Justin Swanson, President, Midwest Hemp Council

Justin Swanson, Principal at Bose Public Affairs Group and Partner at Bose McKinney & Evans, has developed a unique multi-dimensional government affairs practice that leverages his public policy expertise with traditional legal skills to effectively advance the interests of his diverse set of clients. Swanson is also co-founder and President of the Midwest Hemp Council, which is the leading trade organization that is working to build and connect the hemp supply chain in the Midwest.

Swanson has emerged as one of the country’s leading hemp lobbyists and hemp lawyers. He successfully led lobbying efforts to ensure the state would be the primary regulator of hemp production in Indiana after the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Swanson also led a legal team that successfully challenged a state law that criminalized part of the hemp plant, which was the first of its kind legal question.

In 2019, the Indiana Lawyer recognized Swanson as an Up and Coming Lawyer, an award bestowed on just 15 attorneys each year. The Hemp Connoisseur also identified Swanson as “100 People You Should Know” in 2019. Swanson was included in the 2021 Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch Lists, a recognition given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

Marguerite Bolt, Hemp Extension Specialist, Purdue University

Marguerite Bolt received her M.S. in Entomology from Purdue University, and her B.S. in Entomology from Michigan State University. Bolt's research has focused on hemp-insect interactions and plant chemistry. She is interested in the secondary compounds that hemp produces and how they affect insect pests, as well as identifying economically important pests of hemp and how to use integrated pest management techniques for the developing system.