Board Bios

Alysha Bellamy – Founder & CEO, Herbs and Herbs

Alysha Bellamy is the founder and CEO of Herbs and Herbs, a Minneapolis-based micro cannabis company bringing together craft cultivation, herbal wisdom, and culinary artistry. With more than 28 years of experience as a chef and has successfully helped open, and revitalize several restaurants in the twin cities. Alysha has built her career on creating flavorful, healing, and innovative experiences.

Through Herbs and Herbs, she is transforming that expertise into the cannabis space, offering elixirs, candies, and herbal products that blend cannabis with plants like spirulina, mullein, and lavender. Beyond product innovation, Alysha also curates herbal events that celebrate culture, education, and wellness inviting people to experience the power of plants in everyday life. Her vision is to build a business that is not only profitable and sustainable, but also deeply rooted in culture, craft, and healing traditions.

In addition to her entrepreneurial work, Alysha is the Equity Outreach Director at Minnesota Cannabis College, where she champions education and workforce development for underrepresented communities. She is also a member of the Minnesota Women’s Cannabis Collective, a member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, and the Minnesota Correspondent for Cannabis Coast to Coast News, connecting Minnesota’s cannabis movement to a national audience.

Alysha’s mission is clear: to build a thriving cannabis business that reflects her values of equity, culture, and community, while helping shape a future where cannabis is recognized as both an industry and a healing tradition.

Marcus Harcus is a writer, community organizer and social entrepreneur with more than twenty years of experience in organizing, lobbying, and coalition building in the fields of youth development, community development, housing, education, workforce policy, and drug policy reform. He has held a wide range of leadership roles, including executive director, coalition organizer, community relations manager, and space holder. After nine years of sustained advocacy, Marcus helped legalize cannabis for adult use in Minnesota. He is a co-founder and board trustee of MN Cannabis College, former executive director of MN NORML, former founding executive director of the MN Campaign for Full Legalization.

A skilled writer, public speaker, and strategic planner, Marcus combines policy expertise with deep community engagement. His education includes community organizing, legislative advocacy, cooperative business development, political campaign training, and multiple writing and leadership fellowships. Guided by a life mission centered on personal growth and collective well-being, Marcus is committed to helping individuals and communities build power, promote healing and freedom.

Tanner Berris is a board member and co-founder of the Minnesota Cannabis College. With a background in government regulation and employment education, he has worked to support the mission of the Minnesota Cannabis College since 2020. He currently works as the Director of Operations for Superior Molecular, a cannabis company in Minnesota.

Natasha Givens is a multidisciplinary creative director, entrepreneur, and cannabis industry professional with over a 15+ years of experience in brand development, strategic marketing, and community-centered business growth. She is the founder of NattyKake Artisan Edibles, a woman-owned, small-batch culinary brand known for its thoughtful approach to product development within the emerging cannabis space.

Natasha brings a unique blend of creative leadership and hands-on industry experience, having worked across medical aesthetics, food entrepreneurship, and cannabis education. Her background includes scaling digital audiences, building brand systems, and supporting customer-centric operations, as well as collaborating with community healing initiatives and advocacy-focused programs.

As a board member, Natasha offers expertise in branding, consumer education, and ethical market development, with a strong commitment to equity, access, and responsible cannabis education. She is passionate about helping shape a well-informed, inclusive cannabis industry in Minnesota by bridging creativity and community impact.

Kennis Littleton is a self taught entrepreneur, restorative justice advocate and graduate of Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge. With a deeply personal journey that includes overcoming adversity and the tragic loss of his younger brother to a heroin overdose, Kennis brings purpose and compassion to his work. He is the CEO of Canna Gemz LLC, a Minnesota-based cannabis microbusiness. Formerly the owner of Venture North Bikes and past board member of the Minnesota Cycling Center and the Midtown Greenway Coalition, Kennis has been committed to community development. With over seven years of volunteer community service work and mentorship programs throughout the Twin Cities.partnerships. Now, as a husband and father of two, he is passionate about creating access, equity, and opportunity in Minnesota’s emerging cannabis industry.

Clemon Dabney, PhD, is a cannabis geneticist and entrepreneur based in Minnesota. He earned his PhD at the University of Minnesota, where he studied cannabis molecular genetics and genomics, and also holds an M.S. from the University of Minnesota in Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics. Clemon is the CEO of Doctor Dabs Corporation, a Minnesota-based hemp company specializing in hemp-derived edible manufacturing, now transitioning into the state’s adult-use cannabis market. He is also a contributing columnist in the Strib Voices opinion section of the Minnesota Star Tribune, writing about all things Minnesota cannabis.