The Must-Attend Events of the Year

Happy New Year, readers! It’s 2024, and there are so many cannabis events going on this year. If you want to make your way to one of these cannabis celebrations, here is a brief overview of some to attend. Some are in-person and some are virtual, regardless, they are entertaining and informative!

NECANN

The NECANN events have been creating engaging conventions within the cannabis industry since 2014. NECANN “expanded market opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, patients, advocates, and consumers,” while staying focused on unique conventions. NECANN feels their “approach of creating unique conventions focused on the current state and potential of each local market they come to is a superior alternative to the generic national canna-convention franchises that pop up everywhere.” This is due to their focus on what the cannabis industry can do for all involved. NECANN has events mainly in the North East area of the United States, including Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, and Illinois. All this starts in March at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, and ends at the New York State Fairgrounds in October.

CANNACON

CannaCon has attracted huge crowds since its creation. This convention is “dedicated to creating and strengthening lifelong partnerships within the emerging cannabis industry.” CannaCon’s mission is to provide a global venue for all cannabis industry professionals, from investors to innovations in technology to product showcases. Their commitment to the growth of the cannabis industry is intense and full of passion. According to CannaCon, “You could get 5 to 10 years for attending. Ahead of the game, we mean. The cannabis industry’s best and brightest attend CannaCon.” Some of their past shows have featured businesses like 420 Friendly Insurance, Advanced Terpene Solutions, Blaz’n Acres, Earth Juice, MACH Technologies, Nuggie Fresh Co., Scissortail Laboratories LLC, and Zippo. If you’re interested in attending, there are CannaCon’s in South Oklahoma City, West Alburquerque, Northeast Rochester, Midwest St. Paul, and Midwest Cleveland.

Noco Hemp Expo

The Noco Hemp Expo is a three day experience that is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year in early April. This expo is located in Estes Park, Colorado, a.k.a The Gateway to the Rockies. The Noco Hemp Expo annually brings together “international business and government leaders, agriculture, academia, nonprofits, media and the public to collaborate on important initiatives, opportunities and solutions for the future of a crop and an industry that can have a significant positive impact on human, animal and planetary health.” This conference is focused on the bigger picture of the cannabis industry and less about the one on one retail experiences like the events mentioned before. But don’t let this discourage you from attending, not only is Estes Park beautiful but behind the scenes education on the whole of the cannabis industry is important and exciting to learn about.

Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference\

In April of this year, the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Hollywood, Florida is hosting a two day event for all types of cannabis professionals. A unique thing about this event is that it is openly partnered with WomenGrow, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, and others to create scholarships for women-owned and minority-owned businesses. The conference itself is a huge networking event where attendees can make connections and even deal with anyone they meet. They also have some great speakers like CEOs, Governors, and other industry professionals. Some of their past speakers are Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, the CEO of New Frontier Data Gary Allen, and CEO of Death Row Records - Cannabis Tiffany Chin.

Flower Expo

At the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield, Massachusetts, the first Flower Expo of 2024 will begin. Last year they had over 150 brand exhibits and nearly 70% of Massachusetts cannabis retail stores in attendance. This two day cannabis experience opens with a “hyper-exclusive, retail-only Pre-Opening Night Reception.” Day one of Flower Expo is also exclusive to retail professionals so they can get real one on one time to connect with their customers. Later that same night, Flower Expo holds their own Block Party downtown with live entertainment and libations. Day two is focused on budtenders, “allowing some of cannabis’s most integral workers to experience the products they sell day-to-day.” The second and final Flower Expo is at the Allegan County Fairgrounds in Allegan, Michigan. This year is the first time Flower Expo will be held outside of Massechusets and they expect it to be nearly the same turnout but definitely the same awesome vibes.

Cannabis Business Times Conference

Launched in 2017, the Cannabis Business Times Conference has been a leader in cannabis events, drawing thousands of people to Las Vegas from across North America and over 30 other countries. At the Paris Hotel and Casino this coming August, the Cannabis Business Times Conference will have over 200 booths where attendees can speak with “some of the greatest cultivators, retailers, business owners and managers from around the world and leave with new relationships and connections that can help you grow their careers and businesses through amazing partnerships and collaborations.” On top of that, they hold educational programs with professional speakers designed to help answer any questions one might hold about the cannabis industry. They have had speakers like Dr. Matthew Indest (Curaleaf’s Technical Director of Agronomy and Plant Improvement), Tommy Chong, and Chris Ball.

Lucky Leaf Expo

Last but not least is the Lucky Leaf Expo. Lucky Leaf Expo is being held twice this year, once in Minneapolis, Minnesota and once in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They tend to focus on “providing multiple growth channels for professionals across the country, the company prides itself on offering cutting-edge research, meaningful networking opportunities, and impactful insights that serve a wider purpose of guiding the industry as it evolves.” At both venues, attendees can expect to meet “heavy hitters in cultivation, extraction, retail, branding, compliance, distribution, media, and everywhere in between.” If you’re in either of the areas for this expo, get tickets! It’s not as large as some of the other conferences mentioned but you’re guaranteed to make connections and have a great time.