Meet MGO/ELLO's 'Cannabis 50' Honorees, From Jim Belushi To Flow Kana

The MGO and ELLO Cannabis Practice recently launched its “The Cannabis 50” list. This industry highlight recognizes those who transformed, uplifted and inspired the growth and maturation of the cannabis industry with a focus on acts of impact this year.

“In creating ‘The Cannabis 50,’ we wanted to recognize and honor cannabis leaders and advocates who consistently stood up and pushed through the grass ceiling in 2019,” Scott Hammon, leader of the MGO Cannabis Practice, told Benzinga. “As we head into 2020, we anticipate these individuals will continue to impact the cannabis and hemp industries in a positive way, and hope their actions will encourage others to act in a similar fashion so that the industry can continue to break barriers, build bridges and move towards a brighter future.”

More From The ‘Cannabis Impact Review’ Report

The list of cannabis leaders was based on the findings of MGO and ELLO’s “Cannabis Impact Review” report. In there, Michael Steinmetz, CEO and co-founder of Flow Kana, explained that as we get further into the post-prohibition era, leaders in the cannabis industry “have an imperative to stand up for what’s right and set the stage now for how the cannabis movement will evolve.

“Together, we are in a position, ahead of national legalization, to build an industry that transforms our culture, environment, economy, healthcare and planet for the better.”

Adding to these comments, Kevin Murphy, CEO of Acreage Holdings ACRGF said he is very proud to see the progress of the industry in arenas ranging from “product innovation and creating choice for consumers, to delivering compassionate patient care in medicinal markets.”

He did, however, recognize we could and must do better in the social justice space. “As the industry grows, we must not forget to take care of the people and communities that have been disproportionately hurt by the war on drugs.”

Finally, Jim Belushi, founder of Belushi’s Farm, shared some advice for people in the cannabis space: “Everybody in our industry has their own journey but I believe we will all get to the same place, promoting the healing power of cannabis. It’s a mission from God. We just need to keep the mission in mind, always, and not get seduced by the politics and money. Let the plant lead us in the way we are supposed to go.”

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Cannabis 50 honorees include:

1. Acreage Holdings
2. Al Harrington, Viola Brands
3. Aliza Sherman, Ellementa
4. Americans for Safe Access (ASA)
5. Ariel Clark, Clark Neubert LLP
6. BlackRock Holdings
7. Bloom Farms
8. Canadian Securities Exchange
9. Charlotte's Web
10. Damian Marley
11. Duane Morris
12. Eaze
13. Eben Britton, Athletes For CARE
14. Emily Paxhia, Poseidon
15. Flow Kana
16. Glass House Farms
17. Green Thumb Industries
18. Halo Canna
19. Harvest Health and Recreation
20. HeadSet
21. House of Representatives
22. Jim Belushi, Belushi’s Farm
23. Jonathan Page, Aurora Cannabis
24. Killer Mike
25. Lowell Herb Co.
26. Mara Gordon, Aunt Zelda's
27. Matt Barnes
28. Medicine Man Technologies
29. Michigan Pure Med
30. Mindy Segal, Mindy's Edibles
31. Minority Cannabis Business Association
32. MJBizDaily
33. National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)
34. Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA)
35. NORML
36. Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein, Weed The People
37. Robert Flannery, Dr. Robb Farms
38. Scotts Miracle Gro
39. Seke Ballard, Good Tree Capital
40. Steve DeAngelo, Harborside
41. Sue Sisley, MAPS
42. Sundie Seefried, Partner Colorado Credit Union
43. Towelie, South Park
44. Tracy Ryan, CannaKids
45. Trulieve
46. University of California - Irvine
47. University of Maryland, Baltimore
48. Vireo Health
49. Vivien Azer, Cowen & Company
50. Winona LaDuke, Winona's Hemp and Heritage Farm