MJBizCon 2023 offered incredible industry connections sandwiched between long nights of lavish after parties. Let’s break down what made this year’s Cannabis Week unique.
Flying into Las Vegas is one of the highlights of visiting Sin City. I flew in from the east and was treated to a spectacular view of the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead.
As we made our final descent, the alluring novelty of Las Vegas came into focus. The Sphere, an ominous black dome, flickered to life with strange images. The Luxor Pyramid and Sphinx offered enticing silhouettes against the dry desert backdrop.
In the distance, one could almost make out Yucca Mountain, the nation’s storehouse for spent nuclear materials. Las Vegas is a land of contrasts, an incredible metropolis thriving in the heart of a barren desert.
The extravagance of wealthy “wales” create a stark counterpoint to the pitiful desperation of destitute gamblers. It’s a town that often clashes with the sensibilities of an introverted writer. But somehow, amid the noise and garish lights, it always finds a way to charm and inspire.
Setting Up for Cannabis Week
I settled into the Ellis Island Hotel and Casino on Monday night. With little planned for the evening, I decided a dispensary and a grocery store might be prudent first stops.
Planet 13, known as the world’s largest cannabis dispensary, welcomed me with an ID check and a confusing check-in system that seemed to hinder rather than help visitors.
Planet 13 Dispensary
Your name is entered into a tablet. You’re then left standing in a cavernous entryway staring into the shop, unsure if you should proceed to pursue the wares or wait until your name or number is called. After several minutes of trepidation, I wandered into the main shop and strolled through the isles of display products.
Eventually I asked a budtender how I would know when it was my turn and he pointed to a series of monitors on the back wall. Each monitor had rows of initials next to a register number.
I spotted mine and proceeded to the assigned counter where a very knowledgeable budtender helped finalize my selections. I settled on some gummies and a vape. I would have bought a hoodie as well, but their selection was surprisingly boring for such a huge Las Vegas establishment.
Food and Function
At the recommendation of a budtender, my next stop was Hot N Juicy Crawfish in Chinatown. It was delicious. Again, I would’ve bought a shirt but their merchandise game was surprisingly weak. After a fabulous shrimp Po’ Boy sandwich, I walked across the street to a liquor store and purchased a few gallons of water to get me through the week.
I went to the Las Vegas Convention Center on Tuesday to secure my press pass. After a quick tour of the food court, I decided to avoid eating at the venue. A salad in a tiny plastic box was $16 and the cheapest coffee was $9. Let’s just say I nibbled a lot of jerky throughout the week and took advantage of the free coffee in the media room.
There were a variety of pre-show forums on Tuesday. While my office duties kept me otherwise occupied, there were plenty of notable discussions taking place for those with the time to attend, including topics like: Women’s Leadership, Finance, Marketing, Science, and Psychedelics.
Blunt Brunch Nationals 2023
If you’re a woman in the industry, Blunt Brunch is a must attend event. This year’s Blunt Brunch Nationals took place at IPEC Las Vegas on Nov. 28, hosting more than 400 powerful women in cannabis.
The event offered entertainment, food, and a series of inspiring discussions from high-level executives. It culminated in a social mixer where women from across the country could collaborate, connect, and learn.
The Cannabis & Tech Today team participated in a few on-site podcasts and left feeling empowered and energized.
MJBizCon 2023 Kick Off
A wide line formed at the MJBizCon 2023 exhibitor floor doors on day one. People eagerly counted down the minutes until they could swarm the floor, gathering complimentary chapsticks, lighters, buttons, and branded merch from thousands of booths.
There were booths large and small, many with flamboyant displays and eye-catching machinery. It seems to be less consumer-based every year, growing increasingly business oriented.
This year’s event was more centralized than previous years and the layout made it easy to take in the whole experience without navigating between multiple floors. Exhibitors were eager to chat and show off recent innovations.
Cannabis & Tech Today conducted interviews and podcasts from the Polyscience and Summit Research booth. As the title sponsor for our podcasts, Polyscience was kind enough to host Cannabis Tech Talks and serve as the backdrop for many lively conversations with thought leaders and executives. We’ll be rolling these podcasts out over the next few months so be sure to subscribe.
After a full day on the show floor, attendees flowed outside where food trucks and a smoking area beckoned to those waiting on cabs.
I met a couple near the food trucks who had flown in for the conference but chose to spend their time in the smoking area out front rather than purchasing tickets for the expo floor. It seemed to work for them as they were quite friendly and had gathered plenty of contacts with their unconventional approach.
The Grasslands Party
Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency is a public relations firm based in Denver, Colorado. Ricardo Baca, the world’s first cannabis editor and a beloved figurehead in the industry launched Grasslands in 2016 to offer his clients a more journalistic approach to marketing.
In the years since, the company has become a powerhouse in PR and works with several of the country’s top brands. The Grasslands Party took place Wednesday Nov. 29, offering a high-level networking event just off the strip.
It is a carefully curated gathering of industry leaders. Every attendee is an executive and if you’re looking to meet top-tier cannabis talent, this is the place to do it.
It’s easy to overlook the careful effort given to the guest list, but it’s truly an artfully selected group. I met CEOs, COOs, and CMOs from some of the most influential brands in the country. I mingled with other members of the press and enjoyed finally shaking hands with people I’ve admired for years. Add in complimentary drinks and lovely hors d’oeuvres and it was a wonderful evening of connections.
Its masterful planning became more apparent when I attended a subsequent party and found attendees had much less to offer in the way of industry connections, insight, or etiquette.
MJBizCon 2023 Day Two
By Thursday, the buzz had already started to simmer on the show floor. The throng of eager attendees was not lined up at the door when the floor opened at 11 a.m. Instead, a steady stream of people came and went all day and exhibitors mustered their best smiles for another day of handshakes and card exchanges.
Cannabis & Tech Today continued to host one podcast after another with some incredible insights from doctors, CEOs, inventors, and scientists.
I took advantage of the Media Room for a midday interview with comedian Mike Glazer and cannabis journalist Mary Jane Gibson. The duo hosted this year’s Emjays International Cannabis Awards and were eager to discuss their plans for the show.
Find their insights in Episode 150 of Cannabis Tech Talks.
The Emjays International Cannabis Awards
I seldom have the opportunity to put on my best dress and celebrate my industry peers, so the Emjays offered the perfect venue. The black-tie event at the Pearl Theater celebrated non-plant-touching companies in the industry like accounting firms, recruiting agencies, testing labs, etc.
It was a surprisingly heartfelt tribute to companies that often aren’t recognized for their foundational efforts in the cannabis space. Many winners teared up while accepting awards and offered brief stories of their triumphs and challenges working in the space.
The event, in partnership with MJBizCon, was a big moment for cannabis event planning platform Farechild, founded by David Tran and James Zochodni.
Check out a full list of winners here.
There were a few hiccups in the first annual award show. Invitations said the show started at 7, but it was after 8:30 when it began. Similarly, it was meant to end at 10:00 but didn’t conclude until closer to 11 p.m. By that time, attendees were eager to make their way to the after party.
Other than some timing issues, the show was wonderfully produced. Mary Jane Gibson and Mike Glazier were energetic, inspired hosts. They brought enthusiasm to the stage and their skits had everyone rolling with laughter.
The duo have a natural charisma that translates beautifully to live performances. Speaking of which, they’re going on tour for 2024 so make sure you grab a ticket.
The Emjays After Party
The highly anticipated after party was set in a gorgeous venue at the Palms Hotel & Casino. People poured in dressed in their best outfits and it truly felt like a celebration. There were so many people there who perhaps normally would not have danced the night away in a Las Vegas club, but it felt like a momentous night.
Nominees, winners, media, and the ticket-holding general public seemed absolutely starved for a fun night out with friends. The music was right, lines for drinks were short, and the consumption area outside was just what the crowd needed after a long week on the conference floor.
Again, it was a wonderful night for making connections. I chatted with people I had already interviewed throughout the week and made fresh connections for future stories. It was exactly the escape this author needed to conclude Cannabis Week 2023.
