New Localism and Marijuana: What Does the Future Promise?

Tatiana Bailey has her Master's in economics and her doctorate in public health, both from the University of Michigan. In the health care arena, Dr. Bailey has focused on programs that aim to increase access and quality while reducing costs particularly for at-risk populations. She also presents to audiences who wish to be better informed about the general framework of the health care system in the United States. In the economic development field, she has focused upon economic growth initiatives primarily through the venues of workforce readiness and entrepreneurship. Currently, she is the Director of the UCCS Economic Forum within the College of Business and serves as an economic development resource to local businesses and government. She aims to inform audiences about our national and local economy and participates in initiatives that leverage the region's many assets.

Hilary V. Bricken is a partner at Harris Bricken in its Los Angeles office. Licensed to practice law in California, Washington, and Florida, she is one of the premier cannabis business and regulatory attorneys in the United States. As chair of Harris Bricken’s Regulated Substances practice group, which includes the Canna Law Group, she helps cannabis companies of all sizes with their cannabis related legal issues.

In 2013, based on her work in the marijuana industry, The Puget Sound Business Journal named Ms. Bricken one of seven Deal Makers of the Year. From 2014 through 2018, she was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine. Also in 2015, the Puget Sound Business Journal named Hilary to its Top 40 Under 40 list for business and leadership, and in 2017 the American Bar Association named Hilary a Top 40 Under 40 “On the Rise” attorney in the United States. Hilary also authors a weekly column for Above the Law that features content on marijuana policy and regulation, and Hilary is a regular contributor to and editor of her firm’s Canna Law Blog.

Chris Halsor is a Colorado attorney and founder of Understanding Legal Marijuana, LLC. and the Law Office of Chris Halsor. His practice is focused on providing training and consultation to states and local governments considering or dealing with the recent passage of legal marijuana initiatives, including regulatory oversight, legislative support and policy development.

Mr. Halsor spent eight years as a prosecutor in a large Denver area district attorney's office where he has experience with every variety of case from dog off-leash to first degree murder. More recently he spent six years employed with the Colorado District Attorneys' Council (CDAC) as Colorado's Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) where he provided training and advice for Colorado law enforcement and prosecutors concerning impaired driving. He is regarded as one of the country's foremost experts in the area of marijuana impaired driving.

During his tenure at CDAC, Mr. Halsor took the lead on all marijuana issues, monitoring and developing strategy on legislation, participating on two regulatory committees, and acting as a member of two post-legalization assessment groups.

While at CDAC he created the first training for Colorado law enforcement on the subject of legal marijuana: Amendment 64: What does it really mean for Law Enforcement. After leaving CDAC he contract with the Colorado Peace Officers Standards & Training Department to co-develop, with the Colorado Attorney General's Office, an updated training: Marijuana 101 - An Introduction to Legal Marijuana for Law Enforcement.

In September of 2015, Mr. Halsor debuted one of the most unique trainings surrounding marijuana and law enforcement: Marijuana DUI Investigations with GREEN LAB. This class trains law enforcement on the every changing world of marijuana, including the law, the wide range of products and types of marijuana, including edibles and concentrates and then examines the methodologies and techniques for detecting the marijuana impaired driver. The Green Lab features, volunteers (not the law enforcement students) who then dose on marijuana and then submit to roadside maneuvers and questions from law enforcement officers to better understand impairment.

In May of 2016, Mr. Halsor debuted his seminar, A Colorado Parent's Guide to Understanding Legal Marijuana, which is intended to provide parents with a clear understanding of what the laws are surrounding legal marijuana, a better understanding of the types of marijuana and delivery mechanisms, and the most recent data and scientific literature concerning teen use of marijuana.

Mr. Halsor is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.