Dope Tech: Cannabis, Innovation, and the Impact on Consumers
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In the months following the legalization of cannabis, we have had a chance to see the different ways in which the cannabis industry is interacting with the Canadian marketplace and the various regulatory issues that it raises around its commercialization.
A panel with expertise in patent and innovation law, health and food regulation will explore the possible impacts that the legalization of cannabis will have on Canadian lives. The panel discussion will focus on how cannabis companies are creating innovation within the industry and the ways in which they are protecting those innovations. The panel will also discuss the regulatory landscape surrounding the cannabis industry and how these regulations impact consumers from social, health, and safety perspectives.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019
12-1:30 PM
University of Windsor
Faculty of Law, G 102
Panelists:
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Bill Bogart, Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Law, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
Bill Borgart has held several SSHRC and other research grants to support his research, has been a Virtual Scholar in Residence for the Law Commission of Canada, and has been a frequent consultant to government. He is an author/editor of eight books, of which, the last three have been on the regulation of consumption:
Permit But Discourage: Regulating Excessive Consumption (OUP/NY, 2011); Regulating Obesity?: Government, Society and Questions of Health (OUP/NY, 2013); and Off the Street: Legalizing Drugs (Dundurn,2016).He writes blogs for the Huffington Post and comments frequently for the media. He is currently working on his next book: Worth Fighting For?: Canada in a Turbulent World.
He is a member of the Research Ethics Board of St. Michael’s Hospital Toronto, the Advisory Board of the National Self-Represented Litigants Project, the Panel on Research Ethics (CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC). and a Patron (with his wife, Linda Bertoldi) of the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. He was also previously a member of the Board for Pro Bono Law Ontario and the Canadian Law and Society. -
Laurence MacPhie, Partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP
Laurence MacPhie is a partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP and is a member of Life Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, and Cannabis practice groups.
His practice focuses on drafting and prosecuting patent applications related to molecular biology, genetic engineering, agriculture, and plant-related technologies as well as preparing and filing Plant Breeders’ Rights applications. He also provides advice on patent strategy and opinions with respect to validity, infringement and freedom to operate.
Laurence’s clients range from biotechnology start-ups to large international corporations seeking intellectual property (IP) protection in Canada. He was a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of Oxford where he completed a doctoral degree on the genetics of complex traits before embarking on a career in IP. -
Jovana Mitich, Auditor and Consultant, Animal Welfare, Food Safety, and Quality
Jovana Mitich utilizes skills from her work experience and applies principles to evaluate the cannabis industry. Jovana’s experience in management consulting includes program development and implementation, quantitative and qualitative research, and market analysis. She has worked with numerous producers to provide sound work and analysis to gain the approval of their customers and maintain trust in the industry. She works closely with clients on achieving certification and implementing customized food safety programs.Jovana is the sole proprietor of her consulting firm, Jovana Mitich Consulting, where she consults with various clients within the country on how to achieve food safety, quality and animal welfare certification. She has acted on behalf of many clients to provide certification support in the form of contracted auditing. She has conducted research analysis for the University of Guelph on the cannabis market and the disruption caused throughout related industries.