CWU College of Business to host 18th Annual Economic Outlook Conference

Agriculture has long been vital to Washington’s economy. One of the newest entries into the state’s agricultural portfolio is cannabis. Just five years after it became legal in Washington, the industry generated nearly $1.4 billion in total sales.

This year’s annual CWU Economic Outlook Conference (EOC), presented by the College of Business (COB), aims to broaden community knowledge of the challenges, opportunities, and trends in the Pacific Northwest growing cannabis industry.

The conference, titled, “Cannabis Caucus 2018,” is set for Friday, April 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in Sue Lombard Hall on CWU’s Ellensburg campus. It is designed specifically for private sector managers, government officials, and economic development professionals.

The event begins with a state economic overview, followed by a cannabis industry analysis, regulatory presentation, producer and processor panel, retail panel, a questions-and-answers discussion during lunch, and information about cannabis business research being done in the COB.

Featured speakers include:

• Toni Sipic, chair, COB Economics Department

• Steve Lerch, chief economist, Washington Economic and Revenue Forecast Council

• Rick Garza, director, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board

• Andy Brassington, chief financial officer, Evergreen Herbal, Seattle

• Jeff Doughty, CEO/chemistry manager, Capitol Analysis, Lacey

Registration is free for CWU students and $25 for all others. Space is limited and registration is required.

Media contact: Robert Lowery, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-1487, loweryr@cwu.edu