Shanita R. Penny, MBA is a Senior Vice President in FTP’s public affairs practice. Shanita has over 18 years of experience helping organizations solve complex issues and improve business performance in multiple industries.

As an internationally recognized strategy consultant and certified Project Management Professional, Shanita combines talent and passion for the cannabis industry to achieve exceptional results for businesses and operators. Before joining FTP, she ran her own boutique cannabis consultancy, helping clients establish and scale compliant, successful cannabis businesses. Shanita also co-founded DocHouse, a craft cannabis cultivator and manufacturer that was acquired in 2020.

Ms. Penny previously served as vice president and president of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA). Under her leadership, the MCBA hosted its inaugural Congressional Black Caucus Lobby Day, policy summits, and produced a model municipal ordinance that has influenced social equity policy nationwide. She was also a member of the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Authority’s Racial Equity Advisory Workgroup where she developed policy recommendations to combat disparities in ownership and participation in the marijuana industry by people of color and establish the State of Michigan as a leader on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the regulated cannabis industry.

Shanita lives to “end the stigma associated with cannabis” through her advocacy, businesses, and responsible consumption. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Sensible Markets and on the Advisory Board of Regennabis. Shanita is a proud alumna of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, as well as the University of Baltimore and Towson University.