Mike Hennessy
Vice President of InnovationWana BrandsMike Hennesy is the Vice President of Innovation at Wana Brands, one of North America’s leading cannabis edibles companies. He oversees cannabinoid product development, scientific research, and clinical validation across both regulated cannabis and national hemp markets. With over a decade of experience in the cannabis industry, and as an early team member who helped grow Wana from a startup into an international category leader, Hennesy is known for bridging rigorous science with consumer-focused innovation. He holds a Master’s degree in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and serves on the Governing Board of the Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR), where he contributes to national conversations on cannabis science, education, and policy. At Wana, Hennesy has led the development of clinically backed formulations that elevate product credibility, build consumer trust, and drive brand differentiation. His work sits at the intersection of scientific integrity, strategic innovation, and regulatory insight, positioning him as a trusted voice in the future of cannabis product development.
Delivery Matters: Engineering Bioavailability, Emulsions, and Precision Inhalation
How a cannabinoid enters the body shapes everything that follows. Route of administration drives onset time, bioavailability, dose consistency, and u
How a cannabinoid enters the body shapes everything that follows. Route of administration drives onset time, bioavailability, dose consistency, and ultimately whether patients stick with a product. An oral edible may take an hour to work and lose mu
How a cannabinoid enters the body shapes everything that follows. Route of administration drives onset time, bioavailability, dose consistency, and ultimately whether patients stick with a product. An oral edible may take an hour to work and lose much of its potency to first-pass metabolism. An inhaled dose hits in minutes but demands precision to stay reliable. Topicals and water-soluble emulsions open entirely new performance and credibility p
How a cannabinoid enters the body shapes everything that follows. Route of administration drives onset time, bioavailability, dose consistency, and ultimately whether patients stick with a product. An oral edible may take an hour to work and lose much of its potency to first-pass metabolism. An inhaled dose hits in minutes but demands precision to stay reliable. Topicals and water-soluble emulsions open entirely new performance and credibility profiles. For executives, product developers, and researchers, mastering these differences is now central to cannabis business growth strategies.
This session unpacks the formulation science separating ordinary products from clinically credible ones. We'll connect bioavailability, emulsion technology, and precision inhalation to current cannabis market trends and the cannabis innovation reshaping shelves and pipelines. The shift into precision formulation isn't just chemistry — it's one of the clearest cannabis industry opportunities for brands ready to lead.
