For our next Community Conversation, ELEVATE Northeast is proud to bring together a panel of medical, public health, and addiction professionals to discuss how and why more individuals are turning to cannabis therapies to support their recovery from addiction to opiates, cigarettes, and other substances. Tune in to this virtual event to learn something new about cannabis!

Meet our event thought leaders

Kebra Smith-Bolden: Nurse Kebra is a true trailblazer, and a respected healthcare professional with the vision, purpose and drive to transform the nascent cannabis industry. A registered nurse, Kebra leveraged her medical knowledge and decades of professional experience to create CannaHealthTM, the first and only Connecticut cannabis business owned by an African-American. An industry pioneer considered one of the “Leading Cannabis Advocates in the State”, Smith-Bolden is a medical marijuana (MMJ) expert on topics such as the use of cannabis as a therapy for emotional trauma and chronic disease, as well as dedicating her practice to the expansion and preservation of statewide MMJ programs. Prior to joining the cannabis industry, Smith-Bolden worked as both a psychiatric home care nurse, specializing in patients with mental health issues and as a Hospice Homecare Nurse, providing end of life care to those with terminal illnesses.

Marion McNabb, DrPH, MPH: Dr. McNabb Dr. McNabb is the President of the Cannabis Center of Excellence, Inc a Massachusetts-based 501c3 nonprofit organization that conducts citizen-science-focused population studies and programs in the areas of community engagement, medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, and social justice in the cannabis industry. She is also the CEO of 510 Innovations LLC, a research, data science, and education company working with the healthcare innovations, cannabis, and entheogenic plant medicine industries. Dr. McNabb is the Cannabis Retail Appointee to the Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board until October 2023 and was appointed by the Treasurer of Massachusetts. Dr. McNabb is the Principal Investigator of six Cannabis research studies examining the reasons and impact of cannabis use among adult-use consumers and medical patients, veterans, and the impact of COVID on patients and consumers in Massachusetts and the United States, together with UMass Dartmouth. She sits on several academic advisory boards for academic cannabis educational and workforce training programs.

Tamika Samson: Tamika is an experienced mental health and addiction treatment professional with a wide breadth of knowledge in health, wellness, and alternative pain relief to battle opioid addiction. Tamika earned her Masters Degree in Education and Psychology, and is also a licensed substance abuse counselor in Massachusetts. Tamika has done extensive research in social equity and successfully entered the Social Equity Program in 2020. Tamika is currently working toward certification in psychedelic research and substance use, and mental health disorders. She is also a participant in the second cohort of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Equity Program, and today is CEO and co-founder of Kush Kart, a cannabis delivery licensee launching on Cape Cod in summer 2022.

This event will be moderated by TaShonda Vincent-Lee, cofounder and director of community outreach, ELEVATE Northeast Events and Education, Inc.

If you are interested in supporting our Community Conversation series, please contact [email protected]