Session I
Delta-8 and Delta-10: Where Are We Headed?
Holly Bell, VP Regulatory, Flora Growth
Dr. Matthew D. Curran, Director of Food Safety, Florida Department of Agricultural & Consumer Services
Cole Peacock, Co-Founder, Caloosahatchee Cannabis Company
Laura Baldwin Fuentes, RPh., Chief Officer of Science and Innovation and Co-founder, Green Roads
Session Description:
Holly Bell, helped built and run the Florida State Hemp Program as well as the Edibles portion of the Medical Program. She will give her input as a former regulator who helped create the laws and rules. She will also discuss where regulations might be headed with the deltas. Dr. Curran is a tenured regulator with a PhD in chemistry. He will give his perspective as a day to day regulator who tests and inspects products in the state of Florida. He will also share the chemistry behind cannabis and how it works in the body. Cole and Laura will give their input concerning this issue from a business owner's perspective.
Holly Bell
Holly Bell, VP Regulatory, Flora Growth
After a career in banking and financial services, Holly Bell consulted on cannabis business issues in numerous states. Ms. Bell worked to build the infrastructure to support the creation of Tennessee's cannabis industry, following passage of that state's industrial hemp legislation. A native of Indiana with family roots in northeast Florida, Ms. Bell earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University.
In her role as Director of Cannabis for FDACS, Ms. Bell oversaw the development of rules, works directly with scientific experts, and ensures Commissioner Fried's vision for cannabis in Florida continues moving forward. Ms.Bell worked closely with the Department's Division of Plant Industry, Food Safety, and AES on developing Florida's hemp industry, including the production, processing, inspecting, and manufacturing of industrial hemp. She also worked with the Florida Department of Health as it relates to medical marijuana edibles and consumer issues. Ms. Bell also worked closely with the Commissioner's industrial hemp and medical marijuana advisory committees as well as the Hemp Advisory Council.
Ms. Bell is now VP Regulatory for Flora Growth.
Dr. Matthew D. Curran
Dr. Matthew D. Curran, Director of Food Safety, Florida Department of Agricultural & Consumer Services
Bio:
Dr. Curran earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Mississippi State University and his Doctorate in Inorganic Chemistry from Florida State University.
During his 23 years of public service he has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to contribute in many roles protecting Florida’s environment as well as serving Florida’s industries and consumers. Early in his career Dr. Curran was appointed to multiple laboratory management positions with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In 2005 he moved into the consumer service arena when he was appointed Chief of Petroleum Inspection for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). That role morphed into the Chief of Standards role where he also represented FDACS nationally as the Weights and Measures Director of Florida. Following this tenure, he later served in roles with FDACS as the Assistant Director of Consumer Services, the Assistant Director of Food Safety, and most recently as the Director of Food Safety. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NWCM) and is an active member of their Cannabis Task Group.
The Division of Food Safety became an integral part of Florida’s Hemp Program when it went into state law in 2019. The division is now responsible for the permitting and inspection of establishments in Florida that are extracting, manufacturing, distributing, storing, or selling hemp extract products intended for human ingestion or inhalation. The division conducts inspections of the more than 8,500 hemp establishments and collects random samples of hemp extract products from these locations, which are then tested in the division’s laboratories for a variety of contaminants and against labeling claims. The division’s approach for the oversight of this portion of the Florida’s hemp program has produced a regulatory model that other states have emulated as this market enters their jurisdictions.
Cole Peacock
Cole Peacock, Co-Founder, Caloosahatchee Cannabis Company
Bio:
If you’ve ever visited Seed & Bean Market, there’s a good chance you’ve run into Cole Peacock. Sporting a PureNative hat and making the rounds to each table with a warm hello, Cole is a recognizable face bringing fresh ideas, a firm handshake, and a tall glass of terpene-infused Southern hospitality to the Downtown Fort Myers area. As Co-founder and Partner of Seed and Bean Market – Florida’s first and the nation’s second Cannabis Café and CBD Marketplace – Cole is making a name for himself in the Florida hemp and cannabis industries. When he’s not busy with the store’s two bustling locations, he works as Founder of PureNative Premium Hemp and C3 Investment Group – but he’s not stopping there. Known in the community as a man who wears many hats, from Industry Innovator and trail blazer to business strategist and passionate advocate for the Lee County community at large, Cole’s personal motto “Never, ever, ever give up” is changing the face of Florida’s Cannabis and Hemp industry one project and person at a time.
History
Cole's story began in 1983 in Fort Myers, Florida where he grew up in a family of fifth generation peanut farmers. His dreams of making a difference in the world and his hunger for knowledge drove him to become deeply involved in academics and athletics, eventually graduating as class president from Cumberland University.
After graduation, Cole got involved in the political world. He has worked on several campaigns ranging from US Senate, US Congress, Governor, State Senate, State House of Representatives, and mayoral races. Cole recently was appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Governor’s Office to Vice-Chairman of the first Hemp and Cannabis Statewide Advisory Board. He was involved with the Florida constitutional amendment for medical marijuana and has been working on the ground level for several years to help develop Florida’s cannabis industry.
Corporate Experience
Cole has over 20 years’ experience as a corporate executive across a multitude of retail areas, including corporate branding, operations, strategy, and governmental relations. His experience in non-profit includes charitable giving, community development, investor relations, crisis management and social responsibility. His broad corporate experience ranges from Fortune 500 Executive at Chico’s FAS, Inc. to Executive Change and Restructure agent for Exeter Finance – a subsidiary of Blackstone Capital and one of the top five merger and investment firms in the world.
After joining Chico's in 2000, Cole spent the next ten years on the corporate executive team overseeing corporate relations, branding and associate programs, retail operations, customer engagement and loyalty programs, strategic planning, investor relations, governmental and community relations, and national charitable giving.
Memberships Cole’s words to live by are “you have to give in order to receive.” His passion for giving back to the community and creating safe spaces for vulnerable populations has driven his inexhaustible participation in several nonprofit organizations and boards in the Lee County area. He is a member of the 2008/2009 Leadership Florida Class, Leadership Florida Regional Council, Florida Hemp/Cannabis State Advisory Board, Florida Gulf Coast University, Lutgert School of Business Board of Directors, Hodges University Presidents Council, and Step up for Students. He is a former Community Advisor for News-Press Editorial Board, Florida Chamber Executive Board, and Florida Retail Federation. He serves on several non-profit boards, including AMI Kids, Boys and Girls Club, Be Great Campaign, Children’s Advocacy Council, American Red Cross of SWFL, Edison Ford Winter Estates and Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
Cole currently resides in Fort Myers with his wife Rachel and three children, Sterling, Hannah, and Jackson.
Laura Baldwin Fuentes
Laura Baldwin Fuentes, RPh., Chief Officer of Science and Innovation and Co-Founder, Green Roads
Bio:
Laura Baldwin Fuentes is the Chief Officer of Science and Innovation and co-founder of Green Roads, one of the largest and most respected manufacturers of CBD products in the country. She is also the creator of its proprietary formulation and the visionary behind many of its products. Laura’s personal and professional commitment to help people improve their health through plant-based remedies has driven Green Roads to lead the industry in product quality and consumer transparency. Under her leadership, the company was one of the first to require independent lab testing on every product batch and one of the first to make every lab report easily available to consumers. For Laura, Green Roads is more than a company --it’s an opportunity to have a positive impact on millions of lives and help people on their journey to better health. Prior to founding Green Roads, Laura built a 25-year career as a licensed compound pharmacist. She’s a former board member of the Broward County Pharmacy Association, and volunteers with various charitable organizations, including the Center for Great Apes, Autism Speaks Walk, Multiple Sclerosis Views and News, the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and more. She holds a BS in pharmacy from Nova Southeastern University. Laura is a member of the inaugural Forbes 50 over 50 Vision List.