A day after the first hearing in the Department of Justice’s effort to reschedule cannabis, the largest B2B cannabis event in the world, MJBizCon, kicked off at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The event, now in its 13th year and held Dec. 3-6, attracts thousands of professionals from different sectors of the cannabis industry, including cultivators, seed companies, smoking technology brands, retailers, consumer goods, and industry vendors.
The best and brightest in the industry were treated to three days packed with insightful presentations, product and service demonstrations, a diverse slate of vendors, and, of course, parties. If you weren’t able to attend, here are some of the highlights of the shindig.
State of the Industry
The event was kicked off by the “State of the Industry” presentation, where industry experts and the MJBizDaily editorial team reviewed the past year and future prospects for the industry.
Cannabis Sector Snapshot
Here are some takeaways from the State of the Industry session:
- Intoxicating hemp has been one of the fastest-growing 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 brands have made serious inroads into dominating multiple state markets despite interstate commerce restrictions.
- Michigan has overtaken California, the largest regulated marijuana market, in several key sales metrics.
- California passed legislation to enable and support cannabis consumption venues, like cannabis lounges.
- Looking ahead to 2025, predictions include rescheduling marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, California, Delaware, and Minnesota launching adult-use marijuana sales, and Kentucky welcoming a medical marijuana market.
The Emjays
Another major highlight of MJBizCon was the Emjays International Cannabis Awards, recognizing outstanding individuals, companies, products, service providers, and other organizations integral to the industry. The awards feature 26 categories, with nominees selected by public votes and winners chosen by industry leaders.
Notable winners included:
- Royal Queen Seeds: Non-Tech Cultivation Company of the Year, a Netherlands-based grower.
- The Clear: Winner of the Extraction/Concentrate Brand of the Year, which began 13 years ago with a homegrown crop and a lab.
- DaySavers: Winner of the Best Marketing Campaign for their “Stoner Dream Job” campaign.
- American Weed Co.: Best Cannabis Flower Brand of the Year.
- Zamnesia: Retail Cannabis Brand of the Year, marking the Netherlands-based company’s first time at MJBizCon and its first U.S. trade show appearance since launching in the U.S. in October.
Parties and Fun
MJBizCon has grown significantly, attracting thousands of attendees from the U.S. and abroad. Two events that stood out were the following:
- The Grassland Party: Hosted for the eighth year by Grassland, a cannabis and psychedelics public relations agency, this event brought together cannabis industry executives, key tastemakers, and media members for high-level networking and partying.
- The 4th Annual Blunt Brunch Nationals: A Night of Glitz and Glam: This gathering of over 400 cannabis industry leaders and professionals celebrated empowerment, connection, and community. “Guests embraced the opportunity to dress up, step into their power, and celebrate one another in an environment designed to honor and uplift the incredible women in cannabis,” said Blunt Brunch co-founder Parisa Monsouri-Rad. “[It] was more than an event — it was a movement, solidifying Blunt Brunch’s reputation as the ultimate space for women to shine in this dynamic industry.”