Andrea Biszko & Staff
Emily Cotter
Women in Cannabis is out to Educate
By Mark Berger
The legalization of cannabis in Rhode Island last December provided numerous opportunities, as well as issues for everyone involved. It signaled moving forward with the situation of those wishing to grow, consume, and sell cannabis on small levels. However, its passage also meant state and local authorities had to tread lightly to ensure all parties were compliant and knew what boundaries must be followed. The details are in place, yet, changes are inevitable, as new questions arise. As opportunities get clearer, several women are each becoming valuable resources to help guide people through the process. With the cannabis industry being opened in the Ocean State, four businesswomen recently aligned as a collective resource for anyone either interested in the cannabis industry or who have questions about the process. 72 Shop In RI
Atty. Megan Sheehan of Green Path Legal, Eve Santana of High Beautiful, Emily Cotter of Lovewell Farms, LLC., and Andrea Biszko of Aura of Rhode Island are striving to inform and teach people about the issues and how they can assist in the safe sale, distribution, and consumption of cannabis. The women each met one another during various times at cannabis-related events. Sheehan, who practices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and has offices in Barrington, RI and Lexington, MA, said being able to discuss the matter with clients is the first step in what can be a long process. Bis “People are beginning to get excited about the possibilities regarding the uses of cannabis,” she said. “There is so much potential surrounding cannabis in Rhode Island. It isn’t the evil, destructive drug some purport it to be. The expansion of
the cannabis industry in Rhode Island is a huge step forward and opportunity for Rhode Island. It’s also exciting to see some of the social equity components that were included in the legislation.” The attorney pointed out three areas her firm specializes in: licensing, corporate/ business and litigation. She said there are potential landmines with each of these areas. Her firm works to mitigate them so her clients can proceed further. “There are so many potential stumbling blocks for cannabis businesses that can be time consuming and expensive—if not properly handled,” Atty. Sheehan said. “For example, relying on handshake agreements can mean major problems down the road. Finding a location for your business is incredibly important, and there are many potential hiccups in that process. Lastly, if you want a retail license that is based on a lottery system, then it can be very challenging. It’s