Jean Michel Manzano is a cellular and molecular biologist leading the scientific operation of Novacann Labs as Laboratory Director, with background on biochemistry, microbiology, botany and genetics. A thirst for knowledge, a passion for education and a freshly sown industry blooming around him has made him resolve to the scientific development and culturalization of cannabis. With over 12 years of experience working with cannabis and studying all of its forms, he has managed to integrate different areas of academic knowledge to help customers with their operations’ needs. For the past three years, he has been involved in different cultivation operations working with growers to boost yields, establish genetics, and control pathogens. On the manufacturing side of the industry, he has set up extraction operations, from solvent extracts to solventless, optimized extractions processes, and implemented post- extraction techniques to increase the yield and quality of their products. Working for three years as the director for Puerto Rico’s first and only operational testing lab on the Island for the first two years of the legal market, he has had the opportunity to work with the Department of Health to help shape the current lab regulations for medicinal cannabis in Puerto Rico. Novacann Labs currently works with over 80% of all cultivation and manufacturing operations on the Island. His work also extends to the educational side of cannabis as a professor for Cannaworks PR and as a social media educator, spreading knowledge, answering questions and planting the seed of scientific curiosity on everyone.