When Jessica Billingsley had the foresight to create Akerna, the industry’s first seed-to-sale tracking software, investors started paying attention. When Akerna became the first cannabis technology business to list on the NASDAQ, the world started paying attention. But when Billingsley accepted the position of chair of the U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC), she took on a new role — leading the nation’s most influential coalition of organizations, businesses, and individuals working to end federal cannabis prohibition.
With more than a decade of experience working with cannabis technology, Billingsley is uniquely-positioned to lead the industry into a new era.
In this interview, Cannabis & Tech Today spoke with Billingsley to learn how the USCC is working to end cannabis stigma, how she handles the demands of entrepreneurship, and what’s next for America’s fastest growing industry.
Cannabis & Tech Today: As a veteran cannabis entrepreneur, what does it mean to
