It’s been a couple weeks since MJBizCon 2024 concluded, but many of us are still riding high from the energy and hustle of this one of a kind event!
MJBizCon, the largest B2B cannabis event in the world, welcomed attendees at it’s 13th annual event at the Las Vegas Convention Center last week on the heels of the first hearing to reschedule cannabis.
This year’s theme, “Fuel Your Fire,” was all about igniting passion and gaining the crucial insights needed to build strong partnerships that level up your cannabis business – all while sparking meaningful connections.
The annual “State of the Industry” session opened MJBizCon, with the MJBizDaily editorial team offering year-end highlights:
- Rescheduling marijuana would free plant-touching companies from IRS Section 280E, which prohibits business deductions for companies dealing in controlled substances.
- Intoxicating hemp has been one of the highest growth areas in 2024 despite increasing state restrictions.
- Ohio opened an adult-use marijuana market, and Nebraska voters approved a medical marijuana market on Election Day.
- A handful of marijuana brands have made serious inroads to dominate multiple state markets in an industry where interstate commerce is not possible.
- Michigan has overtaken California, the largest regulated marijuana market in the world, in several key sales metrics.
- California has passed legislation to make consumption venues possible and successful.
- Looking ahead to 2025, they added: rescheduling from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 will happen; California Delaware and Minnesota are poised to launch adult-use marijuana sales; and Kentucky will welcome a medical marijuana market.
MJBiz is the leading B2B resource for the cannabis industry. Founded in 2011, it is the most trusted publisher and event producer serving cannabis industry entrepreneurs and investors from around the globe. MJBiz produces MJBizCon, the longest-running and largest cannabis trade show in the world. The 2015-2019 events were each named to Trade Show Executive’s Fastest 50 list and ranks on the Gold 100 list of largest tradeshows in the U.S.
MJBizCon 2025 will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center Dec. 2-5, 2025.
Highlights from the Expo Floor at MJBizCon 2024
Each year there are SO many brands that attend MJBizCon, both new and established in the cannabis sector. It has been such a delight to see the expo floor change and take shape over the years. Here are a few of my favorite parts of the expo from 2024…
Equity Row
This area of the expo floor was one that did not exist in years past, and it has been so cool to see it grow and gain momentum! Brands involved with equity row included
Led by 40 Tons, a Black-woman-owned, multi-state social impact cannabis brand, Equity Row at MJBizCon featured 16 justice-impacted companies from across the United States, including 40 Tons itself.
Equity Row showcased products, technology, dispensary operations, ancillary services, and more. Equity Row was the beating heart of MJBizCon, reminding us all why this fight matters and how far we’ve come. But it also illuminated how much work there is still to do. The stories, connections, and energy from this space are what make the future of cannabis worth believing in—because they show us a path where justice, equity, and community can truly take root.
It was fantastic to see the collaboration and teamwork between the companies and organizations that participated in Equity Row. I hope to see this part of the MJBizCon expo floor grow with even more support next year.
Bud & Mary’s
Bud & Mary’s, a family-run brand (vapes, flower, topicals & edibles) operating across four states, is one of the sweetest stories I have ever heard as a journalist in this industry. I had the pleasure of talking with the Group President, Lucas Nelson, who shared the story about how the brand was named after his grandparents and how they came from starting their story in Iowa and then expanding to 3 other states. Bud & Mary’s is a family-owned and operated cannabis brand that combines a research-driven, science-backed approach to creating meticulously crafted products across Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and Iowa, with a product suite that includes vapes, flower, topicals and fast-acting edibles. An ardent community builder, Lucas believes in heightening the cannabis consumer experience through creating memorable, engaging experiences—for instance, There’s a lot coming down the line for this innovative brand: the first-of-its-kind Joint Bar in its Portage, MI retail location in partnership with Blazy Susan, where customers can create custom-rolled joints on the spot, and the expansion of its B&M CURATED line, which features packaging highlighting local artists, a new edibles line and more. Additionally, Lucas shared insights on the unique advantages (and disadvantages) of being a family-owned cannabis brand in an industry increasingly dominated by large corporations—like implementing sustainable farming techniques that prioritize ecological responsibility over profit. I look forward to seeing the next steps for this lovely purpose driven company!
Bliss + Lex
Probably my MOST favorite new connection at the event this year, Bliss + Lex is Manhattan’s first black woman-owned dispensary and first Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licensee. I had the most inspirational and exciting conversation about this incredible mom and pop equity focused brand founded by power couple and native New Yorkers Nicole Lucien, Co-founder and CEO, and Christopher Lucien, Co-Owner and COO.
As they operate a successful and elevated dispensary in NYC, Nicole and Chris are deeply committed to building and giving back to marginalized communities, supporting domestic violence victims, folks with disabilities and workers from all backgrounds through initiatives such as a monthly sponsorship to support the LGBTQ+ community and sponsoring a youth basketball team. Launching in November, the Bliss Box will be a monthly curated selection of their favorite and freshest drops for their customers to cultivate their own bliss. Calling upon a rich professional pedigree spanning education consultancy, technology and hospitality management, Nicole taps into her experience as a software engineer to analyze data and make informed business decisions based on sales trajectory and consumer behavior. Christopher ensures seamless dispensary operations and is deeply committed to positive social impact (he previously served as a Facilities Director for a non-profit organization serving victims of domestic violence and homelessness) and is committed to helping support legacy operators. Christopher’s early life conviction for cannabis created obstacles to entrepreneurship throughout his life but ultimately made him eligible to apply for New York’s CAURD program, an opportunity he recognizes as game-changing for the future of his family and community. This brand has big plans for the future and should serve as a model for others entering the retail sector of the cannabis industry. Love them!!
DocMJ
A national provider of medical marijuana cards in multiple states, DocMJ continues to thrive in the national landscape despite so many states legalizing adult-use cannabis. CEO Aaron Bloom shared his insights with me about this medical marijuana physician evaluation provider. Established in 2016 and with more than 50 health care practitioners, DocMJ is one of America’s largest and most experienced group of Certified Medical Marijuana providers. The physicians have conducted more than 300,000 medical cannabis evaluations throughout the US. The platform offers care in Florida, Georgia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. They also have the DocMJ-Cares program, which offers online mental health counseling services, where mental health care professionals provide evaluations and talk therapy to help patients reach their individual health and wellness goals.
Custom Cones USA // DaySavers
This company always has such a fun activation on the expo floor, allowing attendees to not only examine the plethora of products they have, but actually make their own take-home cone pack! Custom Cones USA (CCU) is the leading and most trusted manufacturer of pre-rolled cones. DaySavers is the most compliant and tested pre-rolled cone and rolling paper brand on the market. DaySaver and CCU were nominated for 3 Emjays awards, winning the Best Marketing Campaign or Collaboration of the Year for their DaySavers Stoner Dream Job campaign, where consumers were offered an opportunity by Day Savers to smoke and test out trending cannabis products, take part in an array of cannabis industry events, and share it with the world, all while getting paid over $70,000 per year.
CEO Harrison Bard continues to innovate and create new opportunities for this sector of the cannabis industry. He said, “The impetus behind it was looking for creative outlets. We wanted to cast out a wider net to reach more talent and people to work with.”
Bard is a member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council, and co-founded Custom Cones USA, a leading ancillary company in the pre-roll space, working with publicly-traded LPs and MSOs, leading American brands, and companies of various sizes, with an emphasis on the pre-roll sector. This requires a know-how of paper science, pre-roll manufacturing technology and techniques, and a solid understanding of packaging and compliance regulations.
Ethos Cannabis
I was able to interview Gibran Washington, CEO of Ethos Cannabis, just after his feature on the panel “How to Launch and Market Your Dispensary” where he explained critical strategies for launching successful dispensaries. As the CEO of a leading multi-state operator, Gibran brings unique insights into navigating the challenges of building a trusted dispensary brand. Ethos Cannabis is a multi-state operator with operations in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Ethos also boasts five brands in its portfolio, Natural Selections (MA & PA), Eleven (MA & PA), Headliners (MA), and Meigs County (OH). Ethos is a leading vertically integrated, retail-focused platform in the Mid-Atlantic, East Coast, and Midwest markets of the U.S. This platform serves mainstream consumers while expanding the health and wellness market through relationships with Thomas Jefferson University and other academic medical institutions and strategic partnerships..
Other experiences during MJBizCon 2024
Planet 13
Each year when I attend BizCon I also take a tour of Planet 13, the largest dispensary in the world, whom I have been covering since they opened in 2018.
Planet 13 Las Vegas is the largest cannabis dispensary in the world! As a top dispensary, Planet 13 strives to provide the best quality cannabis, concentrates, and infused products available at competitive prices and with compassion that can only come from those who are knowledgeable in the field.
Planet 13 Las Vegas is open 24/7 and offers curbside and delivery, but we are much more than just the largest Vegas cannabis dispensary. There are so many experiences you can have at Planet 13, including the:
Robot Orb Show
Koolsville Tattoo Shop
Dazed! Consumption Lounge
Plaza 13 Special Events
This year Planet 13 hosted the High Stakes event as well as the “All-In’One” after party sponsored by CCELL and Beard Brothers, amazing sold out event. Join CCELL at Planet 13 for a night of good hash, good food, and good people. Sample the latest CCELL tech featuring oil from your favorite brands along with drinks, music, a photo booth, open consumption in the Dazed Lounge, and more.
I hope to see this collaboration happen again next year!!
Jews In Weed Bagel Bash 2024
A new(ish) event, the Jews in Weed Bagel Bash is quickly becoming one of my favorite morning (and networking) events during MJBizCon. This year the event was hosted at the first-of-its-kind Smoke + Mirrors Cannabis Lounge. The event was sponsored by HPI Canna, Feuerstein Kulick LLP, Branding Bud Consulting Group, Marino., Ispire, eBottles, MAD Global Strategy. Jordan Isenstadt, Senior Vice President at Marino, said it well when he posted:
“The second annual hashtag#JewsInWeed Bagel Bash at MJBiz was the dopest, brightest, warmest, most flavorful, and most elevated gathering of the week. Held at a stunning consumption lounge (Smoke + Mirrors at the Thrive Cannabis Marketplace) with sunshine outside and cool vibes inside, we celebrated with a selection of infused beverages (mimosas, coffee and bloody Mary’s) and, of course, bagels and lox that were surprisingly on point (for a non NY bagel). This magical event was more than just a party—it was a celebration of community, connection, and hashtag#cannabis. It brought the Jewish community together in a uniquely meaningful way while also welcoming allies to join in the fun and the conversations. It was a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much more we can achieve when we break bread (or bagels) together.”
I would agree and hope to attend next year as well!
Blunt Brunch
This year, Blunt Brunch Nationals changed things up, encouraging attendees to dress their best and have a night out together! Titled, “A Night of Glitz and Glam”, this official Blunt Brunch National event was empowered by Pomponio Injury Law, Curaleaf, and Proteus420, and took place on Tuesday, December 3rd. This glamorous evening was dedicated to celebrating wins and the strength women in cannabis have built through their challenges. There were women in attendance from all over the world and multiple activiations and learning opportunities throughout the event. It has been incredible to witness the growth and ongoing inspiration that Blunt Brunch has (wo)manifested throughout the last several years, thanks to the thriving community that Adelia Fakhri and Parisa Rad, co founders of Blunt Brunch, have offered. As their event platform and national event grows, so do the opportunities for women in cannabis to network and support each other. I can’t wait to see what they are up to in 2025!
The Emjays
The Emjays are an annual awards show for the cannabis industry that are hosted in conjunction with MJBizCon. Nominees for each of the 26 categories were based on voting by the public, while a panel of industry leaders helped select the winners.
Full circle of winners for the 2024 Emjays can be found here.
And that’s a wrap!
Mark your calendars for the first week of December 2025 for cannabis week in Las Vegas, and December 2-5, 2025 for the next MJBizCon.
