The Social, Political, and Cultural Aspects of Hemp and Human Society

Moving Forward with Mandi Kerr

Canna Markets Group (CMG) is a hemp industry information repository, think tank, and consultancy that provides data, analytics, strategic planning, business planning, and project management services to a wide variety of customers throughout various industrial hemp supply chain sectors based on a diverse industrial hemp and environmental sciences knowledge base

Joseph B. Carringer is a Syracuse University alumni with academic focuses in Creative Leadership, Project Management, Anthropology, and Philosophy. He began pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors in apparel in the early 1990s. His background in men’s and women’s fashion translated to working opportunities with multiple startup hemp-based apparel companies beginning in 1997. In particular, two corporate projects focused on designing and merchandising men’s and women’s hemp-based apparel lines targeted for large-scale US-based mall chain distribution. Joseph understands the nuances and vital importance of establishing a vertically integrated industrial hemp supply chain as well as the need and know-how to produce and market quality hemp-based consumer goods to support the growing industrial hemp supply chain. He formed Canna Markets Group in October 2019 with his executive team.

Jen Adams has nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit and community development space. Her background includes work in disaster recovery and rebuilding programs. She has sat on multiple nonprofit boards and currently sits on the board of a 501c3 that focuses on environmental and social responsibility. Jen's work acts as a liaison with local, state, and federal departments, assisting with streamlining economically and ecologically efficient processes for the industrial hemp market. Additionally, she has done significant research in programs for Canna Markets Group (CMG) surrounding the availability of federal funding and regulatory processes for soil remediation, brownfield site recovery and climate healthy commodity/supply chain development.

Lorelei Alverez, a West Virginia native now residing in New Mexico, earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia. Her Ph.D. research focused on grassland degradation in the Southwest of the United States, specifically examining the effects of wind erosion on native grass species over time. Prior to her Ph.D. research, Lorelei completed a Master’s in Environmental Issues from Longwood University and conducted research on forest recovery comparing different timbering methods (shelterwood vs. clear-cutting). She has been involved in environmental research projects in Virginia Piedmont region, Coastal Virginia, New Mexico, South Africa, and Botswana and is currently an Assistant Professor at New Mexico State University. She is passionate about promoting sustainability, climate change awareness, and education on environmental issues and solutions and is currently completing Purdue University’s course on “Hemp Essentials” to learn as much as possible about this crop’s potential.