Hippos Cannabis announced that CEO Nicholas Rinella has been selected to join the Missouri Cannabis Regulation Collaborative (MCRC). The MCRC aims to bring licensees and regulators from across the state together to discuss the cannabis industry’s most critical issues and emerging opportunities.
Rinella was selected among dozens of applicants to join the 30-member collaborative. Participants were selected by staff from the Division of Cannabis Regulation and the Department of Health and Senior Services. They considered factors such as region, license type, business structure, individuals' backgrounds and industry expertise, among other criteria.
Rinella joined Hippos in 2019, soon after its founding. He served on Missouri’s Amendment 3 Drafting Committee and the MoCannTrade Cultivation Subcommittee and was instrumental in the adaptation of the low six percent tax model in Missouri. During his tenure in Missouri, Rinella and his team have secured licenses, developed brands and implemented efficient dispensary designs.
Rinella also brings unique distribution and regulation expertise from his experience as a fifth-generation beverage distributor. Prior to joining Hippos, he spent nearly a decade as the Vice President of Rinella Company, Inc., an independent beverage distributor with notable suppliers.
