On Tuesday, April 18 2023, Happy Munkey in partnership with Manhattan Community Board 9 are hosting a free event at The Forum, at Columbia University called the Choose Happy Symposium. This event brings together a diverse group of people who are interested in exploring the opportunities and health benefits now available in New York State with the emerging cannabis industry.

In the past, Happy Munkey has been known for bringing New Yorkers some of the best cannabis nightlife events and experiences. As the market shifts, Happy Munkey founders Vlad Bautista and Ramon Reyes believe it is their duty to lead legacy operators toward the future of legal cannabis.

The Bluntness caught up with Happy Munkey co-founder & CEO Vladimir Bautista, to discuss the symposium: “We feel the Choose Happy Symposium is probably the most important event we’ve ever produced.  My partner, Ramon Reyes and I grew up in Harlem and Washington Heights; this community, while taking the biggest hits during the failed war on drugs, has never really been exposed to the positive opportunities that legal cannabis provides them.”  

“I feel that Ramon and I can speak to this community in a way that others can’t and we’re presenting speakers and information that will help them understand it and eradicate the stigma they still feel about it.  We’re proud to be working with Community Board 9 and Columbia University as we reach out to our neighbors.  And, while we wait for our retail license, we want people to know our commitment to the community is as strong as it’s always been and events like this align with our mission perfectly,” said Bautista. 

The symposium will bring together leading experts from medical professionals to industry pioneers to lead educational panels on an array of topics ranging from wellness to economic opportunity in cannabis and features a stellar lineup of community leaders, industry advocates and expert speakers, including Dr. Rachel Knox, Councilmember Shaun Abreu, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, NY’s Cannabis Czar Dasheeda Dawson, and Scheril Murray Powell, Esq. among others. 

The symposium will also feature resources and activations from CB9 such as translation services, tenant housing lawyer, and medical card registration to name a few. 

The Choose Happy Symosium will be held on Tuesday, April 18 9am ET - 1pm ET at 601 W. 125th Street, New York, NY 10027. 

The event is free, but RSVP is required. RSVP HERE.