Our Team Of Experts - Institute of Cannabis Science

The Board.

Kirk BArry

Kirk brings over 40 years of investigatory experience in several industries, including the cannabis sector. He is passionate about truth and tirelessly works in the cannabis sector to foster compliance and work with consumers of cannabis products who are concerned with or have questions about the products they purchase and consume. Kirk has performed shelf testing all across America and also works with cannabis businesses that want to bring about change in their industry. Kirk appreciates working with enforcement agencies to help them gain a deeper understanding of the cannabis industry and has developed and implemented data fraud software for monitoring in METRC.

Evan Friedmann

Evan Friedmann is the Vice President of Scientific Cell Company, a family-founded leader in onsite chemical analysis technology serving industry, academia, and research. A dedicated advocate for cannabis science and product transparency, Evan specializes in tools like the Purpl PRO potency tester and the i-test platform for genetic and pathogen screening.

He is deeply engaged in advancing cannabis testing standards as a member of AOAC CASP, ACS CANN, and other leading organizations. As Program Chair for CANN and a committee leader with the Cannabis Science Conference and AOAC annual meeting, Evan plays a key role in shaping the scientific conversation around cannabinoids.

Evan also brings event experience through his role as rules and judging lead for the New England Pheno Cup, a one-of-a-kind cannabis competition focused on growing skill and cultivar development. Through Eighth Revolution, he supports post-cultivation operators with facility design, SOPs, and strategic business development.

Evan’s commitment to honest data, regulatory progress, and collaborative innovation makes him a strong asset to ICS’s mission of fostering transparency, public education, and cutting-edge cannabis research.

Morgan Keefer

Mrs. Morgan Keefer graduated from University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in 2018.

Morgan’s research throughout college focused on the use of nanobiotechnology for drug delivery in plants. Morgan has presented Quantum Dot functionalization research at MISA symposium which focused on microbial and chemical characterization and toxicity studies on Zinc nanoparticles bound to antibiotics used to treat citrus greening huanglongbing. After graduation, Morgan began working in a food testing laboratory for chemical and microbial characterization of food under the SQF HACCP criterion. In 2019, Morgan began working for an A2LA accredited cannabis testing laboratory in Maryland where she primarily focused on cannabinoid quantification utilizing HPLC and microbial characterization on both PCR and traditional plating using aseptic technique. During this time, Morgan was cross-trained on all compliance assays within the medical cannabis laboratory as well as performing environmental swabbing and viral pathogen testing for medical cannabis industry clients. In 2022, Morgan joined A2LA with a strong desire to focus on cannabis testing laboratory accreditation and has since presented at various conferences including Pittcon and Cannabis Science Conference regarding the importance of inter-laboratory comparison and method validation for the cannabis industry. Morgan is also a medical cannabis patient and advocates for consumer safety and data transparency.

John Nathan

John Nathan is the CEO and Founder of Bay State Extracts, a licensed facility specializing in the processing and manufacturing of minor and rare cannabinoids. A leader in the Massachusetts hemp industry, Mr. Nathan was instrumental in the passage and implementation of the 2020 “Hemp Industry Survive & Thrive Act” through his role on the Massachusetts Hemp Coalition’s Leadership Council. He is a strong proponent of upholding the integrity and public safety of cannabinoids, consistently advocating for responsible production, application, and the modernization of product testing to address all potential consumer risks.