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State of Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Marijuana Commissioner Robert Coupe presents his keynote address during the 2024 Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Economic Summit.
State of Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Marijuana Commissioner Robert Coupe presents his keynote address during the 2024 Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Economic Summit.

Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Economic Summit Explores State’s Recreational Marijuana Industry

September 20, 2024

Attendees of the 2024 Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Economic Summit, hosted by the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Tech Terry Campus in Dover on September 17, learned about Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ's recreational marijuana industry and its impact on local business. State of Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Marijuana Commissioner Robert Coupe, whose agency is responsible for regulating the state’s recreational marijuana industry, presented the keynote address.

During his address, Commissioner Coupe shared information on numerous topics, including an overview of the Marijuana Control Act, a timeline for implementation of the act, licenses types available and the cost and process of obtaining one, the challenges of the industry, the industry’s economic impact, and budget projections. He closed out his presentation with a Q&A session.

In addition to Coupe’s remarks, the agenda also featured a moderated discussion among business professionals from the sectors impacted by Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ’s passage of the Marijuana Control Act, which became effective on July 5, 2023.

Paul Hyland, deputy commissioner in the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner, served as the discussion moderator. He was joined by panelists Dr. Chris Moody, Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Tech’s associate vice president for workforce development and community education; Representative (24th District) Edward Osienski; Jennifer Stark, CEO, co-founder, and co-owner of The Farm; and Stephen Wright, vice president, commercial relationship manager at Shore United Bank.

Presented in partnership between the College’s Terry Campus and the Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Business and Entrepreneurship Consortium, the economic summit annually brings together leaders in business, government, education, and the community to focus on improving the economic conditions and quality of life in central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ.

This year’s summit sponsors were Daily State News, Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Division of Small Business, Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Technical Community College, Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Chamber of Commerce, and DEMEP.

The date for next year’s Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Economic Summit has been set for September 17, 2025.

From left, Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Economic Summit panelists Stephen Wright, Dr. Chris Moody, Jennifer Stark, Representative Edward Osienski, and moderator Paul Hyland.

From left, Central Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Economic Summit panelists Stephen Wright, Dr. Chris Moody, Jennifer Stark, Representative Edward Osienski, and moderator Paul Hyland.

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