right of Qualified Patients to also be parents, and to be free from unnecessary State intervention. She is a member of the National Association of Counsel for Children and speaks regularly on child welfare and civil rights matters. In 2009, she was honored by the Legal Aid Society of California with the “Outstanding Family Attorney of the Year” award, and in 2010 was awarded the San Francisco Bar Association’s highest honor for Outstanding Family Law services. Ms. Ani received her B.A. from the University of California at Davis in 1989, and her J.D. from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1992. Jennifer lives with her husband, daughter, and rottweiler “Hero” in Marin County.

Liana Held has more than fifteen years experience in the medical cannabis industry, with a specialized background in compliance and accounting issues. In 2009, she founded Liana Limited (LLTD), a business management and development consultancy. Previously, she served as co-director of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Cooperative, finance director at Berkeley Patients Group, and accountant at the Law Office of Jerome D. Handley. She currently serves on the board of California NORML.

Jamie Kerr co-founded 530 Collective and employs 15 full-time staff and has developed its own in-house edible line. Jamie was unanimously appointed to the City of Shasta Lake Planning Commission in July 2013 where she is currently fulfilling a four-year term. She has also previously served as Vice-president of the Shasta Lake Chamber of Commerce, of which 530 Collective has been a member since 2009. In 2014, 530 Collective joined the California Cannabis Industry Association and shortly thereafter Jamie was appointed to CCIA’s board of directors. In 2015, 530 Collective became a Business Partner member of Emerald Growers Association and Jamie currently serves on EGA’s statewide policy and strategy advisory council.

Ellen Komp has been a hemp/marijuana activist since 1991 and is currently Deputy Director of California NORML. She edited the 9th edition of The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer and was a volunteer petitioner for Proposition 215. Komp sat on the Humboldt County medical marijuana task force, resulting in a county ordinance to implement SB420 and travels the state working on local initiatives. She contributes to various publications and blogs at www.tokinwoman.blogspot.com.

Shelby Lucero is President of The Sacramento NORML Women’s Alliance and is an active member of The Human Solution Court Support Team. She helps patients learn how best to medicate with cannabis for their medical conditions, working with parents’ groups, as well as researching cannabis strains. She also consults with cannabis farmers regarding the legal policies and guidelines for their State, County or City. Shelby was recently voted as one of the top 10 Leaders in the Sacramento Cannabis Community.

Kristin Nevedal is the Chair of Emerald Growers Association (EGA) which resulted from the union of Humboldt Growers Association and MendoGrown in early 2012. A long time southern Humboldt organic gardner and mother, Kristin is an accomplished wellness practitioner and instructor of Chinese medicine, nutrition, and herbology. She has roots in the nursery industry and organic farming resulting in expertise in CA Department of Agriculture organic regulatory reporting and compliance. She lobbies for Americans for Safe Access and is on the board of CCPR, the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, which seeks to put a measure on the 2016 ballot to legalize marijuana for adult use in California, read more.

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