# Chris Emerson

> Chris Emerson, PhD, is the Founder, Chief Scientist, and CEO of LEVEL, California's #1 cannabis tablet brand. A US Navy veteran and Chinese interpreter turned small-molecule chemist, he abandoned a Stanford postdoc in 2012 to spend four months living in a tent on a Mendocino cannabis farm - and emerged with a founding thesis that would reshape how the industry thinks about getting high. Instead of chasing THC percentages, he built LEVEL around effects-driven cannabinoid formulations using precise ratios of acidic, neutral, and degradative compounds the plant alone can't deliver. Two US patents, multiple peer-reviewed publications, and an IRB-approved clinical trial later, LEVEL is the top-selling cannabis tablet brand in California, now operating in seven states.

- **Role:** Founder, Chief Scientist and CEO at LEVEL
- **Organizations:** LEVEL, Metta Medical dba LEVEL, Emerald Therapeutics, US Navy
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BS, Professional Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, PhD, Small Molecule Chemistry, Oregon State University, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Molecular Biology & Small Molecule Synthesis, Stanford University
- **Known for:** Built LEVEL into California's #1 cannabis tablet/capsule brand by dollar sales, Ranked #1 capsule/pill brand in the US (Headset Industry Report, 2021), Two US patents on activated cannabinoid controlled-release delivery systems (2023, 2024)

## Career timeline

- **2001-2005** — BS in Professional Chemistry at University of Nevada, Reno; undergraduate research on molecular probes for DNA chip applications
- **2005-2011** — PhD in Small Molecule Chemistry at Oregon State University (Blakemore Research Group); published in Organic Letters and Chemistry - A European Journal
- **2011** — Began postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University in molecular biology and small molecule synthesis
- **2012** — Left Stanford postdoc after ~6 months; spent 4 months living in a tent on a medicinal cannabis farm in Mendocino, California
- **2012** — Worked at Emerald Therapeutics as Full Stack Scientist / Chief Chemist
- **2015** — Founded LEVEL (originally LEVEL Blends, later Metta Medical dba LEVEL) in San Francisco, California
- **2017** — LEVEL raised Seed funding
- **2020** — LEVEL named one of High Times Top Cannabis Brands of 2020
- **2021** — LEVEL ranked #1 capsule/pill brand in California and the US (Headset; BDSA data)
- **2021** — IRB-approved VetsECS21 clinical trial launched - decentralized, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral CBG in US military veterans
- **2023** — Awarded U.S. Patent No. 11,596,606 B2 for activated cannabinoid controlled-release delivery system
- **2024** — Awarded U.S. Patent No. 12,076,442 B1 for mesoporous silica-based cannabinoid controlled-release tablet
- **2024** — LEVEL expanded to Pennsylvania through partnership with TILT Holdings
- **2025** — VetsECS21 CBG sleep study results published in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids (null result reported with full transparency)
- **2026** — LEVEL operates in 7 states; continues expansion of effects-based cannabinoid formulation research

## Achievements

- Built LEVEL into California's #1 cannabis tablet/capsule brand by dollar sales
- Ranked #1 capsule/pill brand in the US (Headset Industry Report, 2021)
- Two US patents on activated cannabinoid controlled-release delivery systems (2023, 2024)
- Led IRB-approved, decentralized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on CBG for veteran sleep (VetsECS21)
- Published peer-reviewed cannabis research in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2026)
- Multiple peer-reviewed publications in Organic Letters and Chemistry - A European Journal
- Expanded LEVEL to 7 US states including Pennsylvania and Michigan
- Named among California's top 25 cannabis companies by BDS Analytics
- High Times Top Cannabis Brands of 2020
- First licensing agreement for DOUG'S VARIN, a rare THCV cultivar

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — LEVEL author page updated; ongoing expansion of effects-based cannabinoid research programs
- **2025-12** — VetsECS21 clinical trial results published in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids - CBG study in US military veterans with sleep challenges
- **2024-09** — US Patent No. 12,076,442 B1 granted for mesoporous silica-based activated cannabinoid controlled-release tablet
- **2024-03** — LEVEL announced partnership with TILT Holdings to bring PROTAB tablets to Pennsylvania
- **2023-03** — US Patent No. 11,596,606 B2 granted for cannabinoid controlled-release delivery system

## Links

- Website: https://levelexperience.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-emerson-ph-d-464b245a
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZkcIIGoJnH8dO0x74IGCAA

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/chris-emerson
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-14