Cat Packer the Director of Drug Markets and Legal Regulation at the Drug Policy Alliance, a Distinguished Cannabis Policy Practitioner in Residence at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law’s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, and an Affiliated Researcher with the Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation at the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School. Packer serves on the board of the Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition and has served as a contributing author to the Thomas Reuters Cannabis Law Deskbook where she’s authored chapters on local authority and social equity programs. From 2017 to 2022, Packer served as Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation, where she led the implementation of cannabis business licensing, regulation, and equity programming in “one of the largest, most challenging cannabis markets in the world”. Packer earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management, and a Juris Doctor at The Ohio State University.