The Team
Both Vantic principals contributed to the DEA licensing and operational compliance frameworks of one of the first US facilities authorised for international cannabis export — the practical foundation that sets our federal regulatory expertise apart.
Nigel Boast, B.Sc., LLB, MBA, is a former Attorney-at-Law and Health Canada–designated Quality Assurance Person (QAP) with Health Canada Security Clearance and 15+ years of experience across cannabis, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and controlled substance environments. He holds a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, a Bachelor of Laws with post-graduate legal studies, and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management.
He is credited with successfully obtaining more than 45 federal cannabis licences across domestic and international operations, with a 100% approval rate. His work spans the full pharmaceutical development pipeline — including API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) cannabis product development and commercialisation — and encompasses GMP, GPP, GACP, EU-GMP, and FDA cGMP (21 CFR 210/211) frameworks.
First US DEA Export Facility: Provided regulatory and quality advisory to one of the first US DEA-licensed facilities authorised to export cannabis into global medical markets — including GMP operating plans meeting EU-GMP and other importing country standards.
API Cannabis — Pharmaceutical Product Development: End-to-end experience in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) cannabis product development and commercialisation — from regulatory strategy through GMP manufacturing design and international market submission.
45+ Federal Cannabis Licences — 100% Approval Rate: Credited with successfully obtaining more than 45 federal cannabis licences across domestic and international jurisdictions, with no failed submissions — covering cultivator, processor, distributor, and analytical laboratory categories.
Attorney (Ret.) with Health Canada Security Clearance: Former Attorney-at-Law and Health Canada–designated QAP with active federal Security Clearance. Legal training underpins Nigel’s approach to liability disclosure navigation and federal controlled substance law.
Justin Abril is a regulatory and compliance professional specialising in US controlled substance law, DEA oversight, and the implementation of Controlled Substances Act requirements. His background spans federal law enforcement with the Department of Defense — where he led multi-agency operations, developed policy and procedures, and trained over 150 law enforcement personnel — through to large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing facility design and DEA compliance implementation.
His hands-on work in regulated pharmaceutical and botanical manufacturing has involved direct design and operational readiness of indoor drug manufacturing facilities — aligning physical security systems, material controls, and operational workflows specifically to DEA requirements.
Director of Compliance — Royal Emerald Pharmaceuticals: Served as Director of Compliance at Royal Emerald Pharmaceuticals, one of the pioneering US entities engaged in federally licensed cannabis for medical export — contributing directly to DEA licensing strategy and the compliance infrastructure required for US participation in international medical cannabis supply chains.
First US Cannabis Exporter — DEA License: Contributed to the DEA licensing process and development of compliant operational frameworks for one of the first federally authorised US facilities engaged in the export of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes.
DEA Physical Security & Facility Design: Extensive hands-on experience aligning physical security systems, vaults, controlled access, and alarm infrastructure specifically to DEA Schedule III requirements — directly applicable to Section 5 of the current DEA registration application.
Federal Framework Translation: Recognised for translating complex DEA regulatory frameworks into actionable operational strategies — particularly for operators transitioning from state-regulated systems into federally governed CSA compliance for the first time.
Work with us
Our credentials come from inside the first-mover facilities that built the US federal cannabis compliance infrastructure.