On Saturday, November 22, we celebrated Ten Years of Therapeutic Cannabis at the inaugural New Hampshire Cannabis Conference. This was an awesome opportunity to bring our program “out of the shadows, into the light,” and it was a great success!
The event took place at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. For those who were unable to attend, we are pleased to report that the conference sessions are now available on video. You can now find all seven sessions here on GraniteLeaf’s YouTube channel. Please share these videos with anybody you know who might be interested!
Cannabis at the Capitol: Past, Present, and Future
GraniteLeaf’s Matt Simon kicked off the conference with a moving tribute to the patients who advocated for therapeutic cannabis between 2008-2015. If you aren’t aware of this history, we strongly suggest that you watch “Patients, NOT Criminals.”
Next, Dr. Jerry Knirk and Therapeutic Cannabis Program (TCP) Administrator Michael Holt delivered a very informative presentation titled “How It Started, How It’s Going, and Considerations for the Future.” They shared insights into how the program has developed over time and explored policy considerations that could impact the TCP moving forward.
Insightful Panel Discussions
The conference brought together some very knowledgeable panelists from around the state and region. The first panel, “What Can N.H. Learn from Other States?”, featured cannabis regulators and policy experts from neighboring states. They engaged in a thoughtful discussion of how cannabis policies are working in our region and what New Hampshire might learn from our neighbors.
For the next panel, “Meet the ATCs,” a representative from each of New Hampshire’s three Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) spoke briefly about their efforts to serve patients.
After a lunch break, the conference resumed with “Share Your Story.” Coordinated by GraniteLeaf’s Alicia Bennett, this session gave patients the opportunity to share their experiences with therapeutic cannabis in New Hampshire. As always, it was very beneficial to hear the patients’ perspective!
For the final panel of the day, “Cannabis in Practice,” we got to hear important insights from several New Hampshire medical professionals. This excellent panel included representatives of the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board and other medical providers who have certified patients for the TCP.
Keynote: From Data to Dosing
Last, but certainly not least, Dr. Riley Kirk closed out the conference with her excellent keynote presentation: “From Data to Dosing: Current Research to Advance Personalized Cannabis Care.”
Many thanks to all who helped make the inaugural N.H. Cannabis Conference such a big success! In particular, we would like to thank VTSU-Lyndon student Asher Ballentine (Comm. & Journalism ’26) and Tim Egan of the VTSU Cannabis Studies Certification Program for volunteering to edit the videos.
Save the Date: September 12!
Planning has already begun for the second New Hampshire Cannabis Conference. Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 12!
