StaffMay 22, 2021
Kristin Jordan an Advocate, Cannabis Real Estate Attorney and Entrepreneur says “Representation Matters In Cannabis”
Lifelong New Yorker Kristin Jordan is a very rare find in the cannabis community— a mix of advocate, conscientious businesswoman, lawyer and empath. She can draft policy, make a profit, partner with law firms and be keenly aware of others, their pain points, and the support they need. Jordan has lived in Albany, Poughkeepsie, Yonkers and Manhattan. She is a true New Yorker who has experienced life in urban, rural and suburban communities. With 23 years of practicing law and deep roots in the communities across the state, Jordan has been doing it with expertise and drive added with the energy and determination to get things done in her state.
Along with co-founders she helped launch the education and advocacy non-profit Cannabis Cultural Association (CCA), which focuses on preparing marginalized and underrepresented communities on the business of cannabis. Jordan launched the Asian Cannabis Roundtable (ACR) a few years ago seeing the lack of community and connectivity among Asians within the cannabis industry. As founder and Executive Director, Jordan developed the ACR as a professional networking group that goes beyond the superficial meet-and-greet. “There were so few of us at the table. We needed a place to support each other,” remembers Jordan. “At the beginning, it was an informal group that met for Korean BBQ and we would just sit around and educate each other.” Today, the group is 100+ strong and, most recently, their first public virtual event was attended by allies and supporters as well.
To further enhance the cannabis industry professional networking circuit, Jordan launched Mannada, which means ‘to meet or gather’ and comes from her birth culture, Korea. It is a nod to her Asian roots and serves as a reminder to the Asian community that they are seen. She also chose the name for a practical reason. “I chose a non-cannabis name because I was fearful about having our bank account closed…again. That had happened to me in the past when I had a hemp consulting company.”
Understanding both the advocacy and business aspect to the industry, Jordan developed a series of conferences centered on industry education which she and her team produced, the Cannabis Law Summit, the Cannabis Media Summit, and more recently the Cannabis Real Estate Summit all drawing people from across the state and country.
Never one to settle, Jordan expanded her platform to align business and advocacy by launching The Maze, a free weekly go-to event guide listing industry events that both communities of people can support and stay informed.
Jordan is the former Director of Real Estate at Acreage Holdings where she managed the real estate portfolio in a highly regulated industry with an ever-changing dynamic regulatory process, down to the municipal level, she has also worked at leading law firms representing the cannabis industry. Speaking with Jordan re-tell her professional career, it is easy to notice that she is an expert in putting feedback into action, and she anticipates the cannabis community’s needs. “Sometimes even before the industry realizes it,” she says. “I want to create intentional spaces that provide a high level of education for the cannabis industry so this state can flourish.” And, build an industry that leads the country and leaves a strong legacy.
