February 10, 2022
Cannabis Chamber of Commerce hopes to ‘provide a seat for everyone at the table’
By Skyler Frazer
The newly-established CT Cannabis Chamber of Commerce will be a resource and informational hub for the state’s growing legal industry, according to one of its founders.
The chamber announced its formation earlier this month and has already held an introductory meeting for those interested in becoming members. According to its founders, the new coalition aims to be an informational hub for people in and entering different parts of the state’s cannabis industry.
“There are a ton of new business opportunities with this legalization effort, and we want to be a resource and a convenor of the industry and help navigate through this challenging new environment,” one of the chamber’s founders Adam Wood told the HBJ.
Wood, a principal of Hartford advocacy firm City & State Public Affairs, said he’s worked in multiple levels of government for years. He was the chief of staff for formerBridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and also worked in New York’s political scene.
“That is a community that was definitely impacted by the war on drugs,” Wood said of Bridgeport.
Wood said, through his work in politics, he became familiar with Connecticut’s cannabis decriminalization process and most recently worked with the Marijuana Policy Project to advocate for legalization in the state. The national not-for-profit organization pushes decriminalization and legalization efforts across the country.
“They were very instrumental in helping Connecticut move forward and advance the legislation,” Wood said.
In addition to Wood, the chamber’s leadership team consists of Deborah A. Caviness, co-founder of the Southern CT Black Chamber of Commerce and MacDermid Reynolds & Glissman Attorney Daniel Glissman.
Wood said Caviness’ experience establishing the first Black chamber of commerce in the state gives her a great perspective as they get their own chamber off the ground. Caviness also served on the Governor’s Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Committee, a precursor to the current Social Equity Council, which helped develop a legislative framework for how Connecticut's cannabis industry would be regulated.
“She’s one of the most organized people I know and she’s just great at putting together events and convening groups,” Wood said of Caviness. “She’s got a perspective that’s really helpful as well.”
Glissman has represented legal cannabis industry clients in Massachusetts and now Connecticut, and Wood said he brings experience regarding how legalization efforts worked for the Constitution State’s northern neighbor.
“We all have a little bit of a different perspective and different skills to bring to the table, but our primary purpose is to be a resource and a convenor of the industry and help it grow,” Wood said. “We hope to provide a seat for everyone at the table.”
Wood said the group is still in the early stages of getting off the ground and new information will be posted on the chamber’s website, www.ctcannabischamber.org. The chamber will eventually have a board and people can apply for membership.
According to the chamber’s website, it costs $2,500 annually to become a member, $5,000 to become a founding member, and $10,000 to become a member in the leadership circle with board membership.
“We’re learning as we grow and responding to the market as it emerges,” Wood said. “We’ve got a lot of interest already.”
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