With marijuana becoming legal in more and more places, it has become a very big business. Cannabis business conferences have sprung up all around the world to help people improve their sales, find new products and have a great time networking with others in the industry. But with so many new conferences, how do you know which ones are worth attending and which would just be a waste of your money, time and energy? Almost all conferences offer something of value if you’re on the lookout for the opportunities, but you can improve your chances of getting a lot out of the experience by checking out the ten best marijuana industry conferences for entrepreneurs.
MJBizCon
The Marijuana Business Conference Expo, better known as MJBizCon, is the most established conference of its kind. It is also one of the largest marijuana business conferences, so it is sure to have something you’re looking for. It happens several times throughout the year in different fun locations including Las Vegas and New Orleans. If you want to make sure to attend a cannabis business conference that other people have heard of and hold in high regard, then this is definitely one to keep on your radar.
NCIA Cannabis Business Summit and Expo
The National Cannabis Industry Association is the only trade association for the marijuana business, so it makes sense to follow what they are doing. One of the things they do is host this business expo. Over the past five years, this award-winning expo has proven that it will always cover a diverse range of topics to help both newbies and those who are well-established in the marijuana sales industry. You can get a broad overview of the industry or focus on speakers that appeal to exactly your current needs for information.
California Cannabis Business Conference
The NCIA is the national trade association, but there is also a state association, the California Cannabis Industry Association, serving the needs of the United States’ largest adult-use market. California made medical marijuana legal in the 20th century, so there is an entire history of knowledge in this state about the best practices of marijuana business sales. Learn from the best.
The New West Summit
With so many cannabis business conferences happening all of the time, great ones will work hard to stand out with something different to offer. The New West Summit emphasizes the tech aspect of the marijuana business. If you want to attend a hackathon, learn about drones as a cannabis delivery service option or get help as a start-up, this Oakland, California conference should be on your calendar.
Cannabis Science Conference
Are you more interested in the science than the tech behind marijuana businesses? People who get excited to learn more about terpenoids, gene-assisted breeding and the relationship of marijuana to brain chemistry will definitely want to attend this innovative Portland conference. CSC was founded in 2016 by Joshua Crossney, the entrepreneur of medicinal marijuana in the United States. With over 3,000 show attendees and 150 booths of sponsors and exhibitors, this convention is considered the largest cannabis science exhibition in the world.
Businesses and entrepreneurs involved in the growing side of the industry will particularly benefit from this conference. CSC offers a popular pre-show workshop called Canna Boot Camp. This all-day interactive workshop covers everything from marijuana cultivation, pre-processing, prep, analytical testing, THC extraction and manufacturing edibles. Industry professionals demonstrate technologies and techniques to share their personal experiences. This in-depth workshop gives entrepreneurs an understanding of the cannabis industry and the opportunity to network with cultivation experts.
NECANN
Many of the United States’ cannabis business conferences happen on the West Coast, but that doesn’t mean that East Coast sellers are left out in the cold. NECANN specializes in conferences held in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other east coast states. The conferences in Maine and Rhode Island are especially popular, having been established over the past several years. People on the west coast or coming in from Canada may find new markets by attending this event.
CannaCon
This is the perfect place for people interested in learning business techniques and tips. Although all marijuana business conferences offer that information to some degree, CannaCon specializes in the business end of the business. There are conferences in Seattle, Detroit and Boston, so you can pick the one that’s closest to you or go further away to learn something new.
Indo Expo
This unique two-day conference has one day set aside just for B2B customers and a second for the general public. The B2B side of things really brings to light the important business aspects of the marijuana industry, and it is an especially great starting point for newcomer entrepreneurs that attend this conference. Exhibitors may like to attend the general public event to share their products and meet industry buyers. This expo has been hosted in San Francisco, Denver and Portland.
International Cannabis Business Conference
If you want to go to a great destination around the world – be that San Francisco or Berlin – to catch up on the latest in the marijuana business, then this is the perfect conference for you. This one specializes in bringing in well-known industry guest speakers such as cultural icon Henry Rollins.
CanEx Jamaica
Who doesn’t want to enjoy a getaway to Jamaica? It’s even better when the trip is focused on the business of marijuana and you can write it off as a business expense on your taxes! This fun conference shouldn’t be overlooked, because it also offers a ton of great information in addition to the terrific Montego Bay location. CanEx is the premier Cannabis B2B conference in the Caribbean. Track sessions include information on finances, advocacy and women in the cannabis industry.
There is no wrong cannabis business conference to attend on this list. As an entrepreneur, consider what you need to get out of the face-to-face event and whether you’ll be able to visit your preferred trade show exhibitors. If you want to get specific information about science or tech or women in the industry, look for the events that specialize in those areas, but don’t discount larger exhibitions that likely also have speakers on those topics. If you want to share your products with a new market, consider going outside of your regional area and attending one of the big conferences on another coast.
Once you’ve booked your trip to any of these 10 awesome cannabis business conferences, prepare to have a great time. Go in with an open mind, excited about the opportunity to learn from your peers. This is a welcoming industry and one with huge opportunity for growth.
