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Dr. Jeff Chen    

Founder, UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, CEO, Radicle Science, Cannabis Policy Expert

Dr. Jeff Chen MD/MBA is the Founder and Executive Director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, as well as the co-founder and CEO of Radicle Science, an AI-driven healthtech B-corp recognized among the top ten US "Tech Innovators" of 2022 by KPMG. He is a leading expert on the interplay between the policy, business, and science of cannabis, hemp, CBD, and alternative medicine.

At the age of 29, Dr. Chen became one of the youngest leaders of a major university research effort in America when he took the position of Founder and Executive Director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, one of the world’s first university programs dedicated to cannabis. At UCLA, Dr. Chen oversees his program’s interdisciplinary 40+ faculty – drawn from 18 departments across 8 schools at UCLA – as they conduct cannabis-related research, education, and advocacy projects spanning “seed to society.” His work extends internationally, including advising the Mexico Senate and the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Beyond academia, Dr. Chen has a profound impact on public perception and policy through media engagements and public speaking. He has been featured in CNN, Forbes, and TIME, and has appeared on TV shows such as "The Doctors" and CBS Sunday. As a speaker, he has presented for organizations like the National Academies of Science and the American Bar Association, and at events including SXSW and the Burning Man Speaker Series. Dr. Chen’s ability to demystify complex issues in health and wellness, coupled with his engaging speaking style, has made him a sought-after figure in the field of cannabis and beyond.

Speech Topics


Cannabis and The Healthcare Industry

Dr. Chen draws on his expertise to address the key intersections between the Cannabis and the Healthcare Industry, and educates the audience about the following:

• Considerations regarding health insurance coverage for cannabis

• Integrating cannabis into clinical care in healthcare systems

• Basic cannabis education for healthcare providers

• Most promising areas for cannabinoid drug development

• Impact of cannabis on the opioid epidemic

• Pros and cons of different routes of administration and delivery devices

• IP considerations regarding the medical use of cannabis & cannabinoids

Cannabis and The Technology Industry

Dr. Chen draws on his expertise to address the key intersections between the Cannabis and the Technology industry and educate the audience about the following:

• Cannabis as one of the few industries where retail will rival ecommerce

• The imminent explosion in cannabis subscription services: consumers want to explore

• Algorithms to personalize cannabis consumption

• Seed to sale tracking: valuable data for product development and consumer targeting

• The importance of achieving metered dose delivery

• Case studies on the most successful cannabis tech companies: Weedmaps, Leafly, Eaze

• The value of gathering data on how different cannabis affects different people

The Rise of Cannabis in Entertainment and Media

Drawing on his experience in the Cannabis Industry as it pertains to entertainment and media, Dr. Chen addresses the following key intersections between the two:

• Case studies on the most successful cannabis media companies: High Times, Merryjane, Civilized

• Traditional marketing off limits for cannabis--influencer marketing reigns supreme

• Lending celebrity names to cannabis: lessons from Marley Naturals and Leaf by Snoop

• The mainstreaming of cannabis and implications for pop culture

• Opportunities and threats from on-site consumption (i.e. “cannabis bars”)

• Impacts on entertainment consumption from changes in alcohol and cannabis consumption

• Incorporating/preparing for cannabis consumption at live events

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