Tiffany Walters Joins the Green Standard Alliance Board: Strengthening Cannabis Consumer Advocacy in New York

In a landmark moment for New York’s cannabis industry, Tiffany Walters, co-founder and CEO of New York State Cannabis Connect (NYSCC), has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Green Standard Alliance (GSA) — the state’s first cannabis consumer association. Her appointment strengthens an already powerhouse board and signals a new era of consumer advocacy, education, and equity for cannabis across New York State.

Green Standard Alliance: A Voice for Consumers

The Green Standard Alliance was founded to put consumers — often overlooked in the policy and regulatory landscape — at the center of New York’s legal cannabis market. Its mission is clear: to protect and empower consumers by promoting safety, education, and fair policy. By building systems of transparency, accountability, and consumer protection, GSA aims to set a national benchmark for cannabis advocacy.

The Alliance envisions a future where every consumer, whether a patient, adult-use customer, or visitor to New York, can trust that cannabis products are safe, properly labeled, and ethically sourced. It is, in essence, the missing piece in the state’s cannabis infrastructure — the watchdog and champion for the people who drive the market: consumers.

A Strong Board Built to Deliver

The GSA board brings together a formidable team of experts in law, regulation, consumer protection, workforce development, and government affairs. Among its leaders is Joe Rossi, a veteran lobbyist and political strategist with nearly two decades of experience shaping New York State policy. Rossi has led major cannabis lobbying efforts, drafted legislation, and influenced regulatory frameworks at the highest levels. His presence ensures that consumer advocacy will carry weight in Albany and beyond.

Joining Rossi are industry and policy leaders such as Herb Barbot, former operations director of the NYS Office of Cannabis Management; Joseph Levey, a renowned cannabis licensing attorney; Linda Baldwin, an expert in regulatory law; and Mark Wagner, a seasoned corporate governance counsel. Together, this group represents one of the most capable and influential boards assembled in New York’s cannabis sector. Their combined expertise and networks mean that the Green Standard Alliance is not just symbolic — it is positioned to get things done.

With Tiffany Walters now at the table, the Alliance adds a voice deeply rooted in education, equity, and workforce development. Walters’s leadership at NYSCC has already delivered statewide community outreach, cannabis workforce summits, curriculum partnerships with SUNY and CUNY colleges, and workforce research aligned with industry needs. She brings firsthand experience in bridging academia, government, industry, and community — the exact kind of practical perspective that will turn GSA’s consumer protection vision into reality.

Why This Alignment Matters

Walters’s appointment reflects a natural alignment between her ongoing work and GSA’s mission:

1. Consumer-Centered Education – Walters has developed training programs that prepare professionals not only to work in cannabis but also to serve as educators for patients and customers. Her expertise ensures GSA’s consumer protection efforts are tied to workforce training and public education.
2. Equity and Access – As a lifelong New Yorker from a community impacted by the war on drugs, Walters brings a social equity lens to her advocacy. This ensures GSA’s policies benefit not just consumers broadly, but also underserved and disproportionately affected communities.
3. Bridging Policy and Practice – Walters’s history of partnering with regulators, colleges, and licensees means she can help connect GSA’s policy goals with the realities on the ground in dispensaries, cultivation sites, and classrooms.

What the Community Gains

With such a strong and action-oriented board, the Green Standard Alliance is poised to deliver measurable benefits to consumers across New York State:

• Clearer, safer standards for cannabis labeling, packaging, and product quality.
• More transparency and accountability from businesses and regulators.
• Educational programs and public resources that empower consumers to make informed choices.
• Equity-driven advocacy that addresses the needs of communities disproportionately affected by prohibition.

Looking Ahead

The appointment of Tiffany Walters to the Green Standard Alliance board is more than just a personal milestone — it represents the uniting of consumer advocacy, workforce development, and equity under one umbrella. With Walters, Rossi, Barbot, and a team of highly respected experts, the GSA is equipped with both the vision and the muscle to make real change in New York’s cannabis industry.

The message is clear: this board is strong, determined, and ready to get things done — for consumers, for communities, and for the future of cannabis in New York.

Learn more about her appointment here: https://www.greenstandardalliance.org/newsroom/gsa-welcomes-tiffany-walters-to-board-of-directors

Join the Green Standard Alliance for free and stay informed https://www.greenstandardalliance.org/join