MJBizCon 2021 took place October 19-22 and hosted an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 attendees. Participants were asked to wear masks and practice social distancing.
The event made up for a lost year with tons of well-curated content.
Show planners designed four tracks to appeal to specific demographics: cultivators, manufacturers, retailers, and new-to-industry people.
Industry Insights and Celebrity Sightings
The show’s speaker line-up included players from every sector of the cannabis space.
Speakers included leadership from Arcview, The Parent Company, Vicent Sederberg, Curaleaf, Hypur, Akerna, Global Cannabis Network Collective, the U.S. Cannabis Council, BIPOCann, Hawthorne, Wana Brands, and many others.
Several celebrities were spotted on the show floor, including RAW Founder Josh Kesselman, National Cannabis Party co-founder Redman, and comedian Jason Gann — all of whom held signings on day one and two of the event.
In past years notable attendees included Kevin Smith, Gene Simmons, and Kevin O’Leary, to name a few.
Keynotes, Collaboration
Friday’s closing keynote was Shark Tank’s Daymond John. The FUBU founder and CEO offered inspiring insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment.
John had previously refused to speak at MJBizCon, but in 2021 the taboos seem to be wearing off and making room for more A-list participants.
After the headliners, networking events like “Achieving Equity in Cannabis,” and “Empowering Women in Cannabis,” helped people connect whether they were C-Suite executives or new-to-the-industry professionals.
Sessions, Exhibitor Content, and Forums
The Science Symposium and Finance Forum both offered several popular sessions, including a discussion on biosynthetic cannabinoid production and an examination of the next wave of innovation and investment opportunities.
The Hemp Industry Forum hosted much needed conversations around hemp and climate change, the evolving regulatory landscape, and cultivation strategies for minor cannabinoids.
The exhibitor content also offered some great insights on topics ranging from seed-to-sale technology, extraction filtration, remote vending, and smart data for optimized grows.
For attendees who bought the all-access pass, many session will be available to view on demand through the end of the year.
After Hours Entertainment
Of course, what happens at the convention center is only half the fun of attending MJBizCon in Las Vegas.
There are numerous after parties and events that take place after dark.
Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency hosted its High-Level Networking Gathering to bring brands and journalists together for cocktails and conversation.
Farechild Events and SENSI hosted The Zodiac Party, an outdoor networking event for invite-only guests.
Since the pandemic began, the cannabis space has been starved for events.
It’s safe to say MJBizCon 2021 brought in-person back in a big way, much to the delight of attendees and exhibitors.
