Medical Cannabis Association Elects New Chair and Executive Board

Sep 14, 2022

Medical Cannabis Association Elects New Chair and Executive Board


Medical Cannabis Association Elects New Chair and Executive Board
Jake Van Wingerden to serve as Chair; Members of CANMD elected to leadership roles


The Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association (CANMD) elected a new chair and executive committee during a meeting of its full board earlier today.


Jake Van Wingerden, President of SunMed Growers and longtime board member has been elected as Chair of the Board and will replace Mackie Barch, who has served as Chair since 2018. Christina Johnson, Founder and CEO, Standard Wellness is the new Vice-Chair.


“I’m excited to serve as Chair of the Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association again. I want to thank outgoing Chair Mackie Barch for his leadership over the last few years and the entire executive board for their commitment to CANMD and Maryland’s medical cannabis patients,” said Van Wingerden. “As we look to the future, CANMD is committed to supporting the adult-use referendum while ensuring that Marylanders have access to high-quality, medical cannabis that meets the strict testing criteria of Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Commission.”


“It is an honor to be selected to serve as Vice Chair of CANMD,” said Christina B. Johnson, Founder and CEO of Standard Wellness Maryland. “I look forward to working with CANMD member companies, our elected officials, and our broader community to ensure a sustainable, equitable, and thriving sector while supporting the adult use referendum in our state.”


Additional officers include Wendy Bronfein, Co-Founder of Curio Wellness as Secretary; Eric Ross, Chief Financial Officer at District Cannabis as Treasurer; and At-Large Board Members, Rebecca Brown, Vice-President of Market Expansion at Green Thumb; Venus Hemachandra, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Herbiculture Inc.; and Mackie Barch, Co-Founder and Chief Cannabis Officer at CULTA.



Under the direction of executive committee, CANMD will continue to be a resource for patients, providers and elected officials on the benefits of medical cannabis, the processes for registration and certification and new scientific research. Additionally, the promotion of public policy and standards that prioritize patient access and foster an accountable and innovative medical cannabis industry in Maryland will continue to be the focus of the association.


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