Marijuana Business Magazine - March 2018

and arrested Hunter. Operations soon resumed, but as of press time, the case was ongoing. Does Silver worry about federal interference? “We’re concerned where there’s not open dialogue, and rational thinking, and real information,” Silver said. But he also believes educating the public about the plant and the professionalism of the industry can minimize risk, and that’s a role he’s happy to play. “I’ll always be an educator,” Silver said. Another Dixie Departure Joe Hodas has left his position as the chief marketing officer at Denver-based Dixie Brands to join Cannabrand, a Denver marijuana marketing agency. There, he will help lead the firm’s expansion into other services, including business develop- ment, investor relations, startup and expansion services, and operational controls. Hodas’ move comes little over a month after Dixie’s co-founder and most recognizable face, Tripp Keber , left the edibles com- pany to take a post in the cannabis investment sector. M&A Firm Appoints Head of MJ Effort Banking and M&A advisory firm 1stWEST M&A in Evergreen, Colorado, has appointed managing director Carl Craig to lead the firm’s expanded efforts to bring cannabis-focused companies to market for acquisi- tion. Craig is tasked with finding cannabis-focused M&A clients. For starters, the company will seek businesses in product testing, product improvement, logistics, disposal, laboratory supplies, laboratory services and regulatory compliance. Craig previously worked for the Microbial Solutions busi- ness at Charles River Laboratories, a publicly traded Mas- sachusetts provider of products and services to expedite the discovery, early stage development and manufactur- ing of drugs and therapeutics. There, he was corporate vice president and chief operating officer. He also served as president of Environmental Resource Associates, a Colorado manufacturer of standards and reagents for the environmental and pharmaceutical industries. NJ Industry Group Adds Trio to Board The New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association (NJCIA) added three new members to its board of trustees: Joe Hodas March 2018 • Marijuana Business Magazine • 113