Jose J. Hidalgo is a visionary cannabis entrepreneur and thought leader with over two decades of experience in the diversified financial services industry. As the founder and CEO of Flora & Forge LLC, he is committed to solving the biggest challenge facing the cannabis sector focused on delivering cost-effective, scalable, and FDA-compliant products and technologies.
With a proven track record of success, Hidalgo has successfully established himself as a leading figure in the industry. He is the founder and former chairman and CEO of Cansortium Inc., a vertically integrated publicly-traded medical cannabis company that he took public on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) in March 2019. Under his leadership, the company was awarded the highest scores and one of the first five medical cannabis licenses in Florida in 2015 and repeated this feat in Texas two years later, also receiving the highest score. Hidalgo solidified the company’s brands, Knox Medical and later Fluent Cannabis Care, to become a well-established player in the industry.
Hidalgo is also the founder of the National Hispanic Cannabis Council (NHCC), a non-profit organization with a mission to promote equity and diversity in the cannabis industry. He has been a trusted advisor to Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno, providing regulatory and operational expertise to develop the country’s cannabis and hemp national industry.
Hidalgo is dedicated to continuing to advance the cannabis industry through technology and innovation. With a wealth of experience and a passion for making a difference, he is poised to continue making a significant impact in the years to come.