Alexandra Harris -
President
Alexandra is a dedicated cannabis activist with a background in analytical testing. She has worked at some of the most prolific cannabis testing laboratories in California, analyzing samples for cannabinoid and terpene content, as well as residual solvents. She is dedicated to promoting evidence-based education around the plant in order to better ensure safe use. She is the daughter of cannabis activists and medical patients, and uses cannabis medicinally herself for the management of chronic Lymes disease. She now works in cancer and immunology research and credits her scientific career to the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Within the Medical Cannabis Student Association, she hopes to several her position as President to recruit new members to the organization and produce meaningful and free education for the general public.
Cody Funderburk -
1st Year Vice President
Cody entered the cannabis industry after studying Cannabis Business at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. They previously worked as an assistant manager, medical cannabis consultant, and copywriter at a small dispensary in Seattle for five years before starting graduate school studying Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics. They are passionate about social equity in the cannabis industry, and work with various organizations dedicated to enhancing and sustaining diversity, inclusion, and access within the cannabis community. As the 1st Year Vice President of the Medical Cannabis Student Association, Cody strives to create new opportunities that encourage the success of all students in the MCST program. Following years of formal business education, Cody brings a passion for leadership and innovation that will help support the mission and goals of the MCSA. After graduation, they intend to continue working in the cannabis industry in retail dispensary management.
Makenna Campbell -
Executive VP of Advocacy
I’m Makenna Campbell, Cannabis Researcher & Advocate. I have experience in nonprofit development and currently do prospect research for UMass Lowell where I also earned my BA in Psychology. I also hold an MEd in Community Engagement from Merrimack College, a degree that is focused on community building and deconstructing systems of oppression. In pursuing my MS in Medical Cannabis Science & Therapeutics, it is my intent to advocate for cannabis policy based in science and restorative justice for the people and communities impacted by the criminalization of cannabis. As Executive VP of Advocacy, I aim to bring opportunities for my classmates to participate in cannabis policy advocacy as well as to network and learn from leaders in the industry. In my personal time, I enjoy reading, quality playing volleyball, and connecting with nature. I am also a mom to my wonderful cat, Tabitha.
Marijeanne Santina -
VP of Operations
Marijeanne Santina is an advocate for cannabis medicine as a professional in the aging field she has experienced the failures in the social and medical systems to accurately address patient needs and offer holistic support to navigating healing. Her goal is to combine both of her passions of supporting individuals through their own wellness journey and educating all on the tool cannabis is. With an operationally driven mind, a heart for others, and a passion to provide access to education on cannabis she is excited to see the next step in her journey and eternally grateful to all those she has walked alongside in the cannabis community.
Dr. Leah Johnson -
Executive VP of Membership
Dr. Leah Johnson is a trained Medical Cannabis Pharmacist and the owner and founder of Alchemist Consulting LLC. She is also an accomplished, highly driven Clinical Integrative Health Pharmacist, with primary focus in pain, mental health (depression, anxiety, insomnia, Autism, etc.) and geriatric medication management. She also holds 3 patents (under her maiden name: Leah Haibi) for natural herbal remedy tinctures, which she helped develop as the Head of Research & Development for an herbal supplement company in Connecticut.
Dr. Leah believes that complete physical/mental health and well-being can be influenced by the utilization of cannabis, as well as other herbal remedies and supplements, in conjunction with pharmaceutical medications. She believes that most patients are given too many and often inappropriate prescription medications, while not being given the knowledge for utilizing effective herbals and supplements to reduce pill burden. She also believes that many patients are unable to get full relief of their ailments due to the missing components in their medication regimens.
In an effort to improve the overall health and well-being of patients, Dr. Leah works with patients and their healthcare providers, from all over the US, to reduce the amount of medications taken, alter timing and dosing of medications to improve effectiveness, and identify medications which could be causing issues. She also works with cannabis companies to advise them on formulations, dosing, safety, interactions, and how to better help their customers see health improvements with the use of their products. Lastly Dr. Leah speaks at medical conferences and on panels to help educate providers and patients on the benefits of utilizing cannabis medicine in therapy. Her last speaking event was February 2022 at the annual ACA/ACVP/PPHI conference.
Dr. Leah holds a Doctorate degree in Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and she will be receiving her Masters degree in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics in 2023.
Ma-Jeanne Nganga -
1st Year VP of Membership
My name is Ma-Jeanne Nganga, I’m from Salinas, California, and I will be serving as a first-year Vice President of Membership for the Medical Cannabis Student Association. My passion for cannabis has blossomed from growing up in California. I’ve seen the industry grow right before my eyes, and as soon as I realized the potential it has to help people therapeutically, I decided to learn more about it and how I can positively contribute and fight against a system that has been responsible for the imprisonment and unfair treatment of people of color. I believe that the MCST program has a unique way of bringing all types of people together all for the right reasons, and I want to do my best in assisting in that.
Victoria Grasso-
1st Year VP of Marketing
I come to the MCST program with a professional background as a clinical research professional which has motivated me to want to see a world where our clinical trials move out of testing newly developed pharmaceuticals on patients to utilizing various methods of cannabis administration as investigational treatment. It is my goal that this program will grant me the knowledge necessary to advocate for the rescheduling of cannabis, as we know it does have medical properties, and should at least be a schedule 2 drug, so we are able to utilize it in federally funded clinical trials. During my time in the Medical Cannabis Student Association I plan to build lasting fruitful relationships with my peers so that we will all be able to support one another to reach our individual goals for growing the medical cannabis industry. As the saying goes, it takes a village, this applies to anything in life that you want to accomplish especially if you want it done right, you need a village who has your back. It is my intention to support the MCSA in being the best possible village to fight the uphill battle of moving the medical cannabis industry forward. My passion for medical cannabis comes from my family history of Retinitis pigmentosa, where I have seen numerous of my family members utilize cannabis medicinally for reduction of ocular pressure as well as some saying that after the onset of their cannabis use they believe the progression of their vision loss slowed.
Darcey Paulding-
Executive Newsletter Director
Darcey Paulding has worked in the cannabis industry for over 4 years, acting as an advocate for patients looking to obtain their medical cannabis certifications. She decided to pursue her Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics not only due to the positive outcomes she witnessed with patients, but also due to her personal experiences as a medical consumer. As someone who truly believes that cannabis saved her life, she is deeply passionate about expanding education, access, and equity within the industry. Her goals are to help create sound and inclusive cannabis policy through the use of clinical and scientific data.
Robert Rispoli-
VP of Operations
Robert is originally from Windsor, CT and studied Cognitive Science at the University of Connecticut. He currently works in technology as a Business Analyst, helping build digital applications that are secure, accessible, equitable and useful. Robert has a desire to develop the optimal digital patient experience and educate others about the various benefits and risks of cannabis. He is the co-VP of Operations for the Medical Cannabis Student Association and is grateful for the opportunity to partner with his classmates to help carry out the organization’s mission to promote the highest standards in medical cannabis science and therapeutics through education, advocacy, social innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural awareness.
Dr. Tiffany Buckley-
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Tiffany Buckley earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of California San Francisco. She completed her acute care pharmacy residency at Yale New Haven Health, then completed specialized residency in psychiatric pharmacy at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist. Currently, Dr. Buckley teaches Advanced Cannabis Therapeutics for Neuropsychiatric Disorders in the Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics (MCST) program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. She practices as an advanced practice psychiatric pharmacist at a maximum-security psychiatric hospital in Maryland, where she specializes in medication management. Dr. Buckley’s interests include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, medical cannabis, teaching, curriculum design, and evidence-based medicine.