Name: Capital & Policy Summit - DC 2026
Start: 2026-11-18T07:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-11-18T20:00:00-05:00
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington DC

This exclusive event, centered on strategic networking, provides an opportunity to forge lasting business connections...all in a single day.
Hear directly from leading industry professionals through high-impact education to help navigate the intricacies and obstacles of Colorado.
Acquire Insider insights on the impact Federal Rescheduling will have on the D.C. market.
Leave empowered with a actionable roadmap to grow your business, fueled by the knowledge and connections you’ve made.

"IgniteIt events are the most valuable networking experiences I’ve encountered in cannabis. I’ve engaged in a number of strategic partnerships as a result of the connections I’ve made, and the educational discussions provide actionable insights from other operators." - Lauren Carpenter, CEO, Embarc

"It’s not a finance show, it's a community. A room full of people who’ve been through it, sharing what they know. And that’s what makes this event matter." - Dee Sidhu, CMO, Humboldt Family Farms

"The relationships that I formed at the conference have led to valuable partnerships with people I may not otherwise have met. The combination of a decision-maker–rich audience and high-quality content makes this an essential event." - Wes Hein, Co-Founder, Mammoth Distribution

Wednesday, November 18, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:25 AM																REGISTRATION + NETWORKING
7:35 AM - 8:25 AM																NETWORKING BREAKFAST
8:15 AM - 8:20 AM																Opening Remarks Elliot Lane, IgniteIt Patrick Lane, IgniteIt Laurie Parfitt, LKP Impact Consulting Charlie Bachtell, Cresco Labs Jason Raznick, IgniteIt
8:20 AM - 8:30 AM																Data Presentation Beau Whitney, Whitney Economics
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM																An Exclusive Look at the DMV, Presented by Headset Laurie Parfitt, LKP Impact Consulting
8:40 AM - 9:10 AM																Washington Is Your Business: Turning Action Into Strategy Decisions made in Washington shape how cannabis companies operate, access capital and plan for the future. But having a position is different from having influence. This panel brings together voices from across the industry to explore how businesses can engage effectively, build relationships, find common ground and make sure their priorities are heard as federal cannabis policy enters its next chapter. Shawn Collins, The Homegrown Consulting Group, LLC Caroline Henry, Buckeye Relief John Pennington, Founder & CEO of Proper Cannabis & Shane Pennington, Blank Rome LLP Suzan Nickelson, Holistic Solutions Dispensary
9:10 AM - 9:40 AM																The Virginia Opportunity: Getting the Next Cannabis Market Right Every emerging market gets one chance to build its foundation. This panel examines how Virginia can create a competitive, consumer-focused adult-use cannabis industry by learning from neighboring states and giving operators the tools to grow alongside the market. Charles Alovisetti, Vicente LLP Scott Lieberman, Ayr Wellness Chris Violas, BLAZE Shawn Casey, Virginia Cannabis Control Authority Rodney Holcombe, LeafLink
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM																In the Wake of Uplisting: What It Takes to Unlock Institutional Capital An uplisting is a milestone, not the finish line. As U.S. cannabis companies gain access to major public exchanges, what will it take for institutional capital to truly enter the space? This panel explores the remaining barriers—from federal policy and investment mandates to liquidity, governance and market maturity—and what operators and investors should expect as cannabis capital markets enter their next chapter. Tom Zuber, Zuber Lawler Christine Hersey, Trulieve Aaron Miles, Verano Michael Salaman, GrowGeneration Frank Perullo, Ascend Wellness
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM																The Two-Market Future: Medical, Adult Use, and What's Next Federal reform is reshaping the relationship between medical and adult-use cannabis. As reimbursement, physician involvement, product standards and consumer expectations evolve, operators will need to rethink where they invest and how they grow. This panel explores what the industry's two-market future could look like—and how businesses can prepare for it. Joe Smith, Thompson Hine Ankur Rungta, C3 Industries Gibran Washington, Ethos Cannabis Tabatha Robinson, Maryland Cannabis Administration Bryan Barash, Dutchie
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM																Where Does the Next Dollar Come From? The Growth Playbook for Cannabis Federal reform may change the rules, but sustainable growth won't come automatically. As the industry matures, operators must find new ways to increase revenue, improve customer value and build stronger businesses. This panel explores where the next wave of growth will come from—from retail strategy and marketing to partnerships, capital allocation and operational discipline. Sean Scadron, Surfside Christina Bettancourt Johnson, Standard Wellness Maryland Mary Jane Oatman, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association Terry Mendez, Safe Harbor Adam Stettner, FundCanna
12:00 PM - 12:55 PM																Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM																What Comes After Rescheduling? Congressional Priorities and the Impact of the 2026 Election on Reform Momentum The DEA final order closes one chapter and opens another. This panel examines what legislative action is still required, which vehicles are viable in the current Congress, and how the November results shape the path forward — and for whom. Congresswoman Dina Titus, US House of Representatives, US Congress Tyler Klimas, Leaf Street Strategies
1:20 PM - 1:50 PM																The New Rules of Cannabis M&A The next phase of cannabis consolidation won't look like the last. As operators rethink growth, capital remains selective and federal reform reshapes the landscape, the rules of M&A are changing. This conversation examines how deals are being structured, what buyers are looking for, and how companies can position themselves for acquisition, investment or long-term independence. Erica Rice, Foley Hoag Marc Claybon, Crowe Joshua Horn, Fox Rothschild Wendy Bronfein, Curio Wellness Tyson Macdonald, Vireo Growth
1:50 PM - 2:20 PM																Debt Isn't What It Used to Be The cannabis debt market is evolving. Operators now have access to a broader range of financing options, while lenders are looking for stronger fundamentals and clearer paths to profitability. This discussion examines what's changed, how debt is being deployed today, and what businesses should know before raising their next dollar of capital. Anthony Coniglio, NewLake Capital Partners Jeanne Sullivan, Arcview Ventures Steven Ernest, Chicago Atlantic Samantha Gleit, Feuerstein Kulick Brian Schinderle, SSC Advisors
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM																The CEO Ledger: The Decisions 2026 Forced, and the Playbook They Set for 2027 Jack Mascone, Seaport Global Securities George Archos, Verano Charlie Bachtell, Cresco Labs
2:40 PM - 3:10 PM																What's Your Strategy When the Rules Keep Changing? In cannabis, regulatory change isn't an occasional disruption; it's a constant business variable. The challenge is not simply reacting when the rules change, but understanding where they may be headed and making smart decisions before they do. This panel brings together operators, legal and compliance experts to explore how regulatory intelligence becomes business strategy, and how companies can anticipate change, adapt quickly and make better decisions even when the next set of rules isn't yet written. Dr. Roz McCarthy, Black Buddha Cannabis, M4MM Jeff Freeman, Mfused Kevin Hart, Green Check Christopher Guthrie, 365 Cannabis / Innovia Consulting
3:10 PM - 3:30 PM																The Future of Reimbursement for Medical Cannabis Rachel Strauss, PBMP, LLC Onur Çelik, Leafwell Hirsh Jain, Ananda Strategy Norman Birenbaum, Cannabis Regulators Association
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM																The Beverage Reset: Is There a Viable Dispensary Model? Cannabis beverages have proven they can attract consumers, but making the category work inside regulated cannabis retail is a different challenge. With limited shelf space, different purchasing habits and a distribution system built largely around other formats, is there a viable dispensary model for drinks? This conversation explores what the economics need to look like, where the category can compete and what it will take for beverages to reach meaningful scale within the regulated cannabis market. Laurie Parfitt, LKP Impact Consulting Justin Goldberg, ArentFox Schiff LLP Fred Moosally, District of Columbia's Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Administration Paul Weaver, The Boston Beer Company Seth Yakatan, Katan Associates
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM																The Politics of the Hemp Loophole Last November, Congress passed language to close the 2018 Farm Bill loophole, which allowed unregulated "gas station weed" to proliferate. The definition was set to take effect this November, but Congress granted a one-month extension. With the December 11 deadline approaching quickly, and the election in the rearview mirror, how is the issue playing in the lame duck Congress, and how are the cannabis and hemp industries making their voices heard? John Sullivan, Cresco Labs Howard Lee, SōRSE Technology Eric Berlin, Dentons US LLP Michael Bronstein, American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp
4:30 PM - 4:50 PM																The Veterans Case: What Congress, Federal Agencies, and the VA Still Need to Do to Make Cannabis Access Real Adam Rosenberg, Partner, Vlasic Bioscience & Brett Puffenbarger, Old Dominion Jessica Finucan, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
4:50 PM - 5:20 PM																Trust Is the Product: Safety, Transparency, and the Next Consumer Standard Compliance may get products onto shelves, but trust keeps consumers coming back. As expectations around safety, transparency and product quality continue to rise, operators have an opportunity to differentiate themselves while strengthening the industry's credibility. This conversation explores the technologies, standards and business practices that can improve both consumer confidence and long-term market growth. Rachelle Gordon, GreenState Sasha Kalcheff-Korn, Realm of Caring Dr. Chanda Macias, National Holistic Healthcare Howard Schacter, MariMed
5:30 PM - 5:35 PM																Closing Remarks Patrick Lane, IgniteIt Elliot Lane, IgniteIt
5:35 PM - 6:35 PM																Cocktail Reception
6:00 PM - 6:05 PM																Women in Business Group Photo Women in Business Meet & Greet & Photo during our Reception.

Escape to extraordinary elegance at Grand Hyatt Washington. Centrally located in downtown CityCenter DC - with convenient in-lobby Metro Center access - this Washington DC hotel is an ideal spot to explore the Nation's Capitol. Enjoy newly renovated guest rooms with indulgent amenities. Just a short walk from the White House, historical monuments, Smithsonian Museums, Capital One Arena, National Mall, Washington Convention Center, and more. Utilize our 24-hour fitness center, full-service business center, and 32 outstanding meeting rooms.

Address: 1000 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001