Rob Pero
PresidentIndigenous Cannabis Industry AssociationRob Pero (Bad River/Ojibwe) is the founder of Canndigenous, the first independent Indigenous-owned hemp farm and plant medicine company in Wisconsin, and the founder of a leading national cannabis advocacy organization, the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association.
Rob is a co-founder of the Indigenous Business Group, a nonprofit supporting Indigenous-led businesses and economic development in Indian country. He is also the founder, CEO, and creative director of media group Perodigm, where he produces and directs award-winning films, guides the building and execution of strategic marketing campaigns, and offers Indigenous-focused diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting for organizations nationwide.
Rob is a member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians and is committed to honoring his Indigenous heritage and Ojibwe roots. Rob values family, support for community, respect for the natural world, and a commitment to doing everything, as the Ojibwe say, “in a good way”.
Social Equity in Cannabis: Lessons Learned and the Path to Reform
Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs
Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs have opened real doors, while others have stalled under licensing backlogs, capital gaps, and rules
Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs have opened real doors, while others have stalled under licensing backlogs, capital gaps, and rules that look good on paper but rarely survive in the market. This session takes an honest look at what's working, what isn't, and where the next round of reform must go.
This discussion moves past goo
Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs have opened real doors, while others have stalled under licensing backlogs, capital gaps, and rules that look good on paper but rarely survive in the market. This session takes an honest look at what's working, what isn't, and where the next round of reform must go.
This discussion moves past good intentions to evaluate outcomes with clear eyes. We'll examine the structural and legislative levers that can turn equity promises into lasting ownership, participation, and wealth.
